Just in time for Atlantic City Restaurant Week, Atlantic City Weekly introduces its new iPhone app: The Atlantic City Bar Guide, covering the bars — with happy hour information galore — in the southern New Jersey region. Download it here.
The learning opportunities just keep coming in Atlantic City today as Chef Paul Drew of Phillips Seafood Restaurant has announced a series of cooking classes open to the public.
Chef Paul Drew
Drew is offering Cook, Crack & Eat, a series of three seasonal seafood cooking classes designed to help you learn the tricks of his trade. Drew is guaranteeing afternoons of learning, laughing and lingering over a demonstration, some wine and a great meal with the chef.
Here’s the schedule released by Phillips Seafood:
Crabology. Sat. April 3 — What’s the difference between crab claw meat that sells for $7 a lb. and Jumbo Lump that sells for $30 a lb.? Which grade works best in what dishes? If you love crab and want to learn more about how to buy it and serve it, this is your chance to learn. Chef Drew will take you through a crab tasting and demonstrate how to make a variety of hors d’oeuvres. You’ll drink a little wine, enjoy some food, and learn a lot about your favorite crustacean.
Clam Bake for Two. Sat. May 1 — Learn how to shop, select, and whip up one of our favorite one-pot meals. Then we’ll show you how to combine it all to create a meal that includes whole Maine lobsters, snow crab legs, shrimp, clams, mussels, potatoes and corn on the cob. We’ll give you all the tips and some of the tools you’ll need. And you’ll enjoy a glass of wine and a clambake with us in the restaurant before you head home prepared to share your new skills with friends and family.
The Freshest Catch, Sat. June 5 — 2010. Salmon. Barramundi. Flounder. Mahi-mahi. It’s all so good. But how do you select it, clean it, grill it, or stuff it with crab? Learn all of this and more from one of America’s most proficient seafood experts. Enjoy lunch, wine, and discuss all the intricacies of a great meal with the chef.
The cost for one class is $65 and includes the chef demo, wine, lunch, and a swag bag to go. Classes begin at 11:30am and space is limited, so register early. Or, sign up for the series and save at $175. Call the restaurant to register at 348-2273.
I thought it was tough making up my mind what restaurant to visit during the fabulous Atlantic City Restaurant Week last year. During this year’s AC Restaurant Week, Sunday, Feb. 28 to Saturday, March 6, over 60 top restaurants in the area are offering a special menu that is only $15.10 for lunch and $33.10 for dinner. I am in the process of deciding what restaurant to visit and this year the menus are even more unbelievable.
Owner-chef Larry Boylan from The Inn at Sugar Hill.
While checking out the menus at the AC Restaurant Week Web site it is obvious that some of the best eateries in town are determined to offer diners a remarkable bargain for the prix fixe price. For example, The Inn at Sugar Hill in Mays Landing is offering Thai scallops, crab bisque or lamb chops as the appetizers, with entrée choices that include a 5 oz. filet of beef topped with jumbo lump crab scampi, a jumbo lump crab cake entrée or walnut crusted salmon. For dessert the choices are white chocolate bread pudding or a trio of small plate desserts. All I can say is wow!
Chelsea Prime at the Chelsea Hotel in A.C. also features a scallops appetizer, Maine Diver Scallops, with maple pork belly, hickory smoked caviar and truffled leeks. The entrée choices include a Kansas City strip steak or steamed black bass, plus a chef’s selection of dessert choices.
The Ram’s Head Inn is offering six appetizer choices including smoked salmon and black cod, and steamed Little Neck clams with Chorizo. The entrees include their famous chicken pot pie in a copper kettle, filet mignon, jumbo lump crab cakes and espresso-rubbed breast of duck. Desserts are from the pastry cart.
Seaview Resort in Galloway is also featuring six appetizer choices including duck, cranberry & smoked gouda quesadilla or warm brie with toasted almonds, poached pears and grilled house-baked baguettes. Entrees include braised beef brisket, hickory grilled sirloin, and potato crusted cod with Littleneck clams and a New England chowder sauce. Dessert is a choice of three mini-desserts including double chocolate cream cheese brownie, crème brulee and warm molten chocolate cake.
This is just the tip of the culinary mountain. Many casino restaurants, top steakhouses and Italian restaurants are participating. It is best once you decide on your restaurant choice, to call in your reservations. Many restaurants are offering the special menus all week while others skip Saturday. Once you arrive, just tell them you want the restaurant week choices; it is that easy.
The United Way of Atlantic County’s 7th Annual Auction for the Community will take place Friday, March 19, from 6-10 pm at Bally’s in Atlantic City. The event will embrace renowned master chefs Georges Perrier and Chris Scarduzio, partners of the celebrated Mediterranean Bistro Mia who will meet on stage for an energetic demonstration of their expertise in fine cuisine around 7:30 pm., a live auction hosted by Flyers Hall-of-Famer Dave Schultz around 8:30 pm, an extended silent auction and honoree Ms. Alyce Parker, Vice President of Public Affairs for Harrah’s Entertainment.
Tickets are priced at $100 a person and include a dinner buffet and cocktails. Order now by calling (609) 404-GIVE or go here. Proceeds from this event will benefit United Way of Atlantic County. — Kelley Anne Essinger
Fun at the Trop!
In celebration of its numerous enhancements to casino products, promotions, entertainment and much more, the Tropicana Casino & Resort is launching a contest inviting consumers to submit videos and photos that showcase the fun and new energy they’ve experienced.
The contest is accepting entries through Wednesday, Feb. 17, and invites consumers to send photos or video of themselves having fun. These can include experiencing the nightlife, seeing a show, dining and shopping. All imagery must be shot at the property, excluding the casino floor.
“The start of 2010 brings a feeling of excitement and opportunity for a fresh beginning, and this year Tropicana promises a ‘whole new energy’ for guests and employees,” says Mark Giannantonio, president and C.O.O. of Tropicana Casino & Resort, in a media release. “The contest is a fun way for us to capture and share our energy with our guests.”
The grand-prize winner and a runner-up will have their videos or photos featured on Tropicana’s Web site, and will also receive a complimentary overnight stay, $100 worth of comp room service and one $50 comp for Alto Vino wine bar and a 19-inch Sharp LCD flat-screen TV. The runner-up will receive a gourmet dinner for two at a either Wellingtons or Il Verdi restaurants and two show tickets to a Tropicana revue show.
To enter, go here, send an e-mail to NewEnergy@Tropicana.net and include full name, e-mail address, mailing address phone number, date of birth, Diamond Club number and/or IN Card number (if applicable) and the URL of the posted video or photo. Entries will be judged based on: creativity of the video or photo’s concept, ability to create excitement through social media communication and overall potential to represent the Tropicana brand in a favorable manner.
Cyril Neville
Come celebrate Mardi Gras with a bang this year! Presented as part of the Tony Mart Reunion Series, this will not only be a party to remember, it will also be benefiting ACCESS ONE, a bona fide medical support charity in Atlantic County. The celebration comes complete with a real New Orleans second line parade, beads, a Mardi Gras costume contest, Caribbean rum punch, beads, authentic Cajun cuisine and did we mention beads? Cyril Neville, soulful singer of the legendary Neville brothers, will be performing at 8pm. The party starts at 5pm on Saturday, Feb. 27, at St. James Parish Hall in Ventnor, so there will be plenty of time to visit the fabulous buffet, complete with gumbo, smoked turkey, eggplant jambalaya, shrimp Creole, Mardi Gras King Cake and chocolate pecan bread pudding with rum sauce. This is all included with a tax-deductible donation of $25 per person. There is plenty of free parking and tickets can be purchased at the door. Tables of eight or more can be reserved by calling Janine Golden at 609-927-6662 or Nancy and Carmen Marotta at 609-653-6069. We hope to see you there! — Garrett Burrell
Adopt me!
A fundraiser to benefit the Atlantic County Animal Shelter will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 2, at Sofia Restaurant, 9314 Amherst Ave., in Margate. Sponsored by Sofia Papastamelos and Angela Diamantis (owners of Sofia Restaurant) and Atlantic County Freeholder Alisa Cooper, the event will take place from 5:30-7:30pm and will feature hors d’ouerves, wines and ports from around the world, fine chocolates, door prizes and music.
“Several months ago I adopted a beautiful Bichon Frise from our Atlantic County Animal Shelter, and in talking with the staff I found out that many cats and dogs are being abandoned because of the economy,” says Cooper in a release to the media. “Unfortunately pet owners are being forced to relinquish their pets because they can no longer afford to keep them. Consequently the shelter has a variety of cats and dogs, large and small, young and old, just waiting to be adopted.”
Proceeds from the event will go toward purchasing food for the animals in the shelter.
“We know the shelter is funded by the county and makes excellent provisions for the animals, but with so many now in the shelter we thought additional funds could surely be used for the basics, and that’s food for the animals,” says Papastamelos.
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by calling Sofia Restaurant at 822-9111, or you can purchase tickets at the door the day of the event. If you cannot attend, please consider making a donation by clicking here.
Grammy Award-winning recording artist Ashanti — goddaughter of Atlantic City Mayor Lorenzo Langford and his wife Nynell — will perform at Mayor Langford’s Inaugural Gala on Friday, Jan. 8, in the Grand Ballroom of Trump Taj Mahal.
Ashanti rose to famed in the early 2000s as a singer, songwriter, actress and model. Her hit songs include “Foolish,” “What’s Luv?” and “Always on Time.” In addition to her Grammy she has received eight Billboard awards, two American Music awards, an NAACP Image award, and Lady of Soul and Teen Choice awards.
The gala starts at 6pm and is open to the public. A $250 per-person cost includes the Ashanti’s performance, delectable cuisine, dancing and additional live entertainment by Billy Paul and Valerie Adams & the Dimensions. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City, the Police Athletic League, and the Robinson Small Learning Center. For more information, call 345-0787.
Tropicana Casino & Resort announces its second annual Festival Carnivale de Tropicana will take place Saturday, Feb. 5, from 6-10pm.
Grab your salsa shoes and get ready to celebrate a night of fun, excitement and great value with $5 food and beverage specials at participating venues. Feel the energy with salsa dancers, live entertainment, and hourly drawings for rooms, dinners, show tickets and more.
Participating Trop venues include A Dam Good Deli, A Dam Good Sports Bar, A Time For Wine, Alto Vino Wine Bar, Carmine’s, Corky’s BBQ, Firewaters, Hooters, Il Verdi, Palm Restaurant, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Planet Rose, Red Square, Wellington’s and Zeytinia.
Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar will also host the official after party “Noche de Carnivale,” featuring colorfully costumed Brazilian dancers, a master percussionist, Cuba Libre’s resident DJ playing tropical Latin beats, and complimentary giveaways including masks and beads.
To get the most from your Carnivale experience, stop by the IMAX Box Office, or the New Member Center in The Quarter to purchase Carnivale tickets on the day of the event, redeemable for exciting food, drink and entertainment specials at each participating outlet during the Festival. Then wind your way from one exciting venue to the next, indulging in signature Carnivale tastes to sip and savor.
During Festival Carnivale de Tropicana, all new Diamond Club and IN Card members will receive $25 for EZ Slots. Plus, show your Diamond Club or IN Card at the New Member Center to enter to win prizes at 7, 8, 9 and 10pm.
This free, property-wide celebration is your chance to eat, drink, dance and be outrageous!
Caesars’ award-winning restaurant Mia, under the direction of esteemed chefs Georges Perrier and Chris Scarduzio, will launch its new “Seduction Menu” on the Friday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 27.
The menu will feature 10 savory items and a selection of unique cocktails, all for under $10, and will provide Caesars patrons with a unique take on late-night dining. The menu will be available every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 9pm until closing, and coincides with the days of the week that popular nightclub Dusk is open.
“With Caesars being home to Dusk, Atlantic City’s hottest night spot, it makes sense for us to offer a luxurious, affordable dining experience to people whether they are coming or going from the club or casino,” says Caesars Atlantic City vice president of marketing Erin Chamberlain in a media release. “Caesars is always looking to offer its customers innovative entertainment options. This new Seduction Menu at Mia certainly offers that to our loyal customers.”
Menu items include Fire and Ice Tuna Crudo, House Smoked Salmon Terrine, White Cheddar Cheese Panini, Oysters on the Half Shell, Philly Cheese Steak Spring Roll and more.