Free gumbo tasting and live entertainment will be featured at Friday night’s (May 17) Jersey Gumbo Kickoff Party for the June 15 “Jersey Gumbo Cookoff and Music Festival.” Chef Richard Spurlock’s Main Street American Café will host the party from 6pm, with a free concert by Mojo Mozart and the Mardi Gras Swingers planned from 6:30-8:30pm, presented by Tony Mart Presents.

There will also be free tastings of Carmen Marotta’s “Jersey Crab Gumbo” and Chef Richard Spurlock’s signature chicken and andouille gumbo.
Chef Spurlock will also feature an a la carte menu with two different kinds of Gumbo served with potato salad Cajun style, Jambalaya, Shrimp Po Boys and several other Louisiana specialties.

The band will be performing Louisiana, New Orleans and Mardi Gras favorites and everyone is welcome to dance and sing along.

Guests can bring their own beer and wine to accompany their orders of Chef Richard’s specialties.

Chef Richard Spurlock’s Main Street American Café is located at 6002 Main St., Mays Landing. RSVP Call 609-625-5500 for reserved seats.

The Jersey Gumbo Fest takes place June 15, 2013 at the Somers Point Volunteer Fire Company #1, 447 Bethel Rd., Somers Point and will feature the following musical lineup:

JERSEY GUMBO FEST ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE

12:20 GUMBO LESSONS
1 – 1:45    “ROSIE O’REILLY” GAZARRA
2:15 – 3:00    MOJO MOZART & THE MARDI GRAS SWINGERS
3:20 – 4:20    VINI LOPEZ & LICENSE TO CHILL
3:00  GUMBO LESSONS
4:40 – 5:50    VINI LOPEZ & LICENSE TO CHILL
6:10 – 6:30    AWARDS CEREMONY
6:30 – 8:00    TERRANCE SIMIEN & THE ZYDECO EXPERIENCE
8:30 – 9:50    JUMPIN’ JOHNNY SANSONE & HIS NEW ORLEANS ALLSTARS

See more at Tonymart.com.

ATLANTIC CITY — The Chelsea, Atlantic City’s chic boutique hotel on the Boardwalk, will host the third annual Big Teplitzky Challenge on Saturday, May 18, at 1pm.

The Atlantic City Fire Department will face off with the Atlantic City Police Department in an effort to see who will be the first to clear their plates of the mega four-pound “Big Teplitzky” breakfast of pancakes, stuffed French toast, eggs, bacon, turkey sausage, pork roll, hash browns, grilled tomato, toast and a bagel — with orange juice and coffee to wash it all down, of course!

Will A.C. firefighter Jim McDevitt win a third straight Big Teplitzky Challenge?

All proceeds from ticket sales and sponsorships will benefit The Andrew Fisher Memorial Scholarship Fund and Cop2Cop. Andrew’s Scholarship Fund is a tribute to Captain James Fisher’s son, who was a brilliant chemical engineering student at Northeastern University in Boston at the time of his tragic death. Cop2Cop is a New Jersey based phone counseling service for law enforcement. Law enforcement officers, some of who have faced their own struggles with depression or have seen colleagues suffer, volunteer their time to staff the service.

Individuals or businesses interested in becoming sponsors of The Big Teplitzky Challenge should contact the Atlantic City Firemen’s Federal Credit Union at (609) 272-1000.
Tickets may be purchased in advance for $10 each through ACPD (Jane Tayoun: Janejap@aol.com/ 609-271-2500) or ACFD (Christine Parker: ccparker82@gmail.com/609-576-4084) or purchased at the door.

This year's Host Award winners at Boardwalk Hall

ATLANTIC CITY — The Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority (ACCVA), a division of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA), recognized 27 individuals in the hospitality field during the annual Host Awards on Wednesday, May 8, at Boardwalk Hall.

Presented each year during National Travel and Tourism Week, the Host Awards salute and encourage outstanding customer service by employees in the tourism, hospitality and retail industries who contribute to Atlantic City’s success as a friendly, world-class destination.

Presented by ACCVA president Jeffrey Vasser, each Host Award winner received a prize package consisting of a commemorative lighthouse lapel pin to signify that they are beacons of hospitality, as well as a $200 cash gift card, chocolate from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory located at Tanger Outlets The Walk, and complimentary dinner for two in one of Atlantic City’s fine dining establishments.

Host Award winners were nominated for their enthusiasm, exemplary customer service and ability to enhance the overall experience of the visitors they serve. They were chosen from more than 300 nominees by a selection committee consisting of educators, along with representatives from area organizations including the Greater Atlantic City Chamber, Local 54 and the Atlantic City Hotel & Lodging Association, among others.

Frank Dougherty accepting the Spirit of Hospitality Award on behalf of the Dougherty family.

“Tonight’s Host Award nominees represent the best of the best out of the thousands of people who work in Atlantic City, and we thank each of you for your hard word and dedication,” said Vasser. “The experience we give our visitors is a large part of making Atlantic City a ‘must do’ destination, and you are leading the way.”

Additionally, the Dougherty family, owners and operators of Dock’s Restaurant, the Knife and Fork Inn and Harry’s Oyster Bar, was honored with the Spirit of Hospitality Award, sponsored by TD Bank. The Spirit of Hospitality Award is given to an outstanding individual or individuals who made a significant long-term contribution to the region’s hospitality and travel industry.

2013 Host Award Winners

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ATLANTIC CITY — Those who savor fine wine, craft beers and top-shelf spirits will soon be able to shop, taste, learn and enjoy all in one new destination in Atlantic City. 

The Atlantic City Bottle Company (ACBC) will soon debut as the area’s premier destination for “all that is craft beverage.”

Located at the resort’s Black Horse Pike entryway on Albany Avenue, across from Bader Field, ACBC promises to please the palates of all with best selections of whiskey, micro brews, imported beer and wines, including the largest variety of sparkling wines and champagnes in Atlantic City.

Additionally, a seasonal and ever-changing small-plates menu will be offered, hand-crafted by executive chef Kevin Cronin using the freshest ingredients, and taking their inspiration from tapas bars, gastro pubs and his array of culinary experiences. 

“We are so pleased to bring our unique concept to Atlantic City,” says ACBC co-owner Paul Tonacci.

“Whether you’re looking for a casual yet interesting place to take a date, a warm and inviting lounge to taste wine with your friends, or an unpretentious after-work spot, Atlantic City Bottle Company will have something for everyone.”

According to Tonacci, a friendly and knowledgeable staff eager to share their love of craft beverages will greet all who enter ACBC. With the intention of making wine and whiskey more approachable, guests will have the opportunity to shop for their choice beverages at all price points. Those who prefer to stay and relax can proceed past the retail area to the relaxing bar and lounge, reminiscent of a Prohibition-era speakeasy. Here visitors can enjoy and sample a range of recommended and rare wines and whiskeys from $6 to $400 a glass.

Classes and seminars will also be offered at ACBC, including Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) classes and practical classes like “How to BS Your Way Through a Wine Dinner.” Cooking classes will be regularly offered as will special weekly events such as “Celebrate Italy” every Sunday, “Insider Night” every Monday with food and drink specials for local hospitality workers, and “Wine Geek Night” with blind wine tasting competitions every Thursday.

Learning about wines and spirits will be as easy as ACBC, which will  be open seven days a week. The retail shop hours will be Sunday through Thursday, 10am-7pm, and Friday and Saturday 10am-10pm.  The bar and lounge will be open Sunday 1-11pm, Monday through Thursday 3pm-1am, and Friday and Saturday 3pm-2am. For more information call (609) 348-6400 or visit acbottlecompany.com.

ATLANTIC CITY — From Sunday, April 28, through Thursday, May 2, Johnny Rockets restaurant in Atlantic City (located at 1901 Boardwalk at Bally’s) will be having a dancing celebration to support the efforts of our local food bank.

For every dining room guest who gets up and dances with our servers, Johnny Rockets will donate $1 to our local food banks, which are able to use that amount to provide a meal for someone less fortunate. Thank you for your support!

ATLANTIC CITY — The eighth annual Atlantic City Beer & Music Festival topped its forerunner again last Friday and Saturday, April 5-6, at the Atlantic City Convention Center. To see a photo gallery of the event, click here.

The ‘Celebration of the Suds’ satisfied over 20,000 beer-and-music fans with not only the latest in libations from over 100 craft breweries, but fantastic food from area establishments like Harry’s Oyster Bar, the Palm, the Mussel Bar & Grille, Tony Boloney’s, the Tun Tavern and others.

For a video of the event, click here.

Headline music acts included the Bouncing Souls, Rev. Horton Heat and Rusted Root, amusements featured a free see-sawing “mustache ride,” football place kicking contest, dunk tank, silent disco, giant sand sculpture, and seminars and vendors of all sorts.

Bagpipers, barbershop quartets and live original bands including Westgate, A Wilhelm Scream, Belgrade, Continental, Soihadoo and Cheers Elephant rounded out the live entertainment. One dollar from every ticket sold went to benefit the Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund.

Suds enthusiasts are already eagerly anticipating its 2014 return.

ATLANTIC CITY — In conjunction with the eighth annual Atlantic City Beer (& Music) Festival Friday and Saturday, April 5-6,  the Viking Cooking School at Harrah’s Resort — Atlantic City’s premier hands-on cooking classroom — will host nightly food and beer pairings with Brooklyn Brewery, Goose Island Brewery, and celebrated author and beer enthusiast Gary Monterosso for three days, Monday through Wednesday, April 7-9.

“The Viking Cooking School Atlantic City has a reputation for creating innovative, experimental, and desirable classes, and our April schedule featuring three beer specific classes is no different,” says Robert Schoell, executive chef of Harrah’s and Showboat Atlantic City.

“Over the last decade breweries like Brooklyn and Goose Island have really risen to prominence. Combine that with the consummate expertise of Gary Monterosso (pictured below right, with his book Artisan Beer) and you have an all-star lineup.”

Class details are below. Visit harrahsresort.com and click the “Things To Do” link to find more on the Viking Cooking School.

Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival Brooklyn Brewery Class
•    Sunday, April 7, beginning 4pm
•    $49 per person
•    Menu Highlights: Local 1 Beer paired with Crawfish Étouffée in Miniature Phyllo Cups; Local 2 Beer paired with Stove-Top Macaroni and Cheese with Smoked Ham, Jalapenos and English Cheddar; Sorachi Beer paired with Smoked Salmon “Nachos” on Wonton Chips with Herbed Crème Fraiche, Scallions, Red Onions and Red Peppers; IPA Beer paired with Spicy Jumbo Lump Crab, Spinach and Artichoke Dip with Homemade Chili Rubbed Pita Chips and Purple Potato Chips; Local 2 Beer paired with Chocolate and Cherry Fondue.
•    History: Founded in 1988, Brooklyn Brewery has made quite a name for itself over the last few years, literally quintupling in size and distributing to over 25 states and 20 countries.   Their year-round, seasonal, and specialty brews embody the life, tradition and culture of the New York communities that surround them and epitomize the American craft brewery.

Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival Goose Island Class
•    Monday, April 8, beginning 6pm
•    $49 per person
•    Menu Highlights: Sofie Beer paired with Edamame Puree in Wonton Cup topped with Ahi Tuna; Matilda Beer paired with Individual Seafood Pot Pie; Pepe Nero beer paired with Homemade Spiced Sausage Sliders with Pepe Nero Caramelized Onions and Black Pepper Fries; Père Jacques Beer paired with Malted Cookie and Caramel Ice Cream Sandwiches.
•    History: Founded in 1988, Goose Island was the brainchild of native Chicagoan John Hall. Hall felt he could create a beer even better than the ones he experienced on his travels throughout Europe. The public has agreed.  Goose Island offers guests over 50 distinct craft brews and is located next to historic Wrigley Field.

Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival — Gary Monterosso Beer Class
•    Tuesday, April 9, beginning at 6pm
•    $65 per person (includes Monterosso’s book Artisan Beer)
•    Menu Highlights: TBA
•    Biography: Monterosso is an award-winning writer, who has written for several national and regional publications. He currently appears on the History Channel special The Epic History of Everyday Things, and regularly appears on popular television programs, lending his insight and knowledge about the world of beer.

ATLANTIC CITY — The Celebration of the Suds, a.k.a. the Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival, returns to the Atlantic City Convention Center for the eighth year Friday and Saturday, April 5-6.

The 2013 event will be an amazing experience in taste and sound including hot music to compliment cool brews. Over 90 different breweries from around the corner and across the country will showcase their unique libations.

New Jersey's own Bouncing Souls will headline Session 1 (Friday, 7-11pm) starting 9:30pm.

The focus of the A.C. Beer Festival is the promotion of craft beers and the brewers that create them. This event is the perfect opportunity for beer aficionados, beer lovers and the casual beer drinker to speak to company representatives and brewers responsible for some of their favorite brews. And it’s an opportunity to discover and taste new brews and special “limited release” beers and ales.

Each year the festival organizers review the event and look to further enhance the beer lover’s experience and make each year better than the last. Now in its eighth year, the festival has grown to be one of the country’s largest celebrations of beer.

For 2013 festival producers will bring in musical headliners Reverend Horton Heat and Rusted Root and New Jersey’s own Bouncing Souls to kick off the weekend. Eight bands and performers will be featured at the festival and are profiled on the event Web site (celebrationofthesuds.com) under “sounds.”

The 2013 Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival will also feature culinary demonstrations from area chefs, beer seminars hosted by beer personalities and brewers, and some “off the wall” activities. Additional festival vendors will offer great food and some unique beer-related apparel and goods. This year’s festival will appeal to absolutely everyone (aged 21 and over).

The festival offers a “Designated Driver” ticket price of $11, available at the door, to encourage attendee responsibility and use the many transportation options in the Atlantic City area, including jitneys and cabs. New Jersey Transit’s Atlantic City Line train arrives right inside the Atlantic City Convention Center and NJ Transit officials report that Beer Fest weekend marks the highest single-day ridership numbers all year long. (See njtransit.com for a train schedule). This is one of the reasons why the Atlantic City Convention Center makes for the perfect home of the “Celebration of the Suds.”

Tickets are $51 in advance (fees apply) online at acbeerfest.com or through Ticketmaster.com, $56 at the door (if available), or $51 (no group discounts available) at Joe Canal’s Discount Liquor Outlets on Fire Road in Northfield, or the Black Horse Pike in EHT. For group sales call (609) 348-7023. Keep in mind the festival has sold out for the last four years, so don’t wait to get tickets!

Among the entertainment will be Mark Sceurman and Mark Moran, publishers of 'Weird NJ' magazine as they tell tales of their adventures in the Garden State.

Additionally, in an effort to do its part and give back to the Jersey shore communities, the Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival attendees are dedicated to help rebuilding the shore and get its residents back on their feet, according to event organizer Jon Henderson.  One dollar from every ticket sold will be donated to “Restore the Shore via Hometown Heroes.” For more info check out njhometownheroes.org.

Bally’s Atlantic City is the official “Host Hotel of the 2013 Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival,” offering special rates to festival attendees. Go to acbeerfest.com and click the Bally’s link at the bottom of the page for details.

Join a variety of mustached Americans in one of the festival's staples, the Mustache Lounge

All attendees are urged to taste responsibly. Please know your limits. No one under the age of 21 will be admitted into the show.

A valid photo identification must be presented.
 For up-to-date information or inside notes, follow the fest on twitter @acbeerfest or contact Henderson at jon@celebrationofthesuds.com or call (609) 412-9056.

To find out more about the A.C. Beer & Music Festival app, click here.

MARGATE, N.J. — On Thursday, March 21, Sofia Restaurant in Margate will be hosting a Martinis and Wine Tasting benefit for Community Mediation Services (CMS) Inc. — a non-profit agency dedicated to helping people resolve family and community disputes through the use of trained mediators, and thereby alleviating the courts of overloads and residents of costs. The benefit is from 5:30-7:30pm and the cost is $50 per person (sorry, no refunds).

According to its mission statement, the CMS is a network of United Way-affiliated community organizations whose goal is to reduce violence and hostile conflicts that have reached epidemic proportions in the United States.

Conflict is a natural part of life, and by resolving conflicts peacefully and appropriately, people will raise their quality of life and help the community prosper. CMS is supported by Atlantic County Government, the Atlantic County Bar Association, and the Richard Stockton College School of Social and Behavioral Sciences. The local branch is at 1201 Bacharach Boulevard in Atlantic City.

Along with an assortment of wines from around the world, three of Sofia’s signature martinis, and an array of gourmet hors d’oeuvres, attendees of the March 21 event will also receive 20 percent off their dinner bills if they choose to stay at Sofia for dinner (valid only March 21).

For tickets, contact (609) 345-7267 or visit sofiaofmargate.com.

ATLANTIC CITY — The Celebration of the Suds, a.k.a. the Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival, returns to the Atlantic City Convention Center for the eighth year Friday and Saturday, April 5-6.

The 2013 event will be an amazing experience in taste and sound including hot music to compliment cool brews. Over 90 different breweries from around the corner and across the country will showcase their unique libations.

The focus of the A.C. Beer Festival is the promotion of craft beers and the brewers that create them. This event is the perfect opportunity for beer aficionados, beer lovers and the casual beer drinker to speak to company representatives and brewers responsible for some of their favorite brews. And it’s an opportunity to discover and taste new brews and special “limited release” beers and ales.

Each year the festival organizers review the event and look to further enhance the beer lover’s experience and make each year better than the last. Now in its eighth year, the festival has grown to be one of the country’s largest celebrations of beer.

Rusted Root performs Saturday night at the Celebration of the Suds

For 2013 festival producers will bring in musical headliners Reverend Horton Heat and Rusted Root and New Jersey’s own Bouncing Souls to kick off the weekend. All bands and performers will be featured on the event web site under “sounds”

The 2013 Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival will also feature culinary demonstrations from area chefs, beer seminars hosted by beer personalities and brewers, and some “off the wall” activities. Additional festival vendors will offer great food and some unique beer-related apparel and goods. This year’s festival will appeal to absolutely everyone (aged 21 and over).

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