Benefit Dinner at Morristown Business Offers Local Food, Wines

Keep it local when you go out to dinner this upcoming Friday. A 5-Course tasting menu of locally-sourced foods will be held on Friday 7 p.m. at The Artist Baker in Morristown. Sponsored by the Northern New Jersey Chapter of Slow Food, there will New Jersey Wines paired with ingredients sourced from Northern New Jersey farms and local food artisans. 

The funds raised at this event will be benefit the Slow Food Northern New Jersey School Garden Program. 

The wines to be poured with each course will be from Beneduce Vineyards, Unionville Vineyards, and Hopewell Valley Vineyards.  Gary Tonucci, our chapter’s wine enthusiast will provide information and insights about viniculture in our state and these wines.  Andrea Lekberg, chef/owner of the boutique bakery, The Artist Baker, has planned a menu inspired by these wines. 

"Since opening up a business here, I have been trying to figure out what the regional tastes are. This dinner, with wine and ingredients sourced from Northern New Jersey, should give people a taste of the region and should help with understanding why and how food taste different all over the country," said Lekberg. "'Keeping it local' helps keep most of the processes in getting food to the table simplified."

The ingredients will be sourced from Mosefund Farms in Branchville, Salumeria Biellese in Hackensack, The Farm at Lafayette in Morristown, The Community Garden (Maureen’s plot) in Morristown and Valley Shepherd Creamery in Long Valley.

"This event is a celebration of the wines, produce and artisinal products of Northern Jersey," said Marie LaDuca, Secretary of the Steering Committee of Slow Food NNJ and organizer of this event. "We are looking forward to introducing our attendies to the interesting and surprisingly good wines of our State.  Andrea of the Artist Baker has been a wonderful partner in developing a pairing menu with some of the produce as local as Morristown and all ingredients from the nearby area.  There are still some seats available so hurry if you would like to join us." 

The all-inclusive price for Slow Food Members whose membership is current is $80 and $85 for non-members.  A vegan or vegetarian option is available upon request.

Tickets can be purchased through Brown Paper Tickets. http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/368818