The Food Maven Diary
[Archives]

[Previous Entry] [Diary Home] [Next Entry]

11/17/2005 Archived Entry: "This Weened in Little Silver, New Jersey"

I’m back and I’m busy.

I’ll write to you very soon with reports on Rome restaurants (not altogether positive), the pressing of this year’s olive oil (joy to the world), and the goings on at Cecilia’s farm, Tenuta Seliano. Foodwise and otherwise, there’s always something up. Meanwhile …

Last week, I was in Italy with a Cook at Seliano group. Now I am bringing a bit of Seliano to Little Silver, New Jersey.

I will be at Sickles Market on Saturday, giving an Italian-oriented tour of the store to a limited group. A “Culinary Safari,” Sickles impresario Bob Sickles calls it. That part of the event is already sold out, but, by attending the next event, the cooking demonstration directly after the shopping spree, from noon to about 1:30, you can still see and taste what I’ve found to cook at Sickles. I’m doing the demo in the Sickles greenhouse – of course handing out samples. Then, at 2 p.m., Bob and I are hosting a classic Neapolitan lunch at Anjelica’s, in nearby Sea Bright. After a few antipasti, the menu features scampi oreganata, gnocchi with an old-fashioned ragu (“Sunday Gravy”). The meats that cooked in the rague come next – meatballs, sausage, and pork ribs; served sautéed escarole. Dessert is torta caprese with crème anglaise, an almond and chocolate cake with no flour, and a lush custard sauce to moisten it. It is absolutely my kind of meal.

And there’s still room at the table, and for the demonstration.

The cooking demonstration and lunch together cost $100. However, 10 people may sign up for the luncheon alone, which is $75. In either case, $25 of each ticket will be donated to Family and Children’s Services.

For more information, and to register, please call Sallie, Leah, or Julie at 732-741-9563. Payment is by Visa, MasterCard or American Express at time of registration.

No registration (or fee) is involved to attend the meet and greet reception on Saturday evening at Sickles. Bob Sickles is providing the snacks and beverage. I will be at the market, from 6 p.m. till 9 pm., to schmooze and sign books. All of them will be available for purchase and signing -- from the paperback What To Cook When You Think There’s Nothing in the House to Eat to my coffee table tome, Arthur Schwartz’s New York City Food.

I’ll be at Sickles on Sunday, too, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – ready to meet you, and still with a stack of books, I suppose.