Red Bank Wine and Food Walk

[seal]

Wanted to go on one of these and Father's day with the whole family seemed like a good idea...

Started off at the Farmer's Market at 1:30 so we were able to buy a few things before the walk started at 2. Bought the $25 tickets at a very gracious Taste. They had a nice Reisling and a tasty pasta salad and even served us a few minutes early.

Walked up Monmouth St to Jamians next and had a nice spoonful of pulled pork on a crostini and a refreshing white that I forget. Next was a really good mini cupcake from across the street at Cupcake Magician. The best drink of the day went to Teak for their peach infused sangria and they also served one of their always good edamame dumplings in a little thai soup.

Teeniest pour of the day was at the Wine Cellar and we barely got to taste their red - no food there either. Carter & Cavero put out some nice dips with bread and crackers while they finished making a salad, but we didn't want to wait so we crossed the street to the Cheese Cave. They only had one small taste and no drinks, but they are always quick with a sample of most anything in the shop and we had a few while we bought some cheese.

Readie's Deli had some surprisingly good jambalaya and also a choice of a few other hot things. I may have to start buying some take out from this place. Red had a nice pour of a refreshing white and some hot rice balls, but Bienvenue, on the list, was closed! Boo them. Sugarush had another very good mini cupcake and New Corner Pizza had two very different slices which may have been good had they been hot.

The Downtown had a nice Reisling and something they called Lobster Cobbler that tasted better than it sounds. I almost had a second one. Spread of the day went to Pazzo?! for a buffet table with a few hot pizzas and several plates of meatballs and ricotta. Had we wanted we could have eaten well just there and they had a nice pour of a decent red too. Even for free though those meatballs just weren't very good.

We finished up back where we started, at the Galleria. The Melting Pot had a very good chocolate fondue with a small pour of a good red. They were very nice, seating us at a table and then giving us cards good for free dessert over the summer. Also high marks for Siam Garden that had set up an outdoor serving area. Their refreshing rosewater beverage and excellent pad thai brought the day to a close.

I love this town.

[drexbat21]

Attended the walk in August and it was fun. We were told that the 500 wristbands sold out in 10 minutes, prob. because of the nice weather.

Started at Downtown, they had a mac & cheese pop and some white wine. Red had a very small spread (some crackers) but a really nice Chardonnay. Blue Water was on the list but said that they were not participating that day.

The Bistro had some great food and really friendly staff. From there we went to Dish for some little sliders (pulled pork I believe). After that we hopped to Readies deli but the staff there wasn't very friendly nor was it clear what we were allowed to sample.

Gaetano's was next and they had two very tasty wines. After we hit the cigar shop we went to La Pasteria. It was kinda tucked away but had a very nice presentation and very friendly staff.
Cut over to Monmouth St. to check out the Cheese Cave for little grilled cheese sandwiches, the Wine Cellar to sample a red & white wine, the Cupcake Magician for a cupcake bite, Teak for sangria, and Buono Sera which also let us sample a red & a white plus a great array of food. Jamian's was on the list but they didn’t seem to have anything prepared. Found out later that they too had sangria.

On our way to the Galleria we hit Taste which had terrible tuna bites on a cracker (if my memory serves me right). Melting Pot had a nice sample of chocolate fondue and Rosa Regale which you could also purchase a bottle. Tommy’s pizza was low on food as it was getting close to 6 and the Siam Garden had a table of food outside which none of us had room to sample. We ended up at Danny’s as they were packing up to sample a red wine or 2. All in all it was a fun day, and we now know which places to return to and which ones to avoid.