NJ Dining Event Recap: Share Our Strength Taste Of The Nation ’07

This year, the Share Our Strength Taste of The Nation event in New Jersey was held at the Olde Mill Inn in Basking Ridge on May 7. In prior years, it was held at the Madison Hotel, a much larger venue, but the hotel decided to raise its fees significantly for renting out its ballrooms and thus put the entire event at risk. In a huge gesture of generosity and swooping down like a white knight to save the day, Olde Mill Inn donated its entire facilities for the charity event, so this year, all of the proceeds of the event went to fighting the cause of child hunger and poverty.

Although the event was smaller this year, it felt like a more hardcore foodie intimate affair than previous years and attendance was still very high.

There were a number of things I photographed but was unable to identify the restaurant or the description of the dish. If you were there and know what it is and who served it, please feel free to comment here or email me.

Olde Mill Inn’s courtyard was the perfect venue for such a beautiful evening.

Great food and drink for a great cause awaits. Click on the “Read the rest of this entry” link below for more.

Fascino – Braised Beef, Gorganzola, Black Truffle filled Ravioli with Fava Beans. One of the knockout dishes of the evening, without a doubt.

Pierre’s Risotto with Morel Mushrooms and Ramps.

Pierre’s Chef Micheal Peters plating to the crowds with wife Marybeth observing proudly.

Chef Maria Lynn of Catering By Maria prepared three separate asparagus-themed appetizers.

Asparagus Tarts

Cold Asparagus Soup

Cold Asparagus Mousse

Restaurant MC’s crisp Bacalao Fingers/Spring Rolls

Restaurant MC’s Chocolate with Passion Fruit dessert, made with E. Guittard chocolate.

BBQ Ribs from Heart and Soul Catering

Jambalaya from Touch Bayou Catering

Grub Hut was here wowing the crowds with its Cuban-style pig cooked in a Caja China.

Grub Hut’s Cuban Roast Pork BBQ Sandwich

Grub Hut was filling tasty brisket tacos too.

Grub Hut’s brisket taco

Whole Foods’s Curried Wheatberry Salad

Restaurant Serenade

Rio 22’s Sushi with Steak Sandwich

Seared Tuna from Domaine Laurino

Pork Rillette/Country Pate with Pickled Ramp and Mustard from Pluckemin Inn

Il Mondo Vecchio – Chocolate Mousse Napoleon

Braised Veal and Grilled Polenta from Basilico

Unidentified #4

Main Event by Melody Catering’s Shrimp Rice and Thai Peanut Salad

Roots Steakhouse

Grain House – Crabcake and Greens with Sriracha Mayonaisse

Grain House — Ceviche of Tasmanian Ocean Trout with Thai Basil, Asian Pear, Passion Fruit and Crisp Plantain