APPETITE: food trucks

RER 9.7.13

An empty lot adjacent to the Count Basie Theatre patio was transformed into the Food Truck Court for the special weekend long Appetite foodie event (see more here and here). Entrance to the patio and food truck court was a mere $10 and included live musical performances, access to the patio bar and the diverse food trucks hailing from near and as far as New York City. Over the two days various trucks and their representatives offered the guests delicious street food options from BBQ to unique ice cream sandwiches.

RER 9.8.13

RER 9.7.13

Oink and Moo BBQ featured fun and flavorful BBQ with items like pulled pork and brisket sliders, meat packed chili and savory spicy ribs. A tangy goat cheese and jack cheese quesadilla replete with peppers and a side of black bean salad was offered for the non-meat eater. The three pulled pork tacos were served with crunchy cabbage and a little salsa and bean salad to highlight the spicy sweetness of the meat while the sliders were topped with a creamy cole slaw to cool the mouth and crisp potato chips to add texture. Even the sweet cornbread dunked in the meet heavy chili increased balance and accent. Josh Sacks, food truck owner, revealed that there is a smoker on board their purple truck and the secret ingredient of their sweet corn bread.

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Mayhem & Stout from New York City brought along two meat sandwiches with complex flavor profiles and layering. The pretty rib sandwich was constructed with care in front of the guest, a procedure to create balance. The buttery tender ribs lay on the bun base topped by some pickled white onions, tangy to contrast the succulent meat. Then a delicate drizzle of blueberry siriacha intensified the heat and added subtle sweetness to the savory sandwich. The pulled pork sandwich came with a heap of cold slaw for traditional BBQ goodness.

*Note: Not taken during Appetite RER 7.13.13

RER 9.8.13

Coolhaus, ice cream and ice cream sandwich experts, rolled into the food truck court on Sunday, enticing guests with their innovative frozen desserts. They dished out several creative fun ice cream flavors like candied bacon and whiskey & Lucky Charms to be mixed and matched with their equally unexpected cookies like snack food and red velvet. The combinations were endless, and obviously delicious, combining sweet with savory, and familiar with obscure. Their thick customized ice cream sandwiches even came in an edible wrap, making devouring the childhood dessert a breeze.

Andrew Deming

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And Freezy Freeze, the Red Bank gem, brought smiles to the faces of customers as they watched their customized ice cream freeze before their eyes with the help of liquid nitrogen. Andrew Deming founded the ice cream truck after a trip with his daughter to the City where they saw frozen desserts created the same way. He mentioned that the quicker freezing time results in a smoother and creamier ice cream. Freezy freeze also offered a wide range of toppings ranging from heath bar crumbles to pink salt and rotating flavors, like coffee and mint.

The trucks offered something for everyone. Still hungry? And maybe a little thirsty? Stay tuned for the Taste & Talk Tent offerings, some with a very adult twist…

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9.14.13

JAR RER 9.7.13

 

re.CAP: APPETITE a Gastronomic Experience

JAR 9.7.13

The crowd came hungry and ready to indulge in the foodie event Appetite: A Gastronomic Experience presented by the Count Basie Theatre of Red Bank, New Jersey last weekend. The event, spanning from Thursday night until Sunday evening brought about 3,500 attendees according to event organizer, Izzy Sackowitz. The culinary adventure was “where one can taste the finest wines, enjoy local confections, and hear from these great local purveyors who are at the very top of their respective fields,” as Sackowitz put it. There was definitely something for every kind of foodie, from the connoisseur to the food lover.

Adam Philipson, Count Basie Theatre CEO, Mayor Pat Menna, Joe Bastianich, and Victor Rallo

Thursday night, Ina Garten graced the main stage of Count Basie Theatre to pass on some of her culinary wisdom. On Friday night, Anne Burrell made her audience roar with laughter while demonstrating pickling and imparting kitchen confidence to seasoned and aspiring chefs alike with her mantra of the evening; “You are the chef of your own kitchen, so own it!” Joe Bastianich and two local heroes— Pat Menna, Red Bank’s mayor, and Victor Rallo, restaurateur and host of Eat! Drink! Italy!— lit up the same stage on Saturday night during a mystery basket pasta throw-down with battling sauces, unforeseen challenges and unexpected twists.

 

RER 9.7.13

RER 9.7.13

On Saturday the Taste & Talk Tent housed vendors Sackowitz described as “the most inimitable culinary proprietors and perspectives in our area.” The delicious offerings ranged from artisanal coffees from Rook and Coffee Afficionado, beer from Carton Brewing and a variety of liquors from Papa’s Pilar, Angel’s Envy and Jersey Artisan Distilling, to two bite cupcakes from Sugarush and savory and sweet chocolates from Donna & Company. On Sunday the tent was transformed into a Taste & Tour of Italian Wine sponsored by Kobrand, which was a “rousing success” according to Sakowitz. The tour featured about 50 wines and included discussions with the wine producers moderated by Victor Rallo.

 

RER 9.8.13

RER 9.7.13

The sounds of live music drifted from the Count Basie patio and bar over to the Food Truck Court, where vendors served up street food from sweets to BBQ. Each truck brought their unique take on culinary favorites like classic pulled pork sandwiches from Mayhem & Stout and meaty chili from Oink and Moo and delectable frozen desserts from Coolhaus and even scientific ice cream from Freezy Freeze.

 

Amelia Workman and Lauren Davis

The weekend was also filled with smaller wine tastings with Stefani Jackenthal of NTS Wine Tasting, mixology demonstrations by Lauren Davis from Raines Law Room, along with food history centered lectures given by author Michael Krondl.  Jackenthal hosted four sessions that explored the possibilities and complexities of wine, while Davis taught groups a thing or two about mixing cocktails and Krondl took his listeners around the world through his fascinating factual lessons.

 

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Sackowitz revealed that “the idea was to use our unique space to bring the culinary arts to this community and curate a true gastronomic experience,” which resulted in the foodie paradise Appetite. The event brought together local personalities and businesses as well as celebrities of the culinary world to celebrate food, its history and its future. Sackowitz underlined that “Food is central to bringing people together and that togetherness is something that everyone in every community can benefit from,” and Appetite most absolutely achieved that.

Stay tuned for more about the Food Truck Court players and the Taste & Talk Tent vendors!

RER

9.12.13

RER 9.8.13

 

APPETITE: A Gastronomic Experience

Have a big appetite? Prepare to get your fill at Appetite: A Gastronomic Experience presented by the Count Basie Theatre of Red Bank, New Jersey. Billed as the “most unique food event in the State,” it will be held from September 5th through September 8th.  Appetite promises to indulge in every foodie’s fantasy—celebrity chef talks, a Food Truck Court, the Taste & Talk Tent, wine and liquor tastings, even food themed films. There also will be live music and fun activities for kids

Each night a celebrity chef will offer a different culinary experience on the Main Stage at Count Basie Theatre. On Thursday, Inna Garten, known for her Food Network show Barefoot Contessa, will share her natural approach to food through tips, stories and maybe even a few of her recipes. On Friday, Anne Burrell, from Food Network shows like Chef Wanted and Worst Cooks in America, will treat guests to a live interactive cooking demo. And on Saturday, Joe Bastianich, international restaurateur, author and judge on MasterChef USA, will judge a live pasta throw-down between Victor Rallo of Eat! Drink! Italy! and Pat Menna, the mayor of Red Bank.

The Taste &Talk Tent will feature talks and tastings that explore new trends in gastronomy and restaurants, as well as coffee, wine and craft beer.  A Taste and Tour of Italian Wine will be held on Sunday, featuring seven Italian wine producers from the Kobrand Corporation Tour. Wine is not the only adult beverage on the menu. On Saturday and Sunday there will be mixology demonstrations and lessons, as well as rum, bourbon and whiskey samplings.

And if you’re all about the food, Appetite brings together some of the most popular food trucks of the tri-state area, like the super local Red Bank Freezy Freeze and the New York City sandwich favorite, Mayhem and Stout. The Food Truck Court will have a wide array of delicious offerings from sweet confections, like ice cream sandwiches from Coolhaus to the savory and smoky, like baked potatoes from Hunger Construction and BBQ from Oink and Moo.

Tickets are available a la carte or as a VIP All Access Bundle, so that you can pick and choose what interests you and what will whet your appetite.

Appetite, a mix of local personalities and big names in the culinary world, is going to be a well-rounded weekend for all kinds of foodies. It will be a great chance to learn from the best and taste new foods in the company of like-minded people.

And I am super excited to learn, taste, experience and most of all indulge. I don't know about you, but I’m always hungry!

Appetite: A Gastronomic Experience

When: Thursday, September 5  through Sunday, September 8

Where: Count Basie Theatre

            99 Monmouth St, Red Bank,

            NJ 07701

Tickets: Please click here to purchase tickets or call (732) 842-9000