The Ferry House - Review

Charitable events in good taste

BY SUSAN SPRAGUE YESKE
USE MUG
The Times of Trenton
Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Autumn always brings a flurry of tasting parties to aid worthy causes, a popular fund-raising technique that benefits everyone. Foodies enjoy the opportunity to learn about new restaurants while making tax-deductible donations, the restaurants get to show what they can do and the charities reap the rewards.

This season is no exception, with two scheduled during the next few weeks.

Local restaurants and wineries will provide samples of their wares for "Toast to Your Health" Nov. 5 at the Baldassari Regency in Trenton.

Tickets are $75 in advance and $100 at the door for the five-hour event that begins at 3 p.m. The event will benefit the St. Francis Medical Center Foundation. For information, call the foundation office at (609) 599-5659.

On Nov. 10, the Lambertville Area Chamber of Commerce will host "A Taste of Lambertville" from 6 to 9 p.m. at Zanya Spa/ Salon in the historic Lace Works at 287 Main St. with a wide range of dishes from city restaurants.

The chamber of commerce will be the beneficiary as foodies dine on filet mignon from Lambertville Station, pumpkin cannelloni with sage alfredo sauce from Rick's, shrimp crepes with horseradish drizzle from 49 North Main , seafood pasta salad from Andiamo, wild mushrooms in cream sauce over chicken by Full Moon Cafe, meatloaf from Deanna's, andouille etoufee from Inn of the Hawk, roasted pig from Hamilton Grill Room and others.

Tickets are $45 and can be purchased at Zanya, Dresswell's and Sojourner on Bridge Street and No. 63 on North Union Street.

Top-shelf fund-raiser

Gourmet dining and an opportunity to meet Olympic rowing coaches will be the highlights of to morrow's fund-raiser at the Princeton home of Sheri and Jim Dwyer.

Bobby Trigg, owner/executive chef at The Ferry House in Princeton, will cater the gourmet feast which will feature two open bars, a prime rib grill station, lamb lolli pops, sushi, crab cocktails, breads, side dishes and dessert. The series of stations will be set up in the Dwyer home.

The second annual fund-raiser for the Men's and Women's Olympic Rowing Program begins at 6:30 p.m. Co-chairing are Finn Casper son, who built the world-class racing and training facility at Mercer Lake, the location of the official U.S. Olympic Training Center, and Finn Wentworth. Olympic coaches who will attend and greet guests are Mike Teti, the U.S. men's coach, a 12-time national team member and a three-time Olym pian, and Tom Terhaar, the U.S. women's coach and a nine-time national team member and three- time Olympian.

Individual tickets are $500, payable to PNRA (Princeton National Rowing Association). It's a 501(c)3 organization, and a portion of the contribution is tax deductible.

Tickets are available at the door. For more information call Susan Kloss at (973) 898-1282 or e- mail her at skloss@normandyreal ty.com.

Colonial Thanksgiving

There will be history in the re making Saturday when food historian Susan McLellan Plaisted of Heart to Hearth Cookery again prepares a harvest feast over the open hearth at the Johnson Ferry House in Washington Crossing State Park.

The cooking demonstration will cover autumn dishes from Colonial times that developed into our present-day Thanksgiving feast.

The event, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., is free and open to the public. Donations will be accepted to cover the cost of refreshments.

For information, call (609) 737-2515.

End of the season

The Holcombe-Jimison Farmstead Museum will end its season Sunday with demonstrations of corn shelling, corn grinding, cider making and other activities from 1-4 p.m.

Located just north of Lambert ville on Route 29, the farmstead demonstrates all the facets of 19th-century country life. Attrac tions will include a blacksmith at work, print shop, woodworking shop, kitchen and doctor/dentist office. (www.holcombe-jimison.org)