Late Summer Peach and Tomato Salad

That title should read Peach and “JERSEY” Tomato Salad because it’s at this time of year when New Jersey produce shines brightest. We had a terribly late spring, which means the tomatoes that are our pride and joy did not really come into their own until just. about. now. So here’s a recipe that takes full advantage of beautifully ripe peaches and luscious Jersey tomatoes.

We enjoyed it with crispy grilled chicken drumettes (thank you, Goffle Poultry Farm), fabulous potato salad (thank you, Christine), and sweet JERSEY corn (what, you were expecting our corn to be from somewhere else? Come on!). The salad is courtesy of a wonderful nutritionist at Morristown Memorial Hospital who sends out a terrific weekly recipe roundup. So you know this is healthy!

With only two official weekends of summer left, you’ve got to jump right on this!

Recipe here!

PS: If you are in the north Jersey area this Sunday, August 24, I'll be a judge at the annual Fairway Firefighter's Food Face-off in Woodland Park, 12noon. Stop by to say hello!

Woodland Park Fairway Firefighters BBQ Throw Down!

Winners, 2012 Fairway Firefighters Cook-off, Paramus

Fairway Market has a long history of supporting their local communities. For the last few years, the Paramus location has held an annual firefighters food face-off, a charity event where local firehouse teams compete against each other for the title of “Best BBQ.”  The Paramus events have been very successful, and now the fun comes to Woodland Park!

 

On Sunday, August 25, beginning at “high noon,” five Passaic County firehouse teams will meet to throw down the gauntlet, BBQ style. Participating firehouses include West Paterson, Totowa, Little Falls, Wayne, and Hawthorne. Using food donated by Fairway, the firefighters will cook their tastiest ribs, burgers, and chicken or vegetable skewers. A secret ingredient, which all teams will need to include in their burgers, will be announced right before the contest begins.

The judges, with the envious job of trying to pick a winner, will be Keith Kazmark, Mayor of Woodland Park, Steve Jenkins, Fairway’s cheese monger, Terry Krongold (yours truly!), from Jersey Bites.com, Leia Gaccione, Chef de Cuisine for Bobby Flay's restaurant Mesa Grill, and Sara Monica Gaona from SmallChickBigDeals.com.

 

The winning firehouse will receive bragging rights as the best Passaic County Fire Department grilling team and a $500 gift card to the store. More importantly, the first place firehouse will select the charity of its choice to benefit from a Fairway Market “Shopping Night,” in which 25% of sales will go to that charity. 

 

This event is a fundraiser for the Woodland Park 100th centennial event in May 2014, which Fairway Market is sponsoring. To help with the fundraising, food will be available for $5.00.

 

The event will feature samples of the firefighters’ fare and food from Fairway vendors, along with the music of The American Bombshells, giveaways, and face-painting for kids.

 “Firefighters are famous for being terrific cooks and are justifiably proud of the firehouse cuisine they create,” said Bill Sanford, president of Fairway Market. “We really enjoy shining the spotlight on them and their grilling expertise and giving the community a chance to meet and greet these local heroes. Plus, it is all done for a good cause, making the event so meaningful and important.”

Come support these brave firefighters in their quest to be the best BBQ firehouse team in Passaic County!

Sunday, August 25 (rain or shine)

12 noon
Fairway Market
1510 Rt 46 West
Woodland Park, NJ 07424

Bergen County Firefighter's Food Face-Off!

Looking to add a little extra fun to this weekend’s Father’s Day activities? Well, if you are in the north Jersey area, stop by Fairway Market in Paramus for the third annual FIREFIGHTERS FOOD FACE-OFF! This grilling “throwdown,” pits several of Bergen County’s firehouses against one another to prove which one has the best barbecue.

The winning firehouse will not only receive bragging rights as the best grillers in Bergen County, but also the opportunity to name the charity of its choice to benefit from Fairway’s “NJFD Shopping Day,” which the Paramus store will host on behalf of the winning team’s favorite charity.  All proceeds from the $2 charge for food at the event will also go toward the winning firehouse’s charity of choice.  

2012 Winners

Participating firehouses include the Park Ridge Fire Department, Ridgewood Fire Department, and Hackensack Fire Department. The firefighters will compete to cook their tastiest ribs, burgers, chicken or vegetable skewers, plus a secret ingredient that will only be unveiled once the contest has begun.

In addition to the food and festivities and in honor of all dads on Father’s Day, professionals from the Hackensack University Medical Center will be at the Firefighters Food Face-Off to answer questions and provide valuable health information.

It all takes place Sunday, June 16 at high noon in the parking lot behind Fairway Market’s Paramus store in the Fashion Center Mall on Route 17 in North Paramus, NJ (RAIN OR SHINE). 

Fairway Market Paramus Hosts Shopping Night

TO HONOR THE PARK RIDGE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WINNERS OF THE FAIRWAY FIREFIGHTERS FOOD FACE OFF, FAIRWAY MARKET WILL HOST A SHOPPING NIGHT ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST, 22, 2012 AT THE PARAMUS STORE, AND WILL DONATE A PORTION OF PROCEEDS TO THE MARY THERESE ROSE FUND.

In honor of the Park Ridge Fire Department’s dedication, bravery, and volunteerism—and for placing first in Fairway’s Firefighter Food Face-Off in June, Fairway Market is hosting a Shopping Night on Wednesday, August 22, 2012 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Paramus store (Fashion Center Mall Route 17) with 25% of all sales going to Mary Therese Rose Fund, an organization that provides children with disabilities the medical provisions and aid that their insurance may not cover. With proper donations, these disabled children are allowed to lead a normal, happy childhood despite their limitations. The Park Ridge Fire Department beat out Ridgewood Fire Department and West Paterson Fire Department in the second annual Fairway Firefighters Food Face-Off. The winning team won a $500 gift card to shop at Fairway, plus they were able to select the good cause that will receive the 25% of proceeds from the Shopping Night. Mark Eisen, a member of the winning BBQ team, said the Park Ridge Fire Department is delighted to assist such deserving youngsters with a helpful donation.

Fairway Market has a longstanding commitment to firefighters, exemplified after the 9/11 tragedy, when Fairway adopted local firehouses and supplied food for them throughout the search and clean-up process. In addition to the Firefighter Food Face-Off events, firefighters receive a shopping discount at Fairway’s eleven locations.

To participate in the Shopping Night, Fairway customers need to register at an in-store table where they will get a form to present to the cashier when they are checking out.

WHAT:  FAIRWAY SHOPPING NIGHT/PARK RIDGE FIRE DEPARTMENT

WHEN:  Wednesday, August 22, 2012 from 4PM to 9PM

WHERE: FAIRWAY MARKET PARAMUS

     Fashion Center Mall Route, Rt 17 North, Paramus, NJ 07652

                 201 444 5455; www.fairwaymarket.com

Fairway FireFighters Food Face Off!

2010 Event

Cook's Tour NJ/NY Readers - I am excited to announce that I will be a judge at the Fairway Firefighters Food Face-Off on Sunday, June 17th at the Paramus, NJ Fairway Market!  The press release is below.  If you are in the area on the 17th, please come by to say hello, taste the BBQ and support some of New Jersey's bravest!

PRESS RELEASE

In lieu of ladders, axes, helmets and flashlights, New Jersey’s bravest will instead don aprons and haul their barbecue tongs, basting brushes, rubs and sauces to  Fairway’s Firefighters Food Face-Off, a grilling “throwdown” that will pit several of New Jersey’s firehouses against one another to prove whose barbecue is best, on Sunday, June 17^th at noon in the parking lot behind Fairway’s Paramus store location, Fashion Center Mall on Route 17 in Paramus, NJ.  (RAIN OR SHINE)  The firefighters will compete to cook their most delicious ribs, beef and vegetable skewers. Taste, originality and the incorporation of a secret ingredient (unveiled once the contest begins) are the criteria for the following judges: Mel Fabrikant and Tina Apprich of the Paramus Post, Maria Melito of Q104.3,  Fairway’s own Master Butcher Ray Venezia and Terry Krongold of The Cook’s Tour, The champion firehouse will not only receive bragging rights for next year—that is, until the 3^rd Annual Paramus Face-Off—but also the opportunity to name the charity of its choice to benefit from  proceeds earned during an upcoming “Fairway Shopping Night.” Participating Firehouses are: Park Ridge Fire Department (defending champs), Ridgewood Fire Department and West Paterson Fire Dept.

ENJOY FIREFIGHTERS COMPETITION AND CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAY WITH LOTS OF SAMPLES, MUSIC AND GIVEAWAYS!  

WHAT:    SECOND ANNUAL FAIRWAY FIREFIGHTERS FOOD FACE-OFF

WHEN:    SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 2012

                 NOON (competition begins)

WHERE:  PARKING LOT OF FAIRWAY MARKET

                  FASHION CENTER MALL – ROUTE 17

                  PARAMUS, NJ,