YESTERDAY
The voters' choice!
Jersey Shore Restaurant Week is now in full swing, and I attended a special event (The Great Jersey Shore Martini Contest) at The Mill in Spring Lake Heights. There, nine bartenders from a variety of fabulous Jersey shore restaurants mixed their signature martinis, all competing for the title of Greatest Jersey Shore Martini.
Guests and invited judges had the opportunity to sample all the drinks and vote for their favorites. As I walked around and spoke with other guests, it was clear that deciding on a winner would not be easy. Each bartender had fans in his or her corner, boasting about the different concoctions.
The judges' choice! (photo by Christina Rudczynksi)
However, at the end of the afternoon, winners had to be selected. Ryan Russell of Shipwreck Grill won the voters’ choice with his Black Pearl, a drink inspired by the women in his family! The judges’ choice was Chris Asay from Remington’s, and his drink was called Brent’s Blueberry Bomber. This is definitely a drink to check out, whether you like martini’s or not, because there is a lot of interesting science going on! Asay injects blueberry puree into locally made honey to create droplets that look like blueberries. It is really a fun (and tasty) drink!
Chatting with Alison Manser Ertl from The Coast Star. (photo by Christina Rudczynski)
In addition to the talented bartenders, I also met other really fabulous, New Jersey folks including a group of women from a Meetup group called Monmouth Rocks II. They had a great time at the event, and some of them even came dressed to drink in martini t-shirts! Alison Manser Ertl, from The Coast Star was one of the contest judges, and we got to talk for a bit about how much we both love Jersey Shore Restaurant Week, and so many of the other great things to do in the area. It was a tightly packed event, so it was easy to (literally) bump into someone new and start a conversation. Everyone was in “good spirits” though, and so it was a fun time.
There’s still time to check out what other fun events are planned for Jersey Shore Restaurant Week, and partake in the specially priced menus at many Jersey shore restaurants this week. Make sure to visit their website if you haven’t already!
A sampling of tasty snacks or "martini food." (photo by Christina Rudczynski)
TODAY
This Monday evening, I’ll be heading to 4Sixty6 (also known as NJ’s Vegas) in West Orange for an event sponsored by Palermo’s Bakery and Cake Gallery. My sweet tooth is ready to try some cake, cupcakes, and pastries!
TOMORROW
I’m not doing anything. Well, that’s the plan, at least. I am going to work, but then coming home and resting!
(We’ll see if that actually happens…)
~Melissa
The Jersey Girl
Jen Flynn, of Jersey Shore Restaurant Week, and I try a martini from Langosta Lounge! (photo by Christina Rudcznski)
With the ladies of the Monmouth Rocks II Meetup group! (photo by Christina Rudczynski)
The Jersey Girl 