Restaurants are coming together this week to gear up for one of the tastiest events held in Hudson County each year. “A Taste of Weehawken,” the annual fund-raiser for the Weehawken Public Library, will be held on Tuesday, April 26.
Some of the restaurants participating in this year’s “Taste” met with officials and the press last week to preview their fare for the event, which raises approximately $20,000 each year for the library.
The funds supplement the general budget and allow the library to provide exceptional programming at no cost for everyone from youngsters to seniors with programs like Circle Time and Bingo for Books.
Each year ‘A Taste of Weehawken’ features some time-honored favorites of the Hudson County restaurant scene as well as some newbies.
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In addition to being a great fund-raiser for the library, the event is also a great ‘fun’ raiser for attendees who are given the chance to sample the cuisine from a variety of local restaurants under one roof for one price.
New ‘Tastes’
Each year “A Taste of Weehawken” features some time-honored favorites of the Hudson County restaurant scene as well as some newbies.
One of the new participants this year will be Ricky Rick’s, a “casual international cuisine” bistro located in Weehawken.
Owner Rick Morales said all of the fare in the restaurant, which includes soups, salads, and sandwiches are served with an international twist (think roast beef with chimichurri sauce).
Also new to “Taste” this year will be Bertolotti Desserts, a wholesaler of Italian desserts located in Fairview.
Although they have an extensive customer base of restaurants throughout Connecticut and the five boroughs of New York City, Bertolotti’s is hoping that “Taste” will help them break into the Hudson County market.
A little promo goes a long way
Papita and Praveen Nair, who own Touch of Spice on Park Avenue in Weehawken, said they had a great experience when they participated for the first time last year and this year they are hoping for more of the same.
Their restaurant neighbor down the block, Paula Frasier of Paula’s (formerly Paula at Rigoletto), said she is hoping the event will not only boost promotion of the existing restaurants along Park Avenue but also encourage more to open there.
The area has undergone several changes over the past year with many of the promising businesses along the avenue closing up shop and leaving the burgeoning commercial area in somewhat of a standstill.
Meanwhile, Frasier has been doing some creative promotion herself, creating specialty entertainment nights at her restaurant like jazz on Thursdays and singer/songwriters on Sundays.
She also has begun making her own mozzerella (which will be on display at “Taste”).
Other area restaurants are taking their goods to the streets for promotion. GP’s in Guttenberg has created a “meatball cart,” which is used at festivals and parked at Boulevard East and 70th Street during the summer months.
And Charrito’s, which has locations in Hoboken and Weehawken, is hoping the event will help them keep the seats filled in their Boulevard East location, which recently opened their second floor and will be adding a new outdoor café area.
Get your tickets
“A Taste of Weehawken” will take place on April 26 at the Food Court at Lincoln Harbor. Tickets are $55 per person for 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., which includes the extra preview hour and door prizes, and $30 per person for general admission from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased at Weehawken Free Public Library and Multi-Media Center, 49 Hauxhurst Ave. Tickets purchased at the door are subject to a $5 additional charge each. For more information, contact the library at (201) 863-7823.
Lana Rose Diaz can be reached at ldiaz@hudsonreporter.com.
SIDEBAR
Paying it forward
One unique result of the atmosphere of philanthropy and food that “A Taste of Weehawken” has created is a desire to give back even more.
On May 24 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Ben and Jerry’s of West New York will host a fund-raiser at their shop, with 20 percent of proceeds going towards library.
Find out more information about the event in the coming weeks in the Reporter.