New to the Montclair Food & Wine Festival is a series of culinary-focused seminars. The four-seminar lineup will take place on Sunday June 1. “The selection of seminars we arrived at serves a dual purpose – demonstrating micro and macro gastronomy. We showcase the enormous talent and passion in our immediate community with people like Lou Palma, Laura Schenone, and Sally Owens, but we also want to broaden the scope of seminars – in both geography and doctrine,” said Melody Kettle, President & Treasurer of the event. ”As a leading food town of New Jersey, I felt it our responsibility to address topics beyond what’s currently trending in the food world. We want to explore larger ethical issues like foie gras, and sustainable practices in NJ aquaculture – which will affect not only what we eat now, but what, and how our children will eat as well,” continued Kettle.

Sunday, June 1, 2014 – Seminar Series at The Commonwealth Club (26 Northview Ave, Montclair, 07043).

The Pasta Show with Lou and Laura – 11:30AM – 1PM.

Laura Schenone, the James Beard  award winning author of “The Lost Ravioli Recipes of Hoboken,” and “A Thousand Years Over a Hot Stove,” will team up with “The Gastomechanic” culinary mentor Lou Palma for “The Pasta Show with Lou & Laura”. The duo will demonstrate how to make and roll out a basic dough that can be used for many different shapes and types of pasta.  They will demonstrate tagliatelle and ravioli, while discussing different varieties of flour, fillings, and sauces. Attendees of the demonstration will receive a tasting portion of freshly prepared pasta topped with Lou and Laura’s own tomato sauce, paired with wine.

New Jersey Aquaculture: Consider the Oyster + The Clam – 1:15PM – 2:45PM.

Attendees of the NJ aquaculture seminar will enjoy four varieties of oysters, and NJ hard clams. Oysters are donated by Chris Cannon of the upcoming Jockey Hollow Bar + Kitchen in Morristown. 

Panelist will include Gef Flimlin, Gef Flimlin a Professor and Marine Extension Agent with Rutgers Cooperative Extension who has been working with commercial fisheries and aquaculture for over 35 years.  Flimlin runs the Barnegat Bay Shellfish Restoration Program and has recently formed a hard clam growers cooperative, Heritage Shellfish Coop. 

Matt Gregg, Edible Jersey Local Hero and grower at Forty North Oyster Farms, will also be on the panel. Matt will give a crash course on oyster tasting and discuss the fundamentals of becoming a connoisseur.

Oysters will be custom paired with a wine by Chris Cannon.

Debunking Myths of Foie Gras with Ariane Daguin  + Ariane Duarte – 3PM – 4:30PM.

The dynamic Ariane Daguin, owner of D’Artagnan, will discuss the controversial subject of foie gras, including policy and her company’s role in the market.  Celebrity Top Chef Ariane Duarte  commands the kitchen at CulinAriane, one NJ’s most consistently acclaimed restaurants. During our Foie Gras seminar, Chef Ariane will create a custom D’Artagnan foie gras dish for guests to enjoy, while they sip a custom paired wine.  

Latin Vegan Tapas with Sally Owens of SO Tasty Vegan & Leaf Vodka – 4PM – 6PM (this seminar is being held at Designer Appliances – 208 Bellevue Avenue, Montclair, 07042).

Complete details, including pricing and ticket buying, can be found at: http://montclairfoodandwinefestival.org/seminarseries/

Best,

Veronique