CreditILLUSTRATION BY CARI VANDER YACHT Christmas went all through our two-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn. It was one of my mother’s House Rules. She hung felt stockings inside the front door and lined the hallway with quilled-paper Santas, candy canes, an

or many, the thought of the gefilte fish brings with it visions of grayish brown globs in some sort of gelatinous liquid, plated up for the holiday dinners alongside the borscht and the brisket (the brisket was usually more exciting). This oh-so-unappetizing image of gefilte fish is so ingrained that it came to symbolize the Jewish food, especially Ashkenazi cuisine, much of which is rooted in the food traditions of Eastern Europe.

Don’t be. Halloween is one of the most exciting times of the year. According to a 2015 survey by the National Retail Federation, more than 157 million people plan to celebrate the spooky day, generating sales of nearly $7 billion in the United States alone. And it’s no wonder: With the costumes and late-night reveling, Halloween offers a chance to feel like a kid again.

Reading list? Cocktail supplies? Oh wait, that last part wasn’t for the kids. Whether you’re in grad school or a parent with kids returning to class, back-to-school season means picking up some classic literature (or at least the SparkNotes version of it). While the study guides may help you along with characters and plot, they often miss the classic cocktails practically dripping from the pages of so many of the world’s great books.

ith the summer nearly behind us (we can’t believe it either), the Garden State’s grape growers have returned to the vineyards for harvest, and the early reports are in — this year is well on the way to being another winner for New Jersey’s wine industry. “The New Jersey Wine industry continues on its path of establishing an identity as a fine wine-producing region,” said Daniel Ward, Ph.D., Associate Extension Specialist in Pomology (literally, the science of growing fruit).

t’s not every day that you hear unsolicited praise for your product. But that happened for Brian Kulbacki, the 30-year old founder, brewmaster, and all-around everything guy of the award-winning Departed Soles Brewing Company in Jersey City, when he stopped into Hoboken’s Cork City for a quick beer.

he story of tequila has a lot in common with the story of Mexico itself — rooted in an ancient civilization, deeply impacted by European colonists, and today encompassing a multitude of expressions that are often misunderstood. Indeed, many people only think of tequila in connection with margaritas and Cinco de Mayo (which is often thought of as Mexico’s Independence Day — but actually commemorates the Mexican army’s victory at the Battle of Puebla).

any would argue that nothing beats a cold beer during the summer. Except, perhaps, a cold beer and an order of piping hot fish and chips on the boardwalk. Or a beer and a corn dog. Or a beer and funnel cake. After all, wine isn’t the only adult beverage that pairs well with food! Like sand and the waves, beer and classic boardwalk food can be great on their own — but together they create an incredible experience that’s as much a part of summer in New Jersey as going down the shore.

old, bubbly, refreshing, and with a tendency to make one feel rather glamorous – as though enjoying cocktail hour in Venice with George and Amal Clooney – the spritz might just be the ultimate warm weather cocktail. This longtime staple of classic Italian drinking culture is also one of the hottest drinks in America at the moment, thanks to the expanding popularity of herbaceous bitters and other amari (aka, Italian liquours).

ith parades from Paramus to Point Pleasant, fireworks from Finesville to Freehold, and barbecues from Bayonne to Buena Vista Township, no one celebrates Independence Day like New Jersey. And why not? The Garden State was pivotal in the Revolutionary War. Though the holiday weekend is just around the corner, there’s still plenty of time to add a splash of Jersey pride to your cocktails for 4th of July festivities.

at the height of summer barbecue season, you may be suffering from meat overload. Luckily, there are plenty of other options, thanks to New Jersey’s outstanding range of summer fruits and vegetables. After all, they don’t call it the Garden State for nothin’! The easy recipes below can give your neighborhood cheeseburger stiff competition on the grill.

pril showers throughout the Garden State brought plenty of flowers for the start of May, which is great because Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Before you spend hours scouring the internet for the perfect gift that says, “Thank you for everything, you deserve all of the wine,” take a peek at our Mother’s Day gift guide below.

ver the past few centuries, the Feast of St. Patrick, a humble religious holiday, has stretched and morphed into St. Patrick’s Day, a jubilant celebration of all things Irish. It’s a day to celebrate corned beef and cabbage, trad music — and, of course, whiskey. But have you ever wondered how whiskey came to be associated with Ireland, and St.

Bear with me y’all, I’m trying something new here. Each month, I will discuss a different book and a bottle of something delicious. Drink stuff, learn stuff. ​. I’m out of Armagnac. It’s the only thing I can think of that can stand up to the depth and provocative structured elegance of Alison Kinney’s Hood.

​Oh sure, there will be some colored folk about. The host, Chris Rock, for one. And maybe a few of those great actors everyone talks about, like Denzel Washington, Forrest Whitaker, and Lupita Nyong'o. But nope, nobody who's up for an award THIS year. ​Reactions range from wide-eyed puzzlement to rage and resigned bitterness about the glaring omission of films led by Africans or African Americans.

hat’s in a name? Well, if talking about alcohol, you just might find a little “sauce,” some “booze,” or even some “hair of the dog.”. Indeed, there are about as many other nicknames, slang terms — in other words, words — for alcoholic beverages as there are types of alcoholic beverages. They originate in countries and traditions around the world, much like the English language itself.