Taste of Morristown Entices Diners Monday

If you love great food and wine, or if you want an introduction to Morristown's finest eateries, the best place to find the biggest overview of local dining options is Taste of Morristown.

More than 30 area restaurants will be on hand at the Hanover Marriott for the yearly event. They'll offer samples of their best dishes in an effort to entice diners to make Morristown, the unofficial restaurant capital of northern New Jersey, their dining destination. 

The event is in its 11th year and, as always, is sponsored by the Morristown Rotary Club.

"This is the biggest event ever," said Rotary's event chair Scott Marum. "The restaurant list is extremely diverse and, at $60 a ticket, it's an amazing price.

"It's a great time, and it's all for charity."

Event proceeds go to support Rotary's charitable efforts and community service, which targets projects such as Interfaith Food Pantry, Morristown Community Theater and the Dictionary Project, an effort that gives reference books to every third grader in Morristown and Morris Township and Easter Seals' Camp Merryheart.

Among the night's attractions will be tricky tray raffles, a 50/50 raffle and entertainment courtesy of a piano player. The biggest attraction, of course, is the assemblage of food and beverage industry professionals putting their wares on display.

Rotary members "have done a fabulous job of getting restaurants for us," said Marum, noting that about 41 have signed up so far. He said the event will also feature a wine tasting courtesy of Gary's Wine & Marketplace, a Scotch and whiskey tasting presented by the Whiskey Guild and a beer tasting presented by Tashmoo and Dark Horse Lounge.

The list of participating eateries, caterers and potent potable purveyors so far includes: the Artist Baker, Blue Morel, Cricket Hill Brewery, Dublin Pub, Eclectic Grill, Enjou Chocolat, Hibiscus, Hot Rod's BBQ, The Main Event by Melody, Mara's Country Desserts, Mendhi, Ming II, Molly Malone's Restaurant and Pub, Oink and Moo BBQ, Olive Lucy's Kitchen, Organic Lifestyle Foods, Pomodoro, Rattlesnake Ranch Cafe, GK's Red Dog Tavern, Rod's Ranch House, Roots Steak House, Settebello, Smart World, Sushi Lounge, Tashmoo and Dark Horse Lounge, Pazzo Pazzo, Raul's Empanadas, the Melting Pot, Washington Street Bistro, Prime Catering, Tiffany's, Tim Schafer's Cuisine, Edible Arrangements, Muscle Maker Grill, Lingua e Sapori, Delightful Abundance, Strawberry Fields Self-Serve Frozen Yogurt, the Auld Shabeen and William Grant and Sons.

Gabriela Briceno, who manages Morristown's Edible Arrangements, said this will be her first Taste.

"This will be my first year participating," she said, adding that she will accompany the more TOM-experienced manager of the Denville branch of Edible Arrangements. "From the feedback I have gotten from others, it should be a good chance of meeting new people and seeing what others have to offer.

"I'm looking forward to the experience."

Marum said the Rotary Club expects between 500 and 600 people to attend.

"That's about how many people come every year," he told Patch. "That's because it's a great time, and it's all for charity.

"Nobody who comes to Taste of Morristown doesn't come back."

A Taste of Morristown takes place at the Hanover Marriott, 1401 Route 10 East in Whippany on  Monday, March 4, from 6-9 p.m. Tickets are $60 per person and are available at Gary's Wine & Marketplace of Madison and Bernardsville, Kings Supermarket, the UPS Store of Morristown, J.C. Reiss Opticians, the Dublin Pub or via the Taste of Morristown website.