Greetings From Newark
If you haven’t planned your Saturday yet, make sure it includes the Downtown Newark Food and Brew Fest. It is American Beer Month, after all.
From 2 p.m. till 10 p.m., 17 downtown restaurants will offer tapas menus to pair with their featured brews—about 40 craft beers and imports overall.
Start early. The first 2,500 participants get a Food & Brew Fest commemorative tasting mug, which can be filled with any of the featured beers at any of the participating restaurants for $1. Find your program at the information booth at 82 E. Main St., in front of the M&T-Wilmington Trust bank.
There’s more than beer, such as the Hops and Shops. The sidewalk sale starts at noon. There are special attractions for kids and ice cream for all. It’s a local tradition. 655-6483, NewarkFoodandBrewFest.com
Just Up the Road…
Foodies in need of a destination can write off Philadelphia. The Shoppes at Louviers in Newark offers a little something for everyone, starting with the delightful Taste Artisanal Market (107 Louviers Drive, 286-7911, tasteartisanalmarket.com). Taste offers foods from around the world, with an emphasis on Europe. The cheese counter rivals famous Di Bruno Brothers.
The name says Asian, but the accent is Malaysian. Pinang Asian Cuisine blends influences from Indonesia, India, the Middle East and China in dishes such as fried squids cooked with spicy ground shrimp in special sauce. Find Pinang at 218 Louviers Drive, 368-2298, pinangcuisine.com.
You can have an affair catered by Pamela’s Gourmet, but you can also drop in for a bite. The café offers a menu of great sandwiches such as medium-rare roast beef and Cooper cheese on an onion Kaiser with horseradish cream and ham and Havarti with honey Dijonnaise. Sunny orange walls cheer the soul. Check it at 406 Louviers Drive, 366-1522, pamelasgourmet.com.
Johnsons Grill may have a theme of men at work, and owner Laurie Clark may target women and stay-at-home moms in need of a lunch out, but don’t call it a Hooters for women. With a sandwich like the grilled sausage “burger” with greens and aged provolone, the appeal broadens to include hungry men. Visit 401 Louviers Drive, 533-7432, johnsonsgrill.com.
Lovers of chicken and lovers of pizza, rejoice. Cacciatori Pizza and Pasta offers pizzas with barbecue chicken, Buffalo chicken, chicken Parmagiana and more. There are more traditional offers, as well. The San Gennaro pie is topped with delicious sausage, peppers and onions. And there’s pasta, too, of course. Cacciatori is at 401 Louviers Drive. 453-1937, cacciatoris.com
Lovers of beer and wine can make their own with some help from How Do You Brew? The little shop is chock a block with ingredients, vessels and gear for bottling, books of every kind. You’ll be an expert in no time. Drop in at 203 Louviers Drive, or try 738-7009 and howdoyoubrew.com. If you start brewing now, you just might end up as part of the Newark Food and Brew Festival next year.
