Jersey Shore Restaurant Week Ends with Avenue Soiree

The Jersey Shore Restaurant Week ran between April 1-10, with dozens of shore restaurants participating and offering great deals on fixed price menus. There were a few special events during the week, and the final party that we attended was on Sunday, April 10th, at Avenue in Long Branch (Pier Village). There could be no better place for an event called Sunday Soiree: A Taste of St Tropez than Avenue, with its blend of a Parisian Brasserie and the beaches of (you guessed) St Tropez.

There were several stations in the stylish, modern bar at the top of the Avenue, and each food was paired with French wines. I started with a very good Nicoise Salade (with seared tuna, haricots verts, tapenade), accompanied by Chateau Lamargue “Les Grandes Cabines” Costieres de Nimes 2010 (rose wine). Good wine choice for the opening salad, and I really enjoyed the seared tuna in the greens.

My favorite food was the Beef Provencale with Fresh Tagliatelle. The braised beef with red wine reduction was perfectly cooked. I savored that and the Chateau du Seuil Coteaux D’Aix en Provence Rouge 2007 on the rooftop deck of the Avenue, overlooking Pier Village and the beach. This one was also my favorite wine at the event. Overall, the hosts at the Avenue, and Restaurant Week organizers Jim & Jen Flynn did a great job at selecting the foods and the wines.

Before heading to the dessert station, I also tried the Pickled Beet Salad with curly endives and Fourme D’Ambert, accompanied by Domaine La Courtade L’Alycastre Cotes de Provence 2009, a white wine this time. To finish up, I had a dessert selection (Pot de Creme, Creme Brulee), but I didn’t try the wine since personally I don’t like very sweet wines.

We’re looking forward to the next Jersey Shore Restaurant Week and, of course, to going back to the Avenue in the summer.

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