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RSSUnedited: The Jewish Standard Celebrations: The Great Outdoors: Picnics, Pool Parties and BBQ’s
May 27
food, life cycle events and celebrations No Comments
The Great Outdoors: Picnics, Pool Parties and BBQ’s
Pick up a picnic basket, get the grill going, and the world is your dining room.
By Jeanette Friedman
Here are keywords to tickle your imagination and get your brain working on party ideas for late spring and summer, especially if you will be surrounded by children of all ages who need to be entertained and fed on a regular basis. There’s always a reason for outdoor fun, so think themes: Fiestas, Casinos. Luaus. Golf Outings. Sweet16s, Middle Eastern Madness, Car Crazy. Under the Sea. Splish-Splash. Hannah Montana. New York, New York. Sleepovers. Fashion Themes. Milestone Birthdays. Anniversaries. Glee. Super Hero Themes. Bowling. Outer Space. Harry Potter. Pirate Adventure. Super Safari. Fairytale Castle. Candyland. American Idol. American Girl. Magic. Baseball. Basketball. Soccer Champ. Garden of Eden. Willy Wonka. Open House. Roast the Graduate. Preschool Graduation. Silver 25th. Golden 50th. Kitchen & Recipe Themes. Baby Showers, Mommy-To-Be, Rock n Roll, Retirement Party, Divorce Party, Housewarmings, Farewells. Party on the Porch, and Party on the Beach. Dog Day Afternoons, and Block Parties. All that should get your gears turning.
DINING EN PLEIN AIR
Picnics and BBQ’s
Picnics can be impromptu and impulsive or very formal. You can have a family picnic you do yourself to celebrate a birthday or holiday like the Fourth of July, or enjoy dinner while watching the local Little League game. Or you can dress up in summer frocks, seersucker suits, get out the parasols, and have a high-end top of the line caterer like Foremost prepare a posh picnic at Ringwood Manor.
If you’re doing it all yourself, you might want to make sure your transportation will hold everything you will need, including the passengers. You may also want to get a group of friends together and make a potluck picnic, where everyone plays a role and brings something to the picnic table. You’re schlepping stuff to the site, so be prepared. Make sure you meet your park’s regulations and that you don’t break any of them. If you are going to cook on site, you will need a grill and everything that goes with it, including charcoal, lighter fluid, matches, an insulated cooler to hold items you will be grilling, and condiments. Don’t forget tons of ice to keep beverages cold and foods safe.
Folding chairs, folding tables, tablecloths, napkins, pre-moistened towelettes, a first aid kit, real towels, blankets, pillows, coolers, thermal boxes, trash bags, paper plates, hot & cold cups, eating utensils should all be on your checklist. Perhaps you can plug in an iPod to a set of speakers that run on batteries, so bring extra batteries, too. Shield yourself from the weather with umbrellas for shade or protection against the rain, and use sunblock.
For a pot luck picnic, email all your friends and tell everyone whose first names start with the letters A-L to bring the salads, L-S do the entrees, and T-Z do the desserts. Or just divvy up all the assignments depending on who is best at creating a special dish. Have juices, soft drinks and plenty of water. Follow basic outdoor food safety tips. Remember alcohol is not allowed in public places, or you will face an intervention and a fine.
On the other hand, you can call your favorite local caterer and have them set everything up for you, including the arrangements to use the picnic grounds, gardens or beaches of your choice. The best thing to do is invite all your friends, worry-free, and bring your personality, interesting conversation, and for high-schoolers, maybe a hacky-sack or two to kick around or even an old-fashioned Frisbee to toss—though they may be too busy texting to notice. Fresh air makes for a hearty appetite, so be prepared to provide a picnic with plenty of provisions!
BARBEQUES/BARBECUES
Picnics and pool parties, any outdoor party, would be incomplete without a barbeque, which can be spelled many ways, and is abbreviated as BBQ or Bar-B-Q. It’s a noun that refers to the food being cooked, the contraption it’s being cooked on and the party that BBQ creates in its wake. It’s also a verb that refers to the cooking method—essentially heating and smoking meats and poultry in a metal container with the use of fire, hot coals, wood, propane or natural gas, and in some cases, electricity, and drenching them in marinades, basting sauces and seasonings. BBQ’ed foods prepared in restaurants and take out places are usually cooked in a large brick or metal oven designed specifically for the purpose.
So who started the craze that has made Bobby Flay, the grilling, smoking Food Network Iron Chef and show host the expert? According to the OED, the first recorded usage of barbecue in the English language took place in 1697, when it was uttered by William Dampier, a British buccaneer. Scholars believe it came from the word barabicu found in the language of the Timucua people of Florida and the Taíno people of the Caribbean, and entered European languages as barbacoa—which means “sacred fire pit.” Traditionally, barbacoa involved digging a pit, lining it with a pot to catch the juices of a whole goat that was placed above it, covered with leaves and coals and set ablaze. Getting the goat to cook through took a few hours, but it was worth it in the end, or the methods and recipes wouldn’t have evolved through the centuries.
Every state of the Union (and the Confederacy) has come up with its own BBQ methods and lingo, and they are competitive and possessive of recipes and techniques—barbecue competitions are held in virtually every state beginning in April and run through October. Bobby Flay does a throwdown every week, where he challenges local cooks to see if they are as good as he is. Countless BBQ contests are fired up around the country, and a four-day-long American Royal Barbecue Contest is held each October in Kansas City. The World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is held during the Memphis in May festival. Former newspaper columnist Mike Royko organized the first Chicago Ribfest in 1982, and less than ten years later, 10,000 people showed up to eat. These competitions helped popularize different regional styles to a wider audience. Now in North Jersey, barbequeing is part and parcel of living in the suburbs, and the smell of lighter fluid, charred meat and roasted, grilled veggies are the perfect scent for a summer’s eve.
POOL PARTIES
A small, intimate relaxed pool party for mature adults can be a beautiful thing. Discreet lighting, lounge chairs with little tables to hold cocktails and hors d’ouvres nearby, a sparkling heated pool, muted fusion jazz on the sound system, and mini-kabobs, lamb, beef, chicken, vegetable, all with different dipping sauces for dinner. Yum. So sophisticated. So summery. So divine. So Hollywood.
But pool parties are not recommended for large crowds, teens or children’s parties. Hosts would need to hire private cops and lifeguards to keep it all under control. Parents would need ten eyes wrapped around their heads to keep track of a child in a pool, and alcohol and swimming pools can be a deadly combination if people aren’t responsible.
Keep your invitation list short, and don’t allow horseplay, jumping or diving. You may want to organize some relay races for teens and kids and beach ball games. Whether it’s that Hollywood style evening, or an afternoon zoo, in either case, you will need plenty of towels, a few male and female bathing suits available in a variety of sizes. People are dripping went when they exit a pool, and if they need to use the facilities, unless you have a pool house, you’ll need to deal with water tracked across your floors as they search for the john. Try providing absorbent mats or runners to prevent slipping.
Chlorinate the pool well, make sure everything is properly balanced and that the water is crystal clear. Set up an outdoor shower or keep a hose near entry points to the pool, so that people don’t track dirt into it. Put mats near pool stairs and ladders. Keep a real life preserver ring handy and let your guests know where the deep water is.
The menu should be light, served from indoors, with plenty of fresh juices, ice and bottled water for those who are soaking up the sun. The serious party begins after the swimming session, when people are ready to eat, drink and relax, to enjoy a convivial, comfortable evening.
In some towns, people can’t park on the streets, especially at night. If you are planning an outdoor evening party involving music and noise or fireworks displays, check with your local police department to make sure you won’t be inconvenienced by a sudden visit from the constabulary. Invite all your neighbors to join the party and a good time will be had by all.
SIDEBAR: PICNIC SITES
Fountain Springs Country Club
Conklintown Road
Ringwood
973-831-9000
Private. Specializes in providing custom catering and facilities for picnics serving large-scale corporate picnics, school field-days, and family reunions for groups ranging from 50 to 2,000. 26 acres with 10,000 square feet of covered open air pavilion space overlooking lake and pools. softball, basketball, tennis, beach volleyball, soccer, sand soccer, horse shoes, roller-blading rink, hockey, bocci ball, fishing, ping pong, hand ball, five swimming pools, boating, petting zoo, and more. Kosher catering provided by Petak’s in Fair Lawn and Kosher Nosh in Glen Rock.
Hacklebarney State Park
Chester
908-638-6969
Public. A favorite place for fresh water fisherman, hikers and picnickers. Located in a 19th century mined iron ore site, the park has a fast moving river with a beautiful backdrop of grey boulders and dark green hemlocks. Hacklebarney is a hiking only park, no bikes allowed. Hacklebarney has over 100 picnic tables located throughout the park. They are available on a first-come first-serve basis. There are no picnic shelters. Bring your own basket.
Harbor Hills Picnic Grove
75 Doby Road
Mt. Freedom
973- 895- 3200
Private. A children’s day camp providing custom picnics for large-scale corporate picnics, school field-days, and family reunions. Features: four heated pools, three playgrounds, including the 4-story crazy crawl, two beach volleyball courts, soccer field, two softball fields, basketball center, 9-hole miniature golf course, two tennis courts, two batting cages, bumper boats, pool for children, hockey rink, 40′ x 100′ tent, 60′ x 120′ covered pavilion and a kitchen area & cooking equipment. Check for kosher food availability.
Hidden Valley Club
44 Breakneck Road
Vernon
973-764-4200
Private. A scenic, mountain environment that offers corporate and special event picnics and outings. The menu can include traditional picnic goodies such as burgers, hot dogs, salads, dessert, and beverages; or you can request a special menu tailored to your party’s special tastes. Facilities include; a relaxing in-ground pool adjacent to five tennis courts, softball field, basketball court, two sand volleyball courts, three horseshoe pits, badminton, lake swimming, paddle boats, and fishing. Call to find out about kosher food service.
Jeff Lake Day Camp and Picnics
Stanhope
973-347-1230
Private camp that opens its grounds and facilities for summer picnics and outings on weekends in June, July and August for corporate, family reunions, birthdays, and other special events. There’s a 50-acre lake with two water trampolines, a water climbing wall & slide, fishing, sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing, paddle boats and row boats will make your picnic unique. Tennis courts, ropes & climbing courses, sports fields, art & pottery studios, and four heated pools. Call to find out about kosher food service.
Ringwood State Park
Ringwood
973-962-7031
Public.The spring-fed waters of the 74-acre Shepherd Lake are cool and offer swimming from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day from 10 am to 6 pm. Picnicking with tables & food concession at Shepherd Lake. Boating, canoeing and fishing are permitted. Boat rentals available. A network of trails with rocky terrain surrounds the lake.Bring your own basket.
Round Valley Recreation Area
1220 Lebanon-Stanton Road
Lebanon
908-236-6355
Public.The Reservoir swimming area was created by the construction of an earth dam across a narrow waterway on the west side of the reservoir, separating it from the main part of the reservoir, which is stocked with lake trout. There are three picnic areas in the recreation area; two are located on tree-shaded grassy spots at each end of the beach, and the third is on a hill overlooking the reservoir and park. At each picnic area the visitor will find tables and grills, restrooms, and playgrounds. Bring your own basket.
Stonybrook Day Camp
42 Park Avenue
Randolph
973-584-0078
Private. A children’s day camp providing custom picnics for large-scale corporate picnics, school field-days, and family reunions, and children’s birthday parties. Features: high ropes course, two heated swimming pools, arts and crafts, lake boating and fishing, sporting events, and their famous “color war.” Activities can be structured and supervised by their staff. Check for kosher food availability.
Well-Sweep Herb Farm
205 Mount Bethel Road
Port Murray, New Jersey 07865-4147
(908) 852-5390
Private. In the picturesque mountains of Warren County and is home to one of the largest collections of herbs and perennials in the country. The public is invited to visit and bring a picnic lunch, play with your children on the swings, visit the farm animals, enjoy a leisurely stroll along the garden paths, or just relax and enjoy the beauty of the day. The farm features a multitude of herbs and perennials, display gardens, and a gift shop filled with a wonderful assortment of dried flowers, wreaths, statuary, hard-to-find potpourri supplies and unusual gifts for all ages. Butterfly, herb, medicinal, perennial and rock gardens burst forth with breathtaking displays. Bring your own basket.
Tomahawk Lake
153 Tomahawk Trail
Sparta
973-478-7490
Private: 200 acres that comes with complete packages and recreation including an 18-hole miniature golf course, rustic outdoor beer garden featuring live music on the weekends, Souvenir shops, Softball field, horse-shoe and volleyball areas, an old fashioned picnic area with more than 800 tables a white sand beach on a 200 acre lake! There are water slides, swan boats, duck boats, paddle boats and bumper boats, the one-person water coaster, Trolley slide and a their awesome Rocky Mountain slide that spans over 500 feet! All you can eat and drink all day catering is done under huge red and white circus tents for groups of 50-1000 people. They also have an outdoor garden. Prices include admission! Alcoholic beverages available. Check for kosher catering availability.
WHERE TO GET IT DONE FOR YOU:
The Kosher Experience
669 Cedar Lane
Teaneck
201-692-7722
www.kosherexperience.net
thekosherexperience@yahoo.com
Glatt. RCBC
This family-oriented self-service eatery and take out establishment’s main menu is American with a separate Mexican menu for those who love the spice of life. The Mexican dishes shout “Fiesta,” and are great for pool parties and other celebrations for tweens and teens. The staff loves to get creative when catering indoor and outdoor parties for lifecycle events and other celebrations. They’ll prepare individual Little League Southern Fried Picnic Baskets for you that will serve from 4-40 people, with all the fixings—potato salad, coleslaw, pickles, cold drinks and brownies, napkins and plastic ware included, with beverages and everything you’ll need for a picnic in the ballpark. Or order your choices from the American, Mexican, or Shushi menus (includes meat shushi). There are dishes that appeal to every palate. They’ve got chicken and beef kabobs and three styles of fries that are perfect for your BBQ.
Dougie’s BBQ
184 West Englewood Ave
Teaneck, NJ
201-833-6000
http://www.dougiesbbq.com
info@dougiesbbq.com
They offer an array of services from a sit-down retail restaurant and takeout family-style service to full service catering to drop off platters for office and home parties, celebrations and birthday parties. In spring and summer, they will come and BBQ on your premises, allowing you to hire your own version of Bobby Flay. They will even allow you to challenge the chef to a BBQ throw-down to see who comes up with a better burger. Though the restaurant is their main focus, there are specialty items in the BBQ and comfort food categories, like sliders, wings, and garlic mashed potatoes. They make everything themselves, including the pretzel crusted chicken, jalapeno slammers, homemade onion rings. We hear the chili is out of this world, and would be fabulous served on a hot dog. For weight conscious and healthy eaters, there’s herb marinated breast of chicken, fresh chopped salads, cheeseless Ceasar salads and a vast create your own salad and wraps option. Call to learn more, or visit their website for more information.
Noah’s Ark
493 Cedar Lane, Teaneck
Phone: 201-692-1200
Fax: 201-692-1890
www.noahsark.net
Glatt. RCBC
Pick up the All American Chicken Platter: heat and serves 12. Choose from Rotisserie, Southern Fried, or chicken cutlets. Comes with mashed potatoes, coleslaw, tossed salad and dinner rolls.Rotisserie ($9.95/person) Fried Chicken ($10.95/person) Breaded Cutlet ($14.95/person) Authentic Texas BBQ: heat and serves 15.10 Racks BBQ Beef Ribs, 20 pieces of BBQ Chicken, Tortilla Chips, Salsa, Guacamole, Refried Beans, 3lb. Corn Salad, 3lb. Red Skin Potato Salad. Pickles and Relish, two dz. Dinner Rolls (18.95/person).Pick-Up-A-Picnic: Perfect for a day in the park! (basket not included) Fried Chicken, Corned Beef, Turkey Breast, Salami, Bologna, Pasta Salad, Potato Salad, coleslaw, Rye Bread, Soda, Mustard, Russian Dressing, Ketchup, and Paper Goods ($11.95/person–multiples of 4 only)
For a Chinese Luau:
ChopStix
172 West Englewood Avenue
Teaneck
Uri
201-833-0200
http://www.chopstixusa.com
chopstixusa@yahoo.com
Glatt. RCBC
Since 2000, ChopStix has adopted Votee Park in Teaneck in the Adopt-a-Park program. If you feel like having a Chinese picnic, pick up your order, go around the corner and enjoy your meal in the beautiful neighborhood park. Or order up a luau, from the delicious items on the menu. Our choices for a luau would be sweet and sour chicken, eggplant with garlic sauce, Korean chicken with hot pepper sauce, General Zen, Vegetable Delight, fried chicken wings, Kung Pao Chicken and Mongolian beef. General Tso’s Chicken, well marinated and spiced w. Chef Peter’s special sauce. Sesame Chicken, lightly battered chicken blended with a mouth watering brown sauce covered with sesame seeds and garnished with broccoli. Lemon and orange flavored chicken, Kong Sang Mix: pastrami, veal, beef, chicken and vegetables in a tasty brown sauce. Sweet Hawaiian Chicken: tender chicken sauteed w/vegetables and a sweet white sauce.
From eggrolls to deli to a mouth-watering roast ChopStix has catered a dinner for one and celebrations for 350. Business lunches, bar/bats. Simchot, birthdays, anniversaries, Chopstix does them all.
For formal garden parties, elegant barbeques, and catered cruises, call
FOREMOST GLATT KOSHER CATERERS
65 Anderson Ave
Moonachie, NJ
(201) 664-2465
Jeff Becker
http://www.foremostcaterers.com/
Glatt. Supervision from Star K of Baltimore.
What good is a picnic without pickles?
PICKELICIOUS
384 Cedar Lane,
Teaneck, NJ 07666
Phone: 201-833-0100
http ://picklelicious.com/
ROBYN SAMRA
Family Day Sunday`s (10am-5pm)
Come on down with your family for sampling and every family member gets a FREE pickle-on a- stick)
THE FRESHEST, BEST MEATS AND POULTRY TO PUT ON THE GRILL:
GLATT EXPRESS SUPERMARKET
1400 Queen Anne Road
Teaneck, NJ 07666
(201) 837-8110
Tammy
www.glattexpresssupermarket.com
Glatt. RCBC
Best Glatt
543 Cedar Lane
Teaneck
Anat/Meir
201-801-0444 201 747 4645
abest747@gmail.com
Glatt. RCBC
PICNIC FIXINGS:
Have your favorite food service provider pack you a picnic.
Ma’adan
446 Cedar Lane, Teaneck
201-692-0192
Stuart or Yossi
http://www.maadan.com/
RCBC. Glatt.
Foster Village Kosher Deli
469 S. Washington Avenue, Bergenfield
In the Foster Village shopping mall
Kosher supervision/Rabbi Isaiah Hertzberg
201-384-7100
Free parking.
Call for orders and hours.
Petak’s Glatt Kosher Fine Foods & Catering
1903 Fair Lawn Ave.
Fair Lawn, NJ
201-833-8200 or 201-797-5010
Glatt. RCBC
Call for Daily Specials
petaksfood@aol.com
http://www.petaksglattkosher.comSababa Grill
456 Cedar Lane
Teaneck, NJ 07666-1711
(201) 530-0808
Fax: 201-692-9111
Danny Mizrahi
dansababa@gmail.com
http://sababagrill.com
The^ Famous^ Kosher Nosh
894 Prospect St.
Glen Rock, NJ
201-445-1186
http://www.koshernosh.com/
Kosher supervision, Rabbi Isaiah Hertzberg
Reuben’s Glatt Spot Catering
659 Eagle Rock Avenue
West Orange, NJ 07052
973-736-0060
Fax: 973-736-8026
Reubensglattspot@aol.com
http://www.reubensglattspot.com/
Glatt. Vaad of MetroWest.
Ariel’s
18 Engle Street
Englewood
201-569-1202
Craig Solomon
crms99@aol.com
www.arielskosher.com
questions@arielskosher.com
Catering@arielskosher.com
Follow them on Twitter: Arielskosher
DAIRY Cholov Yisroel, RCBC
Chickpeace
83 South Main Street
New City, NY
Contact Israel
845-499-2400
www.chickpeace83.com
chickpeace83s@gmail.com
