Dining Al Fresco in New Jersey
Soak up those summer nights on the patio or deck with these warm-weather items for the perfect al fresco dinner party.
✅ DECORATIVE SCENTED CANDLES
No nighttime table setting is complete without a few candles to create the perfect ambiance. Sara Villari, owner of gift store Occasionette in Collingswood, recommends the Al Fresco candle for its decorative stripes and summertime straw dust cover (shown in Misted Lime scent). “We love reusing these vessels as margarita glasses once the candle is burned through,” Villari says. occasionette.com
✅ NEW JERSEY ROSÉ
Nothing says “summer” like a chilled glass of rosé. With so many NJ vineyards, you don’t have to look far to find the perfect bottle. Consider William Heritage Winery’s Jersey Rosé—the label says it all. Grown and packaged locally as part of the Mullica Hill winery’s “Jersey Wine Collection”, this wine is “a semisweet rosé blend of Merlot and Chardonnay,” says owner Richard Heritage. jerseywine.com
✅ SAUCE, PLENTY OF WAYS
Locally sourced meats need a perfect sauce pairing. BBQ Buddha owner Ray Sheehan’s Award-Winning BBQ Sauces and How to Use Them helps readers master their own barbecue sauces at home. Learn what it takes to prepare each sauce, all without artificial ingredients. Sauce recipes include Sweet and Smoky Kansas City BBQ, Cherry Bourbon BBQ, and South Carolina Mustard BBQ. Look for Sheehan’s latest book, Big Green Egg Basics, too. bbqbuddha.com
✅ NAUTICAL SERVING PLATTERS
Keep your guests talking with stunning serving platters. Appetizers, sides, and desserts will look better on these blue-hued trays from The Local Line in Red Bank. “All platters are handmade locally by different NJ artists,” says owner Kristen Stahl. Each platter is hand-crafted from clay, then painted and kiln-fired. thelocallinenj.com
✅ POPSICLES
Help guests cool off with colorful, decorative ice pops from Puras Paletas in West Orange. Made with whole fruit and all-natural ingredients, these ice pops are as pretty as they are tasty, with flavors such as lemonade and coconut, as well as sugarfree options. Available at the Denville, Duke Farms, South Orange, Summit, Scotch Plains, Green Pond, and Madison farmers’ markets. Plus, they offer local delivery. puraspaletas.com
✅ LOCALLY SOURCED MEATS
Al fresco dining is the perfect opportunity to fire up the grill. When planning the dinner menu, look for locally sourced, sustainably raised meats. The Pastoral Pig in Flanders, Brick Farm Market in Hopewell, and Skillman Market are sustainably devoted shops who offer beef, lamb, pork, and chicken, all humanely and pasture-raised on local farms. If you’re looking to ship, Bone-In Food and Walden Local Meat offer sustainably raised meats for home delivery. thepastoralpig.com, brickfarmmarket.com, skillmanfarmmarket.com, boneinfood.com, waldenlocalmeat.com
