Even our patrons often choose to sit and enjoy a cool summer drink on the porch rather than be indoors with the air conditioner. There’s something about that porch. People just love being able to sit there, enjoy a great meal and drink, while they look at the people walking by, the vintage cars, the sports cars, the motorcycles, and of course, the cyclists that pass by Race Street .
July is a really BIG month for us, and Pete and I have to
thank those of you who have encouraged us for so long to take the plunge and
create a monthly wine club featuring a distinctive and exclusive selection of
quality wines that are affordable and varied, from around the world. Truly, you were our inspiration. Through these last few years that we've gotten to know each other, you have given us your feedback on what you like the
best, what you’d like us to try, and what complements the intricate and
delicate flavors of our dishes best.
Well, we've done it. We've created our very own National Wine Club.
Each month, our National Wine Club members will be able to
pick up one bottle of the featured wine as well as receive:- 10% off their ENTIRE lunch, dinner, or overnight bill on the Wednesday of the month that they come to The National Hotel to pick up their purchase;
- discounted prices on additional purchases of additional bottles of wine or spirits at discounted prices;
- exclusive members-only wine tastings;
- free tasting notes and information on the specific featured wine;
- and more.
This month Frenchtown will honestly be able to provide
visitors and residents alike, with numerous opportunities to enjoy the
area. There’s the 3rd annual Gay
Pride Flotilla tomorrow, that will surely be a fun way to spend the day,
and you can follow this with an afternoon of shopping or strolling down our lovely
Frenchtown streets, and to finish off your night, why not celebrate summer
while staying cool by going downstairs to The National Hotel’s cellar pub, The
Rathskeller Pub (a.k.a. The Rat), where you’ll be in for a treat, because we’ll
be welcoming back Mike
Pfeiffer.
Mike has put together quite a menu of songs that are sure to
be recognizable, part of our monthly Music Themed Nights series. Donna
Jane Sampler will be pouring our newest beers on tap that were installed just about a week ago in The Rat starting at 4 p.m., but also mixing her own special libations in sync with Mike’s
special program, starting at 8 p.m., and Mike will perform from 9:30 p.m.
onward.
Last night was a really great night
downstairs in The Rat, where we met new musicians who made it up to Frenchtown , NJ
On Sunday, we’ll feature John Sonntag who will entertain our
Restaurant and Bar guests on the main floor, 5 – 7 p.m. Even if they’re announcing storms on Sunday,
we’ll be nice and dry inside while we close out the weekend together. I can already taste some of the special
dishes that our Executive Chef, Lisa Frederick, has
created for our weekend Additions to the Menu.
This special menu always adds something exciting to our already
extraordinary (if you don’t mind my boasting a bit) roster of distinctive
dishes that range from the traditional to the exotic with flavors from around
the world. So if you’re in the mood for
a fabulous meal to accompany the musical entertainment, why not enjoy a dish
from our weekend Additions to the Menu, like:
- Thai Watermelon Salad (watermelon, feta, arugula leaves, mint, cilantro, radish, red onion in a finger lime vinaigrette)
- Pan-seared Halibut & Jumbo Shrimp over a coconut basmati rice with a spicy pineapple sauce and grilled scallions
- Tofu and Eggplant marinated in a spicy Thai basic sauce, over vermicelli noodles and braised bok choy, drunken noodle style
- And more!
Don’t forget to join in the fun on Tuesday by visiting The
Rat, from 8 – 10 p.m., as we host another night of Tuesday Trivia,
every other week. This night was created
by our very own Frenchtown resident, Russ Coen, who creates the questions and
tallies results with the help of our General Manager, Marlon Aranha. Whether you come by
yourself and join a team, or come with friends and create your own team, make
sure you put your thinking cap on! And
with Donna Jane Sampler behind the bar, even if you don’t wear your thinking
cap, she’ll come up with one of her specialty drinks that will help your
inhibitions disappear.
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| Courtesy of the FBPA & Icon Magazine |
Stop by The National Hotel for an evening meal and then head on over to the Frenchtown Borough Park to catch an outdoor showing of the movie "Marie Antoinette" starring Kirsten Dunst. Bring your own chair, blanket, etc., and enjoy some snacks and refreshments that will be sold by Girl Scout Troop 1308 there...and when it's over, head on over to The Rat, for some adult refreshments to close out the night. You might even make it to the tail end of our Saturday evening's performance that will run through 11 p.m. downstairs in The Rat.
Add to this Frenchtown’s own Green Team Bring Your Own Cup film series, featuring "Bag It" on Friday, July 20th, at 7 p.m., the 3rd Friday of every month through September. Americans use 60,000 plastic bags every five minutes, disposable bags that are thrown away carelessly. Where do these bags end up? What's the human and environmental cost? Tara Shepard, Executive Director of Sustainable Hunterdon, will lead a discussion following the film. This is a free event that welcomes you to bring your own cup, bring treats to share, or even donations to contribute. Sustainable Huterdon is also sponsoring a great event, www.bikehunterdon.org, that will highlight all kinds of year-round opportunities for cyclists to enjoy relaxing as well as challenging bicycle rides in our area. Truly, only in Frenchtown, can these programs grow out of pure inspiration and determination. Pete and I stand in awe of what our neighbors create day in and day out.
I was lucky enough to be in Frenchtown for the Bastille day festivities this year. You can see pics from the day at http://spotlighthunterdon.com/
ReplyDeleteHope you like them!
I haven't had a chance to thank you for sharing these photos...they truly capture the joyous feeling of the day. Thanks!!
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