Princeton Businesses Named Finalists For State Culinary Awards

PRINCETON, NJ — Three Princeton businesses have been named finalists for 2018 Garden State Culinary Arts Awards.

Cargot Brasserie has been named a finalist for the Best New Restaurant Award. The eatery owned, by Jim Nawn and Fenwick Hospitality Group, is up against Collingswood-based Hearthside and Marcel Bakery & Kitchen, out of Upper Montclair.

The award goes to a restaurant opened in the previous calendar year (2017) in New Jersey that displays excellence in food and service, already has established a distinctive voice and promises to set high standards for years to come.

Elements has been named a finalist for the Best Restaurant Award, along with Zeppoli out of Collingswood and The Red Store, of Cape May Point. Elements is owned by Chef Scott Anderson and Stephen Distler.

This award goes to a restaurant that has been in existence in New Jersey for at least five years that displays overall excellence and consistency of quality in food, atmosphere and service and has set high standards in the industry.

Jennifer Colello Carson, a chef at Lillipies, is a finalist for the Outstanding Pastry Chef / Baker award. She is up against Jess Gaspero, of The Farm & Fisherman Tavern in Cherry Hill, and Elizabeth Degener, of The Bread Lady at Enfin Farms in Cape May.

The award goes to a pastry chef or baker working in a professional capacity in New Jersey for at least three years in a restaurant, café, bakery or other public outlet who has displayed overall excellence in pastries, desserts and/or bread-making.

The top three vote-getters in each category were named finalists. Following a second round of voting, the winners will be selected and announced during a ceremony and reception by The Garden State Culinary Arts Foundation on Sunday, April 29 at Bell Works, 101 Crawfords Corner Road in Holmdel, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Winners will be announced at 6 p.m.

A gala reception, with dishes that focus on New Jersey ingredients, will follow from 7:15 p.m. to 9 p.m. under the direction of 2017 Outstanding Chef winner Drew Araneo, of Drew's Bayshore Bistro in Keyport, and 2017 Rising Star honoree AJ Capella, formerly of the Ryland Inn, Whitehouse Station.

Students from New Jersey culinary schools will assist the chefs and their culinary captains with prep work, cooking, plating and serving the dishes.

A limited number of tickets to the ceremony and reception are on sale at Brown Paper Tickets. If purchased by Friday, April 20, tickets are $75 per person; if any tickets remain available after that date, they will be sold for $100 per person. To purchase tickets, visit www.brownpapertickets.comcom/event/3395757.

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