Bergen County Food & Wine Festival returns with full schedule this weekend

Stephanie Noda, NorthJersey.com
·2 min read

PARAMUS — The Bergen County Food & Wine Festival, the county's largest celebration of local dining, will return this weekend to Westfield Garden State Plaza with more than 70 vendors and a full schedule for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It’s about food and bringing everyone together as a community," said Brandon Goldstein, an ambassador for the 200 Club of Bergen County, which hosts the event.

Proceeds from the festival, taking place Sept. 10 and 11, benefit the 200 Club, which supports families of law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel injured or lost in the line of duty. Last year, the event raised $25,000.

A woman who declined to give her name, takes a big bite during the Bergen County Food & Wine Festival 2021at Garden State Plaza in Paramus 09/12/21.
A woman who declined to give her name, takes a big bite during the Bergen County Food & Wine Festival 2021at Garden State Plaza in Paramus 09/12/21.

This year marks a return to a full weekend schedule for the Food & Wine Festival, which was canceled in 2020 and limited to one day last year due to health concerns. It will run from noon to 5 p.m. on both days this year.

What restaurants will be at the festival?

Goldstein said about 25 restaurants will have tables openon Saturday and 40 on Sunday, along with 70 wine and beer vendors. A DJ will provide music.

Restaurants scheduled to attend include Kimchi Smoke from Westwood, Blue Moon Mexican Cafe of Englewood, Mike's Dog House from Oakland, The Brick House in Wyckoff, Hackensack's White Manna, and Bourbon Street Beignet in Westwood.

"Every year is a little bit different; it’s never the same exact experience," Goldstein said.

How much does a ticket cost?

In addition to benefiting families of emergency responders, the festival offers Bergen County diners the chance to catch up with restaurants that are old favorites and helps newer businesses find customers, Goldstein said.

The price of food is included in the $70 general admission tickets. VIP tickets can be purchased for $125, which gives eventgoers access to seating and lounge furniture in a tent, a grill, a charcuterie board, a photo booth and food prepared by a chef from the Saddle River Inn.

Goldstein thanked Inserra Supermarkets, which owns ShopRite, and the Inserra family, the main sponsors of the event.

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The 200 Club will host another fundraiser, a wine dinner at the Saddle River Inn, on Sept. 15. That event requires separate tickets from the festival.

The Food & Wine Festival will be held in the mall's western parking lot near Lord & Taylor and Neiman Marcus, with parking available around the area.

To buy a ticket or view the full list of vendors, visit bergencountyfoodandwine.com/home.

Stephanie Noda is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: noda@northjersey.com

Twitter: @snoda11

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Bergen County Food & Wine Festival back in Paramus on Sept. 10-11