July 11-July 15: First 25 customers in line receive a free entree

July 11-July 17: All Qdoba New Jersey Facebook fans can show they are a fan via phone and receive a free order of chips and a signature 3 cheese Queso.

July 16: Kids eat free and no purchase necessary. Free face painting from 12-3:30 PM

July 18: $5 Meal Deals all day. A meal includes a regular entrée and a fountain beverage per customer.

Since its opening in 1995, Qdoba has showcased its own flavors, such as Mexican Gumbo ™,  3-Cheese Queso and Ancho Chile BBQ Burritos. All meals are  prepared in front of the customers and fitted to their own personal tastes and nutritional needs.

Qdoba Mexican Grill

140 Nassau Street

Princeton, NJ 08542

Phone: 609.921.2031

Waiters and waitresses from Princeton restaurants will race to complete a course while balancing two full glasses, one of champagne and one of wine, on their trays. The competition is shaping up to be fierce. Rumor has it that Witherspoon Grill, one of the many local restaurants fielding competitors, held try outs for its team and has established a rigorous training schedule.

As of July 6, more than 30 waiters from 10 restaurants are registered to compete.

The restaurants participating so far are: Alchemist and Barrister, Blue Point Grill, Winberie’s Bar and Grill, Main Street Bistro and Café, Nassau Inn, Peacock Inn, Princeton Sports Bar and Grill, Triumph Brewing Company, Witherspoon Grill and Zorba’s.

The fastest male and female waiters – who don’t spill their teetering cargo – will take home $250 cash and prizes donated by local businesses. The two second place winners will receive $75 and prizes.

Waiters participating in the race are asked to have their customers make donations in their restaurant’s names to one of three local charities: HiTops, Corner House and Sustainable Princeton’s BYOB program (Bring Your Own Bag). The waiter who raises the most money for charity will receive a trophy and four tickets to the New York comedy club, Catch a Rising Star.

The mission of the Princeton Merchants Association is to create a vibrant and sustainable local economy in Princeton by attracting, nurturing, and maintaining a mix of businesses that serve the economic, social and material needs of our community and make Princeton a great place to live and work.

With time at the outset to mingle, view the featured artist’s work, and begin to get acquainted, the morning’s exchange will then begin with a brief drumming experience led by Roberta.  Then, nourished by a four-course brunch, participants will embark on a conversation with the featured artist, whose work will be available to see and to purchase.  “This series offers an intimate view into the extraordinary dynamic of creation, while supporting and motivating our own creativity,” says Pughe.  “Art is the nectar that feeds the soul, and sharing in an encounter with artists and with one another will deepen and revitalize our experience of  creativity and aliveness – in ourselves and in our community.”

The series will be held on Sunday mornings once each month in the private Salone at Camillo’s Café, beginning on Sunday, October 3^rd.   We welcome artists to contact Roberta Pughe (RPughe@aol.com) to be considered for a spot as a featured artist.

Art-lovers who would like to attend should contact Camillo’s Café manager Steve Grasso (609.252.0608) to reserve your space.  The cost to attend is $40 per person, and includes a sumptuous four-course brunch.  Wine and Prosecco are not included, but are available for purchase.  A portion of all brunch proceeds will go to the featured artists in support of their work, and they will receive 100% of all art sales.

About the Venue  – Camillo’s Café, located in the Princeton Shopping Center, is an authentic Italian restaurant with both indoor and patio seating dedicated to serving the finest regional Italian cuisine in a warm and intimate setting.  The Café’s mission has long been to awaken the palate, warm the heart, and feed its guests both body and soul by serving exquisite food in a sensuous and beautiful setting.   “As Camillo’s partner,” says Pughe, “it’s been my vision that the restaurant could support the arts and the pursuit of creative expression and authenticity.  Now, with the addition of the private Salone I have the opportunity to realize this vision.”  www.camilloscafe.net for more information

About Roberta - Roberta Pughe, MA, EdS, is a Princeton-area Psychotherapist with over 25 years’ experience whose work combines a solid foundation in Marriage & Family Therapy, Gestalt Theory, and Theological Studies.    In addition to her thriving clinical practice, Roberta has been a teacher, workshop leader, and has co-authored a book.  Increasingly, she is bringing her deep knowledge of the Shamanic Tradition to bear on her work with couples, individuals, and families  — finding that this ancient path – in the face of our harried modern lives – offers access to deep healing and profound soulfulness.

Contact www.RobertaPughe.com for more information.

We caught up with Elizabeth Lemoine, Princeton University Student Outreach Coordinator to learn more about the Nassau Street Sampler scheduled for Thursday September 16th. This lively food festival is designed to introduce incoming students as well as Princeton community members to the tasty array of dining options available to them from local Princeton merchants just outside the “orange bubble.”

PNN: This is the second annual Nassau Street Sampler. Can you tell us a little bit about how this event got started?

ELIZABETH: We had a new director who came on board last year and we created a series of events at the University Art Museum called Late Thursdays. These are weekly programs on Thursday nights until 10pm that are open to the community and the student body.

PNN: Are they always at the Art Museum?

ELIZABETH: Yes, as part of our Late Thursday programming. Because we’ve extended the closing time at the Art Museum it has created these opportunities. It just so happens our first Late Thursday event coincides with the first day of classes. We were talking about what a freshman, or a new community member, would want as their first experience here. Part of that is that we obviously wanted to introduce everyone to the art museum and to explore their options on campus as well as outside of campus. So it’s really part of bringing the community and the University together, making that Town and Gown relationship stronger.

PNN: Which food vendors will be a part of this year’s Nassau Street Sampler?

ELIZABETH: We have many vendors participating this year. We have a long list, but it’s not completely finalized yet. So far we have received confirmation from the Bent Spoon, Fruity Yogurt, as well as Twist, McCaffrey’s supermarket, Tico’s Eatery, Cox’s market, Da’s Thai, Starbucks and Olives. A lot of local vendors will be here.

PNN: Small World Coffee?

ELIZABETH: Probably, yes. And Chez Alice is coming. Possibly some restaurants from the Terra Momo group because they participated last year. It’s really all about bringing the university and the community together as a whole.

PNN: Do you think that the students need incentives to get off campus?

ELIZABETH: I think it is especially important for the freshman. They may feel intimidated. It’s a whole new experience.

PNN: Well thank you, Elizabeth. This sounds like a terrific event and a great way to start the Late Thursdays series.

ELIZABETH: Yes. We are looking forward to another great series of Late Thursdays.

PNN: Well please keep us posted. We will be happy to spread the word.

ELIZABETH: I will. And there is also a printed catalog of events available in the lobby of the Art Museum.

The 2nd annual Nassau Street Sampler will feature food from many of Princeton’s eclectic restaurants, live music, and the chance to win great prizes (including t-shirts, posters, and gift certificates), this is an event you won’’t want to miss!

If you are interested in participating in this event, please contact Elizabeth Lemoine, Student Outreach Coordinator at (609) 258-9351.

Location: Princeton University Art Museum

Date/Time: 09/16/10  5:00 pm – 10:00 pm

HANAMI Princeton is located at 15 Farber Road, next to the MarketFair Mall just off of Route 1 South in West Windsor at the site of the former Sunny Garden. HANAMI’s dinner specialties start at $12 and lunch specials are $10. They also serve innovative and surprising prix fixe meals and a six course tasting menu called Chef’s Omakase. Take out and delivery to home or office is available.

HANAMI gets its name from the ancient times, before there were skyscrapers, cars and computers, before there were electronic games and television, when extended families lived together, dined together and enjoyed walks in the woods together. People of many different cultures shared the appreciation of beautiful forests, home to towering old trees that had witnessed hundreds of years of history. The Chinese and Japanese especially revered the great beauty of the flowering cherry tree. The elders believed that the spirits of their ancestors inhabited the tree’s limbs and branches, ready to offer counsel when asked, and the luscious fruit of the tree were viewed as precious gifts, portending great fortune. Thus began a tradition of “Hanami,” a festive gathering of people of all ages in a special place to celebrate the joys of family, fortune and of course, food.

The HANAMI Princeton experience is a “celebrasian” of all that is good in life, including interpretive and modern cuisine prepared with “inspirasian” and “imaginasian” by chefs whose pedigree ranks among the best Asian restaurants in Manhattan – NOBU, MEGU and Tao.

Chef Steven Wong trained in some of the finest restaurants in Los Angeles and New York City before opening his own Noveau Sushi in Montclair, New Jersey. After much success he sold and his talents were recruited to the acclaimed MEGU where he prepared Japanese cuisine and sushi made from the freshest and most unusual ingredients. His interpretations and presentations have been referred to as “avant garde” and “unique.” Some of Chef Wong’s specialties include appetizers such as Filet Mignon Lettuce Cups, and Sushi Pizza consisting of rice tempura, tuna, salmon, spicy mayo, shredded sugar snap peas and shiitake mushrooms. Entrees include Wood Chip Grilled Beef Tenderloin served with wasabi truffle butter, caramelized baby veggies and teriyaki pudding, and Crispy Oysters in a special house sauce.

Chef Spencer Truong met Steven Wong at Noveau Sushi. Following training at the Arts Institute of New York City and the renowned James Beard House, Spencer most recently worked at NOBU in Tribeca, the flagship restaurant of Chef Nobu Matsuhisa which is co-owned by Oscar winning actor Robert De Niro.

For the lover of Chinese cuisine Chef Peter Yip prepares traditional and modern Cantonese dishes. At Tao his regular customers included Robert De Niro, Madonna and Paris Hilton to name a few.

According to spokesperson, Hugh Miller, “There is no restaurant in this area like HANAMI. It’s in a category all its own. I can tell you this. It’s not a Chinese restaurant that happens to serve Sushi. And it’s not a Sushi restaurant that ‘oh by the way’ serves Chinese too. By day HANAMI offers high quality lunch options for workers in the area who want value and only have an hour to get in and out. By night, HANAMI will fill the void for real fresh and unique Sushi and interpretive Japanese and Chinese dishes. It’s all prepared by young pedigreed chefs in a very cool atmosphere, but will also be available for takeout and delivery to home or office.”

The HANAMI Princeton environment is magical and includes Asian influenced music from around the world, a tea bar with unique bubble teas and smoothies, and a mystical cherry tree sculpture influenced by the ancient Hanami tradition. Kids of all ages are urged to make a wish for good fortune.

For further information visit the HANAMI Princeton Website

Mr. Distler is a former managing director and treasurer at investment banking firm Warburg Pincus LLC and is currently chairman and CEO of The Bank of Princeton. Mr. Anderson is the former chef at the Ryland Inn in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey.

Elements is on course to become one the finest restaurants in Princeton, if not one of the finest in New Jersey. ~ Princeton News Network

Elements Restaurant, 163 Bayard Lane, Princeton NJ 08540, Reservations 609-924-0078

For more information visit the Elements website