Great, Local Food a Highlight at Red Bank RiverFest

While music played in the background, Danny Murphy, owner of Danny’s Grill and Wine Bar, recounted the origins of RiverFest as a weekend gathering of food, music and generations of Red Bankers reconnecting every June.

RiverFest started in 1981 and over the first 20 years attendance grew to nearly 100,000 people even while the event stayed close to its roots as a Red Bank homecoming of sorts. The basic formula is “great food, great music,” Murphy said. Adding that they go together, just like New Orleans. Murphy was dishing up a spicy fried shrimp and sauce - Murphy’s version of a remoulade was out of the world in this reporters  (who has lived in New Orleans) opinion. A New York strip steak marinated in herbs on rosemary bread, a tuna wasabi and traditional Italian sausage and peppers rounded out Murphy’s offerings.

Local restaurant and entertainment legend Tim McLoone put the weekend’s music together aiming for complete diversity of music, according to Murphy, including a Sunday morning gospel choir and a Latin jazz quartet. Quincy Mumford was set to play at 6pm on Saturday before heading over to Jamian’s for two late night sets. Jamian’s, who also showcased their food and business at RiverFest, is a Monmouth Street eatery and bar where Red Bank’s arts, music and theater scenes often converge after gallery openings and before and after shows.

George Lyrisits, owner of Bistro, Zoes and Teak, told Patch: “I love the fact that it’s back to a Red Bank event. I see a lot of our regular Red Bank customers here.” Lyrisits’ restaurants were sharing a booth with DISH where Lobster rolls and gyros were being dished up.

“Our side of the booth is more of a tribute to Zoes and our Greek roots,” Lyrisits said. “Greek food is fun food.”

Lusty Lobster of Highlands was well represented at RiverFest, serving up both fresh-shucked oysters at their booth and serving as a prime seafood distributor for many of the Red Bank restaurants present at RiverFest. The Lusty Lobster sources seafood from all over the world, but also works with the New Jersey seafood cooperatives at Belford, Point Pleasant and Barnegat Light, according to Shaun Garrity, The Lusty Lobster’s manager. Located on Bay Avenue in the Highlands the Lobster is open year round and seven days a week in the summer.

Down the row Buona Serra slung NY strip steak and roasted chicken, mozzarella and red pepper sandwiches as well as fried calamari. Pizza Fusion was well represented with their innovative organic and naturally-sourced pizzas and deserts. Zydrune Rudaviciu pointed out the gluten free brownies  - a fave desert of this reporter at Pizza Fusion’s Broad Street location - and organic chocolate chip cookies. Pizza Fusion was bringing in plain cheese pizzas on their organic white crust and serving it up with Boylan’s natural sodas.

While many vendors, owners and managers talked to were concerned with the low attendance, Tom Fishkin owner of Readie’s at 18 Monmouth Street wasn’t concerned at all. An overcast day is “good eating weather,” he said with a smile.  People can come out, just hang out, listen to music, and eat all day. “The music keeps going, the food keeps going,” he finished.

Pointing to a regular customer quite a few yards away, Fishkin yelled out with a smile and a nod “Turkey and Swiss right?” The customer grinned and nodded his head yes.

“What we serve here is what we use all the time at the restaurant,” he said. “It’s easy to do deli at a festival. We’re the only ones out here with pastrami and corned beef and cabbage.”

What more can you ask for? Great food, great music and great people all coming together in Red Bank along the river on a beautiful June weekend.