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NBPAC Lecture Series: Culinary Conversations with Chef Rocco DiSpirito

Friday, March 14, 2025 @ 7:30pm



New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC)
11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Join us for an inspiring evening with James Beard Award-winning American chef Rocco DiSpirito in a moderated interview by New Brunswick's own The Restaurant Guys, Mark Pascal and Francis Schott (Stage Left Steak and Catherine Lombardi)!  A portion of the ticket sales proceeds will benefit the Elijah's Promise - Promise Culinary School.  Limited VIP tickets are available, including preferred seating and a Meet & Greet / After-Party at Catherine Lombardi. Add an autographed cookbook to your ticket purchase (while supplies last).

 

About Rocco:  Chef Rocco DiSpirito is celebrated for his outstanding culinary skills, television personality, and authorship of fourteen cookbooks. Rocco was working globally in Paris, France and NYC alongside legendary chefs Gray Kunz, Dominique Cecillon and David Bouley by the age of 20. His restaurant, Union Pacific, received three-stars from The New York Times. DiSpirito appears on shows like, “Top Chef”, “Rocco’s Dinner Party,” and his time spent on “Guy’s Grocery Games” and “Tournament of Champions” both as a judge and contestant earned him top prize. His cookbooks, “Everyday Delicious”, “Now Eat This!” “Pound a Day Diet,” and “The Negative Calorie Diet,” reflect his dedication to living a healthy lifestyle and making nutritious food accessible to everyone. His book “Flavor,” earned him a James Beard award. Rocco has been featured in Food & Wine, Bon Appetit and Gourmet and on The Today Show, GMA, Oprah and more. Rocco has been advocating on behalf of missions for City Harvest, Downtown Alliance, Health Corps, God’s Love We Deliver, Feeding America and more.  Rocco currently lives in New York City with his family and two Shiba Inu. Connect with Chef Rocco on his WebsiteInstagram and Facebook pages.

About The Restaurant Guys: Mark Pascal and Francis Schott are possibly the original food podcasters. They started interviewing the most interesting people in Food, Wine, and The Finer Things in Life at the dawn of podcasting in 2005.  After 8 years they took a break from 2013 until just last year. Jacques Pepin helped The Restaurant Guys Podcast relaunch in July of 2024. They are now downloaded in 70 countries and host extraordinary culinary guests every week. This will be the first Restaurant Guys Podcast recorded in front of a live audience.

Mark and Francis are two of New Brunswick's own. They have operated Stage Left Steak and Catherine Lombardi Restaurants right next to NBPAC since the 1990s.




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UPCOMING EVENTS




 

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EVENT PREVIEWS

(NEWARK, NJ) -- New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents a Spring Season of Jazz with free monthly jazz jams at Clement's Place and two special concert events inside the Victoria Theater. This series, running from September through June, is co-presented by NJPAC's Jazz Advisory Committee and Rutgers University–Newark's Institute of Jazz Studies (IJS). Immerse yourself in the relaxing sounds of jazz music that stimulate the players’ and listeners' minds.



PBS'

PBS' Independent Lens Launches 20th Season of Free Pop-Up Screening Series in Teaneck and Nationwide

(TEANECK, NJ) -- The award-winning PBS documentary series, INDEPENDENT LENS, presents the launch of the upcoming season of Indie Lens Pop-Up in partnership with the Teaneck International Film Festival and the Puffin Cultural Forum. The season kicks-off on February 4, 2026 with The Librarians and continues through May. The series is free for all but sign up is required.



State

State Theatre New Jersey presents The Sound Studio Series 2026

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey proudly presents The Sound Studio Series, an immersive musical experience that places concertgoers at the very heart of the performance. Held in STNJ's intimate Studio space, limited to just 80 attendees, The Sound Studio Series features a dynamic mix of both classical and rock performances. Each concert concludes with an exclusive post-show meet-and-greet with the artists, offering fans a rare opportunity to connect directly with the performers. Tickets for the series are $20-$30.



Megan

Megan Thee Stallion to make her Broadway debut in "Moulin Rouge! The Musical"

(NEW YORK, NY) -- Producers of the Tony Award®-winning, record-breaking Broadway hit Moulin Rouge! The Musical have announced that three-time Grammy Award-winning superstar and actress Megan Thee Stallion will make her Broadway debut in the production as "Zidler", impresario of the titular nightclub. Taking the stage for a strictly limited 8-week engagement, Megan will light up the Al Hirshfeld Theatre from Tuesday, March 24th to Sunday, May 17, 2026, promising an unmissable, moment in the show's legendary run.



Music

Music Mountain Theatre presents "MAME"

(LAMBERTVILLE, NJ) -- Music Mountain Theatre presents MAME weekends from March 27 through April 19, 2026. The musical is based on the novel "Auntie Mame" by Patrick Dennis and the play by Lawrence and Lee.












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I’m one of those guys who hates it when people say that rock and roll is dead. That there’s no good new music today. I actually think there may be more good music now than ever, but it’s just harder to find. Since we get a ton of new music sent to us at New Jersey Stage each week, I decided to try something new - a recorded DJ hosted radio show and a column spotlighting new works. The plan is to have a new one every two weeks.




This Week in Music

Here is a look at shows taking place this week along with our featured listings and a look at some upcoming shows. New Jersey Stage offers previews of concerts throughout the Garden State as well as select shows in New York City and Philadelphia areas






UPCOMING EVENTS