(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- It's time to ditch the same boring recipes and bring big, playful creativity back into your kitchen! Join Top Chef finalist, Food Network star, and author Joe Sasto to explore his bestselling cookbook Breaking the Rules: A Fresh Take on Italian Classics in a virtual discussion on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, presented by the Ocean County Library. The event begins at 2:00pm.
Whether you are a novice cook looking to build your kitchen confidence or an experienced chef eager to expand your culinary repertoire, Joe’s approachable philosophy will change how you view everyday ingredients. Dive deep into his vibrant world of handcrafted pasta, step-by-step rolling techniques, and unexpected flavor profiles.
From foundational family favorites like his mom’s red sauce to daring, crave-worthy creations like corn cacio e pepe, marinated tomato “amatriciana,” and pesto pinwheel pull-apart bread, this conversation is an open invitation to trust your culinary instincts and cook with absolute freedom.
With more than half a billion likes and countless viral social media videos, celebrity chef Joe Sasto has become a recurring judge and personality across multiple Food Network shows. He has also competed and appeared on Guy Fieri’s Tournament of Champions, Guy’s Grocery Games, Chopped, Top Chef, and Top Chef All-Stars.
Registration is required for this free program. To register, visit tinyurl.com/SastoOCL, call 732-349-6200, or stop by your local OCL branch.
Ocean County Library cardholders can borrow Breaking the Rules: A Fresh Take on Italian Classics for free. Visit tinyurl.com/BreakingOCL, or call or stop by your local OCL branch to request a copy today.
Grammy Award -winning producer and guitarist extraordinaire, John Pizzarelli salutes the legendary Tony Bennett celebrating over 60 years of unparalleled artistry. From Bennett’s ’50s pop hits like “Because of You” and “Rags to Riches” through his timeless classics of the ’60s such as “I Wanna Be Around” and “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” to his remarkable collaborations with Bill Evans, Pizzarelli’s trio will bring these iconic songs to life once again. The evening will also highlight Bennett’s incredible revival in the ‘90s while Pizzarelli weaves in personal anecdotes and stories that reveal the man behind the music.
Musician and historian Bobby Horton combines storytelling, musicianship, history, and a genuine love for the people who settled this nation, fought for our future, and created a new nation in Patriot Songs of the American Revolution.
Veronica Swift has established herself as one of her generation’s iconic voices in Jazz. Throughout her childhood, she toured nationally with her parents (Jazz musicians Hod O’Brien and Stephanie Nakasian), singing at renowned clubs and festivals such as Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Jazz Standard (NYC), Jazz Showcase (Chicago), and Telluride Jazz Festival. She recorded her first album at age nine, and since then has had a career spanning two decades, which saw a 2nd place win at The 2015 Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition, a twice-a-year residency at Birdland Jazz Club, joining Chris Botti’s touring band, as well as touring with Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and recording with Jeff Goldblum. Her 2021 album This Bitter Earth received a 5-star review and the cover of DownBeat magazine, and in 2024, she was honored with a French knighthood as Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters.
Concert pianist Lyndon Ji enjoys a diverse performing career in solo and chamber settings, with a particular enthusiasm for introducing lesser-known works to audiences of all backgrounds. This afternoon program will explore modernist French music from Fauré to Lili Boulanger to Murail, as well as the mystic sound world of Scriabin through a selection of études and the ineffable Fifth Sonata. Lyndon currently serves as staff pianist at Rutgers, Artistic Director of the Bay Area International Piano Competition, and appears in concert regularly throughout the East Coast.
