'Stoner Buffet' Coming To Morristown Restaurant For 1 Night Only

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Even when recreational weed was illegal, that never stopped its enthusiasts from toking up, getting the munchies and ordering a restaurant's entire menu. But now that New Jersey adults can legally use the drug, eateries such as Jockey Hollow Bar & Kitchen are leaning into the symbiotic relationship between stoners and the culinary world.

For one night only, Jockey Hollow will open a "stoner buffet," complete with loaded tater tots, broccoli mac and cheese and possible signs for the future of restaurants in New Jersey's legal-weed era. See event info here.

Jockey Hollow, which operates in the historic Vail Mansion, features several rooms for diners. But not all of them have fully re-opened since New Jersey's COVID-19 protocols have diminished.

One of those rooms is The Rathskeller — often a space for larger parties to hold events and banquets. Groups are beginning to utilize the room again for weddings, rehearsal dinners and other events previously postponed because of the pandemic. But before the room becomes busy with bookings in May, Jockey Hollow noticed it had nothing scheduled for the last weeks of April.

"In the past, we had two different Grateful Dead bands that were very, very popular," said Owner Chris Cannon. "I was like, what the hell? Next week is 4/20. Then we were thinking for food service, we can try a buffet out, call it the stoner buffet."

Then came the process of formulating a menu. Jockey Hollow Executive Chef Joe Mooney doesn't smoke, but Cannon asked him what foods become appealing after one too many drinks.

Related article: 'I Need A Challenge': Meet Jockey Hollow's New Executive Chef

Cannon gave Mooney a day to come up with the stoner buffet menu, and here's what he devised:

• Szechuan fried chicken
• broccoli mac and cheese
• BBQ pork belly sliders
• loaded tater tots
• spring onion caesar salad

The buffet will become available from 8:30-10 p.m. Saturday. But the bar will open at 4 p.m., and Grateful Dead tribute band Midnight Sun will take the stage from 8-11 p.m. The $50 event — $5 cover charge at the door for non-ticket holders — will also feature a Grateful Dead-inspired cocktail.

Ironically, the room known as The Rathskeller used to house Morristown's jail cell — call it the big mansion's big house. But the legalization of recreational cannabis gives more restaurants, such as Jockey Hollow, the opportunity to explicitly welcome stoners for the event.

Of course, New Jersey's cannabis legalization has its limits. Nobody can smoke or consume weed in public spaces, such as restaurants. And while many restaurants hold licenses to serve alcohol, permits for New Jersey eateries to offer cannabis don't yet exist. But there's a possibility of a future when cannabis — perhaps in the form of edibles or THC-infused offerings — becomes as normal in restaurants as wine.

"I joke around all the time," Cannon said, "that if it ever becomes really legal and let’s say edibles became really cheap, you could offer people an edible before they order and we’ll probably sell 100 percent desserts."

It may be a joke now. But Cannon's as aware as anyone that some patrons may like to light up off-site to make the most of their restaurant experience.

Cannon used to run a New York City restaurant that a screenwriter from The Karate Kid frequented. One night, he came with Harrison Ford.

"They went out in the park outside, and they got completely roasted," Cannon said. "They came back just cackling and ordered two steaks and tons of pasta. It was hilarious."

A few years ago, Cannon even enjoyed a weed-infused rosé from a Napa winemaker, which he called "fantastic." If New Jersey ever makes it legal, patrons may find similar offerings in Garden State restaurants, Cannon says.

"Maybe next year you have marijuana cocktails," he said. "As long as it’s a canned product that’s been tested, it should be fine. I don’t think they’ll be too kindly about you experimenting with your own concoctions."

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