Food & Dining
Grape & Grain
Behr Brewing: Beer, Down Home Style
The ever-growing craft beer industry is the result of many happy incidents, coincidences, and luck. One of those incidents was the signing of HR 1337 in 1977 by then-President Jimmy Carter which legalized homebrewing in the United States. I mention this not to start a history lesson but to note […]
Bartender's Best
Bee’s Knees
The Bees Knees, a new bee-themed bar at the Marquis de Lafayette, takes inspiration from a 1920s speakeasy, but it doesn’t make itself hard to find. A neon sign in the entrance proudly pronounces it as Cape May’s “worst” kept secret. The cocktail menu includes Prohibition-era nods such as Giggle […]
Dining Out
Andrea Trattoria Italiana
Over the nearly 10 years that I’ve been reviewing restaurants for this magazine, there have been some absolutely exquisite meals and equally exquisite service and ambiance. I’m happy to report that my recent visit to Andrea Trattoria Italiana on Bank Street was another such experience. While we stood outside with […]
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A Smoldering Fire
America loves barbecue even if most people really aren’t sure what barbecue really means. The terms grilling, barbecue, and cookout are used interchangeably when they really mean very different things. A cookout is a meal or event where the cooking is done outside. Grilling is food cooked on a grill […]
Dining Out
Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille
On a somewhat chilly and rainy late Saturday afternoon in early June, my dining companion AnneMarie sauntered into Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille and joined me at a four-top table in the main seating section of the restaurant. There were other options of course—covered seating next to the bar (and […]
Prime Selections
Popeye Would be Proud
As a meat eater, I never realized how difficult it used to be for a vegetarian to enjoy a delicious meal in a restaurant until I began to socialize with one. Most of the time, the only entrée available was a plate of bland steamed vegetables. So, my friend would […]
Grape & Grain
Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery
We denizens of the South Jersey Shore know that all seasons here offer a cornucopia of adventures and delights. While sun and surf are typically chief among these, surely next is our region’s abundance of establishments for rest and refreshment! In this column we highlight the numerous wineries, breweries, and […]
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The World is Your Oyster
“Shy is the oyster, fervent is the clam, peaceful is the ocean floor rocked by the sands of time.” —Bradley Chicho For creatures that spend nearly the entirety of their lives mired in the muck of river and ocean bottoms, clams and oysters have inspired many poets, writers, and artists… […]
Bartender's Best
Cape May Warbler
The sunny color of this avian-inspired cocktail comes from yellow chartreuse and bell pepper juice. Find smoked sea salt in specialty stores and online; locally, you can find a hickory-smoked variety at Spice Cellar on Carpenters Lane. How to make it Shake all ingredients and serve in a double old […]
Grape & Grain
Cold Spring Brewery: Drinking in History
While in college a long time ago my favorite subject was history. So, I majored in it. Also, while in college a long time ago, my favorite beverage was beer. You could say I kind of majored in that too. Now, neither of these two loves are particularly unique, I […]
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Every Ingredient Tells a Story
The story is the cornerstone of entertainment and of civilization. The story can convey and explain our origins, dreams, and fears. The food we eat has a story to tell that nourishes our mind and soul as well as our physical bodies. Finding those stories connects us to our ancestral […]
Prime Selections
Happy as a Clam
There are more than 150 edible species of clams in the world, so we are going to limit this discussion to the ones we enjoy here in Cape May.
Dining Out
Harpoons on the Bay
You may have been around Cape May long enough to remember the changeovers and transitions that this North Cape May bayfront restaurant has undergone—perhaps you recall the Whaler’s Cove or Harpoon Henry’s. The location now operates under the name Harpoons on the Bay and preserves the maritime theme that its […]
Bartender's Best
Cherry Bourbon Sour
Lemon juice cuts the sweetness of this bourbon-based cocktail, while the muddled Luxardo cherries at the bottom of the glass make for a delicious finish. Find these Italian-made cherries in specialty stores or online. They aren’t your typical maraschinos; we wouldn’t recommend substituting the bright red variety. For a true […]
Grape & Grain
Willow Creek Winery
When asked for prime destinations for a top-shelf wine drinking experience, let’s admit that few will think first of the Jersey Shore. Not too many folks readily associate our coastal experience of sand, sea, taffy, and suds with scenic vineyards growing multiple varietals and producing award-winning wines. And yet, Cape […]
Prime Selections
Say hello; say goodbye. Enjoy!
After two plus years, Exit Zero Hospitality’s contract to redevelop, reposition and operate the restaurant at the Cape May Ferry Terminal was ended late last year. The Delaware River and Bay Authority has a new ten-year agreement with Aramark Sports and Entertainment, LLC. What changes will be in effect for […]
Dining Out
Jester’s Dive Bar
Locals and visitors alike recently bid a fond farewell to Ric Rutherford’s venerable Rio Station restaurant and are saying a fond hello to Jester’s Dive Bar, Rio Grande’s new eatery on Route 9. Owners Bill and Megan Bumbernick, who opened Jester’s in April of 2023, also own Surfing Pig and […]
Bartender's Best
Purple Rain
Steve at the Mad Batter showed us how to mix up this new cocktail from their Spring menu!
Dining Out
Taco Caballito Tequileria
On a chilly windy evening in December, my pal Agnes and I wandered into Taco Caballito Tequileria (meaning “establishment that serves tequila”) looking for warmth and sustenance. We opted to dine upstairs on the porch, which was enclosed and heated. There are other seating options upstairs and down, either at […]
Prime Selections
Take Comfort
Comfort food: two words that immediately conjure up something specific in everyone’s mind—but not likely the same something. It turns out comfort food is a very personal thing. It’s food that makes you feel better (at least temporarily) and is associated with fond memories. Some people think of hamburgers and […]
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Legalize Marinara: Pairing Pasta Shapes and Sauces
“Life is a combination of magic and pasta.” Federico Fellini The journey of grains of wheat to a bowl of pasta is one of the great mysteries of this world. In the modern culinary universe, an abundance of unique and exotic ingredients is easily accessible and promotes creativity for the […]
Grape & Grain
Gusto Brewing Company
Recently, on one of those cool and squally days that our beloved Jersey Cape is known for in winter, I sought warmth and comfort in a local craft beer experience. As this is not an uncommon refuge for me regardless of season, I knew my choice of local microbreweries summed […]
Prime Selections
Fine, Festive and Fabulous
Christmas is jam-packed with traditions of all kinds. Every family has their own special way of celebrating. In mine, it meant getting out the good china, putting on our best bib and tucker, and enjoying a delicious meal that my parents made together complete with a nice bottle of wine. […]