Bartender's Best
Maple Orchard Cider
This seasonal bourbon cocktail from Lucky Bones combines two fall flavors
Food & Dining
Grape & Grain
Mudhen Brewing Co: Joy Through Beer
This brewery stands out, big and bold, in the very heart of Wildwood.
Prime Selections
Cool Beans
There are over 400 types and 40,000 different varieties, but we tend to eat only about a dozen.
Dining Out
410 Bank Street
Unassuming at first glance, this 1840s carriage house has been transformed into a cozy and intimate restaurant.
Grape & Grain
Anglesea Aleworks
Today, we trip into Wildwood to taste the wares of a microbrewery that, despite being one of the newest entrants on the stage, has already won significant quality
Prime Selections
Go Fish!
So many people say they don’t like it. What I have discovered is that many people haven’t had the opportunity to eat fresh fish that was properly prepared.
Dining Out
Washington Inn
Talk to people you know, locals or visitors, and ask them where they go for a special occasion and the answer is often The Washington Inn. The reasons are clear: atmosphere, location, impeccable service, and exquisite fare from table bread to dessert.
Try This at Home
The Soul of Garden State Produce
Celebrate the inimitable Jersey tomato in some of Chef Jon’s favorite recipes.
Bartender's Best
Three Summertime Cocktails
We couldn’t choose between these summer cocktails from Harry’s Ocean Bar & Grille! Make all three right in a pint glass.
Grape & Grain
Jessie Creek Winery: A Wine Lover’s Happy Place
Let’s pull into the tucked-away property just off South Delsea Drive, meet the owners and drink some wine.
Prime Selections
Hail Caesar!
Caesar Salad itself is rather boring, consisting of lettuce, dressing, cheese, and croutons. Its origins, however, are another story.
Try This at Home
Prime Cuts: My Beef with Steaks
I like steak, though I rarely order them while dining out. I have no secret animus with bovine flesh. Nor do I have salacious kitchen insider stories of why to avoid eating beef in restaurants. Steaks are boring. A good steak doesn’t need a creative hand to make it excellent; […]
Dining Out
The Ebbitt Room
The Ebbitt Room’s dining philosophy is based deeply in “farm-to-table and farm-to-glass” wrought in the menu, wine, and signature cocktail offerings.
Bartender's Best
Bourbon Arnold Palmer
Looking for something to help cool off? Shake up a Bourbon Arnold Palmer with this cocktail recipe from the Pier House
Try This at Home
The Seafood Paradox
Of course, we need a pair of docks for all the fishing boats. Of course I went for the cheap pun. Unfortunately, there really is a seafood paradox in Cape May.
Grape & Grain
From Farm to Bottle: Nauti Spirits
Except for the molasses needed for rum production, all of Nauti’s liquors are grown, ground, mashed, fermented, distilled, and bottled on site.
Prime Selections
2025 Restaurant Scene
Each spring we devote this column to what’s new on the restaurant scene for the upcoming season. This year there are no new restaurants opening on the island (that we know of at this writing) but exciting news none-the-less. As you know, Carl Messick, the famous chef of Peter Shields […]
Dining Out
The Mad Batter
In our continuing series of “Cape May Classics,” The Mad Batter Restaurant and Bar is surely ensconced on the “absolutely must include” list. I’ve been frequenting this spot for 30 years and it never disappoints. When my dining companion Reginald and I decide to step out for a bite and […]
Try This at Home
Diversity in the Kitchen and on the Table
I have spent most of my adult life living and working in resort towns, primarily in two locales: the ski areas of Colorado and beach towns up and down the Jersey shore. Many resort areas have great restaurants, and some like Cape May are great restaurant towns that entice foodies […]
Bartender's Best
Negroni
Recipe courtesy of The Washington Inn This cocktail, which takes its striking red color from Campari, originated in Florence, Italy in the early 1900s. “[The Negroni] stands tall in its simplicity and sophistication,” says the Washington Inn. “Perfectly balanced with a touch of bitterness, it’s a flawless choice for anyone […]
Grape & Grain
Slack Tide Brewing
With this issue, our Grape & Grain column enters its second year of spotlighting the impressive array of breweries, wineries, and distilleries that populate our beloved Jersey Cape. It is a remarkable and expanding assortment of fun-filled venues where locals and visitors can immerse themselves in the vibrant Jersey Shore […]
Dining Out
The Lobster House
This New Year, we’re celebrating by reviewing the “Cape May Classics.” These are the restaurants that are the essence of Cape May, known casually as the culinary capital of New Jersey. On the top of any list is the esteemed and globally revered Lobster House. Situated on Schellenger’s Landing Road […]
Dining Out
Yozu Japanese Cuisine
It’s an unassuming spot, Yozu Japanese Cuisine (a.k.a. Yozu Sushi and Hibachi Restaurant), tucked in the corner of the Bayshore Mall, opposite Big Lots. Step inside and it’s anything but! The interior is serene and elegant, with seating for both regular dining and for dining Hibachi-style. There was a time […]