On a chilly Friday in February, my dining companion Anne Marie joined me at Grana BYOB, at the corner of Broadway and West Perry in Cape May, the location formerly operating as Godmother’s Restaurant. As always, we’d already perused the menu, enthusiastic about tasting the dishes everyone’s been talking about—and […]
“Food tells stories, and sometimes the history makes you appreciate a certain cuisine a little more.” Millie Peartree I’m a chef who also happens to write. The two crafts are not as disparate as they may seem at first. What I really am is a storyteller; sometimes I tell the […]
My friends (who don’t live here) often ask me, “What is Cape May like in the winter? What do you dao? Do you get bored?” My answer is an emphatic “No!” Yes, some of the businesses close for the season, but there are plenty that stay open year-round, especially on […]
It took a little while for The Cricket Club to open its doors in 2022, a true metamorphosis from the city’s beloved Merion Inn, built in 1885. We waited with bated breath, wondering in which ways the Kulkowitz family, of Mad Batter fame, would transform the historically significant Merion. Notably, […]
I have never been one to be at a loss for words, especially when it comes to words about food. I can speak and write effortlessly about spices and textures and recipes and all the subtleties of cuisines from every country on the planet. Not boasting here, just creating a […]
Looking for Cape May restaurants? Visit the dining section on CapeMay.com If there ever was an iconic neighborhood tavern in Cape May, it’s the C-View Inn, and they have checked all the boxes to have earned that moniker. Situated on the corner of Washington Street and Texas Avenue, right there […]
Some delectable dishes featuring greens for you to make at home.
Photographs and Styling by MICHELLE GIORLA It all started as a tragic misunderstanding. I thought working in close proximity would be better for our relationship, so I became a chef. I’ve always loved food; my search for new dishes and flavors rivaled Galahad’s quest for the Holy Grail. What could […]
What is as small as the head of a pin or as large as the average bedroom and predates dinosaurs by more than 200 million years? Give up? Crab. Evidence suggests that humans have been enjoying crab since prehistoric times – and we still do. This year earthlings will devour […]
The best part of street food is there are no rules or boundaries as to what it can be.
Photographs and styling by MICHELLE GIORLA After ending my self-imposed 20-year exile/odyssey in the Rocky Mountains the first place I needed to go was the ocean. The shore entices and seduces, attacking and attaching itself one sense at a time. Before the ocean enters your vision the scent of marsh […]
Prior to its rebirth as a foodie destination, Mayer’s Tavern was known for two things according to owner/chef Alex Laudeman: bar fights and scallops. When Alex and her father Keith bought the old fisherman hangout in 2016, they knew they wanted to honor the history of the place, so they […]
Without venturing past the borders of Cape May there are six different Mexican restaurants.
“You’re at the shore,” explains Steve Howard, chef/owner of Freda’s Café. “People want to see some seafood on the menu.” Opened in 1991, Freda’s is the work of Steve and his wife Carol. Originally from New York, the couple came to enjoy Cape May through friends and eventually decided to […]
Who needs over-processed faux meats and cheeses when you’ve got real vegetables?
Where I grew up in North Jersey, Morris County to be exact, there was such an abundance of Italian restaurants you could practically walk two blocks in any direction and find at least one. That may be a bit of an exaggeration—but not much! The problem was, so many Italian […]
If you’re a carnivore, there is simply nothing quite like a perfectly done steak, properly seasoned and cooked to perfection, to make your mouth water. It comes out of the kitchen practically sizzling—a crispy char on the outside, pink and tender in the middle, and perfectly seasoned all the way […]
Crème de la Crème What is your favorite dessert? I ask this question every time I have dinner guests. And, although I don’t really keep track of such things, crème brûlée is the answer more often than anything else. I am always delighted to indulge my friends because this impressive, […]
Just about 20 years ago, I dined for the first time at 410 Bank Street, the quaint and cozy spot located at (guess where) in Cape May. It was then that I had my first taste of their Bayou Oyster Stew, a memorable moment, and those flavors stayed with me. […]
This summer as your tribes come to your homes and gather around your grills and kitchen tables, try these recipes that were created or inspired by The Driveway.
Ingredients 2oz Crown Royal Apple 1oz ginger liqueur 1oz sweet vermouth 2 dashes Angostura bitters Caramel drizzle 1 brandy spiced cherry (a cherry soaked in brandy with cinnamon, allspice, and cloves) Pour Crown Apple, sweet vermouth, ginger liqueur, and bitters over ice in shaker. Stir for 20 seconds. Pour into […]
Ingredients 2 oz premium bourbon 1/2 oz simple syrup 2 sprigs of fresh mint Rub the leaves from one sprig of mint on the inside of a traditional julep cup or highball glass. Leave mint leaves in the cup and pour in bourbon and simple syrup. Add ice and stir. […]
Ingredients Fresh strawberries and blueberries Fresh mint leaves Wedge of lime 1oz simple syrup 1oz fresh lime juice 3oz rum Club soda In a tall glass, muddle fresh mint leaves and berries (The Nail uses organic strawberries and blueberries from Beach Plum Farm) with a wedge of lime. Fill the […]