AVALON — One of the most popular restaurants in Avalon was formally recognized for its 20th anniversary on January 26. Avalon Mayor Martin Pagliughi presented an official proclamation to Maggie’s Restaurant, located at 2619 Dune Drive in Avalon. “Maggie’s Restaurant is one of the reasons why Avalon is a great place to live, and a great place to vacation,” Pagliughi said. “For 20 years, Maggie’s has been the first choice for countless families who want to enjoy great food in a friendly atmosphere.” Maggie’s Restaurant was established by Marge and Dan ...<< MORE >>

The Old Grange Restaurant, located at Historic Cold Spring Village in the Cold Spring section of Lower Township, began its life in the late 1800s as Cold Spring Grange #132 with a charter membership of 32. Also known as the Patrons of Husbandry, the Grange is America’s oldest farm organization and the only rural fraternity in the world. The building, c.1897, was constructed at an approximate cost of $6,000. On the 10th anniversary of its dedication, the mortgage was said to have been burned at a special meeting. During the early 20th century, the ...<< MORE >>

Friend of mine and I were talking about Super Bowl dishes and party food in general and she sent me a couple of dip recipes she swears by, so I thought I’d pass them along. I’m going to do these, the sweet and sour meatballs chef Mark Kalla taught us how to make at his cooking class at the library and, of course, some chicken wings.   Olive Garden Hot Artichoke Dip This is a favorite dip at the Olive Garden, this creamy dip features a variety of cheeses, artichokes, spinach and so much more.  Well, after ...<< MORE >>

Below, please find information on the Australian Wine Dinner taking place Friday, February 5, hosted by Cape May’s iconic beachfront resort hotel, Congress Hall.  Also offered in conjunction with the dinner is an overnight hotel package, which includes luxury accommodations, the five-course dinner and a bottle of wine in-room.  I appreciate your consideration in including this information in an upcoming story! With an unforgettable menu created by Chef Lucas Manteca of the Virginia Hotel’s Ebbitt Room, the dinner event will highlight Australian specialties such as Venison Carpaccio and Roasted Sturgeon, all paired with carefully chosen Peter Lehmann Wines.  ...<< MORE >>

    Midnight Truffle Blizzard and heart-shaped cakes featured in February Dairy Queen celebrates Valentine's Day and the month of February with two sweet treats: the Midnight Truffle Blizzard Treat as the featured Blizzard of the Month and signature heart shaped DQ cakes. Available at all Dairy Queen locations nationwide throughout February, the Midnight Truffle Blizzard Treat is a flavorful mix of decadent chocolate truffle pieces blended with rich, dark cocoa fudge and creamy vanilla DQ soft serve. During February, Dairy Queen also offers custom heart-shaped cakes made with a layer of luscious chocolate ...<< MORE >>

  SOMERS POINT – Local foodies will get to enjoy a decadent Italian celebration of food and wine, and support the Shore Tomorrow Campaign at Shore Memorial Hospital all in one evening when they attend the “Dining and Vining” Winter Wine Dinner at Gregory’s Restaurant in Somers Point on Wednesday, January 27. Proceeds from the event, the second in a series of three wine dinners being held at Gregory’s, will benefit Shore Tomorrow, a campaign to raise $20 million for the multi-phased $125 million expansion project at Shore Memorial Hospital. The project will include a four-story, 135,000 square-foot ...<< MORE >>

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE -- Local chef Mark Kalla will present a cooking demonstration highlighting easy snack recipes to serve at a Super Bowl Party at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 16 at the Main Branch of the Cape May County Library. The library is located at 30 Mechanic Street in Cape May Court House. Chef Kalla will demonstrate how to prepare wings, Salsa con Queso, artichoke and cheese dip in addition to other super bowl favorites. You’ll be able to offer your football fans plenty of good food to munch on while cheering for their favorite team! Participants ...<< MORE >>

CAPE MAY -- Sip and sample unique flavors and learn about pairings from the experts during the Mad Batter Beer School and Cape May Wine Trail.   New for 2010, the Mad Batter Beer School introduces you to the world of beers, ales, lagers and more.  On Sunday, Jan. 17, learn about "Home Brewing" from beer experts at the Mad Batter Restaurant, 19 Jackson St.   Each class includes five samples of beer and light refreshments.  A bistro menu will also be available at an additional charge.  Admission is $25 per person.  Classes begin at 2 p.m.  The next class is on ...<< MORE >>

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE -- Local chef Mark Kalla will present a cooking demonstration highlighting easy snack recipes to serve at a Super Bowl Party at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 16 at the Main Branch of the Cape May County Library. The library is located at 30 Mechanic Street in Cape May Court House.

Chef Kalla will demonstrate how to prepare wings, Salsa con Queso, artichoke and cheese dip in addition to other super bowl favorites. You’ll be able to offer your football fans plenty of good food to munch on while cheering for their ...

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SOMERS POINT – Local foodies will get to enjoy a decadent Italian celebration of food and wine, and support the Shore Tomorrow Campaign at Shore Memorial Hospital all in one evening when they attend the “Dining and Vining” Winter Wine Dinner at Gregory’s Restaurant in Somers Point on Wednesday, January 27. Proceeds from the event, the second in a series of three wine dinners being held at Gregory’s, will benefit Shore Tomorrow, a campaign to raise $20 million for the multi-phased $125 million expansion project at Shore Memorial Hospital. The project will include a four-story, 135,000 square-foot surgical pavilion, ...<< MORE >>

A friend of the owner of Momiji, the Japanese hibachi-style and sushi restaurant in Rio Grande that opened late summer in to great success, has said that he will be opening a second restaurant in what used to be the Cape May Court House Wendy’s. Ironically, the restaurant in Rio Grande also opened in what was an old Wendy’s. Because of the huge success of Momiji, I was told that “he said the decisive factor was that the Rio Grande place is so successful, competitors were about to move in, and why not do it himself?” This information came through ...<< MORE >>

A buddy of mine who loves to grill sent me this, thought I’d share it with you. That’s a grill below…Really!   BBQ RULES We are about to enter the BBQ season. Therefore it is important to refresh your memory on the etiquette of this sublime outdoor cooking activity. When a man volunteers to do the BBQ the following chain of events are put into motion: Routine... (1) The woman buys the food. (2) The woman makes the salad, prepares the vegetables, and ...<< MORE >>

Love the Cook, a retail shop that sells anything a cook might be interested in – from utensils to gourmet sauces to cookbooks to cookware – is closing its 96th Street location in Stone Harbor next week and won’t be coming back. A store employee reported that information today (Dec. 17) and said she will be going to work for the Cape May location on the Washington Street Mall.   Technorati Tags: Stone Harbor,Love the Cook ...<< MORE >>

With cold winter weather approaching, Fitzpatrick's Crest Tavern is again partnering with the United Way of Cape May County to warm up the Christmas season. On Monday, Dec. 14, the Crest's favorite watering hole will be serving a free cup of hot soup to anyone who brings a personal care item to help restock the United Way's First Call for Help food pantry. The pantry is currently in need of diapers in sizes 4, 5, and 6, baby wipes, dish detergent and warm socks. These small gifts will go a long way toward providing comfort throughout the winter to local ...<< MORE >>

The Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the Grand Opening of Midtown Diner. The grand opening celebration will take place at 4600 Atlantic Avenue in Wildwood on Wednesday, Dec. 16, with a noon ribbon cutting service. Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce Members, Non-Members, Members of the Press and Community are invited to attend.   Technorati Tags: Wildwood restaurants,Wildwood diner,Jersey Shore restaurant blog ...<< MORE >>

A couple hours after posting the Gourmet Italian Kitchen blog yesterday, an investigator from Bank of America e-mailed me looking for information about the owner. I couldn’t help the guy out much but the owner is being investigated by the bank for some sort of fraud. Dun-dun-dun! (Why do I have the Law & Order theme song in my head?) ...<< MORE >>

MAYS LANDING—The Academy of Culinary Arts at Atlantic Cape Community College will sponsor “Breakfast with Santa” at the Hamilton Mall in Mays Landing. The event is planned for Saturday, Dec. 12, in the mall food court. The chefs and students at the Academy will prepare pancakes, bacon, sausage, muffins and Danish. In addition to meeting Santa, Mrs. Claus and other favorite holiday characters, children can enjoy the magic of award-winning magician Chad Juros. Breakfast will be served from 8-9:45 a.m. Tickets are $5 a person and can be purchased now at the customer service desk at Hamilton Mall, ...<< MORE >>

The once promising Gourmet Italian Kitchen across from the Wawa on Main Street in Cape May Court House has apparently closed its doors for good. It has been dark for the past couple weeks and a sales rep has told me they shut down. When they first opened about six months ago they were the talk of the area. We have pizza just about every Friday at my house and we quickly became regulars there. Then one day, the employees were different, the service got pretty bad, and the quality of the food went downhill fast. We ordered a pizza ...<< MORE >>

If you read this blog, then you’re pretty much a foodie, and that means you probably like kitchen gadgets like I do. Of all the gadgets I have (and I have many!), one of the best I ever bought was the rotisserie oven by Ronco. You’ve seen the commercials over the years, I’m sure, but there is no better way to cook a chicken or turkey than this oven. I’ve tried smoking turkey, roasting turkey…I’ve never fried turkey but I did taste one at a food show and it was very good, but I wouldn’t want to deal with all ...<< MORE >>

Just in time for the holidays, Dairy Queen brings back its seasonally inspired peppermint Blizzard Flavor Treat, with a cool new name.  Candy Cane Chill is the Blizzard of the Month for December. A classic combination of peppermint candy cane pieces and rich chocolate chunks mixed with creamy DQ soft serve, Candy Cane Chill is available at all participating Dairy Queen and DQ Grill & Chill restaurants nationwide beginning Dec. 1. "Candy canes are symbolic of the holidays and the flavor profile of mint with chocolate makes Candy Cane Chill a seasonal ...<< MORE >>

TALKING TURKEY WITH CHEF GOODCHILD OF TBONES, A TUSCAN STEAKHOUSE BRIDGEWATER, NJ —  While Kevin Goodchild, Executive Chef at the Bridgewater Marriott, may be best known for the steaks on his menu at the award-winning Tbones, a Tuscan Steakhouse, he also knows his turkey and shares tips for choosing and cooking the perfect bird: TYPE OF TURKEY - Choose a "natural" or "organic bird for the best taste. TO STUFF OR NOT TO STUFF - If you stuff the turkey, it takes longer to cook, potentially resulting in a drier ...<< MORE >>

Morton’s  The Steakhouse Introduces Innovative New ‘At Home’ and ‘To-Go’ Programs Atlantic City, NJ - November 16, 2009 - When people think of a meal at Morton's The Steakhouse, what comes to mind is a fabulous steak served in the restaurant’s elegant decor emblazoned with rich mahogany inlays, along with Morton’s famous 'pig lamps' and of course, the signature Morton's menu.  What may not come to mind, but should, is that a meal at Morton's now can be experienced beyond the four walls of the restaurant through a number of new programs, including Morton’s–To–Go, Morton's off-site ...<< MORE >>

Usually get some e-mails re: Thanksgiving Day cooking tips and this one arrived this week. Here you go: Thanksgiving is a celebration of family, friends and of course, delicious food, but too often the holiday is overshadowed by the stress of having to cook for a large group of people.  Philip Butler, Executive Chef for CB Holding Corp. (the parent company of Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse, Bugaboo Creek Steak House and The Office Beer Bar & Grill), has a wealth of tips to make Thanksgiving a breeze for any home cook.  And for those looking for a completely work-free holiday, ...<< MORE >>

MAYS LANDING—At one minute past midnight on the third Thursday of each November, more than one million cases of Beaujolais Nouveau, the newest wine from the Beaujolais region of France, begin a journey to all parts of the world. Wine enthusiasts can celebrate the release of several nouveau wines at 6:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 20, at the Academy of Culinary Arts at Atlantic Cape Community College. In conjunction with the local chapter of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, the Academy offers a limited number of tickets to this celebration where guests will be treated to authentic ...<< MORE >>

The North Wildwood Daisy Troop 42540 is hosting a food drive at the North Wildwood Recreation Center (Eighth and Central) on Monday, Nov. 16 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. All food received will be given to local churches for distribution to the needy. Troop leaders are trying to teach the little ones to give back to the community in which they live. Any non-perishable food item will be accepted.   Technorati Tags: Girl Scouts,North Wildwood,food drive ...<< MORE >>

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE -- Local chef Mark Kalla will present a special holiday cooking demonstration “Cape Cuisine” at 1 p.m. on Saturday, December 5th at the Main Branch of the Cape May County Library.  The library is located at 30 Mechanic Street in Cape May Court House. In a creative and unique way, Chef Kalla demonstrates the preparation of holiday appetizers and light buffet menus that can be enjoyed this holiday season.  Participants will be invited to sample foods that are prepared.  Chef Kalla was responsible for developing the Avalon Anchorage Marina restaurant and operated and ...<< MORE >>

Read a story today about possibly tainted ground beef, so check your freezer after reading this story http://money.cnn.com/2009/11/02/news/companies/beef_recall.cnnw/index.htm and the following release from Acme. ACME® COOPERATES WITH MANUFACTURER RECALL OF FRESH GROUND BEEF DUE TO POSSIBLE E. COLI CONTAMINATION Malvern, PA (October 31, 2009) – In cooperation with the recall issued by American Fresh Foods/Fairbank Farms, ACME® has voluntarily recalled all fresh ground beef items sold at its stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware between 9/16/09 and 10/6/09. Recalled products include all brands of ground beef including Wild Harvest, Lancaster Brand and ...<< MORE >>

Ever since March when I first learned and then wrote about Celiac disease and gluten-free products, there has been a pretty steady stream of correspondence from readers asking for advice on what restaurants cater to those with Celiac, or where to buy gluten-free groceries. Recently, I saw Acme has a larger assortment of gluten-free products, but we have a Cape Cuisine column in this week’s paper (and the online edition) on Green Street Market, a health food store in Rio Grande that has a huge line of gluten-free products. The story will be in The Wildwood leader, Middle Township Gazette ...<< MORE >>

For the second year in a row, Springer’s Homemade Ice Cream in Stone Harbor gave ice cream lovers a tasty way to sweeten the lives of American Soldiers. The iconic scoop house has once again agreed to donate all sales from its one-of-a-kind “Freedom Fighter” flavor to support US Troops. Freedom Fighter is a red, white and blue sweet treat featuring Jersey Fresh fruit. During its second successful summer on the Springer’s Feature Flavor board, Freedom Fighter raised $2,000 for soldiers. The owners of Springer’s raised an additional $3,000 for the cause through their Christmas in July promotion. If you ...<< MORE >>

Philly.com’s got a good story on one of my favorite comfort foods—pancakes. It took me quite a few years, but I’ve finally started making things at home I never thought of making, like homemade whipped cream, and I want to try homemade butter soon. But when I saw the article on pancakes included a simple recipe for buttermilk pancakes, it became time to try my own at home. From when I was a kid until now as a parent, our pancakes always came from the Bisquick or Aunt Jemima box. In our home, we usually schedule a week’s worth of ...<< MORE >>

Check out this link, especially if you have a home in or around the Philadelphia area or other major metro area because it’s loaded with menus in those place. Down here on the Jersey Shore? Not so much…     http://www.menupix.com/philadelphia/neighborhood.php?n_id=382036&ntext=Philadelphia&method=%25&cuisine=%25   Technorati Tags: Jersey Shore restaurant blog,restaurant blog,menupix ...<< MORE >>

Natali Vineyard is hosting its Oktoberfest this Saturday, oct. 17, from noon to 5 p.m. Blues artist Geno White will be providing the live music. Free Admission. Grab your beach chair or a blanket and enjoy their new fall releases as well as the aged classics and award-winners. Kevin Celli, from the vineyard, said, “We have just bottled our winter Blueberry and we are going to have Beach Plum Sangria by the glass only. Our outside tasting bar will be open and wines may be purchased by the glass ($5} or feel free to bring some snacks and buy a ...<< MORE >>

The following places were the winners from the New England Clam Chowder contest held over the weekend during the Wildwood Seafood and Music Festival: People’s Choice Award, The Deck at Holly Beach, owner Wally Lerro. Judges’ Choice, Neil’s Steak and Chowder House, owner Yogi Kurtz Technorati Tags: Chowder contest winners,Jersey Shore seafood festivals,Jersey Shore retaurant blog ...<< MORE >>

The Avalon Chamber of Commerce hosted its Indian Summer Seafood Festival this past weekend, during which a Chowder Contest was held. The judges were anyone who paid $5 to enter the fenced-in tasting area and sampled the 11 entrees, which were labeled only by number (no restaurant names). Afterward, they placed a slip of paper in the box with the corresponding number and the following restaurants took the top three trophies. 1st Place -- J Ottons, Main Street, Cape May Court House 2nd Place -- Golden Inn, Avalon 3rd Place -- Pudgy Pelican, Avalon I ...<< MORE >>

Here’s a press release I received recently but wasn’t able to post until today, Oct. 12 Cape May County’s newest winery, Hawk Haven, will pair with Cape May’s Seashore Lines during Victorian week. On October 12 and 13, trains will run from Cape May to Hawk Haven Vineyard and Winery in Rio Grande. October 2, 2009 – Rio Grande, NJ, Visitors to Cape May during Victorian week may be interested in a ride through Cape May County Wine Country in a 1947 New York Central railroad car. The wine-drinking will begin on the train, ...<< MORE >>

Here are a couple of press releases about seafood and music festivals at the Shore this weekend:   ‘Best’ Avalon Seafood Festival is this weekend AVALON — The Avalon Chamber of Commerce is making final preparations for this year’s Seafood Festival, being held Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10 and 11, at the 30th Street Beach parking lot in Avalon. “This year’s seafood festival promises to be one of the best in recent memory,” said Ed Galante, president of the Avalon Chamber of Commerce. “This is the biggest postseason event in Avalon, and we’re anxious to again ...<< MORE >>

Hard to catch up after a week out of the office (okay, maybe I was watching the Phillies game online while working yesterday—sue me) so I haven’t posted this week until now. Before I left I wrote about maybe eating my way through Cape May County during my week off. We did go out or order out a lot, but half the spots were some of our regulars that I’ve already written about. But one place I’ve been wanting to try and was thoroughly impressed with was Jiacamo’s Harvest Market on Route 9 in Upper Township. Very interesting ...<< MORE >>

I stopped in at Momiji on Sunday while shopping in Rio Grande and talked with the owner, I think the name is Tsong, but not positive on the spelling. He also owns Tokyo down the road, on Route 47. Anyway, I was introducing myself and telling him him I wanted to interview him for my column. He was reluctant because he said his English wasn’t very good. (Sounded fine to me! But I didn’t want to push him if he was shy about being interviewed, so I said I would just visit and try it out and write about my ...<< MORE >>

The Cape May County Bar Association is pleased to announce that it is sponsoring a fundraiser on behalf of Cape Mediation Services, Inc. at Natali Vineyards, 221 Route 47 North, Cape May Court House on Thursday, October 1, 2009 beginning at 5:30 p.m. The evening includes a tour of the vineyards, wine tasting and cheese and crackers for $25.00 per person. Cape Mediation is a non-profit organization which serves the community in many ways. It provides free mediation services to Cape May County residents involved in both the Family Court and Municipal Court systems. It offers mediation training to ...<< MORE >>

Dominick "Duke" Mack, 79, founder of Mack's Pizza Duke Mack passed away at his home surrounded by his family on Friday, Sept. 18.  Duke was a unique individual; one of a kind, a lover of life and fun, but at the same time a serious businessman and a warm and loving person devoted to family and friends.  After operating a restaurant in Trenton on Nottingham Way (near the Trenton Fairgrounds), Duke, along with his father Anthony, took a drive to Wildwood and that's where the first Mack's Pizza was born. They were the original founders of Mack's Pizza in ...<< MORE >>

Sample the crème de la crème at the Cape May Food & Wine Festival's signature event, the Gourmet Marketplace on Sunday, Sept. 20 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.  Experience a complete wine and culinary celebration featuring samplings from the finest restaurants in the area, the Chefs Cook-Off, the People's Choice Chowder Contest, wine tastings and mini-vineyard tours at this outdoor event held on the beautiful grounds of the Cape May Winery at 711 Town Bank Rd. in North Cape May.  At 1:30 p.m., local chefs will be feeling the competitive heat when they ...<< MORE >>

Join Natali Vineyard owners and guests this Saturday as they celebrate the most beautiful time of the year at their vineyard "Harvest." The Vineyard is in full bloom and it truly is breathtaking. During this event please enjoy free vineyard and barrel room tours every hour with our wine maker Alfred Natali. Bring a lawn chair and some snacks and sit out in our vineyard and enjoy local musician Anne Oswald who will be performing from 2:30pm-6:30pm. Wine will be available for sampling at $5 for a flight of any 4 wines in stock or purchase wine by the glass ...<< MORE >>

Rio Grande’s newest restaurant, Momiji: Hibachi and Sushi, has been open about a week or so now and I was told by a friend of the owner that it’s been packed every night. They had to start taking reservations because of the crowds and this person told me she and a friend tried to get in one night this week without reservations and couldn’t even get in the door, so they went to Menz instead. The only hibachi-station style restaurant in the county seems to have hit the ground running. Wonder if a fondue location is next on someone agenda. ...<< MORE >>

Rio Grande’s new hibachi and sushi restaurant on Route 47 continues to get good reviews, which is impressive for a restaurant that just opened its doors. My wife works with some women in Stone Harbor who went and came back saying good it was and how much fun it is.  Last week a co-worker – who is a FRIEND of the owner! – told the story about how she couldn’t get in the building one night. It was booked with reservations and there were even people waiting outside for an opening. Clearly, a void has been filled in Cape May ...<< MORE >>

The following release arrived last week: STOP CLIPPING AND START CLICKING! SUPERFRESH ANNOUNCES FIRST ONLINE COUPON PROGRAM IN CAPE MAY COUNTY Consumers Can Now Upload Digital Coupons to Their Store Loyalty Cards to Save on Leading Brands MONTVALE, N.J. – September 10, 2009 – As the economy continues to strain budgets, consumers are more concerned than ever before with saving money and finding ways to get the best deals possible. The SuperFresh supermarket chain has teamed up with Zavers, a digital promotions company, to give consumers an ...<< MORE >>

Reader report: Hi there, I saw your entry online and had to tell you our dinner at Quahog’s (Stone Harbor) over Labor Day weekend was truly spectacular!  I especially enjoyed the lobster tacos and the calamari, yum, I give the entire family friendly place A++! Julie from Newtown Square Send your experiences to seitz@catamaranmedia.com.     Technorati Tags: Quahog's,Stone Harbor restaurants,Jersey Shore restaurants,Jersey Shore food blog ...<< MORE >>

MAYS LANDING—The Academy of Culinary Arts at Atlantic Cape Community College is featuring a smorgasbord of new culinary workshops this fall. The flavorful fun gets underway on Wednesday, Sept. 9, with BBQ & Grilling Techniques, a celebration of the waning warm weather with tasty, healthy fish, meats and Jersey fresh veggies prepared on the grill. Up next on Wednesday, Sept. 23, is Pizza with Pizzazz with new-fangled ways to whip up this old favorite, including topped with grilled sirloin and caramelized onions, figs, arugula and fontina cheese. Get Comfortable with One Pot Comfort Foods Meals on Tuesday, ...<< MORE >>

Cape May – Lewes Ferry (CMLF) officials announced that a series of four (4) Sunset and Wine Lovers Cruises on the Delaware Bay will be offered in September. The first pair of September Sunset Cruises will depart from both the Cape May and Lewes terminals on Friday, September 4, and will continue on each Friday in September. According to Heath Gehrke, Director of Ferry Operations for the Cape May – Lewes Ferry, the special cruises offer a memorable, romantic way to experience the Ferry and the ...<< MORE >>

The Quarter at Tropicana Casino & Resort will host the second annual Taste of The Quarter tonight, Monday, Aug. 24 from 6 to 9 p.m. Building off of the success of last year’s event, the second annual Taste of The Quarter will feature more than 15 of Tropicana’s restaurants and nightlife venues serving special menu items. Participants include: Carmine’s, Cuba Libre, Red Square, The Palm, Ri-Ra Irish Pub, Planet Rose, P.F. Chang’s, Zeytinia, IMAX, Wellington’s, Il Verdi, A Dam Good Sports Bar, Hooters, A Dam Good Deli, Tango’s and Starbucks. All proceeds benefit the United Way. Tickets ...<< MORE >>

Received the following e-mail from Kevin Celli at Natali Vineyards: August 22, 2009 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Natali Vineyards "Old World" Farm Winery Cape May Court House (Goshen) Wine Tasting ~ Vineyard / Barrel Room Tours ~ Food Vendors Great Unique Gift Ideas ~ Live Band Please join us for our August event. We will be pouring off samples of our new late summer releases as well as our aged classics. Enjoy vineyard tours every hour with our wine maker. Enjoy the ...<< MORE >>

Marie Kayati lives in Cape May County and wrote to me today about a very troubling experience she and her husband had at a very well known restaurant in the county that, she said, ripped them off. She writes: “Four of us had lunch at the (restaurant) on 22 July.  The bill was $49.43.  My husband paid with my credit card.  He left a ten dollar cash tip on the table.  He signed the bill and we all left. ”You can imagine my surprise when I received my credit card statement last week and it shows ...<< MORE >>

  MAYS LANDING—The Academy of Culinary Arts at Atlantic Cape Community College will host several open houses this fall, including: 1 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 4; 9 a.m., Friday, Oct. 23; 9 a.m., Friday, Nov. 13; and 6 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 9. The open house events are open to anyone who loves to cook and is interested in beginning a culinary career. The Academy of Culinary Arts offers associate degree programs in Culinary Arts, Baking and Pastry, and Food Service Management. Students also can complete any of four short-term specializations in less than one year in Baking and Pastry, ...<< MORE >>

CAPE MAY-The 13th annual Cape May Food & Wine Festival, sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts (MAC) is looking for participants to cook-up their best chowder recipes.  Put your chowder to the ultimate challenge at the People's Choice Chowder Contest, a highlight of the Cape May Food & Wine Festival's Gourmet Marketplace, on Sunday, Sept. 20 at the Cape May Winery, 711 Townbank Road in North Cape May.  Local chefs, restaurants and businesses are invited to submit their chowders in the contest.   The People's Choice Chowder Contest features a variety of chowders from which visitors can sample.  People ...<< MORE >>

WILDWOOD - Iulia, a Romanian native, serves homemade donuts at Wild Donut Coffee Shop, located at Cedar & Pacific Aves. (between Oak & Schellenger) in downtown Wildwood. The donuts are made daily on premises and have toppings to satisfy every taste. The new eatery also features breakfast sandwiches and bagels, crepes and stuffed pies.  A wide variety of beverages include gourmet coffees, espresso, cappuccino, lattes, frappes, milkshakes and smoothies. They will soon be adding chimney cakes and paninis. Wild Donut is open every day from 7 am to 2 pm and also late nights from 10 pm until ...<< MORE >>

Ben Rose, the Director of Marketing & Public Relations for the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority, informed us today of the following: The Food Network’s Robert Irvine meets his match in toughness as he takes on a (Dinner Impossible) mission with the women of Roller Derby. Robert has 8 hours to prepare a meal tough enough to meet the standards of 250 Roller Derby women at the Wildwoods Convention Center. (The Roller Derby ladies were in town a couple weeks back and spent a weekend competing in the convention center, doing demonstrations and hosting happy hour ...<< MORE >>

The Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce announced the grand re-opening of Coco's Dockside Caffe. Join Chamber members and friends for a Sunset Party of fine Italian dining and live music Saturday, Aug. 8, from 6:30  to 8 p.m. at       510 New York Avenue, North Wildwood. The Chamber announcement said, “Get ready to dazzle your tastebuds! Coco's chef will be preparing his signature specialties along with wood-fired brick oven pizzas for you to try and it's all free! All are invited and welcome! Check out Coco's Dockside Caffe website and preview their phenomenal menu. www.cocoscaffe.com.”   Technorati Tags: Jersey ...<< MORE >>

Personally, I did not attend last year’s event. But this sounds like such a bargain that I thought I had to pass it along, let alone it’s for a good cause! ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (July 28, 2009) – South Jersey’s premier dining, shopping and entertainment complex, The Quarter at Tropicana Casino & Resort, will host the second annual Taste of The Quarter on Monday, Aug. 24 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Building off of the success of last year’s event, the second annual Taste of The Quarter will feature more than 15 of Tropicana’s restaurants and ...<< MORE >>

This from the Wetlands Institute: “No one was crabby last week when more than 400 people attend the Wetlands Institute’s first-ever Crabulous Crab Day. Youngsters learned the fine art of catching crabs and the crab cake competition featured eight restaurants competing for the coveted title of the “Best Crab Cake in Town” that was won by Mike Blasczyk, sous chef from the Yacht Club of Stone Harbor.” ...<< MORE >>

The Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce Is Proud To Announce The Grand Re-opening of Coco's Dockside Cafe. Please Join Us for a Sunset Party of Fine Italian Dining & Live Music, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009 from 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. 510 New York Ave. North Wildwood. Get ready to dazzle your tastebuds! Coco's chef will be preparing his signature specialties along with wood-fired brick oven pizzas for you to try and it's all free!   Technorati Tags: Jersey Shore restaurant blogs,Coco's Dockside Cafe,North Wildwood restaurants ...<< MORE >>

If you find yourself on the Wildwood or Ocean City boardwalk this season you will find a new interesting treat, it’s a Chipstix. A Chipstix is a whole potato spiral cut on a skewer and stretched out, then deep fried in canola oil for 120 seconds. The mouth watering taste comes from one of their 12 seasonings, including Hot, BBQ, Cheese Snack, GPS and the very poplar Famous M ix are just a few. You may remember the owner of this new venture, his name is Brian McDowell of North Wildwood and former cast member of Donald Trump’s hit ...<< MORE >>

Somers Point residents now have a reason to stay in – stay in their cars that is. SONIC®, America’s Drive-In®, a restaurant where you order your meal and eat right from the comfort of your own vehicle, opened its first drive-in in Somers Point. “We are thrilled to open the first SONIC in Somers Point,” said Daniel Reyes, franchisee of the Somers Point SONIC Drive-In. “We look forward to serving the community and delivering the fun Carhop service SONIC Drive-Ins are known for across the country.” The Somers Point SONIC Drive-In is located at 411 New Road, and ...<< MORE >>

If you ever ate at Giuseppe’s in Upper Township, you most likely were a fan of the food, but maybe not so much the menu. The menu is way too long and fractioned, and now I hear the new management isn’t putting out the same quality product that the old owner was known for. (If it seems I’m being vague on the previous owner’s name, it’s because I don’t know it—yet.) I stopped by at the new place that has opened across from the Wawa in Cape May Court House, a little corner takeout and delivery shop called Gourmet ...<< MORE >>

AVALON – The Windrift Hotel restaurant and bar announces its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. Wine Spectator’s Restaurant Wine List Awards program recognizes restaurants whose wine lists offer interesting selections, are appropriate to the cuisine and appeal to a wide range of wine lovers. The Award of Excellence is given for lists that offer a well-chosen selection of quality producers, along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style. Typically, these lists offer at least 100 selections – the Windrift has more than 120. In preparation for its forty-third season of entertaining locals and ...<< MORE >>

Below is a link from my original post about the new Ice House restaurant (formerly Russo’s) getting approval for awnings. Well now they’re about to have a grand opening. Here’s the release from the Chamber:   The Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the Grand Opening of Ice House Restaurant. The grand opening celebration will take place at 4415 Park Blvd. in Wildwood on Monday, July 27, 2009 at 11:30am. Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce Members, Non-Members, Members of the Press and Community are invited to attend. http://cuisineblog.shorenewsnow.com/2009/01/06/russorsquos-loses-sign-ice-house-gains-awnings.aspx   ...<< MORE >>

Two Mile Associates unsure of what’s next Lower denies request to build residential units By CLAIRE LOWE Staff Writer LOWER TOWNSHIP—Now that the Lower Township Zoning Board has denied an application for a use variance from Two Mile Associates, LLC, owners of the Crab House and Two Mile Landing, for the construction of 25 residential units at the marina, co-owner Jim Salasin said he and partner Michael DiAntonio are still weighing their options. Two Mile Landing is located at Fishdock Road off of Ocean Drive. Currently, there stand two restaurants, a game room, a gift ...<< MORE >>

Get your TiVo ready! This weekend, the Wildwoods Boardwalk will be featured on a Food Network special, “Sunny’s Summer Eats.” The special will air on Saturday, July 11 at 9 p.m.; Sunday, July 12 at 12 a.m.; and Friday, July 17 at 10 p.m. In the special, host Sunny Anderson spends the summer eating and laughing her way through America's greatest festivals, fairs, boardwalks and amusement parks – including Sunny indulging in the many great tastes of the famous Wildwoods Boardwalk. Sunny Anderson and her crew, who visited ...<< MORE >>

I haven’t eaten at either, but I have talked with people who have at one or the other or both, and this is typical of the conversation: I was sitting on a bench on 96th Street in Stone Harbor and started talking food (if not food, then Phillies—hey, I’m a simple man) with the guy next to me. I had just wandered through the new and improved food court on the Harbor Square Mall there and had some really good New England clam chowder from Capt. Marriner’s Seafood takeout. And we started talking about the new places. He said he ...<< MORE >>

  That’s Butch’s book on left and BBQ stand at the festival.   The first part here is the sidebar and down below is the main story for the BBQ Fest this weekend in North Wildwood.   Learn to BBQ from Butch Since 1983, South Jersey native Butch Lupinetti has been traveling cross country eight to nine months out of the year to compete in barbecue competitions, having won more than 500 awards since 1992. He will be at this weekend’s 11th Annual New Jersey State Barbecue Championship and ...<< MORE >>

STONE HARBOR - The "Freedom Fighter" flavor still thrives in its second year on the Feature Flavor board at Springer's Homemade Ice Cream in Stone Harbor. Last August, Springer's challenged members of the media to create a new, unique ice cream flavor. Rob Seitzinger stepped up to the challenge and, with the help of his two children, Caroline and Michael, developed "Freedom Fighter"-a red, white and blue sweet treat featuring Jersey Fresh fruit. But Seitzinger had a challenge of his own for Springer's: donate the sales of the flavor towards care packages for the men and women ...<< MORE >>

Stopped at Maui's Doghouse in North Wildwood on Saturday with the brood for lunch and once again loved the meal served in the dog bowls. Couple of dressed (chili and onions with spicy mustard) dogs and naked dogs for the kids, fresh cut terrific fries and Stewart's sodas while sitting on picnic tables under the big tent outside. It's a fun, inexpensive way to take the family to lunch. I would have spent more in a diner. And Mike the owner told me they're in their 10th season--so congratulations to Maui, and here's to another decade of delicious dogs. ...<< MORE >>

Atlantic City . . . UNITE HERE Local 54, the union representing food and beverage workers in Atlantic City’s casino hotels and other hotels and restaurants will hold its auditions and selections for its two-year culinary apprentice program on Tueday, June 30, beginning at 10 a.m. Successful applicants will work in an Atlantic City casino hotel under the supervision of mentor chefs and cooks and will undergo a two year, 4,000-hour program that includes 290 hours of classroom instruction at Atlantic Cape Community College’s Atlantic City Campus and 3710 hours of on-the-job training. During this period, ...<< MORE >>

A report in tomorrow's Wildwood Leader and Thursday's Middle Gazette: THE WILDWOODS – Local restaurateur Jon Paxton filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Camden on June 11. Paxton owns Juan Pablo’s Mexican Restaurant and Margarita Bar and Jon Paul Café in Wildwood, and JP Prime, a North Wildwood steakhouse. JP Prime was embroiled in controversy over the past year when it remained open without a final certificate of occupancy. City officials finally sued Paxton in Superior Court, resulting in Paxton’s closure of the restaurant for what was said to be a temporary period. Neither JP Prime nor Jon Paul ...<< MORE >>

Primo's Hoagies is now open next to the GameStop store in Rio Grande (ShopRite Plaza) to join the list of Primo's open in Wildwood Crest and two in Ocean City. Another one is coming soon to North Wildwood. (Another hoagie shop in North Wildwood? Phew. Blitz's, A and LP, DeSantis, Marinucci's...something's gotta give!) And Blitz's continues to grow having opened this past week on Route 9 in Seaville, just south of the Acme Plaza, which is its eighth location. We love to go to Blitz's for great lunch meat and cheese prices, the Santa Fe Turkey hoagie, and the ...<< MORE >>

From a public relations firm, the following release should mean decreased costs for salmon fans: Every year, biologists forecast how many salmon will return to the different watersheds in the Pacific Northwest. They base their predictions on a variety of factors including smolt release numbers, ocean temperatures, and fishery testing, though having so many variables lowers the reliability of these estimates. In spite of this, several 2009 predictions, including one from the Pacific Fishery Management Council, suggest that 2009 may be one of the strongest years of late for salmon returns throughout the northwest. Initial reports ...<< MORE >>

Peanut butter and chocolate always has been a popular flavor combination. Now Dairy Queen has taken that flavor profile to new heights with the introduction of the first-ever Girl Scouts Tagalongs Peanut Butter Patties Blizzard flavor treat slated as the Blizzard of the Month for July. One of the most popular Girl Scout cookies, Tagalongs, also known as Peanut Butter Patties, are crispy cookies layered with peanut butter and covered with a chocolate coating. Dairy Queen is blending Girl Scout Tagalongs pieces with rich peanut butter topping and its signature creamy vanilla soft serve to create this one-of-a-kind Blizzard. ...<< MORE >>

North Wildwood, NJ- Don’t miss the 3-day New Jersey State Barbeque Championship and Anglesea Blues Festival Friday, July 10 through Sunday, July 12, 2009, where you can indulge in mouth-watering ribs, chicken, brisket, and pork, masterfully marinated and seasoned, then smoked for hours to the point of perfection. This isn’t just grilling, this is art! Come witness barbecue teams from around the country show off their skills in a quest for the best barbeque. The 2008 Grand Champion was Dizzy Pigs from Fairfax, VA and the Reserve Champion was Jack’s Down Home BBQ from Philadelphia, PA. Find out the 2009 ...<< MORE >>

UNITE HERE! Local 54, the union representing food and beverage workers in Atlantic City’s casino hotels and other hotels and restaurants, is currently accepting applications for its two-year culinary apprentice program.Successful applicants will work in an Atlantic City casino hotel under the supervision of mentor chefs and cooks and will undergo a two-year, 4,000-hour program that includes 290 hours of classroom instruction at Atlantic Cape Community College’s Atlantic City Campus and 3710 hours of on-the-job training. During this period, apprentices will receive a salary, free uniforms, paid vacations and medical benefits.Applicants must 18 years of age, possess a high school ...<< MORE >>

A co-worker has been on a quest for the perfect chicken picante since being hired here a couple months ago. She's Italian and can cook, so she knows her stuff and is a tough critic. So far she's sampled Mama Mia's, Dino's Diner and today Giusseppe's, all within a mile of our office in Seaville. I asked her for a report for the blog. Francine Palumbo writes: "Mama Mia's had the most lemony taste but they ruined it with weird shaped pasta in a horrible red sauce (not worthy enough to be called 'gravy') and the chicken pieces were few ...<< MORE >>

Primo's Hoagies. maker of some of the best hoagies in the region, it says here, is opening two more locations in Cape May County, one in North Wildwood and the other in Rio Grande, next to GameStop in the ShopRite Plaze. We need our Primo's fixes every once in a while, just like a Wing It! fix or a Mack and Manco or Sam's Pizza fix, and we had to go to Wildwood Crest to scratch that itch yesterday. But the Primo's website is announcing two more shops opening soon, adding to the one that's open year round in Ocean ...<< MORE >>

Received this e-mail today from Sonic: Sonic would like to thank our great customers for going to Sonic with Free Float Night.Drive in between 8 p.m. and midnight on Wednesday, June 3, and receive a FREE 10 oz. Root Beer Float.*While you're there, feel free to take pictures and upload them at sonicdrivein.com for a chance to be featured on the home page.Free Float Night at Sonic. Tell your friends and thanks again. The Cape May County Sonic is on Route 47 in Rio Grande in front of the big box stores. You can't miss it. Technorati ...<< MORE >>

Maybe it was the thoughts of sacrilege that immediately popped into my head when I heard about it. Tony Luke's cheese steaks in a box in the freezer section of a grocery store? Nah. Couldn't be any good. But then I got an e-mail promoting the new items (steak sandwich, chicken cheese steak sandwich, and roast pork--which is the best sandwich Tony Luke's sells, which I used to frequent down on Oregon Ave. in South Philly), so I asked for and received samples. There are two way to cook them, according to the instructions on the box. One ...<< MORE >>

HERE IS THE PRESS RELEASE RE: THIS EVENT: Are you looking for an excuse to come to Cape May after the holiday weekend? Have you been longing to dine at one your favorite restaurants or have been thinking about trying some place new? Well drop everything and come on down here because May 31-June 7 is Cape May Restaurant Week. That’s right, eight days not seven. Think of it as a Chef’s Week. You know, like a Baker’s Dozen. For eight straight nights you can get a great three-course dinner at your choice of some of the best Cape May ...<< MORE >>

After writing the Celiac disease column and blogs, I received a cornbread/muffin mix in the mail from Pamela's Products, which has an entire line of gluten-free baked goods. They sell cookies, bread mixes, muffin mixes and pancake mixes. While they aren't available in any of the chain grocery stores that we have in Cape May County, they are sold in Wegman's, Safeway, Winn Dixie, Publix and other stores. They also can be purchased from Amazon.com. I took the muffin mix home and baked them for people at work, without telling them they were gluten-free. Everyone generally liked them, ...<< MORE >>

Today is Friday of Memorial Day Weekend and coming to work today heading north on the Parkway, the traffice volume is already double what it is any other time, and the two Acmes I drove past were mobbed. Probably everyone taking advantage of those $3.97 snow crab clusters that have been on sale for a week and should be for another week. I already bought 15 pounds of them and plan to get another 10 pounds today. At that price, it's a steal. I was told this morning of a new doughnut place in Wildwood called Wild Donut, an ice ...<< MORE >>

Just a couple of notes as we gear up for Memorial Day Weekend, the traditional start of the summer season. Jack's has replaced Samiches in Stone Harbor. Samiches was a tradition for Stone Harbor, much like Springer's Ice Cream and Henny's. Now, only Springer's remains. I grabbed a menu from Jack's and they look they'll do well. Interesting sandwiches, good prices, but they were closed the day I was there so I can't say for sure how good the food is. Also, Holy Mackerel has opened in Wildwood Crest in the Madrid motel, and their grand opening is this Wednesday ...<< MORE >>

The Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce has announced the Grand Opening of Holy Mackerel Restaurant. The grand opening celebration and menu tasting will take place at 430 E. Louisville Ave. in Wildwood Crest on Wednesday, May 20, at 11:30 a.m. Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce Members, Non-Members, Members of the Press and Community are invited to attend. Technorati Tags: Wildwood Crest restaurants,Wildwood restaurants,Jersey Shore restaurants ...<< MORE >>

Harrah’s Entertainment, partnering with TD Bank and Susan G. Komen for the Cure Central & South Jersey Affiliate, presents the TD Bank Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival. The Festival promises to be the premier event of Atlantic City’s summer season with four jam-packed days of events, tastings and celebrity appearances. Chefs from the Food Network and Bravo will host, demonstrate, mix and mingle with guests at more than 20 events filling the schedule throughout the weekend. This Festival promises to feature a variety of events ranging from gourmet pizza and wine tastings to small group chef demonstrations from the ...<< MORE >>

Chef Paul Raymond has opened his new venture, Ocean City Seafood, and is heavily marketing the idea. Ocean City lost a good deal of seafood business when Hickman's and Campbell's seafood houses closed down. Spadafora's Seafood Market is the long-standing (and lone standing until OC Seafood opened) restaurant for the traditional tourism season takeout market. Visit them at http://www.spadaforaseafood.com/ http://www.oceancityseafood.net This from the OC Chamber of Commerce: The Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce is proud to present the Grand Opening of Ocean City Seafood, 846 Central Ave. on Friday, May 1. Pictured from left to ...<< MORE >>

Sonic sent this release to me on Friday, so I guess you can go get your chili cheeseburger when the late-night munchies arrive: May means summer is right around the corner. And what does that mean? Sonic is open 'til midnight or later. So when one of those late night gotta-have-some-Sonic-right-now cravings hits, don't worry. We'll be open, with plenty of sweet treats and hearty meals to go around. Technorati Tags: Sonic,Rio Grande Sonic,chili cheeseburger ...<< MORE >>

The Two Mile landing and Crab House restaurants that were summer favorites for years before their foundations cracked on July 7, 2007, will not be open this summer as many had hoped. A source told me there are no plans for reconstruction of either restaurant at this point, and said "everything's up in the air." The restaurants sit on the back bay between Cape May and Wildwood Crest on Ocean Drive and were great places to eat while watching the sunset. Technorati Tags: Two Mile Landing,Crab House,Jersey Shore restaurants ...<< MORE >>

Win a $200 gift certificate to eat at a favorite restaurant or a place you always wanted to try but never made it. North American Import and Export is running a "How about dinner on us" giveaway at http://nafood.com/blog/how-about-dinner-on-us/. Enter and enjoy! Technorati Tags: free dinner ...<< MORE >>

The Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce Foundation, will host the 10th Annual Wildwoods Restaurant Showcase at Neil's Steak and Chowder House on Wednesday, May 13, from 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM. The public will have the opportunity to enjoy mouth-watering dishes and decadent desserts from over 20 local eateries. Tickets for this event are only $25.00 and are available at the door, day of event! All proceeds benefit scholarships for the students of The Wildwoods, attending: Wildwood High, Wildwood Catholic, Cape May County Technical High & Cape Christian Academy Technorati Tags: Wildwoods ...<< MORE >>

MARGATE CITY -- Aversa's, the well-known South Jersey bakery, is opening its third store this week. The proprietor or Aversa's of Margate is the son of the founder and owner of the flagship Aversa's founded more than 26 years ago in Turnersville. Several years ago they opened a 2nd bakery in Brigantine, and now his son Ralph Aversa Jr. will be continuing in the traditions by taking the reins at the Margate store. "People have been asking us when we were going to open another store at the shore," says Ralph Jr. "Aversa's will be a one-stop shop ...<< MORE >>

STONE HARBOR -- Think you make the best chowder in town? This is your chance to prove it. The Stone Harbor Chamber of Commerce will once again sponsor their annual Chowder Contest on Saturday, May 2. All chowder entries must arrive fully cooked in a crock pot and be brought to the tent in front of the Chamber of Commerce office on 96th Street by 11:45 a.m. The contest is free to enter and three most popular chowders will be awarded prizes. Would you rather taste chowder than make it? Come to the tent outside of the Chamber of ...<< MORE >>

PAMELA'S PRODUCTS 4th ANNUAL "GREATEST GLUTEN-FREE RECIPE CONTEST" CALLS FOR ENTRIESANNUAL CONTEST INVITES COOKS TO CREATE GLUTEN-FREE FAMILY FAVORITES Pamela's Products, an award-winning leader in the gluten-free foods arena is accepting entries for its 4th Annual "Greatest Gluten-Free Recipe Contest" beginning on June 1, 2009. This year's contest theme, 'Your Own Family Favorite', invites contestants to showcase gluten-free variations of their traditional family recipes.Whether it's Grandma's Apple Pie or the blueberry muffins your mom made with fresh-picked blueberries, family recipes are attached to fond memories and tasty treats. As more people are abiding non-traditional diets, many family chefs ...<< MORE >>

ATLANTIC CITY – Tropicana Casino & Resort announces two new dining deals for our guests at Fiesta Buffet and Seaside Café. Fiesta Buffet now features a nightly seafood buffet featuring fried shrimp, snow crab clusters, U-Peel shrimp, stuffed flounder, baked salmon Oscar, baked swordfish, stuffed deviled crabs and mussels for $24.95 per person. Additionally, on Fridays the seafood buffet will have a special menu featuring lobster tail, hand carved roast beef and hand carved roast salmon at no additional cost. In addition to the new seafood offerings the Fiesta Buffet offers Asian, American, Italian stations, salad bar ...<< MORE >>

The Mirage in Avalon has a new chef in Steve Cozzi, and a new name, Fuze, which serves breakfast and dinner in the totally revamped and upgraded Desert Sands Resort on Dune Drive. Cozzi was the chef at the well respected Marie Nicole's in Wildwood Crest. The dinner menu can be found here: http://www.fuzerestaurantandlounge.com/Dinner.html. On a more casual level, Circle Pizza in Avalon is undergoing a complete renovation, transforming the less than attractive dining room that was almost like a hangout into a more upscale, trendy dining area. The owner told one of our sales reps that he felt he ...<< MORE >>

Michael Colameco To MC Cooking Sessions We had a slow foods story in our papers this week so I thought I'd share this with slow-food fans. One of the elements that sets The East Coast Slow Food and Wine Festival apart from other wine and food events is the high quality cooking demos and food and wine seminars offered. This year’s event, held June 27 & 28 at Hopewell Valley Vineyards in Pennington, New Jersey, has attracted an all-star list of celebrity chefs and wine experts. Topping this list is chef Michael ...<< MORE >>

The Wildwoods, NJ- The Wildwood Civic Club Evening Membership Department is sponsoring a wine tasting and cheese sampling to benefit the Wildwoods Baby Parade 100th Anniversary on Sunday, April 19, from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Wine will be featured from Cape May Winery and cheeses will be featured from Seaside Cheese Company. The event will take place at the J. Thompson Baker House (circa 1904), 3008 Atlantic Avenue, Wildwood, NJ. John Lynch, Director of Sales and Entertainment of the Wildwoods Convention Center, will be honored at 4 p.m. for his years of community service and dedication ...<< MORE >>

This was e-mailed to me recently and thought I'd share the news of Garfield's becoming Luna Ristorante and Club -- the Club part translating into live entertainment on a nightly basis. Luna is located in Wildwood: "New Menu and New Kitchen Staff with many of your same favorite dishes and a brand new look in our dining room and bar areas with cozy booths, large tables, and comfortable seating ! We hope to see you after our new opening on MOTHERS DAY WEEK END !! Thank you, from the management at the former Garfield's Giardino Ristorante" ...<< MORE >>