Post Sandy – Part 2

I grew up in Delaware but moved to Cape May in 2007. Though I sometimes miss home, I love living here. When my husband and I bought a house close to the bay, I was sure I would be spending every single day on that beach. Every summer begins with a vow to spend as much time on the sand, eating out at the many local restaurants, and enjoying all that Cape May has to offer. Then another summer goes by and I still struggle to think of what to say when guests at the winery ask, “What should we do while we’re here?”

So it was really nice to have this opportunity to experience the area. Last week I shared my travels around Cape May Point assessing the storm damage (or, thankfully, lack thereof), and now I’ll take you to a few places in West Cape May.

The Cove

The Cove Restaurant

The Cove is located at the south end of Beach Avenue and is a great spot to see dolphins swimming out in the ocean and lots of interesting little birds. I had never been to this part of the beach before and couldn’t tell that a major storm had passed through, but my husband likes to fish here and said

The Beach of Cape May

that the sand was a bit higher in many places. Nevertheless, there were many anglers, birdwatchers, and beach goers alike enjoying the beautiful weather (it is cold now but on this day it was in the 60’s). There is a nice pavilion overlooking the jetty, and The Cove Restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating.

Going back north on Beach Avenue, there were many people strolling the boardwalk, and even a few joggers. Though the streets and boardwalk were mostly clear of excess sand, the beach did look a little higher, but no damage that I could see.

Martini Beach

Across the street sits a few popular restaurants and hang-out spots, including Martini Beach and Cabana’s Beach Bar & Grill. Still standing, and although Martini Beach has closed for the season (they’ll be back Valentine’s Day weekend), Cabana’s is still open daily except for Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Washington Street Mall

Carriage Driver Amanda with the handsome Mr. Brutus.

Next we headed for the Washington Street Mall where you can find three blocks of unique shops and restaurants. I think it’s safe to say that almost anyone who has been to Cape May has been shopping here where you can find clothing, jewelry, artwork, freshly made fudge and caramel corn, and so much more. As a local this is one place I do love to visit throughout the year. Another fun thing to do is visit the Carriage Stop and go for a ride in a horse-drawn carriage. This really takes you back in time as you journey past the many Victorian-style houses that populate most of Cape May. The holiday season is perfect for a carriage ride where you can see all the pretty Christmas lights around town.

Our Lady Star of the Sea Church

Cape May Fish Market in Washington St. Mall.
You can buy Hawk Haven wine by the bottle here!

Delicious cocktails at the Mad Batter bar

After the Mall we headed down Jackson Street for one of my favorite places for drinks, The Mad Batter at The Carroll Villa. I am mainly a wine drinker but I can’t resist the mixed drinks here like the Taste of Paris martini or the Sexy Lexy. There are also a lot of great craft beers on tap, including beers from local breweries like Cape May Brewery and Tuckahoe Brewing Company. They even have Hawk Haven’s American Kestrel White, a stainless steel fermented Chardonnay. Breakfast here is great, and try the crab cakes or the marinated skirt steak for dinner.

Next door is another bed & breakfast/bar & restaurant, The Virginia Hotel and The Ebbitt Room. We didn’t stop here during this trip but they are still up and running, and definitely worth a visit. My husband and I ate here for our anniversary last month and the food was amazing. It’s another spot I love for drinks as well.

Again, our prayers go out to all those who were greatly affected by the storm. We are SO thankful that we made it through with so little damage.

Please continue to send your favorite places to visit in Cape May (leave a comment below, on our Facebook, tweet us @hawkhavenwinery, or email us at info@hawkhavenvineyard.com). What is your favorite restaurant and what is your favorite menu item? Where do you like to go for a walk? What place is underrated? Next week I’ll share some pictures from other locations in Cape May County including some of your suggestions.

Lynsie

 

 

Cape May Point on Dwellable

A Post-Sandy Tour of Cape May – Part 1

People thought my mom was crazy for coming to visit me the weekend after Hurricane/Nor’ Easter/Superstorm Sandy. Living in Cape May County, two blocks from the bay, even she was sure I must be under several feet of water and sand. Looking at the devastation elsewhere throughout the East Coast, we are more than lucky to have experienced little to no damage. Our prayers go out to the many people who have suffered such great losses as a result of this storm and we hope you will join us in providing relief by donating to the American Red Cross.

Despite Sandy, Cape May is back up and running. My husband and I recently took a trip around to various landmarks and local businesses to see how things were looking, and I was so happy and grateful to find many people out and about and nearly everything open for business. Here are some pictures from our tour of Cape May.

The Red Store of Cape May Point

First stop: The Red Store of Cape May Point. If you haven’t heard of this place, you may already know of the owners if you’ve ever been to Quahog’s Seafood Shack in Stone Harbor. Chef Lucas Manteca and his wife Deanna run this lovely restaurant and the menu is not to be missed. They serve breakfast all day, but they also have a lunch and dinner menu with something for everyone.

I had the shrimp tacos which I’m still dreaming about, and my husband had the Maine Style Lobster Roll filled with chunks of delicious lobster. Like many restaurants in Cape May, this one is a BYO but it is also one of Hawk Haven’s retail outlets, so you can purchase our wine by the bottle at this location.

After lunch we were off to the lighthouse at the Cape May Point State Park. Oddly enough though I have been to the park many times, I had never actually been in the lighthouse. For only a few bucks you can climb to the top, and the occasional landings allowed us to catch our breath while learning some interesting facts about lighthouse operations as well as the surrounding area.

Cape May Lighthouse

At the top is the breathtaking view of Cape May Point. From this vantage you can see the old World War II bunker, Sunset Beach, and the beautiful wetlands where birdwatchers will love to catch a glimpse of all sorts of birds.

There is usually a staff member at the top of the lighthouse who is available to answer any questions about the history of the lighthouse. It’s actually very interesting and the view alone makes this outing well worth the admission price (not to mention you get plenty of exercise).

Cape May Point State Park is open all year from dawn to dusk, and

WWII bunker on the beach

the beach is free and open to the public. There is plenty of parking, clean bathrooms, and pavilions with picnic tables. Call (609) 884-5404 to find out if the lighthouse will be open for tours on the day you decide to visit.

Another fun place to visit in Cape May is Sunset Beach. Located at the West end of Sunset Boulevard is a small beach best known for Cape May “diamonds” and Atlantus, the concrete ship that has been stuck in a sandbar since 1926.

Sunset Beach, Cape May

Watch the ferry come and go, search the sand for sparkly quartz pebbles, and of course view a gorgeous sunset over the bay. There is also a cute little gift shop as well as mini-golf and The Grille with fresh cooked food and outdoor seating. Everything was open during my visit last week.

I have so many more pictures to share with you but this concludes today’s post. Check back next week for my next stops, including The Cove, the boardwalk, one of my favorite places to get drinks (besides Hawk Haven of course), and more! Also, please feel free to share your favorite places around Cape May, with pictures if you have them. If there are any spots you’d like me to feature in one of my future posts, send me an email at info@hawkhavenvineyard.com.

Cheers!
Lynsie

 

Cape May Point on Dwellable

Talks with Todd: The Booze and the Bees

Last wednesday we harvested the Pinot Grigio.  I decided to to try my hand at harvest, but I think I was more harm than help.

My Grandpa also helped, so we were both in the parking lot by 6:30 a.m. 

 The first step of harvest is to unload the grape lugs from the barn. 

Then we harvest!

Little known fact: if there is even a small puncture in the grape, it can start to ferment on the vine, especially if harvest is late in the season and the sugar content is high.  Todd decided to pull the Pinot Grigio at a fairly high brick count, which means there was a lot of sugar to ferment in the grapes. 

 

So, when the bees buzz around and feast on grapes, they actually get drunk!  Of course, Todd told me this like it was no big deal.  I thought it was hilarious!  Until one of them stung me, which I promptly used as an excuse to get out of the  grass and the bugs and stop harvesting.

 

Pinot and Chardonnay are my favorite grapes to look at; the pinot has such a beautiful maroon color.  Below is a picture of the offending bee…

Signing off from Hawk Haven Vineyard and Winery in Cape May County, NJ – Cape May Wine Country ~ Cate Hylas

Wine and Dine: Rye Breaded Pork Roast with Hawk Haven Red Table Wine Marinade

I concocted a delicious pork marinade using Hawk Haven’s Red Table Wine last night.  The Red Table wine is dynamic – good for cooking AND complimenting with many types of food.  It’s a 75% Cabernet and 25% Chambourcin blend.  The Chambourcin really mixes things up.  It’s a very vivacious grape (and temperamental too).  The 2008 vintage Chambourcin we used is full of two seemingly contradictory flavors: fruit and spice.  This flavor combination makes it perfect for pairing with a simple dinner dish like pasta; it almost seasons the food for you.  And it’s also great for cooking because it’s bursting with spiciness AND fruitiness.

Pork is often prepared with both spicy/salty and sweet foods like a spicy sauerkraut and fruity applesauce.  I tried to mirror the flavor combination above when I came up with my recipe.

Rye Breaded Pork Roast with Hawk Haven Red Table Wine Marinade

1 glass (5oz) of Hawk Haven Red Table Wine

1 3/4 lb pork loin

Chervil and rosemary to taste

1 tbsp chopped garlic

1 tsp whole grain mustard

2 tsp olive oil

one whole onion chopped

one whole lemon squeezed

three pieces of toasted rye bread

Pierce pork all over with skewer and pound with mallet. Combine the wine, chervil, rosemary, garlic, mustard, oil, onion and lemon juice (and rinds to increase acidity) in a zip-lock bag with pork.  Let sit in refrigerator for 45 minutes to one hour.

After the pork finished marinating (and my grandparents were salivating), I put the pork in a baking pan and put the bits of torn up rye bread on top.  I baked it at 350 for about an hour.

My poor grandparents just wanted to sit down early and eat a simple pork dinner last night, but I decided to put them through another Hawk Haven wine recipe ordeal.  They were hungry when I got home at six, but they had to wait until 8:30 to eat.  (They loved it anyway).  So if you execute my Hawk Haven Red Table Wine marinade, start earlier in the evening than I did.

I set the table with pewter, featuring a pewter sugar and cream set from TreeHouse Antiques.

Signing off from Hawk Haven Vineyard and Winery in Cape May County, NJ – Cape May Wine Country ~ Cate Hylas

Talks with Todd: Combatting Feathered Foes

Vineyard managers battle mother nature everyday.  Fungi, bacteria, mold and deer are all common wine-grape pests.  Come late August, early September, there’s a feathery foe: warblers.

The warblers swing presumptuously down from the sky and pluck our grapes right out of their clusters.  The brick count (a measure of sugar content) in the pinot grigio is nearly up to 20, so I can understand why grapes have become the choice bird snack.  I can barely prevent myself from picking the grapes right now – they are so good – so it’s hard to blame the birds.

To prevent against the wino-warblers (and Katies), Todd puts nets up around the vines.  Bird-brained animals can’t conceptualize of reaching through the nets, so the grapes are protected.

It’s nice that there is such a simple alternative to using pesticides.  Nets – so easy!

The view through the nets is absolutely breathtaking.  The nets make the vineyard feel misty and enchanted.

This is a half-netted Cabernet Sauvignon vine.  The half-net technique tricks warblers, but not me!  I ate one, and it was delicious.

Signing off from Hawk Haven Vineyard and Winery in Cape May County, NJ – Cape May Wine Country ~ Cate Hylas

Wine and Dine: Cedar Plank Salmon with Hawk Haven Red-Tailed Rose Wine and Orange Glaze

So I’m having a Julie Powell moment.  After seeing the movie Julie & Julia, I decided to try extending the blog to include cooking with Hawk Haven wine.  (Mostly I just want to bounce around my kitchen shouting  boef bourignon and bon apetit in falsetto).  I’ll try to wow my boyfriend and my grandparents with a Cedar Plank Salmon with Red-Tailed Rose and Orange Glaze tonight.  Wish me luck…

I’ll be grilling the salmon on a low flame with Cedar planks (courtesy of my Aunt Susan).   I’m not much for recipes, so I’ll just give you an idea of what I plan to do.  I can’t promise I’ll follow my own instructions, but I’ll let you know in another post what if anything I change:

Red-Tailed Rose and Orange Glaze for Cedar Plank Salmon

A little bit of cilantro..

A little bit of orange zest…

A few orange slices…

A few cups of orange juice…

About a cup of Hawk Haven’s Red-Tailed Rose…

Vegetable oil (maybe?)…

And Sour cream if I decide to turn the whole thing into a cream sauce…

I told you I wasn’t much for recipes… Suggestions and comments welcome!  If you have any of your own recipes that include Hawk Haven wine, please send them to me at info@hawkhavenvineyard.com, and I’ll post them on the website!

Signing off from Hawk Haven Vineyard and Winery in Cape May County, NJ – Cape May Wine Country ~ Cate Hylas