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

Luxury at Hawk Haven Vineyard

If you are planning a trip to Cape May and looking to kick it up a notch with “a little bit of luxury,” this article on CapeMay.com offers a few suggestions on how to make your stay more special, including a trip to Hawk Haven’s tasting room (doors pictured in center, below).

Make your visit to Hawk Haven extra luxurious by enjoying our cheese plate, a selection of gourmet cheeses from Seaside Cheese Company, and have a glass of wine out in the romantic setting of our vineyard.

Hawk Haven is open 11am-7pm 7 days a week for wine tastings, sales, and wine by the glass.

For a list of current events, click here or visit our Facebook page. Some of our featured events include our Friday Night Supper Club (every Friday night June 29th-September 7th), Saturdays on the Crushpad (every Saturday June-October; live music, food, and wine) and our famous Sangria Sundays (every Sunday Memorial Day Weekend-Labor Day Weekend; live music, food, wine, and sangria).

Cape May Point on Dwellable

The Salt of the World

For those of you who have visited Cape May County, New Jersey you know it is a wonderful place filled with many captivating sights, interesting shops, and a variety of things to do.

David McCarty of Hopping Frog Studios has been venturing all around town snapping photos and talking to residents, visitors, and business owners in order to showcase the area’s unique charm and character in his new digital magazine, SALT.

McCarty has also resolved to promote the idea and act of buying locally, something we at Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery are very passionate about. SALT Magazine and the Buy Local movement are about “supporting people and businesses who work outside of the mainstream and fight for just a little independence… Things that should be rewarded.”

So check out the magazine, it’s filled with stunning photos and engaging articles. And remember to buy local next time you’re out shopping! You’d be surprised how much of your everyday purchases can help support the local economy.

Events at Hawk Haven

What’s happening at Hawk Haven? Take a look and find out!

Our Tasting Room is open daily year round offering wine sales, wine tasting, wine by the glass and wine themed gifts.

OPEN EVERYDAY, ALL YEAR FOR TASTING!

HOURS:

Now through May 25th 12:00 – 5:00 pm

May 26th - September 30th  11:00 am - 7:00 pm

October 1st – November 30th 11am – 6pm

SPECIAL EVENTS:

Sangria Sundays May 27th – September 9th

Saturdays on the Crushpad May 26th – October 27th

Friday Night Supper Club & Wine Bar June 29th – September 7th

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Starting in May: Saturdays on the Crushpad

Hang out where all the magic happens at harvest, on The Crushpad.  Enjoy wine by the glass and bottle.  Grab something to eat from our gourmet lunch and early dinner menu.  Live music every Saturday.

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Sangria Sundays

May 27th thru September 9th

As if our award winning wines weren’t enough to get you here!  Come check out our Funday Sundays from Memorial Day through Labor Day.  Tropical White Sangria, Red Wine Sangria, our famous frozen strawberry Rosarita and wine by the glass & bottle.  Grab something to eat from our gourmet lunch and early dinner menu, presented by Seaside Cheese Co.  Live music every Sunday 12 to 7pm.

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Starting in June:
Friday Nite Supper Club & Wine Bar

Join us in the Barrel Room for a casual dinner buffet every Friday night.  Enjoy a wine flight or wine by the glass and bottle with dinner.  Live music every Friday 6 to 9pm.

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KEEP CHECKING THIS PAGE FOR MORE EVENT UPDATES

Eat Local;Drink Local (TM): Movement and Event by Hawk Haven Vineyard and Winery

It’s official: Hawk Haven will pair with Sean’s Restaurant to emphasize the environmental and economic importance of drinking local wine. We will kick off the campaign with a weekly small-plate dinner event on premises beginning November 6th.  Pair a beautiful local meal with a local wine.

The first “Eat Local; Drink Local” small-plate dinner will take place on November 6, 2009 from 7-10pm in the Hawk Haven tasting room. Reservations required. $50 per person. Call 609. 846. 7347. Join the movement: “Eat Local; Drink Local”

Yesterday I talked to Sean about local food.  Sean is as sunny as his little orange restaurant.

He started the restaurant with his wife Jennifer because he loves to cook and, “My wife likes french fries.  We bought a restaurant so she could have them the way she likes them – no one else makes them.”  He’s all about high quality food – that’s why we knew he was perfect for our “Eat Local; Drink Local” campaign and event.

Sean is animated as he explains the importance of local food and wine.  “We all work together.  The more local I buy, the more it keeps everyone else in business.”  As he explained that most of his produce comes from Vineland, he reminded me that local foods just taste better – fresher.  “I’ve grown up eating out of a garden.  And the more people that start eating local food, the better everyone’s food will be.”

The “Eat Local; Drink Local” campaign is also about the environment.  Rich Saunders of BrighterPlanet.com says, “With all the focus on local food it often becomes easy to forget the climate impact of the manufacture and distribution of beverages. If you live in New York, Hawk Haven’s wines would travel 150 miles to your glass, instead of the thousands that wines from elsewhere often cover.” That is a huge carbon differential. So drink local wines – drink Hawk Haven wine!

We gave the event a trial run last night at Sean’s Restaurant.  Everything was delicious, but we might mix it up a little for the first event.  Can’t wait!

Eat Local ~ Drink Local
Hawk Haven Vineyard and Sean’s Restaurant
6 November 2009
All Three Small Plates and Wines Included

Small Plate One
2008 Pinot Grigio
Spinach and Seared Scallop Salad dressed with Toasted Sesame and Siracha

Small Plate Two
2007 Red Table Wine
Pork brushed with Blackberry Barbecue Sauce served over Jasmine Rice and Chef’s Vegetables

Small Plate Three
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon
Rack of Lamb with Dijon Drizzle served over Roasted Garlic Mash and Chef’s Vegetables

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

Talks with Todd: 2009 Chardonnay Harvest

 Todd and Lalo harvested the Chardonnay this morning.  Todd is still making fun of me for being such a whiny whimp about my bee sting, so he didn’t even bother to tell me about harvest until this morning.  Above is a picture of some Chardonnay grapes in the lug, along with a few tag-along-drunk bees.

 Above is a picture of Lalo happily harvesting Chardonnay.

I snuck a few tastes of the Chardonnay – delicious!  They are at 21 bricks, which Todd said is exactly what he wanted for the sugar content.  They acidity level is exactly where he wants it too.  I’m very excited; I love Chardonnay!

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

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