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

 

 

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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

Best Wine Destinations

TripAdvisor recently released their 2012 Travelers’ Choice Best Wine Destinations with four different categories including the United States, Europe, South Pacific, and all over the world. Missing from this list: the great wine regions of New Jersey!

The Garden State has long been overlooked as a grape-growing region, and many people are often very surprised to learn that award-winning wines can be found in places outside of Italy, France, and Napa. If you’ve ever visited our tasting room, you’ve probably heard us talk about the sandy soils, cool ocean breezes, and long growing seasons here in Cape May County. In fact, this area has been recognized by several wine experts as one of the best wine regions on the East Coast.

Hawk Haven wine has won many awards since it opened in 2009.

The history of grape-growing and wine-making in New Jersey can be traced back as far as the mid- to late-1700′s, with the first commercial wine-making operation, Renault Winery, established in 1864. The industry was greatly hurt by the Prohibition era starting in 1919, and production remained small even after Prohibition ended in 1933, but by the early 1980′s more and more wineries began popping up across the country.

South Jersey earned an American Viticulture Area (AVA) in 2007, known as the Outer Coastal Plain. This was a significant development as it meant this part of New Jersey would be officially recognized as a grape-growing region. Almost half of New Jersey’s vineyards are located within the Outer Coast Plain.

New Jersey’s various AVAs.

Today there are over 40 wineries in the state which have produced around 1.72 million gallons each year, making it the seventh highest wine producing state in the country.

If you visit TripAdvisor.com and look through the ratings for each New Jersey winery, you’ll see plenty of four- and five-star reviews. People love New Jersey wines and love visiting their local wineries. So why isn’t New Jersey a Best Wine Destination? This is where you come in! If you haven’t already, visit the site and leave a review for the wineries you’ve visited (you can find Hawk Haven’s TripAdvisor page by clicking here). Tell TripAdvisor what you love about New Jersey wine and why you believe the Garden State is the perfect wine destination.

Let’s make 2013 the year that New Jersey is recognized as one of the greatest places in the world for fine wines!

Made in NJ: A Look at Jersey-Made Products

One of the things we at Hawk Haven are very passionate about is supporting our local environment, communities, and businesses. For starters, our award-winning wines are made with 100% Jersey-grown grapes, most of which comes from right here in Cape May County. Our wine pairing dinners feature local chefs and/or locally grown produce. We love the farm-to-table movement and some of the items on our Saturdays on the Crushpad menu are grown right here at the vineyard.

Hawk Haven Vineyard

We are always thrilled to see local businesses thrive, whether it be here in Cape May County or throughout the state of New Jersey. That’s why we’ve decided to do a little research and see what kinds of businesses and manufacturers are around here keeping things Jersey fresh. We think you’ll be just as pleasantly surprised as we were to find out how much of our everyday items are not just Made in the USA, but right here in NJ.

image from http://www.anewscafe.com

So the first business we want to highlight is located in the town of Towaco in Morris County, New Jersey. In 1928 a Camden physician created an all-natural nutricious chocolate syrup by the name of Bosco Syrup. Does anyone remember it? Bosco Chocolate Syrup was very popular in the 1950s-1970s and you can still find it on grocery store shelves today. There are also a few restaurants and delis serving Bosco Chocolate soda. I even read that it was used as fake blood in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, and artist Vik Muniz did a few paintings using the famous syrup.

painting by Vik Muniz

If you’ve had Bosco Syrup, tell us what you thought, share your memories, let us know where you’ve found it. If you see it at the grocery store, buy a bottle and know that you’re supporting a New Jersey business. And if you know of any other New Jersey businesses or manufacturers that you’d like to see on our blog, we would love to hear your suggestions!

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

Friday Night Supper Club

Join us on Friday nights for a family-style dinner at the vineyard! 

Every Friday Night
June 29th – Sept 7th

 

Live Music 6 to 9pm
Dinner Served at 7pm
Reservations Required
(609) 846-7347

Dinner $32
Wine Flight (optional) $16

Tasting Room open 11am to 7pm

 

Menus

Friday, July 13th
Appetizer: Seafood Bruchetta served over grilled panini
Salad: Carribbean Salad- A spring mix salad with strawberries,
craisins, and candied walnuts,
with honey poppy seed dressing
Entree: Two jumbo lump crab cakes topped with a
roasted red pepper puree
Cucumber salad
Homemade stewed tomatoes
Twice baked potatoes
Dessert: Key lime pie

Friday, July 20th
TBA

Friday, July 27th
Fried Ravioli
Hawaiian Meatballs
Crab Balls
Cheddar Cheese Stuffed Sliders
Pulled Pork Sliders with Asian Slaw
Fresh Fruit Salad
Pasta Salad
Bread Pudding

Menus for August – Sept 7th TBA

Entertainment:

June 29th – Andrew Reeves

July 6th – John Nesbitt
July 13th – Jon Thompson
July 20th – Andrew Reeves
July 27th – Kate Delaney-Chew

August 3rd – Jon Thompson
August 10th – John Nesbitt
August 17th – Jon Thompson
August 24th – Andrew Reeves
August 31st – TBA

Sept 7th – Jon Thompson

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.

Recent Awards

In the last few months we submitted several of our wines to a few different competitions/wine reviewers and we wanted to share with you the results.

We’ve already mentioned The Judgement of Rittenhouse where our 2010 barrel-fermented Chardonnay was given the opportunity to go up against a French wine of the same vintage and varietal. It didn’t win but it did get the silver at New Jersey Monthly’s wine competition. Some wine competitions award medals based on a point system; they aren’t compared to each other so multiple wines might receive the same type of medal (gold, silver, bronze) depending on how many points it got. At this competition, only one of each type of medal was awarded, so we were especially proud of our Chardonnay for getting the silver.

World Wine Championship

You’ve probably been to the wine section of a liquor store and seen the various ratings in front of the different wines and wondered who exactly assigned them. One of them is the Beverage Testing Institute on www.tastings.com. We submitted four of our wines to their World Wine Championship this year and here are the results:

2009 Merlot: 88 Points “Highly Recommended” Silver Medal
Ruby red color. Aromas of plum pudding and tomato chutney with a chewy, dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body and a nice kiss of vanilla and peppery spices on the gentle finish.

2010 Chardonnay: 88 Points “Highly Recommended” Silver Medal
Golden yellow color. Aromas of roasted pineapple and toasty meringue with a fruity-yet-dry medium body and a honeyed apple, lemon mousse, fruit salad, and delicate brown spice accented finish. Tasty.

2010 Gewurztraminer: 87 Points “Highly Recommended” Silver Medal
Golden color. Lush fresh baked peach strudel and orange sorbet aromas with supple, fruity medium body and a honeyed golden raisin chutney and apple-pear cider finish. A nice late harvest style gewurz.

2009 Northern Harrier Red: 84 Points “Recommended” Bronze Medal
Ruby color. Aromas of cranberries and tomatoes on the vine with a soft, dryish medium body and a tangy, tangerine and sun-dried tomato accented finish.

This competition features wines from all over the world including California, France, and Italy, so we are always happy to see our wines place.

American Kestrel White- Bronze

2010 Chardonnay- Silver

2009 Merlot- Bronze

2010 Pinot Grigio- Bronze

2009 Talon- Bronze

2010 Viognier- Bronze

2012 International Eastern Wine Competition

2009 Talon- Gold

2010 Viognier- Bronze

2010 Chardonnay- Bronze

2009 Northern Harrier Red- Bronze

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

Don’t Miss the Wine Pairing Dinner With Chef Barry Sexton

Photo Courtesy of OpinionatedPalate.com

Don’t miss your chance to snag one of the few remaining seats for this weekend’s fabulous wine pairing dinners hosted here at Hawk Haven!

This Saturday, July 24^th, Hawk Haven has the pleasure to host celebrity chef Barry Sexton!  Chef Sexton was classically trained for more than a decade under the tutelage of Master Chef Jean Pierre Tardy, who was the Executive Chef of Le Bec Fin, in Philadelphia, for seven years. Chef Barry worked closely with Jean Pierre, keeping the creative process alive by combining his imagination with the best and freshest ingredients.  He even created several signature dishes at Jean Pierre’s Restaurant in Newtown, Pennsylvania, known locally for its French cuisine.

In 2004, Chef Barry Sexton launched his own culinary project, Opinionated Palate Catering, as a way to share his love of food and entertaining. With over 30 years of experience in the culinary arts, Barry brings an undying passion for creating beautiful, flavorful food to his catering venture. Barry enjoys scouring the markets for new and unusual foods, and combining them with his signature creativity and flair for his customers and their guests. He is grateful for the confidence of customers who trust Opinionated Palate Catering to make their event not only a success, but the best day of their life.

Chef Sexton will prepare a four-course dinner in the vineyard on Saturday, July 24^th. Each course will be expertly paired with a Hawk Haven Wine. Seating is limited, and those remaining spots are going fast! For more information call Hawk Haven at (609) 846-7347, or visit http://hawkhavenvineyard.com/events.aspx to order your tickets online, and take a sneak peek at the evening’s menu!