Cape May Food & Wine Celebration to be Held Sept. 12-21

CAPE MAY — Tempt your palette and tantalize your taste buds during the 18th annual Cape May Food & Wine Celebration, Sept. 12-21, sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). Residents and visitors can savor the local harvest, taste the area’s award-winning wines, meet master chefs, learn from beer, bourbon and wine experts, and discover the flavors that make Cape May a city renowned for its cuisine. Discover why the American Bus Association calls it a “Top 100 Event in North America” with 10 days of events that celebrate food and wine, from Sept. 12 through Sept. 21.
New in 2014! Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery hosts the ultimate: the Cape May Lobster Bake Dinner at Hawk Haven. What could be better than feasting on succulent lobster in a beautiful setting? Tour the vineyard, enjoy live entertainment, sample the fine wines at Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery and savor your favorite wine to complement a traditional lobster bake with corn on the cob, shrimp, mussels and more. Offered Sept. 13, at 5 p.m. at the Hawk Haven Vineyard and Winery, 600 South Railroad Ave. in Rio Grande. Admission is $50.
New in 2014! The Red Store was chosen by New Jersey Monthly magazine food critics as one of the Top 25 restaurants in New Jersey. Owner and chef Lucas Manteca, who grew up in Buenos Aires, brings his extraordinary culinary creativity to each dish. Cape May Farm to Table with The Red Store includes a trolley shuttle from the Washington Street Mall at Ocean Street to The Red Store’s farm, Fincas del Mar, where you’ll enjoy a tour, and then you’ll be transported to savor lunch at the Red Store. Offered on Saturdays, Sept. 13 and 20 at 10:15 a.m. Admission is $45.
You’ll learn how seafood gets from the sea to your table and that Cape May is the third largest commercial fishing port on the East Coast in terms of volume on the Fisherman’s Wharf Tours at the Lobster House Restaurant at 11 a.m. on Saturdays, Sept. 13 and Sept. 20; and at 10 a.m. Sept. 16 and Sept. 18. Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for children (ages 3-12).
Who knew food could be this much fun? Chef Joseph Poon returns to Cape May to the Carriage House Café & Tearoom at the Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St. One of the most entertaining celebrity chefs around, Chef Poon of Philadelphia has appeared on local and national television programs including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Chef Poon will demonstrate his dramatic food preparation and knife techniques then prepare lunch for the audience. Sept. 14 at 11 a.m. Admission of $35 includes lunch.
Attention foodies! Not to be missed are the Chefs’ Dine-Arounds, with three opportunities to be transported to the ultimate culinary experience, Sept. 14, Sept. 15 and Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. Board MAC’s trolley for a five-course gourmet feast and a chance to taste the best of the best in Cape May. Five different premier restaurants will each serve a single course, which will then be paired with wine from a sponsoring winery. A winery representative is on hand to explain the pairings and a trolley shuttle transports you between restaurants and courses. Reserve early; Chefs Dine-Arounds sell out quickly and are limited to 34 people per night. Admission is $125 (gratuity included).
New in 2014! Imagine you’re on a hillside in Tuscany walking amid the grapevines as the sun warms your face. Natali Vineyards invites you to harvest the vineyard right here in south Jersey during Grape Picking at Natali Vineyards. A shuttle will transport you from the Physick Estate to Natali Vineyards where you’ll become part of the wine-making process as you pitch in and pick grapes. You will be treated to a delicious lunch on the patio, and, of course, a glass of wine. Sept. 16 at 8:30 a.m. Admission is $10.
Beer goes with much more than just pizza. Learn about choosing beers to complement your meal at a Beer Tasting Dinner Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. with America’s beer authority, Gary Monterosso. Gary will discuss pairings at Aleathea’s Restaurant at the Inn of Cape May, 7 Ocean St. Learn what beer styles suit certain flavors during your four-course dinner. Each course has been matched to a different style beer. Reserve early; this event is limited to 50 people. $65 per person (gratuity included).
Stroll through a portion of Cape May’s Historic District during the Gourmet Brunch Walk Sept. 17 at 10 a.m. and you’ll enjoy a guided walking tour that ends at the famous Mad Batter restaurant, 19 Jackson St. There you will enjoy a gourmet brunch in what New Jersey Monthly deems one of the “best brunch and lunch” spots. Reserve early; this event is limited to 40 people. Admission is $20 for adults and $15 for children (ages 3-12).
New in 2014! Summer and wine just go naturally together; why not celebrate that perfect pairing during the Summer Wine Tasting Dinner Sept. 17 at 5 p.m. Enjoy a four-course dinner paired with wines from Hawk Haven Vineyard, chosen for each course. Guests will learn about wine pairings and enjoy a wonderful meal at The Blue Rose Inn, 653 Washington St. this dinner is limited to 50 people. Admission is $85.
Spend the afternoon visiting Cape May County’s wineries and sampling the unique flavors of each during the Cape May Wine Trail Sept. 19 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. First enjoy lunch at the Carriage House Café & Tearoom at the Physick Estate, then take the trolley shuttle to Natali Vineyards, Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery and Willow Creek Winery in West Cape May, where you’ll learn about viniculture and visit the tasting rooms. Admission of $75 includes lunch, wine tastings at each vineyard and a wine tasting glass. This is a limited event, so reserve early.
New in 2014! It’s a bountiful buffet for chocolate lovers! If chocolate is your go-to problem solver, this is your event. Enjoy dozens of different chocolate creations during the Chocolate Lover’s Feast on Saturday, Sept. 20 and return as often as you like for more of your favorites. It’s a chocolate lover’s dream come true at The Blue Rose Inn, 653 Washington St. This is a limited event so reserve early. Admission is $35.
Why is bourbon revered by so many? Learn about the nuances of this classic American spirit during a Bourbon Tasting Dinner at Aleathea’s Restaurant at the Inn of Cape May, 7 Ocean St. Enjoy pairings during each course of your four-course meal, Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. Admission is $75.
Come to Cape May Convention Hall, Beach Avenue at Stockton Place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 21 for A Taste of Cape May — a food and wine extravaganza offering the chance to learn about and sample wines from five Cape May area wineries, and to sample menu items from Cape May’s fine restaurants. Shop among local artisans and crafts persons offering food and wine-related merchandise and enjoy entertainment by Bluebone. Admission is $30. To purchase tickets for this event, call Cape May Convention Hall, at 609-884-9565.
Spend an afternoon at the award-winning Cape May Winery, 711 Town Bank Rd. during the Winery Cellar Tour & Tasting, offered at 3 p.m. daily. Tour the vineyard to see how the grapes are grown and then visit the winery where you’ll be introduced to the winemaker’s art. Savor a barrel tasting accompanied by cheese and fruit. Admission is $20.
Taste while you tour during Hawk Haven Vineyard and Winery Tours! Learn how the grapes are grown and the process that turns them into delicious Hawk Haven wines at the Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery, Rio Grande. Offered daily at 1 p.m. Admission is $20.
Spend the afternoon touring the wineries of Cape May County at your own pace on the Self-guided Wine Trail, offered daily from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Visit Natali Vineyards, Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery and Jessie Creek Winery, and taste wines at each. $13 includes a map with the wineries listed.
What’s brewing in Cape May? Some great spirits, as you’ll find out on the Self-Guided Wine & Brewery Trail, a tour of three area wineries, Natali Vineyards, Hawk Haven Vineyard and Winery and Jessie Creek Winery, plus the Cape May Brewing Company. Take a tour at each stop and sample some of their products. Offered daily from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. $15 includes map with directions.
The 18th Annual Cape May Food & Wine Celebration is presented by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC), in conjunction with Cape May’s restaurant community. Sponsors include Cape May Winery, Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery, Jessie Creek Winery, Natali Vineyards and Willow Creek Winery. Participating restaurants (subject to change) include Aleathea’s, Axlesson’s Blue Craw Restaurant, The Blue Pig, The Blue Rose Inn, The Carriage House Café & Tearoom, The Ebbitt Room, The Mad Batter, Peter Shields Inn and Restaurant, The Red Store, Sea Salt, Tisha’s, Union Park and The Washington Inn.
Purchase tickets in advance for these events online, at www.capemaymac.org, or in person at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth or the Hill House office or the Carriage House Visitor’s Center at the Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St., during hours of operation. To purchase tickets for A Taste of Cape May Sept. 21, call 609-884-9565.
MAC is a multifaceted not-for-profit organization committed to promoting the preservation, interpretation, and cultural enrichment of the Cape May region for its residents and visitors. MAC membership is open to all. For information about MAC’s year-round schedule of tours, festivals, and special events, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278, or visit MAC’s Web site at www.capemaymac.org. For information about restaurants, accommodations and shopping, call the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May at 609-884-5508. For information about historic accommodations, contact Cape May Historic Accommodations at www.capemaylodging.com.