Eat, Drink and be Merry in Cape May this Holiday Season

CAPE MAY — Share and celebrate the most festive season of the year with friends and family over gourmet meals, fine wines and much more this Christmas season in Cape May. The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC) is offering special food and wine events to savor the best flavors of the holidays in Cape May — the city the New York Times calls the “restaurant capital of New Jersey” — from Nov. 21 through Jan. 3, 2015. Satisfy your appetite for Christmas cheer with these delicious events.
Combine a tour of the Cape May Designer Show House “Celebrating Holidays” with dinner at select Cape May restaurants, with the Designer Show House Dinner Packages. Dinner at 5:30 p.m. is followed by a Show House Guided Tour at 7 p.m. Participating restaurants include: Sundays – The Merion Inn or Tisha’s; Mondays – Blue Pig Tavern or Tisha’s; Thursdays – The Merion Inn or Blue Pig Tavern; Fridays – Union Park or Aleathea’s. Make reservations by calling 609-884-5404, ext. 115 or at the Carriage House Visitors Center at the Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St. Each visitor receives a full-color program book with information about the designers, products and vendors. Admission is $50. Offered Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays and Mondays, through Jan. 2, 2015 (except Nov. 27, Dec. 11 and Dec. 25).
New in 2014! It’s a bountiful buffet for chocolate lovers! Enjoy dozens of different chocolate creations during Chocolate Lovers’ Feast and return as often as you like for more of your favorites. This is a limited event so reserve early. The Blue Rose Inn, 653 Washington St. Dec. 6 at 1 p.m. Admission is $35.
Get the holiday season off to a delicious start with the Mad Batter Wine Dinner – “Autumn’s Flavors—Blind Tasting.” The dinner is held at the famous Mad Batter restaurant, 19 Jackson St., Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. Kick-off the holiday season with a five-course menu inspired by autumn’s flavors as you enjoy some special wine pairings and guess the varietal and country of origin of each wine! Dinner is limited to 60 and admission is $75 (tax and gratuity included).
Attention foodies! You won’t want to miss these incredible five-course gourmet feasts, with each course served in one of Cape May’s premier restaurants. Join us for the spectacular Holiday Chefs’ Dine-Arounds, Dec. 28 and Dec. 29 at 6 p.m. These popular events sell out, so please reserve early! Wine will be provided with each course, with a representative from the sponsoring winery on hand to explain the pairings. A trolley shuttles you between each restaurant and course. Admission is $125 per person (gratuity included). Limited to 34 people.
Are you a wine lover? Learn all about wines made for celebrating during the Cape May Wine School Class, “It’s All in the Bubbles: Sparkling Wines for the Holidays” Dec. 13 at 1 p.m. Before you pop the cork, prepare for your holiday celebrations by tasting delicious sparkling wines perfect for holiday celebrations at the Washington Inn, 801 Washington St. Admission is $40.
Don’t miss an opportunity to experience the Cape May Wine Trail this holiday season, Dec. 27, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Spend the afternoon visiting Cape May County’s wineries and sampling the unique flavors of each. First, you’ll enjoy lunch at The Mad Batter Restaurant, 19 Jackson St., and then take the trolley shuttle to the Natali Vineyards, Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery and the Willow Creek Winery, where you’ll learn about viniculture and visit the tasting rooms. Admission is $75 per person, and includes lunch, wine tastings at each vineyard and a wine tasting glass. This is a limited event, so please reserve early.
If you’d rather taste, sip and swirl at your own pace, then you’ll love the Self-guided Wine Trail. Spend the afternoon touring some of the wineries of Cape May County. Visit Natali Vineyards and Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery, and taste wines at each. Admission is $10 and includes a map with the wineries listed. Offered 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Nov. 22-Jan. 3; no tours Nov. 27, Dec. 24, Dec. 25.
What’s brewing in Cape May? Some great spirits, as you’ll find out on this tour of three area wineries, Natali Vineyards, Hawk Haven Vineyard and Winery plus the Cape May Brewing Company, during the Self-guided Wine & Brewery Tour. Admission is $13 and includes a map with directions. Offered 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Nov. 22-Jan. 3; no tours Nov. 27, Dec. 24, Dec. 25. Take a tour at each stop and sample some of their products.
Taste while you tour! Learn how the grapes are grown and the process that turns them into delicious Hawk Haven wines during the Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery Tour, 600 S Railroad Ave, Rio Grande. Tour includes a souvenir glass and gourmet cheese tasting on the vineyard-view crush pad. Offered at 1 p.m. Nov. 28; Saturdays through Dec. 27; and daily Dec. 26 to Jan. 3. Tickets are $20 if purchased at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth.
The Winery Cellar Tour and Tastings give you the special opportunity to spend an afternoon touring the vineyard at the award-winning Cape May Winery, 711 Town Bank Rd., Tour the vineyard to see how the grapes are grown, get an introduction to the winemaker’s art, and enjoy a barrel tasting with cheese, fruit, and a sampling of five to six kinds of wine. Admission is $20. Offered at 3 p.m. Saturdays, Nov. 22-Dec. 20; Nov. 28; and daily, Dec. 26-Jan. 1. Purchase tickets in advance at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth.
Come home for the holidays! Celebrate with a festive five-course dinner paired with a selection of wines at the famous Mad Batter restaurant during the Mad Batter Wine Dinner— “Home for the Holidays” Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m. The dinner is limited to 60 so reserve early. Admission is $75 per person (tax and gratuity included).
C’mon, girls – this is all about you! Grab your best girlfriends for Brunch, Bingo & Lace and enjoy time away from the holiday to-do list Nov. 23 at 9:30 a.m. Play a little bingo, enjoy a fashion show by Lace Silhouettes/Cotton Company and win some great prizes at the Inn of Cape May, 7 Ocean St., all while enjoying a delicious brunch, This fun event is a great way to relax with your gal pals. Admission is $25.
The man in the jolly red suit will be coming to town and visiting the Inn of Cape May, 7 Ocean St., for Breakfast with Santa at 10 a.m. on Saturdays, Nov. 29, Dec. 6 and Dec. 13, Sundays, Nov. 30, and Dec. 7. Share a family-friendly breakfast buffet with Santa at the Inn of Cape May. Children can visit with Santa Claus and hear a Christmas story; they are encouraged to bring their Christmas lists. Admission is $17 for adults and $12 for children (ages 3-12) and includes a special treat for the kids.
Schedules are subject to change. Please visit our website at www.capemaymac.org for the most current schedule.
The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (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.