Exit Zero by no means is the end;
it’s the beginning. You could say is
where New Jersey begins on the southernmost point of the state in beautiful
Cape May. If you start on exit zero and
drive 173 miles north on the Garden State Parkway and continue to the last
exit, exit 172, you will have driven the entire state and reached Montvale on
the border with New York state. However,
if you’re from Jersey you know that summer equals to GDTS (going down the
shore). This summer we started at the
tip of the state at exit zero - Cape May.
Cape
May is known as one of the oldest resort towns in the country, but compared to
other shore towns in Jersey, Cape May is unquestionably a foodie town. It is a great place to visit and a great
place to dine. There are all kinds of
restaurants to satisfy numerous appetites.
Word to the wise, most of the “happening” or “popular” restaurants
require a dinner reservation, especially during the summer season, some a day
or two in advance. Also, I suggest that
you ask if the restaurant is cash only and if it’s BYOB. There are restaurants that go back over four
generations such as The Lobster House and also modern stylish yet assessable
eateries such as Y.B. Eat Place.
Although we had to wait an hour to get a dinner table at Y.B. Eat Place
on a Saturday night (we made the mistake of not making dinner reservations), my
hubby and I did have a great meal and the food displayed meticulous attention
to detail. We didn’t mind the wait
because there is plenty to do nearby; we were able to check out local art
galleries and shops while we waited. Once
inside the quaint and modern Y.B. Eat Place, we dined by candle
light starting
with an appetizer of specialty meatballs.
I then had the crab cakes with pesto cuscus and my husband had the flank
steak with duck fat fries; both flavorful great dishes.
Have
you ever eaten a meal that when you take a bite, you close your eyes and
concentrate to ensure you experience each ounce of flavor? Did you ever say that you don’t eat a certain
type of food only to have your taste buds change their minds by one single
bite? My husband who is not into
breakfast foods, especially sweet breakfast foods, became a changed man once we
tasted the apple stuffed French toast with a silky vanilla sauce during our
breakfast at the Queen Victoria.
The
fluffy, baked French toast had a perfect balance of sweet and a slight bit of
tart from the apple pie style stuffing.
The aroma of cinnamon with the vanilla sauce added to the enchantment of
each bite. This meal was so good, that I
didn’t even think of taking a picture, I just wanted to keep eating it, which I
did…two or three times (sorry!). I
personally loved pairing the French toast with savory breakfast sausages and
peppermint tea. We also enjoyed the
artichoke quiche (I had no idea I would love artichoke so much!) and roasted
parmesan and herb cherry tomatoes. Add
to the experience the romantic Victorian setting of sitting at the Prince
Albert balcony overlooking a colorful garden on what felt was the most perfect
summer morning. What a great way to
start a day in Cape May! Staying at a
B&B gives you that personal food experience that is missing from chain
hotels. Doug and Anna Marie McMain were
amazing hosts; attentive, friendly with a genuine love for their work. Tea time brought other great
treats worth
mentioning such as the chunky tomatoes and bacon spread, the amazing gluten
free bars, and the chocolate dream bars. The Queen Victoria B&B is the kind a
place you don’t want to leave and look forward to visiting again.
You don’t have to stay at a B&B in Cape May to feel that you have traveled back in time. There are plenty of places to visit and foods to taste that will make you feel like you are Marty Macfly going way back, back, back into the future.
Take a stroll on Washington Street Mall and taste the cool and
refreshing Kohr Brothers orange and vanilla frozen custard that got its start
in 1919 Coney Island. Or, just walk the
Washington Street Mall and check out the antique shops and do some people
watching. Cape May has so much to offer
in such a small area. Anna Marie McMain
said, “People come to Cape May and ask me if this is still New Jersey, and I
say yes. New Jersey is much more than
just the Newark Airport.” I couldn’t
agree more. For being a small island
part of a cape, Cape May has tons of things to do such as music, nature, the
beach, the beauty of its gardens and Victorian architecture. A Victorian oasis, exit zero is the perfect
gateway for city slickers who want to simply relax, enjoy good company and eat great
food.
_____________________________________________________
You don’t have to stay at a B&B in Cape May to feel that you have traveled back in time. There are plenty of places to visit and foods to taste that will make you feel like you are Marty Macfly going way back, back, back into the future.
Take a stroll on Washington Street Mall and taste the cool and
refreshing Kohr Brothers orange and vanilla frozen custard that got its start
in 1919 Coney Island. Or, just walk the
Washington Street Mall and check out the antique shops and do some people
watching. Cape May has so much to offer
in such a small area. Anna Marie McMain
said, “People come to Cape May and ask me if this is still New Jersey, and I
say yes. New Jersey is much more than
just the Newark Airport.” I couldn’t
agree more. For being a small island
part of a cape, Cape May has tons of things to do such as music, nature, the
beach, the beauty of its gardens and Victorian architecture. A Victorian oasis, exit zero is the perfect
gateway for city slickers who want to simply relax, enjoy good company and eat great
food.
Do you have a Cape May story...email Ms. A at:
Cape May Inspired Recipes:
On-line help with pictures on how to make an Apple Stuffed French Toast!
Apple French Toast Casserole By Terri F. on June 13, 2002
Ingredients - 4 tablespoons butter
- 3 large apples, peeled and sliced thinly ( I use Cortland or Empire)
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 8 slices Italian bread, 1 inch thick
- 4 large eggs
- 1 1/4 cups milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Directions
1.
Melt the butter in a large skillet
and add apples.
2.
Cook and stir for 5 minutes.
3.
Add brown sugar, water, and cinnamon
and continue to cook and stir for 10 minutes until apples are tender.
4.
Spoon mixture into 13x9 baking dish.
5.
Cover apples with bread slices,
making sure to cover the entire surface.
6.
Trim the bread to fit if you must.
7.
Beat eggs until foamy, then beat in
milk and vanilla.
8.
Pour egg mixture over the bread
slices.
9.
Cover the dish with plastic wrap and
refrigerate overnight.
10.
In the morning, remove the dish from
the refrigerator and let it stand while oven is preheated to 375 F.
11.
Bake uncovered for 35 minutes, or
until bread is golden and firm.
12.
Let sit 10 minutes before serving.
13.
To serve on a platter, run a knife
around the edges of the casserole, place platter on top of casserole, and
carefully flip.
To
serve individually, use a spatula to remove serving, place serving plate on top
of serving and carefully flip so apple side is up.
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