Summers at the Shore
While I certainly enjoy the Alo drenched streets of “out east” — I do prefer the Jersey Shore. Not the Seaside Snooki version but the laid back beach towns like Mantoloking, LBI, or Avalon. The Hamptons are always a blast and I’m usually pinching myself making sure it’s real life. It’s hard to think life can get any better when cruising Gardiner’s Bay on a Hinckley: drinking champagne and pulling up to Duryea’s with Billy. Pool parties, private clubs, properties you can get lost in: It’s all very nice, but it comes with a bit of pretense. A dress code? $75 swordfish? So much for an old fishing village. As much as I enjoy my trips to Montauk, Sag Harbor, or the Hamptons–I never felt like I belonged.
I grew up going down the Jersey shore. I remember walking the beach in Avon when my dad told me to take off my shoes —“you look like a Benny!” It all started on Bradley beach; but we hopped around: Wildwood, Belmar, Cape May, and eventually LBI where I’d spend summers working at White’s Market or Deja Brew. It was here where I dipped my toes into hospitality and learned that hard work pays off.
Nowadays–I don’t have many traditions but Avalon is certainly one of them. I’m not sure when it started—probably 6 or 7 years ago; but it’s something I look forward to every year. Dan & Sue—college friends turned family invited me to their yearly shore vacation. They’ve been doing it for years with immediate family but the invite was extended once they moved to California: trying to see all their friends during their east coast stay.
I’m really good at canceling plans for work, but I always happen to escape in August for a couple of days. Maybe it’s the nostalgia of summer days at the Jersey shore? Maybe it’s the longing for family. Maybe it’s the culinary bliss or escaping the city in the peak of heat’s wrath. I’m not sure; but it always gets me thinking of what I’m bringing to share with the crew. The baseline is local seafood & produce with great wine; but it’s evolved into epic aperitivo, deep dives into proper tequila, and much much more. Last year I wrote a blog post that detailed what we drank; but here’s a rundown of the highlights.
We got in late afternoon Saturday & set up a beautiful aperitivo spread while unpacking. Sourdough from Winner, fresh ricotta two ways: one with senia olive oil & the other with this bomb sunflower honey from Abruzzo. Burrata also got dressed up: bottarga for the adventurous eaters and just some sea salt and olive oil for a more classic approach. Country ham, prosciutto, coppa, and some other cured meats sourced from our friends at Heritage. I forgot our marinated olives but we got by just fine.
For dinner, I brought some American Wagyu Bavettes & Chanterelles from Regalis. Needed some veggies so we grilled up some zucchini & summer squash from Natoora. Popped a few mags: 2018 Conterno Francia, some Tissot Chardonnay, and some beautiful Sangiovese from Chiara Condello. All of our meals usually come with after dinner drinks: tonight was a special bottle of San Simone which I’d been saving since my last trip to Italy. Ralph always stocks the freezer with ice cream pops: an ideal ending.
As I recount our dinners–they all seem to blur together. Not sure if that's all the booze affecting my memory; but each meal seemed better than the next. Golden Osetra from Black Diamond, Barnegat Bay scallops, Ribs, Lamb, and two types of crabs: Scarlet Deepwater Crab meat from Regalis and fresh caught crab from our dock.
Food & beverage joy didn’t just present itself around the table; but in slow mornings drinking Black Fox coffee on the dock: a tranquil backdrop. The happiness one can feel drinking good coffee out of a ceramic mug is pretty amazing. Floating in the ocean, outdoor showers, walks along the beach, paddleboarding, a jersey bagel, Mallon’s crumbcake, Springer’s Ice Cream, and cruising on the boat–its the best kind of therapy. Sun-kissed and salty: this is where I belong. I even read Keith McNally’s memoir: I Regret Almost Everything; which was a perfect read for the beach.
With The Wine Cellar by Popina opening soon–we will have wine & spirits for your perfect holiday whether it's a week at the beach or a short getaway upstate. Here’s what I brought:
Champagne: I surprised myself and didn’t bring as much champagne as I usually do. Perhaps I was scared of acid reflux since I was staying for a week.
Gerbais Champs Viole nv
Agrapart Terroirs nv
Maison Raday Rimosa Ripa nv
Mignon ADN nv (Magmum)
White Wine: Critical for aperitivo, seafood dinners, and sunset cruises (no red wine on the boat!)
Sandlands Assyrtiko 2023
Dureuil-Janthial Rully Le Meix Cadot 2020
Ballot Millot Bourgogne Blanc 2022
Chantereves Aligote Les Chagniots 2022
Bretaudeau Muscadet Theia 2023
Chevillard Jacquere Apremont 2021
Chevillard Roussette 2020
Collier saumur blanc 2020
Hardy Fief du Chaintre Muscadet 2022
Paul Pillot Chassagne-Montrachet 2022
Julian Haart Riesling Moselle 2024
Tissot Barberon Chardonnay cotes du Jura 2022 (Magnum)
Pierre Morey Aligote “Becky” 2021 (Magnum)
Rosé: whats the beach without rosé?
Pascal Cotat Chavignol rose 2023
Sulauze Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence Pomponette Rosé 2024
Treinnes 2024
Reds: Usually I find myself lacking on reds but when you’re grilling: you need some red wine!
Yura La Partie et Le Tout Pinot Noir 2023
Lassak Lemberger 2022
De Fermo Cerasuolo 2023
Alessandria Barolo Monvigliero 2020
Lalu Langhe nebbiolo 2023
Serafino Rivella Langhe Nebbiolo 2022
Le Boncie 'Chiesamonti' 2019
Piero Busso Barbaresco Albesani 2020
Fornerol Cote de Nuits 2022 (Magnum)
Chiara Condello Predappio 2022 (Magnum)
G Conterno Francia 2018 (Magnum)
Foradori Lezer 2023 (Magnum)