Hello there,
My mother, Joanie, and I took a trip to Cape May, New Jersey a few days ago, a nice mother, daughter trip. They love that stuff. I’ve heard mixed reviews about Cape May most of them focusing around the beauty and antique feel of the town. Many of my friends feel is old, expensive, and boring. I can see why they would feel this way. At first glance Cape May looks to be antique shops, museums, and bed and breakfasts. At first glance, they’d be right. Pulling into the town I had a feeling of dread. Could this possibly be the longest 48 hours of my life?
The Humphrey Hughes House, a rather posche sounding bed and breakfast is where we take shelter. After the quick tour of the accommodations; a sun room with delicious chocolate chip cookies, coffee, assorted beverages and port wine available around the clock, a front porch, a piano, and well antiques, the hostess escorted us to the “The Doctor’s Suite” where we would spend the night.
The room was beautiful and spacious. When entering the suite we were greeted by a foyer, followed by a small, comfortable living room with a copy of “A Few Good Men,” classic. The room, to the right of the living room was extremely spacious: king size bed, table, chairs, dresser, a walk in closet and all the foreseeable mini bar accoutrement. The bathroom was weakness, I can’t stand going away and having to use a sub-par shower. Overall, the room was comfortable and the breakfast, eggs benedict, was delicious. A bit pricy for the 20 something’s, but perfect for a married couple looking to escape.
After settling in, we took off on the town. This didn’t last long before the rain, which would eventually ruin our trip came on. Lunch and drinks at the Ugly Mug kept us dry.
The Ugly Mug was an awesome bar, a place I’d easily suggest to my friends. With two bars and three bartenders getting served is a cinch. The Ugly Mug, or leinenkugel summer shandy, is a delicious choice at $2 a pint on Tuesdays. Hanging from the ceiling are hundreds of hand painted mugs that can be bought for $35 or are given to only the most loyal of regulars. The Crab Cake sandwich was absolutely delicious, little filler and tons of flavor.
After a little shopping, there is a fantastic cigar shop in the Washington Street Shopping center called Up In Smoke, we went back to the room to do some research on dinner. Along with the fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, the sunroom at The Humphrey Hughes House offers a selection of just about every menu of every restaurant in Cape May. Some deliberation later Mom and I were on our way to the Merion Inn for Dinner, Wine, and some Smooth Jazz. I can’t say I know much about Jazz but sitting in the air conditioned outside area I was truly at peace with the beats. The Merion Inn offers a $15 express or Prix Fixe Menu, which I had and would definitely suggest. It offers a selection of appetizer, small entrée, and desert all served at once. I indulged in the Farmers Market Salad, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, and grapes served over lettuce and onions. For me the onions were far too over powering, there were more onions than anything else; ruining the what would have been delicious, fresh, and crisp salad for me. The Roast Chicken, Bread Pudding, and Mashed Potato entrée was perfection! The chicken was juicy and perfectly seasoned, the Bread pudding soaking in the rich gravy, and the creamy, buttery mashed potatoes were whipped into a light airy cloud of delicious. I enjoyed it down to the very last bite. The finale, a dark chocolate mousse, was the perfect combination of chocolate and heavy cream. I would have liked to have gotten the dessert after the entrée, it had the chance to melt next to my hot food through out the meal, but it was still delicious.
I wish my mother had the majority of positive things to say about her entrée, but she was completely disgusted by the overwhelming flavor of onion in her Farmers Market Salad. She felt as though the Wasabi of the Wasabi Mash was also over powering, and the Asian coleslaw was far too salty. Her compliments however go out to the chef for his perfectly cooked teriyaki Salmon and of course the delicious Chocolate Mousse, which she swears was pudding.
After dinner we walked around the town stopping in at bars for a drink here or there. Unfortunately, the rain cut our trip short and I didn’t get a chance to get on the beach, my favorite part of shore season, but overall Cape May was not the boring retired couples dream I had heard it would have been. It was fun and relaxing to get away with mom. Cape May is not a place I would suggest to a group of partygoers looking to get away with friends, but definitely a sweet mother-daughter retreat, or a relaxing couples escape. Minus the rain, the trip went off with out a hitch.
Jillian <3
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