I knew one of the highlights of our celebration was going to be our dinner at Peter Shields Inn. However, I need to say a few words first, about our stay at Angel of the Sea. It is such a beautiful Victorian mansion. It originally stood on the present site of the post office on Washington Street. The breakfasts are amazing. It is also hard to beat the location (we had a balcony with views of the ocean)-next door to the best restaurant in Cape May and across the street to the beach!
Day two (our actual anniversary date) was even better than day one. We had another wonderful breakfast at Angel of the Sea, another great day on the beach, and ended with one of the best dinners we have ever had. I got my walking in on the beach, knowing that dinner at Peter Shields, was only steps away.
Peter Shields Inn (PSI)
Peter Shields Inn is located on the corner of Beach Avenue and Trenton Avenue (directly in front of Angel of the Sea Bed & Breakfast). This wonderful restaurant and inn has been around for many years, with different owners and different chefs. However, throughout the past 30 years or so, it has consistently been one of the best restaurants in a town that has more than its share of wonderful dining spots. It is our favorite restaurant in Cape May and one of our favorites anywhere. PSI is a BYOB restaurant, though they recently have offered wines from Cape May Winery, as well. I must add that PSI is also a beautiful inn with an interesting history. Some people believe that this old mansion is also haunted and much has been written about this in the past. The owners also own Angel of the Sea. These are two of the most iconic properties in Cape May.
Food
Appetizers
As we perused the menu, trying to decide on our selections, our waiter brought out three appetizers. He told us that our son, Sean, called and ordered them for us (as well as our dessert). This was a complete surprise, as we hadn’t known about this gift in advance. They were all absolutely amazing!
- Burrata Salad-Heirloom tomatoes, strawberries, watermelon radish, lemon oil, and balsamic syrup.
- Yellowfin Tuna Ceviche-Avocado Puree, cucumber, radish, capers, scallions, lime dressing drizzle, and micro greens.
- Butter Poached South African Lobster Tail -Vanilla cauliflower puree, radicchio, frisee, and grilled lemon.
Entrees
I chose the Chilean Sea Bass (Thai chili sauce, fried red rice, scallions, peas, Napa cabbage, and soy sauce. (left below). The fish was so tender and tasted like it was just caught off the dock and the sauce was excellent.
My wife chose the Pan Seared Day Boat Scallops-Citrus and white grape farro salad, fennel soubise, pickled shaved fennel and radish salad (right below).
Dessert
While I do not have a picture or good description, it was a surprise that included a rich chocolate ball, with a dollop of vanilla ice cream and fruit garnish.
Wine
In keeping with tradition, I brought a bottle of red and a bottle of white, despite knowing we would both opt for some fresh seafood. I was determined to open this red. It is meant to be a celebratory, special occasion wine and it helped make the meal special.
Red
William Heritage Winery 2017 BDX-The Heritage BDX series has won a roomful of awards and trophies. This one was a medium to full-bodied red blend of Cab, Cab Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. It offered red fruit and a hint of vanilla on the palate, with a smooth finish.
White
Mer Soleil Santa Lucia Highlands 2021 Chardonnay– No it is not a NJ wine, but variety is the spice of life and besides, it is one of my wife’s favorite Chardonnays. Need I say more? With a touch of apple and lemon, and a modest oaking, it was a great complement to our seafood dishes.
Music
The music was provided by one of our favorite pianists around-Kahlil Gunther. He teaches music at Woodstown High School, but he plays (especially during the summer) several evening a week at PSI. While he plays indoors (just as you enter their doors), the music is piped in and played through speakers that sounded amazing-like we were in the same room. I was able to text a request to him, which he played while we were eating our dessert and sipping our wine. In case you are wondering, it was “Color my World” by Chicago (a song we often slow danced to in the 70’s). We told him he helped us get through the worst of the pandemic. We sometimes played his Facebook live broadcasts on Saturday nights, providing a great ambiance for our dinners.
What an amazing meal! I had to book the reservation a couple of months in advance to ensure we would be seated on the screened-in front porch, overlooking the ocean. Wow! Our whole two day anniversary celebration was perfect! I am truly a lucky man!
Coming Attractions
- An interview with Orley Ashenfelter and Larry Coia (Two key NJ grape growers)
- Auburn Road Vineyards September 2023
- Va La Vineyards
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