Strollo's (Belmar, NJ)

For me, a day at the beach is not complete unless it's capped off with Strollo's italian ice. Located on the corner of Main Street and 5th Ave right in downtown Belmar, it's one of those completely unassuming, bare bones, we-aren't-concerned-with-fuss-just-making-excellent-stuff places.

Their italian ice is super smooth - almost the texture of soft serve ice cream - just a smidge icier.

You can pick up to 4 flavors. Which is lucky because lordy they are all so freaking good. It's impossible to pick.

I always get pretty much the same thing:

Mango - tastes just like the real deal. Seriously good.

Chocolate - pretty much tastes like ice cream, but more refreshing.

Lemon - the tartest, most perfect post-beach lemon ever.

Red raspberry - a bit sweeter to complement the rest.

Jared also swears by the root beer. No, really. Last time we were there he got just root beer. And then got a 2nd cup of it for the ride home. He doesn't mess around.

In short. If you are at the Jersey shore, sun burnt and crispy and happy after a day at the beach... you will be even happier if you proceed directly to Strollo's.

Avenue (Long Branch, NJ)

On Saturday Jared and I had one of those perfectly perfect dinners where all circumstances unite for a dining-experience-to-remember. The weather was perfect. The waves were lapping. The food was incredible. The drinks were plentiful.

I've been trying to drag Jared down to Long Branch to go to Avenue for years. Literally. We finally made the trek and man oh man it was worth it.

Avenue has a really stunning outdoor dining area, a cordoned-off section of the boardwalk so you're literally eating right over the beach. I'd have prefered a little less techno James-Bond-esque music pumping thru the speakers and a little more ocean waves, but other than that, perfection.

The inside of the restaurant is also gorgeous. All very white-washed, open and beachy (though, more French Riviera than Jersey Shore). The bar was packed, even at 5 o'clock, and there was a wedding taking place on the roof deck.

Avenue also has an exclusive beach club (see photo above). We decided we are really going to need to pay whatever exorbitant fee is involved so we can remain close to the incredibly good cocktails while reading on those extremely enticing round beds.

 

To start, the Avenue Salad. You should really eat this. Mixed greens, just a hint of very thinly shaved veggies (tomatoes, radishes, carrots, mushrooms, cucumbers), fennel, avocado, and grilled shrimp. In a very light, non-overwhelming lemony vinaigrette. In my mind, an example of The Perfect Salad.

Also had a very tasty mojito.

Jared did the 3 course prix fixe menu. 1st course, shrimp cocktail.

Here, you can also see Jared's drink of choice - The Summerhouse (Hendricks, St. Germaine, orange bitters).

A quote from when we returned home that night: "That drink is all I want to ever touch my lips again."

So. There's Jared's recommendation.

Since I had a pretty substantial salad, I didn't want to overdo it on the entree. I was delighted when I saw that the seafood ravioli I'd been lusting over was also available as a half portion. Perfect serving size. And SO. FREAKING. GOOD. I hate to even utter it, because you know where my loyalties lie, but this ravioli was 10x better than Due Mari's (I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry!). Due Mari's was a little bit chewier... you actually got chunks of shrimp... but Avenue's ravioli was a perfectly delectable combination of crabmeat, shrimp, scallops and ricotta. Sitting in some sort of light lemony sauce, with a heartier fresh tomato sauce piled in the center. Good gracious it was excellent.

Jared got a burger. Or perhaps, as you can see from the picture, fries with a side of burger. But let me tell you those are some goooood fries. Burger was also very good, but to quote from the man himself, the bun tasted like it came from a Little League game. Let's work on the bun Avenue - it's a burger's crowning glory!

For dessert, Jared selected the chocolate pot de creme from the prix fixe. Smooth and not too sweet, he was a happy camper.

I was extremely full at this point, but felt it was my duty to sample the dessert selection as well (read: cannot refuse sweets). On the waiter's recommendation I got the classic profiteroles, which were very good, but a bit boring. I think I should have been more adventurous and gone for the pistachio cake or chocolate and pistachio crepes.

For a memorable meal right on the water, you should go here. Soon.

Belmar Seafood Festival (Belmar, NJ)

This past weekend was the Belmar Seafood festival. The forecast said rain and t-storms all day, but happily the sun triumphed, making for a breezy, sunny, beautiful day to battle the hungry crowds and stuff yourself full of seafood.  The festival showcased food from over 50 vendors - with everything from whole lobsters to fried oreos to alligator bites. Tables were set up around Lake Como...a band jammed in the gazebo...and a fenced in Drinks Tent fenced in the booze-drinkers from the rest of the child-dominated crowd.

I got a mango madness smoothie. Pretty good, refreshing on a warm day... not quite worth $5.50, but hey, you're paying for the experience.

 

But the crab cake slider I got from Mud City Crab Cake Co.? Oh sweet mama.

These crab cakes are baked and grilled, not fried. So, no breading. No oily mess. No heartburn.

No. This is straight up hunks of crab.

Served on a perfect little roll (no wonder bread slackers here), with bacon, avocado, and jalapeno tartar sauce. Hell yes.

A friend tried the coconut shrimp - also incredible, with a sweet thai dipping sauce.

You can bet your booty I will be visiting the Mud City establishment at some point this summer.

Then, since I was completely unable to overcome my craving, I succombed to the fried Oreos.

Oh how I wish I had only eaten one.... even two....

Words of wisdom: 3 fried Oreos equals too many fried Oreos.

Is there nothing better than munching on fresh seafood and then wandering the boardwalk and looking out at this?

I think not.

*Apologies for the sad-ass cell phone photos. If I had remembered to bring a real camera, or if Verizon let me upgrade my old-school decrepit phone for a smartphone, they would be a wee bit less awful.