Summer days and nights may be coming to an end, but we will let you in on a little secret … fall is one of the best times to visit the Jersey Shore. With several restaurants adapting to the current outdoor-dining allowances issued by the state, there are still plenty of days and nights to head out and enjoy a delicious meal.

Among the many fallouts of this year’s pandemic lockdown are spikes in alcohol demand and a supply-chain shortage of aluminum cans. These are affecting the ability of many breweries – both small and large alike – to package their beloved suds for retail sale, and it is changing the look of liquor store shelves across the nation.

As we come to the end of this unusual summer, it’s hard to know what to expect for the fall. As for the weather, meteorologists are calling for continued temperatures above normal through October, which is great for the outdoor dining establishments and for those of us who enjoying grilling and eating outdoors.

As summer draws to a close, we all feel the familiar anticipation of a new season, but something very unfamiliar tempers the usual excitement this year. The transition, normally bittersweet, seems a little more bitter. A pandemic will do that. Those who leave the beach to return elsewhere, as well as those of us who stay, all wonder what to expect.

1. Where did you receive your training?
I worked nine years for an iron chef, Jose Garces.

2. Where do you get your inspiration from, when creating a new dish?
My inspiration comes from the love I have for food and creating a dish that truly comes from the heart.