Chef Lucas Manteca and his wife Deanna Ebner have run several popular restaurants in Stone Harbor, including the the popular Quahog’s Seafood Shack in Stone Harbor that opened in 2008. The pair recently opened La Porteña, a “boutique steakhouse.”

There really is nothing like a Jersey tomato, and August is certainly garden tomato time here on the island. After a couple months of tending and waiting, the bounty this year is impressive, so I think a fun happy hour that puts tomatoes front and center is in order.

Dinner in your bathing suit, barefoot on the deck, farmstand produce that barely makes it to the fridge … Summer eating is casual, but the ingredients themselves aren’t always so easy. High-acid tomatoes, sweet grilled peaches, briny shellfish – these ingredients don’t always play nicely with whatever is already open.

When you’re living on island time, cooking can feel like a chore, so why not follow the ocean breeze to a local favorite instead? After a day spent soaking up the sun and sea, treating yourself to a delicious meal out is the ultimate way to relax. Great food, scenic views, and no cleanup, that’s what vacation is all about!

Memorial Day weekend marks more than just a three-day break – it’s the unofficial start of summer, a time to gather with friends and family, fire up the grill, and honor those who served in our nation’s military.

If you’ve wandered the vineyards of Tuscany, sipped prosecco in the Veneto, or decanted Barolo in a candlelit cellar, you already know Italy offers far more than just wine – it offers terroir with soul.