DINING TO BE REMEMBERED

by Michele Marks

Dining out can be a wonderful experience, but not one to be confused with ‘eating’ on the run from some fast food chain.

As a young girl, I can remember vacationing nearly every summer with my parents and younger sister in North Wildwood, New Jersey. It was a wonderful experience, always capped off with a simply divine dinner at their famous Zaberer’s Restaurant. The atmosphere was intoxicating; sublimely tanned families, parents lingering over drinks with umbrellas, and our younger set enjoying Shirley Temples and Roy Rogers drinks feeling ever so grown up. We were always on our best behavior because the environment called for it; linen napkins and table clothes, candlelight, soft music echoing throughout. We watched with wide-eyes as whole lobsters were brought to the table for inspection and consideration, everyone choosing their own specimen. I distinctly recall my father asking a waiter as he passed with the dessert cart, "What is that?" "Our famous strawberry shortcake, sir." It was enormous, the size of a woman’s hat. Needless to say, it became the dessert of choice every time we visited Zaberers.

Many years later, while on a business trip with my husband, I enjoyed a similar experience while dining out. We were in Honolulu, Hawaii, and the restaurant was Michele’s. I later learned it was a favorite haunt of Tom Selleck’s while filming his "Magnum P.I." series because of their excellent culinary fare. Situated water-side with a panoramic view of the beautiful blue Pacific Ocean, the Mahi Mahi was the most flavorful and succulent I have ever tasted and the chocolate mousse simply divine. Gazing out from our table, watching the sunset and the sailboats and yachts bobbing in the Pacific is a view that will remain forever etched in my mind.

Now, here’s what we at SSVA Net News want from you. Send us your favorite dining experiences; your favorite pizzeria, your favorite steak place, etc. We’d love to pass it on to our readers.  It can be a local establishment or or one anywhere in the world that made an impression on you.