Try a dry rub the next time you barbecue. Dry rubs are a blend of dry spices and herbs with salt and sugar added. I prefer dark brown sugar since it contains molasses which provides depth of flavor.

Barbecue has its roots in the Caribbean islands and was raised to an art form in the American South. With these origins, it is no surprise that this cooking technique is slow, lengthy and flavorful. Like a Dixie drawl from a southern belle, good barbecue lingers in the air. Barbecue is an event for all the senses. It can be smelled before it is tasted. As you get closer to the smoker you can hear the sizzle of dripping fat like rain on a hot tin roof. A peak inside reveals food that has honored its source and your salivary glands kick into overdrive. The taste would make Rhett Butler give a damn.

The first component of good barbecue is the heat source. Wood Charcoal is used, not briquettes and definitely not propane that is grilling. The goal in barbecue is to cook over coals NOT flame. Barbecuing utilizes less tender cuts of meat primarily shoulder, leg or the ribs. These are worked muscles that are layered with collagen. Collagen is a connective tissue that breaks down in moist heat yielding that rich juicy flavor that makes the less tender cuts the best kept secret in the butcher’s shop. Since we need moist heat this means we are going to cook in a covered or closed environment. A tight fitting lid is a necessity.

The second component is seasoning. Unlike grilling, which utilizes marinades, barbecuing uses dry or wet rubs for primary flavor. A secondary layer is introduced during cooking via wet mops or sauces. Dry rubs are a blend of dry spices and herbs with salt and sugar added. I prefer dark brown sugar since it contains molasses which provides depth of flavor. Paprika gives color and complexity to the rub. Hungarian and Spanish varieties have different qualities. Experiment and discover which you prefer. Dried garlic and onion comes in two varieties – either granulated or powder. Both work well. However, I think the powdered varieties have a processed taste. Spice and heat are introduced in the form of chili powders or dried peppers.

Barbecuing uses dry or wet rubs for primary flavor. A secondary layer is introduced during cooking via wet mops or sauces.

Ancho chili powder has a more robust flavor than commercial chili powders. The Chipotle, smoked jalapeño, is available in powdered form. Be judicious in your use. It packs a lot of heat and the smokiness, combined with wood chips, may be too heavy for some palates. The balance of flavor in dry rubs is brought about with dried herbs. Basil and Mexican oregano add distinct floral flavors, as do rosemary and thyme. Sage works well with pork and poultry, but a little goes a long way.

Wet rubs more often involve fresh herbs and fruit juices and/or oil. The mixture has the consistency of pesto. Wet rubs can also be used in grilling. Cilantro, parsley and basil make good bases for wet rubs. Fragrant components such as ginger, garlic, onions and shallots, blended or pureed, add zestiness to wet rubs. Lime juice works best with fish or chicken.

Orange and apple juices pair well with pork. Fresh jalapeños or habenero peppers bring the heat so use sparingly. The heat in the peppers is concentrated in the white ribs of the seed pod not in the seeds themselves. Remove this part to down play the inferno effect. No home remedy such as drinking milk, chewing bread or crying loudly like a schoolgirl lessens the pain to some folks that capsaicin, the compound in oil that contains the heat, brings. Know your audiences’ heat tolerance when adding peppers.

Wet and dry rubs allow us to personalize our barbecued dishes. Every man with a spatula and tongs has a secret rub or sauce in the summertime. Sauces and wet mops are often used in conjunction with dry rubs. Wet mops in old Southern smokehouses were mixed in buckets and applied to the sides of ribs or shoulders of pork. The purpose is to add moisture into the meat and prevent the outside from getting too crispy. Sauces vary regionally and according to personal taste. I use a tomato base with large doses of molasses and cider vinegar. Honey and mustard is also a favored component.

Barbecue lends itself to personalizing and improvisation in its preparation. Understanding the nature of the components and the cooking process will allow you to create your own dry and wet rubs and sauces. Here are some recipes to get you started. Amber Bock Beer®-Glazed Brisket, Red Curry Short Ribs and Orange and Lavender Wet-Rubbed Chicken.

Amber Bock Beer® Brisket

• 1 8-pound brisket, trimmed
• 2 white onions, julienned
• 8 garlic cloves, crushed
• 2 shiner Bock beers
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 cup corn oil
• ¼ cup paprika
• 3 tbsp black pepper
• 3 tbsp chili powder
• 3 jalapeños minced
• 3 tbsp salt

Mix all ingredients. Marinate brisket 24 hours. Bake covered in 250-degree oven for 5 or 6 hours on low grill. Baste frequently with beer mop.

Beer Mop

• 1 12-ounce beer
• ½ cup molasses
• 2 tbsp crushed red chili flakes
• ½ cup cider vinegar

Mix well. Brush on brisket

Red Curry Short Ribs

• 8 each beef short ribs
• 3 tbsp red curry paste
• ¼ cup dark sweet soy sauce
• 3 green onions, minced
• 3 tbsp sesame oil
• 2 tbsp sesame seed
• 1 cup rice vinegar
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp minced ginger
• 2 tbsp garlic
• 3 hot chili peppers, minced
• 2 tbsp minced lemongrass

Combine all ingredients. Marinate ribs for 24 hours. Cook on low grill for 3 hours, basting with marinade.

Lavender Orange Chicken

• 1 large chicken, split
• 2 oranges, juiced and zested
• 3 tbsp lavender
• ½ cup orange juice
• 1 cup chopped parsley
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 4 cloves minced garlic
• ¼ cup dark sweet soy
• 2 bunches scallions minced
• 2 tsp cracked black pepper
• Salt

Combine all ingredients. Marinate overnight. Cook on medium grill 35-40 minutes until done. Baste frequently with marinade.

A special treat is in store for visitors and locals this Sunday. For those who are curious about Cape May’s U.S. Coast Guard Training Base, are veterans, or just love a military parade, the Sunset Parade at the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center will take place Sunday August 1 at 7:40 p.m. Sunset Parades are colorful, inspiring military ceremonies featuring the Recruit Band, Drill Team, marching troops, cannon fire, and a low level fly over by a CG helicopter. They take place at sunset on the Training Center’s parade grounds, are open to the general public, and there is not admission charge. Children are welcome to attend, but should be accompanied by an adult. If the parade is canceled due to inclement weather a message will be left on the phone number (609) 898-6362. You can also call this number the day of the parade to get updated information.

For the athletically inclined, there are two kayaking tours being offered this week, one off island and one on the island. On Wednesday, July 28   from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Nature Center of Cape May is sponsoring a Belleplain Pine Barrens Ecology Kayak Tour. Experience the serene beauty of one of Belleplain Forest’s placid, naturally tea-colored lakes. Be prepared for sightings of eagles, warblers, beavers and rare carnivorous plants. Learn why the UN has included the Pine Barrens as part of the International Biosphere Reserve. All equipment, instruction, guide services, water and snacks are provided. Space is limited; reservations are required. Cost: $60 single kayak, $95 double kayak. Tours depart from the Nature Center.

And if that wasn’t enough, you can rest up and then start all over again at  5:30 p.m. that same evening when the Sunset Kayak Tour leaves from the Cove Beach and heads to Higbee’s Beach. Also sponsored by the Nature Center, this kayak tour is designed for adventurous paddlers. Paddle the gentle ocean swells around Cape May Point and into Delaware Bay. Skilled Aqua Trails guides ensure a safe experience and point out dolphins, sea birds and other marine life. All equipment, instruction and guide services are provided. Space limited, reserve ASAP. Meets at NCCM. Cost: $50 single kayak, $90 double kayak. For information on both tours call  609-898-8848 for more information.

In the world of drama, East Lynne Theatre Company opens the curtain on a new production Wednesday, July 28 at 8:30 p.m. – The Dictator by Richard Harding Davis.  Ethel Barrymore challenged Davis, a famous journalist, to write a play, and he composed one of the funniest comedies ELTC has ever produced! Brooke Travers flees NYC by jumping aboard a ship, which lands him in Puerto Banos, in Central America. Believing he could be arrested at any moment, he assumes different names, and even swaps identities with the American Consul, Colonel Bowie. Who’s in charge of this Banana Republic is anyone’s guess in this
large-cast 1904 Broadway hit that ELTC first produced in 2001. The show runs through September 4. Visit eastlynnetheater.org for more information and tickets.

On Wednesday morning at 11 a.m., Cape May Stage will mount a special presentation at the Robert Shackleton Theater. Magic at the Cape: A Performance for Children is a one-hour magical journey for children ages 5 and above and features not one, but two magicians! The show is enchanting, entertaining, educational, hilarious, and of course- magical! Join magicians Johnny Mass and Michael Walsh inside the beautiful Robert Shackleton Playhouse in Cape May this summer and experience a magical morning with your family! Tickets $15. Kids $8. Sponsored by Cape May Stage in association with the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities (MAC). For more information or to make Reservations, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

Cape May offers many free events which are fun for the family. The city has expanded its Summer Concerts in Rotary Park this summer and the line up this week looks like this – Wednesday, July 28 the Cape Harmonaires Barbershop Singers; Saturday, July 31 the John Walter Cape Community Band; and Sunday, August 1 the Joe Dale Band. All concerts are free and open to the public and begin at 8 p.m.

Another free event – Movies on the Beach – takes place on Thursdays, down on the beachfront behind Convention Hall. Bring your favorite beach blanket and/or chair to enjoy a CLASSIC Movie at Dusk. Pre-movie activities for children begin at 7:30 p.m. The movie, which this week is the classic Alice in Wonderland begins at 8:30 p.m.

Not free, but nevertheless a nice evening out is Dinner and a Movie at Congress Hall on Wednesday night. A family dinner will be served in the Grand Ballroom with dessert and a movie on a large screen on the lawn afterwards! There will be games such as “bean bag toss,” hoola hoops and more from 7 to 8 p.m. for the kids to play and a dessert buffet on the Veranda for your sweet tooth! Whether you join us for the whole ticket – or just dessert and the movie – it’s a great night for families. Dinner, dessert buffet & the movie are $29.95 plus tax and gratuity for adults and $12.95 for children over the age of 3 years. To enjoy just the dessert and the movie: $10 per person – adults and children same price. The movie July 28 is Willy Wonka and the Chococlate Factory.

If you or your kids are looking for something different to do try one, some or all of these events:

Sunday & Wednesdays

Every Wednesday and Sunday evening at 6:30 p.m., Aleathea’s Restaurant is magically transformed into Aleathea’s Supper Club Cabaret, as Cape May’s own Doug Williams entertains with an incredibly entertaining hour of classic Broadway favorites. Complete dinner & show package $30 per person (plus tax and gratuity). Arrive early and enjoy a cocktail on Aleathea’s Porch. At 6:30p.m., as you’re seated for dinner, request your favorite melodies which Doug Williams will play especially for you during dinner & dessert. Enjoy a delicious meal, from soup to nuts including your choice of tempting desserts! Before the show, order your favorite cocktail. Then at 8:45 p.m., it’s “Curtain Up, Light the Light!” as you are dazzled with a full hour of Broadway’s Best, presented in the style of a Manhattan Cabaret. Reservations required. Call 609-884-5555 ext. 226.

Monday

Hurry up and get on board the Salt Marsh Safari heading out from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. See Cape May’s beautiful coastal wetlands and wildlife aboard the 40-foot Skimmer. Fun and educational for all ages! To pre-register and get directions, call 609.884.3100. Cost: $26 adults, $15 children.

On Monday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. running through August 30, the Skimmer offers a Marine Life Discovery Cruise. Come aboard a voyage of discovery into the Cape’s greatest wilderness, the Atlantic coastal tidal marshes, aboard the 40-foot tour boat the Skimmer. Watch as a nature center naturalist pulls a trawl net through the water and then examine the wriggling catch. For reservations and directions, call the Skimmer at 609.884.3100. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Cost: $26 adults, $15 children.

Monday-Friday

The Center for Community Arts is offering Summer Art Camps in Cape May and Lower Township for all ages. Kids Arts Camp for ages 5 – 9 and Youth Art Programs (YAP) for kids ages 10-14 will be held at the Cape May Elementary School, 921 Lafayette Street, Cape May from 9 a.m. to Noon, Monday through Friday from June 28 to August 6. Kids Art Camp is held in Cape May only. YAP programs are also offered at the Lower Township Recreation Center.
CCA’s summer youth arts camps are composed of week-long projects with a new theme each week. The cost per week is $90 with a 4 week package of $325 for the Cape May camps. The Lower Township camp is FREE to residents. Call CCA at 609-884-7525 for more information, or to register your child for arts camp.

The Nature Center of Cape May’s summer children’s programs run through August 20. Classes are held Monday to Friday. Children ages 2 to 16 are welcome. To register for classes, please call the Nature Center at: 609-898-8848, or visit the center’s website and download the 2010 Summer Kids Program at www.njaudubon.org/centers/nccm.

Tuesday

This is a great cruise for children, the Skimmer sets sail on Tuesdays throughout the summer offering Crabbing 101, a hands-on crabbing experience and demonstration. Tour times vary with the tide, so you need to be a bit flexible here. Bonus – you can keep any legal size crab you catch! All equipment and materials supplied. Pre-register and get directions by calling 609.884.3100. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Cost: $28 adults, $17 children.

You know summer has officially arrived when the West Cape May Farmer’s Market opens up for business. Every Tuesday, from 3-7:30 p.m. at the Backyard Park behind Borough Hall in West Cape May farmers and other vendors gather. Community Concerts begin at 5:30. Open only on Tuesdays, the market will run a full 10 weeks this year, ending August 31. Featuring not only fresh produce and herbs, but, among others, purveyors of antiques, live art demonstrations, fresh coffee, barbecue.

Tuesday & Thursday

Encounter an incredible diversity of marine life as you pull a 40-foot seine net through the shallows of Cape May Harbor on the Nature Center of Cape May’s Harbor Safari. A great family outing! Walk-ins welcome; no pre-registration necessary. Cost: $10 adults, $5 children ages 3-12, under 3 free. Sets sail at 10:30 a.m. Call the Nature Center of Cape May at 609-898-8848 for more information.

Wednesday

Beginning Wednesday, June 30 Bloody Mary’s Bar and Grill is hosting a Trivia Competition from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Test your knowledge and have some midweek fun! Ed McDonough asks the challenging questions. Come alone or bring a team! Weekly prizes with grand prize awarded on 9/1. (Happy Hour discounts on drinks and appetizers 5-7PM) The contest runs through September 1. For information call 609.884.7000 888.285.2746 or visit http://www.BloodyMarysBarandGrill.com

Join the folks at Congress Hall every Wednesday this summer for Dinner and a Movie. Family dinner will be served in the Grand Ballroom with dessert and a movie on a large screen on the lawn afterwards! There will be games such as “bean bag toss”, hoola hoops and more from 7 to 8 p.m. for the kids to play and a dessert buffet on the Veranda for your sweet tooth! Whether you join us for the whole ticket – or just dessert and the movie – it’s a great night for families. Dinner, dessert buffet & the movie are $29.95 plus tax and gratuity for adults and $12.95 for children over the age of 3 years. To enjoy just the dessert and the movie: $10 per person – adults and children same price. The movie July 28 is Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Cycle the Southern Cape with Associate Naturalists Fred Beyer and Phil Zimmerman for a leisurely 12-mile tour of Cape Island’s beautiful natural areas. Bring helmet, water, sunscreen, and bike starting from the Nature Center of Cape May, Delaware Avenue at 9:30 a.m.. Call for list of local bike rental merchants. Pre-registration required. Cost: members $8 adults, $5 children ages 3 to 12; nonmembers $10 adults, $7 children ages 3 to 12; under 3 free.

Create art inspired by nature in this family-oriented art class with local artist/teacher Janet Payne. A different artistic adventure will be offered each week.  Classes are held from 6 – 7:30 p.m. and continue through Aug.18. Cost: $10 members, $15 nonmembers. All materials provided. Call the Nature Center at 609-898-8848 for more information.

Thursday

Tales of Victorians continues on Thursdays. July 29 storytellers will visit  the Inn of Cape May on Ocean Street at 4 p.m. The Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company’s popular “Tales of the Victorians” returns for its twenty-first year! Listen to stories by famous American authors, like O. Henry and Louisa May Alcott, all for only $10.00. Children are always welcome, and, like other East Lynne events, ages 12 and under are free.

Movies at the Beach is absolutely one of the best events the city does in conjunction with the chamber of Commerce. Films begin at 8 p.m. The film presentation July 29 is the film classic Alice in Wonderland. Located behind Convention Hall on Beach Avenue.

Terry O’Brien and his crew will recreate all of the fun that Terry-oke fans had last season in the Boiler Room on Thursday nights! It promises to be the classiest night of Karaoke you’ll ever see or hear. Kiddie’oke is earlier in the evening, but at 9:30, it’s just for those over 21. If you’ve never tried Karaoke before, but always wanted to–this is the Karaoke for you!

Saturday

Beach Boot Camp: Join former Marine Capt. Scott Lance for a rousing hour of running, jumping, pushing, pulling, sweating and laughs that’ll get your blood pumping and juices flowing again! Workouts target – Core Fitness, Functional Strength, Endurance, and are scientifically designed to restore the “play all day” stamina of your youth. Starts: Saturday, June 26th! Where: Congress St. Beach When: 7-8 a.m. every Saturday (Rain or Shine!) Fee: $10 per class – pay Scott at location. www.heartadventurefitness.com

Stage

In the world of theater Cape May Stage presents Romance/Romance Tuesday-Sunday through August 21.  Curtain at 8 p.m. Visit capemaystage.com for more information and tickets. This Tony-nominated play, by Barry Harman and Keith Herrmann, pairs two distinctive one-acts to create an entertaining musical that explores the highs and lows of love.

Over at East Lynne Theater Company The Dictator by Richard Harding Davis opened July 28 and will run through September 4.  Ethel Barrymore challenged Davis, a famous journalist, to write a play, and he composed one of the funniest comedies ELTC has ever produced! Brooke Travers flees NYC by jumping aboard a ship, which lands him in Puerto Banos, in Central America. Believing he could be arrested at any moment, he assumes different names, and even swaps identities with the American Consul, Colonel Bowie. Who’s in charge of this Banana Republic is anyone’s guess. Showtime 8:30 p.m.  Please visit eastlynnetheater.org for more information and tickets.

Tales of Victorians continues on Thursdays. On July 22nd storytellers will visit the Victorian Lace Inn, 901 Stockton Avenue  at 4 p.m. The Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company’s popular “Tales of the Victorians” returns for its twenty-first year! Listen to stories by famous American authors, like O. Henry and Louisa May Alcott, all for only $10.00. Children are always welcome, and, like other East Lynne events, ages 12 and under are free.

Nightlife

Cape May’s nightlife is in full gear. Check out CapeMay.com’s Events Page for the latest in entertainment

Until next week, Happy Trails.

Topping the new council’s agenda? What to do about Convention Hall? Bids came in over the $10.5 million bond ordinance to the tune of $3.15 million. Council met in closed session Tuesday, July 6 for three hours following a workshop meeting and agreed to hold a special meeting Friday, July 8 to introduce an ordinance authorizing the $3.15 million bond. A public hearing on the matter will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 20 in a regular council session.

Photo courtesy of the Cape Queen out of South Jersey Marina. Jason Vitolo (left), Frank Yandrisevits (right).

Tuna? We’ve got the tuna, yellows, blues, even a big eye. Out of South Jersey Marina in the past couple of days we’ve had the Raging Bull, Hooked Up II and Foray, bringing in everything from a 20lb dolphin, to a 47lb yellow fin tuna. Heaviest catch in the past week was the 202lb Big eye that was caught on the Gold Rush with Captain Avena. The Easy Rider released 2 white marlin; Super Crew also released 1 white marlin. These fish are reported to be biting strong in the Wilmington. The marlin bite has been reported to be quite descent for this time of year with some action reported in the Spencer.

As for the inshore fishing, the Cape May reef and the Old Grounds have been the destination for good flounder and black sea bass fishing. This week on Murders Row, the Cape Queen, Common Sense and the Big Game all had a fair amount of flounder and black sea bass, reporting that fishing was going well. The Cape Queen went out today (July4th) just SW of Cape May 20 miles offshore bringing in 2 dolphin.