POSITIVE PUBLICITY by Camille Mola

The Jersey Shore. For some, it might evoke thoughts of the cast of MTV’s hit show. For others, it’s summers strolling a boardwalk with ice cream in hand, games of Gin rummy on the porch, or even causing a ruckus during Senior Week. All this to say, the Jersey Shore holds some sort of memory for nearly everyone.

It was a pleasure to return to one of the shore towns that I’ve only recently been acquainted with, which is Long Beach Island. You might recall some visits there in 2018 and 2019, and after a two-year hiatus, it was time to return. I headed back to the chic, beach, boutique hotel Daddy O with Fearless Restaurants for an overnight getaway.

After settling in and a relaxing few hours whilst indulging in Real Housewives of Beverly Hills reruns in a hotel bathrobe, it was time to get ready for dinner. Our group joined at The Rum Bar, an oasis in the back of the hotel. Now, I’m an OCNJ girl at heart, which (unfortunately) is a dry town. America’s Greatest Family Resort, amirite? So you can sense my envy visiting a place like LBI with Daddy O and it’s multiple outdoor bar areas, wishing that the town 40 minutes away had the same. I could see myself here now after a long day at the beach for a no shower happy hour.

We then walked up to the Rooftop Bar, where we were treated to a cocktail making class by Wine & Beverage Director Michele. Who knew I could concoct a solid mojito (with the necessary supervision of course)? I was sure to smack the mint leaves to get all of the full flavor into the cocktail.

It was then time to try out several of the starter items, each one better than the next.

And our feast didn’t stop there. After our final sips of our cocktails, we made our way to the restaurant for dinner.

Since it was a bit chilly that night, I was craving something warm and hearty, which led me to order the Flamin’ Hot Ramen.

NOW HEAR ME OUT. Yes, the ramen did have flain’ hot Cheetos, but that’s exactly what made this dish work. God, it was so good, I would order again and again. That’s one of the things I loved about Daddy O. The food is not your typical shore food – it’s elevated, different, and delicious. Chef Jeff is indeed a genius.

Part 2 of the trip will be coming in a separate post <3