I wasn’t a fan of Hell’s Kitchen in its previous seasons, but have been tracking the fifth season since the prize for the winning chef is a head chef job at the Borgata. Will the winner be opening a new restaurant? Perhaps at the spot vacated by Speechio? Time will tell.
At the moment, I don’t have much hope for the success of the winner. While the premise for Hell’s Kitchen is taking chefs with varying degrees of experience and making them better, there are no standouts to date. Frankly, it is hard to tell which chefs are doing the best job, although it is always clear which chefs are screwing up the most since the wrath of chef Gordon Ramsey, complete with bleeped out screaming, is the alleged appeal of the show. My impression is that these chefs would have their heads handed to them by any of the weakest chefs from Top Chef. I can’t imagine any of them running a kitchen successfully at the Borgata, although perhaps Paula, Carol or Andrea will show me more as the season progresses. I thought Ben might be the top chef on the program but he has slipped the last two episodes. Go here for the Hell’s Kitchen Web site. (Pictured is chef Ben)

Child and adolescent psychiatrist Raymond H. Schweibert III, mending the minds of troubled youth since the 1970s, and his son Raymond C. Schweibert, Atlantic City Weekly associate editor since May 2008, visited the venerable Dock’s Oyster House on Wednesday night, Feb. 25.
The two had dined at the distinguished Knife and Fork almost exactly one month previously, and the senior Ray, possessive of a highly discerning gastronomic palate, gave it “Ray-ve” reviews. Informed that the same family — the Doughertys — have owned another esteemed establishment a bit north on Atlantic Avenue, Dock’s Oyster House, he exclaimed, “Then it’s Dock’s we must try on my next visit!”

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There are so many superb food choices for the AC Restaurant Week that begins Sunday, March 1, I can’t make up my mind. Go here for AC Weekly’s cover story. My friend Sally and I can only afford to go to one restaurant and I’m in charge of narrowing down the choices. We are both leaning to a seafood/steakhouse choice since those are the exclusive joints we can’t normally afford. I mean, just $33.09 for appetizer, entrée and dessert. Some of the name restaurants that are on the top of my list are Ram’s Head, Seaview Resort (I’ve only been there to cover the LPGA); Phillips Seafood, the Knife & Fork, Dock’s Oyster House, Morton’s, The Palm, Max’s Steakhouse, Wellington’s, McCormick & Schmick’s, Inlet Restaurant, Atlantic City Country Club and the Inn at Sugar Hill.

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According to information released by a public relations officer for the North Wildwood Police Department (NWPD) a 21-year old former Miss North Wildwood pageant winner, her mother and a male suspect were charged Friday, Feb. 20, with using counterfeit money in at least two Wildwood-area stores in January. An investigation conducted by the NWPD and the U.S. Secret Service led to the arrest of 21-year-old Ashley Fuhrmeister (left), her mother Kelly Nowacky and John Laughlin of Belleplain. The three were arrested and charged with possession of forgery devices, forgery and conspiracy to commit forgery. Detectives said the three printed fake $50 bills and used them in a Wawa and at least one other store. Nowacky and Laughlin were both sent to the Cape May County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bail. Fuhrmeister was released on her own recognizance.
Fuhrmeister won the Miss North Wildwood pageant as a 19-year-old in 2007. Her platform, or campaign, was raising research funds for Huntington’s disease, a genetic neurological disorder for which there is currently no known cure, and which causes symptoms that can lead to fatality. Fuhrmeister was a member of the National Honor Society as a student at Wildwood High School.

President Obama’s first speech as president to the House of Representatives provided his usual excellent oratory. However, after watching how hard it was to pass his stimulus package, one wonders if there is any chance that “politics as usual” will be the catch phrase that defines his presidency rather than “yes we can.” He presented an ambitious overview of his goals, from the heath care issue that stymied the Clintons to the usual promise to find a way to save social security. It is an awfully big plate, heaped with pitfalls. The Republicans are all for cutting wasteful spending, as long as those cuts don’t have anything to do with defense. I love how the Republicans are blaming the Democrats for the economic mess, when their man just spent the last eight years in the White House. My sense is still that Obama will do his best to match his words with actions, but as we’ve seen in his first two months, it is not going to be easy. Go here for the entire speech. (Picture by Pete Souzo from the official White House Web site.)

Take a trip to the AC Convention Center starting Thursday and you’ll have the opportunity to see how America’s obsession with cars developed over the decades. Claiming to be the largest indoor show on the east coast, the Atlantic City Classic Car Show & Auction will be dazzling car aficionados Feb. 26-March 1.
This is not just a chance to look at the cars; the show features an auction Thursday at the Borgata at 7pm, as 50 “best of the best” go up for bidding. The bidder registration fee of $150 is required. A preview will be open to the public, 1-5pm, for a $10 at-the-door admission. The auction features automobiles valued at $100,000 to $1 million.
The show features more than 1,000 cars for sale, 600 in the auction and 500 more in car corrals and salons. At least 60,000 enthusiasts and collectors are expected to stop by this show presented by G. Potter King.
The event, in its 36th year, will run Thursday, 10am-5pm; Friday and Saturday, 8:30am-9pm; and Sunday, 9am-5pm. Admission is $20/adult; $5/child under 12; 25 percent discount/group of 20 or more. For online tickets, with continually updated photos of vehicles for sale, bidder pre-registration, the procedure for selling your classic car (15 years or older), hotel reservations and much more information, go here or call 856-573-6969.

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With spring on the horizon, it’s not too soon to start thinking about hitting the golf links again! And as an added incentive in this troubled economy, the new Tee Time Golf Pass is back for the 16th year, offering discounts at 459 different golf courses throughout New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland. For a one-time fee of $55, you can save $10 to $40 each time you play a round on participating courses.
“With the Tee Time Golf Pass, New Jersey golfers can play 288 rounds at 59 courses in New Jersey alone, and save $5,760 in green fees,” says Brian Hoey, executive director of Greater Atlantic City Golf Vacations.
Those who purchase the Tee Time Golf Pass will receive, as an added bonus, the 2009 Atlantic City Golf Pass, which features 40 plays at eight courses and usually sells for $40. The courses include Blue Heron Pines Golf Club, The Links at Brigantine Beach, Harbor Pines Golf Club, Mays Landing Golf and Country Club, Sand Barrens Golf Club, Seaview Marriott Resort & Spa, Shore Gate Golf Club and Twisted Dune Golf Club.
To purchase a 2009 Tee Time Golf Pass and receive the Atlantic City Golf Pass free of charge, click here or contact Brian Hoey at 449-7133.

Congrats to Atlantic City Weekly’s art director Kevin McCarty for taking home third place for his Summer Guide 2008 cover in the New Jersey Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest.

The Atlantic City Weekly team received six total awards in the contest, the results of which were released this afternoon.

A couple days before St. Patrick’s Day, the annual St. Baldrick’s fundraising event will take place at Stumpo’s in Somers Point. The mission of the national St. Baldrick’s Foundation is to raise money and awareness with regard to childhood cancer.

The Sunday, March 15, event at Stumpo’s already has 26 shavees signed up, raising more than $3,600 so far. If you’re interested in participating at this or any of the other local events (there’s one in at the Brigantine North Middle School on Friday, March 20, and one at Ventnor’s Middle School the same day) you can register online.

Click below for a little background on the foundation.

I spent the day before the Oscars celebrating Mardi Gras style at the Showboat.
First up was a short but lively parade around the perimeter of the gambling hall.
Next up was a stroll up to the Club Harlem Ballroom where Duff Goldman, the star of the Food TV network’s Ace of Cakes was the genial host of a Mardi Gras meal. Check out the AC Weekly video interview. After a nice meal of chicken and shrimp gumbo, some diners won prizes. The grand prize was the chance to have a cake designed by Goldman, which according to the announcement, normally costs between $2,000 and $3,000. Everybody else in the room got to taste what they didn’t win when dessert arrived, a tasty slice of Duff’s Mississippi Mud cake.
After a brief break, it was on to the Music Hall to enjoy the music of opening act the Crawdaddies, followed by AC Weekly’s cover boy, Dr. John and the Lower 911, and the Neville Brothers. The music was great, especially Aaron Neville’s Cajun-infused lead vocal on “Fever.” My only complaint is that the Music Hall was frigid. It was so cold, I made the long walk back to my car to get my overcoat, so I could enjoy the rest of the evening.
I got home right before Oscar night Sunday officially began at midnight.
Pictured are my shots of the parade, Duff Goldman, his lovely Mardi Gras-themed cake, Dr. John and Aaron Neville.