Chef, Neil Elsohn

"So what is it about Neil Elsohn that makes him such a good chef? Scratch that. A great chef, the best of them all. I am not sure and I am not going to ask him, because I don’t think he will tell me. I know this much. Exceptional.

You should go. Maybe you should ask him, and maybe he will tell you.

What makes a seemingly good quality steak soar in flavor? What makes a salad worthy of one of those national magazines with the glossy color photos? What makes a simple order of mussels in red sauce so good that I remember it all week through such mundane tasks as paying bills, commiserating with family, and floating in the pool on a wacky noodle?

Ask Neil. Maybe he will tell you. But I doubt it. Neil Elsohn is irascible, and impatient at times, as are many artists. I can think of other things to say about him that define his talent, and the things that have affected him. He owned Water’s Edge restaurant in Cape May for two decades, and gained the respect of critics throughout the region. All of them listed Water’s Edge as among the best restaurants in the region, and some said it was the best of all.

The chef, who refers to himself as "Cheffy," battled challenges that all of us never hope to deal with. He survived a dangerous and radical cancer operation and has been cancer free. But his illness affected him in other ways, contributing to losses of his restaurant and his home, and led to other personal battles, much of which he described on our radio show in an appearance last year. He also consults for other restaurants.

I have met many great chefs, and have pondered the human ingredients that contribute to greatness. Neil is a good and kind human being who is the best pure chef I have ever met." - Ed Hitzel from Hitzel Magazine

Chef Neil Elsohn creates Gertrudes, a casual, yet sophisticated, restaurant. Committed to being as “green” as possible, using as many renewable resources aswe can: organic, locally grown & harvested vegetables along with herbs, meats, cheeses and fish. Loving the smaller, more controllable kitchen where "Cheffy" can utilize his years of experience, and at the same time indulge and pamper Gertrude's customers with a very personal style of cooking, while offering the kind of quality you would expect from a chef referred to as “the godfather of cape may cuisine”. Karen Fullerton-Elsohn, design guru and earth momma joins in the creation of an exquisite dining experience.