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This county loves to have a good time, especially when fancy microbrews, dirty martinis or a shot of Jack are involved. Follow Freetime reporter Lauren Suit each week as she hops the local hot spots to drink in Cape May County’s social scene and connect with the people who shake it and serve it.
Juan Pablo’s Salsa Sunday gives brunch a Latin spin
Brunch is the ingenious blending of breakfast and lunch – a meal that often goes hand-in-hand with a cocktail to add some kick to the morning or serve as a “hair of the dog” cure for imbibing the night before.
Having a drink at brunch is nothing new, of course. But brunching at places where people go mainly to drink and have dinner is.
Juan Pablo’s Margarita Bar and Restaurant in Wildwood, known for its margaritas and as a late-night party spot, is exploring daylight drinks with its new Salsa Brunch.
Owner Jon Paxton said he got the idea during one of his trips to New York City.
“I was at a restaurant that served brunch like it was a nightclub event,” he said. “I wanted to create something where we could bring daytime entertainment and a brunch menu together.”
He took the traditional Sunday brunch and gave it a Latin twist.
“We made it for families, and made it our own,” Paxton said.
For the salsa, he brought in Latin dance instructor Angie Buccella, who is also a fitness instructor at Shore Fitness Center.
Originally from Costa Rica, Buccella has been a New Jersey resident for 11 years. She has been teaching Zumba for a year and a half at Shore Fitness.
On Sundays during brunch, she teaches salsa and encourages patrons to get out on the dance floor while they wait for their huevos rancheros and drinks.
The brunch drinks go beyond the Bloody Mary and the mimosa.
“This is Juan Pablo’s,” said Niki Bertotto, a Philadelphia resident who has been tending bar for 14 years. “We don’t do anything small here. Go big or go home.”
Bertotto was mixing a Grande Mimosa, which is similar to the typical champagne and orange juice mimosa, but made with orange juice, prosecco (a type of Italian sparkling wine) and Grand Marnier.
Prosecco is the popular bubbly beverage of the moment, and in Bertotto’s opinion it is a perfect companion to the orange juice and Grand Marnier.
His tip for anyone making a champagne cocktail at home is to wrap the top of the bottle in a dishcloth or cloth napkin.
“That way you won’t put out anyone’s eye when you are trying to be smooth and pop the cork,” he said.
The mimosa is a drink that is most popular with women, Bertotto said, but Bloody Marys are popular with most everyone.
In addition to the Bloody Mary, Juan Pablo’s has a Bloody Juan. It is made with tequila, chipotle pepper and the bar’s special recipe Bloody Mary mix.
Bertotto said it is important to shake vigorously to get all the components to mix. The drink is garnished with mojito salt with hints of smoked paprika and lime, and topped with a celery stalk, a lemon wedge and three olives.
The garnishes are not just for show, the bartender said. Each component adds flavor and luck.
“One olive in a drink is bad luck,” Bertotto said. “Three is the lucky number.”
He said even people who aren’t tequila drinkers love the Bloody Juan.
“The tequila complements the tomato base better,” Bertotto said.
Salsa Brunch is served 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays through September at Juan Pablo’s, located at Garfield and Pacific avenues in Wildwood.
Lauren Suit can be emailed at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or you can comment on this story by calling (609) 624-8900, ext 250.
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