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Easy to figure why Figs fits well in Cape May

CAPE MAY – Lisa and Bob Ransom, owners of the Ugly Mug on the mall here, like to take notice of trends around them when vacationing, whether it’s in Europe, the Caribbean or stateside. What’s working, what isn’t; what’s offered, what’s lacking. And, like so many professionals in the food business, they always wondered what they could offer in this Victorian resort to meet the needs of Cape residents and weekly or seasonal visitors.

“The demographic has changed so much in Cape May. We still have the B&B people, and the rooming house people,” said Bob, “but we also have the second homeowner who is looking for a quick fix, something to grab and go.”

Grab and go is the theme of the Ransoms’ new venture, Figs Café and Gourmet Market, a few doors down from the Mug.

“Lisa and I would go on vacation and rent a condo or a motel room, and we’d have this point in the day when we’d want a snack. A good bottle of wine with some cheese and pate, or some meat and cheese with some good quality crackers or bread,” he said, “and we realized no one offers that in Cape May. There is a cheese shop that recently opened in West Cape May, but for the most part, that’s all he does. We wanted to give people something to get them through the day, or offer them an alternative to a full meal. Maybe they just want to grab something to go, a sandwich, a cheese and pate plate, melted brie, a really flavorful panini, something to pick on during the lull in the day.”

Perfect for Cape May, to sit on a balcony or a porch and snack while sampling a Cape May Vineyard wine or some other recommendation that the ransoms can offer, and just let the rest of the world disappear.

“It was a no-brainer. This is what Cape May needs, a place to grab and go,” Bob said. “But it’s also a place where they can get homemade sauces and gravies, prepared dishes and other things to make their visit go smoother. When we were on vacation, we found places that made our stay less stressful, and isn’t that supposed to be the idea of vacationing? They can call us, tell us what they want, or they can call us and tell us, ‘We need something,’ and we’ll make suggestions for them, try to fit their needs. Cape May is all about sitting back and enjoying, whether it’s the beach, the view, the homes…whatever. (Figs) will make their stay more enjoyable and less anxious.”

The Ransoms have taken the small boutique and filled it with unusual, top-of-the-line merchandise, even with desserts prepared by a former pastry chef from Le Bec Fin.

“I usually have to tell the people who stop at the dessert display that there’s more to the store,” Bob laughed. “It’s like I have to say, ‘It’s okay, you can step away from those for awhile to see what else we have.’ ”

What they find is dried, imported pasta, specialty crackers and crostini from around the globe, more than 60 artisan cheeses and meats, like Serrano ham, soppresatta, prosciutto, mortadella, salami, pancetta, pepperoni and sweet and hot capicolla, and chicken, duck and country-style pate. They also find freshly made sandwiches, salads, soups, eggplant rollatini and pasta ready to take home and sample at one’s own pace.

“Cape May has become this strong second homeowner and condo town and it’s become a big takeout business town. We’re a smaller version of the Di Bruno Brothers (Philadelphia’s well-known Italian specialty shop) and Williams and Sonoma, with great olive oil from around the world with an exclusive offering from Italy, balsamic vinegars, barbecue sauces, higher end and hard-to-find Tuscan crackers with sea salt and rosemary that are unbelievably-good crackers, excellent cheeses and meats…anything anyone would want to either replace a big meal or to hold them in between meals.

“We’re also a town where people like to picnic, regardless of where they do it. I mean it could be in their rooms, but it could be on the promenade or right out front,” he added. “That’s the grab and go idea. Not everyone has the time or the patience to wait to be seated, wait for service, wait for the meal to be prepared…they just want to literally grab some food and go, and that’s what we give them. And it’s high-end food, you’re not going into the Acme or convenience store for this, this is food to savor, especially with a good bottle of wine.”

Sounds like a vacation day to me.

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