Many times I have mentioned how important family is to us. One of the best parts of the journey of our has been reconnecting with family members that we haven’t seen for a while because they lived so far from us. But it also means that we have distanced ourselves, physically, from family that used to live near us. So when we knew we’d be in New Jersey we made plans to meet up with my cousin Don and his wife Susan at Seasons 52 Cherry Hill NJ.

The Traveling Locavores with my cousin Don on right.

Don’s wife Susan and moi enjoying our visit to Seasons 52 Cherry Hill NJ

Don and Susan have been snowbirds, wintering in South Florida and spending summers in Warrington PA. We chose to meet at Seasons 52 Cherry Hill NJ because it was about the same distance for each of us to drive. Plus you are practically guaranteed a good meal. Although Steve and I are not really big fans of chain restaurants, there are a few exceptions. And Seasons 52 is one of those exceptions.

Seasons 52 Cherry Hill NJ

Truly seasonal food

There’s a certain freedom that comes from knowing that every choice you make at Seasons 52 is one you’ll feel good about. Their seasonal menus feature ingredients at their peak of freshness, oak-fire grilled or brick oven roasted (without a fryer in sight) to be naturally lighter and more flavorful. In addition they offer 52 wines by the glass. Their goal is to assure that you’ll always feel free to enjoy every bite, every sip, every moment!

The freshest ingredients possible

Every ingredient is truly the freshest that it can be. Fruits and vegetables will never see the inside of a freezer. Whole produce arrives in their kitchens 100% fresh and is kept that way until their chefs prepare them for you.

They take seasonality very seriously. The menu at Seasons 52 features the most popular fruits and vegetables of the season, micro-seasonal foods that might only be available for a few weeks, and limited Place to Plate offerings from specific parts of the country. It always a revelation to see what’s available each month of the year because the menu is constantly changing.

What we ate

I started my meal with a fabulous Spinach Salad with bright, juicy, sweet/tart strawberries, toasted almond slices, crumbled Feta and a light fresh vinaigrette. Steve had buttery Coconut Shrimp that tasted tropical and yummy.

For our entrées Steve chose the Wood Grilled Shrimp and Grits which tasted far more decadent than a dish that rang in at only 540 calories. The shrimp had that wonderful smokiness that grilling on hardwood imparts. And the grits were creamy and luscious.

I selected the Wood Grilled Boneless Rainbow Trout which was deliciously accompanied by asparagus spears and tiny roasted potatoes. The lemony sauce with it tasted tart and fresh with the trout as well as the garnish. And at only 470 calories I felt like I was treating myself very well.

The portions were ample and filled us up beyond having room for dessert. Our sweet kisses and hugs goodbye were all the dessert that we needed!

9/11 Memorial

We dined at Seasons 52 Cherry Hill NJ with my cousins, on September 11, 2021. And after a glorious meal and even better conversation we drove back to Port Republic. We were about 3/4 of the way back to Atlantic Blueberry RV Park when Steve noticed that the Hammonton Fire Station had a 9/11 Memorial. It was a drive through exhibition and literally moved us to tears.

The final element of the memorial was a bagpiper in full Scottish regalia playing a soulful dirge. He was standing in front of a pair of fire trucks. And as if that wasn’t awe inspiring enough, there were two beacons of blue light that went all the way to heaven. To us those beacons represented the twin towers. But it also felt like a stairway to heaven for all of those first responders and innocent victims who lost their lives in that horrific terrorist attack. It was somber and beautiful all at the same time.

We drove the remaining distance to Ladybug in utter silence.