Adopted By Pasta

This weekend, my eldest daughter Olivia and I got to spend some amazing Daddy/Daughter time doing what we love best — going to concerts. We headed to Sea.Hear.Now, a two-day music, surf, and art festival in Asbury Park, NJ. Set right on the beach, the event features two main stages (Sand and Surf), smaller acts on the Park Stage, plus an immersive art experience at the Danny Clinch Transparent Gallery Tent. The headliners this year? Hozier and Blink-182. And yes, they were incredible. On Saturday we were even joined by my always fun Sister-In-Law Angela!

But for us, the festival is about more than just the big names. It’s about discovering new music, finding bands we’ve never heard of, and walking away with something unexpected and unforgettable. When you buy a ticket to a regular concert, you pretty much know what you’re going to get — the setlist, the vibe, the lyrics. But at a festival like this, you stumble onto magic. Sometimes it’s a new favorite, sometimes it’s… well, not. But the hunt is half the fun.

💛 A New Band, A Proud Dad, and a Pasta Nickname

This year, that magical discovery came early Sunday on the Park Stage, where we always make it a point to catch the opening act. The first band onstage was Surfing for Daisy, and from the first notes, Olivia and I were completely hooked. We usually bounce between the two side stages to check out different vibes, but not this time. Their music — a kind of folk-rock blend reminiscent of The Lumineers or Mumford and Sons — pulled us in and didn’t let go. It was tight, emotional, joyful, and just… right.

Later, we found out they were playing a stripped-down set in the Danny Clinch Tent. Despite the steamy heat and a crowd of over 100 people packed into what felt like a sauna, we were drawn back in. And that’s where I met one of the band member’s dads — I think it was Dan, one of the guitarists and vocalists. It wasn’t love at first sight… he stuck a phone in front of me while filming, and I might’ve blurted out a sarcastic “Really?” (hey, it was hot!). But what happened next was one of those unexpected moments you carry with you.

We both laughed it off, apologized, and ended up having a truly great chat. I could see — no, feel — how proud he was of his son. People kept walking up to him to say it, but the truth is, he didn’t need to hear it. It was all over his face. As we parted ways, I thought to myself: this guy gets it. And maybe I get it too. More on that in a second.

Later that night, Olivia and I were walking the boardwalk when we saw Dan and Katie (the keyboardist) just casually walking around. We went up, told them how much we loved their set, and I recounted the story about Dan’s dad — how much pride radiated off him, how cool it was to witness. They were gracious, down-to-earth, and sincerely kind. I promised them a shout-out in this week’s blog, even if I hadn’t cooked a single thing all week. So here it is!

Oh — and apparently the lead guitarists nickname is “Noodles” because of the way he slithers across the stage like a piece of spaghetti. Can you think of a better connection for a pasta-themed blog? I can’t.

☕ Jolene (Not That Jolene… But Still Iconic)

Now let’s talk about coffee. The coffee sponsor for the event was Jolene Coffee, a new canned cold brew brand founded by none other than Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and his friend Shane Powers. Apparently, the idea was born from 20+ years of Thursday coffee hangouts between the two. (Side note: still holding out hope for a Dolly Parton collab with that name.)

They offer only two drinks: Jolene Black, a bold, unsweetened cold brew that hits like a jolt to the soul, and Jolene White, an oat milk latte sweetened with coconut sugar. Now, as a lifelong cream-and-Splenda guy, I never thought I’d enjoy anything with oat milk or coconut sugar. But Jolene White? It blew me away. Creamy. Coffee-forward. Slightly sweet. Perfectly balanced.

Sadly, it’s not yet available in New Jersey (except maybe Jersey City, but let’s be honest — they’d rather be the 6th borough of NYC than part of Jersey). So, Anthony, if you’re reading this: please get this into Somerset County, NJ ASAP!

A Festival Toast… With a Twist

And while we’re on the subject of festival refreshments — allow me to introduce you to my other weekend obsession: Cayman Jack Margaritas. They’re pre-mixed, canned, and surprisingly legit. I mean, they taste better than some bar margaritas I’ve had. Tart, sweet, boozy, refreshing. The perfect way to cool down after baking under the September sun for hours.

👨‍👧 Why It All Mattered

More than the bands, the drinks, or the boardwalk breezes — the best part of this weekend was Olivia. Watching her light up when discovering a new band. Seeing her fall in love with the music of my youth — Blink 182, 4 Non Blondes, ZZ Top, Sublime — the way I once connected to my own father’s music (Frank Sinatra, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller). It was this beautiful, full-circle moment of generational connection.

As I said to Dan’s dad:

“If you can’t be proud of your kids, who the hell can you be proud of?”

I carry that feeling every day for Olivia and Gabriella, who are both growing into amazing young women. This weekend was one I’ll be thinking about for a long time.

🎧 In Closing…

• Go listen to Surfing for Daisy
• Try Jolene Coffee if you can find it
• And if you’re heading to a music festival with your kids, go early, stay late, and soak it all in

That’s it for this week. I’ll be back in the kitchen soon — but this time, my recipe was a weekend full of music, coffee, margaritas, sunshine… and a whole lot of pride.