Maguire’s Restaurant
Ocean Beach, Fire Island
"Lobster taco." With the mere utterance of this magical phrase, birds began to sing and the sun pierces through even the thickest blanket of clouds over Fire Island beaches. Lobster taco. That was the special offering advertised outside Ocean Beach’s Maguire’s restaurant, a Fire Island standby. I imagined this taco in vivid detail as it was described: juicy hunks of succulent lobster slathered with goat cheese and fresh tomato salsa, lovingly wrapped in soft tortillas. Maguire’s was bustling at lunchtime, however, so my lobster taco was deferred – instead, my companion and I strolled through Ocean Beach and along Fire Island beaches to pass the time.
Returning around 3 pm, Maguire’s was still packed – but we were quickly seated on the outdoor deck. Maguire’s boasts a majestic view looking out over the Great South Bay. From our vantage point, we could watch the Fire Island ferry coming in, and then back again to Bay Shore’s Fire Island Ferry terminal. In addition to the expansive outdoor seating area, Maguire’s has a roomy interior that transforms into a dance club after 10 pm; a favorite spot of Fire Island rental tenants and locals alike.
“Lobster taco!” I exclaimed when our waiter arrived to take our order. "I am sorry, we just ran out of that,” he replied. “I haven’t yet taken it off the specials board." Crestfallen, I watched out waiter walk away and wipe the delectable sounding dish off the board. It was gone. What just happened? As it turned out, lobster was also the “Catch of the Day” . . . and therefore equally unavailable. More puzzling still, our waiter then recommended the lobster tail on the menu instead. What the heck? Eventually, we settled on the following “plan B” dishes, the lobster mystery unsolved:
Bubba’s Five Rum Punch ($10.25) Four rums too many? Nah. This Maguire’s creation layered rum upon rum, but poured over ice and served in a tall frosty glass, tasted as harmless as Hawaiian Punch. Do not fear Bubba’s Five Rum Punch . . . from the description I thought I’d be stumbling around Ocean Beach until the last Fire Island ferry back to the mainland, but after one I was feeling refreshed and in control.
Tuna “Pokie” Tartar ($13.50): Served on a long rectangular plate, this dish featured three medallion shaped molds of chopped tuna tartar, each topped with a deep-fried pot sticker triangle—creating an image reminiscent of tiny sailboats. Avocado scoops, passionfruit puree and wasabi vinaigrette were drizzled around the plate’s perimeter, completing the presentation. The light crispiness of the deep-fried pot stickers, buttery texture of the perfectly ripened avocado, and fresh tuna tartar mingled beautifully, while the two sauces added concentrated sweetness and zing. This appetizer foreshadowed the core culinary theme Maguire’s of Ocean Beach: outstanding ingredients are allowed to shine through, minimally altered.
Cold Cantaloupe Soup with Blue Claw Crab ($7.50). Surprisingly, of all the dishes, to me this soup de jour was the most successful. On a day where the mercury soared into the 90s, this cool, refreshing soup was just the thing. Puréed until almost smooth, the vibrantly colored cantaloupe soup was presented simply; topped with a handful of blue claw crab. To my companion, this combination achieved a balance of salty and sweet; to my palate however, the soup was more sweet-upon-sweet, with the crabmeat providing more of a textural than taste sensation. It would have been nice to have had the option of ordering this soup by the cup.
Curried Chicken Salad Wrap ($10): Another fine choice for a sweltering hot Fire Island day, this wrap combined chunks of white meat chicken with apples and raisins, all wrapped up together in a whole wheat flour tortilla. The wrap captured some authenticity of Indian fare flavor, while imparting the spin of casual Fire Island beach dining—achieving an interesting culinary harmony.
Orchietta Pasta (13.50): This savory dish appeared to be a Maguire’s original creation, and therefore was chosen as a substitute for the missing lobster taco. Tossed with sundried tomatoes, baby spinach, roast leeks, marinated portabella mushrooms, parmesan, wine reduction, and finished with black truffle butter, this delectable dish – while not a lobster taco – was nonetheless satisfying and perfectly executed. The orchietta pasta, resembling tiny little World War 1 soldier helmets (they’re supposed to look like tiny ears, but somehow that comparison is unappetizing to me), was cooked al dente. Presentation was lackluster on this dish; just a bowlful of pasta, nothing more.
Crème Brulee Cheesecake ($7): Rich, creamy, and drizzled with raspberry sauce, this decadent indulgence was the perfect post-note to the Maguire’s experience. Absent, however, was the sensation of crème brulee—perhaps its toasted custard goodness too closely matched the cheesecake and was lost in the mix.
I forgive Maguire’s for the lobster taco tease. Taking an optimistic view, it’s likely that the dish was so amazingly delicious that everyone—all the Fire Island rental tenants, locals, day trippers, Ocean Bay Park sojourners—ordered it and wiped it off the menu. Next time I return to Maguire’s, I may opt for their Taste of Fire Island special. Starting July 9th, Monday through Thursday, Maguire’s offers a package deal that includes round-trip Fire Island ferry fare and a 3-course dinner for $41 per person. And, next time I guarantee I will show up to Maguire’s earlier – for the early bird gets the lobster taco.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Father of the Fire Island Ferry
Father of the Fire Island Ferry
By Amy Armstrong
Edwin J. Mooney is a longtime Fire Island Ferry captain, a devoted family man, and the author of Ferries to Fire Island 1856 to 2003. While meeting with me to discuss his book and captaining career, Mr. Mooney sat comfortably in his desk chair in an office filled with pictures of the Long Island coast, Fire Island national seashore, Fire Island light house, and of course, the many Fire Island ferries that he has captained over the years. At the main Fire Island ferry terminal in Bay Shore, Mooney keeps his past captaining experience close; he has been President of Fire Island Ferries since 1971 and Chief Executive Officer since 2000. With 59 years at Fire Island Ferries, Mooney has created a lifetime out of his passion for the boats.
In 1948, right out of high school, Edwin Mooney moved to Bay Shore, Long Island, from New Jersey. At 18 years old he landed his first job at Fire Island Ferries as a deckhand. By making himself so valuable that the boss wouldn’t want to let him go, Mooney quickly earned respect at his new job. By the summer of 1948, Mooney had received his captain’s license—which he held onto for 58 years. As a captain, piloting the ferry became the biggest part of his life. With a camera always on hand, Mooney took in the beauty of the boats and Fire Island’s many communities, from Davis Park to Kismet. Of course, transporting countless Fire Island rental tenants, Fire Island share house lodgers, New York tourism sightseers, and longtime residents gave Mooney deep insight into the community of Fire Island beach. Mooney quickly knew he would be a Fire Island ferry captain for life. “I enjoyed the job so much, I would get off the boats by necessity rather than choice,” Mooney laughs. “My favorite memories are the simple things; the sunrises and sunsets on the water.” Mooney also enjoyed the challenges of every storm, ice warning, and foggy day. When asked if it was difficult to stay controlled and alert under such adverse conditions, Mooney replied “You have to be aware and concerned . . . but never fearful.”
Mr. Mooney used his experience and adventures as a captain for Fire Island Ferries to create a book that explores the past of the boats he always yearns to be near. Inspired by determination to preserve the history of Fire Island Ferries and detail his decades of experience, Mooney wrote Ferries To Fire Island 1856 to 2003. By collecting newspaper and magazine articles, interviewing other captains, and taking many photographs, Mooney compiled enough information to create a 154-page Fire Island Ferry history text. Filled with firsthand observations and stories from former Fire Island Ferry captains, engineers and deckhands, Ferries to Fire Island 1856 to 2003 allows its readers a chance to understand and explore the boats, people, and experiences of Fire Island’s past and present. Mooney dedicated his book to Captain Elmer Patterson, founder of most of the present ferry system to the west end of Fire Island. His dedication is a respectful nod to an overarching theme: more than transportation, the Fire Island Ferries are a family. For Mooney, the Fire Island family is more than figurative: Along with 16 other couples, Mooney met his mate at the ferries. As a new deckhand, he was introduced to Pat Brown, whose brother was also a deckhand alongside Mooney. A few minutes after he hit his head on a half-opened sliding hatch on a boat, a dazed Mooney was introduced to Pat – and new love bloomed. A few years later the two were married, and went on to have two sons (both of whom work for Fire Island Ferries) and a daughter. Mooney’s family continues to grow; he now also has nine grandchildren.
There is a strong sense of camaraderie among the family of Fire Island ferry workers; with over 1,000 employees, Fire Island Ferries sets a high standard that demands good people who are ready to work. “People who start at Fire Island ferries go on to become very successful in their chosen profession,” Mooney muses. “They can use skills they learn at the dock and on board for the rest of their lives.” Love of the Fire Island ferries lingers even long after workers move on. Past captains and deckhands frequently come back to Fire Island Ferries and work one or two days a week, simply because they miss the sense of family. Mooney still has the same devotion to his career that he had back in 1948. When things go wrong, he is the first to arrive keep the boats running. For all his years as captain, he has lived within a five-minute drive to the Fire Island ferry terminals, so he would be ready to take on any problem immediately. But after 58 years, Mooney decided to not renew his captain’s license. “It’s a young man’s job,” he explains. Full of great memories as a captain, Mr. Mooney has managed to move on, but will never stray far away from his beloved boats.
Copyright 2007 Fireisland.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
By Amy Armstrong
Edwin J. Mooney is a longtime Fire Island Ferry captain, a devoted family man, and the author of Ferries to Fire Island 1856 to 2003. While meeting with me to discuss his book and captaining career, Mr. Mooney sat comfortably in his desk chair in an office filled with pictures of the Long Island coast, Fire Island national seashore, Fire Island light house, and of course, the many Fire Island ferries that he has captained over the years. At the main Fire Island ferry terminal in Bay Shore, Mooney keeps his past captaining experience close; he has been President of Fire Island Ferries since 1971 and Chief Executive Officer since 2000. With 59 years at Fire Island Ferries, Mooney has created a lifetime out of his passion for the boats.
In 1948, right out of high school, Edwin Mooney moved to Bay Shore, Long Island, from New Jersey. At 18 years old he landed his first job at Fire Island Ferries as a deckhand. By making himself so valuable that the boss wouldn’t want to let him go, Mooney quickly earned respect at his new job. By the summer of 1948, Mooney had received his captain’s license—which he held onto for 58 years. As a captain, piloting the ferry became the biggest part of his life. With a camera always on hand, Mooney took in the beauty of the boats and Fire Island’s many communities, from Davis Park to Kismet. Of course, transporting countless Fire Island rental tenants, Fire Island share house lodgers, New York tourism sightseers, and longtime residents gave Mooney deep insight into the community of Fire Island beach. Mooney quickly knew he would be a Fire Island ferry captain for life. “I enjoyed the job so much, I would get off the boats by necessity rather than choice,” Mooney laughs. “My favorite memories are the simple things; the sunrises and sunsets on the water.” Mooney also enjoyed the challenges of every storm, ice warning, and foggy day. When asked if it was difficult to stay controlled and alert under such adverse conditions, Mooney replied “You have to be aware and concerned . . . but never fearful.”
Mr. Mooney used his experience and adventures as a captain for Fire Island Ferries to create a book that explores the past of the boats he always yearns to be near. Inspired by determination to preserve the history of Fire Island Ferries and detail his decades of experience, Mooney wrote Ferries To Fire Island 1856 to 2003. By collecting newspaper and magazine articles, interviewing other captains, and taking many photographs, Mooney compiled enough information to create a 154-page Fire Island Ferry history text. Filled with firsthand observations and stories from former Fire Island Ferry captains, engineers and deckhands, Ferries to Fire Island 1856 to 2003 allows its readers a chance to understand and explore the boats, people, and experiences of Fire Island’s past and present. Mooney dedicated his book to Captain Elmer Patterson, founder of most of the present ferry system to the west end of Fire Island. His dedication is a respectful nod to an overarching theme: more than transportation, the Fire Island Ferries are a family. For Mooney, the Fire Island family is more than figurative: Along with 16 other couples, Mooney met his mate at the ferries. As a new deckhand, he was introduced to Pat Brown, whose brother was also a deckhand alongside Mooney. A few minutes after he hit his head on a half-opened sliding hatch on a boat, a dazed Mooney was introduced to Pat – and new love bloomed. A few years later the two were married, and went on to have two sons (both of whom work for Fire Island Ferries) and a daughter. Mooney’s family continues to grow; he now also has nine grandchildren.
There is a strong sense of camaraderie among the family of Fire Island ferry workers; with over 1,000 employees, Fire Island Ferries sets a high standard that demands good people who are ready to work. “People who start at Fire Island ferries go on to become very successful in their chosen profession,” Mooney muses. “They can use skills they learn at the dock and on board for the rest of their lives.” Love of the Fire Island ferries lingers even long after workers move on. Past captains and deckhands frequently come back to Fire Island Ferries and work one or two days a week, simply because they miss the sense of family. Mooney still has the same devotion to his career that he had back in 1948. When things go wrong, he is the first to arrive keep the boats running. For all his years as captain, he has lived within a five-minute drive to the Fire Island ferry terminals, so he would be ready to take on any problem immediately. But after 58 years, Mooney decided to not renew his captain’s license. “It’s a young man’s job,” he explains. Full of great memories as a captain, Mr. Mooney has managed to move on, but will never stray far away from his beloved boats.
Copyright 2007 Fireisland.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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