Today, we at Downashore bring you our interview with Jen A. Miller, shore blogger and author of a new guide book to the (south) Jersey Shore, published as part of the Great Desinations series. Jen answers pressing questions, like best pizza, best beach and, yo, Jen how come LBI is not included?
Here's a picture of Jen.

Here's a picture of Jen's dog:

(And feel free to leave any other questions in the comments section. Jen will reply.)

DOWNASHORE: Hey Jen, congrats on the book. First question about my home turf of Downbeach. Custard's not Mento's? Really? Was this a tough call?

JEN: It was, as was picking which ice cream and pizza shops I'd feature throughout the book. I gained 10 pounds while working on the book to prove I did the research

DOWNASHORE: Can you now definitively say which shore town has the best pizza?

JEN: Well, I can say that my research confirmed Mack & Mancos is my favorite pizza (a decision that had nothing to do with the fact that they were open during the nor'easter last week!) But things like favorite pizza and favorite ice cream can be so personal and are usually tied to memories you have of going down the shore as a kid. So I included as many of those places as I could (and made to leave out those who had pizza that, well, stunk). For example, I really like Kohr Bros. frozen custard, but someone who grew up with Springer's in Stone Harbor would have a problem with that.

DOWNASHORE: Right, it's amazing how many shore memories revolve around food. I thought that was very sweet the way you wrote about your memories of
crabbing and eating crab with your grandfather. My own relatives from New York see a chicken parm and it makes them think of the beach, because of Jo Jo's in Ventnor. I think they think chicken parm is a new species of fish.

JEN: You're right -- not many people would associate "big pasta dinner" with "Jersey shore," but I do because that's what we would do with those crabs we caught: cook 'em up in an Italian feast. I also associate campfires with the shore because of my time spent at Avalon Campground -- again, not a memory to some people, but it is to me. The great thing about doing a Jersey Shore guide with this publisher is that they let me write about those kinds of things. You might not find such personal memories in another series.

DOWNASHORE: Yes, I really liked that in the book. The campgrounds are a part of the Jersey shore many people never see. And also, the trailer parks, especially that one in Strathmere, a trailer park with an ocean view. Only in Jersey? So along the way, did you discover new towns or places that you didn't know about before, or develop any new appreciation for particular places?

JEN: I never knew about Smithville, which is outside of Atlantic City. It's an interesting story -- how two people brought old houses there and arranged them into an outdoor shopping district. I developed a new appreciation for Cape May, which, as I kid, I labeled as "boring." My father was married there last weekend, and I could see my siblings have the same realization that there's a lot of fun things to do where before, if our parents took us to Cape May, we'd whine because we thought Ocean City or Wildwood was more fun (as any kid would probably think).

DOWNASHORE: The Cape May Jazz Festival, which takes place twice a year, is an amazing and under-appreciated happening. It never disappoints. The shore in some ways is such a moving target, businesses come and go. Was it hard to keep up?

JEN: I don't think a lot of people realize what a great jazz scene there is in Cape May -- heck, there's live jazz every Saturday night in the Boiler Room at Congress Hall. And it's GOOD.

It was very hard to keep up. I made changes to the manuscript the day before it went to press because I happened to be in Ocean City and happened to see that a bakery I wrote about had closed. There's a nice big photograph of a shop in Stone Harbor that closed in early 2008, after the book had been printed. There's only so much you can do. That's one of the reasons I started downtheshorewithjen.blogspot.com. It's a way to write about what's happening now.

DOWNASHORE: Given all the hubub about best beach, what's your conclusion? Do you have a favorite? And, more importantly, where did you get the best
coffee?

JEN: Best beach is another one of those personal things, and they're all so different, which is why I'm glad there's different categories in that survey. My favorite beach is in Avalon around 39th street. It's not too crowded with plenty of sand without having too much like you'll find at some spots in Wildwood. I also love Sunset Beach in Cape May for the obvious reason. If you've never watched a sunset there, it's a must do.

Best coffee? Same place I get it at home: Wawa!

DOWNASHORE: I part company with you on Wawa, Jen. I'm partial to the Fourth Street Cafe in Ocean City, even though it's on First Street now. The place in
Sea Isle's good too, Coffee.dot.comedy. Avalon coffee holds its own. So what's next, Jen, north Jersey beaches? And can you settle the whole Long Beach Island, north or south, controversy?

JEN: I can see your point -- Avalon Coffee's got good stuff, too, but I'm a complete Wawa girl!

I'm not sure what's next. I have a few possible book projects in the works, but I'm not sure which one will get the greenlight yet. I've been spending some time at the North Jersey shore, and I like it, but I don't think I have the same drive to do an entire guide book on it because, well, it's a lot of work. The South Jersey Shore is my favorite place in the world, which is one of the reasons why I've been able to read and write and read some more about the area -- not sure if I'd feel the same way above the Atlantic City Expressway.

The LBI question is an excellent one, and it's one I talk about in "New Jersey: The Movie." I consider it North Jersey for a few reasons. One, some people call it a 'poor man's Hamptons.' Two, it's above that Atlantic City Expressway, which I think is what marks North from South Jersey beaches. Historically, people from the Philadelphia area went to towns Atlantic City and south because that's where the rail lines were. Even though most of us drive to the shore (despite $4/gallon gas prices) we still go down instead of across the state. There are a lot more Philadelphia/South Jersey people in LBI now, but I'd still label it central or north.

DOWNASHORE: LBI is ours Jen. Though my New York cousins might disagree. Poor man's Hamptons? To us, it's a rich man's Avalon. Anyway, thanks Jen, and
good luck with the book. We'll see you at the beach.

JEN: Thanks so much Amy! That LBI question is one that comes up ALL THE TIME. Thanks for letting me state my case :-)