 After growing up in Connecticut, I went to school at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. In college, I did work at Cornell Catering, which gave me an 'in' with the Dougherty restaurant family. The first time I visited Frank in Atlantic City, they put me to work bartending at a wedding Dock’s was catering. I spent a year working in Washington DC before attending law school at the University of Pennsylvania. I began my career as an attorney at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson in Washington and New York, and also worked at Latham & Watkins in New York before moving to New Jersey in 1999. I am currently an attorney at Fox Rothschild in Atlantic City. Fox Rothschild has graciously allowed me to take some time off the help my husband re-open the Knife & Fork.
How long have you lived in Atlantic City?
We moved to Margate from New York City in 1999.
Tell us about your family?
My husband is Frank Dougherty (of Doc's Oyster House Fame), I have 2
children: Harry 5 ½ and Megan 3. I love that they are growing up in the restaurants. They only problem is that they have very expensive tastes for kids. They like to eat lobster and crab cakes.
What do like most about Atlantic City?
I love the small town/big city feel. We have the entertainment, world class restaurants, cultural events, hotels and (soon) shopping of any major east coast city, but it still has a small town feel - and everyone knows each other.
Describe your perfect day in Atlantic City.
My perfect day in Atlantic City would start with a long bike ride on the Boardwalk, from Ventnor to Gardner’s Basin, followed by a day at the beach with the kids. Then I would hand them over to the babysitter so I could hit the Walk for some shopping, followed by a great dinner out (my favorite restaurants are of course Dock’s Oyster House and the Knife & Fork). Ideally we would follow that up with music and dancing at one of the new hotspots. In reality, however, we’re always working!
What originally brought you to AC?
My husband, Frank Dougherty, whose family owns Dock’s Oyster House. He wanted to get back in the family business and I could not resist living a block from the beach.
Where do you see the city in 10 years?
The city just keeps getting better and better. The new hotels, casinos, restaurants, shopping and other attractions allow the city to expand its traditional tourist base. There is plenty of room to keep growing. Atlantic City will be one of the top tourist destinations in the country as well as a great place to live and work. And the Knife & Fork and Dock’s will still be the best local restaurants.
What is your part in getting there?
Dock’s ability to survive and thrive in Atlantic City, I believe, has inspired other serious restaurants to come into the city, forever changing the dining landscape. Dock’s success certainly inspired Frank and I to take on the Knife & Fork project, and we are thrilled with the support we have received from the community and our customers. I think everyone is happy we are committed to maintaining these two Atlantic City dining landmarks.
Tell us about your favorite AC memory.
Opening night at the Knife & Fork. After investing so much of ourselves in restoring the Knife & Fork, it was great to see people’s reaction when they came in for the first time and saw how truly beautiful the restaurant is now. The place was packed, everyone loved the food, and we all had a fantastic time.
You've got two hours to kill on the boardwalk, what do you do?
Shop, have a drink at one of the outdoor cafes, and people watch. You can see some interesting things on the boardwalk.
Why should I go to the Knife and Fork?
Great food, great wines, and a friendly atmosphere all in a beautiful setting with exceptional service. What more could you ask for?
Is there something that I will only find there and not other AC hot spots?
So much of the history from Atlantic City’s former heyday has been lost along the way, it is fascinating to walk into a building that has been here since the beginning. The place has such a history you can almost feel it. We are proud to have been able to save and restore this unique building and offer one of the best dining experiences in Atlantic City today. A lot of the new restaurants in the city are chains, 'great chains', but the Knife &
Fork is among the few locally owned and operated restaurants.
What three words describe Atlantic City best?
On a roll.
Dealer shows 17 you've got a pair of 8s - how do you play them?
I look at the dealer in sheer terror, having exceeded my limited knowledge of black jack, take my chips, and go buy a new pair of shoes.
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