February 23rd, 2010
I found myself at the BWI Airport in Baltimore, Maryland. We all say it is Baltimore, but, really the right address for the airport is Linthicum, Maryland. We arrived with more than enough time, so now, what? Please, I don’t want to eat at the airport. Even though there are airports known to have very good eateries, I really have not found any.
So, it was nice to see that right by the Southwest ticket counters there was a new restaurant. It is actually called DuClaw Brewing Co. It looked lively and definitely a visual attraction. It had a good menu but, unfortunately, since my husband has to eat gluten free, most of the items had gluten. So, why bother? Did not try it but it is worth mentioning.
We went right through Security. I guess not too many people were flying on Sunday. BWI looked clean, bright and organized.
After going through Security we found ourselves on Concourse B so we kept walking and found out a colorful restaurant called Zona Mexicana. Zona Mexicana is very clean and modern. It has a full bar with flat screen t.v.s arround the restaurant and plenty of seating; bar tables or benches. The music was pretty good too.
If you are there early you can have their American Platter breakfast which is scrambled eggs, ranchero potatoes, bacon with fresh fruit and wheat toast but if you want to kick it up a notch you can have it Mexicana style, topping it with fresh salsa and queso fresco. Queso fresco is found in every Mexican restaurant recently. Breakfast is served from 6:00 a.m. until 10:30 p.m.
My husband and I had the Border Burger. It was very good, made to order and a very large portion. You can see it on the picture. I ordered a side salad that came in a taco shell. Originally, my husband wanted to have the tacos. The shell is made out of corn so a person with a gluten allergy can have them. But, the problem was that Zona Mexicana makes their own shells and they are fried in the same oil in which other foods are fried in. This is what usually restaurants do, and it is something you have to have in mind when ordering.
 Border Burger Even though our Concourse was A, which was on the other side, I am glad we went and checked this new restaurant. I am passing it along to you since this is an international airport and you might find yourselves in it one of these days.
Our waiter, Dave was very nice and I asked him about the restaurant since I had never heard of it. Apparently there is a connection with DuClaw Brewing Co.; the owners are looking for another place within the airport to put another eatery, so stay tuned.
Who would have thought that maybe these restaurants could become as popular as restaurants in other airports throughout the U.S. as well as in major cities train stations?
Zona Mexicana has fast and friendly service while you wait anxiously to board. Kid-friendly, as well.
It is open from Sundays to Fridays from 5 a.m. until 10 p.m. and on Saturdays from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m. Their telephone is 410-850-4846.
A smooth flight and cooler weather in Florida. Nos vemos luego… Talk to you later…
February 22nd, 2010
Bored and don’t know what to make this week for dinner? Sometimes it is such a chore. Believe me, I like to cook but plenty of times I really don’t make up my mind until the last minute. Some people don’t give it another thought; they figure it is just another meal. But to me it is the experience of making something from scratch; not opening another package loaded with salt, fat and “seasonings”. I like to see what I am chopping. I like to smell my food cooking and the combinations of foods on my plate.
Keeping it simple is the best way to go about it. So, the following recipes are easy and I think you might like them.
Baked Chicken Breasts With Parmesan Garlic Crust
1 cup breadcrums, fresh are the best
1/2 cup grated Parmesan Cheese (grate it yourself, it is better)
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
pepper to taste
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 6-7 oz. each
1/4 cup minced fresh basil
1/4 mayonnaise
lemon wedges for serving
Adjust oven rack to upper middle position. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Combine first 6 ingredients in a bowl.
Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Place in a 9″ x 13″ baking dish.
Combine mayonnaise and basil in a small bowl and spread evenly over chicken.
Sprinkle breadcrumb mixture over mayonnaise, pressing lightly.
Bake for about 1/2 hour until the crust gets a nice brown color. Since you are cooking on a higher heat, please make sure you check them so they don’t burn.
Serve it with a nice salad. This recipe is good at any time of the year.
Shrimp and Tomato Chowder
2 stalks celery, chopped (1 cup)
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 13.5 oz. cans diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano, undrained
8 ouces medium and peeled, cooked shrimp
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup water
ground pepper
slivered fresh basil
In a large saucepan, cook celery and onion in hot oil until just tender.
Stir in tomatoes; heat through.
Add shrimp, cream and water. Cook over medium heat until hot.
Season to taste with pepper.
Ladle chowder into bowls; garnish with basil.
Makes 2 to 4 four servings depending how hungry you are or if you are serving as a main meal. You can easily double this recipe.
Note: If you can get foccacia wedges from the grocery store or an Italian market, it would really complement the chowder.
Smithfield Ham and Potato Casserole
8 large potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/8″ thick
1 lb. sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 cup mayonnaise
2 cups diced Smithfield ham
1 small onion, minced
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Cook the potatoes in slightly salted (optional) water until barely tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and put in a large bowl.
Add remaining ingredients and mix together.
Place in a well greased 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes. Watch closely so the cheese does not burn. You may choose to cover the dish for the last 15 minutes of baking.
Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Makies 8 to 10 servings.
Again, this is one of those dishes you might want to adjust to your tasting. You may even substitute the Smithfield ham but that its up to you.
You can use this dish as a side dish or for breakfast with fresh fruit. It could be served at dinner time with fresh asparagus and a salad.
Make it your own and enjoy….See you soon…
February 20th, 2010
Short Notice, but if you don’t know what to do this week-end, following are a few events that might peak your interest:
Rehoboth Beach
Saturday, February 20th – Merchant’s Attic And Garage Sale. It is one of the beaches largest indoor garage sales which help local merchants clean out their inventories and people like you an I can clean out our attics. It is a free admission, but donations are appreciated. Location: Rehoboth Beach Convention Center, located right on Rehoboth Avenue.
Sunday, February 21st – Confucius is celebrating with their Annual Chinese New Year Buffet. Back on 12/21/09 I posted a blog on this Chinese restaurant that is located on 57 Wilmington Ave. E-mail xiongztat@comcast.net and website is www.confuciusrehobothbeach.com. If you would like to see my post just go to Archives on the left hand side of this blog and click on the month of December and scroll to the date.
The buffet will start at 12:00 Noon until 9:30 p.m. Price $30 and since it is a pretty popular event, reservations are recommended. There are so many things on the menu like the Crispy Alaskan Halibut, Salt and Pepper Shrimp, Cumin Beef, General Tso’s Chicken, Fried Dumplings, Singapore Curry Rice Noodles and many more.
Lewes - Next Saturday
Saturday, February 27th – 9th Annual Autism Ball & Auction For Hope sponsored by the Lower Delaware Autism Foundation, 1800 Bay Ave., Lewes, DE 19958. Tel. 302-644-3410. Website is www.ldaf.com.
This event will be held at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center, right on Rehoboth Ave. and it will have a Mardi Gras Theme. It will be catered by Nage, there will be silent and live auctions and the music will be by Big City Band. $125.00 per ticket. For ticket information please call 302-644-3410. You are able to purchase tickets on-line, so please visit the above mentioned website.
Ocean City, Maryland
Saturday, February 20th and Sunday, February 21st – It is the 4th Annual Ocean City Car Show. Saturday’s previewing starts at 9 a.m. with live auction starting at 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Suday’s previewing starts at 10 a.m. and the auction starts at 12 Noon until 4 p.m.
This car show will be held at the Ocean City Convention Center located on 40th Street and Coastal Highway. For more information please call Meredith Hennen at 410-798-6304. Better yet, visit the website www.occollectorscars.com.
This year they will be bringing back again the Car Corral; direct selling between sellers and buyers. Check the info. on the website.
This is the premiere indoor collector’s car auction, featuring hot rods, classics, muscle cars and more, crossing the auction block.
There is a list of the cars available for auction on the website but here is a sample:
1934 Ford Coupe – 350 LT1, 9 inch Ford Rear
1971 Morris Minor Traveller – Very rare wood station wagon
1957 For Thunderbird
2000 Chevy Corvette Convertible
Have a great week-end!! Thank God the snow is melting slowly. Talk to you later…..
February 16th, 2010
It does not matter where you find yourselves, either at the beaches, the mountains or on the bayou, but you have to admit that Carnival is that special time of the year where a celebration is needed. And, Fat Tuesday is definitely a celebration.
Mardi Gras or Carnival are the celebrations that start on or just after the Epiphany and end on Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras is the French for Fat Tuesday; it is the last night of eating richer and fatty foods before fasting during Lent. In English the name is Shrove Tuesday; confession before Lent begins.
In celebration of Fat Tuesday, my menu tonight will be Shrimp Creole with white rice and spinach salad.
My family loves this recipe. I first had it at my old neighbors’ house in Bethany Beach many years ago, the Rooneys. She had been married to a Cajun and had perfected this type of cooking, with heat and strong flavors being the main ingredients.
My Shrimp recipe is from the book by Chef Paul Prudhomme’s Louisiana Kitchen. He elevated Louisiana cooking to an international level. He opened his K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen restaurant in the late 70’s. The recipe serves 10 but you can adjusted to half that amount, but I never do since leftovers are so good. I think the flavor just gets better. The other thing you might want to do is substitute some of the fats for leaner fats like olive oil; don’t change the butter, it really adds to it by enriching the flavor of the dish.
Shrimp Creole (a lot of ingredients but don’t be intimidated; it will be easy)
3 1/2 lbs. medium shrimp (I buy the easy to peel shrimp)
2 1/2 cups Basic Shrimp Stock (see below)
1/4 cup chicken, fat, pork lard or beef fat (substitute olive oil)
2 1/2 cups finely chopped onions
1 3/4 cup finely chopped celery
1 1/2 cups finely chopped green bell peppers
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 bay leaf
2 teaspoons salt (you can adjust this portion)
1 1/2 teaspoons white pepper
1 teaspoon ground red pepper (preferably cayenne)
3/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons Tabasco sauce
1 tablespoon dried thyme leaves
1 1/2 teaspoons dried sweet basil leaves
3 cups finely chopped tomatoes (this time of the year use canned)
1 1/2 cups tomato sauce
2 teaspoons sugar
For an easy and flavorful stock: Peel the shrimp and put shells in a large saucepan. Set shrimp aside. Add enough chicken broth to make 2 1/2 cups. Cut an onion in half and add it without peeling it. Add a few celery ribs and a bay leaf. Cover and cook on medium heat for about 15 minutes then turn it off and let it just sit there while you prepare the rest of the recipe. Drain, reserve stock when ready to use.
Heat the fat or other fat over high heat. I really substitute that fat in the recipe for olive oil and then as an extra I add a little bit of sausage and let it crumbled up in the olive oil. Probaly just about 2 tablespoons.
Once the fat is heated, then add 1 cup of the onions and cook over high heat for about 3 minutes, stirring frequently. The onions should take a rich brown color, but don’t burn them.
Add the remaining onions, the celelry, bell peppers and butter. Cook over medium high heat until the pepper and the celery start to get tender. Stir.
Then, add garlic, bay leaf, salt and peppers; stir well.
Now, add the Tabasco, thyme, basil and 1/2 cup of the stock. Cook over medium heat. What you are trying to do is marry these seasonings and at the same have the veggies brown further.
Add the tomatoes, then turn the burner to low and cook for 10 minutes, stirring and scrapping the bottom.
Add tomato sauce and stir for a few minutes and then add the remaining 2 cups of stock and sugar. Continue to simmer for about 10 minutes.
The perfect way to cook the shrimp for this dish is to add them now, turn the heat off and let the shrimp stay there until plump and pink. It will take only about 5 to 10 minutes because the sauce is so hot.
Serve it over rice and a side spinach salad.
Note: This dish is perfect for a party, granting you don’t have a guest with a seafood allergy. You can assemble it up to the point before adding the shrimp. Just put it in the refrigerator and the next day heat it and then add the shrimp just as I mentioned above.
This recipe is not hard. You just have to chop and add here and there. Once you make it and adjust it to your taste, you will love it. You want less heat then do so by adjusting the peppers.
Happy Fat Tuesday!!! Talk to you later…..
February 12th, 2010
If you are ready to get out and shop, the Tanger Outlets in Rehoboth Beach are having great sales this week-end. You can visit their website http://tangeroutlet.com/rehobothbeach/coupons and you will find what each store is offering, plus printable coupons.
Some of the sales that caught my eye were:
Aeropostale – Donate your old jeans, any brand or size, including children until 2/14, and you will receive 25% off a new pair for each one you bring. Donations will go to local shelters in the area. In addition, Aeropostale will be sending 100,000 of the donated jeans to those in need in Haiti.
Ann Taylor – Take an additional 40% off your entire purchase until 2/16. There are other sales going on in the store.
Banana Republic – Print coupon until 2/15. Up to 40% off.
Bass – Buy one and get 2 free on selected items until 2/17.
Brooks Brothers – From 2/12 until 2/22 receive 70% off all Fall and Winter Clearance and 25% off all basic new arrivals.
Izod – Until 2/16 they will be having a triple discount sale.
J. Crew will be having a tremendous sale until 2/15.
Kate Spade will let you take 40% off the entire purchase until 2/15.
There are hundreds of stores so go on the site and check it out.
Lewes
Friday, 2/12 and Saturday 2/13 – Venetian Carnival Vernissage featuring the paintings of Anita Peghini-Raber. This event will take place at Preshy’s Restaurant located at Midway Shopping Center, 18585 Coastal Highway, #14. Tel. is 302-645-8300.
A Vernissage is the start of an art exhibition. It means, varnishing in French. This is so because at official exhibitions, artists used to give a finishing touch to their works by varnishing them.
This event is the opening celebration with Italian music, wine and food.
A Finissage, with a Carnival Costume Contest for the best 3 characters, will be held on Monday, February 15th from 5 to 7 p.m. An event for all ages.
A Finissage is the ceremonial ending of art exhibitions.
The info. on Vernissage and Finissage was taken from http:/en-wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernissage.
Rehoboth Beach
Rehoboth Beach Mardi Gras – Laissez le bon temps rouler!! Let the Good times Roll!! – February 12 until February 16th – 10 Restaurants are getting ready for New Orleans cuisine, Cajun Cooking and Bourbon St. beverages. There will be Mardi Gras parties, live music and an abundance of beads and more beads.
The participating restaurants are: Dogfish Head Brewery, Dos Locos, Finbar’s, Hobos, Irish Eyes, Mariachi Rest., Pig + Fish Rest. Company, Purple Parrot Grill, Porcini House, Rehoboth Ale House. For more info. on this event and addresses of the restaurants, please call 302-227-2772 or visit http://www.downtownrehoboth.com/downtown_happenings/gumboinformation.htm.
There will be no Gumbo Cook-Off this year, but don’t worry because there will be plenty of the new Orleans signature breakfast called beignets, Po’Boys, Cajun Etouffe and much more Creole food.
Saturday, 2/13 – Second Saturdays Destination Art Walk – Visit downtown Rehoboth art galleries from 2 – 5 p.m. There will be receptions and much more. Please visit www.mosaicrehoboth.com. Mosaic was founded in 2008 to bring recognition and support to the emerging art scene in Rehoboth Beach.
Ocean City, Maryland
Friday 2/12 through Sunday, 2/14 – 27th Annual Seaside Boat Show – This event is held at the Ocean City Convention Center, 4001 Coastal Highway. See over 300 boats, including sail, pontoon, inshore and offshore, wave runners, boat accessories, arts and crafts, insurance and finance reps. Everything you could possibly want to find out regarding “boating life”.
Important – Please note – Proceeds go to the area youth programs known as the “Boat Show that works for Children”. Admission fee. Friday 11 – 7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Near Delray Beach, Florida, in the town of Boyton Beach
Art-Sea Living Fine Art and Trunk Show – Location 1628 South Federal Highway, Boyton Beach. Saturday, February 13th from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sunday, February 14th from 12 noon until 5 p.m. – Stop by and meet local artists, watch beautiful demonstrations, enjoy a glass of wine and artistic conversation. Lots of original art, prints, one of a kind pieces and jewelry. This is their only Fine Art Trunk Show of the Season.
Please call 561-737-2600 for more information or visit their website www.art-sealiving.com. Art-Sea Living offers Fine Art & Fun Art Classes and also a Kid’s Spring Art Camp from 3/23-3/26 and 3/30-4/2.
Delray Beach, Florida
Through Sunday, 2/14 is the 11th Annual Garlic Festival at Old School Square Entertainment Pavilion on 51 N. Swinton. Garlic chefs’ competitions, entertainment and more. $12 per day admission.
Saturday, 2/13 – Green Market – Every Saturday from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. at SE 4th Ave., just south of Atlantic. Local produce and baked goods.
Saturday, 2/13 – and Sunday 2/14 – Artists in the Park from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the Veterans Park located at Atlantic Ave. and the Intracoastal. This event is sponsored by the Delray Beach Art League.
Saturday, 2/13 – Exhibit – Seashells – Sandoway House located on 142 South Ocean Blvd., a couple of blocks south of Atlantic Ave. on A1A.
It is great to see that events and activities will be going on as we dig out from all the storms we have had here at the Delaware and Maryland Beaches.
Have a great week-end!!! Talk to you later….
February 11th, 2010
Comcast was here even though they could not promise me anything this morning. I was so nice; not upset or frustrated that they decided to make my stop the last one of their route. They really looked tired.
I have pictures of the different storms we have had but, you know what? I am finished with the snow. It is getting old. I am looking forward to an Easter Pet Parade in Delray, green grass, clear beaches, the awakening of Spring and Summer. So, the following pictures are a reminder of better days to come:
 Dog Days of Summer  Spring!!  Fresh Seeds  Easter!!  Figs Growing!!  Paradise Island  Puerto Rico  Nantucket  Pacific Highway, California  Malibu, California  Captiva, Florida - The whitest sand  Beautiful Rehoboth Beach
The perfect pairings with Spring and Summer could be:
Rum Collins
2 ounces white Puerto Rican rum
1 fresh lime, halved
1 tsp. sugar
Soda Water
Squeeze half a lime and drop into a highball glass. Add and dissolve sugar.
Add ice cubes and rum.
Stir and fill with soda water.
Rum Martini
2 ounces white Puerto Rican Rum
Dash of dry vermouth (to taste)
1 fresh lime peel
small white onion or stuffed olive
In a cocktail shaker, stir rum and vermouth with ice and pour.
Add twist of lime peel and onion or olive.
This can also be served on-the-rocks.
Rum Sour
1 1/2 ounces dark Puerto Rican rum
1 ounce fresh lime juice
1 tsp. sugar
Orange slice
Maraschino cherry
In a cocktail shaker, shake rum, lime juice and sugar with ice cubes.
Strain into sour glass and garnish with orange slice and cherry.
Cruzan Swizzle
1 bottle (4/5 quart) St. Croix rum
4 ounces fresh lime juice
1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) sugar
1/2 tsp. Angostura bitters
3 cups crushed ice
Pour all ingredients in a large pitcher and mix well with swizzle stick, until pitcher frosts.
Serve, unstrained, in a tall glass
It serves 6.
Note: Dark Puerto Rican rum can be used instead of St. Croix rum.
A Salsa Cruda should carry you over until dinner:
Salsa Cruda
1/2 large garlic clove
1 large jalapeno pepper
1/4 medium onion
1/4 cup of cilantro leaves, chopped
1 1/4 cups unpeeled ripe tomatoes, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/4 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup black beans
Peel garlic and chop. Cut pepper in half and remove seeds and ribs, then chop.
Peel onion and also cut into small pieces.
Mix all ingredients. Serve at room temperature or if made ahead, just place in the refrigerator.
Note: You can also chop the vegetables in a food processor.
It will make about 2 cups. Serve it with your favorite chips, on top of a baked potato, over a salad, add chopped avocados. Really, whatever makes you happy.
Remember to enjoy it and make it your own.
See you soon…..
February 9th, 2010
My last post; it seems I wrote it weeks ago, but it has only been 4 days. That’s a long time when you have been posting every day. I don’t know what happened, but I am still not connected to the internet. My neighbors are, though, and I do have cable.
Oh well, Comcast should be coming tomorrow, but we are getting another snowstorm tonight so I will have to see. I am presently using the computer at the Internet Cafe inside JavaByte Cafe and Mailbiz Express located at 4590 Highway One (Coastal Highway), Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.
Before I even started my blog, I was the type of person that would check my e-mail every so often. Progressively, I checked it all the time; almost like I thought I would be missing something if I didn’t. Not having been able to get on line these past few days have been like going through withdrawal. I have had feelings of frustration, and to top it all I have been housebound. Finally, we got plowed but then with a state of emergency in place, there was no reason to go anywhere.
What is Cabin Fever? It is a term used for claustrophobia caused by being confined due to the elements or by something else. It was first recorded in 1918 but I found out in Wikipedia that it might have been used as early as 1906. Some of the symptons which I actually had, are restlessness, irritability (my husband can attest to that one), laughter, and excessive sleeping. Back in 1820 there was a reference to a fever, common in Ireland, from eating watery potatoes during wet years. I can tell you that my problems are not going to be eating watery potatoes, but will be from eating the whole refrigerator.
My dog, Addy; do you know how hard is to take a small dog outside to do his or her thing when the snow is taller than the dog? Poor Addy, yesterday she disappeared in the snow and I went to get her and I completely lost my shoe. It is somewhere in my yard. No wonder she runs the other way when I start putting my jacket and boots on.
I think is time for a little, visualization? I remember that years ago in a Weight Watchers class they talked about this technique, where you close your eyes and visualize you are in a place that you have loved. Then you control your breathing; inhale and slowly exhale. It does work and I can remember, to this day, that in that class I visualized I was in the island of Vieques; off of the island of Puerto Rico. A gorgeous beach with the sun hitting that blue water and just my husband and I there.
So, as the next storm approaches, and all our beaches are at a standstill, I long for Spring and those Dog Days of Summer.
And then, as I complain about the weather, the roads, cabin fever and no internet, I have to stop and think of those less fortunate people that have been having a very tough time this winter. Having vented; I feel so much better.
Why do I eat so much when I am confined? Boredom? I should not be because I have plenty to do. Let’s see, back to visualizing…bathing suits…Oh no!! A nightmare!!!
I will try to talk to you soon; but if it takes a couple of days is because Comcast could not make it. I do have some pretty good pictures of the storm but cannot get them from this computer.
Got to go because I have to go to that White Sale at Giant….Milk…Eggs…and Bread….
Note: If you are in South Florida, and in the town of Delray Beach, enjoy it even it is a little cooler….Think about us…I am visualizing, sitting outside watching those beautiful palm trees do their thing….
What’s Happening in Delray Beach in the next few days? Here it is:
Thursday, 2/11 – Music & Art in the Grove – Pineapple Grove Arts District from 6 – 9 p.m. Location: 200 N.E. 2nd St. Claire Long with hits from the 50s and 70s plus artists and their work outside City Walk.
Thursday through Sunday, 2/11-2/14 – Is the 11th Annual Garlic Festival at Old School Square Entertainment Pavilion on 51 N. Swinton. Garlic chef competitions, entertainment and more. $12 daily admission.
Saturday, 2/13 – Green Market – Every Saturday from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. at SE 4th Ave., just South of Atlantic. Local produce and baked goods.
Saturday and Sunday, 2/13-2/14 – Artists in the Park from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the Veterans Park, located at Atlantic and Intracoastal. Fine art exhibit and sale sponsored by the Delray Beach Art League.
Saturday and Sunday, 2/13-2/14 – Exhibit – Seashells – Sandoway House located on 142 South Ocean Blvd. a couple of blocks south of Atlantic and A1A.
February 3rd, 2010
Have you ever been to a town called Celebration, in Celebration, Florida (Orlando)? Well, this town was modeled after small American towns and neighborhoods from the early 1900’s. It is not that I want to live like in the early 1900’s. But the idea of living in a town or neighborhood where you can safely walk the sidewalks, talk to your neighbors from their balconies and walk into shops and post offices and become friends, brings nostalgic feelings to my heart.
I believe that towns like Lewes, Princess Anne, Oxford, Berlin, St. Augustine, Milton all of which are located in Maryland, Delaware and Florida have served as models for the above mentioned Celebration concept. One other town, Easton, Maryland, is a perfect example of small town living. With its charming streets, homes and businesses at close proximity to pedestrians, it lets people connect with one another.
Tuesday was a day for a road trip. It took Cindi and I to the town of Easton. We went to meet Susan, a friend that we had not seen for about 6 years. What kind of friends are we? I guess we just have been dealing with our own families, schools, businesses and even though we are only about 1 1/2 hours away, we just let those years slip by.
Cindi and I met in Georgetown, Delaware, and I told her I definitely would take her through the short cut. Well that did not happen since every field looked the same; covered with snow. We made it, though.
Easton, Maryland, just in case you don’t know about this town, is in Talbot County; its County Seat. Its location is at the headwaters of the Tred Avon River. Because of its rivers and creeks it is very popular with boaters.
I have been talking about this small town, but don’t kid yourself, this is a very well connected town. It does not roll its sidewalks at dusk either. Throughout the year it is the host of art festivals, including the very popular Waterfowl Festival. Easton is the home of chic shops, antique shops and restaurants. A wide variety of lodgings are available, as well, including the Historic Tidewater Inn.
The Avalon Theater is another place that should not be missed. It is a happening place. It is located on 40 East Dover St., Easton, MD 21601. Tel. 410822-7299. Website is www.avalontheatre.com. This theater brings you from Symphony to Bluegrass, Comedians to Art Festivals; really, entertainment for the whole family. It was built in 1921. Three world premieres opened at this theater, including “The First Kiss” with Gary Cooper and Fay Ray; filmed in Easton and St. Michaels. Please visit the website above mentioned for more information on the Avalon Theater and upcoming performances. They have their whole schedule up.
 Legal Spirits & Avalon Theater It was time to meet for lunch. Susan met us at Mason’s. This restaurant is located on 22 South Harrison St. in Easton. Tel. 410-822-3204. E-mail is masons@masonsgourmet.com and the website is www.masonsgourmet.com.
You can see from the pictures that this restaurant embodies the small town living. The charming house which was converted into the restaurant greets you with such warmth. One side of the house is the restaurant and on the other side; a more casual and lighter atmosphere. Coffee, gourmet chocolates, candies and wines are all available for purchase.
Mason’s was established in 1966. By visiting the website you will find their history and what they are all about, including menus.
Today I had their Davon Crest Baby Green Salad with candied pecans, peppers, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, goat cheese and honey mustard vinaigrette. I then added fried oysters on top. Great presentation and taste. The honey mustard added the perfect kick to the salad.
Cindi had their Daily Deep Dish Quiche with baby mixed greens and balsamic vinaigrette. This quiche looked beautiful. Cindi had been having a quiche craving so she was perfectly happy.
In French cuisine, a quiche is a baked dish that is based on a custard made from eggs, and milk or cream in a pastry crust. But I don’t think that a lot of people would know that even though it is considered a dish of French cuisine, it really originated in Germany. The word “Quiche” is from the German “Kuchen”, meaning cake.
Susan decided on the Chicken Salad Plate. It had also fruit salad and pasta salad on the side. Great presentation, as well.
Did I forget to tell you that today was Susan’s birthday? Yes, on Groundhog Day. We ordered a chocolate torte. Velvety smooth, rich and delicious. It went well with my espresso.
 Susan's Chocolate Torte Mason’s service was prompt, attentive and discreet. Kari, our server, let us catch up, knowing that we had not seen each other for a long time.
So, even though Easton is a little bit of a drive from the Delaware Beaches and Ocean City, Maryland, it is really worth visiting.
A Tip: The only suggestion I would have for Mason’s is that its staff should be informed about ingredients in their chocolates and baked goods in case a customer has a food allergy.
Note: Information of Quiche was taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiche.
Enjoying a meal with friends is something that is priceless. Really, it is!!
Talk to you later…
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