July 6th, 2010
I am writing this post with a little bit of sadness because this was probably my last visit to Boulder for some time. Yes, he did graduate and all packages have been mailed back east.
Nevertheless, Boulder is so unique; it is a people’s town. No high rises, just the mountains. Every time I have visited I could not help to notice how everyone is outdoors enjoying what nature has to offer. It is contagious and all of a sudden you want to go hicking, tubing, rock climbing (well, not me), walking or just sitting outside in one of the many outdoor cafes.
Boulder is known to have 300 sunny days per year. The town has about 1,000 businesses and the best part is that they are 85% locally owned.
“The community is a paradoxically mix of left-leaning politically-correct environmentalism and yuppiedom.”
Part of enjoying the outdoors in Boulder is walking around Pearl Street Mall, Pearl Street’s East End, The West End or anywhere in between.
Pearl Street is a 4 block pedestrian mall, right in the middle of Boulder; outdoors, of course. It is also the place to be at night. Restaurants, street performers, musicians, fountains, sculptures, and flowers are everywhere.
Last Wednesday, we were on our way to the Boulder Theater to see Jesse Cook. He is a Canadian guitarist whose music is a mixture of Rumba, Flamenco Music, Latin and a little bit of French and Moroccan. It was fantastic and if you get a chance check him out at www.jessecook.com.
The Boulder Theater has been an independent theater since 1935. It opened in 1906 and in 1927 the first talkie “The Jazz Singer” was presented.
At the present time, the theater is primarily an entertainment venue. The Boulder Theater is versatile, perfect for events ranging from meetings to conferences and live theater, private parties and concerts. In a way it reminded me a lot of the Milton Theater in Milton Delaware. They are gems.
Boulder Theater is located at 2032 14th St. Tel. 303-786-7030 and the website is www.bouldertheater.com. Please check the website for a complete schedule of events.
7/6 – A Movie: The Sun Behind the Clouds: Tibet’s Struggle for Freedom
7/7 – An Evening with Hapa
7/9 – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
The hotel I chose to stay on this visit was the St. Julien. It is located on 900 Walnut St. telephones 720-406-9696 and 877-303-0900. Website www.stjulien.com.
I have been wanting to try the St. Julien because it was within walking distance to everywhere that interested me. The hotel is very service oriented. The valet guys were great. The staff wanted to make sure that your expectations were met.
The hotel was busy and at night the back terrace was crowded and music was in the air.
What else can I say? It was great!!
Yes, that was my last post for Boulder for the time being…..talk to you later…
July 5th, 2010
Four of us for dinner with no reservation. That was our dilema. Where to go in Boulder with so many restaurants within walking distance, on Pearl Street.
We decided to to to Jax, located on 928 Pearl St. Tel. 303-444-1811, website http://www.jaxfishhouseboulder.com.
It was crowded. The time 6:30 p.m. Jax is not big but they can fit a lot of people. Busy, a little noisy but that is the way you want this fish house.
The first thing we saw as we stepped in, was the Raw Bar. Up to about a dozen varieties of oysters, clams, chilled crabs and lobsters are flown every day.
We had a certain amount of time in which to order and eat since we were on our way to the Boulder Theater to see guitarist Jesse Cook.
Our waiter was amazing and I am so sorry I did not get his name. He was a professional.
We were a party of 4. We started with 3 dozen oysters. Salty, and very cold, just like we like them.
For dinner, I followed the suggestion of our waiter and had the special of Mahi Mahi. It had polenta, hearts of palm and the broth was well seasoned and delicious. The presentation was beautiful.
My friend ordered the Mississippi Skillet Catfish. You had the choice of blackened or fried. She chose blackened. On the bottom pancakes, andouille sausage gravy, onion rings and a side of the sausage. Great combination and never had seen it presented in such a way.
An order of Black Mussels was another dinner and the broth was so good that more bread was requested.
The Lobster BLT, had lots of lobster and house smoked bacon, citrus aioli, and arugula. Crispy french fries and cole slaw that got great reviews. So good in fact that he went a couple of days later with friends and they all had this entree.
Jax is offering Dinner Series with Chef Hosea Rosenberg. He was in Season 5 of “Top Chef”.
The first dinner is taking place on July 14th at 6:00 p.m. Only 18 seats are available per dinner. $100 per person. The theme? “As Fresh as it Gets”: The Pacific Northwest.
For more info. and reservations please check the website or give them a call.
Note: Jax has Happy Hour from 4 – 6 p.m. Dinner starts at 4:00 p.m.
I am back in Delaware so talk to you later…..
June 30th, 2010
Popcorn – It is a type of corn which explodes from the kernel and puffs when heated. It was originally discovered by Native Americans. It became popular as a snack in the U.S. during the Great Depression.
The corn pops because the kernels have a hard moisture-sealed hull and a dense starchy filling. This allows the pressure to build inside the kernel until it pops.
This is one of those posts that is so easy to talk about. The subject? Popcorn!! Not just any popcorn but Fisher’s. I have sent this popcorn to many places; California, Florida, Colorado, Maryland, New York and Puerto Rico.
On Saturday I decided to walk around downtown Rehoboth Beach before all the parking spaces were taken. I saw a familiar face at Fisher’s so we started talking. I asked Corey if I could take some pictures and he graciously agreed.
Fisher’s Popcorn has been a family business for over 70 years, all the way from Ocean City, Maryland to Rehoboth Beach. The location I am blogging about is the one right on Rehoboth Avenue.
The address is 44 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. Tel. 302-227-2691. Website is www.fishers-popcorn.com.
Fisher’s Popcorn arrived in Rehoboth about 4 years ago. They did not need any introduction since anyone that has visited the Maryland and Delaware beaches has eaten Fisher’s and taken some to friends and family back home.
Fisher’s makes its popcorn in-house and you can actually see them mixing the caramel corn in a big kettle by hand. When it is ready then it is dumped in the store front display and if you are passing by there is no way you are going to keep on going. Warm but crispy, sweet but not overly so, nice edible chunks…the best. I kid you not!!
Fisher’s flavors are: caramel, white cheddar, caramel with peanuts and buttered. The all time favorite is the caramel.
Even though I stepped inside Fisher’s I will have to tell you that you will not see a recipe anywhere. It is a family well kept secret.
A big part of Fisher’s is their mail order. They do so year-round. They are also able to send their popcorn to the military. They have all sizes ans styles of containers, so please check their website.
So, next time you are in Rehoboth Beach, Bethany Beach, Fenwick Island or Ocean City, Maryland, please stopy by because you will not believe how good it is!!
Note: The caramel popcorn at Fisher’s is gluten free.
A tip: If you want to eat it warm, just put some of the caramel popcorn in the microwave for not even a minute and it will taste as if you had just bought it.
Talk to you later….again, from Boulder, Colorado for a few days….
Information on popcorn was taken from http://en.wikipedia.org.
Have a Good Day….
June 26th, 2010
Yes, again I found myself at Venus on the Half Shell located at Dagsworthy Street & the Bay. Tel. 302-227-9292. Website www.deweybeachlife.com.
It was not my intention, at first, to visit this restaurant so soon after I had just eaten here a few weeks ago. In a way it turned out to be just as good as the first experience. My first visit was not on a week-end, so I wanted to see how they would handle a much larger crowd. The table was ready; out under the tent, on the sand, and the service was prompt and attentive.
My original plan was to eat dinner in Rehoboth with friends, but the thought of looking for parking was not good. My friends had not eaten at Venus under the direction of Chef Peter A. McMahon so our decision was made.
It was such a pretty evening; perfect temperature for outdoor dining.
I had to order the Pan Roasted Clams, Zesty Chardonnay Butter Broth and Grilled Baguette. Again, they were delicious and the broth rich.
Another dish ordered was the Baby Arugula with Roma Tomatoes and Fresh Mozzarella, E.V.O.O. and Balsamic Syrup. Beautiful colors.
For dinner the Rock Shrimp and Langostino, sauteed with smoked tomatoes, tossed in a light chive cream sauce with garganelli pasta was ordered. I have to tell you that another was ordered with a request of the dish to be gluten free, and just like the first time, the Chef substituted rice for the pasta.
I ordered Thai Crusted Mahi Mahi, Ginger Plum Chutney, Bamboo Rice Pilaff, stir-fried baby Bok Choi. It had a nice bite to it.
And, the last dish was a Grilled 8 oz. Tenderloin of Beef, Horseradish Mashed Potatoes and Grilled Asparagus.
After all that food, no dessert was ordered. We enjoyed just a couple of coffees; nothing like sharing a meal with friends. It is priceless!!
I want to mention the ladies that started a friendly chat. They were from Baltimore and it was so nice meeting them.
Hope you have a good week-end. The weather has been great, don’t you think? Talk to you later….
 Still, this is the best table in town.
June 22nd, 2010
I was coming back from the Division of Motor Vehicles, after spending about 2 1/2 hours there. I was just saying to my friend, Trish, not too long ago, how efficient the DMV has been since they opened their new building in Georgetown, Delaware. She had told me her husband was there for hours; I just did not believe her until it happened to me.
Anyway, I was coming back to Rehoboth on Rt. 9, when I saw Good for You Market. I decided to stop because I had never been there and I had heard good things about it.
Good for You Market is located at 28841 Lewes-Georgetown Highway, Lewes, DE 19958. Tel. 302-684-8330. E-mail Address goodforu@comcast.net. Website www.weknowyum.com.
From Rt. 1, going west, it will only take you about 10 minutes or less. You cannot miss the building since it is very colorful.
Good for You Market began in 2006 as a market garden farm selling directly to restaurants and at area farmers markets. The rest is history and what you will find now is a beautiful food market. It combines everyday items with great gourmet ones as well.
The market has artisan cheeses, organic produce, grass-fed meats, specialty meats and poultry, dried fruits and nuts in bulk, international gourmet foods, organic coffee beans, ethnic specialties, traditional grocery items, and household cleaning and laundry items, as well. There is a Sandwich and Juice Bar.
The store holds cheese classes and the next and last one available until September will be on July 10 at 1:00 p.m. The subject? What Goes Around Becomes a Rind: Exploring the Outside of The Cheese!
“We’re so focused on the inside: we often forget the fascinating outside. This is the time to appreciate what goes into the outer edge of the wheel. Join the Good for You Market Cheesemonger as he explains the makeup of the beautiful outer edges of the cheese. You’ll learn all about washing, rubbing, rolling, bruising, and wrapping. In other words, how the cheese wheel ends up with that nice coating of wine, chocolate, wood ash, herbs, grape leaves, or straw patterns. They will prove that sometimes, “A rind is a terrible thing to waste!” Some rinds are edible and make a flavorful addition to broth, stock, soup, and sauces.”
For more information, please give them a call to the above telephone number.
Following is a Sangria Recipe, courtesy of Good for You Market:
1 Bottle of red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Rioja, Zinfandel, Shiraz)
1 Lemon cut into wedges
1 Orange cut into wedges
1 Lime cut into wedges
2 Tbsps sugar
Splash of orange juice or lemonade
2 Shots of gin or triple sec
1 Cup of raspberries or strawberries
1 Small can of diced pineapples (with juice)
4 Cups Ginger Ale
Pour wine into a large pitcher and squeeze the juice wedges from the lemon, orange and lime into the wine.
Toss in the fruit wedges (leaving out seeds, if possible), pineapple, then add sugar, orange juice and triple sec.
Chill overnight.
Add ginger ale, berries and ice just before serving.
Note: If you would like to serve it right away, then use a chilled red wine and serve over lots of ice. However, remember that the best Sangrias are chilled around 24 hours in the refrigerator, allowing the flavors to really marinate each other.
Enjoy!!
Talk to you later….you know I will….
June 21st, 2010
In a matter of 48 hours, from last Friday until Sunday, there was a drive, a stay in a hotel, International Food; Italian, Lebanese and Mediterranean, Austrian, Ethiopian, Vietnamese, American, and let’s not forget The Wedding and lots of dancing.
It is that time in my life when I am being invited to weddings. Some of my friends’ children are getting married. So much fun to hear all the planning that takes place for such an event.
Off to Washington on Friday and this is how the week-end started.
Stuck in traffic. Why do they have to blow the horn and cut me off? What’s the matter with people? It must be that, here, at the Delaware Beaches we really don’t get those traffic jams. Well, in the summer there is an exception but throughout the year we come and go with no problem. No lines either. I get a little impatient to say the least.
I arrived at The Latham Hotel located on M Street. Cute little boutique hotel in the center of the action in Georgetown. It was Friday and you could tell people were getting ready to start the evening.
The rooms at The Latham are not very big but they are well appointed.
I decided that dinner was not going to be for another few hours so appetizers at a little side street restaurant near the Canal could tie me over. The name? Il Canale. Italian was spoken here. I just answered in Spanish. Close enough. The restaurant surprised me. The oil and garlic served with dipping bread was very sweet. I was told that they boil the garlic in the oil and that gives it that sweetness. The beef carpaccio was very good and so were the mussels.
Later that evening it was time to have dinner. I chose Neyla because it was suggested it had superb Lebanese and Mediterranean cuisine.
It was crowded. One of the appeals of this type of cuisine is that you can order many dishes and share. The Falafel was a hit. Several more orders were requested. My main dish was Branzino which is a European seabass I really like; it was moist and very nicely seasoned.
Our waiter was from Morocco and very friendly and efficient.
The restaurant was good but I did not love it.
Taking a walk after dinner with friends was a treat; checking the stores and the people. Wait, what happened was that all of a sudden I realized that I had not heard anyone passing me by speaking in English. I was fitting right in with my accent. It felt good. I was looking at my friends, who only spoke English, like they were foreigners. Amazing, isn’t it? But then, at the same time, I thought that speaking two languages was not enough.
Saturday, morning:
Walking by the canal was beautiful. Lots of runners, joggers and people just enjoying a hot summer morning.
Then it is time to find a cute place to eat breakfast. I like foods that are different and if I am in an area that is known for their international food, I am then going for it.
I found Leopold’s by Caddy’s Alley. It was Austrian. Outdoors seating was perfect. This restaurant has a full bar and it is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
To tell you the truth the breakfast was not that great. The menu looked better for dinner.
Walking by the Canal the Mule-Drawn Barge was taking people for a ride. This is sponsored by the C & O Canal. It is the C & O Canal National Historical Park. A series of locks had to be opened for this barge to go through.
The locktenders were responsible for the safe operation and maintenance of liftlocks.
How does lock work? Liftlocks raised and lowered boats to overcome changes in elevations. A boat heading downstream enters the lock. Mules are unhitched and the locktender closes the upstream gates. The locktender opens the downstream paddles. Water flows out and the boat is lowered. With water levels equal, the locktender opens the downstream gates. The mules are hitched and the boat moves on.
I could not believe I was thinking about food again. Well, just something. It was very hot in Georgetown and as I was walking I saw a restaurant called Zed’s – Ethiopian Cuisine. It was located on M Street.
I only had time for a few appetizers. I ordered Kaisa which is a mild Ethiopian cheese, Beef Zizi Tibbs which are beef strips with a red chili pepper sauce and Mushroom Inguday Tibbs which were sauteed mushrooms with onion, a special sauce with a touch of chili pepper.
Again, I was not thrilled with my choices but I was glad I tried them.
Finally, I went to the wedding ceremony. It was beautiful. The bride was glowing. The parents and sisters were so proud and happy. All of us were witnesses to such an important event in her life.
When the band started playing everyone got up to dance. This band was the back-up band for Wilson Picket who died in 2006 and was buried in Louisville, Kentucky. He was an American R & B/rock and roll and soul singer and writer. His hits? In the Midnight Hour, Land of 1,000 Dances, Mustang Sally, Funky Broadway, among others. I believe the band’s name is the Midnight Movers. They played and we danced all night.
One more bite to eat before going to bed on a busy Saturday night in Georgetown. It was Vietnamese across The Latham and I cannot even remember the name. Good and a lot of food. No idea Vietnamese cooks use a lot of collard greens in their dishes.
Sunday Morning. Please, coffee before driving back home. But, wait, how about breakfast?
A stop in Annapolis, Maryland, will do the trick. Again, it was crowded and hot. Annapolis is beautiful any time of the year. On Sunday there was a bright blue sky.
I ended up at The Kitchen on Randall Street. It was small but it had a courtyard, where I enjoyed breakfast.
I had scrambled eggs but the best part of my dish was the smoked Rockfish. It was so good and I could have had more.
The other breakfast ordered was eggs benedict and they were good also.
I cannot believe I have eaten my way for 48 hours. Don’t worry I paced myself, and watched the carbs.
I knew I was in Delaware when I came upon the following scene.
And then I found myself on the top level of the Cultured Pearl, eating sashimi and overlooking Rehoboth Avenue on a very balmy evening….
I am exhausted…talk to you later….as usual….
June 17th, 2010
It’s interesting how when the town of Berlin, Maryland is described, it is mentioned that is like traveling back into the past. It’s not just back into the town’s own past history but also my own.
I have mentioned that this is where my children spent their primary school years so believe me when I tell you that Berlin became my home, as well. And, every time I visit, I cannot help to reminisce.
Berlin is in Worcester County. The town is west of Ocean City, Maryland and dates back to the 1790s.
This is another of those towns where the citizens have worked hard to preserve its history and charm. The renovations of the town and its historic preservation are, definitely, a cooperative effort.
Restaurants and shops line Main Street in Berlin. This town is well known. The movie industry loves it. Two major motion pictures have been filmed here. In 1998 Runaway Bride with Richard Gere and Julia Roberts and in 2001 Tuck Everlasting with Sissy Spacek, Ben Kingsley and William Hurt.
I decided to visit Tada on Wednesday because it is the perfect place for what I was looking for. A wedding gift. I figure that Patty and Blair would be able to help me since they knew the bride.
TaDa is located at 18 N. Main St., Berlin, MD 21811. Tel. 410-641-4430. Website is www.blairelizabeth.com.
The mother and daughter team that owns this beautiful store? Patty Falck and Blair Elizabeth (Blair Falck Parsons). Yes, she got married.
Coming into TaDa at this time of the year gave me the same impression as when I visited in the Fall. The beautiful colors, now even brighter as the summer season is upon us. The displays are perfectly located. Only someone with an artistic eye could put them together in such a way.
Patty is an artist. She paints for her store but accepts custom orders. Her painted glassware has a following.
Blair is also an artist; designing and making her own jewelry. Mother and daughter are definitely a team.
TaDa has something for everyone. Wether you are looking for home accents, a gift for someone close, art, tableware, they have it.
It was a Wednesday and all of a sudden the store was packed. Patty and Blair were so at ease talking to everyone. The customers really engaged them in conversation. And, that’s what I love about shopping in the local stores in all of our towns; you get to know their owners.
This store is always on my “must stop shop”, and it still takes my breath away.
Have a great day….it’s beautiful out…
June 16th, 2010
“Hobos is described as Eco-Global. It celebrates the subtle simplicity of street food from around the world.”
It definitely had cooled down at the Delaware Beaches. The breeze was just great and I felt like going out to dinner. My son called and asked me if I still cooked since I was always going out to dinner. How else am I going to let you know how our restaurants are doing at the beaches? Tomorrow, yes, manana, I am staying home.
But on Tuesday evening, it was time to go and visit Hobos. This restaurant is located at 56 Baltimore Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. Tel. 302-226-2226. E-mail is info@myhobos.com. Hobos is on Facebook. The owner and Chef is Gretchen Hanson.
Hobos brings pleasant memories for me. Last year, around this time, Gretchen had opened her restaurant. It was there that I came up with the idea of writing this type of blog. As she explained to me her concept and ideas; where she was coming from and I was asking about gluten free dishes; back and forth with the conversation; I decided to write about the beaches.
So as I approached the restaurant, it definitely looked good. The flowers were in full bloom, the tiny lights and the al fresco dining, just complemented the type of night, here at the beaches. This is what we, residents, locals, and natives, live for at the beach. The casualness of living along the coast.
Hobos was comfortably crowded. In their al fresco dining there are plenty of tables. Tonight we were all so lucky because across the street, at Aqua Grill, Holly Lane was performing so the music was great, adding already to a very nice evening.
It was so nice to see Dawn again. She works at Hobos and took care of us. Always making the right suggestions regarding what to order. Gretchen came to the table and proceeded to mark the gluten free items on the menu, which to tell you the truth, almost all of them were. I could hear other people asking the same thing so, other customers were eating gluten free last night.
Hobos is able to accommodate vegetarians, vegans, celiac (gluten free), and people with other food allergies. It is great to see how a lot of the restaurants in our area are being so sensitive to their patrons with food allergies.
Hobos has a wide a variety of dishes in its menu. Gretchen’s cooking is full of flavor and spice. She is not afraid of a little bit of heat here or there. It gives her dishes just the right kick.
I was checking the restaurant. It has really come into its own and has become very popular. I have to give Gretchen credit because I was watching her interact with her customers, including us. She made sure she went to every table and just stayed long enough to make friendly chat; to make sure we were all happy with our orders, always with a smile on her face.
The indoor dining area is very cozy. Hobos’ decorations have a Mediterranean style. There is a full bar, as well.
We started with a Crab Artichoke and Brie Dip. The mixture of the 3 flavors was a great combination. The crostini, well, of course they were that good because they were fried!!
 Crab Artichoke and Brie Dip Then came the Seaweed Salad with Cucumbers. Refreshing, a little spicy and I loved it!!
One main entree was the Chile Glazed Halibut with Avocado Tomatillo Salsa. The halibut was perfectly cooked and the glaze and salsa also gave this dish a litle kick. It came with mashed potatoes which were very good, as well. Then I took a bite of the thinly sliced yellow and green zucchini. It was so fresh and it tasted like butter. Well, that is when Gretchen said that the squash was zephyr zucchini.
 Chile Glazed Halibut with Avocado Tomatillo Salsa Zephyr zucchini is a hybrid summer squash. It has great flavor and texture; buttery and nutty. It’s color is buttercup yellow and light green ends. Hobos’ zucchini was organic.
The other dish ordered was Scallops with Red Curry and Asparagus. This was a large entree and it was just as delicious. Again the little heat played a game with your tastebuds.
 Scallops with Red Curry and Asparagus Check the website for their menu and to see upcoming events. Gretchen keeps Hobos busy.
Unfortunately, we did not have dessert. The freshly brewed coffee was very good with a great flavor.
Baltimore Street, where Hobos is located is a street lined with trees and if you decide to dine here, I think you are really going to enjoy it.
Talk to you later…you know I will….
Note: Remember that Hobos is a dog friendly restaurant for well behaved dogs.
 
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