January 3rd, 2012
Noooooo, my New Year’s resolutions are still hanging in there. Right before New Year’s I made a second trip to Attman’s, an institution in Baltimore, Maryland. Back in July, on my first visit, my husband told me I ordered the wrong sandwich. “You needed to order The Original; that’s the one I saved my money for on Fridays while growing up in Baltimore”, he said. The one I really wanted to order was the Lombard Street.
So, there we were, Susie, my sister in law, Michael, my son, and I. In between our sightseeing we got hungry. The funny part was that as we were driving around downtown Baltimore we thought it was so quiet; usually not so during the week. The holidays and the forecasted warm weather sent them all to our beaches; that’s how crowded it was here.
Attman’s was the only place that was packed; the usual line; we were all the way at the back of the line. The guys behind the counter were fast; professionals. You better know what you want to order. On this second trip I was ready. I sounded like I went there every day.
Attman’s is located on “Baltimore’s Famous Corned Beef Row”, minutes from the Inner Harbor. To hear my husband tell the stories of how that street used to look like so many years ago; a marketplace, vendors on the sidewalks…… Attman’s actual address is 1019 East Lombard St., Baltimore, MD 21202. Tel. 410-563-2666. Website? www.attmansdeli.com.
If you are in Baltimore and want taste and flavor this is the place to go. The corned beef and the hot pastrami are to die for.
Besides our 3 sandwiches we ordered a green pickle, sliced.
My sandwich was The Lombard Street, the one I had been waiting for. Sorry, forgot to take the single picture. It had hot corned beef, hot pastrami, chopped liver and Russian dressing. I loved the combination of all those 3. It did not dissappoint.
Susie had The Original which is the Cloak & Dagger. This is the one my husband was talking about. It had corned beef, cole slaw and Russian dressing. It is a true original and she loved it.
Michal had the Stu Special. It had hot corned beef, hot pastrami, imported Swiss, cole slaw and Russian dressing. It was also delicious.
All sandwiches were huge. Some of us ate them all and another took half home.
I am so glad we went right before my resolutions; otherwise out the window they would have gone. My second visit was just as good as the first one; only better.
Please note that Attman’s ships anywhere, and caters throughout Maryland, Washington and Virginia.
Have a great chilly day!! Talk to you later….
December 30th, 2011
This Holiday Season has been a beautiful one in Rehoboth Beach. Last year it seemed that all we did was dig ourselves from one winter storm after another; this year? Walks on the beach, fairly warm for the time of the year. So many visitors.
Rehoboth has a great Boardwalk, perfect for early morning walks. Just this week we enjoyed such a walk, right after Christmas. Just make sure that you do just like the locals and natives do; touch either end of the Boardwalk. Don’t ask me why; an accomplishment perhaps?
 South side of the Boardwalk If you are visiting Rehoboth Beach and are looking for a breakfast hangout with some good home cooking, then, Crystal would be the perfect choice. It is located at 620 Rehoboth Ave. Tel. 302-227-1088. They serve breakfast all day long, among other things. Full bar, as well.
So, after eating, so much for Christmas Eve, Christmas morning…my kitchen was then closed.
Crystal was our choice. The restaurant is simple and the service is great. Everyone was hungry and this is what they ordered.
Eggs Benedict with Crab …. it was overflowing with crabmeat. There were sides of home cooked fries and bacon.
A Spanish Omelette …. a large portion with plenty of Spanish sauce.
Eggs Benedict Florentine …. another well received breakfast.
Traditional fried eggs …. my sister in law thought they were delicious.
Then, I did not know what to order. I am never that crazy about breakfast. I was still full from the night before. But, I ordered granola with Greek yogurt and fruit. It was a large bowl but I loved it. The granola had it sweetness; the Greek yogurt was perfect. The fruit was delicious; I felt healthier.
I then stopped our server and asked her to bring me a side order of scrapple, well done; crispy. It really was so good. Not a great combination of foods but it hit the spot.
On New Year’s Day as you wake up and think of some of the absurdities of the New Year’s Eve celebrations, this might be the place for you.
Have a Good One!! Talk to you later.
December 27th, 2011
It is becoming a Holiday Tradition in my household to order a Tur-Duc-Hen. And, guess what? The company that I have tried again and again is Cajun Grocer from Lafayette, Louisiana. Have tried others; they do not compare. You can read all about it by visiting www.cajungrocer.com.
I have mentioned the Tur-Duc-Hen in the past and no, they are not sending them to me so that I can blog about them. They are really delicious, and, defiinitely, a conversation piece at a dinner table.
Cajun Grocer offers a multitude of dishes, but a specialty of theirs is this partially deboned turkey, stuffed with chicken, duck and your choice of dressing, which is my case was a creole pork and creole seasoning. Other dressings are available, but I chose the one that was gluten free.
The tur-duc-hen arrives ready to cook. It is so easy to prepare. Follow directions. I will tell you that mine took longer to cook than what it said on the package.
I like to make it my own so I put slices of bacon on the top. Once it is ready, you let it rest for a bit; just like you would with a regular turkey and then slice it.
Your guests will taste the 3 different types of poultry, along with the Cajun dressing that had been placed between each bird.
My family raves about it. We had plenty of left-overs since it weighed about 15 lbs. You will get plenty of juices in the pan to make a homemade gravy also.
I made extra gluten free stuffing on the side and other trimmings, as well.
For a sweet ending, we chose cupcakes from Cake Break, located at 7 South First St., Rehoboth Beach. Tel. 302-260-9264. Website? www.cakebreak.com. An assortment of cupcakes, including gluten free ones.
 
A hassle free Christmas dinner it was….talk to you later.
December 24th, 2011
Running out the door today to get that present that you might have missed or just to even up the stack, or really just to take a walk through Lewes. Then…..
If you get a little hungry then do like Jody and I did on Thursday when we decided to stop at Blue Sea Cafe. It is located at 108 Second St. Tel. 302-703-2161. Website? http://www.blueseacafe.com. It is a sister restaurant to Jerry’s Seafood, which is right next door. The restaurant opens for breakfast and lunch daily and Fridays and Saturdays for dinner.
Blue Sea Cafe is a little bigger than what I expected. The addition of the bar is fairly new. It has a casual atmosphere; very colorful.
We sat at a corner table, with views to Second St. People were busy, carrying packages, and chatting with one another.
We decided on iced teas, while checking the menu. I wanted something Mediterranean since the restaurant has an American and Mediterranean cuisine.
Jody’s choice was a Smoked Turkey Panini with Gouda cheese, tomato and pesto. It came with chips. A nice size panini. I think I remember her saying “this is so good”.
I had not had a Gyro in such a long time. It is, Greece’s version of a fast food. The menu said it was an Authentic Gyro, with seasoned beef and lamb, sliced paper thin and served with that traditional tzatziki sauce. It also was received very well. It was a generous portion; more than enough, but as usual, it was gone in not time.
Served on a pita bread with extra tzatziki sauce. Tzatziki sauce is traditionally made of strained yogurt, mixed with cucumbers, garlic, salt, olive oil, pepper and at times lemon juice and parsley. It is always served cold.
If you try Blue Sea Cafe for dinner let me know……the menu is on their website.
Note: Blue Sea Cafe offers delivery.
Time flew by. You know what? I feel so lucky…my friends are priceless!! Love getting together with them.
Again, Merry Christmas to you…..
December 21st, 2011
Warm in Rehoboth Beach. I like it that way, even though at this time of the year I really do like winter to show its face for the holidays.
Rehoboth is known for its good restaurants; great chefs introducing their innovative cuisine is what a lot of foodies in the area want to experience.
Delray Beach, Florida is known also for its restaurants. One after another you will find them on Atlantic Avenue, which is ”Main Street”. Italian, Japanese, American, French, and Latin.
Years ago another street was introduced in Delray Beach. The street is NE 2nd Ave. This is known as Pineapple Grove, due to the produce that was grown in years past. It looked, at the time, that it would end up being an extension of Atlantic Ave.
Well, it has turned out to be one of the hippest parts of town; sidewalks are lined with art, sculptures, bookstores, eateries; downtown living at its best. The residents of Pineapple Grove have everything accessible to them, including gyms and postal service. Oh, and don’t forget that they are pretty close to the beach, as well; a bike ride or a short drive.
 Early Sunday a.m. One thing that Delray Beach has taken to the next level is the availability to dine ”al fresco”. A temperate climate in South Florida is so conducive for this type of dining. In Delray you might find yourselves dining right on the sidewalk or in some private garden, as well. The sidewalks are wide enough to let the pedestrian activity run smoothly.
Brule Bistro is located at 200 NE 2nd Ave., Suite 109, Delray Beach, FL 33444. It is right on City Walk which has retail on the bottom. Tel. 561-274-2046. Website? http://www.brulebistro.com.
This past summer I went on a hot day and thought it was delicious. Again, just a few weeks ago, it was the choice for my son and I on a perfect day in the Village by the Sea.
Brule has a casual atmosphere. The bistro is known for its extensive collection of wines. It has take out; no reservations, though. It opens early and closes late. The website has a full menu for you to check out. And, specials every day.
The staff was friendly and knew the menu well. There was an excitement as I asked my server what the dish that he had just served to another table was. I ordered that lunch special of salmon over roasted beets. It was considered a salad and I did not want it to end.
I first started with a Chilled Gazpacho with a yogurt creme. The gazpacho was homemade, no canned tomato juice there.
Then came that salmon over the roasted beet salad. I usually write down what I am eating but it the excitement of it all, I forgot. At least, the photo says it all.
My son started with a Shrimp Ceviche in a citrus and chili marinade, served with avocado and the thinnest of warm house chips.
Then an order of their Brule Club with roasted turkey, bacon, arugula, tomato, avocado, Asiago and pesto aioli on a multigrain bread. It was a handsome portion, perfectly displayed. Gone in not time.
 
No desserts for us….we were perfectly happy.
If you are in the Village by the Sea….check it out and let me know what you think. You can write to me to the blog or visit AboutMyBeaches on Facebook.
December 17th, 2011
It was another night at the Delaware Beaches, when the inevitable was avoiding the nightly ritual of cooking….
Did you know….that bowing represents humility? You elevate, honor and respect the other person by lowering yourself. A bow should always be returned.
And, did you know that the shredded raddish or daikon is there for a reason? To nibble on between sushi orders. Use chopsticks to eat it. Daikon is also served under sashimi or as an edible side dish.
So here was another night hitting Saketumi instead of cooking. Saketumi is located at 18814 Highway One, Rehoboth Beach. Tel. 302-645-2818. Website? www.saketumirestaurant.com.
As I came in, Kim, who is the Manager, greeted us. We had not seen each other since before Thanksgiving. At that time I told him about the Turduckens from Louisina. Guess what? Not only did Kim ordered one, but he also deep fried it!! He said it was awesome. Another convert ordering from Cajun Grocer.
But, tonight it was all about trying new things. At times I get into a rut; ordering the same old thing.
Tanaka was behind the bar. He is the Main Event. He is such an artist. His preparations do not leave his side until they are just perfectly arranged.
Then, James was there too. He was our server. His suggestions were right on target.
We decided to start with some Sashimi Tapas:
Kampachi – Amber Jack Fish (yellow tail amberjack). A carpaccio with yuzu lime dressing. Yuzu is a citrus fruit from East Asia. Looks like a very small grapefruit. It also has a tart flavor.
This was so delicious. Delicately sliced; almost transparent. The lime dressing adding that citrus taste.
The next one was the Torched Tuna. Also in a carpaccio style with jalapeno, red tobiko, chive, masago cracker, and spicy ponzu sauce. My husband was salivating at the looks of this dish, until Kim said that it had gluten. A sudden long face appeared. Kim immediately said “it’s not very good”. We all laughed. Guess who had the pleasure of eating it? Moi…and I savoured every single sliced.
The Seared White Tuna Tataki with yuzu citrus vinaigrette, with fried shallot, mango salsa and cilantro was another successful tapa. This one, my husband could eat and thought it was very good, as well.
These 3 tapas were light and the perfect appetizer. My favorite was the Kampachi, then the Torched Tuna and then the Seared White Tuna Tataki.
People were coming in and I was getting cold so I ordered a Miso Soup. James asked me if I wanted the clams, as well. I had never had it with the clams and I found that including the clams gave it a different dimension to the soup. I liked it!!
We did not stop there. An order of their Tropical Thunder had a beautiful presentation and had a fantastic taste. Mango, salmon, topped with lobster salad and tobiko (fish eggs).
My husband likes to order a crispy eel sushi; the crispier the better….loved it as well.
I can recommend Saketumi with confidence. I have never been disappointed. They are friendly, the food is fresh with beautiful colors, appealing to all your senses. The service, prompt….and I love the sushi bar. Sitting there lets me converse with the chefs, see the fish and watch their talent.
 Fresh Wasabi Have a good one. Talk to you later…Please remember that AboutMyBeaches has its own Facebook Page…Comment, and discuss any topic…I welcome you.
December 16th, 2011
It is hard to get together with friends during the holidays. Trying to catch up with Shelley, I took Susan to Ocean City, Maryland. We thought we would have something to eat. Our choice? Liquid Assets located at 94th St. and Coastal Highway. Tel. 410-524-7037. Website? http://www.ocliquidassets.com.
It was a simple dinner before the Christmas; both of my friends were Jewish. Susan had never been to Liquid Assets. I always say that it is the perfect Bodega to have lunch or dinner. Their food is so consistent and very good; the restaurant is very unique.
The mussels are a must; that broth was so good. They were pan roasted with chorizo, shallots, garlic and grilled bread. I kept using the shells as a spoon to scoop it up. Finally, our server asked me if I needed a spoon. Too late; I was then finished.
Susan and Shelley had the Caesar Salad; hearts of romaine, crisp croutons and grana padano with grilled chicken.
I had such a good entree. It was Pan Roasted Duck Breast on top of brussel sprouts, butternut squash, boucheron cheese, truffle oil, herbs, and fluer de sel. I did not want it to end. Cooked at a temperature of medium rare; it was perfect.
Deciding that it was time to go home but not before we made a stop to see the Winterfest of Lights which is taking place until January 1st at Northside Park, 125 St. & The Bay.
It was already late so no ride through the animated wonderland on the Winterfest Express. The Winterfest of Lights is an annual event for the whole family. It started around the end of November. It brings so many people; be prepared to wait during the week-ends.
Over a million lights and hundreds of displays, which are updated every year with more added to the existing displays. There is a Winterfest Village inside a festive and heated pavilion.
It was so quiet during our stop and the 60 ft. Christmas Tree was beautiful.
$5.00 for 12 and older and free for 11 and under. You can even purchase tickets in advance at the Ocean City Community Center at 200 125th St. Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the main entrance.
Winterfest of Lights opens Sundays through Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 5:30 p.m. until 10:30 p.m.
If you want to continue driving all the way into downtown O.C. then take a drive along Avenue of Trees on Baltimore Ave. from 15th St. to 32nd St. Lots of lights and sparkle showing a beautiful downtown.
Note: Santa will be available for photos at Winterfest of Lights until December 23rd.
Friends….what would you do without them….love to be with them…priceless!!
December 14th, 2011
I asked Janice; how would you described your store? It’s a woman’s store, definitely. Someone once came in and said; “estrogen infused”. We laughed. Is it? Well, you might have to find for yourselves.
Bella Luna is at 127 Rehoboth Avenue right in Downtown Rehoboth Beach. Tel. 302-227-0267. Website? www.bellalunatic.com. E-mail address? bellalunatic@gmail.com. Janice Elder is the shop owner.
Home, Body, Soul. Those words are on their storefront awning. They truly tell the customer what you will find inside. As you come into the Bella Luna soft music is usually playing. One look at the store and you will see that it is full to capacity.
I like the word whimsical. It is a fun store. Women, girls; they all love it. Guys come in to buy for their significant others.
A tiny corner just for something for young ones.
For the home you will find, art, fun plaques, Christmas Decorations, tea towels, great napkins and unique cards.
For the body, plenty of beautiful scarves, including Pashminas; textures and colors for all tastes. Gloves, hats, lotions, potions and scents.
Lots of necklaces and earrings. These earrings were from Turkey, in vermeil.
As we were talking a guy came in. He was in a slight rush. A present for someone special. He picked it out immediately; I think she might have sent him there. Ideas on how to wrap it were given. Off he went.
The Wine Wraps caught my attention. Turning a bottle of wine into a creative holiday present. Made by a company called Santa Barbara Design Studio. Names like Reindeer Reserve, and Vixen’s Vino to name a few.
Bella Luna makes one feel good. That must be the soul part of it. Janice is always very friendly. And, by the way, the young lady that was also working there is a great addition to the shop; very helpful in her suggestions.
At this time of the year when we are looking for something special for that best friend, hostess gift, or your own personal indulgence….it was the perfect place!!!
Have a good one!!…I will talk to you later….
 
|
2 Comments