September 6th, 2014
No noise and no crowds in Cape Charles as the Second Season gets underway. Checking out the shops in Cape Charles this week was part of our adventure. Cindi and I found Drizzles, located at 16 Strawberry St., Cape Charles, VA 23310. Tel. 321-747-3042. Website? http://www.drizzlesolives.com. It opens Monday through Saturday (Close Tuesdays) from 11 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Sundays from Noon until 5 p.m. You can find Drizzles on Facebook. You can also order online.
Drizzles has been opened for 4 years. Besides infused vinegars, and olive oils, the shop has salts, and sugars.
You can also find peppercorns from around the world.
The best part is that you can taste before you buy. You can relax, sit, and think which of them you liked best.
Lately, I have been hooked on infused vinegars. I, at times, reduce balsamic vinegar….I love that you can drizzle it over fruit, salads, fish, chicken, pork, and beef. Very versatile. What I loved about the vinegars I found at Drizzle was that they were thicker than any others I have tried. Almost like a true reduction.
I bought Fig, Cucumber Melon….doesn’t that sound good? And Grape Passion, which goes well on avocado.
It is a great store, stop by say hello and let your tastebuds do the talking.
Please note that Drizzles carries specialty foods, cookbooks, and single bean coffees.
Have a good one!!
September 6th, 2014
Great place to shop. Gull Hummock Gourmet Shop is located at 115 Mason Avenue, Cape Charles, VA 23310. Tel. 757-331-1500. It is open at this time of the year pretty much every day except on Sundays.
It is the kind of gourmet shop that appeals to both genders….wine, beers, cheeses….and the wine tastings that take place every Friday from 4:30 until 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 3 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. I think John, pictured above, will have a wine tasting any day…he offered us one on Wednesday….it will have to be another time. Thanks John.
John has been in the Cape Charles area for 30 years and he is a wealth of information. Sort like its own Information Center.
The store is fully stocked. Great gifts by potters and locals are around the shop.
A huge selection of beers, as well.
Wines….
Nuts and famous Brown Dog Ice Cream….Brown Dog Ice Cream is also on Main Street, but when they are close the gourmet shop will have it ready.
 
Gull Hummock is centrally located….we were staying at Hotel Cape Charles at 235 Mason Avenue and the shop is at 115 Mason Avenue. Great to get a few things to enjoy on our balcony!
Have a great day!!
September 5th, 2014
We, definitely, cleaned up well, if I should say so myself!! After a day of kayaking in the hottest day of the summer, we were going out to dinner. And, I was the designated driver.
Aqua we chose, because everyone we asked said to go to Aqua. Beautiful views, tranquil setting….
Located at Kings Creek Marina, 900 Marina Village Circle, Cape Charles, VA 23310. Tel. 757-331-8660. Website? http://www.kingscreekmarina.com/dining/aqua.asp. Aqua opens for lunch and dinner.
Even though some were dining indoors, we decided to eat on their deck. It was just after sunset and there was a nice brezze. Our table was comfortable, so we sat to chat, know each other better, and enjoy a nice dinner.
Drinks were ordered, of course. So quickly, these women went with the flow; staging the table.
When the bread was brought, it was still so warm. I must admit that it was very good.
The following is what we ordered:
Seared Dragon Tuna…wasabi and sesame dusted; with seaweed salad and lime soy-dipping sauce.
Fried Green Tomato BLT Salad…Fried green tomatoes, smoked bacon and mixed greens, tossed with a roasted tomato vinaigrette. Yum!
A 16 ounce Prime Aged Ribeye was also ordered with mashed potatoes, asparagus, and house steak sauce.
Shrimp & Grits…simmered in low country sauce with chipotle pepper, onions, peppers, Andouille sausage, tomatoes, garlic and celery, served over cheese grits.
Colossal Scallops were jumbo and seared, served with lobster risotto, steamed broccolini and buerre blanc.
A salad topped with a salmon cake was Whitney’s choice.
Wahoo was my dinner. It was one of their specials of the evening. It had a good flavor…mild. I would have cooked it a minute or so less. It was served over rice, fruit and broccolini.
We were perfectly satisfied, so no dessert was necessary. It was such a nice evening, full of entertaining conversation and laughs.
September 5th, 2014
I cannot believe that we were getting away from the Delaware Beaches and Maryland Beaches. When you think about it, visitors consider these beaches sleepy towns too.
My post for a couple of days have been from the get away trip to Cape Charles, Virginia. You know what was really good? That none of us had been there, so we went with no preconceived ideas. Perfect!!
The Eastern Shore of Virginia is full of small quaint towns. Some are more popular than others. And, believe me, people moving to this coastal area want it this way. The simplicity of these towns is the main attraction, along with beautiful scenery.
Cape Charles and surrounding towns have plenty of inns, and bed and breakfasts, but we decided to stay in Downtown Cape Charles at a boutique hotel called Hotel Cape Charles.
It is located at 235 Mason Avenue, Cape Charles, VA 23310. Tel. 757-695-3854. Website? http://www.hotelcapecharles.com.
Hotel Cape Charles has 22 rooms. They even have a few dog friendly rooms. So make sure you ask if you travel with your pet. The hotel is over 100 years old. It has been completely renovated….contemporary.
Our room was comfortable with a view of Mason Avenue, which is Main Street. A friend that saw this photo commented that the beds looked lumpy….no way. That’s just the way the down comforter looked. Some rooms are set up with cooking availability…we were going out to dinner. No cooking for us on this trip.
The Second Season in Cape Charles started immediately after Labor Day. We were there from 9/2 until 9/3. Already the town was quiet. Its serenity was palpable. Since we were staying right in Downtown Cape Charles all we needed to do was walk out from the hotel to stroll and unwind.
 
The streets in Cape Charles are wide. The beach just a couple of blocks away. Remember we are on the bay.
The Eastern Shore of Virginia was one of the earliest colonized areas in North America. The town of Cape Charles consisted of farmlands and wetlands. It became a railroad town when what is now the Bay Coast Railroad was constructed. Rails from the original tracks laid on the riprap jetty in 1884 by the New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk Railroad to spend the night and dine overlooking the Chesapeake Bay still exist.
The homes are beautiful and many of them along the beach were homes belonging to shipcaptains.
Others reminded me of Historic Lewes, Delaware.
The park is spacious and with a bandstand.
The Art Deco Palace Theatre brings local, regional, and national talent to the area.
During the week only a few stores are open, and believe me, we visited them. More posts coming your way. During the week-end everything is open for now until the season really gets quiet in November. They told me that only about 200 permanent residents are in the area. I remember back in the 70’s when I came to Bethany Beach, Delaware, when there were only 500.
To learn more about Cape Charles, please visit http://www.capecharlesbythebay.com.
Events: October 10th through October 12th is The 22nd Annual Eastern Shore Birding & Wildlife Festival. For more info., please visit www.esbirdingfestival.com.
And, on Saturday, October 10th is the Cape Charles Fall Festival….Downtown!! More info? Please check http://www.capecharlesbythebay.com.
You want quiet….you got it….you want friendly residents and shopwowners….You definitely Got It!!
And, don’t mind my friends….we were so happy that we had the town to ourselves in the evening.
September 4th, 2014
 
It started a few months ago, when Debbie contacted friends to see who wanted to embarc on a kayaking expedition to Chatham Vineyards in Machipongo, Virginia. This is Virginia’s Eastern Shore.
We were going to go with Southeast Expeditions. This kayaking experience can be enjoyed by all, from beginners to advance. The cost was $89 per person. This included kayaking, tour, and tasting at the winery, and a bottle of Church Creek for two. You may find more info. by visiting http://www.southeastexpeditions.net. Please call them at 757-331-2680. You can find them on Facebook.
We have all been saying what a nice summer this has been. Low humidity….not hot. But guess what? When the temperatures reached 92 degrees on Tuesday I was ready to start whining…..all the way to the winery. Ben was our guide. So nice and friendly and shall I say with plenty of patience.
Once we were on the water, it was great. Not too hot, just concentrating on Cindi and I not tipping over. This was a relaxing kayaking experience so our determination was to enjoy it to the fullest…..and hoping our arms would keep up!!!
We made it to the winery and were eager to explore.
Chatham Vineyards overlook Church Creek. Their label? Church Creek Wines. The land where the Chatham Farm is located was patented in 1640. The Federal period home was built in 1818.
Chatham Vineyars is owned and operated by the Wehner family on this historic Chatham Farm, which as been a working farm for 4 centuries. Jon Wehner is a second generation Virginia winegrower. They are open daily from April to December and then from January to March they close on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Address? 9232 Chatham Rd., Machipongo, VA 23405. Website? http://www.chathamvineyards.com. Tel. 757-678-5588.
The location is ideal for this vineyard…between the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay, benefitting from a moderate climate. The vineyards are high density in a European style. They contain 32,000 Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot vines.
The winery has state of the art equipment and French and American oak cooperage.
Our tasting began with a 2013 Church Creek Chardonnay, steel-fermented. Then, a 2013 Church Creek Chardonnay, oak-aged. Followed by a 2013 Church Creek Rose, which I thoroughly enjoyed. A 2012 Merlot, a Lot 12 Cabernet Franc, a 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon and a 2010 Late Harvest Dessert Wine.
Thanks so much to our Somelier….she was awesome!!
We relaxed outside, sipping some more wine. But, then, it was time to go….we needed to paddle our wine off! It was late in the day and it looked beautiful outside.
We paddled against the current but we made it back. So much fun!!
Until next post….the Second Season has begun!!
 
Note: Some info. for this post was taken from Chatham Vineyards.
September 3rd, 2014
 
A quick get-away, with an old friend, Cindi, and new soon to be new friends, took us on a kayak expedition to Chatham Winery, near Cape Charles, Virginia.
We met for sustance before our expedition at the Machipongo Trading Co., located at 13037 Lankford Hwy., Machipongo, VA 23405 Tel. 757-678-005. Lankford Highway is also Rt. 13. Many of you travel this route throughout the year, mostly in the winter as you try to go south for warmer temperatures.
It is only 20 minutes north of the Bridge-Tunnel, and across from the Barrier Islands Center.
Introductions were made and we proceeded to order lunch. Our kayak guide, Brandon, was getting our kayaks ready while we had lunch.
This place was a great stop. And, surprise, surprise….it was charming and quaint. Wi-Fi available, as well, so make yourself at home, will you?
Looking around I found gluten free beer and cider!! They also offer local wines.
And I bought Machipongo Morning Coffee by local Coffee Roaster, Eastern Shore Coastal Roasting Co. Cannot wait to try it.
Machipongo Trading Co. offers picnic provisions for any of your expeditions. You can also call ahead for carry out orders at 757-678-0005. Or, do like we did and enjoy sandwiches and paninis.
My Falafel Wrap was amazingly good with onions, spinach, cucumbers and tzatziki.
Since this was my first time with this group….I only took a few photos….did not want to scare them away. In the following posts, initiations had ended and they went with the flow.
Hours of operation for Machipongo Trading Co. are: Monday to Thursday from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Hungry while traveling Lankford Highway……this is a must stop for all kinds of goodies….healthy, not so healty (ice cream)…..and remember if you have a gluten allergy…..this is the place.
Have a great time!! Until next post.
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