August 13th, 2009
The Crystal Restaurant is definitely a meeting place for my group of friends when we get together for breakfast. Pretty much there are 4 of us that get together; Debbie, Missy, Roberta and myself. But, in the summer months we might have Alice. Remember her? I walked with her a while back on the boardwalk and was posted on this blog. And, maybe her sister, Sheila, might join us too, or another Debbie from Lewes. What I am saying is that it is a comfortable restaurant for friends to get together and catch up.
Throughout this summer I have met friends there several times and even though I am not a big fan of sitting down for breakfast and ordering all the eggs and breads, etc., there is nothing better than the company of these women.
The Crystal Restaurant is located on 620 Rehoboth Ave., and even though there is another address that shows up when trying to locate the restaurant, I called them and they confirmed that their address is the one mentioned above. The tel. is 302-227-1088.
The Crystal has plenty of parking, but it gets crowded, more so, in the summer months. People even wait outside to get in. They move pretty fast so I don’t think you will have to wait long unless it is a Sunday. Just like everywhere else, everyone goes out for breakfast on Sunday.
Their menu is complete with all the breakfast foods including make your own omelet, breakfast sandwiches, seasonal fruit plate, sausages, scrapple, my favorite, and bacon.
I love their French toast and have ordered it plenty of times but this time I had their Greek omelet. I really would have liked to have had the chipped beef on toast but I was a good girl and did not order it. I think I told you some time ago that I am watching my figure.
Yeah, some times I watch it go downhill and some times I feel as it is a losing battle, but at the moment I am being good. Back to breakfast, some of the women, ordered scrambled eggs with sausage and some had the fried eggs. And, of course, there is the one that ordered the egg white omelet with no home fries, bread, or breakfast meat. Really, why bother?
Seriously, the food at Crystal is good, reasonable, consistent and the waiters are pretty busy trying to serve everyone expeditiously. It is definitely, a breakfast place but they are also open for lunch until 4:00 p.m. with a full bar. Take-out is available too.
I think that whether you are in Rehoboth Beach or Dewey Beach,you could make Crystal your breakfast hangout, just like we do, here at my beaches, sooo….until next time.
August 12th, 2009
Yesterday was a day spent in Baltimore, Maryland, or Charm City as it is also known. It was great seeing Powell and Louise, my in-laws. After such a nice visit we decided to head home to my beaches.
I get the feeling of home when I am crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Even though there is so much traffic this time of the year, you are still in wonder of how vast it is. And the other thought in my mind as I am crossing the bridge is crabs.
As you come into Kent Island, I would like to inform you that this is the largest island in the Chesapeake Bay. To the east, there is a narrow channel called Kent Narrows and this channel barely separates Kent Island from the Delmarva Peninsula, where I live.
As I am driving yesterday, I remember how much I enjoy stopping at a restaurant called The Narrows. Their physical address is 3023 Kent Narrows Way South, Grasonville, MD 21638 and their telephone is 410-827-8113. If you are traveling on Rt. 50 or 301 take exit 42. It is one of the restaurants in that area where we stop if we are going or coming from Baltimore.
I have 2 recipes from The Narrows that were given some years ago, but I am not sure if, when chefs have changed, so have the recipes. Nevertheless, both of them are very good and here they are:
Cream of Crab Soup
1 lb. lump, or backfin crabmeat
1/4 cup grated onion
1 medium carrot, grated
2 tbsps. unsalted butter
2 tbsps. all-purpose flour
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup half-and-half
1 tbsp. dry sherry
1 or 2 dashes of Tabasco
Salt (optional)
Garnish: 1 tbsp. chopped parsley and Dry Sherry
Remove any shells from crabmeat and set it aside. In a soup pot, soften the onion and carrot in butter over low heat. After vegetables have cooked about 10 minutes, sprinkle them with the flour and cook about 5 minutes, being careful not to let the flour brown.
Stir in chicken broth and half-and-half. Add sherry and Tabasco. Cook, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes. Add crabmeat and heat thoroughly for about 5 minutes. Adjust seasonings.
Serve soup garnished with chopped parsley and pass a pitcher of sherry.
Makes 4 servings
The Narrows Crab Cakes
1 lb. jumbo crabmeat, picked over
1 tbsp. fine cracker meal
1 egg
1 tbsp. dry mustard
1 tsp. Old Bay seasoning
1 dash Worcestershire sauce
1 dash Tabasco
Juice of 1 lemon
3-4 tbsps. mayonnaise
Mix all ingredients and seasonings together, except crabmeat and cracker meal. Place crabmeat in another bown and pick through to remove all loose shells and cartilage. Gently mix cracker meal into the crabmeat. And, also very gently fold wet mixture into the crab. Using an ice cream scooper, scoop out mixture onto baking sheet.
Set oven to broil and broil until lightly browned. Approximately 4-6 minutes. Watch carefully so as not to burn.
Makes 4 servings.
Note: The Narrows Restaurant ships the crabcakes and cream of crab soup all over the United States.
August 10th, 2009
 El Dorado, Mahi Mahi, Dolphin-it means the same. This unpretentious restaurant opened its doors 3 years ago and we started going there about 2 years ago, which is when we discovered it.
I was so happy to go there the other night, early in the evening, with Matt and Michael. The restaurant was crowded and the patrons seemed to be enjoying themselves. It was really so good to see Aquiles, the owner, do well. It has been pretty much word of mouth and I guess people have been talking. He really has been working hard and his broad smile and friendly attitude are winning combinations.
El Dorado is located on 18766 John J. Williams Highway, which is also Rt. 24 in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. As you make the turn into Rt. 24, by McDonalds, the strip mall, where El Dorado is, will be a little further up on the right, by the first traffic light. The telephone is 302-645-1596 in case you want to order take out. The web site is www.eldoradorehoboth.com Hours of operations are 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday.
I always speak Spanish to Aquiles. Si, en este restaurante se habla Espanol e Ingles. Aquiles is from Guadalajara and has mastered the Baja California syle of preparing fish and shrimp tacos.
Besides the tacos, they have burritos made from fish or shrimp, Baja-style or grilled chicken or steak, spicy pulled pork or veggie. Then they have their specialty burritos with names like Puerto Vallarta, which is grilled shrimp and chorizo with guacamole, romaine, Chipotle Sauce and Pico de Gallo. Or, the Tampico, which is grilled crabmeat with guacamole, romaine, Chipotle Sauce and Pico de Gallo. They have quesadillas and guacamole, salads and combo meals. There is also a children’s menu available.
El Dorado serves Mexican beers and our own local Dog Fish Head. They also have homemade Margaritas as well as Sangria made with Chianti, which makes it a little dry, but not too sweet. If you don’t feel like you want to have an alcoholic beverage, then you don’t have to worry because they have plenty of soft drinks. And, if you are going that route then try the Jarritos, which are soft drinks from Mexico, made with natural, pure cane sugar. The flavors are pineapple, mandarin, grapefruit soda, mango and tamarind. Tamarind is my favorite. I love that fruit. Tart and tangy.
This is the type of restaurant that will need no planning to get to. Come as you are type of place it is. Don’t want to cook or just came from the beach or got out of the movies late or just came from work and are exhausted. Perfect place if you have young people visiting, because the restaurant is very affordable and casual.
What make the desserts special at El Dorado? Well, they are made from scratch at the restaurant and they will be hard to resist. They have the ever present flan which is a Spanish custard and the cake is called Tres Leches (3 Milks).
I hope you stop by and try it when you are visiting Lewes, Rehoboth, or Dewey Beach. It is close to all those beach towns.
I almost forgot to tell you that if you are on a gluten free diet, they will be able to prepare dishes for you. Just tell them when you are ordering and don’t order the burritos since it is a flour tortilla but any of the grilled meats or fish would be fine. And, their rice and beans are gluten free.
So……hasta luego amigos y buen provecho!!!
August 9th, 2009
The following are my own highlights of some of the many events that will be going on this coming week.
Please check my posts under Categories and then Events for information on already posted events.
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
Thursday, August 13th is Cinema by the Surf, at the Bandstand. It is free admission. The Rehoboth Film Society is presenting Mama Mia and it starts at dusk. This film is PG-13 and seats are on a first come, first serve basis. For more information on the Rehoboth Film Society and its memberships, events and what it is all about, go to their web site www.rehobothfilm.com
Friday, August 14th, the Rehoboth Beach Recreation Dept. is sponsoring Magic Fun with Jack & Trixie. It is to be held at the Tot Lot by Lake Gerard on the north end of the Boardwalk. It will start at 7:00 p.m. In case of bad weather, it will be held at the Grove Park by the roundabout and behind the Chamber of Commerce and the time then will be 7:15 p.m.
On, Saturday, August 15th Jewelry Designer Stephanie Hill will be holding a Jewelry Trunk Show from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Her specialty is handcrafted necklaces, bracelets and earrings. It will be held at Jeff West Home, 413 Rehoboth Ave., tel 302-227-3635 and the web site www.jeffwesthome.com
The Rehoboth Art League’s 36th Annual Outdoor Fine Arts & Crafts Exhibit will be on Saturday, August 15th and Sunday, August 16th. It will be from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and the location is 12 Dodds Lane in Henlopen Acres. Their tel. is 302-227-8408 and the web site is www.rehobothartleague.org
Also, on Saturday, August 15th will be the First Rehoboth Watermelon Festival. It will start at 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Grove Park and the Rehoboth Beach Museum on 511 Rehoboth Ave. There will be an entry fee of $2 for adults and $1 for children. The entry fee will also include admission to the Rehoboth Beach Museum. There will be watermelon seed spitting (really?) and eating contests. Available food will be there for purchase.
The following information is from www.rehomain.com “In the 1920’s and 1930’s, vacationing families in Rehoboth purchased watermelons from roving produce salesmen called “hucksters”. Most families did not have ice boxes and refrigerators were not yet common. When they bought a watermelon, people carved their initials in the melon and stored them in the ice house.” That tradition is the celebration for the festival.
At the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand, you will find this week-end the following performances:
Saturday, August 15th at 8:00 p.m. – U.S. Army Field Band and Soldier’s Chorus. It is the premier touring musical representation for the U.S. Army. Their web site is www.army.millfieldband.com
Sunday, August 16th – Hindsight 2-20. It is also at 8:00 p.m. This is the Cape Henlopen District “Home Band”. In this group you will find teachers and administrators raising money for the Cape Henlopen Education Foundation. Their music is Southern Rock, British Rock, and Motown. You know the tunes, don’t you?
Lewes, Delaware
On Tuesday, August 11th, there is a concert in Stango Park, behind the Lewes Library and the performers will be Tydewater (American Roots). It starts at 7:00 p.m. The address is 110 Adams St., off of King’s Highway. Please bring a chair and don’t forget the bug’s spray.
On Thursday, August 13th is Lewes Step out at 5:30 p.m. on Lewes Beach 1. This is doing something healthy for yourself.
At the Villages of Five Points, on Sunday, August 16th, the event will be 33 1/3 Classic Rock and it starts at 7:00 p.m. Again remember to bring a chair and bug’s spray.
Dewey Beach, Delaware
Monday, August 10th the movie shown at Dagsworthy Street and the Beach will start at 8:30 (dusk). This week’s movie will be Shark Tale. In Case of bad weather, please check with the Life Saving Station on Dagsworthy St. or WGMD 92.7 FM.
Wednesday is Bonfire on the Beach at Dagsworthy St. and the Beach from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. Bring chairs, the family and marsmallows. Again, in case of bad weather check with the Life Saving Station on Dagsworthy St. or WGMD 92.7 FM.
Saturday and Sunday, August 15th and 16th will be the East Coast Skim Championships. Please check the web site www.skimonline.com for information on its history, pro-files, where to stay, how to enter, how heats are run, etc.
Bethany Beach
Tuesday, August 11th – Children’s Theater – Alice in Wonderland. Two shows at 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Location – The Town Hall. The tickets are free while they last and the limit is 6 tickets. Pick up tickets at 8:30 a.m.
The Bandstand
Events start at 7:30 unless otherwise noted. The hot line is 302-539-5484.
Friday, August 14th – U.S. Navy Commodores – Jazz. This is the Navy’s premier Jazz ensemble.
Saturday, August 15th – Over Time – Dance Music
Sunday, August 16th – Dakkota – Country Western
Fenwick Island, Delaware
From August 8th until August 15th is the Little League Senior League World Series at the Lower Sussex Little League Park. The series consists of 4 International teams, 5 U.S. teams. One of the teams is from Sussex County. Contact Martin Donovan at info@district3.org
At the Freeman Stage at Bayside on 31750 Lakeview Dr. (Rt. 54 & Rt. 20). Tel. 302-436-3015 and web site www.freemanstage.com
On Thursday, August 13th at 7:00 p.m. is Sankota African Dance. It is open to the public and free.
Friday, August 14th at 7:00 p.m. is the Chesapeake Brass Band
Saturday, August 15th at 10:00 a.m. will have Cascading Carlos performing a high energy juggling act with an educational theme.
Ocean City, Maryland
Family Beach Olympics on Tuesday, August 11th on 27th Street Beach. Contests for all ages and the time will be 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, August 11th at 7:30 p.m. – Location will be Sunset Park on South Division St. on the Bayside. It is a free concert and the performers will be Ashcraft & Saltwater Cowboys
Sunday, August 16th will be Sundaes in the Park. Location – Northside Park on 127 St. and the Bay. There will be music and you can create your own ice cream sundae for a small fee. For more information, please call 800-626-2326.
The Art League of Ocean City Exhibit and Receptions is open to the public and free of charge. It is open on Tuesdays-Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and Fridays-Sundays from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. It has exhibits from local and regional artists. Their web site is www.artleagueofoceancity.org
All of my beach towns have great entertainment and restaurants and you name it, we have it, but the important thing is that you are coming here on vacation, so take a step back, relax and enjoy it.
August 8th, 2009
The suggestions for Reading by the Sea were given by a good friend, Dick, who lives in Baltimore, Maryland.
There are times that you just want to curl up with a good book and forget what is around you, whether you are on vacation or not.
Dick mentions that he first recommends a book that he just, and finally, has read – Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”. In his own words he says that it has to be the best written love story of English literature. He was amused, enchanted, could not put it down, and nothing in the least way sexy but the writing left him gasping in admiration.
He mentions 2 reviews pulled from Amazon and he agrees with them. I am not going to rewrite that here because you can look it up in the Amazon’s web site.
Both books are set in the WWII resistance, one light, one noir, but they are impossible to put down once you start. These books are mysteries that engage you in trying to figure out what happened. They will transport you to Europe, where Dick said he would rather be at the moment. He mentions too that the first book is slyly resonant of Jane Austen’s “Pride & Prejudice”.
The books Dick is talking about are:
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
A Good Death
I would like to thank Dick for sending this information. I hope he will send us some more book reviews in the future.
August 7th, 2009
You might have these ingredients at hand, but if not, get them on Saturday morning. These muffins are delicious. Have them with your favorite coffee or tea in the morning as you wonder which of the events to attend this week-end. There are a lot of them in all of my beach towns, from Lewes, Delaware to Ocean City, Maryland and I have posted them. All you have to do is look under categories and then under events you will find what I thought would be interesting to attend. There are outdoor fairs, walks around galleries, church fundraising events, etc. And, of course, the beach is always an alternative on a beautiful sunny day.
Pub Coconut Muffins
2 packages Washington Muffin Mix
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/3 cup coconut
2 eggs
2/3 cup water
1 tsp. extract of coconut, orange, lemon, almond, rum or banana
Those extracts are all good but my favorites are coconut and almond.
Mix all ingredients together. Bake according to directions on box of muffin mix.
This recipe could not get any easier. Well, maybe if someone made them for you, it could.
This was Gayle’s recipe and I hope you make it your own.
August 6th, 2009
On a rainy night in the Delmarva Peninsula, Debbie, Peyton, Brennan and I decided that a few rain drops were not going to stop us from having an evening where we could enjoy one of our favorite pastimes, which, you guessed it, is tasting the flavors of the different restaurants in our beach towns. The traffic was testing our patience, but we made it and even though it was early in the evening, in Ocean City, the parking was crowded and Liquid Assets was alive.
The address for Liquid Assets is 94th St. and Coastal Highway. Their tel. is 410-524-7037. The web site is www.ocliquidassets.com and it is full of information, even recipes. This restaurant is located just past the 94th street if you are coming from points north. Once you are inside, you forget that you are, actually, right by a highway and yes, in a strip mall.
And, that is when you start asking yourself if you are in a restaurant or a liquor store. The concept is different and I have not seen it here in the beaches. There is a bar in the first room as you come in and there are tables and a few sofas with cocktail tables, as well. Around the walls you will find wine bottles and other types of spirits. We felt we were in a wine cellar. We were seated in this big room but there were customers coming into the “liquor store/restaurant” just to buy liquor. Our table was in the middle of the action. There was another dining area adjacent to where we were sitting, with an additional bar and that room was more private. It even had more of a wine cellar feel.
We proceeded to order some drinks and check the menu. I have been to this restaurant before, and have always enjoyed it and hope this time it would not be any different. For an appetizer, we ordered Pan Roasted Mussels which had aged chorizo, shallots, garlic and ciabatta (bread). The broth was great. We also ordered the House Made Hummus & Tapenade. That was delicious too. For our entree we all ordered different things like Seared Scallops & Mushroom Risotto, Clam Bake, Stuffed Tomatoes with Crab and Beef Skewers. We were happy with our food and its presentation and in no time we were finished. The waitress was very nice and not intrusive; cordial and there when we needed her.
What really made this evening special was the company. No food will ever be good enough if the people you are sharing it with are not enjoying themselves as much as you are. The conversation was interesting, fun and relaxing.
Soon we had to leave since the night was still young and some of our party was off to another event. But, it won’t be long until we get together again.
Note: Prices at Liquid Assets were good.
We did not have dessert since we were satisfied with our meal so why not include the following cake whose recipe was given by another Debbie:
Peachy Crunch Cake
2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsps. Salt
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/4 cups oil
2 eggs
2 cups sugar
2 ripe peaches, thinly sliced
1 cup chopped nuts
1 tsp. vanilla
1/3 cup Applejack brandy
Combine dry ingredients and set aside. Mix oil, eggs, and sugar; add flour mixture.
Add peaches, nuts, vanilla and brandy; mix with electric mixer. Batter will be stiff. Spread in a lightly greased 10″ tube or Bundt pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 50 – 55 minutes
August 5th, 2009
Exploring some of the town of Lewes, Delaware, is what I did on Wednesday, and I am telling you, this town is one of those towns that it does not matter what season we are in, it is really pretty in all of them. And, what a resume this town has. “The first town in the First State”!! Delaware was the first state to ratify the constitution, and Lewes was the earliest town founded in the state.
So, when someone tells you that Lewes is just a sleepy town, don’t kid yourself. This town does not and I repeat, does not roll up its sidewalks at dusk. It just gets started.
Lewes is very accessible. If you are coming from Ocean City, Fenwick Island, Bethany Beach, Dewey Beach or Rehoboth Beach on Coastal Highway (Rt. 1), there are several ways to go into the town. From Rt. 1 take Exit 9 East and follow the sign that says Cape May-Lewes Ferry. You will access Kings Highway and will pass the Cape Henlopen High School and its new beautiful building to be inaugurated this Fall. You will veer to the left and continue to follow the sign that says Historic Town. Follow the road and turn right on Savannah Rd. and then make a left turn on Second St.
Or, just follow Rt. 1 or Coastal Highway and turn right on Savannah Rd. (by the Arby’s) and follow the road until you reach the town and turn left on Second St.
Lewes does not have a Main St. Second St. is the main street and where the majority of the restaurants and shops are. Pretty much is all meter parking.
I was hungry for lunch, so my first stop was Cafe Azafran, located on 109 Market St., behind King’s Ice Cream, which is on Second St. (more on that ice cream store later). Their tel. is 302-644-4446. Their web site is www.CafeAzafran.com. This restaurant is Mediterranean and they also include tapas, which are small plates for sharing.
The lunch menu just made me want to come back for dinner.
I had the Marco’s Chef Salad and it was delicious. It had poached chicken and Spanish Serrano ham over field greens, endive, artichokes and hard boiled egg, roasted peppers, tomatoes and olives. Their dressing was balsamic vinaigrette. On top, it had a shaved Pecorino cheese. I had a refreshing iced tea for my beverage but they have an assortment of daily wine offerings from Italy, Spain and Chile. They also have homemade Sangria, Mango Bellinis and Espresso Martinis.
Plenty of desserts too like Affogato Mocha which is a dark chocolate gelato with espresso, Kahlua, Lewes Dairy whipped cream (local cream) and shaved chocolate.
The prices are very reasonable too. For more information, do check their web site so that you can see what they offer on their dinner menu.
Since I did not have any coffee after my lunch, I decided to march myself to King’s Ice Cream on 201 Second St. and have a taste of coffee ice cream, which people rave about.
King’s Ice Cream is a great place to go after a meal or just to have an ice cream and people watch from the benches outside their store. There is indoor seating too. King’s Ice Cream started in Milton, Delaware, in 1972. It is a family operated business and all ice cream is homemade. If you come to the Delaware beaches and you mention King’s ice cream, everyone knows what you are talking about. In case you need to contact King’s Ice Cream, the tel. is 302-645-9425.
The first store I decided to visit in this quaint town was the Beach Jetty. Everyone calls it the Jetty and their location is 123 Second St. The tel. is 302-645-4606. Maryanne and Pam were great with the customers and they had plenty of them. This store is a women’s shop with neat jewelry, and beautiful and casual clothing. Certainly, a must stop shop.
The next store on my walk around Lewes was Shorebreak. The owner, Josh, who is a local and native of Lewes, told me that he had just opened about 3 weeks ago. The address is 115 Savannah Rd. (Savannah and Second St.) and the tel. is 302-645-8488. The web site is www.shorebreaklewes.com, but it is still under construction. He has casual clothing for men, perfect for the kind of casual lifestyle, here at the beaches.
Back on Second St., I stopped at Deanna’s. This store is also a women’s shop that has clothing for a wide variety of tastes and styles. She has very nice accessories and gifts as well as a large selection of Dansko shoes, which are very popular. Her addres is 113 Second St. and the tel. is 302-644-1112. Deanna and her daughter are always ready to assist you and help with your selections.
Now, if you decide to stay in Lewes, there are more than a few places to stay. Here are a couple of them:
The Beacon Motel is located on 514 East Savannah Rd. For reservations, please call 1-800-735-4888 or 302-645-4888. This is a non-smoking motel. Major credit cards are accepted. For more information, you may go on their web site www.beaconmotel.com
Another place to stay is Hotel Rodney (Boutique Hotel) and it is located on 142 Second St. Their tel. is 302-645-6466 and the web site is www.hotelrodneydelaware.com You can walk to shops, restaurants, spas and museums.
I have only touched the surface of what this town has to offer. I will be back with more information soon.
In the meantime, visit Lewes and enjoy this historic town.
 
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