March 12th, 2014
My dentists sent me flowers and they are gorgeous!! Don’t you get them from your dentists, as well?
Well, my relationship with my dentists go way back. It does help too that for the past few years it happens that my regularly scheduled appointments fall just a few days before my birthday. And no, I don’t do it on purpose. I usually go all out and announce my special date to the everyone in the office. I think a budget has been set up for my flowers.
Except this year it was one of those birthdays you don’t want to broadcast. It was a big one…..nevertheless Renee, Steve, Bruce, and the whole staff of Maplewood Dental Associates sent me such beautiful flowers. When you open my front door this is what you see.
I love going to the dentist. That’s right. I feel totally comfortable. I can even fall asleep. No fear like the majority of other people that just the thought of going to the dentist send chills through them. My father was a dentist so that probably helped too.
I can fully recommend Maplewood Dental Associates because they have always been so professional with my dental care all these years. They did also take care of my late husband, John, as well.
Maplewood is located at 18913 John J. Williams Hwy., Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. Tel. 302-645-6671. Website? http://www.rehobothbeachsmiles.com You can also find them on Facebook.
If you decide to make an appt. and become a patient…..don’t take it for granted that you will be getting flowers. Just be happy that you found someone that will take care of your beautiful smile.
Thanks Maplewood Dental, you deserved to be my post.
March 12th, 2014
Delaware is such a small state, but widely known to have a big heart. Downtown Rehoboth Beach is one square mile full of restaurants, shops, and galleries, and entertainment. Let’s not forget that it is a destination for year-round fun. A wide beach, an award-winning boardwalk…and even though the restaurants serve unique and amazing foods….the Boardwalk grub will have you come back again and again. It’s true.
“Get Down In Town” is such a fun event. On Friday, April 4th, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m., Rehoboth Beach Main Street will host this event that is now in its 4th year. It is a special evening of really great deals, accompanied with fantastic appetizers and desserts from your favorite restaurants inside participating downtown Rehoboth shops.
To be a part of this one-night charitable event of discounts and food, you can purchase $10 glow necklaces. Proceeds from the sale of the necklaces will go to Rehoboth Elementary School’s PTO and RICI which is Rehoboth Inspired Chefs’ Initiative. Glow necklaces can be purchased the night of the event or in advance at:
Azura Clothing, 139 Rehoboth Avenue
Bellmoor, 6 Christian Street
Carlton’s, 31 Rehoboth Avenue
Heidi Lowe Gallery, 328 Rehoboth Avenue
Rehoboth Beach Main Street, 28 Lake Avenue
Participants can also enter a drawing to win thousands of dollars in gifts and prizes from Rehoboth merchants.
This local fundraising event is for such a good local cause. The phrase “shop local, dine local” could not be more appropriate. If you have visited Rehoboth Beach, I am sure you have to agree that there is no better place where you can wine, dine, walk and shop with ease. After all that shopping, relaxing with friends for cocktails or dinner is always a must, and Rehoboth had plenty accommodations which include, hotels, and B & Bs.
More info? Please call 302-227-2772 or visit http://www.downtownrehoboth.com.
Have a great day!!
March 10th, 2014
For some time my friend Debbie has been telling me to stop at Dolce on one of my road trips. And, that’s exactly what I did the other day. It was cold and gray as it has been practically all winter, so entering Dolce in the Downtown Milford brought a smile to my face. Bakeries and coffee shops are a great combination. This is a trip worth taking. Only about 25 minutes or so north of Rehoboth Beach.
The heart and center of Milford is the Mispillion River which runs through the town. Main Street is Walnut, and Dolce is located at 36 N. Walnut St., Milford, DE 19963. Tel. 302-422-5760. Website? http://www.dolcebakery.com. The bakery is open everyday, but closes on Sunday. Their busiest day is Saturday.
 
The owners are Chuck Stanko and George Carroll. Besides delicious baked goods which by the way are all made in house from scratch and without any trans-fats, they also offer soups accompanied with a home baked roll. They also serve breakfast sandwiches, as well. You can visit the above mentioned website to see what soup Dolce will be serving on the day that you might want to visit.
For customers, Dolce offers comfortable seating and free Wi-Fi.
Dolce entered the 2014 Rehoboth Beach Chocolate Festival and were awarded 2 First Places and one Second Place. This is not the first time they have won. It has happened year after year.
 
The Gooey Chocolate Cookie….you see it here on my plate. It looks very simple, but once a bite is taken you will be hooked. That cookie took the First Place on the Cookie Category by a Bakery.
Another First Place was their Stick in the Mud Brownie. This chocolate brownie is topped with marshmallows and then topped with a chocolate ganache.
The new Philadelphia Butter Cake took the 2nd Place in the Bakery category.
It was great meeting Chuck and he graciously let me take photos. Check the cupcakes.
   
The Cheesecakes! And, Strawberry Granola Bars!
   
Other baked goods like the Bear Claw and Croissants looked so good!
I sipped my coffee which was exactly what I needed…a pick me upper late in the day. I had to go but I will be back….Milford is one destination I am interested discovering further.
 Dolce is open from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m.
March 7th, 2014
 
Breakfast is supposed to fuel your body for the chores ahead, an early morning ritual not to be missed…..The chore at hand was visiting the annual Philadelphia Flower Show. I could not wait…you know how it has been; cold, snowy, and gray. My friend, Jody, and I took off for Philly to make this a girls’ trip.
High Street is located at 308 Market St. in Old City. Tel. 215-625-0988 Website? http://www.highstreetonmarket.com
For breakfast we were to order at the counter, and then it would be brought to our booth. High Street opens for breakfast, lunch, and dinner…yes, they serve food all day long.
All pastries and breads are made in-house. They use locally milled flours and grains.
They also cure their meets…my breakfast was going to be made with this brown sugar cured pastrami.
The long hot peppers were already roasted and were also going to be part of my breakfast. Actually, I found them mild, but others have mentioned that they are hot. Needless to say they give a bit of a kick to an expectant palate.
My friend, Jody, decided on something that would stick to your ribs….oatmeal! It was cold in Philly. But, what she was not expecting was their her oatmeal was the best she had ever tasted…..It was Baked Oatmeal; stone cut organic Carolina oats, dried orchard fruit, oatmeal streusel. Delish!!
My son, who had decided to accompany us went for a more traditional breakfast. It was called the Italian Market Breakfast with Lancaster bologna, spicy Coppa, Roasted Broccoli Rabe, Old Bay Fried Potatoes, Farm fried eggs and homemade toasted bread. Also a winner!!
My usual question….What is the dish that is the most popular, the one that keeps customers coming back again, and again? Without hesitation it was the Pastrami & Hash. This breakfast sandwich was so impressive, with an awesome presentation and fabulous taste. It had shaved pastrami, spiced hash, roasted peppers and onions, farm egg, and Russian dressing. It was served on a board with a side dish of a long hot pepper and hot sauce made from those peppers, as well. The sauce some heat and added even more flavor. Loved it and would have it again in no time.
Fueld up and ready to attend the flower show….we were on our way.
March 5th, 2014
Oh yes!! Still cold and snowy. Looking foward to daylight savings on Sunday!! Life’s simple pleasures like a short getaway to the island of Culebra. My last post is from the beautiful Flamenco Beach.
Culebra is very laid back; you disconnect from the ordinary.
Club Seabourne is located on Fulladoza Bay, with its own private dock in case you arrive by boat. It is a boutique hotel. Tel. 787-742-3169 Website? http://www.clubseabourne.com
Relaxing by the pool or bar…
The restaurant? Guava….Caribbean Creative Fusion under Chef Maira Isabel.
So now that I have given an excuse to get rid of your coats and boots….all you need in Culebra is your bathing suit and flip flops!!
March 3rd, 2014
The snow continues as I write this post. An all day snow event. March has come in like a lion and we are all hoping it will leave like a lamb.
Warmer temperatures, preferably in a Caribbean island would be just the perfect Spring Get-A-Way. That’s what I am thinking about today. Culebra is the island I have just in mind to introduce you to, if you do not know it already.
Puerto Rico owns 2 islands: Vieques and Culebra. Vieques is now a bit more commercialized. Culebra is still just like I remember it so many years ago. Nothing has changed…still that quiet and tranquil atmosphere, with amazing beaches and topography.
There are several ways to get there, including flying from San Juan. But, the majority of people take the ferry. Puerto Rico owns the ferries, but a competitor has a private ferry which as of this writing I have a feeling is not going to be doing the trips unless something changes. The thing is that the private ferry is so much faster than the locally owned ferry. I will leave it at that. I experienced them both.
The ferry leaves from the Port of Fajardo. The local ferry will take almost 2 hours, at $2.25 per person. You also will find other passengers on the trip….local color with the fighting cock.
For the most part the trip is pretty good. But, the sea can get a little rough at times. Don’t worry, the captains are experienced. Leave the “mainland” and heading east, our ferry left at 5 p.m. Culebra is 17 miles east of Puerto Rico.
We arrived in Dewey….yes, there is another Dewey, also named after Admiral George Dewey. This is the center of the island on the west coast. It is where the ferries arrive and also where the airport is located.
Dewey has a handful of streets…the Culebrenses are friendly and are happy to answer questions. Culebra is 7 x 5 miles. The island has cliffs, sandy coral beaches, and mangrove forests.
Culebra has 10 beaches, 4 forests, 8 bays, 4 lagoons and 24 keys. It also has the Luis Pena Natural Reserve one of the best snorkeling spots in Culebra and just across from the private residence I was so lucky to be staying.
One of those beaches is amazing and if you are in Culebra just for the day…then it is a must. It is called Flamenco Beach.
When my husband and I used to visit Culebra so many years ago, it was just the beach. Now, you can find places to eat, like the Puertorican kiosks, shops and even a camping site.
Roosters and hens roam around the island…part of the local color. Following the path to beach….
Flamenco Beach is ranked among the best beaches in the Caribbean. It is the only beach in Culebra with lifeguards, showers, bathrooms and changing rooms.
Walking its coastline, you will come face to face with one of the 2 tanks on this beach. In 1939 the U.S. Navy began to use Culebra as a gunnery and bombing practice site. This ended in 1975 when the operations moved to the other island…Vieques. A lot of controversy never to be forgotten.
Near this tank…a great place for snorkeling.
The posts on Culebra do not end here…..lodging is next! Stay warm!! Spring is around the corner.
March 2nd, 2014
The combination of flavors is amazing….bacon, salt with a mixture of sugars and spices, giving them a kick. These bites are, definitely Oscar worthy. You can enjoy them dressed up with some bubbly or dressed down with your favorite brew.
Even though they take about 2 hours in the oven if you follow the recipe…you can accelerate the process by using a convection oven like I did.
This recipe is not my own by any means. I give credit to finding it in the cookbook by Millie LaRue & Mummy; Cooking with Friends. Website? http://www.millielarue.net.
SWEET SOUTHERN BACON BITES
1/2 tablespoon cayenne pepper (if you are daring 1 tablespoon would be great too)
2 cups light brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 pound thick-sliced bacon
Pre-heat oven to 250 degrees.
Mix cayenne pepper, brown sugar and cinnamon on a cookie sheet. I used 1/2 tablespoon and a mixture of sugars: raw sugar cane, and, a brown sugar blend.
Separate sliced bacon and press each slice firmly into the mixture until coated on both sides. Place coated bacon strips on a hot grill or rack of a smoker. I placed them on a roasting rack in my roaster. The recipe said to cook for about 2 hours. I started them on 250 degrees for about 45 minutes, then I changed the oven to convention cooking and raised the temperature to 325 degrees for another 35 minutes or so. You just have to play with the recipe if you need the oven for something else you might be wanting to cook. That’s what happened to me. Otherwise, I would have followed the directions.
I did not turn them over after an hour since the convention oven was doing the job.
When the slices are firm and turn a dark brown color, but not burned, they are done!! Cool them on the wire rack for just a minute or two. Please note that I only prepared 8 slices instead of the whole pound of bacon. And, that was a good thing, becaused we would have eaten them all….and that would not have been good.
Lift them carefully from the rack and cut in bite size pieces. Serve them on your favorite dish or bowl….they won’t last long. Enjoy!
March 1st, 2014
CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL – Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, aka, The Nation’s Summer Capital, is opening its season, like they have been doing for the past 24 years, with the Chocolate Festival. A one day event that brings to town many visitors to taste everything chocolate!! The sponsors for this event are Rehoboth Beach Main Street, http://www.downtownrehoboth.com, and The Friends of the Rehoboth Library, http://www.rehobothlibrary.org/about-us/friends-of-library.html.
Last year over 2,300 visitors attended. It takes place at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center, located in Downtown Rehoboth Beach. 11:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 1st.
 
Your $5 entry will include 5 tastings….extra tastings are .50 each. Children under 5 are free. There will be raffle prizes, vendors, and so much chocolate to try.
This young baker will probably be there, just like he has been before. Young but with a great future ahead of him if he keeps baking this way.
Categories for the event are cookies, brownies, pies, cheesecakes, candy, cake and most unusual.
While at the Chocolate Festival, please make sure to stop by the Village Improvement Association’s table. They are a big supporter of this event. Their bakers have a reputation for amazing baked goods. To know more about them, please visit http://www.rehobothbeachvia.org
GUMBO CRAWL-MARDI GRAS IN REHOBOTH BEACH – The fun does not stop at the Chocolate Festival…having dessert first is the best! You can then crawl over to the restaurants participating in the Gumbo Crawl, which will be taking place from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. $5 ballots for all your tastings. The restaurants are: Rigby’s, Dogfish Head, Arenas, MIXX, Cafe Azafran, The Frogg Pond, Purple Parrot Grill, Stoney Lonen, Mariachi, Seafood Shack and Nicola on the Avenue.
Sunday, March 2nd – THE CULTURE PEARL’S 22nd ANNUAL BUFFET EXTRAVAGANZA – An all day event, starting at Noon. Just one day of tastings. 2 hour seatings. Booked on the hour with last seating at 8 p.m. $34. Please call 302-227-8493. The Cultured Pear is located at..It is an iconic restaurant in Rehoboth Beach with delicious sushi, sashimi, Asian Cuisine, edamame bar, and much more. Great atmosphere. Love seating at the sushi bar!! The Cultured Pearl is located at 301 Rehoboth Avenue.
Please remember that on Monday, March 3rd, is business as usual at The Cultured Pearl with Sushi Nite!!
So, as you can see….Downtown Rehoboth Beach is definitely a destination this week-end……Spring is coming! Have a great day.
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