May 17th, 2011
“Sometimes the best treasures can be found in the most unlikely places.”
Some like to cruise the malls; others, like me, are in search of those small stores, boutiques, and yes, consignment stores that are usually located off the beaten path. Finding the words, used; slightly used; and consignment will get my attention.
It was not always like that. I used to think that consignment shops were the discarded items nobody really wanted. Think again, they might have been discarded by someone for whatever reasons, but they are certainly someone else’s treasures.
Consignments stores have gotten very popular. What are you looking for? At times what you are looking for, it is not on your first visit to a consignment shop. The good thing about these shops is that the majority of the owners will be more than happy to call you or send you an e-mail if what you are looking for happens to fall into their hands.
I stopped at Seaquels the other day. It is located at 9 Atlantic Ave., (Rt. 26) in Ocean View, DE 19970. It is about 1 1/2 miles west of the town of Bethany Beach. Tel. is 302-829-8636. You can find them on Facebook. E-mail is seaquels@gmail.com.
Being that Seaquels is a consignment shop, the merchandise moves quickly. In reality you can stop every day and see something new. Never boring; always interesting and fun. On this particular day the merchandise was moving quickly.
The store is owned by two friends, Cindy and Kathy. One or the other is always there. They have about 700 consigners, which is a lot. The majority of the merchandise is on consignment. But, they do have new items like tea towels, rugs, jewelry and Bethany Beach bags.
I took so many pictures. So, are you ready to go shopping?
The entrance
Wicker – For some reason they had gotten plenty of wicker pieces by Lloyd/Flanders who since 1983 has been known for excellent quality. Cushion fabric is suitable for outdoor use.
Art
Stools
Furniture pieces. A sofa, headboards, desk and furniture.
Do you see anything you like or need? Give Cindy or Kathy a call at 302-829-8636. They’ll hold it for you.
Hope you found something…..talk to you later….
Oops…I forgot to tell you. Everything is very affordable. For real.
March 14th, 2011
One of the best thing about being in a small coastal town or a small town for that matter, is that as you walk and enter different shops you become familiar with the friendly shopkeeppers. A winning smile and a friendly disposition is all it takes.
I was walking on Atlantic Ave. the other day and right across from the Veterans Park by the Intracoastal and next to the Old School Bakery, a lady was coming out of the store. I stopped and asked her if she owned the shop and she said yes. I praised the beautiful colors and asked if I could come in.
Varietai is located at 812 E. Atlantic Ave. in Delray Beach. Tel. 561-455-2767. E-mail address is varietai.delray@gmail.com. The shopkeepper? Michele Ramirez. If you have been in Delray for some time, you might remember a store called Durango’s Attic. Well, she was the owner of that store. About 3 months ago she opened Varietai. I had seen it and thought it looked great from the outside. Therefore, it was time to check it out.
As you come into the store there is a lot to absorb. Just like the name of Varietai, there is plenty of variety. If would be hard not to be able to find something for your home, for a girlfriend, teacher, you name it; she has something for everyone. She has new items but there are also plenty of items on consignment, as well.
As I browsed a unique collection of furniture, art, lamps and jewelry, my eyes were gravitating to the floor. The painted floor was done by Michele. The floor was cement and it was covered from corner to corner with art; the koi taking center stage.
Michele also paints on glass and it is for sale, as well.
There is a collection of very attractive jewelry from Australia; the colors and stones unique.
Michele store is warm; not fussy. Again, I have to mention the colors because they are bright and a definition of what South Florida is all about.
Varietai offers a great collection of pillows. Michele said the pillows are becoming very popular and they are very well priced.
And here are the rest of the pictures so that you can she what can be found in this very well stocked shop.
If you have any questions, please call Michele at the above mentioned telephone number or you can also e-mail at varietai.delray@gmail.com.
Talk to you later……
March 11th, 2011
My driver, Arturo, was being picked up by his own driver, Frankie. Going to Miami he was. I had one more place to show him this a.m. That was Way Beyond Bagels, located on 16850 Jog Rd., Delray Beach, FL 33446. Tel. 561-638-1320. Website? www.waybeyondbagels.com.
His comment was. We need to come back when it is not crowded so that I can take pictures. I answered; fat chance, it is always crowded. Still Way Beyond Bagels is able to serve very quickly.
I had to take the picture of the large whitefish. Among all the other delicacies, it looked very impressive. I wrote a post on Way Beyond Bagels on 2/9/11. If you would like to see it, just click on the month of February, 2011, on the left hand side of this website and scroll down to the date.
Our choices this morning were; my usua,l which is the chopped liver with the works. Never fails; delicious.
Arturo had his first taste of Nova with the works, as well. His comment? “Ese sandwichito me cayo bien. Muy bueno.” Yes, when we are together, we do speak Spanish.
We were happy and ready to face the day. Gorgeous; but is it going to ever get warm when I visit Delray?
See you…talk to you later….
March 1st, 2011
I was tired tonight and did not even know what I wanted to eat. I had already decided that I was not going to write tonight. Let people read my post earlier today about the Children’s Beach House Golf Challenge. A worthy cause.
Then, my husband suggested we go to Outback Steakhouse. This restaurant is, literally, 2 minutes from my house in Rehoboth Beach. The address is 19917 Sea Blossom Blvd., Tel. is 302-227-4858 and the website is www.outback.com.
The very first time I went to an Outback Steakhouse was with Cindi, Tyler, John and Brandon. These boys were going to play lacrosse in Australia. They were in 8th or 9th grade. Cindi and I thought it would be so cool to take them to an Australian theme restaurant while they were in training in Conneticut. On and off I have been to Outback restaurants. Good portions, consistent food and moderate prices.
No, I did not take pictures of my rib eye or my husband’s fillet. I am telling you I was not in the mood. The phone kept ringing and the food came too fast. At first they took the food back so that we could finish our salad. Then, it was brought in again.
Then, T.J. came into the picture to ask us how everything was going and to apologize for the rush. There were not too many people left at that hour and he took the time to speak to us and made us feel comfortable. He has been working for Outback for 9 years; 3 of those here in Rehoboth Beach.
So, of course, we talked about glutens. Outback does have a gluten free menu. We asked him to order gluten free hard cider and beer. He said the restaurant gets a fair amount of people with gluten allergies.
I want to thank T.J. for being so gracious. To our waitress, thank you, as well. Sorry, but I did not have her name. Their friendly approach is was made me write this post; they made our evening. Thanks again.
A blog is a diary and even though this evening was not about blogging, well, you know how it is. I cannot keep my mouth shut.
Have a good one…talk to you later….
February 21st, 2011
We did not know what the weather was going to do today, but Paula and I did not care. All we wanted to do was sit, have a cup of coffee and probably a bite to eat for breakfast. Yes, we had to catch up. She is part of that group of friends that are considered my “partners in crime”.
We decided to go to The Gallery Espresso. Neither Paula nor I had been there. Downtown Rehoboth was crowded. Long week-ends are usually pretty busy this time of the year even if it is cold.
The Gallery Espresso is located at 70 Rehoboth Ave., in the 1st Street Station. Tel. 302-231-2113. There is a website, http://www.thegalleryespresso.com. I tried to visit the website but did not open up. They could be working on it so I am going to confirm that it is the right one.
This is a coffee shop but it has an added twist; an art gallery and retail items. That side of the coffee shop is being set up so not everything was in place. They are going into their 3rd year in this location.
During the warmer months you can enjoy outdoor seating; a few tables are available. Please note that they serve all day breakfast and lunch.
The coffee shop is owned by John and Judy. John took care of us this morning. I did not know what to order. They had burritos, egg sandwiches, crepes, hot sandwiches, grilled wraps, salads and grilled paninis. For the young at heart they have oatmeal, grilled cheese, grilled peanut butter, peanut butter and jelly and peanut butter and fluff.
At first I wanted a crepe but they were dessert crepes. John suggested the grilled panini. I had an Egg’n Cheese Panini; swiss and ham on herbed grilled multigrain panini. It was pretty big. I don’t know why I say this because I really ate the whole thing. It was nicely grilled and the combination of swiss cheese, ham and eggs, well, you know how it is…good!!
Paula was not that far behind because she chose the French Toast. These were big slices of French bread with buttered maple syrup. She did not have any problems eating this either. I love French toast when is made with French bread; a different flavor and consistency.
Coffee and chatting. My coffee was bold, served in a large cup. Their espresso is imported from Italy. You can buy their brand of coffee right there, as well.
I could not believe we were there for over 3 hours solving the world problems, and also our own.
Then we took a look at a dish going by. They were beautiful crepes. I just got up and went to the next door table and asked them if I could take a picture of the Banana Caramel Crepes. There were 2 crepes filled with fresh bananas, Ghiradelli caramel sauce and whipped cream. They really did look delicious.
I always approach the gluten free factor and John told me that this summer they are planning to offer some gluten free items.
The Gallery Espresso was relaxing; perfect place to work on your computer, read the paper; or just enjoy another day at the beach.
Talk to you later…..soon….
February 21st, 2011
Last September 9, 2010, I went to dinner with friends to a very popular restaurant in Rehoboth Beach called Eden. You can read this post if you click on the month of September on the left hand side of this website and scroll down to the date. On that night I happened to look across the street and saw a new restaurant that I did not know about. It was JAM; also owned by Eden; recently opened. A mental note to visit this restaurant some time soon.
Well, it has been more than a few months so on Friday, Linda, Harry, John and I decided to check it out. I had previously called to find out if they were aware of gluten allergies. They said yes and to inform the waitress.
JAM is located at 20 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. Tel. is 302-226-5266. Website? www.jambistro.com. It is open Thursdays and Fridays from 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 11:100 a.m. E-mail is info@edenrestaurant.com.
Linda and Harry are game to try something new even though at times I see a hesitation when I suggest to go to a new place. It was pretty funny when a couple of years ago I took them to the Grove Market in Bishopville, MD. Linda did not know what to think when we arrived.
On Saturday, it was the perfect night to go out. We needed to catch up. When the 4 of us get together is non-stop talking and laughter.
I had no preconceived ideas about JAM. Did not even read a review; I wanted to see for myself.
A flight down a set of stairs and then you enter to a surprise. From the outside JAM is so deceiving. I thought it would be small but it was not. A large room with tables scattered throughout and tablecloths. A partition divided a bar with tables set for dinner. We decided to sit in the larger dining room. The colors and art were very pretty.
JAM is a casual restaurant. We live at the beach; it should be that way.
Amy was our waitress and she was very friendly. Throughout our meal she stopped at the table to see if we needed anything; very unobtrusive. She let us talk and talk and talk.
At JAM you can order every wine by the glass, but what got rave reviews was the Dirty Martini. It came just like a dirty martini should; cloudy.
A few appetizers were ordered:
Crispy smashed firgerlings with smoked bacon and vermont cheddar, Old Bay and tartar sauce. They were crispy and you could definitely taste the Old Bay.
Shrimp dumplings, lemongrass broth, green, yuzu/truffle dressing. Yuzu is a sour Japanese citrus fruit; the rind predominantly used. Seasoned well with a nice flaky crust.
House made meatballs, tomato gravy and shaved parmesan was another appetizer ordered, but Linda has been perfecting meatballs at home and thought hers were better.
I went with the $30 prix fixe menu and I chose the roasted carrot and ginger soup with fried parsnips chips. It was delicious and I hope I can get the recipe.
More wine and more dry martinis followed. Then for our entrees we ordered.
Grilled Pork Chop and a side of broccolini over mashed potatoes. It looked beautiful. Harry said it was delicious; not dry and great gravy.
Linda had the Pappardelle Bolognese which was a house made pasta with shaved pecorino and olive oil. I think she liked it but, again, she has been experimenting a lot with her own Bolognese sauce and she thought hers was so good. She is inviting us to sample her Italian cooking. A post will be coming soon.
John and I chose the Grilled Whole Silver Snapper that came over jasmine rice, garlic broccolini and a preserved orange vinaigrette. Amy suggested we had this entree and it truly was delicious. It was a white flaky fish with mild flavor; seasoned and cooked to perfection.
A word of caution. If you do not like to see a whole fish then don’t order it. That has never bothered me. Also if you don’t like the idea of picking thrugh fishbones, then don’t order it either. You will be missing a great tasting fish, though.
We had to try the desserts and a outrageous dark chocolate brownie was ordered with vanilla bean ice cream, and caramel krispies. The brownie was dense and sweet, just as it should be.
My Key Lime Pie was also perfect. Tart; not too sweet, just the way I like it.
Coffee and laughter was the perfect ending to a perfect evening……friends, always there….I love it that way….
Talk to you later…
P.S. I must be hitting all the restaurants at the right time because to tell you the truth most of them have been good with just a few having bad nights. I hope that’s what they had.
February 9th, 2011
My status is: I am on a quest; to find the best gluten free pizza. But, the reality is that there is no comparison to the real thing. Thankful for the fact that restaurants are trying their best? You bet!!!
In the past year as I visited Delray I noticed Mellow Mushroom. They are pizza bakers but they also have calzones, hoagies, appetizers, salads and lots of different types of beer. It seems that they do draw a nice crowd, whether is for lunch or dinner. It was not going to happen since it is a pizza joint and my husband has a gluten allergy, therefore, he has to eat gluten-free. So, I forgot about them.
Surprise, surprise. I got an e-mail that listed different restaurants throughout the U.S. with gluten free items in their menu. Mellow Mushroom was listed. I called them and they said that they offered gluten-free pizza every day.
This past Monday we paid them a visit to see for ourselves. My husband just wanted a thin, crispy crust pizza. He said it would make his year if he got that.
Mellow Mushroom is located on 25 S.E. 6th Ave., Delray Beach, FL 33483. Tel. 561-330-3040. Website is www.mellowmushroom.com/delraybeach. You will also find them on Facebook and Twitter.
As you come into the restaurant you will find that it looks like it is an easy going place; funky decor. Just like a lot of businesses start, this one was started by friends back in the day. Yes, 1974 and near Georgia Tech. At present, the headquarters are in Atlanta.
It is a franchise; individually owned and operated with its own twist and theme throughout the restaurant; adding local color. Mellow Mushroom is open Mondays – Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. until 11:00 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 11:30 until 12:00 a.m. and Sundays from 11:30 until 11:00 p.m. Please check the website for specials.
On with our dining experience; I don’t want to get off track. We were seated immediately and it was about 8 p.m. The restaurant was comfortably crowded. We ordered something to drink. And, that is when we decided that the restaurant was going to be disjointed.
Waiting a long time for those drinks to come we already had seen the menu and knew what we wanted. One person wanted the calzone. I wanted the tossed salad with a balsamic dressing. And, you know already what my husband wanted; the gluten free pizza. Toppings? Green peppers, onions, ground beef, and mushrooms.
The waitress was friendly and finally she arrived with the drinks. Our order was then placed and my husband was waiting in anticipation for his thin crust pizza.
For the time of the evening, they took a long time. I do know that they cook to order, but it took a long time. Then the calzone came out, then my salad and then the pizza. At that point, another round of drinks was ordered and the waitress had forgotten my balsamic dressing so she was to bring that, as well.
The calzone was okay, but nothing to write home about.
I was dissapointed with my salad because the tomatoes were limp; almost like they were past their prime. Two sad slices of bacon on top. Plus, I still did not have the dressing and I ordered it again. By the time it arrived I had eaten the toppings on the salad so only lettuce was there. Not worth taking a picture.
I must admit that the pizza looked great. Again, it will never be the real thing but for someone that cannot eat regular pizza, this was a real treat. We did have to send it back to get it more crispy, though. I had a few slices myself, and I will say that I will come back again for it.
That was the experience. Lukewarm, I guess. Definitely, worth checking again.
Talk to you later…you know I will…
February 6th, 2011
My mother in law, Louise, is an excellent cook. I can say that I have learned from her style of cooking; then as I usually do, I make it my own. The original celery and cabbage casserole is her recipe. If you like celery and cabbage then I think you will like this recipe. It is so easy, goes well with grilled foods or with turkey or pork. In my household I fix it, sometimes, when I want a meatless meal. Add a salad and some crusty bread. A few ways to make it your own is to add a little bit more of this or a little less of that.
I had to stop and think about these 2: celery and cabbage. I found interesting information that I would like to pass on to you. You might start liking these vegetables.
Celery comes from the same family with parsley and fennel. The leaves are high in vitamin A. The stems are full of B1, B2, B6; lots of potassium and plenty of amino acids.
A lot of vegetables lose nutrients during cooking, but not celery. Its compounds hold up well during the cooking process.
It is also said that celery lowers blood pressure but its juice helps in other conditions including cancer. Why? Apparently, it contains ant-cancer compounds. One of those compounds is acetylemic, which has been known to stop the growth of tumor cells.
I also did not know that celery is among the group of foods, headed by peanuts, that appear to cause the most allergic reactions. This allergy is found mostly in Central Europe. Here, in the U.S. the peanut allergy is more prevalent.
Cabbage is popular in Central and Eastern Europe. It is an excellent source of vitamin C, has anti-inflammatory properties and it is low in calories. It has a chemical which boosts DNA repair in cells and also appears to block the growth of cancer cells, among other health benefits.
The recipe is very adjustable. You can make it for a crowd or just for a few. If you like more cabbage than celery, then you know what to do, or if celery is your favorite then add more.
Celery and Cabbage Casserole
4 cups of cabbage (thin strips)
2 cups of chopped celery
1 1/2 tablespoons butter or margarine (a bit more if you like)
salt and pepper to taste
At this point, pre heat oven to 350 degrees. On a large frying pan, medium high heat, melt butter and saute celery and cabbage for a few minutes. Season it with salt and pepper, if you would like to. Do not over cook.
Place in a baking dish.
Sauce:
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 tablespoon flour (I use gluten free flour)
1 1/2 cups of milk (either fat free, low fat and whole; your preference)
1 small jar of chopped roasted peppers (pimentos), with juice
salt and pepper to taste, if you want to
Tabasco, a few drops
Crackers, crushed for topping (saltines, or gluten free, bread crumbs)
Paprika
In the frying pan, melt butter in a medium low heat, then add flour and whisk it into the butter. Slowly add the milk to start making the sauce. If you need more milk because it is getting too thick then, by all means, add it. It is going to be delicious, don’t worry. Then once you have the sauce going add the jar of roasted peppers (pimentos) and keep whisking it. Add the Tabasco. More kick? Then, more Tabasco. Season the sauce with salt and pepper, if desired. Pour over the celery and cabbage and mix it in. The cracker topping should be very light. Then, sprinkle the paprika to give it more color.
Place it in the oven for about 25 minutes. If you are doubling this recipe then you will have to leave it in the oven longer. Just until the topping gets nice and brown but not burned.
If you decide you like this recipe then you can add a little sprinkle of parmessan cheese; not much. The original recipe does not have cheese.
Last week I was in the mood for roasted turkey. Yes, my oven was fixed and this recipe was my side dish.
Note: Information for this post was taken from www.juicing-for-health.com .
Have a great day!!…..talk to you later…
 
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