July 11th, 2015
Years ago when I lived in Bethany Beach, Delaware, the population was 500. Today is 1,077. That’s not counting the summer visitors. During the height of the season, this town swells. Lots of shops, restaurants, and beautiful beaches.
Bethany is located between the Atlantic Ocean and the bays. Bethany and South Bethany are considered the Quiet Resorts. On any given day, during the summer, please stop by. You will see that Bethany is everything but quiet. The town was founded in 1901. Originally, it was a bit of a challenge to get to Bethany. Not anymore. In just a few hours you can reach the beach from Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. Traffic? Well, that’s another story. Just have patience, the reward is at the end of the road….beaches!!
Up and down the coast, plenty of restaurants to choose from. One that I went to a few weeks back was Sedona. It is located at 29 Pennsylvania Avenue in downtown Bethany Beach. Tel. 302-539-1200. http://www.sedona-bethany.com. Reservations are accepted. Sedona opens at 5:30 p.m. Every day they offer their well known tapas special which means 3 small plates for $25.00. Full bar is also available.
Walking by Sedona with your pooch? Water and treats are always available, as well.
Early in the evening my friends, Debbie, Jody, and I decided to stop by and grab something to eat. Sedona looked quiet at the time but by the time we left, there were plenty of patrons savoring some delicious and innovative food. The menu changes frequently. Please note that Sedona offers Gluten Free and Vegan choices.
The Soup was excellent….I do remember my friend, Jody saying so….I just forgot what it was…Sorry, lol.
I always like to start with a salad and their Field Greens Salad was fresh with a very good dressing of whole grain mustard vinaigrette.
The Caprese Salad had a twist. Homemade mozzarella over tomatoes and grilled watermelon on the side.
Tapas of Scallops with arugula and lemon thyme vinaigrette. Did not hear any complaints. Both of my friends loved them.
Tapas of seared rare tuna on crispy wontons with Asian slaw and seaweed salad. This dish got great reviews.
I love salmon and upon entering Sedona, a friend was there and told me that this was the dish to order. Following her lead….I loved it!! It is usually on the menu. Grilled Summer Salmon on a salad of arugula and fresh spinach tossed with a shallot vinaigrette, black quinoa, tomatoes, and hard boiled eggs.
We resisted the dessert temptations. We were perfectly satisfied. Maybe another time.
Please note that many restaurants at all the Delaware Beaches do not take reservations, so when you find one that does is just perfect.
Sharing a meal with friends is always priceless on my book!!
Have a good one…Summer is flying by!!
July 7th, 2015
Not sure if you got stuck in one of the traffic jams this holiday week-end. If you did, I feel your pain. Some of us that live here year-round take a road trip to other towns in Southern Delaware, where life is a little more calm during these holiday week-ends. My destination with my neighbor, Chris, was the town of Milford, Delaware, known as The Heart of Kent and Sussex. It is just less than half hour from Rehoboth Beach going north.
Milford is a community with respect for its past and great promise for the future. It is the gateway to Southern Delaware.
For some years, Downtown Milford has been going through a revitalization, which brings residential streets in small towns back to life. It has coffee shops, art galleries, restaurants, and a Riverwalk.
The Mispillion Riverwalk is a greenway space that preserves the town’s waterfront. Milford has over 2 centuries of shipbuilding. At one point there were 7 shipyards, located along this walk. And, between 1680 and 1927 they produced over 600 wooden sailing ships.
The displayed boat sculptures around town are all decorated with the theme of Milford’s “River town”, “Art Town”, “Home Town”.
The inspiration was the Augusta, a private yacht built in 1927 at Vinyard Shipyard. In 2010 it was restored to its original beauty.
I grew up in a small town on the eastern side of the island of Puerto Rico. Sundays were so quiet. You could take a leisure stroll through the town and maybe not see a single person. Sundays were days for worship and family time. Arriving in Milford on Sunday brought back those memories of so many years ago. So, I took the photos of a quiet Sunday in Milford.
CAUSEY MANSION BED & BREAKFAST
I remembered that a few years ago I stopped at this mansion to take some photos. There was a “for sale” sign. Well, let’s see what happened to this historic home. First let me tell you a bit about this home. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. The original part of the house was built in 1763. The rest in 1865. It was the former home of two Delaware governors.
The address is 1 Causey Avenue, Milford, DE 19963 Tel. 302-422-0979 Website? http://www.causeymansion.com
Delaware is becoming the place to retire. Among the many benefits of living in this small state is the fact that our property taxes are low. Jan Broulik and Joe Phillips decided that moving from the Chevy Chase area to Milford was going to be just perfect. They are the new owners of the Causey Mansion. We met Jan who took us through the gardens and gave us a tour of this historic home. Later on we met Joe. Please visit the above mentioned website for more information on the history of Causey Mansion, rates, and events happening at the Mansion. You may also find Causey Mansion Bed & Breakfast on Facebook.
They moved in and then their work has been non stop. Jan loves to work in the garden and he is laying all the stone in the property. Causey Mansion is the perfect place for a wedding so they are making it just right for that special event in someone’s life.
The Boxwood is over 150 years old, from some of the rooms you can see them.
At the present time there are 4 rooms for rent. They are spacious and with their own bathrooms. Following are 3 of those rooms.
Every nook and cranny has a story, just like every piece of furniture has one, as well. The majority of the furniture is French, Japanese, and some Italian.
The Grand Piano caught our attention. It was a 1904 Steinway Grand Piano. Jan picked the music, sat down, and began to play All I Ask of You from Phantom of the Opera. He brought us to tears. The sounds were amazing. It was truly so beautiful and totally unexpected.
Causey Mansion is a Greek Revival, Georgian Style home. Governor Peter Causey modified it to Greek Revival when he lived in this house from 1849 to 1871. He served as Governor of the State of Delaware from 1855 until 1859. It is still believed that he roams around the home. He is a friendly ghost
There is a dining room with a big round table for easier conversation.
And a friendly kitchen area.
The Causey Mansion is about 5,000 square feet so you will feel comfortable and at ease in any room.
Jan and Joe are so easy to talk to. They have immersed themselves in the community and are enjoying the fact that Milford is now their home!! Please stop by to see all the work they are doing to this beautiful historic home. If you feel like getting away from it all…..then, make a reservation!!
Thanks Jan and Joe for making our day!!
June 18th, 2015
 
Social relates to or involves activities in which people spend time talking to each other. The Beach, for many, is their happy place. Here, in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, we have a little bit of eveything for everyone. Downtown Rehoboth Beach is only one square mile. Pristine beaches, an award-winning boardwalk, boardwalk grub, entertainment, tax free shopping….and then there are the restaurants. Summer 2015 brings new restaurants to Rehoboth.
208 Social is located at 208 2nd St. in Downtown Rehoboth Beach, Delaware 19971 Tel. 302-227-6700 Website? http://www.208social.com Find it on Facebook, as well. Nate and Lisa are the owners. They are creating some very unique appetizers, entrees, and desserts, giving foodies some “food for thought”. To know more about Nate and Lisa, please visit http://www.208social.com/about.
 
The laissez-faire attitude of the DE Beaches is what keeps visitors coming back year after year, making fantastic unforgettable memories. Summer 2015 promises to be a fabulous one!!
I love spending time and sharing a meal with good friends. It is a most simple thing, and it gives me the most pleasure. When Cindi and Madelon decided to come to Rehoboth Beach from Ocean City, Maryland, we waited for Restaurant Week. 208 Social was our destination. And so we arrived early, so that I could take photos.
I love what they have done to the restaurant. It opens at 4 p.m. Come as you are and enjoy a drink at the bar, which as the night progressed, it got crowded.
208 Social has a choice of dining rooms.
It is so nice because the atmosphere in those rooms is quieter, conducive to friendly conversation. We chose the porch.
 
Appetizers:
Their Simple Salad…..greens, and a Sherry truffle vinaigrette. The photo does not do justice…you had to close your eyes, taste, and enjoy one delicious dressing.
Pulled Chicken Fresh Spring Rolls….mango, watercress, peppers, cilantro, and a peanut dipping sauce. Very interesting and healthy!!
Two orders of Crispy Soft Shells…a light tempura style breading, which my friends said was very good. You could taste the delicate flavor of the soft shell. Served on a sunchoke puree with baby spinach and toasted garlic.
When there are soft shell crabs on the menu I will, definitely, order them. But Madelon and Cindi got them…..I needed something different, something savory, sweet, saucy or even tangy.
208 Sticky Ribs….These were from their Tavern Menu. OMG, these crispy pork ribs with a Chile agrodolce (tangy), and toasted sesame were awesome.
Ice Cream for dessert. This ice cream was from Pennsylvania, but pretty soon, they will be making their own, just like they make everything else. This particular one was chocolate, and salted caramel.
Many thanks are given here to 208 Social for bringing us one of their strawberry pies, made to order. Warm!!
So what else is left to say? Can’t wait to go back!!
June 17th, 2015
A few weeks ago two of my usual suspects and I took a day trip to Oxford, St. Michaels, and Easton….Maryland’s Eastern Shore!! Today’s weather reminded me of that trip. At times it is better not to plan. Our trip was unexpected and we had the most fun. These women are interesting, exciting, and always ready for a road trip.
We had lunch at the Robert Morris Inn, ice cream at the Highland Creamery and then stopped at a very cute shop called The Treasure Chest, located at 214 N. Morris St. Tel. 410-924-8817 They are on Facebook.
The shop opens Wednesday through Monday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Skipper Bags, Stained Glass, Pottery, Tervis, Joan’s Gems, Port of Oxford merchandise and much more is what Joan Nubie-Miscall offers to her customers, along with plenty of friendly conversation.
The Oxford-Bellevue Ferry is America’s oldest privately owned ferry. It was established in 1683. The 2 Debbies and I were taking it, crossing the Tred Avon River. The ferry runs 7 days a week. Please note that in November, it only runs Saturday and Sunday. There are continuous crossings every 15-20 minutes. It closes at sunset. Tel. 410-745-9023. Website? http://www.oxfordbellevueferry.com. On Facebook find it as Oxford Bellevue Ferry. Fares are subject to change. You can take your bikes, motorcycle, car or just be a walk-on passenger.
It takes no time to cross the Tred Avon River. The ferry is very small….on that day only my car and two other passengers with their bikes were on board.
The mail to St. Michaels was coming with us, as well. Oxford is a small town.
Meet my two friends. Debbie and Debbie.
Arriving at Bellevue Landing….The scenic route between Oxford and St. Michaels is one of the top 25 bicycle routes in the U.S.A.
We went directly to The Inn at Perry Cabin. This Manor Home Resort & Spa is owned by the Belmond Group. It is located at 308 Watkins Lane in St. Michaels, MD 21663. Tel. 410-745-2200. Website? http://www.belmond.com/innatperrycabin It is pet friendly.
Manicured gardens and cozy corners to take a seat and relax.
The Inn at Perry Cabin is a destination for weddings, sailing, spa relaxing treatments, and other celebrations. We decided to make ourselves at home. So much so, that we did not even take a walk in downtown St. Michaels.
Sipping Cucumber Water, we sat for the longest time enjoying one beautiful scenery and the best company.
Our day was not over….our next destination? Easton, Maryland…Stay tuned.
“Travel becomes a strategy for accumulating photographs.” susan sontag……Guilty!!
June 2nd, 2015
“There is no sincerer love than the love of food.” george bernard shaw
With that in mind there will be plenty of love during the week of Sunday, June 7th through Friday, June 12th, when the 10th Annual Rehoboth Restaurant Week takes place.
Rehoboth Beach is one square mile. It is a dining destination for many that come to visit our beaches. Chefs are outdoing themselves serving an innovative, delectable and local cuisine.
The restaurants will feature prix-fixe menus that will make your culinary adventure, both, affordable and mighty tempting.
Enjoy a 3-course meal priced at $25, $35, or $45 per person, at more than 25 participating Downtown Rehoboth Beach restaurants.
To Date The Following Restaurants are Participating:
208 Social http://www.208social.com
a(MUSE.) http://www.amuse-rehoboth.com
Beachside Bar and Grill http://www.beachsiderehoboth.com Location? 251 Rehoboth Ave.
Blue Moon http://www.bluemoonrehoboth.com
Cafe Azafran Rehoboth http://www.cafeazafran.com
Cellar Door http://www.cellardooronbaltimore.com
Cultured Pearl Restaurant & Sushi Bar http://www.culturedpearl.us
DiFebo’s Rehoboth http://www.difebos.com
Dos Locos Fajitas & Stonegrill http://www.doslocos.com
Eden Restaurant http://www.edenrestaurant.com
Espuma Restaurant & Martini Bar http://www.espuma-restaurant.com
Fins Fish House & Raw Bar http://www.finsrawbar.com
Goole’s Grille (Breakfast Special) located at 9 South 1st St.
Green Turtle, 101 South Boardwalk, 52 Rehoboth Ave. http://www.facebook.com/greeneturtlerehoboth
Hobos Restaurant & Bar http://www.myhobos.com
Jakes Seafood House http://www.jakesseafoodhouse.com
Jam Bistro http://www.jambistro.com
Lula Brazil http://www.lulabrazil.com
Lupo Italian Kitchen http://www.lupodimarerehoboth.com
MIXX American Fusion Restaurant http://www.mixxrehoboth.com
Papa Grande’s Coastal Taqueria http://www.papagrandes.com
Ristorante Zebra http://www.ristorantezebra.us
Salt Air http://www.saltairrestaurant.com
Semra’s Medditerranean Grill http://www.semras.com
Shorebreak Lodge http://www.shorebreaklodge.tumblr.com
Summer House http://www.summerhousesaloon.com
The Back Porch Cafe http://www.backporchcafe.com
The Pig + Fish Restaurant Co. http://www.thepigandfish.com
The Pond Bar and Grill http://www.thepondrehoboth.com
Touch of Italy Rehoboth http://www.touchofitaly.com
Victoria’s Restaurant http://www.boardwalkplaza.com/victorias-restaurant
For more information, please call 302-227-2772 or visit http://www.downtownrb.com
BON APPETIT!!
May 22nd, 2015
“Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what’s for lunch.” orson wells
Arriving at the beach with much anticipation. So many places to dine. Casual atmosphere at the Delaware Beaches so don’t despair you will find just the perfect place. Whether you want lunch or dinner the restaurants are all ready to serve you….Summer 2015 is officially starting this Memorial Week-End and the gates have opened and if you have already been out and about, you know exactly what I mean.
Striper Bites is located at 107 Savannah Rd. in Downtown Historic Lewes, Delaware. Tel. 302-645-4657. Website? http://www.striperbites.com.
Happy Hour at the Bar is a must at Striper Bites. Mingle with the locals or make a friend or two in Lewes. The service is great and the prices are affordable.
Plenty of seating choices. Near the bar, or, if you want to have more of a private setting there are booths and cozy benches and tables.
 
The dining room is quiet and perfect for catching up with friends.
It is so funny because now that summer is here, we are all trying to eat as healthy as possible…..we do want to sit at the beach, if you get my drift.
The Striper Bite House Salad is one of my favorites. Make it a meal by adding chicken, tuna, rockfish, scallops, shrimp, salmon, lobster salad, or a crab cake. It is a mix of greens with artichoke hearts, roma tomatoes, olives, cukes, and red onions tossed in a delish vinaigrette and topped with toasted pine nuts and crumbled blue cheese.
Love it with Grilled Salmon…
Or if you love lobster…then, please order it!!
Striper Bites offers a traditional Lobster Roll…plenty of lobster tossed in light Dijon mayo and stuffed in a lobster roll.
The Striper Bite Club is their Signature Sandwich. Blackened Mahi Mahi served on a ciabatta roll with lettuce, tomato, and smoked applewood bacon with a Caesar Dressing. On the side? Depending what the side of the day….I had cole slaw which was very good, as well.
Have a great week-end!! Sunny weather, blue skies, low humidity…..perfect.
April 11th, 2015
Kick back in style at the Delaware Beaches. Aquamarine has been recognized by “Elle” magazine as one of the 50 best boutiques across the 50 states. I can see why….all boutiques are shops but not all shops are boutiques. Personal attention at Aquamarine is what you will get. And, once you become a customer, Maureen and her Mom will remember your name.
Aquamarine is located at 114 Second Street, in the heart of Lewes Historic District. Tel. 302-644-4550. Website? http://www.aquamarineat114.com. You can also find Aquamarine on Market on Facebook.
 
What makes us, women, come back to this boutique? The inside is so pretty. The building dates to the 1900’s. It used to be the hardware store owned by the Vessel Family. Rich woods and cabinetry are beautifully preserved.
Aquamarine has something for everyone and the personal attention that customers receive is just that. Maureen has a great eye for what looks good on a woman. She is honest, friendly, and you’ll love her immediately because she makes you feel like you have known her forever.
 
Here, at the Delaware Beaches, our lifestyle is very casual…Beach Chic, Resort Attire….we love it! The dress code is sophisticated but understated, as well.
 
We are waiting for summer, the temperatures are rising, the flowers are starting to bloom. You can feel it in the air. There is something about it. By the time you read this post, hopefully, the tulips are blooming in Lewes. Aquamarine is full of colorful ladies apparel and Maureen mentioned that she has new lines in the store. For example, there is one line that she thinks is great. It is called Planet. This company utilizes top natural fabrics like Irish handkerchief linen, prima cotton, and washed silk organza. Palettes are of soft hues.
 
To see what lines Aquamarine carries, please visit http://www.aquamarineat114.com/index.html/lines-we-love.html. Then, click on Lines We Love.
Enjoy the week-end and sunny weather!!
April 1st, 2015
If you are a resident of Lewes, you will probably be using your bike as a way to get around the Historic District. Debbie and I did not do that….we were probably going to take some leftovers home. Our destination on this gorgeous evening in Lewes was Nectar. This is the second anniversary for Nectar and Sara McKewon, Proprietor, has done an outstanding job in keeping the restaurant fresh, delicious, and comfortable.
The location is 111 Neils Alley in Historic Lewes. Tel. 302-645-5842. It opens from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. It closes on Tuesdays. Nectar is known for its amazing juices. You can make a selection of available ones or you can customize your own.
Stepping into Nectar you feel immediately at home. That has not changed since Sara opened 2 years ago. Debbie and I arrived early in order to be able to take photos. Take a peek….look how pretty it is.
Just until a week or so ago, Nectar was only open for breakfast and lunch. The addition of dinner had us all excited. So, here is what Debbie and I had.
Starting with a Fresh Fruit Mimosa and Kale Chips. I have done my own kale chips at home. These were all crunchy, with beautiful color.
Continued on our grazing mood….PB & J Meatballs. The peanut sauce was awesome. Pick them up with your hands or just be prim and proper and use your fork and knife.
Our next dish was the Cauliflower “Steak” – This is a Vegan Entree. So good, I cannot wait to have it again. The cauliflower is both roasted in the oven and finished in the frying pan. Served over rice pilaf with romesco sauce and topped with olives, capers and roasted tomato. Romesco sauce is a nut and red pepper base sauce that originated in the area of Tarragona in northeastern Spain.
I love roasted/baked chicken. So far in my travels, I have found a great one in Delray Beach, Florida, another on Ashford Avenue in Condado, Puerto Rico, and this Dogfish 60Min Baked Chicken at Nectar is out of this world. It is a 1/2 chicken baked in Dogfish Head beer with honey mustard glaze. Served with mac n cheeese and coleslaw.
Catch of the Day in Parchment was Monkfish…Steamed in parchment with lemon, capers, and dill. Rice pilaf and vegetables on the side….moist, well seasoned and glad I ordered it.
So, which one did we choose for our sweet ending? The Lemon Meringue Cheesecake or the Banana Fosters Pie? All desserts are made in-house.
 
The Lemon Meringue Cheesecake won!! It was sweet but not overly so…..great lemon flavor.
Hope you stop by Nectar. Let me know what you think. I am writing this post a few hours after our dinner. I think everything we tried was so appealing because the dishes were so simple, colorful and tasted so fresh. Keep up the good work, Sara. You and your staff made our evening tonight.
The beaches are ready for the season and so are all of us that call Coastal Delaware home!! Talk to you later.
 
 
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