April 1st, 2016
Catching up, telling stories, laughing, and sharing a meal. Priceless moments I never forget. That is what happens when my friends and I get together. Three of them coming from Ocean City, Maryland, and myself from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, the perfect halfway point was Bethany Beach.
It has been some time since I have visited Off The Hook. It is known for its fresh food and their use of local vendors; supporting everything local. It is located at 769 Garfield Parkway, a mile or so west of Downtown Bethany Beach. Tel. 302-829-1424. Website? http://www.offthehookbethany.com.
Every day, except Saturday, there is a Special. The restaurant opens at 11:30 a.m. When visiting the website above mentioned make sure you click on Specials. They have some pretty good ones. And, let me remind you that they do not accept reservations. The restaurant is small but with plenty of tables. I don’t think this time of the year is a problem, but come Summer 2016, that might be another story. Just plan ahead.
On the Board….the Specials of the Day
Our server was attentive and had a sense of humor. Quickly a delicious bread was brought to the table.
I was looking around….Off The Hook was crowded and we were eating early. It was Fish n’ Chips night and 1/2 off pints (bottled). It brought locals and visitors, as well. In the meantime some wine and a Cosmo for the table.
A discussion of what to eat followed. The Charred Broccoli Salad was excellent. Great for sharing. Two salads for the table served 4 people. It had roasted heirloom cherry tomatoes, red onion, bacon, bleu cheese crumbs, and a warm mustard vinaigrette.
Also on the special was the Sheepshead…this is a saltwater fish from the Atlantic that you see more and more on the menus. It is an ugly fish. So 3 out of the 4 of us decided to have it. It was fried, over smokey roasted cauliflower, Pecorino polenta, baby kale, pickled raisins, toasted pine nuts and pancetta vinaigrette. Two of my friends were totally satisfied. The other one said it was good but maybe a little dry.
More wine for the table and an appearance of a beautiful Salted Caramel Martini.
I had decided on the Grilled Salmon…It was over charred broccoli, wild mushrooms, leeks, smoked bacon, broccoli puree, meyer lemon yogurt and pickled mustard seed. Excellent and perfectly cooked. A nice portion, as well.
No dessert was necessary, we were perfectly satisfied plus you know, summer is around the corner.
Have a good one!!
January 31st, 2016
“Wine is meant to be with food – that’s the point of it.” julia child
It is January at the Deaware Beaches and it should a little quieter. And it is, don’t get me wrong. But these beaches have become year round resorts. No longer just for summer residents, people have been moving to the Delaware Beaches in large amounts. Years ago living in Bethany Beach meant that once Labor Day Week-End came around, only abou 500 of us would be left behind. I liked it like that but the towns had to grow just like anything else.
I was meeting on Thursday with a few friends from Ocean City, Maryland. This was a good mid point to meet. But, we also found out that 99 Sea Level, a new restaurant that opened this year at the also newly opened Marriott Bethany Beach Ocean Suites, was considered very good with a perfect location, as well. 99 Sea Level is located at 99 Hollywood St., Bethany Beach, DE 19930 Tel. 302-539-0299 The restaurant is open at this time of the year, Wednesday through Sunday. Wednesday – Saturday from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Website? http://www.99sealevel.com.
99 Sea Level is inside the hotel on the same level of the hotel’s Reception.
It is too cold to sit outside but this summer make sure to stop by and grab outdoor dining which is oceanfront by the Boardwalk.
The lobby of the hotel is so pretty and make sure to notice the chandelier designed and built by glass blower, Jeffrey Auxer, from Berlin, Maryland.
Every Thursday 99 Sea Level offers a Wine Society Dinner. You can choose to be part of the dinner or you can eat from the regular menu. We decided to go with the wine dinner. Ms. Donna Serafini who is the Director of Operations was going to be our Wine Sommelier.
4 Courses paired with beautiful wines. This dinner was $48.00. The bar was crowded and also the room was full with all of us expecting one delicious meal accompanied by the perfect wines.
The First Course was a Chickpea Vegetable Stew with pearl onion, fingerling potatoes and flatbread. The Wine? Firesteed Riesling from Oregon.
Between courses the staff made sure we were comfortable attending to our needs. We were enjoying chatting and catching up.
The Second Course was Warm Octopus…leeks compote, Peruvian Anticucho Sauce, Truffle Virgin Olive Oil. Anticucho, say that again? They say it is a name given by Peruvians to a very hot soup, prepared with a special pepper from the jungle. The Wine? Ferarri Carano Fume Blanc, a Sauvignon Blanc from Sonoma County, California.
The Third Course was a Veal Sirloin…yuca puree, carrots, and mustard peppercorn. It was paired with Edmeades Zinfandel from Mendocino County.
The Fourth Course…The sweet ending of Dessert was an Apple Upside Down with cinnamon, vanilla cake, and candy pecans. It was paired with Block Nine Pinot Noir from California.
It was a lot of fun…and lots of wine!! These dinners happen every Thursday. They will also have in February a Beer Dinner also pairing courses with them. You can check the website or visit them on Facebook for more information.
There will be a Super Bowl Party on the 7th!! And Valentine’s Day is around the corner, as well.
So the evening was over. I headed to Rehoboth Beach and my friends headed to Ocean City, Maryland, but not before we stopped in front of our favorite jeweler in Bethany Beach, Alice H. Klein of TKO Designs.
December 20th, 2015
I big shout to Doggies at The Beach for taking such good care of my little Diva, Miss Addy. Doggies at the beach is a 3,500 square foot indoor, cage free doggie day care. It is Miss Addy’s home away from home. While visiting Doggies at the Beach she met Santa. I know what her expression is telling me, but I am glad she went along with the program. Doggies at The Beach is located at 18806 J. Williams Hwy. in Rehoboth Beach. Tel. 302-644-8200. They have 24 hour human supervision and even web cams so that you can follow your precious pooch. Grooming is also available. They are on Facebook, as well. Check them out because they are always hosting events and very much involved in the community. Jim and his staff are very caring and obviously they love dogs!! Please visit http://www.doggiesatthebeach.com.
This would be a great stocking stuffer for your dog. Your pooch will love these Tail Bangers made with whole wheat flour, rolled oats, eggs, canola oil, fresh ground peanuts, honey, cinnamon, with a vanilla yogurt coating. Tail Bangers are made in Millsboro, Delaware, about 1/2 hour from Rehoboth Beach. The company has gone big, a success story. I have not visited but can’t wait to do so. You can find Tail Bangers at Doggies at The Beach, Candy Kitchen, Pet Stores in the area and even the UPS store at the Safeway Shopping Center. I took them as a gift to my friend’s dog, Dale, in Bluffton, South Carolina and they were a big hit. So, I decided to try them myself. They smell so good. I took a bite and they were not bad at all. After all they are made with all natural ingredients. Tail Bangers is located at 24546 Betts Pond Rd., Millsboro, DE 19956 You can find them on Facebook and Twitter. Website? www.tailbangers.com.
Another great stocking stuffer for those that love to cook and for your favorite foodies are these Sea Salts made right here on the coast by SoDel Concepts. There is the Bay Spice, the Summer Lemon Zest, and the Black Pepper Fennel. You can get these salts at any of SoDel Concepts Restaurants from Lewes to Fenwick Island. For the locations of the restaurants, please visit http://www.sodelconcepts.com.
Another perfect gift….a book, the perfect companion. Truddi Chase was from Maryland. Her story was made into a movie years ago, base on her first book When Rabbit Howls. The movie was called Voices Within: The Lives of Truddi Chase. It was an autobiography about her experiences after being diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder. Truddi was interviewed by Oprah. Her story is a fascinating one of survival after been sexually abuse from age two. She coped by developing 92 personalities. She never integrated them so she lived with them all of her life until she died in 2010. Her second book has just come out thanks to her daughter, Kari, who lives in Lewes. This second book is more whimsical. All art work is by Truddi and the different personalities. The name of the book is The Creature of Habit. You can get it at http://www.truddichase.com
Or, you may also get it at http://www.amazon.com.
Have a good one!! TTYL
December 3rd, 2015
Saturday, December 5th the Holiday Season will begin in Bethany Beach, Delaware. Known as The Quiet Resort, Bethany Beach does get a little quiet in the winter but plenty of the merchants are open during the week-ends. Not wanting to stay behind other Delaware Beach resorts, Bethany puts a good show for the Holidays.
On Saturday make plans to be there by 1 p.m. when free events will be happening: Photos with Santa….he will be arriving at 1:15 p.m., Letters to Santa, Horse-drawn carriage rides, trolley rides, face painting, hot cocoa and cookies and music!!
Help Bethany Beach start a new tradition when at 6 p.m. the Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on the Boardwalk by the Bandstand.
Gather with friends and family and help light the “Tree of Warmth”, and sing along to a performance by the Lord Baltimore Children’s Choir.
Everyone is encouranged to bring hats, gloves, scarves and canned goods as a donation to area charities.
Please have in mind that every Saturday in December prior to Christmas, there will be caroling arond the “Tree of Warmth” on the Bandstand to end the day. Stores will be open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Please check the schedule of events for the Holiday Season in Bethany Beach at http://www.townofbethanybeach.com
Merry Christmas!!
July 22nd, 2015
It was that time of the year…for 24 years the Beach and Bay Cottage Tour has been taking place in July. It is a fundraising event for the Friends of the South Coastal Library in Bethany Beach, Delaware. It also has been probably that many years since a “true” cottage has been on the tour. There are still a few of those left in town reminding us that life was much simpler then, at the beach. The tour was today, July 22nd and tomorrow, July 23rd.
It is my second year joining this great group of women that only travel in style, thanks to our oganizer Sandy. She is a gracious hostess and lunch at her house in between the touring of 10 magnificent homes was fantastic.
We have been traveling by limo. Nothing but the best for the group. Atlantic Transportation Services was going to be taking care of us. Yes, we were the chicks in the limo!! And, Ellyne Gale, one of the owners of Atlantic Transportation Services was our driver. Please check http://www.atlanticlimode.com.
We arrived early, the tour was starting at 9:30 a.m. and we had 10 houses to visit. Here is our group. In the limo we had things to eat: champagne and wine!! It was going to be a long day!!
Sorry, but no photos were allowed in any of the houses. All the houses were interesting to say the least. The largest one was 7,000 square feet. The group of homes on this year’s tour had something that would appeal to every one that visited. Thanks to the 400 volunteers that worked so hard to make this year’s tour a sensational event. Great weather, as well!! And, we toured all 10 houses!!
Stopping at Rooster’s Nest is always a must stop. Rooster’s Nest is located west of Fenwick Island, Delaware, at the Bayville Shopping Center. It is open 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. every day. Tel. 302-436-1848 This shop has home furnishings, home accessories, and so much more.
If you are a fan of Bossom Buddy Bags from Baltimore, Maryland, Rooster’s Nest has a nice collection of them. These handbags are beautifully made: “Handbags as extraordinary as the women who carry them.” bossom buddy bags
Summer at the beaches can be a tricky time when you have a large group of people that are ready for dinner….Not all restaurants can handle big groups. Thanks to Just Hooked because they made sure that all of us had a comfortable table with exceptional service. Just Hooked is located at 1500 Coastal Hwy., Fenwick Island, DE 19944. Tel. 302-581-0098 Website? http://www.justhookedfi.com.
An order of fried calamari to wet our appetites. Light and perfectly season, we passed them around the table.
There were a few specials….The Salmon was one of them. I almost got it. It had chutney, which I think adds so much to any dish.
Instead, I decided on the Softshell Crabs. I do love them and Just Hooked was supposed to have delicious ones. They did not disappointed. They were light, sweet and oh, so good.
Someone ordered a salad with a filet. Something light.
Fish n’ Chips…buttermilk battered cod, house fries, coleslaw and a remoulade.
Local Crab Cake with pickled carrot n’ peashoot salad, bacon fingerling frittes and classic remoulade.
Seared scallops, with pearl faro, spring peas, artichokes, chicory and pesto. They looked beautiful.
Shrimp n’ Grits…cheesy grits, fried green beans, chorizo vinaigrette and chili threads.
No dessert was necessary after all this delicious food accompanied by wine and other spirits like Orange Crush!!
It was time to go home…”The most valuable live thing for me is when people look like they’re having a good time.” grimes
We certainly did, ladies and until next time….I remain.
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 3rd, 2015
 
I like putting on the heading that Bethany Beach is The Quiet Resort. Maybe it was known to be that quiet many years ago, but no more!! This is a sought after coastal town in Southern Delaware….perfect for summer vacations, and to get away during the fall and winter.
Bethany was founded by members of the Christian Church; the Disciples of Christ. They came from Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania. It was not supposed to be a town. They wanted it to be a permanent yearly seaside assembly for the Christian churches of the country.
But quite a little town it is. Families have been coming for so many years, creating many summertime memories.
The Fourth of July is celebrated big time in Bethany Beach. This is the 32nd year. There is usually a theme to every Fourth of July celebration. This year’s theme is Let Freedom Ring.
Please note that on Friday, July 3rd, the Beach will be closed between Oakwood Street and Hollywood Street beginning at 5 p.m. in order to get ready for the Town’s 4th of July fireworks displays. Make sure to pick all your beach items in this area. The beach will re-open on Sunday, July 5th.
Fourth of July: Registration
You may register your floats and bikes the day of the parade from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at the registration desks as follows: Floats-Route 1 and Central Avenue; Bikes-Christian Church grounds.
Fourth of July: Schedule
Noon…The parade will begin at the intersection of Pennsylvania and Garfield Parkway and take its traditional 2 mile route through the town. It will feature 5 marching bands and 6 entertainment groups on trucks with marching units.
After the parade, enjoy the following activities:
2 p.m. Try your skill at the horseshoe-throwing contest at the southwest corner of the Christian Church grounds.
7:15 p.m. Award Ceremony
7:30 p.m. The Vigilantes band performs popular dance music on the Bandstand. The 2015 Summer Concert Series continue all summer long. On Sunday, July 5th the entertainment will be The Reagan Years, and 80’s Tribute. All concerts begin at 7:30 unless otherwise noted. These concerts are popular and perfect for summer evenings at the beach. For more info., please visit http://www.townofbethanybeach.com. Click on Activities and scroll down to Bandstand.
Dusk: FIREWORKS!! No July 4th event would be complete without them!!!
Around 40,000 people attend the celebrations all day long with the culmination of the Fireworks. As you can imagine traffic and parking can be a hassle. Best deal in town are the Trolleys. They run continuously between 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. You can flag down the trolley anywhere along the route for pick-up or discharge, except on Rt. 26 and Rt. 1. No pick-up or drop-off on Jefferson Bridge or Rt. 26. The fare is $.25. The driver does not make change Please note that the trolley no longer stops at the Lake Bethany entrance or the South Coastal Library. For more information, please call 302-539-1996, or visit http://www.townofbethanybeach.com. Click on Services and scroll down to Trolley.
Sunday, July 5th, is the Bethany Beach Farmers Market, from 8 a.m. until Noon at Garfield Parkway and Pennsylvania Avenue. More info? Please visit http://www.bethanybeachfarmersmarket.com.
Have a great holiday week-end!!
June 6th, 2015
“The ocean is a central image. It is the symbolism of a great journey.” enya
 
Eleven families, 10 states, 32 children, volunteers…all in all, about 73 people. When they arrived in Bethany Beach, they were complete strangers. In no time they became a united front with a common bond…Breast Cancer.
All women were, presently, being treated for breast cancer. Almost all were in their 40s. One was 60 years old.
Little Pink Houses of Hope provides week long beach retreats for breast cancer families. They have been coming to Bethany Beach for several years, but you can also find them in other parts of the country. Home is North Carolina. The Founder & President is Jeanine Patten-Coble. For more information, please visit http://www.littlepink.org. Find them on Facebook, as well. Once they arrive…everything is free of charge.
Breast cancer does not only affect the person, it impacts the whole family in many ways. To be able to spend a week at the beach, relaxing and rejuvenating is always….priceless!! The outpour of donations from the Delaware Beaches; residents, commercial establishments…awesome!
Organizing it all were Stacy Shepps and Ann Raskauskas.
Every day, they had plenty of activities and also time to chill out. We live at the beach and enjoying the outdoors is always a must. Mother Nature, of course, did not cooperate. Don’t get me wrong, it did not “dampen” anyone’s spirits.
Lunching at Rehoboth Bay Sailing Association, after a morning of sailing….Well…the setting at RBSA is gorgeous. This sailing association has been in existence since 1963. The first photo would have been the ideal situation, but the second shows the reality of how the weather was; windy, rainy, chilly.
 
Debbie Dyer, who is one of my partners in crime “volunteered” to help me organize the lunch at Rehoboth Bay Sailing Association. RBSA is located south of Dewey Beach at 38767 Rehoboth Bay Sailing Association Lane. Tel. 302-227-9008. Website? http://www.rbsa.org. This sailing club is for beginners to racing enthusiasts. In the summer they offer a Junior Sailing School and Adult/Junior Clinics. Those are starting next week. If interested, please give them a call. Those programs are open to the public. Also, please note that the 2015 Sunfish Women’s North American Championships will be September 19th and 20th.
We had food to feed an army. Leftovers were sent with the Little Pinks to enjoy the next day.
And a big thank to Carol Cairo for her delicious cookies….Yum!!
 
Just before serving lunch, prayers of thanks!!
Now they could eat. The Water Cooler Ladies were serving drinks…the rest were serving lunch.
One of the volunteers was telling me that he first went to a Little Pink retreat about 6 years ago. He had lost spirituality when his wife had been diagnosed. It was so good for him that he has been volunteering ever since. His wife is doing well, by the way.
Another volunteer, she is right there on the photo with the stripe sweater….she has been a survivor for 3 years. She had cancer in her family left and right. She said she would have been shocked not to have cancer.
Some started to play games, enjoying the company of new friends.
Last year I spent a day with Little Pink Houses of Hope. Heartwarming and Uplifting? You bet!
It was time to gather the troops. Volunteers were getting their assignments. Each volunteer has a family assigned to him or her. Some of these volunteers have been participants in previous beach retreats.
Regardless of the weather, Debbie and I had a great day. It also brought memories of years past when preparing food for lax games….you take this, I take that. Who brings the water? How about the snacks? Don’t forget the paper towels. And, the many Teacher Appreciation Lunches…Susan Lynch, you were a pro, just as Shelley Martelo was a pro with her electric knife. The good old days, right?
Until next time…have a good one.
 
 
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