September 13th, 2014
Historic small towns, alongs scenic waterways….resorts along the Delaware Beaches. Historic Lewes, Delaware is the First Town in The First State. Just as the Summer Season brings plenty of visitors to Lewes, the Second Season gives this historic town a glow…an aura. A year round resort, Lewes, is a busy little town. If you are visiting this coming week, check what is going on.
Sunday, 9/14 – 11th ANNUAL CANNONBALL 5K RUN & TRENNY ELLIOTT MEMORIAL ONE MILE WALK – 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. with the race starting at 8:30 a.m. Considered “The Most Beautiful Race in Delaware”, The Lewes Historical Society is presenting this race. Online pre-registration is available by visiting http://www.seashorestriders.com/content/11th-cannonball-5k-run-trenny-elliott-memorial-walk.
Location? The Lewes Historical Society Complex at 110 Shipcarpenter Street in historic Lewes. This race benefits the Society’s preservation and educational programming. Breathtaking scenery along Pilottown Rd., and views of the Great Marsh, Shipcarpenter Square, Second Street, and the canal. A description of the historic sites will be included with your registration papers. More info? Please visit http://www.historiclewes.org.
Sunday, 9/14 – SECOND ANNUAL LEWES DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL – 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Location? Canalfront Park in Downtown Lewes. Teams, sponsors, vendors and volunteers are more than ready. This festival was created to benefit the capital campaign for the Sussex Academy, which is a public charter school that serves students, at present, grades 6 to 10 in Sussex County. All proceeds will go directly to help pay for the campus and buildings of the Sussex Academy.
What are the Dragon Boats? Click on http://www.lewesdragonboat.com. There are practices ongoing today, Saturday through 1 p.m.
Tuesday, 9/16 – CHICKS FOR CHARITY MONTHLY LUNCHEON – SOUTHERN DELAWARE THERAPEUTIC & RECREATIONAL HORSEBACK RIDING, INC. – This is a great organization that has been holding monthly dinners for Charity at Fish On! located at The Villages of Five Points in Lewes, Delaware. Time? 6:30 p.m. Cost? $25.00 per person. This price includes a delicious buffet along with salad and dessert…gratuity, as well. There will be a cash bar available. Cash or check only…payable to Fish On!. Raffle items and a 50/50 will add to the excitement of the evening. RSVP to Chicksdinner@gmail.com. No calls to the restaurant, please.
Southern Delaware Therapeutic & Recreational Horseback Riding provides equine-assisted therapy, promoting the physical, emotional and educational growth of children and adults with special needs in our community. Horseback riding is a progressive form of therapy for individuals with physical and emotional challenges. The horses, instructors and volunteers create a caring environment that enables participants to gain valuable communication and coping skills. For more information, please visit http://www.sdtrhr.com.
Friday, 9/19 – LEWES 1812 PARK RENOVATION & MONUMENT DEDICATION – 11 a.m. until Noon. Location? Front St. and Savannah Rd. Join the City of Lewes in the celebration….Celebrate the 100th year of the War of 1812 monument and completion of Phase I of the 1812 Park renovation. Your contributions funded the renovation. There will be a presentation of the history of the War of 1812, a cannon salute, and light refreshments. Family, friends, visitors are all welcome!!
Friday, 9/19 – LEWES’ THIRD OKTOBERFEST CELEBRATION FRIDAY NIGHT – 4:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. Please note that Market Street between Front St. and Second St. will be closed to traffic from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. Lewes will create a “beer garden” atmosphere on Market St…..No Beer, though….City’s ordinances. Dogfishhead commemorative glass beer steins sold, beginning, Monday, 9/15, at the Chamber’s visitor center at the Fisher-Martin House in Zwaanendael Park can be taken into participating restaurants and presented to receive a discount on Dogfish beer. German cuisine will be featured in many of the restaurants, as well.
Dancing will take place in front of Mary Vessels Park. Bavarian-style dancers will be performing and encouraging the public to participate too. A 10-piece Oompah band, The Happy Wanderers, will be entertaining those gathered to participate in the festivities.
Saturday, 9/20 – HISTORIC LEWES FARMERS’ MARKET – Every Saturday!! Location? The Lewes Historical Society Complex in Historic Lewes, from 8 a.m. until Noon. http://www.historiclewesfarmersmarket.org Visit the website for more information, and for recipes.
Saturday, 9/20 – RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF DELAWARE 3rd ANNUAL 5k RUN/WALK – At Irish Eyes on Anglers Rd. in Lewes. Registration begins at 8 a.m. with the race starting at 9 a.m. Register on line by visiting http://www.races2run.com. More info? Please call 302-428-5330.
Saturday, 9/20 – LEWES ARTISTS’ STUDIO TOUR – Free and you do not need a ticket to attend. 21 regionally and nationally acclaimed artists will be opening their studios for an upclose and personal look at their work. 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. For more info., please visit http://www.leweschamber.com/event/community-event/lewes-artists-studio-tour. To view some of the art, please visit http://www.lewesart.com.
Have a great time!!
August 27th, 2014
Cooking comes from the heart….you can’t rush it. Some have that special culinary gift, others, like most of us have to follow a recipe. Matt Haley had that gift. I have seen him reading a cookbook while having sushi at Saketumi in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Was he getting ideas for a new dish, adding a little bit of this or a little bit of that, I don’t know and I never asked him.
I met Matt through my website, AboutMyBeaches. When I started the website in 2009, which is written in a blog style, it was because I wanted to promote the Delaware Beaches. I love to eat and cook so it started that way, with me reviewing restaurants. I am not a professional, but I know what I like and how I like to be served.
Every time I would write about a restaurant in 2009 I would send an email to the contact on the website of the restaurant I had just visited. Most brushed me aside. But, Matt was the only one that every single time answered personally from his email address. Later on my husband and I had a business relationship with him.
I remember writing to him about a friend of mine whose mother had gone to one of the restaurants and then they charged her $2 for replacing green beans….what? He would say, Gloria, just take them on my dime to the restaurant. I never did. Another time, just recently, another friend mentioned something else. Once again I did write….if I had a restaurant I would want to have someone of trust telling me what happened. Don’t you think? Anyway, I did and he never complained.
Farm to Table? What is That? Matt also showed us that the setting of a dining experience adds so much to the aura of savoring delicious, local food.
Always hands on, a dinner for Global Delaware, Matt’s non-profit, at Good Earth Market in Clarksville, Delaware, just west of Bethany Beach. That’s the first time I attended such an event. The idea of eating at a communal table, chatting and making new friends while raising funds for a worthy cause, was very appealing.
 
Cooking outdoors….local seafood, and veggies from the farm. Here are some photos of that event.
Another Farm to Table Dinner at Indian River was memorable, as well.
Cooking outdoors took a different dimension here. In the brush!!
About 150 strangers got together to enjoy local fish, veggies and each other.
 
On August of 2012, Matt invited my husband, John, and I to dinner at his home. I called it the Spanish Contingency Dinner. His guests were the 3 sisters of La Esperanza in Georgetown. Let me tell you that these sisters loved Matt like a son. He was so involved in La Esperanza, as well. He told me that every time he went on a trip, they would bless him, and cry, etc. etc., not knowing what trouble he was going to get into. Ha, ha! Their names? Rosita, Maria and Asuncion. Also in the group was a couple, Jose and Virginia who are the editors of Hoy en Delaware. It was then that he told us that he had been invited to be on the Board of Freeman in Fenwick. He was so excited!
I used to talk to Matt in Spanish, but to tell you the truth, he really did not understand much. I used to tell him that I could not understand how he could be with all these Spanish speaking people and barely say “Si”. It is the truth, and he would admit to it.
This was a great evening. My husband, John, was loving it. Someone else cooking and him eating. Matt and John had a really nice relationship.
Up to that afternoon, Matt did not know what he was cooking for dinner. If it had been me, I would have been running around my house like a lunatic. Not him; cool, calm and collected….and lucky too because someone dropped some fresh fish just in the knick of time. A simple preparation, was all that was needed. Salad and veggies were all done.
The rest of us brought desserts….Spanish desserts with me bringing my pride and joy…a Puertorican flan!
In the meantime, Matt asked me to stir something on the stove. I asked him where his spatula was. “I don’t have one”….what? A chef with no spatula? What is this? All I could think was, how am I going to serve my flan?
Matt really did not have a spatula. Here he is sliding the fish into the serving platter. He did it but it would have been easier with a spatula.
 
My flan was served….it did not look too pretty but everyone said it was good. It is hard to serve a plan with a plain knife!
It was an early evening. Good company and great conversation….Matt admitting that he did like the those holiday favorites like green bean casserole!! The traditional way, canned soup and all.
Matt did not have to worry about not having a spatula anymore….I did drop about 6 of them; all shapes and sizes, wishing him “Good Spatulating”.
Note: At the beginning of September 2013, I saw Matt at Safeway. That was his grocery store of choice. He had just arrived from Europe, I believe. We talked about my husband’s passing. Then, he said his brother had died too a few months back. No idea..so, now as I reflect on it, I am so sorry for his family’s loss. I wish them peace.
At the Indian River Inlet Farm to Table Dinner, it was getting darker and we were all ready to leave. I said “Matt, give me a smile.” And, here it is!! Good night, my friend!
Matt’s legacy continues. Please visit http://www.matthaleycompanies.com. In it you will find everything about his companies, including the Memorial Service celebrating his life on Sunday, 9/28, at 2 p.m. at Freeman Stage at Bayside.
April 18th, 2013
The coastal town of Lewes, Delaware is located by Cape Henlopen, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Delaware Bay. It was first settled by the Dutch in 1631.
It is the First Town in the First State. And, if you even thought for a moment that Lewes rolls its sidewalk at dusk….then you have to visit this historic charming and much loved and respected town.
If you are walking through Lewes, stop by the Visitor Center, lcoated at 120 Kings Highway. This is also a historic house called the Fisher-Martin House and it is next to the Zwaanendael Museum. They have plenty of information available if you are new in the area. Please visit http://www.leweschamber.com.
Friday, 4/19 – Cape Henlopen State Park – 7 p.m. until 8 p.m. Explore the woods at sunset with their ears, not their eyes, in search of animals that emerge after dark. Ages 7 and up with an adult. $2 per person. Meet at the Seaside Nature Center inside the Park, 15099 Cape Henlopen Drive. More info? Please call 302-645-6852.
Friday, 4/19 – Lewes Historical Society April Speaker Series with Chuck Fithian, Curator of Archeology, for a discussion on Lewes and the War of 1812, at 7:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m….Location? The Lewes Presbyterian Church Hall at 133 Kings Highway. Free admission, no reservations required. More info? Please visit http://www.historiclewes.org.
Friday, 4/19 – “Delaware’s Destiny Determined by Lewes” – Presentation by Supreme Court Justice, Randy Holland. The program begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Lewes Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall at 133 Kings Highway. “Delaware’s Destiny Determined by Lewes” is being introduced in Delaware at this Historical Society program and according to Michael DiPaolo, Executive Director of The Lewes Historical Society, a “copy of the book will be presented to each guest at no cost, in recognition of the launching of this first-time historic account, compliments of the author and the Delaware Heritage Commission” Following the presentation, Justice Holland will sign copies of the book. Light refreshments will be served after the talk.
Saturday, 4/20 – 2013 Walk for Autism at Cape Henlopen State Park, Lewes. This is the largest community fundraiser, drawing over 2,000 people over 2 days of events in support of people and families affected by autism and raising the money to show it. On Saturday, 4/27 there will be a second walk at Bellevue State Park, in Wilmington, Delaware. Registration for both walks starts at 9 a.m. Walk will begin at 11 a.m. More info? Please visit http://www.delautism.org.
Saturday, 4/20 – Dutch American Friendship Day – 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the Zwaanendael Museum. More info? Please call 302-645-1148 or visit http://www.history.Delaware.gov.
Saturday, 4/20 – Got Feathers? Examine bird specimens and journey outside to identify some of Cape’s wild species. Ages 7 and up. Pre-registration is required by calling 302-645-6852. $2/person. 11 a.m. until Noon. Location? Seaside Nature Center located inside the Cape Henlopen State Park at 15099 Cape Henlopen Drive.
Saturday, 4/20 – The Rehoboth Beach based non-profit improvisational theater group and school, Delaware Comedy Theatre, is happy to present “DCT Unsprung…Spring Fever Edition!” Saturday, 4/20 at Fish On! located at 173 N. Village Main, Village of Five Points in Lewes. Seating begins at 6:30 p.m. The show runs from &:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. The cost is $10 per person at the door. A full menu of fantastic food and drinks will be available, separately, and a 20% gratuity will be automatically added to the bill. RSVP to Fish On after 4 p.m. at 302-645-9790. The show is adult-themed and not appropriate for children.
Saturday, 4/20 – Coastal Concerts presents REBEL Baroque Ensemble at Bethel United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall at 4th & Market Streets in Lewes. For more information, please visit http://www.coastalconcerts.org. Or, call 888-212-6458.
Sunday, 4/21 and 4/28 – Take Me Out to the Ball Game” – The Lewes Vintage Base Ball Club, participating in the Mid Atlantic Vintage Base Ball League and a member of the Vintage Base Ball Association will be playing both Sundays at the University of Delaware Lewes campus near the Virden Conference Center grounds at 700 Pilottown Rd. in Lewes. “The earliest known reference to date of baseball in Lewes is from February of 1874 when a match pitting Lewes against Milton was advertised for March 1, 1874.” The Lewes Vintage Base Ball Club plays by 1864 rules which have several differences from contemporary baseball, the most notable being the ability to catch the ball on one bounce for an out and no gloves permitted for outfielders. Additionally, pitchers throw underhand; batters are called strikers; strikes are called when a striker does not attempt to swing the bat after a warning from the umpire; and foul balls can be caught on the bounce for an out. Games are 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. Sunday, 4/21 is Lewes vs. The Elkton Eclipse and on Sunday 4/28 is Lewes vs. the Diamond States. This information was obtained from the Lewes Chamber of Commerce’s website.
Have a good week-end!!
February 17th, 2013
 Kari Ainsworth and Marcie Urgo The first Chicks for Charity Dinner was celebrated in July of 2010. Since that time, a monthly charity dinner has been taking place at Fish On! located at The Villages of Five Points in Lewes, Delaware. Started by two friends, Marcie Urgo and Kari Ainsworth, the group is dedicated to assisting those less fortunate. The majority of the organizations they have helped are essential community resource agencies that aid kids, families, the elderly, abandoned animals and those that are underserved and in need. The donations are changing people’s lives….and the funds raised stay in Sussex County!! Website? http://www.chicksforcharity.us.
For those of us that live in Sussex County (Southern Delaware) is a chance to get together. And, for the new residents in the area, it is a great opportunity to meet new people, and at the same time help raise funds for those are are deeply in need in our area.
As I mentioned, the dinners are held at Fish On!, 17300 North Village Main Blvd., in The Villages of Five Points in Lewes. Website? http://www.fishon.bz. The February dinner will be on Tuesday, 2/19, at 6:30 p.m. Two delicious entrees to choose from along with appetizer and dessert for $25/person. Cash or check payable to Fish On! It includes gratuity. Cash Bar available. You can email gals4thegood@aol.com to reserve your spot. Please, do not contact the restaurant.
There will be raffle items and a 50/50 too!! I was in Bethany Beach and decided to stop by at TKO. Alice Klein is the owner and designer of this very popular jewelry store and one of my favorites. I asked Alice if she could give a piece of jewelry for Tuesday’s dinner. And she did! The earrings are beautiful and the perfect accessory for spring!! Website? http://www.alicehklein-tko.com So, they will be there, along with other great items donated by many in the communities of Sussex County.
Guiding Eyes for the Blind-Delmarva Region of Puppy Raisers…Guiding Eyes for the Blind is an internationally accredited, nonprofit, guide dog school with a 50 plus year legacy, providing the blind and visually impaired with superior Guiding Eyes dogs, training, and lifetime support services. Raising a puppy for Guiding Eyes for the Blind is a real gift of love. A puppy is not born a guide dog, but created through the dedication and commitment of an entire team of individuals. Puppy raisers are the heart and soul of Guiding Eyes for the Blind. Without their hard work, Guiding Eyes would not be able to fulfill their mission to better the lives of blind and visually impaired people.
Their network of individuals are couples, families with children, young adults and senior citizens. The relationship and bond between the raiser and pup will become the foundation for all the life lessons a guide dog needs to master. Raisers provide hours of patient teaching and numerous socialization journeys over a 12 to 16 month period, before they return a well-socialized young adult dog to Guiding Eyes training staff. All of the raiser’s hard work culminates when a blind person receives their priceless gift – a guide dog providing independence, companionship, and mobility.
To know more, please visit http://www.guidingeyes.org. The Delmarva Region of Guiding Eyes for the Blind is located in Milford, Delaware.
Hope to see you there!! Gentlemen, you are also invited!!
November 9th, 2012
It is so good to be able to say thank you and mean it. I want to thank those companies advertising on AboutMyBeaches. Some of them I bugged a lot; explaining why they should be on my website. I really do appreciate it.
AboutMyBeaches started back on July of 2009. It was one of those ideas. I am a frustrated concierge. First it was going to be just a website. When my webmaster, Ed Timmons, met with me, I kept talking and talking. He probably thought I was more of a blogger. So, really, it was his suggestion. Here I am. I consider myself to be in the business of Word of Mouth.
Since my advertisers are on my website, which is written in a blog style, you can access them directly. Just look at them on the right hand side of AboutMyBeaches, http://www.aboutmybeaches.com, and you will be able to find out what these companies are all about. They are all different. Their owners are very nice, and easy to talk to.
Let’s meet them:
Tidewater Realty – This company is located at 32892 Coastal Highway (Rt.1) at the Starboard Center in the town of Bethany Beach, Delaware. Bethany is considered one of the Quiet Resorts of the Delaware Beaches. I know it well. For many years I lived there. It is a small coastal community, with great beaches, and quaint little restaurants. Tel. 302-539-7500. Toll free 900-888-7501.
 Bethany Beach Tidewater Realty is a boutique size real estate company. Broker of Record? John Merryman, III. This company has been a sales leader in the community for 30 years. It is known for its personal and professional attention. Website? http://www.tidewaterrealty.com. Please remember that Delaware has low property taxes and tax free shopping!!
Coastal Chem-Dry – This company is at the forefront of the carpet and upholstery industry. Green certified, with innovative equipment and powerful cleaning solutions. Website? http://www.chem-dry.net/coastal.de. It dries quickly, so you don’t have to wait hours and even days for this to happen.
A Fall Special!! 3 rooms for $119.95 up to 350 sq.ft. Stairs not included.
Please contact them at: New Castle County and Kent County 302-234-0200. Sussex County 302-645-2800.
Check the website for more specials and information.
Miken Builders is located at 32782 Cedar Drive, Millville, Delaware 19967. Millville is located a few miles west of Bethany Beach. Tel. 302-537-4444. Cell 302-381-0773. Website? http://www.mikenbuilders.com. Mike Cummings is the Founder and CEO of this company. I have known him for so many years. Our sons played Little League together. Besides being a friend, I have also been a customer.
Miken Builders is a commercial and residential construction company. It is very well respected for his construction work and for his involvement in our communities. No job is too small or too big for them.
Last summer they worked on my house. A whole new entry way, which by the way, I have enjoyed and was very much needed. Also, there was some remodeling in my bathroom.
Betterliving Patio & Sunrooms of Delmarva. This company is under the umbrella of Miken Builders. Location? 32442 Royal Blvd., Unit 1, Dagsboro, DE 19939. Tel. 302-251-0000. Toll Free 877-251-0080. Website? http://www.betterlivingdelmarva.com. They are the exclusive provider of Betterliving 3-Season year-round sunrooms and awnings.
Doggies at the Beach is a boarding and day care facility for your pooches. It is located at 18806 John J. Williams Highway (Rt. 24), Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Tel. 302-644-8200. Website? http://www.doggiesatthebeach.com. It is my dog, Addy’s, home away from home. I have total confidence in Jim and his staff and when I leave her there. I feel she is in the best of care.
Doggies at the Beach has 4 master groomers for dogs and cats, working 7 days a week; mornings, afternoons, and evenings. All you have to do is call for an appointment. The facility is great with 24/7 human care. It is also climate controlled. Dog training is also available.
Two new web-cams are being installed. One will be located in the new puppy room, the other in the new building called Bayside.
Doggies at the Beach is very much involved in the community. Don’t be surprised to see them in parades, holding events, and having a good old time!!
SoDel Concepts, founded and owned by Restauranteur & Philanthropist, Matt Haley. Website? http://www.sodelconcepts.com. A total of 6 restaurants at the moment, with its newest one, Papa Grande, opening in 2013 in Fenwick Island, Delaware. Stay tuned for updates. Busy does not even begin to describe this company. I have written posts, with pictures, on most of them, except Blue Coast Seafood Grill….soon, though. Just put their name on the search of AboutMyBeaches to see some delicious dishes.
In Lewes, Delaware you will find Fish On! – http://www.fishon.bz
In Rehoboth Beach, Delaware you will find Lupo di Mare – http://www.lupodimarerehoboth.com
In North Bethany Beach, Delaware you will also find Matt’s Fish Camp – http://www.mattsfishcamp.com
Also, in North Bethany you will find Blue Coast Seafood Grill – http://www.bluecoastseafoodgrill.com
In Ocean View, Delaware you will find NorthEast Seafood Kitchen – http://www.northeastseafoodkitchen.com
In Fenwick Island, Delaware, that’s where you will find Catch 54 – http://www.catch54.com.
In each of them I have found a favorite dish. If you are visiting the Delaware Beaches, try them. I don’t think you will be disappointed.
Plate Catering – This is a catering company owned by Matt Haley, owner of SoDel Concepts. A dinner for many, or just for a few. An intimate affair, perhaps? A special occasion, I am sure. They can handle it. Please give them a call at 302-644-1200. Website? http://www.plate-catering.com
The Global Delaware Fund. This is a non-profit organization founded by Matt Haley, owner of SoDel Concepts and Plate Catering. It provides goods and services to children at risk in distressed situations. It has been lending a hand here, in Delaware, and abroad. Please visit http://www.theglobaldelawarefund.com.
Butter Shades is a sun glass company from Philadelphia that sells affordable sunglasses without sacrificing pure, manufactured quality. This company has a passion and compassion…they are giving back to the community, as well. Please check the sunglasses at http://www.buttershades.com
TKO – In Bethany Beach you will find Alice H. Klein, Jeweler and Designer. She is the owner and founder of TKO Designs, Inc. In the business for 32 years, Alice has a unique way of presenting a beautiful stone in its best light. She works with plastics and resins, precious and semi-precious stones, pearls, gold, gold filled, silver and Swaroski crystals. She can give a lift to a tired setting giving it that wow factor.
 
TKO Designs is located at 100 Garfield Pkwy., Stores 6 & 7, Bethany Beach, Delaware. Tel. 302-539-6992. Website? http://www.alicehklein-tko.com. I have known the company for so long and I am a consummate fan of her work. Her niece JoAnne works at her store, as well.
Florida – I do have a few advertisers in Florida. You might want to know them. Whether you are a snowflake or a snowbird these 2 companies provide great services. I also know them, personally, and can recommend them fully.
Tauriello & Co. is a real estate company located in the heart of Delray Beach, Florida. This coastal town is also known as the Village by the Sea. You can find it at 900 E. Atlantic Avenue. Tel. 561-278-5570. Toll Free 877-509-8300. Website? http://www.tauriello.com.
Brokers of Record are Daniel & Sue Tauriello. They have been in Delray Beach for so many years and are very well respected in the Village by the Sea. I have known them since 2003 and they have given me personal and professional service. Please call Cheran or Sue if you want to find that special place to hang your beach chair.
Beach House Management, LLC – This is a property management company in Delray Beach. Michael Keegan is at the helm of the company and along with his staff, you home will be in good hands. Totally professional and caring. I have used Michael since 2003 and have no regrets at all. Some might think that a property management company is a luxury; in reality, it is a necessity when you are not there. For more information, please visit http://www.mybeachhouses.com. Tel. 561-376-4329.
Again, I do appreciate your business….Interested advertising on AboutMyBeaches? I think it is a very good deal. $500 for one year. Your banner on AboutMyBeaches. My personal attention, as well. Check the website and see if you like it. Nothing better than word of mouth.
Have a good one!!
October 16th, 2012
Congratulations are in order to Chef Doug Ruley, formerly Head Chef of Bluecoast Seafood Grill in Bethany Beach. SoDel Concepts, owned by acclaimed Chef, Matt Haley, has announced that Chef Dough Ruley will be the new Corporate Chef of the restaurant group.
Chef Ruley will be in charge of overseeing all of SoDel Concepts’ restaurant kitchens, currently 6 in total. He will also manage the food and menus from SoDel’s catering company, Plate Catering. Responsibilities will include supervising all kitchen staff, creating and updating menus, and delegating which items will be prepared for special company events.
Originally from Elkton, Maryland, Doug became enamored with food and the kitchen at an early age. Whether helping bake a birthday cake or preparing live blue crabs, he was up for the challenge. Summers were often spent helping his grandparents tend to the garden, live stock and the smoke house on their farm. Doug attributes his passion for food to days of shucking corn and picking beans, building the foundation of his career.
Shortly after graduating from high school, Doug began working in local restaurants including celebrated Newark, Delaware eatery, Jude’s Diner. After training in a Rehoboth Beach restaurant kitchen the following summer, Doug decided to pursue his natural talent and go to culinary school, something Jude herself had been pushing for.
Doug graduated at the top of his class in 1996 from Johnson & Wales (Rhode Island). Julia Child gave the commencement speech. Immediately after, Doug accepted a position as Sous Chef at The Melrose Club in Hilton Head Island, SC. After a year, Doug moved back to Elkton and was hired as a line cook at then un-opened restaurant, Iron Hill Brewery. Five years later he was promoted to Executive Chef and Operating Partner of Iron Hill, which now has over 8 locations. While at Iron Hill, Doug produced several “Best of Delaware” awards, with a string of five “Best Restaurant” awards in a row. After10 outstanding years with Iron Hill, Doug and his wife decided for a change and moved to the beach, signing on with Matt Haley and SoDel Concepts as Head Chef of highly acclaimed restaurant, Bluecoast.
Of his employer, Ruley states that Haley and the SoDel team are “pioneers” in the culinary field in Delaware. “Working with Matt has been the most rewarding years of my career. His wisdom and leadership brings out the best in his employees.”
Doug credits his success to the tremendously talented people he has worked with throughout his career, and to his family, for being understanding of the vigorous nature of the culinary world. He currently lives in Fenwick Island, Delaware with his wife, Lisa, and their three children.
About SoDel Concepts:
SoDel Concepts was founded by Chef Matt Haley. SoDel Concepts was named to the 2009 Inc. 500, which lists America’s fastest-growing private companies. The group’s restaurants include Fish On! in Lewes, Lupo di Mare in Rehoboth Beach, Bluecoast and Matt’s Fish Camp in North Bethany Beach, NorthEast Seafood Kitchen in Ocean View and Catch 54 in Fenwick Island. Matt Haley and co-owner Scott Kammerer also own Haley-Kammerer Consulting, a hospitality management company that provides management and consulting services for businesses such as Troegs Brewery & Kitchen, James Street Tavern, and Premier Wine & Spirits in Wilmington, Delaware. Others include Que Pasa in Dewey Beach, Fins & Claws restaurants in Rehoboth Beach. Sports at the Beach in Lewes and Waterman’s in Ocean City, Maryland. For more information, please visit http://www.sodelconcepts.com.
Note: You can access directly all of SoDel Concepts restaurants, including Plate Catering, on AboutMyBeaches, by a click on their individual links or on SoDel Concepts. Don’t forget to check Global Delaware, as well. See what this non-profit is all about.
July 17th, 2012
Welcome is what I want to say to all of Matt Haley’s Restaurants. It has been 3 years since I started this blog. The concept has stayed true. I wanted to promote the Delaware Beaches. I really do love living here and that’s what I told Matt Haley when I was pestering him about advertising on my website. It is a little tricky when you are talking and writing about restaurants. Afterall, it is your own experience. I write about them on my own terms; no technical training, for sure. I know how I like to be served. I like a variety of foods. And I love innovative cuisines.
I have eaten in several of Matt Haley’s Restaurants. Every time I wrote a post, I would send an e-mail to the company. It did not fail that Matt Haley was the one that answered those e-mails immediately. Not his managers and others in his staff; but, himself. That has not happened very often. I thought that said a lot about the man behind the concepts. And, SoDel Concepts restaurant group, is his restaurant development company located in Delmarva.
I have had the opportunity to attend several fundraising events hosted by Matt Haley. Yes, he does wear many hats besides the Chef’s. On those occasions, I have watched him interact with his staff. It is like a one on one kind of thing. Mutual respect and admiration. Maybe family is the right word to describe it.
Matt Haley’s feels at ease whether he is the Chef at a fundraising event at a farm or fundraising at one of his restaurants for Global Delaware.
 
In 2010, the organization Outstanding in the Field chose him as the Host and Chef for an amazing dinner held at the Indian River Life Saving Station. The organization, Outstanding in the Field, travels the world to find exceptional chefs to showcase the local food culture and salute area farmers, growers and fishermen. It was a first for Delaware!!
You can find SoDel Concepts and Plate Catering on the right hand side of this website. Just click on either one to go directly into their sites and find all there is to know about them. You can also click on the links available on the left hand side of this website, as well, to go directly into all the individual restaurants, including Plate Catering.
The Owner and Executive Chef is Matt Haley. Southern Delaware has the farms and the water. These provide us all with a unique advantage to fresh food, wonderful vegetables, poultry and beef. There are amazing restaurants and chefs making Southern Delaware a dining destination. And, Matt Haley’s Restaurants have the whole package.
Matt Haley’s Restaurants are under SoDel Concepts. And, here they are:
SoDel Concepts – Tel. 302-436-8600. Website? http://www.sodelconcepts.com.
Fish On! – Tel. 302-645-9790. Website? http://www.fishon.bz. Happy Hour, Opens at 5 p.m., Sunday 3 Chef designed courses for $19. Location? 17300 North Village Main Blvd., Lewes, DE 19958. At The Villages of Five Points. I wrote a post on the restaurant on 7/10/12. Just click on the month of July and scroll down to the date.
Lupo di Mare – Tel. 302-226-2240. Website? http://www.lupodimarerehoboth.com. Happy Hour 5 – 7 p.m. Early Bird Special, 3 courses for $19 if seated before 6 p.m. Location? 247 Rehoboth Ave., inside the Hotel Rehoboth. I have written in the past about this restaurant. Just click on the month and scroll down to the date. 6/12/2011, 12/4/2011, 5/5/2012
Matt’s Fish Camp – Tel. 302-539-CAMP. Website? http://www.mattsfishcamp.com. Opens 12 p.m. – 9 p.m. Sunday – Thursday. 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Location? North Bethany, South of the Indian River Inlet. I have written in the past, also, about this restaurant. Again click on the month and scroll down to the date. 4/20/2011, 6/26/2012
Bluecoast Seafood Grill – Tel. 302-539-7111. Website? http://www.bluecoastseafoodgrill.com. Opens at 5 p.m. Location? 1111 Highway One, Bethany Beach, DE 19930. It is just north after you leave Bethany Beach.
Northeast Seafood Kitchen – Tel. 302-537-1785. Website? http://www.northeastseafoodkitchen.com. Opens at 5 p.m. Outdoor dining is also available. Location? 29F Atlantic Avenue, Ocean View, DE 19970.
Catch 54 – Tel. 302-436-8600. Website? http://www.catch54.com. Location? 38931 Madison Ave., Fenwick Island, DE 19944. In the Shark’s Cove Marina. Same view, new building due to a fire that took place last year. What I hear are good things and words like so “cool”. I’ll let you know how it is soon. Opens at 11:30 a.m. Happy Hour is from 12 Noon until 6 p.m.
Plate Catering is Matt Haley’s catering company. He is the Owner and Executive Chef. A dinner for 2 or for a large gathering…this is what this company does. Awesome dinners taking the stress out so that you can enjoy your company. Tel. 302-644-1200. Website? http://www.plate-catering.com. Email? info@plate-catering.com.
So, what else can I tell you about Matt Haley? Remember when I mentioned above, the many hats he wears…..a philanthropist’s. It is worth mentioning that Matt Haley founded Global Delaware. It is a non-profit “organization dedicated to providing goods and services to children at risk in distressed situations”. Global Delaware is helping, here at home, and it is also extending a helping hand overseas. To know more about it, to get involved, to donate (anything helps), please visit http://www.theglobaldelawarefund.com.
Notes: Matt Haley’s Restaurants do not accept reservation. You have to do like me; either very early or late. I choose late. It’s summer and it stays light so late. Let me know how you like them.
Matt Haley’s Restaurants are sensitive to those customers with food related allergies. They are very willing to make your visit a pleasurable one.
By the way, let me tell you that there were other e-mails sent to SoDel Concepts. They were the ones that started “Don’t kill the Messenger”, if you get my drift. He did answer!! Have a good one!!
July 10th, 2012
Eating is not merely a material pleasure. Eating well gives a spectacular joy to life and contributes immensely to goodwill and happy companionship. It is of great importance to the morale. e. schiaparelli
This post is reviewing Fish On! twice in one week!!
It was Sunday night when a friend came over to visit. I was probably on a lazy kind of mood. A crowded and hot week-end at the Delaware Beaches. Plain and simple; I did not feel like cooking. So, I chose Fish On! We are so lucky to have all these wonderful restaurants in our beaches. I have to hand it to you, Chefs, because you are doing a great job in keeping all of us interested in your culinary surprises.
Fish On is part of the SoDel Concepts group of restaurants that extend up and down our coastal beaches. Owner and Executive Chef is Matt Haley. It is located at 17300 North Village Main Blvd., Villages of Five Points, Lewes, Delaware 19958. Tel. 302-645-9790. Website? http://www.fishon.bz
Fish On! does not take reservations. That is not bothering me anymore. I am eating late this summer. Love having the restaurants almost all to myself at that time. Fish On! has plenty of parking. The restaurant offers outdoor dining. So, on a beautiful Delmarva night, please take advantage of a pretty nice setting. Eating outdoors is the best.
On Sunday evening the restaurant was comfortably crowded when we arrived. Not soon afterwards, just a few having a leisure coffee and desert.
Our server was Stefana. I have to tell you that she was so pleasant; knew the menu well. Gluten free awareness? Oh yes, she was very well aware of the allergy.
Bread was brought to the table. Even though the bread looked simple, it was a little bit sweet; not overly so. It is baked daily in-house.
I decided to have their Charred Asparagus Soup. It was creamy, full of flavor, with a creme fraiche and basil oil.
Two orders of Pan Seared Halibut, with grilled peach, black bean and corn salsa, cumin and paprika roasted potatoes. Gluten Free!! Got great reviews from my fellow diners.
I decided to go with the Seared Seabass, with summer squash and sweet potato ribbons, and a lemon herb gremolata. It melted in your mouth, the vegetables were perfectly cooked. The picture does not lie. It looked and tasted that good.
Perfectly satisfied, we just had some coffee.
Tuesday evening. Quiet after the hectic week-end. You could see that the traffic was taking it easy. Once again, we decided to go to Fish On! The scallops were calling my husband.
Fish On! was a little more subdued; we also went pretty late.
My choice was the Bean, Corn, and Chicken Soup. It was “brothy”, light and it had been cooked with jalapenos, so there was a nice kick to it. Loved it.
Fish Tacos for my next entree. Shaved brussels sprouts, pickled onions, corn tortillas. Guess what? I learned something new. The fish was called swai. I had never heard of it. It is pronounced sweye. Similar to catfish but with a milder flavor and more delicate texture. It is from Vietnam. Even people that do not like fish, tend to really enjoy this very much versatile fish that can be broiled, baked, sauteed, and fried. My Fish Tacos were delicious and a very healthy portion indeed.
When restaurants are not crowded it is the perfect opportunity to maybe be able to change something on the menu. Fish On! was more than happy to oblige.
The Scallops were ordered. They would have arrived accompanied by summer vegetables and a chorizo succotash. Not sure if the chorizo was gluten free, we decided to replace those with the Roasted Red & Gold Beets; no blue cheese, mustard vinaigrette on the side. Both were outstanding!!
Please note that restaurants get so busy that many times they can not be substituting one thing for another. So…ask but be understanding of their situation.
Again, a little chat here or there with Stefana….and until next time.
Fish On! opens 7 days a week at 5:00 p.m.
A Children’s Menu is also available. Other offerings, besides seafood, are on the menu, as well.
Have a good one!! ttyl g
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