May 21st, 2011
 The Raw Bar is between the Seafood Market and the Restaurant It was raining last night and I was not sure if I wanted to go out. Plus, the fact that the Beaches were crowded. So many events and activities on this week-end; just a prelude of next week-end’s official start of the Summer Season at the Delaware Beaches.
But, the craving was for oysters and a raw bar. I had gotten an e-mail from Big Fish Grill announcing the opening of their new raw bar. It is an addition to their restaurant. Same location at 20298 Coastal Highway. Telm 302-227-FISH. Website? www.bigfishgrill.com.
You can either go through the front door of Big Fish Grill or you can enter through a side door directly into the Raw Bar (used to be their Tiki Bar). It is between the Big Fish Grill Market and the restaurant.
As you enter, the high top tables and the seating at the raw bar are for grabs. For the regular tables you need to talk to the staff.
This room is noisy and lively. Shucking oysters, peeling shrimp, pass down the clams, and help me open this lobster. While you are at it hand me a beer or give me another glass of wine, please. That’s the atmosphere!!
For the Memorial Week-End the restaurant and raw bar will be opening from Friday until Monday from 11 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. with dinner starting at 4 p.m.
As of June 1st dinner will be starting at 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and at 4:00 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Back to my Fruits de Mer. This restaurant is known for their fresh seafood. So, the offerings might be changing from time to time. Last night some of the clams and oysters were Middle Necks, Blue Points Chincoteague and Delaware Bay (NJ).
Since we sat at the bar we could see what was being served. There was a Cold Seafood Plater which had oysters, clams, shrimp and Main lobster.
We ordered some crab claws and shrimp. The size of the shrimp was impressive and I was not sure how they were going to be. You know, at times those big shrimp are not that great. Well, surprised again; sweet, moist and definitely good.
Then we ordered some Blue Points and I must admit I do love oysters even though May does not have an “r” in it. They say you should not eat oysters on the months that do not carry an “r”. But since the world was going to end on Saturday, I took that chance.
I even ordered more shrimp. Had to take plenty of pictures. They were unreal.
Big Fish is one of those restaurants that take food allergies very seriously. There is a menu for every allergy and you can eat there with peace of mind.
Enjoy the weather….it is one of those days at the Delmarva Peninsula; Priceless…
April 28th, 2011
The Historic town of Lewes is getting ready for a celebration on Friday, 4/29. It is called Fun Friday. Lewes is celebrating the Royal Wedding. I wrote a post on the different events throughout this special day. You can read it by clicking on the month of March, 2011 on the left hand side of this website and then scrolling down to the 9th.
“Friends are the flowers that never fade.” With that in mind I went to meet Jody on Tuesday in Lewes, Delaware. I met Jody not long ago; an instant friendship. She is funny, likes to talk and likes to try new restaurants, as well.
About 3 weeks ago a new restaurant opened in Lewes. When I first heard about it I thought it was only a bakery. This new eatery is the perfect combination; a bakery, a restaurant, and a bar. Sounds like heaven. Their motto? “Come for Dessert, Stay for Dinner”.
Cake Bar is located at 115 Second St., Lewes, Delaware 19958. Tel. 302-645-CAKE (2253). Website? www.sugarbakerscakes.com.
What a difference!! As you come into Cake Bar from the Second St. entrance I was pleasantly surprised. The bakery is at the front. Nothing like looking at beautiful baked goods in a warm atmosphere to wet your appetite.
Jody and I met Jamie, the owner. Friendly; like you know her. She told us that she and her family had been coming to Lewes for a long time and that they owned a home in town. They were looking for a place to start a business and when the opportunity came they grabbed it. Right in the center of town.
I like what they have done with the dinning areas. It was comfortable and a good choice of colors.
But that is not all, Jamie and her family own a very successful business in Catonsville, Maryland. It is called Sugar Bakers Cakes at 752 Frederick Rd., Baltimore, MD 21228. The website is www.sugarbakerscake.com. The tel. is 410788-9478.
In business since 1996, this company has made a name for themselves. Please check their website to see the most amazing cakes for all occasions. The reviews? Awesome!! Appearing in The Today Show and Whose Wedding is It Anyway?.
Their cakes are delivered to Baltimore, Washington, and to the Maryland and Delaware resorts.
You can contact them either in Baltimore or in Lewes for a complimentary wedding cake consultation. June is around the corner, so I hope brides to be are reading this post.
One thing that caught my attention was that you can call Cake Bar and order dessert trays; 10 person minimum for all trays. Just cookies, or a selections of brownies, blondies, and mini desserts. Served in easy to handle, bite size pieces.
The Fancy Feast includes mini eclairs, tiny mousse cups, fresh fruit tarts and dipped strawberries, among others.
You can also order miniature desserts by the dozen. Just give them a call if you would like more info. Remember their number is 302-645-CAKE.
Jody and I checked the menu. Cheeses, Maryland Crab Dip, fries with garlic truffle aioli, wings, mac and cheese, shrimp cocktail, steamed shrimp, steamed mussels are a few of their starters. Then the soups and salads followed. Sandwiches like Maryland Crabcake, the Delaware Dip, the BLT and G(uacamole) which had thick smoked bacon, roasted and sandwiched with arugula, juice tomato, and creamy guacamole. The Hot Dog Muffaletta is their take on New Orleans; a big, grilled all-beef dog in a baguette roll, packed with pepperoncini’s, red onion, roasted red pepper, provolone cheese and tapenade.
Some of their entres were shrimp and grits, day boat scallops, fresh daily fish, flat iron steak, meatloaf and mash. The Delmarva Chicken is a Delaware chicken brined in traditional local marinade of lemon, buttermilk, garlic, olive oil and seasonal herbs and then roasted. Choice of garlic mash or fresh veggies.
Jody and I decided on a salad. You know how it is, summer is around the corner, afterall.
Jody chose the CakeBAR Salad which had lettuce, cucumber, tomato, sweet red pepper, red onion, olives, artichoke hearts, and goat cheese Feta, with red wine vinaigrette. She topped it with grilled shrimp. It was light and she very much enjoyed it.
I chose the Wedding Salad which had baby greens topped with seasonal fresh berries, toasted pine nuts, crumbled goat cheese and house-smoked duck confit. Served with a honey citrus vinaigrette. I loved it. I think the combinations of all the fruit, the smoked duck and the dressing were a perfect marriage of flavors.
No dessert for us. Can you imagine? All homemade and we had the willpower to say no. Our waiter, which by the way was very good, named them all. We still resisted.
I wish Jamie and her family the best. Stop by and say hello.
Note: Fun Facts from Sugar Bakers Cakes: They use 75,000 eggs per year and 1.8 million chocolate chips per year. Yikes!!
Please remember that Cake Bar has happy hour.
Have a great day!!…talk to you soon…
April 1st, 2011
If you were to drive through the Town of Dewey Beach today, you would be surprised at how quiet it is. Don’t let that fool you. This is a town that has become a destination for those who are young, and for some of us that want to keep being young.
The bay on one side and the ocean on the other. In between? Restaurants, watersports, bars, and lots of entertainment.
April 1st seemed like a good day to start opening a few of those places in Dewey that have become so popular with visitors and residents alike.
Que Pasa? Well, this Cantina is opening today. Outdoor sitting is available even though at the moment it is quite chilly at the Delaware Beaches. Indoor sitting is available, as well. Some of their offerings are Chicken Tortilla soup, Homemade Ceviche, Chicken Tamales and Flash fried Empanadas, Shrimp a la Plancha, among many others. Their tel. is 302-227-4333. Website? www.deweybeachlife.com.
Rusty Rudder is also opening today. Their tel. is 302-227-3888. Website? www.ruddertowneusa.com. Tonight’s entertainment will be Mike Hines & The Look at 9:00 p.m. His website, in case you want to know what they are all about, is http://www.mikehines.com.
On Saturday, 4/2, the entertainment will be SpeakerCity and it will start at 9:00 p.m. For more info. on this band, please check their website http://www.speakercityrocks.com.
Lighthouse will be opening up on Monday 4/4 with their all you can eat wings for $10. Then on Friday, 4/8 they will have their now famous Taco Toss at the Lighthouse. Saturday, 4/9 will be Bullbuckers Live. Their genre is Ska, Reggae, and Soul. For more info. on this band go to their website, http://www.bullbuckers.com.
The Bottle & Cork will be opening May 7th and North Beach will be opening May 20th.
Have a great week-end…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 27th, 2011
By early afternoon, yesterday, we knew we were going to eat crabs. Years ago there was a small crab house in Ocean City, Maryland that we loved to go. As it happens, it was falling all around them. Anyway, that’s what Nolan, the owner, told me last night. In the past few years it was rebuilt into one amazing crab house. You can smell Old Bay seasoning as you approach the restaurant.
The Crab Bag is located at 13005 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD. Tel. is 410-250-3337. It opens at 9:00 a.m. serving breakfast and even though it is a full crab house, they offer so many other things to eat; seafood, steaks, hamburgers, sandwiches and salads. Their website is www.occrabbag.com but it is under construction at the moment. You can still go on it and download their menu. You can also find them on Facebook.
I really go there for the crabs. It has been quite some time since I had been there. Crabs, at this time of the year, are coming pretty much from Louisiana. Last night they were offering all you can eat or you could order by the dozen. I ordered by the dozen; only the biggest ones. Crabs are also expensive during these months, but every single table was taken at the Crab Bag.
The Crab Bag has two floors with decks and outdoor dining, as well. It is February so everyone was indoors.
There is nothing better than picking crabs in a crab house. It is loud, people are hammering away, drinking; a constant chatter. It is the perfect way to establish conversation. Your hands are fast working, grabbing those lumps of crab meat.
But then, of course, if you are a true Baltimorean, then there is no better way to accompany those steamed, extra large crabs than with a Natty Boh. It has to be very cold too. Frosted glass, the best!!
Natty Bohs (National Bohemian) is back in Baltimore after a 15 year absence. Steamed crabs and Natty Bohs define Baltimore. It has always been a tradition.
We sat on the second level and that had another full bar but not as many tables. Mike was our waiter and he was busy. He was very good; attentive and fast.
We started with some steamed clams; middle necks, chargrilled with fresh shallots, celery, green peppers, spices, Parmesan cheese and bacon. They were tasty and went fast.
Then our crabs arrived, steaming hot. Mike asked us if we wanted vinegar, melted butter, and Old Bay. My answer? All of the above.
We dug into the crabs; they were heavy, juicy and sweet!! Perfection. To me, there is nothing like the Maryland blue crab. Not in season? Then, this is the next best thing.
Some steamed corn complemented the crabs. The corn was nice and sweet for this time of the year. Don’t know where it was coming from, though.
Nolan, the owner, stopped by to see how everything was. It really was very good and the service was the best. No complaints.
We left the Crab Bag, still full of customers enjoying what the Delmarva Peninsula is known for. We told Nolan that we had come to get our crab fix for the week-end. He in turn told us that there are people that stop by 2 times a week for crabs. Cannot get enough!!! I agree because I can’t either.
 See you later... Talk to you soon….you know I will….
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 19th, 2011
How many times in the past year have I heard the term”Old Florida”? Plenty. Maybe is because we reminisce and wish to recapture that simple, and less hectic lifestyle.
Old Florida is a term given to at least 2 generations ago. It reminds us of “yesteryears” that are quickly vanishing.
Towns, restaurants, and hotels have not been taken over by the development trends of the day; they have kept their own identity.
One of those hotels in Delray Beach is the Colony Hotel. I actually have never stayed there but have friends that have. I even had a friend from Bethany Beach that made this hotel his home for a couple of months of the year.
The Colony Hotel is located in the heart of Delray Beach; 525 E. Atlantic Ave., tel. 561-276-4123. Website? www.thecolonyhotel.com. It has 70 guestrooms, daily yoga, hotel shops, on site laundry, complimentary parking, high speed wireless, guest computer, and exercise room. It is also pet friendly.
The Colony Hotel is an independent, family-owned and operated hotel. It does have a sister hotel in Kennebunkport, Maine.
I have gone by this hotel day and night, plenty of times. During the day people are enjoying the porch with coffee in hand; at night it is a porch bar, with music and people enjoying their favorite cocktails.
I decided to go in and check it out. A few years ago it was painted and given a fresh look. As I came in I took in all the colors. This is what Florida is all about; color combinations that bring a smile to your face. Inside it has a plantation feel; relaxing.
Unfortunaly, I did not see any of the rooms. You can check the website for more info.
The hotel has a Cabana Club about 2 miles away. If you are on Linton heading east, then right at the intersection of Linton and A1A is the Cabana Club. The Colony Hotel has van transportation to and from the Cabana Club. It is a private ocean front beach club with a pool heated by environmentally sensitive geo-thermal. Lunch is served from 12 to 2:30 p.m. to hotel guests and club members.
The Colony Hotel is a founding member of the “Green” Hotels Association. Website? www.greenhotels.com.
This hotel is perfect if you do not wish to have a car in Delray, everything is very accessible.
The Colony Hotel has package, group and corporate rates available.
Have a great Presidents Week-End!!!…talk to you later….
January 9th, 2011
I know breakfast is supposed to give your body the fuel needed to face the rest of the day. To tell you the truth I don’t find breakfast that exciting. Well, unless I can have a Rapa Scrapple Sandwich. I don’t eat too many of those either, though. You know, trying to lose weight; definitely, that’s not going to help.
Wait a minute. I guess I should tell you what Scrapple is. Well, to me there is only one; Rapa. That’s the company that makes it. It is a pork product from Bridgeville, Delaware. I like it sliced thin, sauteed until crisp; in a sandwich or by itself. More info? Their website is www.rapascrapple.com.
For breakfast my friends and I go to our favorites in Rehoboth Beach, like Crystal or Greenman. It is usually a special time any time I can get together with them. Their names? Why not? Missy, Debbie and Roberta and once in a while Alice, when she is in town.
When in Delray, I follow pretty much the same routine than at home; coffee, cream, and Stevia; later on, a gala apple. But, once in a while I like to find that special breakfast place; the one where I can sit outdoors and have a cup of coffee, an omelette, with no one rushing me.
I was in Delray before the Christmas holidays and we decided to try Atlantique Cafe. This Cafe is located at the Atlantic Plaza, 777 East Atlantic Ave., Suite C-8. Tel. 561-272-1170. Website is www.atlantiquecafe.com. You can find them on Twitter and Facebook. They have breakfast, lunch and dinner. Plenty of parking, as well.
Part of the charm of Delray is that it is a very walkable town. If you are a walker you can pretty much cover the whole downtown. If you are coming from A1A on Atlantic Ave., then right after you cross the intracoastal bridge, on the right, you will find the Atlantic Plaza. The Cafe is towards the back. And, if you are coming on Atlantic Ave. from I-95 then continue until you see the bridge and the Plaza will be to your left.
It was chilly; but now that is 20 degrees in Delaware I guess it is all relative. I wanted to sit outside, and so we did. They were busy but attentive. Some people sat with their dogs at their feet.
I don’t know if I was up to explaining the gluten free allergy so early in the a.m. Guess what? They were good. It was easier than I thought.
I went inside to check the restaurant and I was impressed; bigger than I thought with a bar that could fit plenty of people. By the way they have happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. They also offer free Wi-Fi and have large t.v.s for all those sport enthusiasts.
Finally, I decided to have a Greek Omelette. It had onion, tomato, spinach, gyro meat and feta cheese. As much as I say about breakfast I have to tell you that the omelette was moist, and I think the gyro meat and the feta were a pretty good combination. It was a big omelette but, no, I did not have any trouble finishing it, which by the way, came with a side of hash browns.
My husband’s breakfast was not on the menu; he made his own thing; Corned Beef, fried onions on hashbrowns. He also wanted cole slaw. He knows his cole slaw and liked this one a lot. If he had said it was o.k. then I would have known better.
I loved that huge tree. We sat under it and it added so much to the atmosphere of this restaurant. I did not have lunch or dinner but they do offer salads and platters, cold sandwiches, off the grill and even a kids menu. Full dinner menu is also available Mondays through Saturdays from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m.
If you are visiting Delray, give them a call if you would like to know what entertainment is being offered. At the time of my visit Elvis was there on Saturdays.
Have a great week….keep warm if you are up north…enjoy yourselves if you are in warmer climates…talk to you later…..
 
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