Tuesday night, I guess we should all be tucked in now that the days are shorter. It was the perfect night to go out to dinner. Four friends got together for a World’s Best Champagne Dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Berlin, Maryland. My Motto is Good Food, Will Travel and so we did.
This dinner was a celebration to two iconic women of their times. In 1805 at the age of 27 Madame Clicquot became one of the first businesswomen of modern times when she took over the business that was established in 1772.
Ruth Fertel bought in 1965 the Chris Steak House in New Orleans. It was against the advice of many. You do have to follow your instincts. The rest is history.
This dinner was well attended. If you like champagne you would have been able to enjoy the best with each entree.
We started with the scallop crudo. It had an asian pear relish. Crudo means raw. The pairing was Moet & Chandon Imperial.
The next was the roasted parsnip soup with mini buttered croutons and fresh turmeric foam. I would have liked it a bit warmer.
The soup was paired with the Brut Yellow Label.
The next course brought to the table was a Prime Skirt Steak. Smashed rosemary red potatoes and a soy and ginger chimichurri. A little kick the chimichurri gave. Veuve Clicquot Rose we all really enjoyed.
Great Filet Mignon with Blue Crab was our next presentation. Shareable potatoes Anna and asparagus frites. Medium rare for me, please. Paired with the elegant Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame, 2015. ??
A sweet ending of coconut cake, a roasted pineapple cream filling, brulee pineapple, and passion fruit coulis. Use your imagination because I forgot to take the photo.?
It goes without saying that a dinner date with friends is therapy for the soul.
Some of the information for this post was taken from their website.
These two women are admired for having a great influence and example to future businesswomen. Cheers to Ruth and Madame Clicquot.
AboutMyBeaches is on Facebook and Instagram. Check it out.
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The Hobbit is considered an institution in Ocean City, Maryland. Since 1977 when they first opened, it has evolved with the times including a move with panoramic views. You don’t get to experience fine dining, good service plus scenic views at the same location.
They have a great bar. I believe reservations are a must for dining. They open 7 days a week for dinner.
There were six of us for dinner. Perfect time for a gorgeous sunset at the distance. Drinks, small talk, laughter followed.
An order of the Cream of Crab Soup was well received. Jumbo lump, Sherry and Old Bay; a Trifecta in my book.
The Traditional Caesar Salad. If you want it gluten free leave the croutons out.
A delicious Smoked Beef Carpaccio: cold smoked beef tenderloin, fried shallots, truffled horseradish sauce and capers. A delicate tasting appetizer or small plate like I chose.
Look at these Pork’s Duck Cigars…Duck Confit, garlic, and sour onion wrapped in pastry and fried. Finishing touches of cherry honey syrup and toasted almond. Can you share??
A few orders of crab cakes which The Hobbit are famous for. No fillers whatsoever and just a sprinkle of Old Bay will do. Don’t miss them??
Filet Mignon prepared one of three ways. Veggies of the day. They cleaned their plates; talking about the ones that ordered them.
I love duck. Medium rare for me. This duck not only had a great presentation but it tasted just as good as it looked.?
I had the Fried Green Tomatoes which were excellent. I apologize, Oops, forgot to take the photo. Take my word they were perfectly cooked.
Plenty of restaurants up and down the Delaware and Maryland coast. Love it when I feel that I can’t wait to go back again.
The Hobbit Restaurant is on Social Media and so is AboutMyBeaches. Check us out.
And until then, I remain.
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Friday the 13th…Scared? Superstition or not just don’t spill salt, like that’s something we do every day, break a mirror. Walk under a ladder…not sure if I ever do that.
One thing for sure you can do is go out to dinner. Our choice on Wednesday was Liquid Assets located on 9301 Coastal Highway in Ocean City, Maryland. This time of the year there is no traffic.
Liquid Assets opens every day. There are restaurants that serve a dot of food on your plate. I think Liquid Assets serves their customer so much food that you can pretty much split your meals. And everything is delicious. I kid you not.
Wednesday was crowded; bar seating, our favorite. Best bartenders, definitely.
My Massaged Kale Salad….wait a minute. Didn’t you know you have to massage the kale so it is nice and soft? I think I must have had the whole bag of kale. Huge. It had Bulgarian feta, roasted cauliflower, leeks, pickled shallots, crispy Serrano ham, and dressed with a lemon garlic vinaigrette. We ate it for another day and it was not soggy, so you know.
Right above my salad is the Tuna Crisps offering. #1 grade tuna, crispy wontons, wasabi cream, spicy kimchee, and seaweed salad. Great to have as an appetizer or pair it with your salad.
If you live on the Eastern Shore nothing like comfort food known as Chicken & Dumplings. Everyone has their own recipe. The one at Liquid Assets had rich veggies and cream gravy, smoked Amish air chilled chicken, slippery dumplings, yummy, and a buttermilk biscuit. Another hearty meal this time of the year.
Needless to say if you are in the area go visit. It is one of my favorites. Great atmosphere??
Have a great weekend.
AboutMyBeaches is on Facebook and Instagram. Check me out.
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The Hobbit offers Gluten Free items which will be marked as such on the menu.
Please note that Saturday, October 29th is the last day for the 2022 Season?
Four of us had the Bone in Pork Chop. I love pork chops, more so in cooler weather. This pork chop had sticky Braeburn apples, juniper and peppercorn rub, sautéed kale, green lentils simmered with pancetta, carrots and pearl onions. It was then finished with pork jus and sage. Ordered mine cooked medium. Awesome ?
Another dish ordered and has been on their menu for a long time was the Horseradish Crusted Salmon. North Atlantic Salmon, horseradish crusted, roasted Yukon creamer potatoes, roasted beets, tarragon and finished with a beet sauce and horseradish cream. It looked amazing and got great reviews.
Did not get to take a photo of the Lollipop Lamb Chops. New Zealand lamb chops, potato hash and sweet honey aioli. I can attest that I tasted one and it was delicious. This was an appetizer but you got plenty of them to make it a meal. Add a soup or salad.
Garvey, thanks so much for the Creme Brulee. It was so good.
Have a great week and remember that AboutMyBeaches is on Facebook and Instagram.
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I have had over the years traveled to Spain. It has been some time, though. I love it for many reasons. My family has its origins in Spain, later coming to Puerto Rico. I am laughing as I am writing this post because I keep saying in my mind “The Rain in Spain stays Mainly in the Plains”. Don’t ask my why. Just silly.
Ocean City, Maryland, is not far from Rehoboth Beach. During the summer it can take you some time to get there. The traffic nowadays is unreal. But off we went to meet Bob, and Michael, who have been dying to introduce me to Spain Wine Bar & Restaurant located on the 8th floor of the Cambria Hotel, 13 St. Louis Ave. It is Bayfront and the restaurant has the whole top floor. Incredible views and gorgeous sunsets.
This is the first anniversary of its opening and it has been received so well. There is nothing like Spain in OC. I knew that I was going to have tapas and I think our group also wanted to eat that way. You get to taste plenty of small plates; some offerings you may like more than others. We had a great seat by the veranda.
Reservations are a must at Spain. Maybe later in the Second Season in our beaches you may be able to get a table without a reservation but I think you should make it.
That gorgeous looking drink you see above was Mar Azul (Blue Ocean)…Vodka, coconut rum, Blue Curacao, pineapple, lime and coconut cream. Super refreshing.
The first tasting was the Gazpacho. Yellow tomato, cucumber, onion and Sherry vinegar. I really love Gazpacho. It is prepared differently in many regions in Spain. Spain’s rendition with the yellow tomatoes was delicious and one of my favorite dishes of the evening.
The next dish is also a favorite of mine. In Spain the Boquerones are very popular. They are white fresh anchovies marinated in olive oil and vinegar. You don’t find them often here, except maybe just plain on top of a Caesar Salad. Of course I had to order them and introduce my fellow diners to them.
Another very typical dish eaten in tapas and often made at homes for guests, as well is the Tortilla Espanola (potatoes). I liked the one served at Spain. A little different to the ones I have had before but nevertheless very good.
We all were tasting the dishes ordered and having a great time along the way.
The croquettes came in made with Jamon Serrano, a creamy bechamel sauce, garlic aioli and pimenton. The combination of all those ingredients was perfect. A little salty, the sauce, the everything.
You have to agree that the Charcuterie ordered was just awesome. The Jamon Serrano was from Sierra, dry-cured….black Iberian pig.
Mixed Marinated Olives served warm.
I order Pulpo or Octopus every time I see it on a menu. The pulpo served at Spain was not a favorite. I think it lacked flavor, and was a little tough. Served with too many potatoes.
Loved the Roasted Heirloom Carrots. Idiazabal Cheese, red pepper aioli and crumbled marcona almonds. Worth trying, for sure.
The 18 Hour Pork Belly was so tasty and full of flavor. Cranberries, sherry reduction and pickled finger chilies. Another awesome tapa.
The Scallop Risotto is a signature dish. I was so interested in the other dishes that only had a little taste. I thought the risotto was a little dry. My opinion.
Have you ever heard that if you are eating at a good restaurant and you see hamburger on the menu, you should order it? I have plenty of times. Bob is a Burger Connoisseur and a Mustard Lover. So here is his Burger which he loved. I guess we did not have enough to eat. Mind you, that was all to himself.
The Olive Oil Cake was our dessert, served with vanilla ice cream. Olive oils are also used for desserts. Imagine that? It has become more popular in recent months. It is moist and so delicious. Next time you see it, please give it try.
As you can see we tried a little bit here or there but there is so much more to try still. I saw the Paella coming out. It looked great. It takes a bit of time to cook but there is also plenty to drink.
Until next time remember that AboutMyBeaches has a FaceBook page and is on Instagram, as well.
Good Food, Will Travel. Don’t let a bit of distance hold you back.
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“Bar food with a twist”. They said it, not me but I do have to agree. Shotti’s is located at 3505 Coastal Highway in Ocean City, MD on the bay.
A place my OC friends and I decided to stop for an early dinner. Ocean City and the Delaware Beaches are crowded this week.
I had never been to Shotti’s and I can’t wait to go back. It is casual and the food was great.
This Tuna Poke was outstanding. A nice portion, as well. We saw it coming out and had to have it. Actually, the three of us did. Rare Ahi tuna, saffron rice, kimchi, seaweed salad, avocado, plum sauce, toasted coconut, and shallots. This tower has everything.
This Duck Tostados were the appetizers. Perfect for the three of us. Like it spicy? Keep the jalapeños. Awesome!
They had smoke Gouda, pickled onion, black olives, jalapeños and crema.
That’s all we had. Plenty of other offerings to try the next time, for sure.??
AboutMyBeaches is on FB and Instagram.
Happy Easter ?
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The menu should be part of the entertainment, part of the dining experience. The 3 Cs “I like my food like my fashion: Casual, Classy, and with a Touch of Couture”.
And so our dining experience took us to The Grove Market, located at 12402 Saint Martins Neck Rd., Bishopville, MD 21813. Tel. 410-352-5055. This location is right outside Ocean City.
Crushed seashells pave the parking lot. Flags, a pizza sign, whimsical too. I believe the restaurant only has about 10 tables. And, yes, it is hard to get a reservation so give yourself about 2 weeks. Call, leave a message, give a few dates. If you like to eat late, I suggest you do so. Last reservation is at 9 p.m. Cash only. Checks accepted. It gets crowded in the summer. They only serve wine and beer.
Our reservation was at 8:30 a few weekends ago. This past Sunday, November 17th they closed until the beginning of May. For some of you it might be too late to eat but for us it was the perfect time to enjoy a relaxing dinner. John McDonal was the Chef Extraordinare, from Delaware, he works his magic in a very small kitchen. He has an amazing reputation and a wine connoisseur.
There is no menu. Out loud at your dinner table or if you are seated in the back it will be for the few tables to hear. You need to pay attention because they do offer a lot, both for the appetizers and the entrees.
You will find at the Grove Market quality in their ingredients, culinary competence because John MacDonald outdoes himself every time, service is personal and attentive. The ambiance? Well, you can see by the photos that it is a little quirky. Come hungry because they serve healthy portions. About $100 per person give or take.
The menu changes but they do have a lot of the customers’ favorites throughout the season.
Crab RemickNo Noodles Beef Stroganoff
I usually order the duck. It is a Delaware duck, roasted with a semi-sweet sauce and chutney. It is so good….only bones left on the plate kind of a dish.
On this particular night I let TC order it and I ordered a shrimp and crab dish. Crabs from Smith Island, no less, with a bit of Sherry and a slight kick to the dish. Yummy.
The breadsticks are a reminder that once upon a time this little restaurant was also a Pizza place.
I can honestly tell you that everything at the Grove Market is consistently good. Other dishes that are delicious are:
The Rack of Lamb
The Scallops
The Crab Cakes
There are several desserts to try but it seems that one of the most popular ones is the Bumbleberry Pie. There is no such thing as a Bumbleberry…it is just a mixture of berries.
Leslie, the owner, had time to chat on our visit which was great since in the summer there is, practically, no time.
It is a special place. Keep it in mind when you visit next season. You will not be disappointed.
Until next time…..Have a Happy Thanksgiving. Please check AboutMyBeaches Facebook Page.
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“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious” ruth reichl
I first wrote about The Grove Market in 2009. This was before I had incorporated photos in my posts. Having photos is wonderful because, we, humans, are so visual. The scenery, the colors, always create an impact in our minds.
A few weeks ago I had guests and we were on the go from the moment they arrived. On Friday evening we met my friend, Cindi, and her husband in West Ocean City and from there we took to 12402 Saint Martins Neck Rd., Bishopville, MD 21813. Tel. 410-352-5055. My guests had no idea where we were taking them. Then, the first impression of the place was the photo above taken. What would you say about this tiny place on a country road not far from Ocean City?
My friend’s husband told them to please choose the cheese pizza because it was the best. They were like….really?
Inside what you will find is a small bar, only beer and wine is served at The Grove Market. And only about 10 tables. We sat in the back of the building.
As you can see, very simple, funky and also whimsical.
The pizza story is not way off. At some point it was a pizza place. The breadsticks served are from the pizza recipe from those years long ago. It was a fish market too.
There is a protocol to get a reservation. You call, if nobody answers leave the message with the time of the reservation and day. And, give another time as well or day. If Leslie calls you and tells you I only have this or that, please take it. This is a special place. The food is outstanding.
Cash only. Depending how much wine or beer you drink the cost will vary. Between $100 and $120 per person to be on the safe side. Be prompt, and you cannot linger. The place is small and others want to experience what you just had.
I have mentioned before that there are 5 ingredients for a good restaurant; quality of ingredients, culinary competence, service, ambiance, and price. The Grove Market has all those. You’ll see when you go.
John McDonald is chef extraordinare. In a very small kitchen he creates unique dishes full of flavor. Many years ago he owned The Garden Gourmet in Rehoboth Beach. He is a wine connoiseur, as well. He truly is excellent and so nice.
Here is our group. Patrick is Leslie’s brother and he is such a character. The restaurant does not have a menu. First the appetizers, then the dinner, then dessert. Out loud so the group of tables in the back need to pay attention. When Patrick danced the Macarena, I knew we would have a good time.
So this is what we had:
Appetizers:
Please have in mind that even though the menu changes here and there, they continue to have many favorites all the time.
Crab Remick was ordered by Cindi. I have had it before and at this time of the year the crabmeat is superb.
Our friend, Jody, ordered the Beef Stroganoff….served with no noodles.
Patti ordered the Cream of Crab Soup. Thick and full of crab, with a hint of Sherry.
And I ordered a salad that could have been shared.
Wine was ordered. But, I was a designated driver so nothing for me.
Now dinner…..Patrick came out again, veryl lively to announce their offerings. A few of us already knew what we wanted. Practically, we always order their duck. A Delaware duck, no less. It was roasted to perfection wih a semi-sweet sauce and chutney. Ross and I did not want to share with anyone and the bones were clean at the end.
Cindi had the lamb. If I had not had the duck that would have been my other choice. It looked fantastic.
Another excellent choice that is usually on the menu are the scallops. Jody ordered them and look how perfectly cooked they look. See the breadstick on the side of his plate. This is what I was talking about at the beginning of the post. How they have kept the pizza dough recipe and added as a bread.
Our friend, Patti, ordered the crabcakes. No fillers just tremendous lump.
Some entrees came with the side dish of cucumbers, onions, breadstick and potatoes. The others had it already on their plates.
A few desserts were ordered. The portions at The Grove Market are healthy ones. But, it is always good to order a few.
The Bumbleberry is a pie of a mixture of berries. There is no such thing as a bumbleberry. It is usually on the menu.
And also, usually on the menu is the Chocolate Silk Pie.
The story goes like this….Do you remember the movie Runaway Bride? It was mostly filmed in Berlin, Maryland. Not far away from The Grove Market. Apparently they were looking for a restaurant to feed their crew and stars. The Grove Market fed them through the duration of the filming.
I can go on an on talking about a restaurant and its food. But, it is the people that share your meal that make it priceless!!
Give it a try. Let me know on my AboutMyBeaches Facebook page how you rate your experience. Until then, Summer 2019 continues.
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