September 28th, 2009

Wait Until You See All The Coming Events…At the Delaware Beaches…In The Towns of Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach and Ocean City, Maryland

If you are coming to the Delmarva Peninsula this coming week, you will not be bored.  So many things to do.

Lewes, Delaware

Thursday, October 1st. – At the Seaside Nature Center located inside the Cape Henlopen State Park – Lunch and Learn.  Noon to 1 p.m. – Wildlife Photography with Gary Cooke.  He will give a lesson on capturing wildlife through the lens.  His work is featured in Outdoor Delaware and in local art galleries.  Bring your lunch to this presentation and they will provide coffee and dessert.  The cost is $3.00 but you will need to pre-register, so please call 302-645-6852.  Remember that there is still a Park entrance fee until November 30th.

Friday – Sunday – October 2, 3 and 4th – Lewes Merchants Fall Sidewalk Sale will start at 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.  For more info. call 302-645-8073 or visit www.leweschamber.com.

Friday, October 2nd. – Dolphin Dash 5K Run – This race will be at Shields Elementary School in Lewes, starting at 5:30 p.m. to benefit the school’s parent-teacher organization.  For info. call 302-644-8952 or visit the website www.seashorestriders.com.

Saturday, October 3rd. – Volunteer Trail Day – 9 a.m. until noon.  Join the Friends of Cape Henlopen to give them a hand on the maintenance of the Park’s trails or other light work.  Please call 302-644-5005.  Meet at the Seaside Nature Center.

Saturday, October 3rd. – Driving on the Beach by Surf-Fisherman Joe DiBattista.  9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.  The cost is $5.00 and pre-registration is a must.  Please call 302-645-6852. Meet at the Seaside Nature Center, inside the Cape Henlopen State Park.  Tips on how to drive your surf-fishing vehicle safely on the beach, rules and regulations, how to avoid getting stuck, and how to get out if you do get stuck, will be topics of this presentation.  Please note that Park’s fees are still in effect until November 30th.

Saturday, October 3rd. – Snakes and Turtles – 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. at the Seaside Nature Center located at the Cape Henlopen State park.  $3.00 per person and pre-registration is required.  See Delaware’s native reptiles and find out what they are doing during the fall to get ready for the winter.  Please call 302-645-6852.  Park’s fees are in effect.

Saturday, October 3rd. – Hayrides throughout the Park at 6 and 7 p.m.  Tickets are on sale at the Seaside Nature Center on Saturday morning on a first come, first served basis.  Children must be accompanied by a paying adult.  Maximum of 6 tickets per person.  Limited to 18.  $4/person.  Entrance fee to the Park is in effect until 11/30.

Saturday, October 3rd. – Lewes Historical Society Craft Fair – 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.  Location:  Lewes Historic Complex, 110 Shipcarpenter St., Lewes.  Rain Date will be Sunday, Oct. 4th.  Admission $3.00.  Children under 12, free.  A very festive fair with live music.  For more info. call 302-645-7670 or visit www.historiclewes.org.

Saturday, October 3rd. is the 14th Annual Boast the Coast Maritime Festival.  There will be activities throughout the day and into the night.  The Boast the Coast events in 1812 Park and the City Dock will begin at 11 a.m.  The Lighted Boat Parade will be at dusk on the Canal.  Boat entries will leave Roosevelt Inlet at 6:30 p.m. and arrive at the City Dock/Fisherman’s Wharf at around 7 p.m.  Entries to the boat parade are free.  They can be picked up at the Lewes Chamber of Commerce center in the Fisher-Martin House, next to the Zwaanandale Museum or call 302-645-8023 to have one mailed.  Free boat tours at the City Dock will begin at 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.  There will be also a seafood tasting at 1812 Park.  The Family Fun Tent will feature music and a magic show.  The Lewes Maritime History Museum located at Cannonball House will be open from 11 until 4 for free tours.

Sunday, October 4th – Coast Day – The University of Delaware’s College of Earth, Ocean and Environment, Lewes.  Lectures on on-going research and so much more.  The theme is “Climate Change and Our Coast”.  11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.  Free.  For more infom please call 302-832-8083 or 302-645-4346, or visit the website www.decoastday.org.

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Friday – Sunday, October 2nd – October 4th. – Is the 33rd Annual Fall Sidewalk Sale in the Rehoboth/Dewey Beach area.  Shops in downtown Rehoboth and on Rt. 1 will have an abundance of merchandise at clearance prices.  If you want more info., please go to www.beach-fun.com.

Friday – Sunday, October 2nd – October 4th. – Downtown Rehoboth Oktoberfest 2009 – The restaurants that are participating will have special menus and much more.  More info? Visit www.downtownrehoboth.com or call 302-227-2772.  It will be a great party atmosphere!!

Friday, October 2nd – Tom Jones - Cinema Cabaret and the Rehoboth Film Society, Rehoboth Theater of the Arts and Ovations Restaurant and Lounge are the co-sponsors. You need to be seated by 6:30 p.m.  While watching this film you will be able to enjoy a 3 course meal, prepared by Ovations.  Admission is $30, which will include meal, coffee or soda and film.  Alcohol and gratuity are not included.  For reservations please call the Rehoboth Film Society at 302-645-9095, Ext. 1 or Ovations at 302-227-9310.  If you need further info., visit www.rehobothfilm.com.

Sunday, October 4th will be the 2009 Aids Walk in Rehoboth Beach.  The registration will start at around Noon at Grove Park.  Walkers will take off at 2:00 p.m. and proceed down Rehoboth Ave. to Scarborough Ave., down Lake Street to Queen Street, and walk the length of the Boardwalk before heading back to Grove Park via Henlopen Ave.  For info. call 302-652-6776 or e-mail jklein@aidsdelaware.org.

Monday, October 5th – At the Cultured Pearl, Monday Sushi Night is Back starting at 4:30 p.m.  Reservations? Call 302-227-8493.  For only $10 you get Miso Soup + Edamame + Green Tea + Pick 3 of a choice of 16 rolls.  This year you can stubstitute their most popular roll, the Firecracker, for $5.00 more and/or substitute a roll for an order of shrimp or salmon sushi.  Those will be the only substitutions available.  Last year it was great!!

Dewey Beach

Thursday through Saturday, October 1st – October 3rd. will be the Dewey Beach Music Conference at the Rusty Rudder.  Trade show, lectures and seminars, featuring speakers, exhibitors, musicians and professionals from every aspect of the music industry.  There will be 150 bands at different Dewey Beach venues.  Some admission fees.  Free evening performances.  For more info. call 302-703-2929 or visit www.deweybeachfest.com.

Sunday, October 4th. – The Six Annual Celebrity Chefs’ Beach Brunch to benefit the Meals On Wheels Delaware.  Tickets are $95/ person and you can purchase tickets on line at www.mealsonwheelsde.org. If you buy 6 tickets, the price per ticket will be $75. Time:  11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.  Location:  BayFun Center at Ruddertowne.  There will be cuisine of top area chefs, beer, wine and spirits, unique silent auction among other things.  One of the chefs that caught my attention is Brian Sikora, who is a nationally known chef and the owner of one of the most exclusive restaurants in the U.S., Talula’s Table in Kennett Square, PA.  This restaurant limits the size of its restaurant to only one table, for a party of 8 to 12 and reservations are normally made a year in advance.

Ocean City, Maryland

Friday, October 2nd – Family Campfire on the Beach at 130th Street – 6 p.m. Bring your family for an old-fashioned campfire.  For more info. visit www.ococean.com.

Friday, October 2nd and Saturday, October 3rd. – Winefest On the Beach at the Inlet Parking Lot – Experience Wineries from across the Mid-Atlantic region, arts, crafts, food and live entertainment.  11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.  Please visit www.winefest.com.

Saturday, October 3rd and Sunday, October 4th. – Ocean City Coin and Currency Show at the Ocean City Convention Ceenter, 40th St. on the Bay.  1:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.  Website is www.coinbrowser.com.

As I mentioned before, the beaches are not sleeping in this Second Season.  If anything, they are as busy as ever.  Hope you are here to enjoy some of the events.   So, until next time.  Have a good week.

September 12th, 2009

The Cultured Pearl….in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware….A great name for a Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar….

This Asian inspired restaurant is on its way to becoming a legend in all my beach towns; from Lewes, to Ocean City, Maryland.  I find someone I know almost everytime I visit the Cultured Pearl from these beach towns.

Rob and Susan are the owners of the Cultured Pearl.  Susan started the restaurant in 1993 and its original location was on Wilmington Ave., in Rehoboth Beach.  I really enjoyed going there and it was very cozy.  So, at first, I was not sure how I was going to react to being in a new location.  They have been there now for a couple of years, and I have been there for dinner many times. 

This new location was not only going to be the home for the Cultured Pearl, but the whole building was envisioned as a “mall” with the restaurant on the top.

The address is 301 Rehoboth Ave. in downtown Rehoboth Beach.  Tel. is 302-227-8493 and the website is www.culturedpearl.us.

Yes, these are “the shops at the Pearl”.  I will be reviewing them at some point, but my interest at this time is the restaurant.  Years ago this was the location of Quillen’s Hardware Store, whose business serviced the town of Rehoboth Beach for many years.

In trying to keep true to the traditions of Japanese architecture, they have incorporated in the decoration, bamboo, flowing water, koi and live birds.

As you walk into the “mall” you will see stores on either side.  The reception desk for the restaurant is on the first floor.  John is usually there to greet you.  You will give your name and then you will be escorted upstairs or if you need an elevator, that is available as well.  If you are going just to the bar for a drink or to wait for someone, you may just go up the stairs where you will be passing some really pretty cockatiels.

The Cultured Pearl has a great atmosphere and it is very cozy, whether you are sitting at the bar or the sushi bar or the main dining area.  If you happen to be there on good weather and are lucky to be seated outside, you are in for a treat.  The rooftop area, as it is called, has a “lake” effect with koi below you and gazebos on top.  Rehoboth Beach looks so pretty at night and you definitely will have an advantage point from the rooftop.

The restaurant can accommodate private parties.  Is your company trying to host a presentation?  Then, their special room is equiped with panels and monitors and separate music system for that sole purpose.  Menus can be arranged to suit your needs, as well.

There is always something for everyone on the menu.  You don’t have to have sushi in order to really enjoy it.  During the year, they have specials and brunches.  And, a carryout menu is available.  That tel. is 302-227-4217.  The best way to find out all this information is to go on their website, which by the way, it is very informative.

As I mentioned before in other posts, when I go to a Sushi restaurant, I like to sit at the sushi bar.  On this night, the bar was crowded, even though it was a Sunday, and it was funny to hear all the questions asked to the chefs, like; do you cook sushi at home, what is your favorite roll, etc. etc.  It gets everyone talking and putting their two cents in.

My husband was with me and we started with the Edamame.  We like it warm and just with a little bit of salt.  I had the Miso soup and, let me tell you, theirs is the best.  Best taste and seasoned perfectly.  It is white miso, tofu, green onion and wakame seaweed.  Great combination.  For my entree, I wanted Sashimi Sara which was a chef selection of 15-18 pieces of sashimi (not cooked and no rice).  This particular dish included my miso soup.  My husband ordered the Japanese Bagel roll and for his sushi he ordered several pieces of eel.  Everything tasted so fresh.

This is one of those restaurants that have an awareness for people with gluten allergies.  They offer Teriyaki and Soy Sauce that is gluten free.

For my sweet ending, I had “mochi”, which is ice cream of different flavors surrounded by dough made of rice flour.  They are the size of a half dollar and the dessert was presented in a martini glass; so easy to share.  Just pop them in your mouth.

A few posts back, I mentioned that the perfect recipe for a good restaurant is quality of ingredients, culinary competence, service, ambiance and price.  This restaurant fits that bill perfectly.

July 30th, 2009

Sushi Anyone?

Before I write my review on a fairly new Sushi restaurant in the Rehoboth Beach and Lewes area, let me tell you that even though yesterday was at the beginning of the day a good day for that grilled chicken with sweet corn salsa, well it poured rain in the early evening so that did not happen. It is a great recipe, though. And, Zumba class was great too.

Now, I want to review the following restaurant and remember this is my personal opnion.

Saketumi, 18814 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971, and their tel. is 302-645-2818. They are actually located in the Midway area between Lewes and Rehoboth on highway 1, which is also Coastal Highway.

I remember that it was only a few years ago when a tiny little Sushi restaurant opened in Fenwick Island, Delaware.  All of us, local and native residents alike, fell in love with the food.  Great conversation food, by the way.  Now, it seems that we are getting more and more sushi restaurants with different Asian influences and even Latin influences too.  One of the new additions in the beach area is Saketumi.  You will not be able to miss the restaurant on Coastal Highway because it is a brand new building, very modern, and plenty of parking.  Parking is always worth mentioning because in the height of the summer season, which is now, it is very hard to find parking in the towns, not to say expensive.  Lewes is the only town, that I know, that after 6:00 p.m. the meters are not in effect.

I have been to Saketumi several times with my family. I prefer to sit at the Sushi bar in this type of restaurant because you seem to be more connected with the chefs and can ask all sorts of questions and peruse the trays going out.

I can tell you, that their presentation is bar none, the best in the area.  It is so beautiful that you just want to take a picture.  It appeals so much to your visual senses.  So colorful and artful.

Their menu is so extensive because not only do they have sushi and sashimi but they have tempuras, curries, noodles, rice and woks. So, you have plenty to choose from. I have tried their Panang Curry and it was so good. Perfect heat temperature.

Some of their starters are Crispy Crab Wontons, Satay Chicken, Coconut Shrimp and edamames.

I have also had their Hatate, which is sea scallops in sashimi and the Unagi, which is the fresh water eel, also in sashimi.  Never in a thousand years I would have thought I would be eating eel, but it is very good. I kid you not. Try it next time.

There were two interesting rolls, one being the Chunky Monkey Roll and it was a combination of fried banana, asparagus, and eel inside.  Topped with crunchy tempura flakes, eel sauce and masago. And, the other one was the Tropical Thunder which had a beautiful presentation and tasted fantastic. It had fresh mango, salmon, topped with lobster salad and tobiko (fish eggs).

Their Manager, Matthew, came over and was so nice and very happy to hear that we were enjoying ourselves.  I was writing all this information down and he was probably wondering what I was doing.

If you are vacationing in the Delaware beaches, and Ocean City, Maryland you should give it a try.  They are open for lunch and dinner and I believe they might even have music some days. Call for information regarding what kind of entertainment they might have.

Prices are very comparable to all the sushi restaurants around these beaches.  Hope you enjoy it.

Tip: If you are on a gluten free diet, please read the menu carefully and order accordingly. Also, take your own soy sauce because they do not have wheat free soy sauce as of yet.