August 25th, 2010
I have known Alice Klein for so many years now. I always remind her that I am such a loyal customer having bought a lot of her jewelry for myself, as well as for many of my friends. I have also come to know her husband, Bryant Clark, also a jeweler. This couple works together 24/7.
I wrote a post on 9/3/09 about T.K.O. and if you would like to read it, please click on the month of September on the left hand of this blog, under Archives and scroll down to the date. In it there is more information on this unique jeweler.
T.K.O. is located on 100 Atlantic Ave., # 6 & 7, Bethany Beach. Tel. 302-539-6992. Cell phone is 302-841-9088. Website is www.alicehklein-tko.com.
It is true when they say that if your job is your passion, you will never work a day in your life.
You can tell Alice is into her work; plastics, precious and semi-precious stones, pearls, gold, gold filled and silver are the materials she utilizes to make unique pieces of jewelry, recognized by the ones that know her creations.
She has been in busines for 30 years and I consider her designs to have that edge that set them apart from the ordinary.
I stopped the other day to get a present and she had so many pretty new designs. I have said it before, that the pictures and even the website do not do justice to her pieces. You have to visit the store to get the full effect.
Alice loves her custom work. Customers are known to bring their outdated jewelry and Alice will give them a “face lift”.
She has beautiful pearls and a great collection of color stones.
At T.K.O. you will find just a little something for yourself for as low as $18 or you can just splurge and spend into the thousands.
Most of all, I think Alice and Bryant, are known for the individualized attention offered the moment you step into their store.
Alice and Bryant; a couple that has been able to work together for so many years also find time to play together, as well. What do they like to do? Extreme kite surfing.
Here is a peek to some of their pieces.
 Natural color fresh water pearls, wrapped in multi-colors of 14kt gold (rose, yellow, white, green) 
 "Porcupine Necklace" Natural fresh water green pearls, enhanced, with detachable clasp.  Another "Porcupine Necklace"  Tahitian Pearls
Have a great Day!! It feels like Fall!! Talk to you later….
August 24th, 2010
Every week I say that I should not be eating this much raw fish; once again I had that craving for sashimi.
If you are a frequent visitor to the Delaware Beaches you know that we do have excellent restaurants in all the beaches. So many choices and so lucky to be able to experience the best.
On Monday night my craving took me to the Cultured Pearl located at 301 Rehoboth Avenue right on downtown Rehoboth Beach. The telephone is 302-227-8493. Website www.culturedpearl.us. Telephone for carry out is 302-227-4217.
I have been a customer of the Cultured Pearl for many years, going back to their old location on Wilmington Ave. Rob and Susan are the owners of this very popular Asian restaurant.
It is decorated with an inspiration in traditional Japanese architecture; bamboo, flowing water, koi, and live birds.
During the summer months I usually try the downtown restaurants during the week because it is hard to find parking. Actually, I have to be honest with you, it is a pain. But, last night I figured that being that it was a Monday night, and the weather was not the greatest, well, it would be better. And it was.
At first the restaurant did not seem that crowded, that changed later on. On good weather, it is great to sit outdoors. The roof top area has a lake effect; koi below and gazebos on top.
I usually sit at the sushi bar. I go to this restaurant to strictly eat sushi and sashimi, but if you have not acquired a taste for it, don’t worry because the Cultured Pearl is restaurant that also offers American Cuisine.
Those 2 first seats at the sushi bar are the ones I go for. Right in front of Master Sushi Chef, Yasuhiro Sano. Last night he fixed us a little something to wet our appetite. The Firecracker is a roll that is so delicious. It has a kick to it because of the fresh jalapeno. It has tuna, salmon, wrapped in Nori Hasomaki style, tempura battered, topped with spicy mayo, fresh jalapeno, crab meat, sriracha. It is slightly warm and we always order it.
I have ordered Miso soup in every Japanese restaurant, but I must admit that the one at the Cultured Pearl is one of the best if not the best, in my opinion.
Last night I was looking at it wondering how this soup was made. Miso soup consists of a stock called “dashi”, which is a simple broth made by boiling edible kelp and preserved, fermented tuna; then straining the liquid. Hmmm… Then softened miso paste is mixed into it. Miso paste is a seasoning and it is produced by fermenting rice, barley and or soybeans, with salt and the fungus kojikin. Hmmm…again. Miso is high in protein and rich in vitamins and minerals.
I am not thinking again how this soup is made. I love it, anyway.
Two entrees were ordered. Well, look at my sashimi. The live scallops are one of my favorites; eaten with the thinly sliced lime. On the picture, they are on the right hand side. Red snapper in the middle, salmon, tuna, eel, etc. etc. A feast, no less.
The other entree that was ordered was very well received, as well.
By the time we were finished the restaurant was crowded; it was a rainy night in Rehoboth Beach, the people eating outdoors had to come in and I took off to meet Paula so that she could show me what else the beaches had to offer on a Monday night.
Have a great week!!
P.S. The Cultured Pearl is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner. Check their website.
Note: The Cultured Pearl is also aware of customers with a gluten allergy. Wheat free soy sauce is served upon request.
August 23rd, 2010
It’s so funny, I just don’t think about it, but, when I want to go to Bethany Beach I just get in my car; I live in Rehoboth, and in no time I am in Bethany.
Many years ago it was such a trip. I thought about it on Saturday, as I was checking out Bethany. On Friday I had tried to find parking, to no avail. So, I went back on Saturday and as I was looking for that elusive parking space I noticed the Historical Marker placed on the corner of Pennsylvania and 1st Street.
There is a bench and a small deck for viewing the area called the Loop Canal.
The Loop Canal was completed on 7/8/1910. This was its centennial anniversary. It marked the end of a long journey for vacationers traveling to Bethany Beach in the early days. Arriving in Rehoboth by railroad, travelers would continue their voyage by boat, crossing Rehoboth and Indian River Bays to the Assawoman Canal.
The last part of the trip? A 2 horse drawn “bus” through the deep sand to Bethany. To make it better, a shallow waterway was dredged from the Assawoman to this location on Pennsylvania and 1st Street.
With the opening of the Canal, travelers could complete the final leg of their journey by boarding a single boat in Rehoboth. The shallow-draft motorboat was called the Allie May and could not back up, so a loop was formed at the 1st Street dock to allow the boat to turn around for its return trip.
I did find that parking spot, more than a few streets north of Garfield Parkway, which is the “Main Street” in Bethany. This town is looking so pretty. I tend to call it the beautification of Bethany Beach. There are flowers all over the place. And, not just stuck in the ground; the mulch, the combination of colors are beautiful. Who is this person that is doing such beautiful work? I called the town office because I want to thank her for a job well done. I found out that her name is Melinda. So, thanks, it really does look pretty.
I took a walk along the Bethany Beach Boardwalk where a lot of the entertainment takes place every week. It is a meeting place; enjoying the fries, ice cream or just a simple walk. It was so hot and the beach was crowded.
It brings back memories because this town was my children’s playground for so many years.
 Garfield Parkway (Bethany Beach's Main Street)
If you are in Bethany Beach this week and have young children you will find that on Wednesday, 8/25 is Kids’ Night at the Firehouse from 6 until 8 p.m. The registration starts at 5:30 p.m.
Ages 5 and up (under 5 must have an adult attending), will learn about firesafety, 911 calling, a visit from Sparkey and meet the firefighters in a fun and educational way. $5 donation/child. For more information, please call 302-539-7707.
At the Freeman’s Stage at Bayside – West of Fenwick Island – On Thursday, 8/26 you will be able to enjoy a Doo-Wop Celebration with the Bronx Wanderers, from 7 until 9 p.m.
Freeman’s Stage at Bayside is 4 miles West of Fenwick at Rt. 54 and Rt. 20.
It is Free!! The Bronx Wanderers echo an era of the past while breathing a new life to future sounds. Ages 15 to 90. They favor the songs of yesterday from Doo-Wop to Dion and the Four Seasons.
More info. needed? Call 302-436-3015 or visit www.freemanstage.org.
If you are at our beaches, kick back and relax. That’s why you are here!!
Have a great day. Talk to you later….you know I will….
August 22nd, 2010
 Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul. I decided to go to Lewes, Delaware, yesterday afternoon and meet my friend, Shelley. The coastal towns in Delaware are busy and crowded. Summer, as we know it, is coming to an end.
We were walking right in front of Cafe Azafran and behind Half Full when we stopped to gaze at the motorcyle, just parked there. The Indian Drifter.
 Never trade the thrills of living for the security of existence.  If you don't ride in the rain you don't ride. Two helmets and no riders around. But, look at it. It looked amazing. Beautiful and I am not a rider.
 Only a Biker knows why a dog sticks his head out a car window. As I started taking the pictures, the riders came out laughing. It was that laughter that got my attention. They were definitely having fun.
I did not know them. They allowed me to take their picture and they were from Milton, Delaware, just north of Lewes. Locals? Natives? Don’t know either.
 Young riders pick a destination and go...Old riders pick a direction and go. It was a couple enjoying their time together….priceless!!
August 20th, 2010
Hey, how are you? This is the third time I am going to be talking about cupcakes.
Is there a battle between Cupcakes and Muffins; Really? A Faceoff, no less.
What are the differences between one another and, which ones do we ultimately like best?
Ask anyone and they will tell you that the differences are that the cupcakes have that wonderful frosting which evoke childhood memories; the muffin, well it’s just a muffin.
But, no way, the difference is really about sweetness. The cupcake is a “small cake” and one individual portion; whereas, the muffin, while also an individual portion is often sweetened, but not necessarily.
Muffins tend to be more like breads. They are more dense and therefore, more flour is used. There is a marked difference in texture. The cupcake is much lighter and, of course, there is that icing.
I had mentioned to a couple of people that I was going to be visiting Cake Break located at 7 South First St., Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. Tel. 302-260-9264. Website www.cakebreakrehoboth.com. They are on Facebook and Twitter. E-mail is cakebreakrehoboth@gmail.com. They are open from 7:30 a.m. until 10:00 p.m.
Rachel Rockstarr contacted me through this blog and told me that I needed to try them. Some of the people I talked to had different opinions; I needed to check them out myself.
At Cake Break I met Eleanor, Samjeeb, Andriy and Jackie. All work in different capacities and all very eager to show me the shop.
It is not only cupcakes that are baked and sold here but they also have Surf Bagels, coffee, newspapers, cinnamon rolls, smoothies and breakfast cupcakes. The menu changes daily. You may choose to sit on one of their stools or outside on the bench.
Cake Break can customize any cupcake. They also bake special order cakes. Just give them a little bit of time and they will have them ready for you. You can also call Cake Break ahead of time and pick up your order at curbside.
Customers with food allergies should breathe a sight of relief. They offer Vegan, Nut Free and Gluten Free cupcakes. The Gluten Free and the Nut Free can easily be iced, but they are still in the developing stages of a Vegan free icing. Remember that vegans do not consume any animal products.
The chocolate gluten free cupcake got the best reviews in my household. We have tried many of them and by far this one was the best.
The Red Velvet with red cocoa, and cream cheese icing was delicious but I have to tell you that my personal favorite was the Rum Raisin Bread Pudding cupcake/muffin. It had cinnamon, raisins and a rum icing.
Eleanor loves to make coffee and I had an iced coffee latte and off I went to explore what else Rehoboth had to offer on a summer day.
The question by Cake Break to you is, “Is it time for you to take a cake break.?”
And, my question to you is, Will Cake Break make it into the Cup Cake Wars on t.v.? Stay tuned.
Note: If you would like to check my other 2 posts on cupcakes, then go to the left hand side of this blog and under Archives click on January and scroll down to the 5th. That was Sweet Sin in Baltimore, Maryland. You can check the other post by clicking on the month of June and scroll down to the 14th and that company, Cupcake Couture is in Delray Beach, Florida.
Have a great week-end!!
August 18th, 2010
“Saving the world one foot at a time.”
The foot contains more bones than any other single part of the body; it is also very vulnerable.
The oldest leather shoe was found in 2008 in Armenia. It is 5,500 years old.
If The Shoe Fits, yes it brings back memories. I wrote a paper all about shoes in college. I have always liked shoes. I don’t know if it is the instant gratification of trying them on or just the fact that it does not matter if you are fat, skinny, poor or rich; you can always find a pair that will suit you fine.
I stopped at Just Comfort Shoes the other day to see if they carried a brand of shoes that I found in Boulder, Colorado a few months ago. Jambu is the name of this brand. This brand of shoes outsoles are made with partially recyclable and reusable rubber. They are comfortable, and stylish; not too rugged and not too dressy. The one I bought was a clog, but they also make other styles, as well. They do carry this brand at the store, so if you have tried them and liked them now you know where to go.
Just Comfort Shoes has 2 locations in Rehoboth: 237 Rehoboth Ave., tel. 302-227-2520, and 18756 Coastal Highway (shopping center where Starbucks is located), tel. 302-645-6590. You will also find them at The Avenue at White Marsh in Baltimore, Maryland, tel. 410-931-4296.
The owner of the store is Sharon Lee. The website is www.justcomfortshoes.com and they are also on Facebook.
Having said all this I want let you know that I have to be honest with you. In college I wore clogs and I loved them. I also wore the highest platforms of the time. I guess I am dating myself. I loved both styles. I am not sure when I saw the first Dansko clogs and Birkenstocks but my thoughts were that there was no way I was wearing them. I thought they looked good on someone else’s foot; not mine. Too big, too wide, too earthy, maybe?
Never say never, right? I have them all. They are comfortable, what can I say? With the Birkenstocks, I prefer one particular style, but it is all a matter of preference.
Just Comfort Shoes has come a long way since they first opened. They have so many brands for men, women and children. Some of them are made in Austria, others in Germany and, can you believe it?, some here in the U.S.
The store on Rt. 1 has plenty of parking. The one in Rehoboth, you will have to drive around but soon enough the town will be slowing down a bit and parking meters will be out.
I think Just Comfort Shoes has the largest selection at the Delaware Beaches of the following brands: Birkenstock, Dansko, Keen, Earth, Jambu, Vibram Fivefingers, Teva, Mephisto, Finn Comfort, Think!, Sanita, Sanuk, Poliwalks, Acorn, Taos. Also, they have just gotten the Minnetonka Moccasins in very pretty colors.
Sharon keeps updating the stores and a selection of boots has just arrived.
Guess what? Sharon also speaks Spanish.
Have a great rainy day!!! Talk to you later….
August 17th, 2010
Independently owned; yes that is a good feeling. New signs with new colors, yellow and blue, are up showing its new name, Delaware Realty.
The real estate broker at the head of this company is Richard L. Bryan (Dick). The address is 117 Savannah Rd., Lewes, DE 19958. The telephone numbers are 302-645-6100, 645-7100 and 800-244-2501. Dick’s e-mail address is rbryan@dmv.com and his tel. is 302-645-4800.
Dick was originally associated with Re/Max for over 20 years; now it is time to be on his own. The association with a national firm is very helpful, don’t get me wrong, but Dick is a native of the area and one of those people that I have mentioned in the past that has a love for the conservation of Lewes, as a town. You know, the ones that when they are describing the true gem that Lewes is, you can feel the emotions in their words. I know him personally so believe me when I tell you that he does feel this way.
He has over a dozen agents, and by the way, a lot of them are locals and natives and all have that same appreciation for the area we all live in.
Delaware Realty has residential and commercial listings throughout Sussex County and Kent County. It is also a member of the Kent and Sussex County Boards of Realtors.
Dick became an auctioneer this year having attended the best school in the country for this purpose, Nashville Auction School. His auction services are available for residential and commercial real estate.
I am happy for the new ventures pursued by my friends. It’s exciting!!
Talk to you later…you know I will…
August 16th, 2010
 Al Fresco I was taking, Addy, my dog, for a walk early this morning. It was humid. So much more than yesterday and I started to wonder what would I want for dinner tonight. I have not had anything for breakfast yet, and already dinner was on my mind.
I think dinner is my favorite time of the evening. Having it al fresco makes it even better.
The following 3 recipes would be perfect for a day like today. They are easy too.
Flank Steak Wrap
1 beef flank steak – 1 to 1-1/2 lbs.
4 cups pre-cut coleslaw mix
1 cup chopped green onions
salt and pepper to taste
8 medium flour tortillas
1/2 cup honey roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped
Dressing:
1 cup rice vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons sesame oil
For the dressing, just combine the rice vinegar, honey and sesame oil in a jar and shake vigorously.
Place beef steak and half of the dressing in a plastic bag. Close bag securely and marinate in refrigerator for 1/2 hour.
Pour other half of dressing in a large bowl and toss with coleslaw, green onions, salt and pepper.
Place steak on grill over medium coals and cook 17 to 21 minutes for medium rare to medium doneness. Let it rest on a cutting board for a few minutes and sprinkle with salt (optional) and pepper. Slice into thin strips on the diagonal.
Warm tortillas 10 to 15 seconds in the microwave.
To assemble: Place beef slices, some coleslaw mix and peanuts on a tortilla and roll tortilla. Garnish with green onions and peanuts.
Note: Allergies? To make it gluten free, then you will need to find corn tortillas and read the ingredients on the peanuts. Peanuts are usually dusted with wheat. Crazy, isn’t it? Peanut allergy? Then you know what you need to do. But maybe you can give it a little “cha-cha” by adding chopped jalapenos instead of peanuts.
Raspberry-Lime Agua Fresca (Non-alcoholic)
If you like raspberries, then you will probably like this refreshing drink; definitely, better than soda.
3 cups or a 12 ounce bag of frozen raspberries
1/2 cup sugar (you may use sugar substitute, please adjust)
1/2 cup lime juice
ice cubes
fresh mint sprigs
lime wedges
Place raspberries, sugar and lime juice in a blender along with 2 cups of cold water. Puree, and then pour the mixture into a large pitcher.
Sir in 6 cups of cold water. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 2 hours.
Stir well before serving. Pour the agua fresca over ice and garnish with mint sprigs and a lime wedge.
Note: If you would like to spike it, then white rum or tequila would be the liquor to add.
White Sangria
There is nothing better than a good Sangria on a hot summer day. I will admit that my favorite is the traditional red one but it also good to alternate and serve a white one on a warm day.
1 green apple, cored and cut into 1 inch chunks
5 strawberries, hulled and thinly sliced
1/2 cup canned pineapple chunks with 1/2 cup juice
2 limes, thinly sliced
one 750 ml. bottle of white wine
1/4 cup triple sec
1 cup orange juice (4 oranges)
1/2 cup lemonade
ice cubes
Combine all ingredients except the ice cubes in a large pitcher and chill for at least 2 hours or up to 2 days. Serve the white sangria in glasses filled with ice, being sure to include a selection of the fruit in each glass.
Makes about 8 cups. Can easily be doubled.
Enjoy it and make it your own!!!
Talk to you later…you know I will…
 
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