June 12th, 2011
Dogfish Head Brewery is the host and Delaware Restaurant Association is the sponsor. 20 restaurants from around the State of Delaware will compete in the Delaware Restaurant Association’s Second Annual Beer, Bocce and BBQ Tournament. Date and Time? Monday, 6/13 from 3 to 8 p.m. Location? Dogfish Head Brewery at #16 Cannery Village Center, Milton.
These restaurants will be competing for the Bocce Cup, and for a cash prize to be donated to the restaurant’s charity of choice. The Justin W. Jennings Foundation/Justin’s Beach House being one of them.
Plenty of food and drinks. Live music by Reedo and the Front Porch Offering.
Please take notice that the Jolly Trolley will be offering free rides to and from the event from Jake’s Seafood on Rt. 1 in Rehoboth.
Spectator tickets are $25. To purchase them call 302-738-2545. For complete info., please visit http://www.delawarerestaurant.org.
And, speaking of raising money for charity – The Justin W. Jennings Foundation and Justin’s Beach House – Chicks for Charity (Southern Delaware) will be hosting an event at Fish On located at The Villages of Five Points in Lewes. This event will take place on Tuesday, June 14th at 6:30 p.m.
The event will benefit The Justin W. Jennings Foundation and Justin’s Beach House. I wrote a post on 5/16/11. If you would like to see it, please click on the month of May on the left hand side of this blog and scroll down to the date. You can find out more about The Justin W. Jennings Foundation by visiting the website: www.justinjennings.org.
On Tuesday you will have the choice of 2 entrees, a cash bar will be available, raffle items and a 50/50 drawing.
The cost is $25/person and includes gratuity. Cash or check only, please. All reservations are to be made by e-mailing gals4thegood@aol.com.
Have a good one!! Talk to you later…
June 12th, 2011
Names like German Chocolate, Chocolate Peppermit, Cookies & Cream, Chocolate Caramel, Vanilla Birthday Cake…and Vegan Chocolate Capuccino, Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter…These were only in the dreams of some that need to follow a gluten free diet, among other diets.
My first visit to Sweet Sin Cafe was on January 5, 2010. I wrote a post on that day and you can see it by just clicking on the left hand side of this blog on the month of January, 2010 and scrolling down to the 5th. I bought all kinds of breads, cookies and cupcakes on that visit.
Sweet Sin Cafe is located in the Charles Village/Remington neighborhoods of Baltimore. The exact address is 123 West 27th St., Baltimore, MD. The tel. is 410-464-7211. The website? www.sweetsinbakery.com. The owners are Richard and Renee D’Souza. E-mail is richard@glutenfreedesserts.com.
It is a very simple cafe in a row house. A casual place, bring your laptop, have just a coffee and a baked good, a full breakfast or lunch like we did. There is a board showing the daily temptations.
Since my visit they have opened the sister restaurant to Sweet Sin Cafe. Right next door. Meet 27, American Bistro. It is Charm’s City’s newest, full-fledge gluten free restaurant. That address is 127 West 27th Street, Baltimore, MD 21218. Tel. 410-585-8121. It is open Mondays through Thursdays from 5 until 10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 5 until 11 p.m. and Sundays from 5 until 10 p.m.
Visiting the Cafe with Susie and now with John, the one with celiac, I can tell you that it was music to my ears to hear them say “Our menu can accommodate gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, and soy-free diets”.
All natural ingredients; some dairy free, soy free, casein free. Soups like Cream of Mushroom, Spinach Mulligatuny, Chicken and Rice, Vegetarian Chili, Shrimp Chowder, Clam Chowder, Thai Chicken and Vegetable Soup are dairy free.
The day I visited was for lunch, therefore, I have not tried Meet 27 yet. I believe that Meet 27’s liquour license is in the works. Meet 27 has appetizers, salads, entrees like Chili Paneer, Catch of the Day, New York Strip Steak, Peppercorn Beef, Vindaloo Pork, Lamb Chops, Veggie Platter and different burger options all made with local and organic dry-aged beef. Their desserts are all house made and some of those options were: Chocolate Mousse with orange sauce and fresh berries (vegan and gluten free), Coconut Lime Parfait on a meringue cookie with coconut creme anglaise (dairy and gluten free) and Black Forest Cake with cherry sauce (gluten free).
We were starving and this is what we had:
The Chicken Tacos – a generous portion and Susie said they were delicious.
Goat Curry – John loves goat. Hey, he likes it. Actually, I do too. Maybe my PR roots of “cabrito”. He accompanied the goat curry with cabbage with peas and carrots and basmati rice with vegetables. Enjoyed it!!
Penang Chicken with Chana Masala, which were chickpeas in Masala sauce. Added plantains and black beans with salsa and yogurt and what a lunch I had!! The portion was huge for lunch, but it was so good; the right amount of spice. The color and aroma were to die for.
I like to try different things and I had an Organic Raw Kombucha as my drink. It was good but I had to take a few sips before I acquired the taste for it. You would have to decide. You are either going to like it or hate it.
Even with all that food we ordered cupcakes. Sweet Sin is also a complete bakery. You can find their offerings at stores like Wegman’s, Whole Foods and Roots Market. Have a Special Occasion? Visit the above mentioned website for more info.
We ordered a Key Lime Cupcake, and a Carrot Cake Cupcake. Both were good but we all decided we liked the carrot cake better.
I love that the flavors are not compromised. Whether you have an allergy or not the food is delicious. I think Richard and his wife Renee, who has to eat gluten free, are doing a great job. I hope they keep it that way.
Sweet Sin Cafe has ready to go baked goods and foods. All you have to do is stop by.
I will talk to you later….have a great day!!
June 11th, 2011
It is so funny how you only visit certain places when you have guests. I had not seen Rosalyn in probably 29 years or so. Maybe even more. We have reconnected; definitely very nice. For the past week we have been all over the place; from Lewes to Berlin.
Thursday was the last tour; a walk through Second Street, Lewes, and the Zwaanendael Museum. I have been meaning to write a post on this beautiful museum but for some reason or another, I don’t know but I only mentioned it in passing.
The Delaware Beaches have a few museums and this one is definitely worth seeing. It is a small museum. Built in 1931 by the State of Delaware in memory of the Dutch settlement of 1631. The Dutch selected the point of land separating the Atlantic Ocean from the Delaware Bay 22 years after it was discovered by Henry Hudson in 1609. They thought it would have been an ideal site to establish a whaling station. Those 32 settlers were massacred by a local tribe of the Lenni Lenape Indians because of a dispute over a Dutch coat of arms the settlers had mounted on their settlement.
The Museum contains permanent and loaned exhibits dealing with the history of Lewes and Delaware, as well as Dutch gifts and exhibits.
As we came in the girl at the desk was weaving.
Then my attention went to the exhibit of Colorful Glass – The Legend of Mary Gregory, 1856 – 1908. Blues, reds, greens, light pinks and browns.
Mary Gregory had been an employee of the Boston and Sandwich Glass Factory from 1880 – 1884. “Legend” says that she painted thousands of portraits of children on colorful glassware, using white enamel.
Miss Gregory did not marry; did not have children. Painting this artwork was said to have been her way to fulfill her “maternal” longing.
Stop by so you can see it for yourself. It really is delicate and so pretty.
The first floor’s exhibit is “Maritime History on the Delaware”. It showcases 11,000 years of Lewes culture.
At the Museum you will also find the HMS DeBraak exhibit. This was a 16-gun brig-rigged sloop-of-war of the Royal Navy that capsized and sank in a storm at the north of Delaware River in 1798. In 1984 the wreck was located and identified….
The second floor of the Museum has a smaller exhibit and tables are set up for classes and discussions.
Save the Date – The 13th Annual Chautauqua Tent Show – Life on the Delaware Homefront during WWII. It will take place on Sunday, 6/19 until Thursday, 6/23. Locations? Zwaanendael Park, Stango Park and the Lewes Historical Society.
I hate to admit it but I did not know what Chautauqua meant. It is an educational movement in the U.S. that was very popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries. They were assemblies that spread throughout rural America until the mid 20’s. Chautauqua brought entertainment and culture for the whole family; speakers, teachers, musicians, entertainers, preachers and the specialists of the day.
Chautauqua – “The Most American Thing in America” is what President Rossevelt was quoted as saying.
The Zwaanendael Museum is located at the corner of Savannah Rd at Kings Highway. It is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Sundays from 1:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. It is closed on Mondays and admission is free. To schedule tours and for more information, please call 302-645-1148.
Too hot?, Too Rainy?, Tired of the Beach?, No more shopping?, Then you know what’s next…the Zwaanendael Museum. Have a good one!!
June 10th, 2011
A well appointed home; home lifestyle enhancement. What does it actually mean? If you can afford it then you can hire anyone or buy anything you want. It is only when you have a specific budget that a designer can help you achieve and create that feeling of completeness in your home.
Leslie Bixler is the designer and proprietor of White Orchid Interiors. I met her some months ago because someone told me I should stop buy and introduce myself and check out her store. My friends always giving me tips for my “blog”.
White Orchid Interiors is located at 83 Atlantic Avenue, Ocean View, Delaware, 19970. Tel. 302-541-4044. Website? www.whiteorchidDE.com. This is just 2 miles west of the Rt. 1 and Rt. 26 intersection.
Besides offering extensive design services like residential space planning, custom window treatments, paint consultations, wallcoverings and in home design services, it is also a retail store. You can pick up items for that special corner in your home. Maybe a hostess gift, or a wedding present, as well.
Leslie has told me that she has companies that ship quickly so if you need to order something, she would be more than happy to try to accommodate you.
Her creative process leads her to search and research in order to achieve the interior environment that you are sure to love. So easy to talk to. I really have not known her for a long time, but she is that friendly. A smile on someone’s face says so much.
The showroom features, reclaimed woods, metals, natural seagrass and linen upholstery accents.
A colorful collection of pillows and rugs.
And, of course, there is the presence of the coastal area.
Even though White Orchid Interiors is a relatively new store at the beaches, Leslie is already carving her own niche with plenty of followers.
Note: I wrote a post on White Orchid Interiors on 1/27/11. If you would like to see it, just click on January, 2011 and scroll down to the date.
Have a great day!! Talk to you later…
June 10th, 2011
I was in Berlin the other day and saw that today, Friday, June 10th, there is going to be a “Runaway Bride” Scavenger Hunt. And, also other bride related contests.
Remember that this historic town has had two movies made there; Tuck Everlasting and Runaway Bride.
Berlin is a short drive from Ocean City, Maryland. A bit longer from the Delaware Beaches; nevertheless, all of us that live in Delaware enjoy so much visiting this town. Year after year Berlin is offering so many new events. It has great quaint shops and restaurants.
From 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. you can put on your old wedding dress or dig out that bridesmaid dress hidden in the back of your closet.
You must wear some form of bridal attire to participate in the Scavenger Hunt!! Remember that you can win prizes for: Scavenger Hunt, Best Bride, Best Drag Bride, Ugliest Bridesmaid Dress.
Register at the Atlantic Hotel between 5 and 6 p.m. The entry fee is $5.00 but no pre-registration is required.
This evening, Main Street Berlin invites you to their 2nd Friday Art Stroll from 5 to 8 p.m. You can walk the shops, galleries and have a bite to eat in one of their restaurants.
More Info? Call 410-641-4775 or visit www.berlinchamber.org.
Have a Great Day!!
June 8th, 2011
 Children & Families First, Sussex County Event I missed the first of these 3 Farm to Table feasts. I attended the second and I won’t miss the third one to be held on Tuesday, September 11th. It will benefit Global Delaware HHC and it will begin at 6 p.m. If it happens to be an evening like the one experienced last night, then you will be in for a real treat and a unique experience.
I have written before about this organic farm; Good Earth Market & Organic Farm. You can find what they are all about by visiting the website, http://www.goodearthmarket.com.
Actually, if you are in the area on Saturday, 6/11, you can stop by for a cooking demonstration at Noon by one of Matt Haley’s Sodel Chefs. Just go and watch him or her do what they do best.
 The Indispensables If you need more info. you can call 302-537-7100. Good Earth is in Clarksville, about 5 miles or so west of Bethany Beach.
Let me tell you about last night’s dinner. Rosalyn and Shelley were with me. Together we were to experience an evening full of friendly chatter and wonderful food. Yes, new friends were made.
I made my own friendship with Maria. There were 2 professional photographers; she was one of them. Maria has Maria Deforrest Photography and her website is www.deforrestphotography.com. You can find her on Facebook, as well.
Freshly caught was the mahi mahi, freshly picked were all the veggies and fruit. Just cooked by Plate Catering, http://www.plate-catering.com. What a feast!! Check this out.
 The grilled veggies were ready 
 Roasted turnips to be added to the local greens 
 The Main Event; Grilled Mahi Mahi with grilled local squashes The table was set and it looked fantastic. Flowers, fresh bread, and let me tell you about the butter, which was made for the dinner. A hint of herbs and a hint of probably honey. With that crusty bread, well, you know….divine comes to mind.
Good Earth looked beautiful at sunset. The chickens were running around, the bees were into the flowers, the raspberries were beautiful and the blueberries were getting ready.
A little candle here, a wheelbarrow full of wine and water there.
The appetizers were fresh pea puree in red endive.
And, colorful pickled deviled eggs.
The tomatoes were delicious and everything was served family style.
Matt addressed us all and thanked us for supporting Children & Families First, Sussex County who were the beneficiaries, www.cffde.org. Susan Ryan, owner of Good Earth by his side.
Sweet Endings was the pound cake with lemon-herb simple syrup, Lewes Dairy cream and fresh strawberries with a hint of pepper.
Just a beautiful evening; the setting, sharing a meal, good conversation….what else?
June 7th, 2011
What got my attention and interest was an appetizer which is served at the Pickled Pig Pub; the fried pickles. I like pickles but I am not crazy about them. Michael, my son, told me these were very good.
Fried pickles are found in the South and are made by deep-frying sliced battered dill pickles.
The Fried Pickled Spears, house battered, kosher-dils served with a spicy dipping sauce can be found at the Pickled Pig Pub located at 18756 Coastal Hwy #3, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. Tel. 302-645-5444. Website? www.pickledpigpub.com. They open at 11:30 a.m. for lunch and dinner starts at 5:00 p.m. Open 7 days a week and plenty of parking.
The Pub was deceiving; bigger than I had expected. It is a casual atmosphere. Come as you are kind of place; unwind after work, a quick lunch, a beer on a hot day.
Happy “Hours” are from 4 – 6 p.m. The Pickle Pig Pub has plenty of beers on tap and bottles, as well. A big supporter of local craft beers.
These pickles are served as appetizers. The menu is varied and interesting. You can find the menu on their website above mentioned.
The Pickled Pig Pub had a very nice cheese board, as well.
Of course we had other things on the menu. I had the Every Day Pub Burger. Nothing better than a burger at the right time; lettuce, tomato, onion, served on a brioche bun. Your choice of American, Swiss or provolone.
Michael ordered the Pub Pulled Pork, Carolina vinegarstyle, which is my favorite, by the way. Or, sweet southern barbecue, coleslaw topped on a brioche bun.
On that day the restaurant was crowed and I was surprised since I did not know if it had been discovered yet.
Had a nice lunch. The pickles were delicious, our waiter was attentive and I will definitely go back.
Note: The sister restaurant, Pig and Fish is located on Rehoboth Ave., downtown. Website: www.thepigandfish.com.
You know what? I could get an addiction to those pickles.
Have a great day!! Talk to you later….
June 5th, 2011
This is your opportunity to sample great food; foodies take notice. Great chefs and innovative cuisine. Two Resort Towns with Restaurant Week at the same time. Oh my, where to go? Too many choices for all those with discriminating palates.
Rehoboth Beach is a destination in itself. Rehoboth has great restaurants and this week, they take center stage. From 6/5 to 6/11 participating restaurants will be offering menus with $30 or $20 prix-fixe dinner menus.
There are so many participating restaurants. Perfect time of the year before it gets too crowded. For more info. please call 302-227-2772. Or better yet, visit http://www.downtownrehoboth.com. You will be able to see a list of all the restaurants.
Ocean City, Maryland is just about 25 minutes away. Their restaurant week is from 6/5 until 6/19. The participating restaurants will offer $30 3-course meals and $20 2-course meals. For more information, please call 410-289-6733. You can also visit http://www.oceancityrestaurantweek.com.
I guess we all will be prolonging our exercise routines in order to accommodate Restaurant Week. Have a good one!!
 
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