May 18th, 2011
It has been a year since this Bethany Beach restaurant opened. They have served lunch and dinner every day. That’s what they wanted.
Renee told me last summer how she had tried Off The Hook; her meal had been delicious. One thing lead to another; I did not make it.
Last Monday I had to go to Bethany Beach. My husband’s only concern was; what’s for dinner?
I had roasted such a good chicken on Sunday that I thought leftovers would be the perfect meal for a cold evening. Don’t you think so too? Answer: I am not eating leftovers. Bla bla bla. Well, you can come with me to Bethany but I don’t know what’s even open.
And, that’s how we finally got to Off The Hook. It is located at 769 Garfield Parkway (Rt. 26), Bethany Beach, DE 19930. Tel. 302-829-1424. You can find it on Facebook.
I was plesantly surprised. I found a cozy restaurant; small but inviting. Light walls with colorful prints on one side of the room. On the other, there were 3 blackboards. One of those was offering thanks to the suppliers. Johnson’s Country Market in Eastview, DE, Julius Silvert Mushroom Farm from Kennett Square, PA, Other Side Produce, Easton, MD, Big Fish Wholesale Fish Market, Rehoboth Beach, and Crack of Dawn Bakery in Berlin, MD.
One of the boards expressed its appreciation to all the locals for patronizing them during those long winter months and the other had the Daily Dinner Specials.
There was a bar, which overlooked the kitchen.
Tiffany was our waitress. She was efficient and knew the menu well.
Chef Matt Cornelius stopped at every table to see if everyone was enjoying their meal.
And, then Steve Hagen, Chef and Owner, came in and we met him, as well. Of course, the topic of gluten came afloat, as it always does.
Tiffany brought bread to the table. I am pretty sure it was rosemary, olive oil and cracked pepper. My husband was drooling. He could not have the bread. Guess what? It was so good.
I went right to my entree. I chose from the Dinner Specials Board; the Clams Linguini with sundried tomatoes, capers, basil, and garlic in a white wine butter sauce. It really was good. The whole combination was in unison. And, I loved the sweetness of the garlic.
My husband had the Pan Roasted Scallops. This dish is usually served with fregola sarda, caramelized onion, garlic confit, spinach, chicken jus, crisp rosemary. Due to the fact that it had gluten, Chef Cornelius prepared a corn confit just for him.
Then he ordered clams as well. This dish was an appetizer. Middle Neck Clams, with tarragon, capers, white wine and lemon. I got to taste one and I recommend them totally, if you like clams. The tarragon made such a difference.
We ordered a takeout from the dinner specials; Oyster Stew. The review from that stew was that it was not too heavy, or too milky; just the right consistency. I wonder if Chef Cornelius can give away that recipe?
We did not have any dessert but some of the sweet endings were key lime pie, truffle terrine, french toast bread pudding and apple pie cannoli. Don’t they sound good?
Anyway, there is excitement this week at Off The Hook. Their new sister restaurant, Just Hooked, is opening in Fenwick Island, Delaware. Congratulations!!
My husband shared his clams with me.
Talk to you later….
August 3rd, 2010
On Monday it was time to let my hair down a bit, put my dancing shoes and follow Paula and Nancy to the Bottle & Cork. These 2 friends are fans of The Greaseband.
The Greaseband has been performing in Dewey Beach for the past 25 plus years. The band has been around for 35 years.
This summer they are entertaining their fans at the Bottle & Cork, located in Dewey Beach, right on Rt. 1. On April 29th I wrote a post about this famous Rock & Roll Bar and if you would like to see it, just go to the month of April under Archives and scroll down to the date.
It was unexpected fun for a Monday. I had never seen their performance and it was great. The Bottle & Cork was packed. By the time we got there, people were already dancing and The Greaseband was playing.
I guess my last post was about what children can do in Dewey and tonight the post is for what the more matured crowd can do.
The age group was definitely a little older than what you would expect in Dewey; there were some in their 20’s but the majority was definitely older.
You know what was so nice to see? How much fun everyone was having. The members of The Greaseband know a lot of the people in attendance; they have been followed for years. The audience sings, dances, jumps up and down with big smiles on their faces.
The Greaseband plays music from the 50’s to the 90’s Rock ‘n’ Roll. They will be performing at 9:15 p.m. every Monday at the Bottle & Cork until August 23rd. More info? Please call 302-227-7272.
If you would like to know more about them including their schedules, story, bookings, etc., please visit their website www.greaseband.com.
The dancing was contagious; cannot wait to go again!!
Talk to you later….
July 14th, 2010
One of my favorite pastimes, in case you have not realized that yet, is eating. Not just eating, but trying new foods and restaurants that are innovative and creative. Who wants to eat the same old boring food day in and day out? Whether I am at the Delaware Beaches, Delray Beach, Florida, Puerto Rico, Boulder, Colorado, Baltimore, Maryland and in between I am looking for a little adventure in eating.
Yesterday, Cindi and I decided that lunch could be a nice time to catch up on what has been going on in our lives. Better to do that while eating.
Liquid Assets has my favorite mussels. I had a craving for them. You have seen me try mussels lately everywhere I go. Well, Liquid Assets mussels are the best, in my book. I think second place would be a little Italian place in Georgetown. But, every time I get to try them in other places my thoughts go back to the ones at Liquid Assets; just delicious!! No comparison.
Liquid Assets is located at 9301 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD. Tel. 410-524-7037. Website is www.LA94.com. Make sure to visit the website to check events, recipes and to find out what’s new in the wine and liquor business.
I just saw a new Vodka called Bakon Vodka. It is a potato vodka, which is the vodka you would need to drink if you are on a gluten free diet. Apparently, it is smooth, and slightly sweet. No strong burn or aftertaste. It has a savory bacon flavor with a clean crisp finish. Interesting.
As I entered Liquid Assets again, I had to ask myself; if I did not know any better would I think I am at a liquor store or a restaurant? The place is unique, no doubt about it. I have not seen one like this at the Delaware Beaches.
The first room definitely gives you the aura of the liquor store but immediately you get to notice the big bar and tables around it; sofas amidst barrels and wine bottles.
There is another dining room that will transport you to a wine cellar, maybe in your own home or in another country. This dining room is probably more conducive to quiet conversation. It has its own bar, as well.
Cindi and I got comfortable and our waitress proceeded to let us know what specials were on the menu that day.
We decided on a bruschetta for the table that was made out of peaches. Loved it. Had a good kick to it.
Cindi had the orzo salad with kalamata olives and chilled canteloupe soup. I had a taste of the soup and it was very refreshing. It was definitely good.
Of course, I had the mussels and they were as good as ever. I loved the pieces of chorizo, the broth and, of course, the bread.
A coffee to finish our meal and before we knew it, it was time to say “adios”. Until next time.
Great getting together with friends. What would you do without them?
Have a great day!! Talk to you later….
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