In the area for vacation? Or, are you one of the many that have moved to Southern Delaware to enjoy low property taxes, no sales tax, great beaches and pretty good weather too? And, I almost forgot to tell you that there are so many restaurants for the foodies and for the ones that love the Boardwalk Grub.
I have plenty of favorite restaurants in the area. This time of the year you may have to plan a bit more. Traffic is a pain, meters too?
Nectar, I do love. I can take a seat at the bar. It is located at 111 Neils Alley in Historic Lewes. Breakfast and lunch. It closes at 3.
We sat at the bar. Lunch was ongoing. Look at the menu.
The Vedge Sandwich was ordered. Zucchini squash, portobello mushroom, roasted red peppers, sauteed onions, spinach, mozzarella, pesto and balsamic glaze. It came with a salad. A Bloody Mary accompanied this sandwich. TC thought it was delicious and for those staying with veggies as a choice it was great.
I loved my choice. First the Quinoa Salad was outstanding. Some of you may turn your noses at this grain but maybe you need to go to Nectar and try it. It had mixed tomatoes, Kalamata o,ives, cucumber, red onion and Feta cheese on a bed of mixed greens with balsamic vinaigrette. I decided to order a side of their chicken salad. My plate was huge. I love chicken salad in the summer. This particular one is the best I have had. I kid you not. See for yourself. It had green grapes, granny smith apples, toasted pecans, gouda cheese and a hint of red onion. Cannot wait to have it again.
Fresh juices are a specialty of Nectar. I seem to always order the Lean Green Machine. It is on the above photo. Green Apple, Cucumber, Basil, Spinach, lime and jalapeño. A bit of a kick but very healthy it makes me feel.
Now that the Fourth of July holiday is over summer will roll over.
So many restaurants to try and so little time.
Enjoy and relax. AboutMyBeaches is on Facebook and Instagram. Check it Out?
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If you are a resident of Lewes, you will probably be using your bike as a way to get around the Historic District. Debbie and I did not do that….we were probably going to take some leftovers home. Our destination on this gorgeous evening in Lewes was Nectar. This is the second anniversary for Nectar and Sara McKewon, Proprietor, has done an outstanding job in keeping the restaurant fresh, delicious, and comfortable.
The location is 111 Neils Alley in Historic Lewes. Tel. 302-645-5842. It opens from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. It closes on Tuesdays. Nectar is known for its amazing juices. You can make a selection of available ones or you can customize your own.
Stepping into Nectar you feel immediately at home. That has not changed since Sara opened 2 years ago. Debbie and I arrived early in order to be able to take photos. Take a peek….look how pretty it is.
Just until a week or so ago, Nectar was only open for breakfast and lunch. The addition of dinner had us all excited. So, here is what Debbie and I had.
Starting with a Fresh Fruit Mimosa and Kale Chips. I have done my own kale chips at home. These were all crunchy, with beautiful color.
Continued on our grazing mood….PB & J Meatballs. The peanut sauce was awesome. Pick them up with your hands or just be prim and proper and use your fork and knife.
Our next dish was the Cauliflower “Steak” – This is a Vegan Entree. So good, I cannot wait to have it again. The cauliflower is both roasted in the oven and finished in the frying pan. Served over rice pilaf with romesco sauce and topped with olives, capers and roasted tomato. Romesco sauce is a nut and red pepper base sauce that originated in the area of Tarragona in northeastern Spain.
I love roasted/baked chicken. So far in my travels, I have found a great one in Delray Beach, Florida, another on Ashford Avenue in Condado, Puerto Rico, and this Dogfish 60Min Baked Chicken at Nectar is out of this world. It is a 1/2 chicken baked in Dogfish Head beer with honey mustard glaze. Served with mac n cheeese and coleslaw.
Catch of the Day in Parchment was Monkfish…Steamed in parchment with lemon, capers, and dill. Rice pilaf and vegetables on the side….moist, well seasoned and glad I ordered it.
So, which one did we choose for our sweet ending? The Lemon Meringue Cheesecake or the Banana Fosters Pie? All desserts are made in-house.
The Lemon Meringue Cheesecake won!! It was sweet but not overly so…..great lemon flavor.
Hope you stop by Nectar. Let me know what you think. I am writing this post a few hours after our dinner. I think everything we tried was so appealing because the dishes were so simple, colorful and tasted so fresh. Keep up the good work, Sara. You and your staff made our evening tonight.
The beaches are ready for the season and so are all of us that call Coastal Delaware home!! Talk to you later.
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The partners in The Flying Fish had only opened the restaurant 2 weeks ago when Shelley and I stepped into Fenwick Island’s newest dining adventure.
The location? The Village of Fenwick, 300 Coastal Highway, Unit #7. Tel. 302-581-0217. The website will be up soon. Dinner is served every night from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. Lunch is served on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from Noon until 3 p.m. Carry-out is available.
This spot at The Village has been transformed into a very neat restaurant, where customers chat with each other at ease.
So, here we were, Shelley and I ready to eat sushi, except Shelley does not eat sushi; she really does not eat anyhting raw…if you are like her, do not despair. Before you even go inside the restaurant, the menu is outside. Check it out.
A House Salad of organic field greens with cucumber, yellow pepper, radish, tomato, and carrot. It was finished with Lisa’s (partner) homemade miso honey sesame dressing and their wasabi croutons.
Then, Shelley ordered the Filet of Beef Negimaki….thin sliced beef wrapped around fresh spring onions and marinated in their homemade ginger hoisin sauce and flashed seared.
And, this is what I had, which by the way was their recommendation. Great choice!!
The Bangkok Dangerous – Flash fried tuna and salmon roll topped with a unique muddled pepper blend, lump crab, spicy mayo and their special sweet and spicy Bangkok sauce. On the photo, it is the middle roll.
The Mobster Lobster Roll – A spicy tuna, jalapeno, and tempura bits roll, draped in thin sliced avocado and topped with chunks of lobster salad. The rolls were served on the same plate. Yum!!
Shelley wanted dessert…a muffin with coconut, ginger and oranges hit the spot.
The food was so good, the prices were very reasonable….and the service was great!!
The Village of Fenwick was quiet when we left…quaint, as usual.
It is the casual attitude of the Delaware Beaches that make them a destination. So many restaurants and shops opening this year; the expectation are, definitely, high for the Summer of 2012.
One of my neighbors, Mel, had told me about Root Gourmet. He has become a fan of this unique place which opened its doors just a few weeks ago.
Root Gourmet is located at 19724 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. Tel. 302-727-5664. Website? www.rootgourmet.com. I love what they have done with the building. It looks so inviting. The door handle? Original!! Plenty of parking, as well.
Root Gourmet welcomes its customers with fruit infused waters. A special treat to cool off after the summer heat at the beaches.
Don’t kid yourselves, Root Gourmet is not a grocery store. Their foods are mainly ready to go home style entrees. The idea is that they will do the work, giving you easy and tasty foods. You can do the rest with the reheating guidelines that accompany each order; therefore, allowing you more time to spend with guests or family.
The foods are placed in aluminum containers for conventional ovens. Don’t use microwaves; most dishes reheat best and retain their quality in conventional ovens, anyway.
Root Gourmet is perfect for those unexpected guests. You can order full meals or just a few items, like side dishes, to enhance what you are already cooking.
The first item that caught my eyes was the gluten free popadom chips. In talking to them, they mentioned that they can accommodate customers with food related issues.
Baked goods are all done in-house. Special orders are welcomed. Those special orders include gluten free baked goods.
Inside is all about your comfort. Everyone was so friendly. Root Gourmet is also a Cafe; sit down and relax. They open early and stay open late. The daily offerings are on the board.
I decided to have the Quinoa Salad. It really was delicious and refreshing; dried cranberries and apricots were some of the ingredients found in this super grain. It was also, gluten free.
Then, a crab cake. If you like the crab cakes from Nage, then you will like theirs, as well. Root Gourmet is part of Nage’s family.
I followed the reheating instructions; bake uncovered on a 350 degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes with a target temperature of 165 degrees. It worked!! It really did reheat well….. I did have my doubts. Crab cakes can be tricky to reheat.
The crab cake tasted good. Lump crab on top; would have preferred the same on the bottom, though. Still, a perfectly good crab cake.
I will have to go back. Too many delicious looking items left to try. Potato Gruyere Gratin, Tomato-Spinach White Bean Casserole, Potato-Queso Filled Peppers, Brie Apricot Tartlet, salads…and a Daily Vegetarian Option.
Too easy….Just a call away…..ask about delivery!!
Have a good one!! Psssst…find Root Gourmet on Facebook.
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This post came about because 2 Facebook friends decided to meet face to face. The town of Milton, Delaware, was our choice. Just in case you do not know, the historic town of Milton is about 20 to 25 minutes north of Rehoboth Beach.
Small businesses and historic homes is what you will find in Milton. It is located at the head of the Broadkill River, which feeds into the Delaware Bay. Because of its location, it was an ideal place for shipbuilding in the old days.
Historic Milton is, really, set in a rural setting. The pace? Well, I think you would find it to be quiet and leisurely; definitely, small town America.
Are you a history buff? “Milton is the birthplace of 5 governors, a town divided in allegiance during the Civil War, house to many officers who participated in the War of 1812, and rich in agricultural and political facts.”
Button making? Large mother of pearl shells were once shipped to Milton from the South Pacific. The button blanks were cut and polished and then shipped to the northeast for more decoration and use on garments of all kinds.
If you like ice cream, Milton is the home of King’s Ice Cream with locations in Milton and Lewes.
You can find these facts and more at www.historicmilton.com.
When Kathy told me that The Vintage Cafe would be a good spot for our meeting, I was excited to check another place. The Vintage Cafe is located at 113 Union Street, Milton DE 19968. Tel. 302-684-3480. Email vintagecafemilton@gmail.com. The owner is Ami Rae.
The Cafe opens Tuesday through Saturday from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. If you are coming for breakfast you will find delectable offerings, including muffins, scones, and croissants. Of course, coffees, teas, espresso, capuccinos and lattes.
The baked goods are fresh and the soups are homemade. You can eat in, take out, and if you have an event, they can event cater.
The Cafe also carries gluten free baked goods, but it would be best to call them and see what’s available.
A PopStand! CakePop is a cake dipped in candy coating on a stick. Please call Ami Rae, who is the CakePop Pro at 302-684-3480. These can make the perfect gift, fun for parties, and a conversation piece for weddings. Flavors and colors can be customized, as well.
Kathy and I greeted each other and proceeded to sit down and take a look at the menu. There is a board with the daily specials.
And, this is what we had:
Kathy had Beans in the Garden, which was spinach, tomato, black beans, cheddar and brown rice, with red pepper aioli in a tortilla. She thought it was delicious. Kathy stops frequently at the Cafe when coming through Milton.
I decided on The Farmer. I thought the combination of country ham with cheddar, green apple and sweet hot mustard on a ciabatta roll made an interesting combination. It did not disappoint; it was perfect.
We decided that our sandwiches were enough. The portions were a good size so we took half of them home. By the way, the prices are very reasonable, the service was good and offered with a friendly smile.
Lunch with a new friend, in a historic town, at The Vintage Cafe, made for a great afternoon.
Talk to you later…
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I am back to tell you that right next to the Haute Dog is a wonderful French Bakery called Bonjour. The address is 6070 Falls Rd., Baltimore, MD 21209. Tel. 410-372-0238. Website? www.bonjourbakerycafe.com.
Having a hot dog did not prevent us from going into the bakery to check it out. We were very good; resisted all temptation. But, boy, did they look good!!
Bonjour opened in 1998. The owners are Gayle Brier and Gerard Billebaut, a husband and wife team. I, unfortunately, did not meet them.
They offer breads, breakfast sweets, desserts, savories like turkey and cheese croissants, pissaladierre, quiche and flat bread pizza.
The bakery was beautiful. The colors were soft pastels. The aroma? Well, can you imagine? You are in a bakery. Close your eyes and imagine, tarts, pies, cakes, and macaroons.
It was comfortable inside Bonjour; the perfect place to sit down, enjoy some coffee and sweets.
Visit their website because they have information on all they have to offer.
Away from the Beaches for 24 hours. Back already. A road trip. I am getting to know Philadelphia, but I still have a long ways to go. Having worked and lived in Baltimore, Maryland, I really never went much to Phildelphia. Now, I am going full steam ahead; way into walking the streets, checking the neighborhoods and experiencing its restaurants….all the way to the food trucks.
After driving for a couple of hours it was time for a walk. Just like I enjoy seeing the roadhouses in Baltimore, Philadelphia has beautiful ones, as well. At this time of the year some looked so amazing.
It was around 2 p.m. and not having eaten, Michael and I decided to walk in the direction of Rittenhouse Square.
Rittenhouse Square was named for astronomer/clockmaker, David Rittenhouse. He was a descendant of William Rittenhouse, who built the first paper mill in America in Germantown. He was also the President of the American Philosophical Society and the first Director of the United States Mint.
Rittenhouse Square has always denoted quality. And, to have lived near or on the Square was a mark of prestige.
Fountains, trees, and benches for people to sit and relax. At that time of the day, the heat was getting up there and just to be under the canopy of those trees was instant relief.
The Parc Brasserie, a Bistro and Cafe. Usually, I would sit outside, if available, but after walking so much; air condition was what I wanted.
The Parc Brasserie is located at 227 South 18th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103. Tel. 215-646-2262. Website? www.parc-restaurant.com. Parc is part of the famility of restaurants owned by Starr Restaurants.
Ornate ceilings, the restaurant pays hommage to the French Cafe culture. We had a perfect seat; looking over Rittenhouse Square and checking the passersby; some walking their four legged friends and others just enjoying a beautiful day in the city.
The bread was to die for; baguettes are made in-house daily.
We shared an appetizer of Chicken Liver Mousse with pickled shallots and grain mustard. Again, this bread was thick, warm and oh, so good. Perfect appetizer for a hot day.
Then Michael ordered the Lamb Sandwich, with Harissa aioli and arugula. Pomme frites? Of course, how could you not? Took a bite; very good.
Just in case you did not know what Harissa is; I did not know either. It is a condiment from North Africa and the Middle East. It is made from chiles, oil, garlic and cilantro, pounded with cumin or ground coriander and sometimes dried mint or verbena leaves.
I ordered the Nicoise Salad with seared tuna, shaved vegetables and lemon vinaigrette. It had been some time since I had a Nicoise Salad; fresh and light. The tuna, the white anchovies and the combination of the veggies with the lemon vinaigrette, made it so special. The lettuce? Buttery comes to mind.
A leisure afternoon with great food, great service, and the perfect view, as well.
No sweet ending at this time of the day. But an espresso we did have. We still had dinner in mind and some more walking to do.
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