September 24th, 2014
Second Season at the Delaware Beaches is really nice. Everything is open, no meters, except in Lewes, cooler temperatures…..and an amazing shoreline.
I have taken a few days here and there to do some Fall Travels….plenty of people take this time of the year to visit resorts, island, etc. etc. that otherwise would be packed during the summer months.
Plenty of activities and events at the Delaware Beaches….here are a few of my picks for now.
WEDNESDAY, 9/24 – 3-COURSE INTERACTIVE-CLASSROOM-STYLE COOKING DEMO – 6:30 p.m. -Catch 54, Route 54, Fenwick Island. First Course? Deviled Eggs, Hurricane Drink, Second Course? Shrimp Etouffee, Sazerac Cocktail, Third Course? Bourbon Cake, Milk Punch. Price $25.00 Please call Jim Affeldt, 302-436-8600. Best scenic views of the marshes in Fenwick Island!
THURSDAY, 9/25 – REHOBOTH BEACH HISTORICAL SOCIETY FALL WALKING TOUR – A 45 minute gentle stroll around downtown Rehoboth Beach starting at 9 a.m. at the Bandstand at the end of Rehoboth Avenue and the Boardwalk. The cost is $10. Reservations are required, so please call 302-227-7310. The tour will provide general info. about the history of Rehoboth Beach. It will also give you information on several of the storms that have shaped this coastline.
Walking Rehoboth Beach with Rehoboth Beach Historical Society
THURSDAY, 9/25, FRIDAY, 9/26 – MONTHLY SCREENINGS BY THE REHOBOTH BEACH FILM SOCIETY: LIFE ITSELF – 7:00 p.m.
On Thursday – Location – The Den at Bear Trap Dunes in Ocean View, Delaware…West of Bethany Beach.
On Friday – Location – Upstairs Screening Room at Movies at Midway on Coastal Highway in Rehoboth Beach
Admission is $4 for members and $6 for non-members. Directed by Steve James and produce by Martin Scorcese and Steve Zailian, Life Itself recounts the inspiring and entertaining story of film critic and social commentator Roger Ebert. Based on his memoir of the same name, the movie tells of his journey, from school newspaper reporter, to movie critic, to Pulitzer Prize winner, to t.v. household name, to the finding love at 50, and finally his “rhird act” as a major voice on the internet when he could not longer physically speak. Proclaimed by many to be the best documentary of the year. This is a must see for anyone who loves movies.
There will be a post film discussion at the Movies at Midway with William Nack, a close friend and colleague of Roger Ebert for over 50 years.
FRIDAY, 9/28 – REHOBOTH BEACH MUSEUM FALL OPEN HOUSE – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Museum, 511 Rehoboth Avenue. Refreshments will be served. This will be an opportunity for locals and visitors alike to go through the Museum at your own pace. The latest exhibit “Cruisin’, a historical look at not just toys on wheels, but an important mode of transportation for some, as early as 1817. Through the years Rehoboth Beach has been called the “Most Popular Beach in America”.
The Museum is next to the Visitor Center. Questions? 302-227-7310.
SUNDAY, 10/5 – THE EVENT FOR PET LOVERS AT THE BEACHES – 4TH ANNUAL BARK ON THE BOARDS – The Delaware SPCA will host this event from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Festivities will take place before the walk, starting at 10:30 a.m. Join the Rehoboth Beach community as we make strides agains animal homelessness!! First 200 to register will receive a Bark on The Boards Dog Bandana!! More info. and to register, please visit http://www.delspca.org.
Have a good one!!
August 27th, 2014
Cooking comes from the heart….you can’t rush it. Some have that special culinary gift, others, like most of us have to follow a recipe. Matt Haley had that gift. I have seen him reading a cookbook while having sushi at Saketumi in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Was he getting ideas for a new dish, adding a little bit of this or a little bit of that, I don’t know and I never asked him.
I met Matt through my website, AboutMyBeaches. When I started the website in 2009, which is written in a blog style, it was because I wanted to promote the Delaware Beaches. I love to eat and cook so it started that way, with me reviewing restaurants. I am not a professional, but I know what I like and how I like to be served.
Every time I would write about a restaurant in 2009 I would send an email to the contact on the website of the restaurant I had just visited. Most brushed me aside. But, Matt was the only one that every single time answered personally from his email address. Later on my husband and I had a business relationship with him.
I remember writing to him about a friend of mine whose mother had gone to one of the restaurants and then they charged her $2 for replacing green beans….what? He would say, Gloria, just take them on my dime to the restaurant. I never did. Another time, just recently, another friend mentioned something else. Once again I did write….if I had a restaurant I would want to have someone of trust telling me what happened. Don’t you think? Anyway, I did and he never complained.
Farm to Table? What is That? Matt also showed us that the setting of a dining experience adds so much to the aura of savoring delicious, local food.
Always hands on, a dinner for Global Delaware, Matt’s non-profit, at Good Earth Market in Clarksville, Delaware, just west of Bethany Beach. That’s the first time I attended such an event. The idea of eating at a communal table, chatting and making new friends while raising funds for a worthy cause, was very appealing.
 
Cooking outdoors….local seafood, and veggies from the farm. Here are some photos of that event.
Another Farm to Table Dinner at Indian River was memorable, as well.
Cooking outdoors took a different dimension here. In the brush!!
About 150 strangers got together to enjoy local fish, veggies and each other.
 
On August of 2012, Matt invited my husband, John, and I to dinner at his home. I called it the Spanish Contingency Dinner. His guests were the 3 sisters of La Esperanza in Georgetown. Let me tell you that these sisters loved Matt like a son. He was so involved in La Esperanza, as well. He told me that every time he went on a trip, they would bless him, and cry, etc. etc., not knowing what trouble he was going to get into. Ha, ha! Their names? Rosita, Maria and Asuncion. Also in the group was a couple, Jose and Virginia who are the editors of Hoy en Delaware. It was then that he told us that he had been invited to be on the Board of Freeman in Fenwick. He was so excited!
I used to talk to Matt in Spanish, but to tell you the truth, he really did not understand much. I used to tell him that I could not understand how he could be with all these Spanish speaking people and barely say “Si”. It is the truth, and he would admit to it.
This was a great evening. My husband, John, was loving it. Someone else cooking and him eating. Matt and John had a really nice relationship.
Up to that afternoon, Matt did not know what he was cooking for dinner. If it had been me, I would have been running around my house like a lunatic. Not him; cool, calm and collected….and lucky too because someone dropped some fresh fish just in the knick of time. A simple preparation, was all that was needed. Salad and veggies were all done.
The rest of us brought desserts….Spanish desserts with me bringing my pride and joy…a Puertorican flan!
In the meantime, Matt asked me to stir something on the stove. I asked him where his spatula was. “I don’t have one”….what? A chef with no spatula? What is this? All I could think was, how am I going to serve my flan?
Matt really did not have a spatula. Here he is sliding the fish into the serving platter. He did it but it would have been easier with a spatula.
 
My flan was served….it did not look too pretty but everyone said it was good. It is hard to serve a plan with a plain knife!
It was an early evening. Good company and great conversation….Matt admitting that he did like the those holiday favorites like green bean casserole!! The traditional way, canned soup and all.
Matt did not have to worry about not having a spatula anymore….I did drop about 6 of them; all shapes and sizes, wishing him “Good Spatulating”.
Note: At the beginning of September 2013, I saw Matt at Safeway. That was his grocery store of choice. He had just arrived from Europe, I believe. We talked about my husband’s passing. Then, he said his brother had died too a few months back. No idea..so, now as I reflect on it, I am so sorry for his family’s loss. I wish them peace.
At the Indian River Inlet Farm to Table Dinner, it was getting darker and we were all ready to leave. I said “Matt, give me a smile.” And, here it is!! Good night, my friend!
Matt’s legacy continues. Please visit http://www.matthaleycompanies.com. In it you will find everything about his companies, including the Memorial Service celebrating his life on Sunday, 9/28, at 2 p.m. at Freeman Stage at Bayside.
February 11th, 2013
Sparkling wine is usually white or rose. Its sweetness can range from very dry to sweeter varieties. A classing example? Champagne.
The Second Season at the Delaware Beaches is a great time to enjoy the many restaurants that make Southern Delaware a dining destination.
Catch 54 is part of SoDel Concepts, the family of restaurants owned by restauranteur and philanthropist, Matt Haley. The restaurant sits on a beautiful area in Fenwick Island. It overlooks the bay and its marshes. During the day and at sunset there is no better view; quiet, serene; dramatic in many ways.
Catch 54 is hosting a Sparkling Wine Dinner on Wednesday, February 13th. Location? 38931 Madison Ave., Fenwick Island, DE 19944. Tel. 302-436-8600 Website? http://www.catch54.com. Doors will be opening at 6:30 p.m. Dinner service will begin at 7:00 p.m. $59.00 per person, plus gratuity. Please RSVP to General Manager, Jim Affeldt at 302-436-8600. You can also e-mail him at jim@sodelconcepts.com.
You will experience a delectable multi-course meal designed around a variety of unique sparkling wines. Each will be paired perfectly with a seasonal dish created by SoDel Head Chef, Doug Ruley.
RECEPTION
Food: Oysters with Blood Orange Cucumber Mignonette & Truffled Popcorn with Tarragon Pecorino & Sea Salt.
Wine: Argyle Brut
FIRST COURSE
Food: Shrimp & Scallop Dumpling with Quinoa, Black Bean, Spicy Soy, Micro Cilantro
Wine: Capasaldo Moscato
SECOND COURSE
Food: Smoke Day Boat Scallop with Chilled Carrot Bisque Ginger, Arugula Oil, Pistachio
Wine: Poema Cava
THIRD COURSE
Food: Seared Tuna with Asparagus Salad, Mushroom, Pork Jowl, Poached Quail Egg, Walnut-Champagne Vinaigrette
Wine: Berlucchi Brut Rose
DESSERT
Food: Lemon-Rosemary Champagne Jello with Blackberry Float
Wine: Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco
Note: Winter Hours: Catch 54 opens Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. Sunday from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m.
Have a great dinner!!
January 3rd, 2013
It might be quiet now, but it is not dead by any means. Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island are called the Quiet Resorts. In the summer, they are hopping. In the winter, they take a well deserve rest.
After all the cooking and eating I was so glad to see some of the events that are for everyone….giving us a head start on healthy eating habits for 2013.
Anyway, if you are around the Delaware Beaches, check what’s going on.
Saturday, 1/5 – “Sugar Blues” got you down? Join Good Earth Market and Organic Farm at 3 p.m. for a free workshop, and you will discover why you crave sweets. Why sugar is addictive. How to break free of sugar cravings and emotional eating. You will leave the workshop with a step by step action plan to kick your sugar habit for good.
Kari Ainsworth, LMT, HHC, is a Licensed Massage Therapist, Cosmetologist, Intrinsic Coach, Yoga Instructor, and Holistic Health Coach. She works with you one on one to help you reduce stress, improve nutrition, lose weight, increase energy levels and live your most balanced life.
Good Earth Market is located at 31806 Good Earth Lane (Rt. 26), Clarksville, DE 19970. Clarksville is about 4.8 miles west of Bethany Beach. It is open Monday – Saturday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. For more information, please visit http://www.goodearthmarket.com.
Tuesday, 1/8 – Free Cooking Demo at Catch 54 at 6 p.m. – Catch 54 wants you to get a head start and this cooking demo will do just that when they will focus on lower caloric cooking options and healthy food choices for the whole family.
Cocktail hour will start at 4:45 p.m. with small appetizers available. Followed by the free cooking demo from 6 – 7 p.m. To reserve your spot, please call 302-436-8600, or email Jim@sodelconcepts.com. But, hurry up because these cooking demos are very popular. Now that the days will be getting a bit longer, try to get there early to see the beautiful views from Catch 54. Catch 54 is located at 3819 Madison Avenue in Fenwick Island. Website? http://www.catch54.com
Friday, 1/18 – Classic Casino (James Bond Style), Proceeds to benefit the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition. 7:00 p.m. at The Cove at Bayside Resort located at 31806 Lakeview Dr., Selbyville, DE 19975. Tel. 302-541-4065.
Tickets are $40 in advance or $45 at the door. Individual tickets include heavy appetizers, one drink ticket, $100 in casino chips, music, dancing and fun.
A limited number of High Roller Table tickets are available for $100 each. It includes heavy appetizers, 3 drink tickets, designated server, private area with choice of Black Jack or Poker. Limited to 7 players per table.
More info? Please visit http://www.btdladies.com.
Saturday, 1/19 – Weight Loss and Digestive Wellness. Join Mark Stoehr, MAC, LAc and learn how to naturally lose body fat and manage gastrointestinal concerns. Topics will include fat loss, gut/brain connection and celiac disease. Treatment methods, such as nutrition, acupuncture, herbal medicine and probiotic therapy will also be discussed.
Mark Stoehr is a Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist with a practice in Ocean City, Maryland.
Good Earth Market is located 4.8 miles west of Bethany Beach, at 31806 Good Earth Lane, Clarksville, DE 19970. More info? Check http://www.goodearthmarket.com.
So, I guess the post is about feeling healthier, more motivated and interested. Have a good one!!
December 2nd, 2012
This Holiday Season take some time to rest and avoid all that Holiday Stress!!
Here are a few highlights of “happenings” at the Delaware Beaches this coming week.
Monday, December 3rd – Santa will be visiting the Bethany Beach Town Hall at 3:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. Santa will be arriving at 4 p.m. Carriage rides, refreshments, children’s entertainment, the Lord Baltimore Elementary School’s Holiday Ensemble and an outdoor train display. It is all Free! More info? Please call 302-539-8011 or visit http://www.townofbethanybeach.com.
Tuesday, December 4th – The Holidays are around the corner and Catch 54 located at 38931 Madison Ave. at Shark’s Cove Marina, in Fenwick Island, Delaware is getting into a festive mood. FREE Cooking Demo! This demonstration will showcase party hors d’ouevres and beverages sure to impress your Holiday guests. Cocktail hour will begin at 4:45 p.m. with small plates available followed by the Demo held from 6-7 p.m. To reserve your seat, please call Catch 54 at 302-436-8600 or email Jim@sodelconcepts.com. Website? http://www.catch54.com
Tuesday, December 4th – A tradition at this time of the year in Rehoboth Beach is the Christmas Parade at 6:30 p.m. It is hosted by the Rehoboth Beach Fire Company. http://www.rehobothbeachfire.com. Party and awards ceremony following at the Convention Center, also located in Downtown Rehoboth Beach. Refreshments, hot chocolate; Santa will be there. Details, information and everything else you want to know about it, please visit the Rehoboth Beach Main Street website, http://www.downtownrehoboth.com.
Wednesday, December 5th – Catching a film is definitely, a stress reliever. The Rehoboth Beach Film Society’s Around the World features critically acclaimed, award-winning, international independent films. At 7:00 p.m. first Wednesday of each month, from September until May. Location? The screening room upstairs at the Movies at Midway located on Coastal Highway. The screenings are free and open to the public. More info? Call 302-645-9095. Website? http://www.rehobothfilm.com
This month’s film is Amador. Marcela is a young immigrant with financial troubles. She finds a summer job looking after Amador, a bedridden elderly man whose family is away. Amador’s sudden death leaves Marcela jobless, something she can’t afford to let happen. Faced with a difficult moral dilema, Marcela will prove that death can’t always stop life. It is in Spanish with English subtitles.
Thursday, December 6th – Located in Lewes, the Cape Henlopen State Park offers a variety of recreational, historic and natural opportunities for all ages. The Park is gorgeous any time of the day. The programs offered meet at the Seaside Nature Center, unless otherwise noted. No entrance fee at this time of the year; just follow the signs to the Nature Center. On selected Thursdays…Lunch and Learn from Noon until 1 p.m. Learn about an interesting topic relating to the natural or cultural history of Cape Henlopen. Take your lunch, they will provide coffee and dessert. Pre-registration is required by calling 302-645-6852. On Thursday, 12/6, the topic will be Science in the Park. Find out what research has been going on in and near Cape Henlopen State Park. $3/person.
HOLIDAY SEASON COAT DRIVE – This event is on-going. Global Delaware Fund Hosts a Coat Drive for the Holiday Season. This non-profit organization was founded by Chef Matt Haley, SoDel Concepts, with the goal of administering goods and services to at risk children and to those in distressing situations, locally and internationally. Website? http://www.theglobaldelawarefund.com. Coats are being accepted at all of SoDel Concepts restaurants:
Fish On! located at 17300 North Village Main Blvd. in Lewes.
Lupo di Mare located at 247 Rehoboth Avenue in Rehoboth Beach.
Matt’s Fish Camp located in North Bethany Beach at Tower Shores.
Bluecoast located at 111 Highway One in North Bethany.
Northeast Seafood Kitchen located at 29F Atlantic Ave. in Ocean View.
Catch 54 located at 38931 Madison Ave. at Sharks Cove Marina and Fenwick Island
New, or gently used coats for all ages, will be collected and transported to local organizations for donation at the end of the year, including Casa de Francisco Emergency Adult Shelter in Milton, Delaware.
In the Spirit of the Holidays, if you would like to make a donation, however small, and if able, to any one of the restaurants to help support those in need this season…thank you.
Saturday, December 8th – Cape Henlopen State Park Programs – Fort Miles was a key part of the nation’s coastal defense during and after WWII and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. On Saturday…Battery 519 Tour at 2:00 p.m. Discover how and why Fort Miles defended our coast during WWII on this tour inside Battery 519. Ages 7 and up with an adult. Limit to 30. Pre-registration is required by calling 302-645-6852. Admission is $5/person. Fort Miles programs meet at the Orientation Building in the Fort Miles Historic Area.
Tuesday, December 11th – TIPS FOR TOTS from the Greene Turtle – Staffs at 19 Greene Turtle locations will donate all tips they earn on December 11th to purchase toys for local “Toys for Tots” programs and help bring the joys of the season to underprivileged children.
Tips for Tots was started in 2006 by Corlie Brice, a bartender at The Greene Turtle in Salisbury, Maryland. “She arrived for her shift one cold December night in 2006 and noticed a sign on the neighboring business, designating it as a Toys for Tots drop-off site. She decided to use whatever tips she took in during her shift to purchase toys for the program; additionally, she enlisted her fellow employees and publicized her intentions to guests coming into the restaurant to increase the potential donation. That evening, she and fellow bartender, Chris Tingle, took in $700, an amount that proved even more valuable when the manager of a nearby Ollie’s Bargain Outlet agreed to give her a discount on her purchases once she explained her intentions.” Since that time, the Greene Turtle has donated more than $28,000 in purchase toys to local Toys for Tots programs, through the tips donated by restaurant employees, the corporate offices and additional gifts donated by other member of the community. Guests have rallied, as well, occasionally giving tips as large as $50 to $100!!
The Greene Turtle has locations in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. In Lewes, Delaware, they are located at the Villages of Five Points. To check the other locations and for more info., please visit http://www.thegreeneturtle.com/fundraising-community-support.
Wednesday, December 12th – “Read a Movie”, brought to you by the Rehoboth Beach Film Society and the Rehoboth Beach Public Library is a club that began in September and meets on the second Wednesday of every month. Members receive an email link to the short story in advance, and copies of the story are also available at the front desk of the library located on Rehoboth Avenue. After the film is screened, members engage in a lively discussion, sharing thoughts about how well or not so well the story was expanded to the big screen. Membership is free. To sign up, and receive the stories in advance, email Greg Jones, Education/Outreach Coordinator at outreach@rehobothfilm.com, or call the Rehoboth Beach Public Library at 302-227-8044.
On Wednesday, 12/12 film enthusiasts are invited to celebrate the holidays with a screening of “It’s a Wonderful Life”. Members are first invited to read the little-known short story called “The Greatest Gift”, which formed the basis for the beloved film. Then, the group will get together upstairs at the Rehoboth Beach Public Library, beginning at 4:00 p.m., to view its better known film version and hear about its page-to-screen evolution.
It a Wonderful Life was released in 1946 and was ranked the Number 20 on the American Film Institute’s 100 Greatest Films of all Time. At the Read a Movie screening, members will learn little-known facts about the film and the story on which it was based, deepening their enjoyment of this Yuletide Classic.
Have a great day!!
November 9th, 2012
It is so good to be able to say thank you and mean it. I want to thank those companies advertising on AboutMyBeaches. Some of them I bugged a lot; explaining why they should be on my website. I really do appreciate it.
AboutMyBeaches started back on July of 2009. It was one of those ideas. I am a frustrated concierge. First it was going to be just a website. When my webmaster, Ed Timmons, met with me, I kept talking and talking. He probably thought I was more of a blogger. So, really, it was his suggestion. Here I am. I consider myself to be in the business of Word of Mouth.
Since my advertisers are on my website, which is written in a blog style, you can access them directly. Just look at them on the right hand side of AboutMyBeaches, http://www.aboutmybeaches.com, and you will be able to find out what these companies are all about. They are all different. Their owners are very nice, and easy to talk to.
Let’s meet them:
Tidewater Realty – This company is located at 32892 Coastal Highway (Rt.1) at the Starboard Center in the town of Bethany Beach, Delaware. Bethany is considered one of the Quiet Resorts of the Delaware Beaches. I know it well. For many years I lived there. It is a small coastal community, with great beaches, and quaint little restaurants. Tel. 302-539-7500. Toll free 900-888-7501.
 Bethany Beach Tidewater Realty is a boutique size real estate company. Broker of Record? John Merryman, III. This company has been a sales leader in the community for 30 years. It is known for its personal and professional attention. Website? http://www.tidewaterrealty.com. Please remember that Delaware has low property taxes and tax free shopping!!
Coastal Chem-Dry – This company is at the forefront of the carpet and upholstery industry. Green certified, with innovative equipment and powerful cleaning solutions. Website? http://www.chem-dry.net/coastal.de. It dries quickly, so you don’t have to wait hours and even days for this to happen.
A Fall Special!! 3 rooms for $119.95 up to 350 sq.ft. Stairs not included.
Please contact them at: New Castle County and Kent County 302-234-0200. Sussex County 302-645-2800.
Check the website for more specials and information.
Miken Builders is located at 32782 Cedar Drive, Millville, Delaware 19967. Millville is located a few miles west of Bethany Beach. Tel. 302-537-4444. Cell 302-381-0773. Website? http://www.mikenbuilders.com. Mike Cummings is the Founder and CEO of this company. I have known him for so many years. Our sons played Little League together. Besides being a friend, I have also been a customer.
Miken Builders is a commercial and residential construction company. It is very well respected for his construction work and for his involvement in our communities. No job is too small or too big for them.
Last summer they worked on my house. A whole new entry way, which by the way, I have enjoyed and was very much needed. Also, there was some remodeling in my bathroom.
Betterliving Patio & Sunrooms of Delmarva. This company is under the umbrella of Miken Builders. Location? 32442 Royal Blvd., Unit 1, Dagsboro, DE 19939. Tel. 302-251-0000. Toll Free 877-251-0080. Website? http://www.betterlivingdelmarva.com. They are the exclusive provider of Betterliving 3-Season year-round sunrooms and awnings.
Doggies at the Beach is a boarding and day care facility for your pooches. It is located at 18806 John J. Williams Highway (Rt. 24), Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Tel. 302-644-8200. Website? http://www.doggiesatthebeach.com. It is my dog, Addy’s, home away from home. I have total confidence in Jim and his staff and when I leave her there. I feel she is in the best of care.
Doggies at the Beach has 4 master groomers for dogs and cats, working 7 days a week; mornings, afternoons, and evenings. All you have to do is call for an appointment. The facility is great with 24/7 human care. It is also climate controlled. Dog training is also available.
Two new web-cams are being installed. One will be located in the new puppy room, the other in the new building called Bayside.
Doggies at the Beach is very much involved in the community. Don’t be surprised to see them in parades, holding events, and having a good old time!!
SoDel Concepts, founded and owned by Restauranteur & Philanthropist, Matt Haley. Website? http://www.sodelconcepts.com. A total of 6 restaurants at the moment, with its newest one, Papa Grande, opening in 2013 in Fenwick Island, Delaware. Stay tuned for updates. Busy does not even begin to describe this company. I have written posts, with pictures, on most of them, except Blue Coast Seafood Grill….soon, though. Just put their name on the search of AboutMyBeaches to see some delicious dishes.
In Lewes, Delaware you will find Fish On! – http://www.fishon.bz
In Rehoboth Beach, Delaware you will find Lupo di Mare – http://www.lupodimarerehoboth.com
In North Bethany Beach, Delaware you will also find Matt’s Fish Camp – http://www.mattsfishcamp.com
Also, in North Bethany you will find Blue Coast Seafood Grill – http://www.bluecoastseafoodgrill.com
In Ocean View, Delaware you will find NorthEast Seafood Kitchen – http://www.northeastseafoodkitchen.com
In Fenwick Island, Delaware, that’s where you will find Catch 54 – http://www.catch54.com.
In each of them I have found a favorite dish. If you are visiting the Delaware Beaches, try them. I don’t think you will be disappointed.
Plate Catering – This is a catering company owned by Matt Haley, owner of SoDel Concepts. A dinner for many, or just for a few. An intimate affair, perhaps? A special occasion, I am sure. They can handle it. Please give them a call at 302-644-1200. Website? http://www.plate-catering.com
The Global Delaware Fund. This is a non-profit organization founded by Matt Haley, owner of SoDel Concepts and Plate Catering. It provides goods and services to children at risk in distressed situations. It has been lending a hand here, in Delaware, and abroad. Please visit http://www.theglobaldelawarefund.com.
Butter Shades is a sun glass company from Philadelphia that sells affordable sunglasses without sacrificing pure, manufactured quality. This company has a passion and compassion…they are giving back to the community, as well. Please check the sunglasses at http://www.buttershades.com
TKO – In Bethany Beach you will find Alice H. Klein, Jeweler and Designer. She is the owner and founder of TKO Designs, Inc. In the business for 32 years, Alice has a unique way of presenting a beautiful stone in its best light. She works with plastics and resins, precious and semi-precious stones, pearls, gold, gold filled, silver and Swaroski crystals. She can give a lift to a tired setting giving it that wow factor.
 
TKO Designs is located at 100 Garfield Pkwy., Stores 6 & 7, Bethany Beach, Delaware. Tel. 302-539-6992. Website? http://www.alicehklein-tko.com. I have known the company for so long and I am a consummate fan of her work. Her niece JoAnne works at her store, as well.
Florida – I do have a few advertisers in Florida. You might want to know them. Whether you are a snowflake or a snowbird these 2 companies provide great services. I also know them, personally, and can recommend them fully.
Tauriello & Co. is a real estate company located in the heart of Delray Beach, Florida. This coastal town is also known as the Village by the Sea. You can find it at 900 E. Atlantic Avenue. Tel. 561-278-5570. Toll Free 877-509-8300. Website? http://www.tauriello.com.
Brokers of Record are Daniel & Sue Tauriello. They have been in Delray Beach for so many years and are very well respected in the Village by the Sea. I have known them since 2003 and they have given me personal and professional service. Please call Cheran or Sue if you want to find that special place to hang your beach chair.
Beach House Management, LLC – This is a property management company in Delray Beach. Michael Keegan is at the helm of the company and along with his staff, you home will be in good hands. Totally professional and caring. I have used Michael since 2003 and have no regrets at all. Some might think that a property management company is a luxury; in reality, it is a necessity when you are not there. For more information, please visit http://www.mybeachhouses.com. Tel. 561-376-4329.
Again, I do appreciate your business….Interested advertising on AboutMyBeaches? I think it is a very good deal. $500 for one year. Your banner on AboutMyBeaches. My personal attention, as well. Check the website and see if you like it. Nothing better than word of mouth.
Have a good one!!
October 16th, 2012
Congratulations are in order to Chef Doug Ruley, formerly Head Chef of Bluecoast Seafood Grill in Bethany Beach. SoDel Concepts, owned by acclaimed Chef, Matt Haley, has announced that Chef Dough Ruley will be the new Corporate Chef of the restaurant group.
Chef Ruley will be in charge of overseeing all of SoDel Concepts’ restaurant kitchens, currently 6 in total. He will also manage the food and menus from SoDel’s catering company, Plate Catering. Responsibilities will include supervising all kitchen staff, creating and updating menus, and delegating which items will be prepared for special company events.
Originally from Elkton, Maryland, Doug became enamored with food and the kitchen at an early age. Whether helping bake a birthday cake or preparing live blue crabs, he was up for the challenge. Summers were often spent helping his grandparents tend to the garden, live stock and the smoke house on their farm. Doug attributes his passion for food to days of shucking corn and picking beans, building the foundation of his career.
Shortly after graduating from high school, Doug began working in local restaurants including celebrated Newark, Delaware eatery, Jude’s Diner. After training in a Rehoboth Beach restaurant kitchen the following summer, Doug decided to pursue his natural talent and go to culinary school, something Jude herself had been pushing for.
Doug graduated at the top of his class in 1996 from Johnson & Wales (Rhode Island). Julia Child gave the commencement speech. Immediately after, Doug accepted a position as Sous Chef at The Melrose Club in Hilton Head Island, SC. After a year, Doug moved back to Elkton and was hired as a line cook at then un-opened restaurant, Iron Hill Brewery. Five years later he was promoted to Executive Chef and Operating Partner of Iron Hill, which now has over 8 locations. While at Iron Hill, Doug produced several “Best of Delaware” awards, with a string of five “Best Restaurant” awards in a row. After10 outstanding years with Iron Hill, Doug and his wife decided for a change and moved to the beach, signing on with Matt Haley and SoDel Concepts as Head Chef of highly acclaimed restaurant, Bluecoast.
Of his employer, Ruley states that Haley and the SoDel team are “pioneers” in the culinary field in Delaware. “Working with Matt has been the most rewarding years of my career. His wisdom and leadership brings out the best in his employees.”
Doug credits his success to the tremendously talented people he has worked with throughout his career, and to his family, for being understanding of the vigorous nature of the culinary world. He currently lives in Fenwick Island, Delaware with his wife, Lisa, and their three children.
About SoDel Concepts:
SoDel Concepts was founded by Chef Matt Haley. SoDel Concepts was named to the 2009 Inc. 500, which lists America’s fastest-growing private companies. The group’s restaurants include Fish On! in Lewes, Lupo di Mare in Rehoboth Beach, Bluecoast and Matt’s Fish Camp in North Bethany Beach, NorthEast Seafood Kitchen in Ocean View and Catch 54 in Fenwick Island. Matt Haley and co-owner Scott Kammerer also own Haley-Kammerer Consulting, a hospitality management company that provides management and consulting services for businesses such as Troegs Brewery & Kitchen, James Street Tavern, and Premier Wine & Spirits in Wilmington, Delaware. Others include Que Pasa in Dewey Beach, Fins & Claws restaurants in Rehoboth Beach. Sports at the Beach in Lewes and Waterman’s in Ocean City, Maryland. For more information, please visit http://www.sodelconcepts.com.
Note: You can access directly all of SoDel Concepts restaurants, including Plate Catering, on AboutMyBeaches, by a click on their individual links or on SoDel Concepts. Don’t forget to check Global Delaware, as well. See what this non-profit is all about.
August 26th, 2012
It was going to be my first time visiting Catch 54 after last year’s fire, when they had to completely rebuild the restaurant. Since their opening, at the beginning of the summer, people kept telling me how cool it had turned out. Well, it has taken me until last week to stop by with friends and enjoy a night of laughter, good food, awesome views and great service.
Catch 54 is part of the family of restaurants under SoDel Concepts, http://www.sodelconcepts.com. It is, also, one of Matt Haley’s restaurants.
Catch 54 is located at 38931 Madison Ave., Fenwick Island, DE 19944. Tel. 302-436-8600. Website? http://www.catch54.com. If you are traveling on Coastal Highway, please turn west at the intersection of Rt. 54 and Coastal Highway (Rt. 1), cross over the bridge. You’ll see the restaurant on your right. Turn right, you will find plenty of parking available. Catch 54 is also located on the same spot as Shark’s Cove Marina. The restaurant opens 7 days a week at 11:30 a.m. Happy hour, from 12 until 6 p.m. They do not accept reservations. You can find Catch 54 on Facebook and Twitter.
From Rehoboth Beach, it takes about half an hour, give or take, with the summer traffic. I was rushing to get there before sunset. Catch 54 has one of the most gorgeous views at our Delaware Beaches. It sits right at Little Assawoman Bay; the salt marshes that line the bay are home of many species of waterfowl. At that time of the evening is breathtaking, serene, and peaceful.
 
Since I don’t like to wait at restaurants, I have started eating late during the height of the season at the Delaware Beaches. So, we decided to meet at around 7:45 p.m., thinking that people would be almost on their way out. Surprised surprise, there were people waiting. No problem, I just went around to take pictures, some sat at the bar, waiting to be called. No rush. Catch 54 has 2 floors with a bar on each one.
At the upstairs bar, there are also booths available for dining, as well.
It was a beautiful evening so the restaurant was showing off how pretty it looked at night.
Indoors is light, and modern, exhibiting the casual atmosphere of our beaches.
There are 2 decks with tables for dining al fresco.
The outdoor dining tables were going to take some time, so we decided to eat indoors. The restaurant has glass windows throughout so you have an excellent view if you are indoors.
Our server came to get us. His name was Michael. As we are walking to our table, I proceeded to tell him that one person in our party had to eat gluten free. His answer? No problem, I have had Celiac disease since I was young. I know exactly what your dietary requirements are. Worry free eating!! No questions!! I bet Catch 54 does not know what an asset he, actually is. It turned out that Michael was also a fantastic server. Very attentive and his suggestions were perfect.
It goes without saying that when I have lunch or dinner with friends….they cannot touch their food until I take pictures. A few try to dive into their entrees, but are usually stopped on their tracks. I also want them to, honestly, tell me how their dinner was.
So, here is what we ordered.
Oysters on the half shell were ordered; the saltier, the better. Chincoteague Salts came on ice and were delicious.
A friend ordered the Heirloom Tomato Salad, on toast, with herbs, grilled red onion, blue cheese, and a Dijon garlic vinaigrette. The tomatoes are still so tasty; green, red, and yellow.
I went with the Crab & Clam Cakes. I thought they sounded different. They had bacon, Parmesan, spicy mayo, micro beets and lemon. They were soooo good. It really was a good combination. Definitely, would order them again in a heart beat.
For our entrees:
A couple decided to order the Fish Camp Stew. It had fresh fin fish, shellfish, white wine, tomato butter broth, and toast. One came without the toast because of the gluten allergy. It had a well seasoned broth, very light and plenty of seafood.
Another person decided to order the Day Boat Scallops on cheese grits, sweet corn, zucchini and PBR tomato jus. She really enjoyed them, and thought they were very good; cooked to perfection.
I loved my fish. I really did. I had the Pan Roasted Whole Trout, on roasted farm beans, Crimini mushrooms, almonds, and lemon butter. The whole fish was so flavorful. I would, definitely, order it again.
Dessert:
We decided to order two desserts.
The Roasted Summer Peach Bread Pudding was served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and caramel. Comfort dessert! Not overly sweet, either.
A Lemon Icebox Pie with Blueberries was the second dessert. Sort of like a key lime pie, except lemons were used.
The person that had to eat gluten free is hoping that Catch 54 brings back a dessert called Flourless Chocolate Torte. This dessert was so good whether you had to eat gluten free or not.
Our Delaware Beaches are full of wonderful restaurants. It really is a dining destination for many. We are so lucky!!
Note: Catch 54 also has a kid’s menu!!
Have a great week! Talk to you later….you know I will.
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