September 14th, 2014
I am not one to have every day that most important meal…breakfast. But, when on vacation, I love it. Find a local restaurant, eat like the locals.
Even though Hotel Cape Charles had coffee and light breakfast, after a walk around Downtown, we decided we wanted something more substantial, shall we say?
Cape Charles Coffee House is located at 241 Mason Avenue, Cape Charles, VA 23310 Website? http://www.thecapecharlescoffeehouse.com. The building was from 1910 and, originally, it was the Cape Charles Bank.
Our orders of pancakes…..adding fried eggs.
Traditional French Toast…
The BELT is what caught our attention. It was a classic BLT, except that when adding a fried egg….it becomes a BELT. Cindi and I had the same. I liked Cindi’s better. I would have preferred the rye toast…well done. The combination is so good that the BELT is my new “customized” sandwich for breakfast.
Have a great day, wherever you are!!
September 9th, 2014
 
I would have to say that any time you visit a gourmet shop at the Delaware Beaches….and shops that don’t really have anything to do with food, but do represent the best of our beaches, you will find products by the Blue Crab Bay Co. But, wait, not only do they sell nationally, they also sell internationally.
The Blue Crab Bay Co. is located at 29368 Atlantic Avenue in Melfa, Virginia 23410. It is at the Accomack Airport Industrial Park, off Lankford Highway. Tels. toll free 800-221-2722, local 757-787-3602. Website? http://www.bluecrabbay.com. You can also find it on Facebook.
This company started in 1985 by Pam Barefoot. When you visit the website above mentioned check the history. It is very interesting. Blue Crab Bay Co. offers different types of nuts and when Cindi and I found out that we were passing through it was a no brainer to stop at the actual plant.
We got good tips. The Skipjacks, which are honey roasted. Mix them with The Surf Doggies, which are honey mustard roasted, making sure you put one of each in your mouth. It is a totally great combination of tastes.
 
Hooked on the Crab House Crunch…very easy to do. They are sweet and salty. Peanut squares with Chesapeake Bay Seasoning.
Make sure you also check the recipes given on the website. You will not believe how many and how good they sound. Website is http://www.bluecrabbay.com.
The stoneware collection sold at the store and online is exclusively produced and hand painted for the company…designed by Eastern Shore artisan, Jose Dovis, who also designed the logo for Blue Crab Bay Co. in 1985.
You will also find Pam’s Pantry and Home Essentials at the Blue Crab Bay Co. These products are from other companies that are used and recommended by them.
The mixers are to be used as part of your favorite beverages but also there are very good recipes using them, as well.
EVENT: FIRST OYSTER & WINE FEST – SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2014 – 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. They will be serving Oysters on the Half Shell from Shooting Point Oyster Co., Oyster Shooters by the Great Machipongo Clam Shack, Oyster & Clam Chowder by Blue Crab Bay Co……Wines by Chatham Vineyards, which I visited with friends, and a post can be found on this website on 9/4/14.
Food tickets available at the door, while supplies last. Parking along the side streets and in the rear of the building. Please note that 10% of the proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
So, again, I say…..while traveling up and down Eastern Shore of Virginia, make sure you stop and absorb it all. You don’t find too many places like this anymore.
See you…talk to you later.
September 8th, 2014
Cindi and I stopped for a quick visit to Onancock, Virginia. This is one of the largest towns on Virginia’s remote Eastern Shore. I don’t know why they say remote….from the Delaware Beaches it was about 2 1/2 hours.
 
Anyway, we went straight to the marina to Mallards at the Wharf, located at 2 Market St. in Onancock.Tel. 757-787-8558. The restaurant is in The Hopkins Bros Building, circa 1842. It is owned and maintained by Virginia’s Eastern Shore Historical Society…http://www.shorehistory.org.
Do you see the guitar hanging on the wall? Well, this restaurant is also owned by Chef Johnny Mo, who is the Executive Chef, along with Miguel Wiese, Chef de Cuisine. We arrived late afternoon. The restaurant was quiet. But, he is known to entertain its guests frequently. Check the menu and events at The Mallards by visiting http://www.mallardsllc.com.
You can find Chef Johnny Mo on Facebook, as well. This chef is also the Founder of the benefit Music for The Hungry, whose proceeds go directly to the Foodbank of the Eastern Shore. More info., please visit http://www.chefjohnnymo.com.
Being that the location is the Eastern Shore you can imagine all the fresh seafood on the menu.
Cindi and I decided on the Fish Tacos. Fresh mahi-mahi grilled, not fried, with lime juiuce over shredded lettuce, salsa, and spicy mayo, served on a flour tortilla…truly delicious. One of the best!!
Event: The 24th Onancock Bay Challenge will be on Saturday, September 20th. Rain day….Sunday, 9/21. A special prize and trophy will be awarded for the largest “Eastern Shore Brown Trout” (Oyster Toad) brought to the dock. For more information, please call 757-709-8697, 757-787-4237 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
So as you travel Lankford Highway (Rt. 13) up and down….this is a great place to stop and refuel.
Talk to you later.
September 7th, 2014
My friend, Cindi, and I have never met strangers. It ended up being that the owners of Best Nest in Downtown Cape Charles were originally from the Bethany Beach and Selbyville…Delaware area. Small world. We arrived at the store because we wanted to say hi to someone from back home. Best Nest is located at 7 Strawberry Street, Cape Charles, VA 23310. Tel. 757-331-4437. Website? http://www.bestnest.net. You can find them on Facebook as Best Nest Home Furnishings.
This is a fairly new location for them….but the store already looked so pretty and it felt like it had been there forever. They open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays. Sundays by appointment.
John and Nikki are the owners and they offer many years of experience to their customers. Their projects can be large or small, and both are very comfortable working with a variety of budgets, tastes and personalities.
The store offers furniture, art, accessories, linens and rugs. At times just an accessory here or there can really define a room.
If you are in need of home staging, or might want to rearrange what you already have to give you a better flow, please give them a call or stop by.
Please visit http://www.bestnest.net if you would like to read some of the testimonials and also to see photos of many of their projects.
The weather felt better today….don’t you think? Have a good one.
September 6th, 2014
No noise and no crowds in Cape Charles as the Second Season gets underway. Checking out the shops in Cape Charles this week was part of our adventure. Cindi and I found Drizzles, located at 16 Strawberry St., Cape Charles, VA 23310. Tel. 321-747-3042. Website? http://www.drizzlesolives.com. It opens Monday through Saturday (Close Tuesdays) from 11 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Sundays from Noon until 5 p.m. You can find Drizzles on Facebook. You can also order online.
Drizzles has been opened for 4 years. Besides infused vinegars, and olive oils, the shop has salts, and sugars.
You can also find peppercorns from around the world.
The best part is that you can taste before you buy. You can relax, sit, and think which of them you liked best.
Lately, I have been hooked on infused vinegars. I, at times, reduce balsamic vinegar….I love that you can drizzle it over fruit, salads, fish, chicken, pork, and beef. Very versatile. What I loved about the vinegars I found at Drizzle was that they were thicker than any others I have tried. Almost like a true reduction.
I bought Fig, Cucumber Melon….doesn’t that sound good? And Grape Passion, which goes well on avocado.
It is a great store, stop by say hello and let your tastebuds do the talking.
Please note that Drizzles carries specialty foods, cookbooks, and single bean coffees.
Have a good one!!
September 5th, 2014
I cannot believe that we were getting away from the Delaware Beaches and Maryland Beaches. When you think about it, visitors consider these beaches sleepy towns too.
My post for a couple of days have been from the get away trip to Cape Charles, Virginia. You know what was really good? That none of us had been there, so we went with no preconceived ideas. Perfect!!
The Eastern Shore of Virginia is full of small quaint towns. Some are more popular than others. And, believe me, people moving to this coastal area want it this way. The simplicity of these towns is the main attraction, along with beautiful scenery.
Cape Charles and surrounding towns have plenty of inns, and bed and breakfasts, but we decided to stay in Downtown Cape Charles at a boutique hotel called Hotel Cape Charles.
It is located at 235 Mason Avenue, Cape Charles, VA 23310. Tel. 757-695-3854. Website? http://www.hotelcapecharles.com.
Hotel Cape Charles has 22 rooms. They even have a few dog friendly rooms. So make sure you ask if you travel with your pet. The hotel is over 100 years old. It has been completely renovated….contemporary.
Our room was comfortable with a view of Mason Avenue, which is Main Street. A friend that saw this photo commented that the beds looked lumpy….no way. That’s just the way the down comforter looked. Some rooms are set up with cooking availability…we were going out to dinner. No cooking for us on this trip.
The Second Season in Cape Charles started immediately after Labor Day. We were there from 9/2 until 9/3. Already the town was quiet. Its serenity was palpable. Since we were staying right in Downtown Cape Charles all we needed to do was walk out from the hotel to stroll and unwind.
 
The streets in Cape Charles are wide. The beach just a couple of blocks away. Remember we are on the bay.
The Eastern Shore of Virginia was one of the earliest colonized areas in North America. The town of Cape Charles consisted of farmlands and wetlands. It became a railroad town when what is now the Bay Coast Railroad was constructed. Rails from the original tracks laid on the riprap jetty in 1884 by the New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk Railroad to spend the night and dine overlooking the Chesapeake Bay still exist.
The homes are beautiful and many of them along the beach were homes belonging to shipcaptains.
Others reminded me of Historic Lewes, Delaware.
The park is spacious and with a bandstand.
The Art Deco Palace Theatre brings local, regional, and national talent to the area.
During the week only a few stores are open, and believe me, we visited them. More posts coming your way. During the week-end everything is open for now until the season really gets quiet in November. They told me that only about 200 permanent residents are in the area. I remember back in the 70’s when I came to Bethany Beach, Delaware, when there were only 500.
To learn more about Cape Charles, please visit http://www.capecharlesbythebay.com.
Events: October 10th through October 12th is The 22nd Annual Eastern Shore Birding & Wildlife Festival. For more info., please visit www.esbirdingfestival.com.
And, on Saturday, October 10th is the Cape Charles Fall Festival….Downtown!! More info? Please check http://www.capecharlesbythebay.com.
You want quiet….you got it….you want friendly residents and shopwowners….You definitely Got It!!
And, don’t mind my friends….we were so happy that we had the town to ourselves in the evening.
September 4th, 2014
 
It started a few months ago, when Debbie contacted friends to see who wanted to embarc on a kayaking expedition to Chatham Vineyards in Machipongo, Virginia. This is Virginia’s Eastern Shore.
We were going to go with Southeast Expeditions. This kayaking experience can be enjoyed by all, from beginners to advance. The cost was $89 per person. This included kayaking, tour, and tasting at the winery, and a bottle of Church Creek for two. You may find more info. by visiting http://www.southeastexpeditions.net. Please call them at 757-331-2680. You can find them on Facebook.
We have all been saying what a nice summer this has been. Low humidity….not hot. But guess what? When the temperatures reached 92 degrees on Tuesday I was ready to start whining…..all the way to the winery. Ben was our guide. So nice and friendly and shall I say with plenty of patience.
Once we were on the water, it was great. Not too hot, just concentrating on Cindi and I not tipping over. This was a relaxing kayaking experience so our determination was to enjoy it to the fullest…..and hoping our arms would keep up!!!
We made it to the winery and were eager to explore.
Chatham Vineyards overlook Church Creek. Their label? Church Creek Wines. The land where the Chatham Farm is located was patented in 1640. The Federal period home was built in 1818.
Chatham Vineyars is owned and operated by the Wehner family on this historic Chatham Farm, which as been a working farm for 4 centuries. Jon Wehner is a second generation Virginia winegrower. They are open daily from April to December and then from January to March they close on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Address? 9232 Chatham Rd., Machipongo, VA 23405. Website? http://www.chathamvineyards.com. Tel. 757-678-5588.
The location is ideal for this vineyard…between the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay, benefitting from a moderate climate. The vineyards are high density in a European style. They contain 32,000 Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot vines.
The winery has state of the art equipment and French and American oak cooperage.
Our tasting began with a 2013 Church Creek Chardonnay, steel-fermented. Then, a 2013 Church Creek Chardonnay, oak-aged. Followed by a 2013 Church Creek Rose, which I thoroughly enjoyed. A 2012 Merlot, a Lot 12 Cabernet Franc, a 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon and a 2010 Late Harvest Dessert Wine.
Thanks so much to our Somelier….she was awesome!!
We relaxed outside, sipping some more wine. But, then, it was time to go….we needed to paddle our wine off! It was late in the day and it looked beautiful outside.
We paddled against the current but we made it back. So much fun!!
Until next post….the Second Season has begun!!
 
Note: Some info. for this post was taken from Chatham Vineyards.
September 3rd, 2014
 
A quick get-away, with an old friend, Cindi, and new soon to be new friends, took us on a kayak expedition to Chatham Winery, near Cape Charles, Virginia.
We met for sustance before our expedition at the Machipongo Trading Co., located at 13037 Lankford Hwy., Machipongo, VA 23405 Tel. 757-678-005. Lankford Highway is also Rt. 13. Many of you travel this route throughout the year, mostly in the winter as you try to go south for warmer temperatures.
It is only 20 minutes north of the Bridge-Tunnel, and across from the Barrier Islands Center.
Introductions were made and we proceeded to order lunch. Our kayak guide, Brandon, was getting our kayaks ready while we had lunch.
This place was a great stop. And, surprise, surprise….it was charming and quaint. Wi-Fi available, as well, so make yourself at home, will you?
Looking around I found gluten free beer and cider!! They also offer local wines.
And I bought Machipongo Morning Coffee by local Coffee Roaster, Eastern Shore Coastal Roasting Co. Cannot wait to try it.
Machipongo Trading Co. offers picnic provisions for any of your expeditions. You can also call ahead for carry out orders at 757-678-0005. Or, do like we did and enjoy sandwiches and paninis.
My Falafel Wrap was amazingly good with onions, spinach, cucumbers and tzatziki.
Since this was my first time with this group….I only took a few photos….did not want to scare them away. In the following posts, initiations had ended and they went with the flow.
Hours of operation for Machipongo Trading Co. are: Monday to Thursday from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Hungry while traveling Lankford Highway……this is a must stop for all kinds of goodies….healthy, not so healty (ice cream)…..and remember if you have a gluten allergy…..this is the place.
Have a great time!! Until next post.
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