May 15th, 2013

Rehoboth Beach Farmers’ Market, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Tuesdays, Noon Until 4:00 p.m….Shop Local, A Great Place For Residents And Visitors to Mingle, The Nation’s Summer Capital, Delaware Beaches, Southern Delaware

Meeting the appetite of all things local.  That’s what you will find up and down the Delmarva Peninsula as Farmers’ Markets gain popularity.  I decided to visit late in the afternoon the Rehoboth Beach Farmers’ Market.  It opens at Noon until 4 p.m. every Tuesday; rain or shine.  This was the second Tuesday and it was sunny!!

The Rehoboth Beach Farmers’ Market is located at Grove Park, behind the Visitor’s Center and the Rehoboth Beach Chamber of Commerce, by the round-about.  Website?  http://www.rbfarmersmarket.com.

A little music and very interesting vendors.  These are some of the ones that caught my attention!!

ROOT GOURMET – Only about a year old and located at 19724 Coastal Highway.  Gourmet on the Go.  A sister establishment of Nage.  Don’t want to cook or have unexpected guests?  Give them a call or go on their website at http://www.rootgourmet.com.  You can either order for take out or just sit down and enjoy it in-house.  At the market, they offer a special menu…plenty of tastings, as well.

JIMMY LYNN’S –  A Seafood company…fish, lobsters. The best crabs!  Steamed to order.  They are located at 18226 Coastal Highway, Lewes.  Tel. 302-644-9329.

GREENBRANCH ORGANIC FARM – Located at 5075 Nutters Cross Rd., Salisbury, Maryland, they specialized in a wide variety of vegetables and pastured livestock; grass-fed/grass-finished beef cattle, free range pigs, and pastured poultry.  Website? http://www.greenbranchfarm.com.

HABANERA FARM –  They are a guest of the Rehoboth Farmers’ Market, which means that they are not there every single Tuesday. This is Maryland’s first herbal tea grower and certified processor.  It is a medicinal herb and plant farm and retreat center on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, just outside Whitehaven near the Wicomico River.  More than 30 medicinal herbs offer a possibility for a relaxed stroll.  It sits on 21 acres. It also has a 7 Path Labyrinth!

Habanera Farm is open for groups and will work with your group or organization to create that special program.  They are also experienced, entertaining speakers, available to visit your location.  On June 1st from 8:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Habanera Farm will be hosting their 3rd Annual Open House and Herb Day Celebration.  They are inviting the public to go out and wander through their herb gardens, see their working medicinal plant farm and antioxidant orchard, enjoy a sampling of delicious, locally blended herbal teas, and have a great day.  Please check out their website http://www.habanerafarm.com.  Like them on Facebook.

CLINGER’S NATURALS – A Division of Nuts to You!  It is located at 2020 Windors Drive in Salisbury, Maryland.  Tel. 410-726-1603.  Their artisan nut butters are sooo good.  Like them on Facebook .

GELATO GAL – I spotted Amanda Randall, the person behind the best gelato in town.  Amanda has a new location on Coastal Highway.  It is at 20385 Rt. 1 in Rehoboth Beach.  Tel. 302-227-1001.  Website?  http://www.gelatogal.com.  Besides her glorious gelato, Italy’s version of ice cream, Amanda also offer desserts, homemade chocolates….and she is also having wonderful offerings from her smoker.  Pulled Pork, Smoked Turkey, Smoked Fish, Smoked St. Louis Style Ribs….I’ll be stopping by to check out her new location.  They have done a lot of work.

SKIPPER’S BISCUIT COMPANY – For your pooches.  This company makes its products right here in the first state and in the town of Lewes.  They are all natural; made by the sea.  Tel. 302-841-7003.  Website?  http://www.skipperscompany.com.  Their Coco Lu’s Pet Shampoo is named after their own Lucy Brown.  Again, all natural with 2 scents available; Lemon Fresh and Coco Colada.  Like them on Facebook.  To order, please visit the website or the local farmers’ markets.

OLD WORLD BREADS – Their commercial baking company does not have retail…they are located in Milton, Delaware.  They have a presence in the local farmers’ markets.  To order online, please visit http://www.oldworldbreads.com.  Then select your breads and pay online.  Select your pick-up location and it is that easy!!

FIFER ORCHARDS – The farm is located at 1919 Allabands Mill Rd. in Camden-Wyoming, Delaware.  Tel. 302-697-2141. Their market store at the beach is located at 200 Cullen St. in Dewey Beach.  302-227-8680.  Visit http://www.fiferorchards.com.

On Saturday, May 18th Fifer is hosting their Strawberry Festival at their farm in Camden-Wyoming.  There will be free live music, hayrides, face painting, pony rides, gourmet sandwiches by Nage & Abbott’s Grill restaurants.  There will be strawberry BBQ, strawberry smoothies, ice cream, pies, shortcakes, chocolate covered strawberries and more.

And, remember that it is asparagus season!!  Did you know that they are a member of the Lily family?  And, that under ideal conditions, an asparagus spear can grow 10″ in a 24-hour period?  They have no fat, no cholesterol, and are low in sodium.

Talk to you later….you know I will.

June 18th, 2012

Root Gourmet, Rehoboth Beach, Cafe, Crafted Foods to Go, Homemade Baked Goods, Entertainment Made Easy, Delaware Beaches

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.