October 3rd, 2014
Lewes, Delaware is Sussex County’s northernmost coastal town. It was founded in 1631 and it is the oldest settlement in Delaware. That’s why the nickname of “The First Town in The First State” is so well known.
Lewes is in the perfect location in Southern Delaware. It provides access to the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean. I don’t know if you know that in 2006 Lewes was selected by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of America’s “Dozen Distinctive Destinations”.
It is a year round community and the town does look good all the time. Plenty of shops, restaurants, activities and entertainment for the residents and visitors alike.
So, What’s Going On Lewes?
FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY, 10/3, 10/4, 10/5 – LEWES MERCHANTS’ FALL SIDEWALK SALE – Sales galore, plenty of bargains, not only in Lewes, but in Rehoboth Beach, and Dewey Beach, as well. You would not believe, people do plan for these sales at the beach. Great time to enjoy a fall week-end and grab those essentials. Stores surrounding the Lewes Commercial Historic District will be ready!! I hope you are too and the stores do open at 10 a.m.
SATURDAY, 10/4 – LEWES IN BLOOM’S FALL PLANT SALE – 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at 2nd & Banks Streets in front of the Citizens Bank. Lewes looks so nice with the help of this organization. The sales of tulips and other flowering plants at this time of the year, and member-grown plants, as well help fund their horticultural efforst in the City of Lewes. http://www.lewesinbloom.org.
SATURDAY, 10/4 – VOLUNTEER TRAIL DAY – CAPE HENLOPEN STATE PARK – 9:00 a.m. until Noon. Join Friends of Cape Henlopen as they clean up and work to maintain the park’s trails used by so many year round. More info? Please call 302-644-5005.
SATURDAY, 10/4 – LEWES FALL CRAFT FAIR – 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the Historical Complex at Second & Shipcarpenter Streets in Downtown Lewes. Admission is $5.00 per person and children under 12 are Free. Proceeds from this event will benefit the educational and preservation programs at the Society. Buildings in the Historical Complex will be open to the public. Live music from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. by New & Used Bluegrass Band. Delicious food by Casa Amici…cold treats by Vitale’s Italian Ice. This is a well attended Craft Fair with usually around 3,000 visitors coming to the town. For more information, please visit http://www.historiclewes.org.
SATURDAY, 10/4 – DELAWARE BREAKWATER KAYAK ECO-TOURS – 10 a.m. until Noon – 2-hour tours for beginner paddlers, but can be strenous. Equipment will be provided. Bring drinking water and sunscreen. No flip-flops. Single and tandem kayaks available. Solo paddlers must be at least 13. Under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult. Limit 10. Pre-registration is required by calling 302-645-6852. $25 for solo and $35 for tandem. Location? Cape Henlopen State Park, 15099 Cape Henlopen Dr. in Lewes.
SATURDAY, 10/4 – HIKE THE POINT – 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. 2 Miles!! Explore the natural and cultural history of this ever-changing spit of land. Dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes. Ages 7 and up with an adult. Pre-registration is necessary, so please call 302-645-6852. It is FREE!! Location? Cape Henlopen State Park, 15099 Cape Henlopen Drive.
SATURDAY, 10/4 – 19th ANNUAL BOAST THE COAST MARITIME FESTIVAL – Maritime-themed activities throughout the day. This event is presented by the Lewes Chamber of Commerce, http://www.leweschamber.com. Activities at the 1812 Park and the City Dock will begin at 11 a.m. Boat Tours at the City Dock will begin at 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. New Jersey’s Tall Ship, the A.J. Meerwald returns for this event, offering free tours, along with Wilmington’s newest Fire Boat. The Boat Parade will be held at 4 p.m. Seafood Tasting at 1812 Park, will begin at lunch time. Entertainment at the 1812 Park at the Family Fun Tent with Flumpa, the Tree Frog musical show, and Chuckles the Clown’s pirate-themed magic show. The Lewes Historical Society’s Maritime History Museum, located at the Cannonball House on Front Street will be open for tours, and The Lightship Overfalls at Canalfront Park on Front will be open for free tours, as well.
SATURDAY, 10/4 – ZWAANENDAEL MUSEUM MARITIME PROGRAM – 2 p.m. Location? At the museum on the corner of King’s Highway and Savannah Rd. in Lewes.
SATURDAY, 10/4 – CAMPFIRE CIRCLE: NIGHT SOUNDS AT CAPE HENLOPEN STATE PARK – 6 P.M. UNTIL 7 P.M. – Enjoy the stories and the activities out about nocturnal animals. Bring marshmallows and sticks for roasting after the program. Ages 5 and up with an adult. Meet at the campground amphitheater. Cape Henlopen State Park, 15099 Cape Henlopen Dr. in Lewes. More info? Call 302-645-6852. It is FREE!!
SUNDAY, 10/5 – CLASSIC CAR SHOW AT THE CAPE MAY-LEWES FERRY TERMINAL – Staging will begin at 7:30 a.m. but the show will start at 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Proceeds will benefit breast cancer awareness and will be donated to Cape Regional Breast Cancer Services and Beebe’s Tunnell Cancer Care. More info? Please visit http://www.cmlf.com
SUNDAY, 10/5 – COAST DAY – 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Each year Coast Day is presented by The University of Delaware, and sponsored by UD’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment and the Delaware Sea Grant College Program. Admission and parking are free. Location? UD’s Hugh R. Sharp Campus, 700 Pilottown Rd., in Lewes. Those in attendance will be able to interact with researchers, tour ships, try hands-on activities, and attend presentations on a wide range of topics. Family friendly activities will be: an event-wide treasure hunt for answers to questions about the environment and Coast Day exhibits. Children can meet sea-dwelling animals such as horseshoe crabs and dogfish sharks at the critter touch tanks. Live music, vendor displays, and seafood favorites…..food, including the Crab Cake Cook-Off and the Seafood Chowder Challenge!!
TGIF…..Have fun!!
October 1st, 2014
 
I remember it like it was yesterday, except it was at the beginning of June, this year. It was promising to be a wonderful week in Bethany Beach, Delaware. Little Pink Houses of Hope had everything in place thanks to the organization of Annie Raskauskas and Stacy Shepps. It took plenty of help to make sure that it would go smoothly. The families coming in did not know one another.
The community stood behind this organization that has been holding retreats in Bethany Beach for families of those afflicted with breast cancer. Breast cancer, just like many chronic diseases, not only afflict the person, but also the whole family. In Bethany Beach houses and townhouses were donated so that the families could come, free of charge, relax and rejuvenate at the beach.
They were going to be busy too….plenty of activities, get togethers, fun on the sand at the water’s edge, cookouts, you name it. It was fun!!
The Founder and President of Little Pink Houses of Hope is Jeanine Patten-Coble. The website is http://www.littplepink.org. Please check the website to get informed about Little Pink Houses of Hope or if you would like to apply for one of the retreats for next year. Bethany Beach, Delaware, is one of the locations, but they are also held in other states, as well.
Donations are always accepted….you can do so directly online.
The families arrived at the beginning of June as complete strangers and by the end of the week, they were a united front. It was really heartwarming to see. There were smiles and plenty of thanks to all that had worked all week to make them forget breast cancer.
We were going Deep Sea Fishing!! The Judy V was taking us out. Well, it was an experience. Here we are about to take off from the Indian River Marina. Pink is the signature color for breast cancer….wearing pink Butter Shades.
Off we went. It was beautiful. As you know to get out to do any deep sea fishing in coastal Delaware you need to go way out to sea. So far so good. From the boat plenty of photos were taken.
The kids were thrilled. They had the bait ready and a few caught something.
   
Right before some got seasick, we still had time for more photos. Not fun getting seasick, but at times it cannot be helped. We cut the fishing expedition short, because we still had so many things to do on land….like picnic, and later on a pig roast.
The picnic was very nice and we had it at the Indian River Marina. Yeap….from the fishing trip to eating!! Sandwiches, cupcakes, and fruit!!
Nap time until the Pig Roast and a farewell evening event at the beach….oceanfront!!
The house was in a festive mood. A Pig Roast and games on the beach. The evening went smoothly and everyone attended.
The families had even time for a birthday celebration!!
Then, it was time to hit the beach for some family fun time with the kids!! Carol was the organizer. And she had her hands full. These Little Pinks had so much energy and it was great to see them let loose.
The pinata and other games were a hit.
 
It was time to say “until we meet again”. The evening was emotional for so many of the families. Their bond was stronger. Many memories were made on this particular week.
Stay positive, stay strong….
September 30th, 2014
Five friends decided to celebrate a birthday on Monday, 9/29. Where to go was the question. We decided to visit for the first time Lula Brazil. This restaurant is one of the newest additions to the culinary trail at the Delaware Beaches. As you all know, Rehoboth Beach is known for its diverse restaurants. Our residents and visitors are very particular about their foods. Some are foodies at heart, others pretend to be….they all want to have a good time, though.
Lula Brazil is located at 234 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. Tel. 302-212-2755. Website? http://www.lulabrazil.com. They take reservations!
Guilty!! We were so loud. Thank God it was Monday night and the restaurant was quiet….not at our table. Look at us here!! We are the friends that dine…any time, anywhere, we are game for a good meal…and wine.
Brazilian cuisine is influenced by various cultures. This restaurant is focused on coastal Brazil. They do have the traditional Feijoada or stew with black beans and the Moqueca, which is a seafood stew, among other traditional dishes.
Some of us started with a house salad. The dressing was particularly good, made with passion fruit. You are not going to see the dressing on the photo. It was light but definitely very good.
The menu is written in Portuguese with the English translation.
Brazilian Crab Cakes with salad and passion fruit remoulade was ordered as an appetizer.
The Shrimp Ceviche was very good with jicama salad. Lime juice a predominant flavor.
“Linguine”, little neck clams in a garlic wine sauce….dinner.
A special of the evening was the Rib Eye. One of us wanted it. The Cabi Girl.
The salmon was ordered but the chef came out to tell us they did not have enough so they were also making a special dish, adding flounder…with a plantain puree which was very good.
The fish stuffed with crab was flounder, poached in a fragrant coconut veggie sauce.
We really had had enough food, so dessert was not necessary. But, since they knew we had a birthday celebration, an order of Brigadeiro arrived. These sweet balls or bonbons are made with condensed milk, and very similar to truffles, but a different consistency. They are popular in Brazil and they get their name after a Brigadier that helped stop a communist coup in Rio.
Our service was excellent. We had their undivided attention…..look for some salsa classes…might be coming soon to Lula Brazil.
Have a great day!!
September 29th, 2014
Tried and true recipes are always found on church cookbooks, school cookbooks, and other organizations. Anyone that likes to cook is a collector of these cookbooks. Having worked on a cookbook myself, it does take time to compile recipes. And, if you forget someone’s favorite recipe, forget it….chaos, and apologies will have to follow.
The Baked Eggplant Casserole recipe that will follow is from the recipe book of The Galleys of Nantucket. This cookbook was published in 1998 and it is now in its 17th edition. I bought Volume II. The Ladies’ Union Circle of The First Congregational Church in Nantucket, MA, are responsible for getting all these wonderful recipes. Many are given by the residents of Nantucket. The ones that don’t have any names are recipes used by the islanders; they just don’t know where the recipes came from.
I was reading the book and it does have great recipes. One, that was so simple, caught my attention and I think is perfect for Meatless Monday; a day of the week when maybe you might just want to leave meat aside. Really, it can be done any day, you know what I mean.
The recipe could be made gluten free by using gluten free barbecue sauce, and bread crumbs. These ingredients are easily found in any grocery store.
BAKED EGGPANT CASSEROLE
1 (1 1/2 lb.) eggplant
1/2 cup bottled barbecue sauce (your choice)
1 tablespoon instant minced onions
2 large tomatoes ( I used smaller tomatoes, therefore, I needed more than 2.)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
2 tablespoons melted butter or margarine
1/2 cup fine dry bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.
Peel eggplant and dice into 1 1/2 inch cubes.
Cook 10 minutes in boiling, and salted water. Drain.
Mix barbecue sauce and onion together. Let it stand 5 minutes. While waiting, slice the tomatoes.
Fold sauce mixture, eggplant, garlic and parsley. Looks messy, doesn’t it. It is pretty good. You’ll see.
Spoon 1/3 of the mixture into a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish. Top with a layer of half of the tomato slices. Repeat, ending with a layer of eggplant.
Mix butter, bread crumbs and cheese.
Sprinkle over eggplant.
Bake for about 45 minutes and until it browns a bit on top.
Serve and enjoy!!
Note: You can easily double this recipe. It can be used as a main dish with other veggies on the side. The recipe really surprised me. It tasted so good. If you like eggplant, this one is a winner. You might want to double it if you have hearty eaters in your household.
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.
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