November 20th, 2012

Dining, Shopping, Entertainment, Thanksgiving, Rehoboth Beach, Christmas Tree Lighting, Visit Santa’s House, Moonlight Shopping…There is a Turducken in My Fridge, Delaware Beaches

My Thanksgiving Turducken arrived today.  Some years it comes for Christmas…I am glad it came early.  I have been getting turduckens for years.  I have also tried different companies.  My favorite is from a company in Louisiana called Cajun Grocer.  They have them available online at http://www.cajungrocer.com.

A turducken is a partially deboned turkey, stuffed with chicken and duck.  In between the layers, you will be surprised to find stuffing; different choices for you to pick from.  All are on the website.  Having someone in my family that needs to eat gluten free, I decided to call them.  This year their gluten free turducken is the one with a stuffing of Cajun style veggies; onions, bell peppers and Cajun seasonings.

Turducken, 2011

The idea is that as once you cut the turducken, you will be able to have a taste of the 3 meats, plus the stuffing.  The turducken is so good, easy to prepare and, definitely, a conversation piece.

Turducken, 2011

If you are visiting Rehoboth Beach, or decided that this year you are going on strike and not cooking, then, check out the restaurants that will be open on Thanksgiving Day.  Please call them for verification.  You never know what could change unexpectedly.

Big Fish Grill – Thanksgiving Dinner Buffet from 11:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m.  Also a la carte menu will be available.  Big Fish Grill is located at 20298 Coastal Highway. Website?  http://www.bigfishgrill.com

Just in Thyme – They will be opening from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m.  Location? Highway 1 & Robinsons Drive.  Reservations? 302-227-3100.  Website?  http://www.justinthymerestaurant.com

Captain’s Table – Located at 20859 Coastal Highway.  Opening from 12 until 6 p.m.  Reservations are required. Tel. 302-227-6203

Saketumi – Thanksgiving Buffet.  Location?  18814 Coastal Highway.  Tel. 302-645-2818

Dos Locos – Serving Thanksgiving Dinner from Noon until 8 p.m.  Location?  208 Rehoboth Avenue.  Tel. 302-227-3353  Website?  http://www.doslocos.com

Cafe a Go-Go – located at 102 Rehoboth Avenue.  Tel. 302-227-1099.  Opening until 3 p.m.

Summer House – Opening from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. for Thanksgiving Dinner.  Located at 228 Rehoboth Avenue.  Late night menu available from 8 p.m. until closing.  Website? http://www.summerhousesaloon.com

Purple Parrot – Opening from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. for Thanksgiving Dinner.  Located at 134 Rehoboth Avenue. Tel. 302-226-1139.

Rigby’s – Located at 404 Rehoboth Avenue.  Opening from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m.  Reservations required. Tel. 302-227-6068.  Website?  http://www.rigbysrehoboth.com

Zebra – Located at 32 Lake Avenue.  Opening for dinner.  Tel. 302-226-1160.

Blue Moon – Located at 35 Baltimore Avenue.  Opening for dinner from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m.  Reservations are required. Tel. 302-227-6515.   Website?  http://www.bluemoonrehoboth.com

Root Gourmet – Located at 19724 Coastal Highway. Pick up orders.  Tel. 302-727-5664.  Website?  http://www.rootgourment.com

After Thanksgiving Dinner…..you are probably not moving to fast.  Well, it is time to get into the Holiday Spirit and join the many visitors and residents that make it a tradition to do some serious shopping at the Rehoboth Beach outlets.  It is called Moonlight Shopping starting at 10:00 p.m. at the Tanger Outlets.

Okay…what time do you think you might want to start shopping?  There are savings passes depending at what time you decide to shop.  On Thursday, 11/22 – 11?23, from 10 p.m. until 3 a.m. you can save 20%.  But, if you arrive on Friday, 11/23 from 3 a.m. until 6 a.m., you can save 30%.  All you do is go on http://www.tangeroutlet.com/rehoboth and download the passes.

Friday, 11/23 – Downtown Rehoboth Beach Holiday Tree Lighting & Sing along.  Starting at 6 p.m.  It is a tradition to be at the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand to see the tree, sing, and enjoy a beautiful evening.  Downtown Rehoboth Beach is ready for the 2012 Holiday Season!!

The Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk is decorated with the perfect holiday decorations for the beach.

Visit Santa’s House on the Boardwalk at the end of Rehoboth Avenue.  Stop by and tell Santa what you are wishing for Christmas.  The hours are:

Friday, 11/23 – 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Saturday, 11/24 – 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, 11/25 – 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Saturday, 12/1 – 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, 12/2 – 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Saturday, 12/8 – 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, 12/9 – 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Saturday, 12/15 – 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, 12/16 – 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Saturday, 12/22 – 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, 12/23 – 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.   Note:  From 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m….Pet Time with Santa!!

Friday, 11/23 – Clear Space Theatre Company’s Holiday Show…”A Christmas Carol”.  The popularity of Charles Dickens beloved book of 1843!!  Reservations have begun at the box office, located at 20 Baltimore Avenue.  Tel. 302-227-2270.  One additional matinee has been added for December 6th at 11 a.m.

Online ticket purchasing at http://www.clearspacetheatre.org, under the heading Purchase Tickets.  Group rates are also available.

Saturday, 11/24 – 3rd Huffin’ for Pumpkin Pie 5K & 1M Fun Walk-Grove Park – Right before the Circle behind the Visitors Center.  7:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.  This is the 3rd Annual; 3.1 mile scenic course on the north side of Rehoboth Beach.  Visit http://www.seashorestriders.com.  More info?  Call 302-644-8952.

Saturday, 11/24 – Rehoboth Beach Farmers’ Holiday Market from Noon until 3 p.m.  Your favorite vendors will be there.  Pick up holiday decorations and goodies.  More info?  Please visit http://www.rbfarmersmarket.com.

Have a Great Holiday Week-End!!

November 28th, 2010

Turducken 2010, Cajun Grocer, Louisiana, Review

Last week I wrote a post about a Turducken.  I like trying something new from time to time and the first time I cooked one of these was back in 2006.  I later bought one from a grocery store and it was really not good.

The company that I have used in the past and is the one I recommend is Cajun Grocer.  This company is from LaFayette, Louisiana.  Their website is www.cajungrocer.com.  In the website you can find all kinds of information about their Turduckens and about so many of the other products they sell. 

This Turducken had a thin layer of creole pork stuffing between the layers of meat.  They offered 3 gluten free Turduckens and I chose the one with the pork stuffing.  It is not that the Turduckens are any different if they are gluten free; the stuffing is gluten free.

It turned out delicious.  I do think that it takes longer to cook than what they recommend; another hour or so.  It probably depends on your oven. 

So here are the pictures of before and after.

And my side dishes turned pretty good, as well, if I may say so myself.

The Spinach Gratin

The Baked Mashed Potatoes

The Sweet Potatoes with Fried Apples

I talked so much about this Turducken that friends, family and acquaintances were curious of the outcome.

So now, what would I try next?  The Quaducant; Quail, Duck and Pheasant.  It is breast meat of quail stuffed with breast meat from a duck and then stuffed into a deboned pheasant. 

For Christmas?  You bet…see you and talk to you later…

November 18th, 2010

Turducken, Turkey, Thanksgiving, Delaware Beaches

The doorbell rang today and I was so surprised to receive my Turducken so fast.  You see from time to time I like a little variety for my Thanksgiving dinner.

About four years or so ago I cooked my first Turducken.  I heard about it from friends and immediately ordered it from a company in Louisiana.  I love Cajun food and The Cajun Grocer is located in Lafayette, Louisiana.  Their website is www.cajungrocer.com. The tel. is 888-272-9347.  I have even given it as presents for the holidays; besides being delicious, it is also a conversation piece. 

Cajun cuisine is the rustic cuisine of Louisiana with locally available ingredients; so many culinary influences are detected in cajun dishes.

If you don’t like turkey, chicken or duck then you will probably be bored to tears with this post.

And, what is a Turducken?  It is a semi-boneless turkey that is stuffed with a deboned chicken or hen, that is also stuffed with a deboned duck breast. 

A layer of Cajun dressing is placed between each bird.  The juices from the duck and the creole pork stuffing (the one I ordered) will really add flavor to the turkey.

Since the turkey is semi-boneless, you can slice it in such a way that you get the advantage of the 3 meats.  Slice it like you are slicing meatloaf. 

The Cajun Grocer has a variety of stuffings.  Of course, this year, I sent them an e-mail because I wanted to know which Turduckens were gluten-free.  They immediately informed me that they had 3; the seafood, the vegetable and the creole pork.  I chose the pork.  It is now in my freezer and 48 hours prior to cooking I will defrost it in the refrigerator.  I will just have to plan what side dishes to add this year.

Check the www.cajungrocer.com because they have so many other foods available for immediate shipping; gumbo, gulf shrimp, boudin, crawfish and so much more.  Recipes are also available and even music. 

Yes, Zydeco which is Cajun and Creole music combined from Southwest Louisiana.  It is quite good.

I am looking forward to Thanksgiving this year.  I like to be home on such a special day; to give thanks for everything we have.  I like a gray day; windy and cold.

I have had Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant and really did not enjoy it at all.  It’s just not the same. 

So, Turducken vs. Turkey?  It is just a matter of taste…and who’s coming for dinner.

The other thing I will enjoy doing this year, on Friday or Saturday, after Thanksgiving is going to the Artists Studio Tour in southeastern Sussex County; the towns of Bethany Beach, Ocean View, Frankford, and Dagsboro.  Both days from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

This is the 16th Annual Artists Studio Tour, which is a self guided tour of the studios of 15 of Delaware’s most talented artists and artisans.  They graciously open their studios to the public and are there for you to ask questions and see what they are all about.

For more information, please visit www.artstudiotour.com. 

Have a good one!!….Talk to you later…