LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Eating Out |
by Barry Becker |
A cozy evening at Celsius As we head into the alleged "off season" and restaurants close for a time, it was a nice find to check out CELSIUS (50-C Wilmington Avenue), which delightfully combines space, color and decor to create a perfect ambiance in which to enjoy fine dining. From the comfortable covered chairs to the lace curtains, from the reds, blues, creams and greens of the walls and floor, to the artful array of seating space and styles, it's a wonderfully intimate setting. As always, when two people who will eat almost anything (well, I draw the line at Brussel sprouts and potted meat products) sit down and are faced with a fabulous menu, where to start? The boneless quail appetizer sounded heavenly, stuffed with wild rice and foie gras and truffles, and so did the steamed mussels. But we opted for the special of the day, Wild Mushroom Purses, and the soup of the day, which was pumpkin. The purses were dainty miniature raviolis that looked like little purses and tasted of the deep woods, stuffed with wild mushrooms, with rosemary, truffles, and a sprinkling of parmesan in a light sauce that was divine and rich. The pumpkin soup was perfect for an autumn evening, thick, spicy and tasty, topped with oversized croutons. Konrad and I were both in a carnivorous mood, so red meat was our choice of the evening, though we could just as easily have decided on the Pacific salmon topped with crab and shrimp in a champagne sauce, or the honey roasted maple leaf duck. Konrad went for the pan seared venison with xeres vinegar, which was thinly sliced pieces of venison fanned out across the plate in a wonderful brown sauce. The meat was tender and oh-so-delicious, served with a melange of perfect vegetables which included carrots, onions, red and green peppers, eggplant and squash. A thinly sliced potato finished off the plate, which was delicious, and artfully presented. I opted for the Provencale rubbed rack of lamb in rosemary and garlic jus. Wonderful! All those little lamb chops were lined up around one end of the plate, each done to perfection, in a delectable sauce of rosemary and garlic. I also had the potato and vegetable arrangement, which was a perfect accompaniment to the meat. For dessert, we opted to split a creme brulee, though the other selections also sounded like they would be worth a trip back, including the Vermont apple and walnut cake, and caramelized rice pudding. But creme brulee is one of my favorites, the combination of the crusty topping and drizzles of chocolate a great ending to a heavy meal. Celsius is also, like many area restaurants, offering a special night on New Year's Eve. There is a 6-course seating for $65, and a second 7-course seating for $99. Choices include Beef Wellington with wild mushrooms and stuffed salmon with crab, shrimps and scallops in a shrimp and caviar sauce, with chocolate mousse martinis with Godiva chocolate liqueur. Celsius is located at 50-C Wilmington Avenue in Rehoboth Beach. Call 302-227-5767 for reservations. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 9, No. 15, Nov. 24, 1999 |