LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Eating Out: Affordable (and tasty) Dinners at Cafe Sole |
Many of you already know about the great lunches found at Caf Sol (located in Mariners Square at Baltimore Avenue), and if you need a caterer, chef Lauren Cox always comes to mind. Now, you can also enjoy dinner at Caf Sol as well. For the past few weeks Lauren and crew have been open for dinner on the weekends, and now that summer is in full swing they will be open every night. Starting the July 4th weekend, the caf will also have its liquor license, so you'll be able to enjoy your favorite beverage with your meal. Between the lunch crowd and dinner, the cafe is transformed with seat covers and table cloths and candles to create a very cozy space to not only eat but watch the Baltimore Avenue street traffic through the big picture windows. We started with two appetizers, both delicious and fresh. The spinach and artichoke dip was served with warm fresh baguette slices. Full of big chunks of artichoke and lots of spinach, it was served warm with just enough grated parmesan and olive oil to bind the fresh ingredients into a light and fabulous starter. We also had bruschetta topped with roasted vegetables (you can also get it with tomato, garlic and basil), and it was also outrageous. The thin julienne of roasted marinated vegetables included zucchini, yellow squash, portabella mushrooms, and roasted red peppers. Konrad has been raving about their spinach salad for monthshe often has them for lunchand we split one so that I could see what all the fuss was about. He was right! It's served with freshly sauteed portabella mushrooms and roasted red peppers with feta cheese and a warm vinaigrette that blends great flavors and textures into a spectacular salad. The entree part of the menu is still evolving, with Lauren adding to it through the summer. Not that she has to. It's rather complete with pasta, chicken, pork, seafood, and beef. We both went for seafood, Konrad ordering salmon fillet glazed with a soy and sesame sauce, while I ordered jumbo lump crab cakes with no filler. And no filler indeed! These were large and intense crab cakes just as advertisedhuge lumps of crab, served with a choice of sauces. They came with baby green beans and carrots with perfectly sauteed red potatoes. The salmon, fresh and light, was a beautiful piece of fish with sesame seeds and a wonderful glaze, done to perfection, served with a rice medley and the same fresh vegetables. Somehow, no matter how full I am and how much I am trying to lose weight, I can never pass up dessert. I am convinced I am channeling my grandmother, so I blame it all on her. So she made me order the pecan tartletplenty big to share, big enough even to just be called a tart. It's everything a pecan tart is supposed to be. Warm and gooey, sweet and rich with syrupy pecans and a flaky crust, with a dip of chocolate-sauce-covered ice cream on top. Caf Sol is a much needed addition to Rehoboth's casual and "more affordable" dining. The menu is also available for take out, so whether you're eating there or taking it home with you, check it out soon! |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 10, No. 8, June 30, 2000. |