Sips and Bites
For years we’ve heard that the best place for an authentic Baltimore crab cake is at Woody’s in Dewey. My wife Bonnie, an authentic Baltimore native shied away, knowing that the best place for an authentic Baltimore crab cake was, well, Baltimore. But we finally gave in and gave Woody’s Dewey Beach Bar & Grill a try. Three cheers! The crabcake is all crabmeat, with a ghost of filler, appropriately seasoned with Old Bay and absolutely scrumptious. While you may not be overlooking Fell’s Point like at John Stevens LTD, or in a cozy wooden booth like the late lamented Obrykies, close your eyes and taste Bawlmer, Hon. (and the homemade chips are great too).
Have you checked out Michy’s Relaxed Dining yet, in the Food Lion Shopping Center off Route One? It’s a casual atmosphere, but with deliciously upscale cuisine. We just sampled a bit, but I can heartily recommend the tangy, chili dusted Calamari—large appetizer portion, too. And the horseradish crusted salmon, lightly cooked, almost tartare, just the way I love it, was divine.
Now here’s something different. Pair the calamari with their Pickle Dilly Martini…vodka and pickle brine with a great big pickle slice…think dirty martini, but pickle not olive. Daring and delicious.
Tasting Tuesday is back at the Blue Moon where you can have three courses with wine pairings for $40…of course, the service is exquisite and I have to give a shout out for the appetizer squash soup, which was almost a meal in itself. Go take a taste and savor the experience.
Here’s an idea that I know sounds outlandish. Went to a party and, along with the red wine I was drinking I indulged in a guilty pleasure—a Halloween Peep. The combination, unlike what you are thinking, was pretty awesome. And I’m sure there will be holiday peeps to follow, be it Santa or a dreidle.
We tried to visit Agave in Lewes, twice recently, but there were long waits each time (it’s THAT good). In both instances we wound up across Second Street at The Rose & Crown, the upscale British pub in the Hotel Rodney. Not a consolation prize by any means, the draft choices are many and the menu pairs perfectly.
I like the history factor, too. For years, the Rose & Crown was an iconic Lewes landmark restaurant along Second Street. Current owner and chef Jay Caputo reopened the place just a little further down the block. He kept the English Pub ambiance but added the warmth of reclaimed wood from an old Philadelphia Church. The result is warm and inviting, plus a little more upscale menu and lots and lots of craft beer.
Speaking of craft beer, we learned all about our hometown hero Sam Calagione when we rode to Milton and took the Dogfish Head brewery tour recently. It’s fun!
Now we remember Sam when he was just opening on Rehoboth Avenue and brewing up his beer there behind the bar. What a difference almost 20 years has made!
The Milton Brewery, bottling facility and craft beer campus is enormous and endlessly fascinating. Did you know that Dogfish was the first to brew the now-ubiquitous Pumpkin Ale? Did you know that the campus sports an enormous metal Steam Punk treehouse with its own story? Bellying up to the bar before and after the tour for sampling was a blast, too.
After careful consideration, my favorite Dogfish Head beer taste was a tie between Old School (very potent at 13% alcohol!) and Noble Rot, a hybrid of beer and wine.
Go visit. The beer is great, the gift shop rocks and the whole place is vibrant and off-centered (as Sam proudly exclaims). Congrats to our local entrepreneur Sam!