LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Business Beat |
by Barry Becker |
Just when I was finally losing a few of those winter pounds, new restaurants and eateries are popping up all over the place. So far, I havent been eating, Ive just been looking, but I like what Ive seen. In Lewes, A Taste of Heaven Caf (107 Savannah Road) opened a few doors down from their previous locale with an expanded menu that now includes dinner and Sunday Brunch, featuring exotic flavors from around the world. Located in a house built in 1776, the Caf has been beautifully restored by the very imaginative and talented Bill Raney, Jr. Right inside the front door is the cozy dining room, the walls and ceiling painted like the heavens with a deep blue sky and swirling white clouds. Gold leaf covers just about everything else. Elsewhere, faux marble, Southwest decor, beautiful prints, and the creative use of color adds to the ambiance. Even the bathrooms are gorgeous. Youll want to drink lots of water during your meal so you have to excuse yourself from the table a few times and check them out. The front yard is still a work in progress, but will boast an English garden with fountain, and tables on the front porch will seat diners or those waiting for tables inside. The Caf now has a liquor license, and will feature micro brews, an extensive wine list, cordials, and liquors. I could easily have lunch here, go shopping, go back for dinner, and continue this escapade for about a week because the menu items sound mouth watering, and theyre reasonably priced, too. For lunch there are salads as well as inventive sandwiches such as Granny Smith apple and French brie with cilantro mango chutney and greens on a french baguette, turkey salad with sundried cranberries, walnuts and sage dressing, or roasted portabello mushroom in balsamic vinaigrette with chevre, roasted peppers and more on a sun-dried tomato foccacia. For dinner, how about Southwestern cornmeal and cumin rolled pork tenderloin with cilantro pesto, molasses and poppyseed seared salmon fillet, or Bangkok green curry colossal shrimp with toasted coconut fried rice?? YUM! No, double YUM!! (Please, dont anyone tell Fay Jacobs this is open so I can come back and do a food review later this Spring when shes out of town.) A Taste of Heaven is open for lunch Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.; for dinner Thursday through Sunday, 6 - 10 p.m., and for Sunday Brunch from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. (cant wait to try the New Orleans Benedict, with poached eggs over French bread croustades topped with crayfish and cajun hollandaise!) Back in Rehoboth is another new delightful find, the former site of Pierres Pantry, now known simply as The Pantry (First Street and Wilmington Avenue). New owners Nancy Cleveland and Kit Watson just moved to Rehoboth from Minnesota (welcome to town!). Last November they drove through town, their first visit here, and so fell in love with us they decided to buy a business. May you always feel that way! When I visited them on day 2 of being open, Kit was taking down the tattered old Pierres OPEN flag and replacing it with a colorful new banner, signaling a new era. Meanwhile, Nancy and I sat in the window eating warm pumpkin muffins and enjoying a great cup of French Vanilla coffee. With her charming Scottish accent, I could have listened to her all day! For now, some of Pierres old menu remains, but new items will be added as they get situated. Nancy was already making a pot of 5-bean organic chili for lunch. Theyll serve bagels and muffins and other great breakfast treats, as well as offer an extensive lunch menu and desserts and lite fare for later in the day. Talking with Nancy reminded me again how wonderful this task of mine is covering local businesses. Meeting new people, listening to their visions, getting re-energized from their energy, and making new friends has been a staple of these dozens and dozens of visits. "We live in this community, and we want to be involved and a part of it,"says Nancy. They hope to really create some energy and events in their space, so its up to us to respond. Starting Tuesday, April 6, at 7 p.m. will be Cribbage Night. They plan to launch an amateur night, where you can go and sing, read poetry, perform comedy, play an instrument or whatever else you want to share. There will be games out to play, as well as a Bingo night and a suggestion box for other ideas you would like to see happen there. Also in the works is the set up of what Nancy calls "a mini cyber cafe," consisting of two ports for lap top computer connections, as well as 2 computers with a printer for people to use. Cool! The Pantry is open Sunday through Thursday , 7 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Friday and Saturday opens at 7 a.m. and closes when the streets are empty. There are still many new exciting business changes in the works which I will cover in the next issue. With all this change going on, I have heard many amazing and amusing rumors of who bought what and whos moving where. Sometimes Ive even been forced to put my hands on my hips and demand "Wherever did you hear such a tale?" I guess its still the off-season, we need something to talk about. But just remember, dear readers, if you havent read about it here first, its probably just another rumor! |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 8, No. 2, March 13, 1998. |