LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth

It's More Than Edible and More Than Art: It's awesome

I can see you thinking. Well, two (and a half if you count Baez) are lesbians and most are democrats. If you've seen my checkbook it can't be that Suzi Orman and I are both financial gurus. I don't sing, act, do stand-up or make home dcor out of pumpkins and doilies.

I do however enjoy a good meal. And all of the above-mentioned celebs have had the same delicious experience I just hada delectable luncheon prepared by chef Deberah Sutter of Edible Art Foods. You don't know poached salmon until you know Deberah.

From her commercial kitchen at 48 Wilmington Avenue (make that Wonderful Wilmington Avenue) Deberah and her partner Lois Pellegrino have launched Edible Art Foods, a farm to table operation. In a world with a slowly rising consciousness, Edible Art is a green business focused on healthy food that's also cutting edge scrumptious.

Already providing prepared foods at Good 4 You Market on Route 9, as well as other spots in the area, Deberah's mission is to get people eating well and being well. From her catering menus to ready-to-serve meals, Deberah's seeing to it that going healthy has never been so delicious.

As the chef works her magic on the big commercial stove before her, Lois, seated on a stool adjacent to the big stainless steel work counter explains how the pair landed in Rehoboth.

Like many other couples, Deberah and Lois vacationed here and fell in love with Rehoboth's welcoming exuberance and attitude. "We spent a couple of weeks here and then set off on a six-week RV trip," says Lois. It was on that road trip that they decided to leave New York restaurant-owning days behind and "just do it. Move to the beach."

It was a lot to leave behind. Deberah had been owner and chef at the acclaimed Flying Pig Restaurant in Westchester County, N.Y., where the likes of Hill, Bill, and Suzi Orman used to stop by. And she was a much-in-demand celebrity caterer as well. Her recipes won critical raves and she was the talk of the town. Now, after tasting her recipes, I want to make her the talk of this town.

So now Lois, recently retired from a health care career, and Deb have put together a business plan to recreate themselves at the beach with Edible Art Foods. And their business plan is surprising in many ways.

First, their goal is to have their new community of friends in the Rehoboth area eating better. Next, is to build a demand for healthier eating in the community with cooking classes (and their Wilmington Avenue kitchen is a perfect spot for that), and most importantly, they do not believe, as Deberah says, in "sticking people with a fork to get their attention." They plan to get people's attention in less pointed ways by partnering with local non-profits and giving away some of their delectable food so people can get a taste of what Edible Art can do.

To that end, their business plan includes a calendar of events throughout the year where they will be providing complimentary catering. From Rehoboth Main Street (I got to them immediately!) to CAMP Rehoboth, and others, Edible Art will donate their ingredients and services.

"It's what we do," says Deberah. "If you want to get it back, you give it away."

Whether it be catering a dinner party in your home, teaching you to cook, providing you with a healthy box lunch for the beach (after all, their kitchen is a block from the ocean!) or catering a community event for 500 people (artistically presented AND healthy), you'll get to know Edible Art quite quickly.

I did. And believe me, I'm headed back for more.

E-mail Deberah and Lois at Edibleartcater@yahoo.com or call 302-226-0795.

LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 18, No. 01 February 08, 2008