It’s Great for More Than Once In A Blue Moon!
Rehoboth’s legendary Blue Moon has been my go-to place for celebrations for more than 20 of its more than 30 years and my birthday this year was no exception.
We enjoyed a delectable brunch on a sunny Sunday along Baltimore Avenue, marveling at the expertise of chef Lion Gardner.
Frankly, any meal that starts out with warm cranberry scones (and crème fraiche) is a winner, but we had the audacity to add two orders of blueberry beignets for the five of us. Being a fan of the Big Easy, I gobble them up in New Orleans and try them everywhere else they appear on menus—mostly to disappointing results. Not so chef Lion’s beignets. They were perfectly light and expertly covered in powdered sugar. Great beginnings. One order would have sated all five of us, but nooo, we had to gobble through two orders!
I was in a steak and eggs ($18) kind of mood on my birthday, ordering the scrambled eggs, moist and not over-cooked, with a tender, rare sirloin. Wonderfully prepared and seasoned, the dish was perfect in its simplicity. Three of us made that great choice.
Our table of brunchers also sampled the Eggs Benedict on a cheddar-chive biscuit with smoked salmon ($16), highlighted by a delicious Hollandaise sauce, arugula, and a lively potato hash. One adventurous diner ordered the Italian sausage casserole ($15) with fennel, tomato, white beans, peppers, and mozzarella. It had a great kick and was a terrific way to launch a Sunday.
Just to be thorough (I didn’t want to say gluttonous), I also ordered a side of house-smoked bacon ($3) and loved it. Of course, we toasted the day with Mimosas or House recipe Bloody Marys at $5 each.
By that time, we were all so seriously over-indulged that I could not even think about ordering the legendary Moon Pie, despite it being my birthday. We sampled three small scoops of house-made ice cream, with the vanilla and strawberry being absolutely delicious…but the peanut butter ice cream getting a nod for being absolutely astonishingly delicious— best ever!
As usual, the ambiance at the Blue Moon was warm and welcoming and the service impeccable. Our server, Leah Beach, did a lovely job—and I promised to remind readers that she will be having a showing of her photographs (of the Blue Moon Drag Queens, no less) Saturday, July 12 from 6-9 p.m. next door at the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center.
No article on the Blue Moon can be complete without raving about Executive Chef Lion Gardiner, a food artist from the small town of Wawa, PA, who began working in kitchens to earn his way through high school and college. Lion first came to Rehoboth in 1997, first as sous chef at Eden, working several other places, then returning to Eden as Executive Chef until he transferred to the Blue Moon in the fall of 2006. Clearly, the Blue Moon is home.
In addition to their spectacular brunches, the Blue Moon is open seven nights a week for dinner and has a bustling bar and nightlife to beat the band. From entertainer Pamala Stanley performing at happy hour, to the hilarious drag shows on Friday nights and local and national artists performing in between, The Blue Moon is a dining and entertainment hub anchoring Baltimore Avenue.