Try As You May, You Cannot Beat the Beach Brunch
They don’t call us the culinary coast for nothing.
The 14th Annual Celebrity Chefs’ Beach Brunch was, once again, truly magnificent.
When you can sample food from so many area chefs at one brunch and do it all to benefit Meals on Wheels, how can it not be spectacular?
And if you missed the event at the Rusty Rudder in Dewey this year, take note. Make plans now to attend next year and get your culinary adventure on.
From the minute we walked into the Rudder you could feel the energy and enjoy the wafting aromas.
First, we hit the Bloody Mary bar, well, just because…and started on our way.
I tried to take notes, but juggling the iPhone along with my drink and a small plastic plate was impossible. So, I pocketed the phone, and set about dining, drinking, and socializing.
As best as I can remember, here’s my gastronomic trail:
We started with a delicious Scotch Egg with Chorizo from Georgetown’s Brick Hotel, followed by tender and juicy Spicy Beef Cheek from Bramble & Brine, then awesome chicken liver from, oh, I am so sorry, I cannot remember which clever kitchen did it so well!
To keep environmental damage down I started to lick my plastic fork clean between courses, rather than throw away all that plasticware. While the chefs kept making exquisite little portions on small plastic plates, I asked them to double up on plates already festooned with samples—making, by the way, for some amazing combinations. For instance, Palate Bistro’s flawlessly prepared salmon with a green goddess dressing was a great companion to the Cajun pasta from Blackwall Hitch.
Meanwhile, at the (A)muse table, Chef Hari, who, dare I say never fails to amuse, treated us to a delectable cauliflower soup and a thoroughly grownup grilled cheese sandwich.
From there, it was more seafood, with deviled eggs topped generously with crab, along with a divine lobster bisque sample—all this from Salt Air.
After socializing with some of the sponsors, like Gwen and Katie from Signarama, the generous Prosecco donors from Outlet Liquors, and local heroes like Dr. Sarah Curtis from RB Animal Hospital, and real estate royalty Bette and Sal Gallo, it was time to contemplate another cocktail.
At this point I had to forsake the Bloody Marys—the vodka doesn’t get me, the tomato juice does! So it was over to a table offering Fuzzy’s Vodka. Yum.
Dear readers, from that point on, I got slightly fuzzy myself and cannot remember specific goodies or specific chefs. Suffice it to say that I had my fill, tried not to be tempted by the copious desserts (okay, I had a cupcake) and wish to thank all those restaurants I love but did not get the chance to mention directly. For their hard work and donations, here’s to Big Fish, Café on 26, Baywood, Crooked Hammock, Crust and Craft, Dogfish Head, Eden, Fins, Fork & Flask at Nage, Gary’s, Grandpa (MAC), Henlopen Oyster House, Jam Bistro, Java Jukebox, Jimmy’s, and the Rudder itself. Apologies if I missed any of the wonderful organizations which donated to make this event fun for us and profitable for Meals on Wheels.
Then it was more socializing with the likes of CAMP Treasurer Natalie Moss, along with girlfriend Evelyn Maurmeyer, local celebrity Michael Sprouse with his partner George Thomasson, and the sparkling twosome Jen Rubenstein and Diane Scobey. And instead of chatting with her from behind a bar, we got to have a real visit, in public, with bartending superstar Ginger Breneman and her wife Courtney Rice.
And, just before our exit from the marvelous event, we got our picture taken with Tony Burns…not by Tony Burns, but with Tony. Now there’s a switch!
Seriously, thanks to all the sponsors, like CAMP Rehoboth, Delaware Beach Life, DJ Nan, WBOC, and all the others who made this event possible.
I have more fun at this gig every year. Now let’s all go out and support the wonderful restaurants who donated their time, energy, and culinary skills to the Celebrity Chefs’ Beach Brunch. We are so lucky to be here on the Culinary Coast.