Memorial Day weekend may be the traditional start of the summer at the beach. but anyone who lives in coastal Sussex County knows the highways are crowded most of the year. Nevertheless, beach restaurants are gearing up for an onslaught. According to the tourism group Visit Southern Delaware, dining is the leading visitor activity along the coast, surpassing the allure …
Javier Acuna took a risk in 2016 when he opened Del Pez Mexican Gastropub on the Wilmington Riverfront. At the time, customers seeking Latin flavors wanted straightforward tacos, enchiladas and fajitasâthe cuisine they ordered at Acunaâs Santa Fe Mexican Grill in Newark and Wilmington. But Del Pez is about creative flavors, artful plating and the interplay of ingredients, an approach …
It is a regional debate that has lasted for generationsâwhich restaurant has the best cheesesteak? After meeting a date at Claymont Cheese Steak in Claymont, Jim Pappas took that question to heart. She shared his love of Philadelphiaâsâand therefore Delawareâsâiconic sandwich, and they decided to ask friends and family to reveal their favorite spots. An Uber driver, Pappas also began …
Tom Craft doesnât stray far from the kitchen. The co-founder of 2 Fat Guys American Grill in Hockessin is a full-time culinary arts instructor at Delcastle Technical High School. Consequently, he has summers off. Since partner Jeff Cook handles the restaurantâs on-site operations, Craft wanted a productive part-time gig, which, of course, involves food. Introducing  a surprising twist on the traditional slice. …
It’s holiday pop-up season, and celebrants can never get enough holly, bells and elves. But festive dĂ©cor is no longer limited to malls and retail stores. Restaurants are also sprinkling holiday cheer in their communities. Jingle Bar at Grain Craft Bar + Kitchen Last year, the holiday theme was limited to the Delaware Avenue restaurantâs rear patio, which has an …
From now until New Yearâs Day, many revelers will throw calories to the wind, and thereâs no better place to indulge than Bardea Steak, which recently launched a chefâs tasting menu that is perfect for holiday diningâand Valentineâs Day. The downtown Wilmington restaurant, located next to the critically acclaimed Bardea Food & Drink, offers the multicourse menu for $150 per person. (Add …
Delawareans love their coffee, and now they have more ways to enjoy it, from specialty mugs to creative concoctions. But thatâs not all the restaurant buzz this week. Bob Dylan is the inspiration for a wine dinner, and we revisit Bar Reverie in Greenville. Changing of the chef We recently noted the chef change at Bar Reverie in Greenville. Steve …
LaTisha Dismuke is a fan of the Food Network show âChopped.â  On each episode, contestants prepare an appetizer, entree and dessert using the showâs ingredientsâno matter how odd. âAdaptability is a big deal,â noted Dismuke, owner of A Taste of Jazz, a Millsboror catering company that combines her culinary talent with her musical abilities. (She will play the saxophone on …
In the early 1990s, brewpubs were an anomaly in Delawareâhard as that is to believe. Then Stewartâs Brewing Co. in Bear, Dogfish Head Brewery & Eats in Rehoboth Beach and Brandywine Brewing Co. in Greenville quickly opened. (The latter has since closed.) Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant was the tortoise in the local race, owing to the lack of available space. …
The dining scene has been so active in August that autumn promises to bring more openings, closings, fundraisers and special events. This week, menus have expanded, new eateries opened, and a brewpub pays tribute to a beloved member of the hospitality industry. On Saturday, Aug. 26, Stitch House Brewery will hold the second FrankaPalooza to honor director of operations Frank âThe Tankâ Kaszeta, …
