A Week of Heaven

Who was in on Rehoboth Restaurant Week last year? Let’s say it was nothing short of a who’s who, and it was such a rousing success, it’s back. Restaurant Week 2013 will happen June 2-8. Hit your favorite participating place for a delicious prix fixe dinner of $20 or $30 for three courses. From Italian to Irish to Asian, Latin and something in between—not to mention vegetarian and cutting-edge fare—there’s something for everyone. This year’s line-up isn’t final yet, but expect many return places from last year. They include Adriatico Ristorante & Cafe, a(MUSE.), é, Blue Moon, Cabo Modern Mexican Tequila Bar, Café Azafran, Catchers, Corner Grille, Cultured Pearl, Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, Dos Locos Fajita & Stonegrill Restaurant, Eden Restaurant, Espuma, Hobo’s Restaurant & Bar, Irish Eyes Pub & Restaurant, Jake’s Seafood House, Jam Bistro, Lupo di Mare, Mariachi Restaurant, MIXX, Pig & Fish Restaurant, Planet X Café, Ristorante Zebra, Rigby’s Bar & Grill, Salt Air, Stingray Sushi Bar & Latin Fusion Grill, Stoney Lonen, Summer House and Victoria’s Restaurant. Then keep your eyes on the website for more as the event nears. For more, call 227-2772, or hit downtownrehoboth.com/downtown-happenings/restaurant-week.htm.

This Will Spin Your Wheels

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Your Insider will be among the first to trumpet Meals from the Masters to benefit Meals on Wheels Delaware. This year it happens April 19 and April 21, and the deets are trickling in. So far: Evening With The Masters kicks off the weekend on April 19 at The Doubletree Wilmington Downtown. Sample delicious food prepared by top local and regional chefs from Amis in Philadelphia, Caffé Gelato in Newark, Desserts by Dana in New Castle, La Fia, Ulysses American Gastropub in North Wilmington and more. New this year: a tented craft beer garden where you can enjoy hand-crafted brews from Delaware’s 16 Mile Brewery, Dogfish Head Brewery, and Twin Lakes Brewery, as well as regional favorites such as Evolution Craft Brewing Company and Yards Brewing Company—with special surprises provided by the beer connoisseurs at Two Stones Pub and NKS Distributing. “We look forward to this weekend of events every year and know our supporters do as well,” says Mari Considine, executive director for Meals on Wheels Delaware. “A new venue for the brunch and a craft beer garden for the evening are just a few of the exciting changes our guests have to look forward to.” Chaddsford Winery, Standard Distributing in New Castle and United Distributors of Delaware in New Castle are just a few of the vendors providing wine and spirits for the evening. The Ninth annual Cellar Masters’ Wine Auction will also be held on April 19 at the Doubletree Downtown. Moro Restaurant, Moore Brother’s Wine Co. and Prestige Beverage Group will provide premium wines and gourmet hors d’oeuvres. The 16th annual Celebrity Chefs’ Brunch on April 21 at The Hercules Plaza in Downtown Wilmington lets you taste dishes created by international and nationally celebrated chefs, including Norman Aitken from Juniper Restaurant and Wine Bar in Canada, Food Network Canada host, Michael Blackie, “Iron Chef” contestant Kurt Boucher, 2012 James Beard semi-finalist Jay Caputo of Rehoboth’s Espuma and Cabo, Dana Cree from Food Network’s “No Reservations,” Francois Gagnon from “Top Chef Canada,” James Beard Rising Star Rick Gresh of American Cuisine, 2009 James Beard nominee Bruce Moffett, Davide Pugliese from the British Virgin Islands and more. Meals On Wheels Delaware works with five meal-providing agencies and thousands of volunteers from corporations, civic, religious and community groups to provides and deliver meals every day to almost 4,000 homebound seniors. Last year nearly 600,000 meals were delivered throughout the state. You can help just by having fun. Get your tickets soon. Or win a pair from Delaware Today. Go to http://www.delawaretoday.com/Delaware-Today/April-2013/2013-Evening-with-the-Masters-Contest/ and good luck. mealsonwheelsde.org

Sharing is Good

Another event we can’t mention enough: Share Our Strength’s 25th annual Taste of the Nation Dinner April 18 at Harry’s Savoy Ballroom in North Wilmington. This amazing multi-course dinner raises money to combat childhood hunger via the Food Bank of Delaware, the Ministry of Caring and the Claymont Community Center. Guest sommeliers will pour delicious wines while guest chefs from across the country prepare some amazing meals. They include:

Elise Wiggins, executive chef at Panzano, preparing rabbit confit with potato gnocchi, slow-roasted pickled tomato, caramelized leeks and shallots, gorgonzola and fine herbs

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Andy Husbands, chef-owner of Tremont 647 and Sister Sorel in Boston, preparing yellow fin tuna two ways—ginger rare sear and tartar—with crunchy sushi rice and green krack sauce

Kirk Avondoglio, executive chef of Perona Farms in New Jersy, serving pastrami squab with Jewish rye crouton

Jeff Buben, chef-owner of Vidalia in Washington, D.C., preparing Shenandoah lamb loin with curry lamb sausage, fava beans, strawberry jam, pickled rhubarb and voudavon jus

Nathan Rich, executive chef at Lake Placid Lodge, a 2012 Relais and Chateaux Rising Chef Award Winner, will prepare a surprise for the Champagne Reception hors d’oeuvre

Jessi Allen, chef and owner of A Sweet Destination in Claymont, will serve a vanilla-pineapple torte with strawberry glaze, white chocolate coconut crunch and buttermilk-mint gelato

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We can’t wait. For your reservation, call Harry’s at 475-3000. harrys-savoy.com

Belly Up

Brunch is the meal where you eat for two—parts of the day, that is. Calories rarely count. The urge to indulge also comes from the meal’s social aspect. “Whether it’s after church, before church or with family, out-of-town guests or friends, it’s the way to end the weekend right or start the new week right,” says Stephen Cobb, food and beverage director at the Boardwalk Plaza in Rehoboth Beach. There’s no better way to please a table of appetites than to belly up to a buffet. “You can have a little bit of this and a little bit of that,” says Jeff Robinson, director of sales at Deerfield, a golf course, grill and special event venue in Newark. The process might take all day at Deerfield, whose Sunday buffet covers more than 111 feet of space in the 10,000-square-foot ballroom. The raw bar is laden with shrimp cocktail, oysters on the half shell, crab claws, smoked fish and sushi. There are salads, poultry, pastries, sausage and home fries. New this year: chili-sugar bacon. Make a stop at the omelet and Belgian waffle stations then satisfy your sweet tooth at the dessert table. Just when you think you can’t eat another bite, sous chef Lauren White will bid you goodbye with warm donughnut holes, packaged as a take-away treat. “It’s a bit of a surprise,” Robinson says. There are plenty of other great places for brunch, and you can find them here. Then check this month’s DT feature for more great info on what to eat for breakfast and where. It’s all part of The Food Lover’s Issue.

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