Masterful
This is one of the events we look forward to most every year: Meals From the Masters April 20 and April 22, which benefits Meals on Wheels of Delaware. The weekend includes Evening with the Masters on Friday and the Celebrity Chefs’ Brunch on Sunday. Oenophiles will enjoy the Cellar Masters’ Wine Auction. Evening with the Masters—hosted by “MasterChef” Season 2 winner Jennifer Behm of Wilmington—happens at the Doubletree Downtown this year. You’ll enjoy meals from some of the state’s best restaurants. The brunch—now in its 15th year—happens at Bank of America, 1100 N. King St. You’ll sample foods from chefs who have traveled from the West Coast, Hawaii, and the rest of the country to join local luminaries like Jay Caputo of Rehoboth Beach. Tickets are available now. Hit mealsfromthemasters.com.
Another Terrific Event—and it Lasts All Week
City Restaurant Week in Wilmington, one of the best dining bargains going. This year enjoy it April 23-28 at any of 14 participating restaurants:
Big Fish Grill, Firestone Roasting House, Harry’s Seafood Grill and Ubon Thai Cuisine on the riverfront
Chelsea Tavern, Ernest & Scott Taproom, Orillas Tapas Bar Restaurant and World Café Live on Market Street
Cafe Mezzanotte, Deep Blue Bar and Grill, Domaine Hudson Wine Bar & Eatery, The Green Room at the Hotel du Pont, Mikimotos Asian Grill & Sushi Bar, Washington Street Ale House in the cluster from 11th to 13th streets, Market to Washington
What are you in for? Your Insider snuck a peek at one menu, chosen at random. Here are your dinner options at Chelsea Tavern (choose one at each course):
First Course
Dom’s chicken and sausage gumbo
Local Asparagus and crispy pork belly with champagne vinaigrette
Crab, avocado, tomato and frisee salad with crispy wontons
Main Course
Jamaican Rundown—seafood stewed with coconut over Caribbean rice
Chelsea’s homemade meatloaf with buttered beans, garlic mashed potatoes, brown ale gravy
Taste of Spring—fresh spring vegetables tossed with quinoa and finished with a tobacco Hollandaise
Sweet Course
Lemon sorbet with fresh berries, whipped ricotta, aged balsamic drizzle and crispy phyllo dough
Root-iced vanilla cupcake with a mini-root beer float
Sweet tea panna cotta
And Chelsea charges just $30 a person. (That doesn’t include drinks or tip.) Prices vary by restaurant, but no matter which you choose, it’s a deal—and a treat. To see all restaurants and all menus, hit cityrestaurantweek.com.
Beer, Beer, Beer
Here are the Fordham Brewing Co. brews: Copperhead Ale, Helles Lager, Tavern Ale, Spiced Harvest Ale, Scotch Ale, Doppelbock and Wisteria Wheat. That’s not to mention some occasional special brews. If you haven’t experienced Fordham yet, there are two special beer dinners on April 24: one at 1861 in Middletown, one at Matt’s Fish Camp in Bethany Beach. Let’s see if we can tempt you with much-abridged descriptions of the brewery’s mainstays:
Copperhead: a hoppy altbier
Helles: a Bavarian-style lager
Tavern Ale: a citrusy American pale
Spiced Harvest Ale: amber, with exotic spices
Scotch Ale: smoky, like the whiskey
Doppelbock: dark, smooth, bold
Wisteria Wheat: light, golden, wheaty
Check the Web site for a nifty chart of food pairings, appropriate glasses and ideal serving temps. Then call 1861 or Matt’s. Cheers. fordhambrewing.com
Doing Good by Eating Well
Help Food 4 Friends. It’s easy. Just attend the Dinner Club event at Nage Restaurant in Rehoboth Beach on April 18. The restaurant will donate a percentage of each customer’s bill to the food bank run by Food 4 Friends Inc. (We swoon over Seafood a la Nage and the house macaroni and cheese.) The benefit works like this: Get a membership card by emailing Jaime@Food4Friends.us, or check participating restaurants. Present the card to your server when you are seated. Earn markings, win prizes. (We won’t give them away, but trust us—they’re cool.) Nonprofit Food 4 Friends runs a food bank, clothing bank and book exchange for people in southern Delaware with HIV and AIDS. The organization provides them with nutritious food, toiletries, household supplies and other items. Look for the next Dinner Club at Fish On! in Lewes May 16. More events are announced regularly. Reserve your table at Nage by calling 226-2037. Learn more about Food 4 Friends at Food4Friends.us.
Lovin’ Life
It’s Dining Out for Life time. On April 26, join 15 New Castle County restaurants to support the fight against HIV/AIDS. Your options:
Caffe Gelato Restaurant (lunch only)
Cromwell’s Tavern & Restaurant
Luigi Vitrone’s Pastabilities Restaurant
The Melting Pot (Wilmington)
Over 30 percent of all sales is donated to AIDS Delaware to help it continue its important work. Learn more—and link to the restaurant websites—at aidsdelaware.org.