Seafood Heaven
There are few foods we love as much as ceviche. Fish fresh from the ocean, ripe tomato, spicy onion, bright cilantro and lots of lime make for one of the best summer dishes ever. If you’re a lover, you need to get to Olé Tapas Lounge in Newark soon. They’re knee deep in Ceviche Week, which means there are eight novel varieties for your dining pleasure. Check them out.
Red ceviche: cams, fire-roasted tomatoes and red peppers, red onion , garlic, paprika, cilantro, lime, black pepper, olive oil, sea salt and toasted maize.
Black ceviche: sea urchin, squid ink, tomato, black beans, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, cumin, lime, smoked salt and candied lemon rind.
Rainbow ceviche: snapper and calamari, tomato, bell pepper, red onion, habañero, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, Persian blue salt and crispy plantain.
Green ceviche: crab, avocado, heirloom tomato, scallions, jalapeño, cilantro, lime, olive oil, sea salt and hay of leeks.
White ceviche: bay scallops, fresh cream, horseradish, white onion, chives, lemon juice, white truffle oil, sea salt and crispy Serrano ham.
Yellow ceviche: sea bass, aji amarillo peppers, pineapple, tomato, yellow onion, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, sea salt and roasted yam.
Pink ceviche: shrimp and tuna, grapefruit, tomato, bell pepper, shallot, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, Himalayan pink salt and toasted cashews.
Orange ceviche: lobster, oranges, tomato, habañero, ginger, coconut milk, honey, cilantro, lime, olive oil, sea salt and crispy onions.
We’ve never seen variety like that, so we’re delighted. It all ends June 30. Act soon. 224-9378, oletapaslounge.com
Best of the Best
We love ceviche so much, it appears for the first time as its own category in the annual Best of Delaware feature, in the July issue out now. Who won? Upstate, it was The Chicken House Charcoal Grill Restaurant in Newark. The honors downstate go to Mariachi Restaurant in Rehoboth. Here’s what the editors had to say:
With 1,500 miles of coastline, Peru is famous for its ceviche. It only follows that The Chicken House Charcoal Grill would have the best around. We enjoy fancier versions at fine restaurants, but this is the real deal: lots of fresh fish and scallops, onion and tomato kissed with cilantro and lime. thechickenhouserestaurant.com
Editors, downstate
If you’re going to eat fresh fish, you might as well do it by the sea. Head to Mariachi Restaurant to enjoy an appetizer of brightly flavored white fish with everything that makes ceviche such a joy. mariachirehobothde.com
Of course, there’s much more to The Best of Delaware than ceviche. Get to the newsstand to find out where to get the best barbecue, desserts, sushi, seafood, desserts, cheesesteaks, crab cakes, pizza, subs, haute cuisine, Greek food, Italian fare and much more. DT gives you the skinny on 323 deserving winners as only DT can. (Best desserts, editors, upstate: The classic tiramisu at Capers & Lemons Italian Restaurant and Market is fluffy and light, not soggy with espresso, like many of its kind. Consider the mascarpone whipped cream and chocolate shavings and it’s tough to beat. The warm chocolate cake is simply decadent. (301 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, 256-0524, platinumdininggroup.com/capers_and_lemons/) This issue is a keeper. Get yours before it sells out. delawaretoday.com
Food on the Fly
If the big news in music this summer is the Firefly Festival at Dover Downs July 20-22, the big news in dining is the restaurants that will set up on Gourmet Food Alley. Here’s a sampling:
Lemongrass—East Asian bistro
Salúd—zesty Mexican fare
Trattoria—fresh pizzas
The New Kitchen—grown-up comfort food
Sweet Tooth—nothing but treats
Fresh Co.—a one-stop shop for fresh and delicious
Front Porch—a touch of Southern hospitality
The Burger Joint—from meat to veggie
Of course, you need an appetite for loud music and big crowds, too, but we’re feeling adventurous these days. See you there. fireflyfestival.com
Beer on the Beach
What would any issue of The Dining Insider be without something about beer? So here goes—Brews By The Bay, brought to you by the Delaware Brewers Guild, at Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal on June 30. Starting at 4 p.m., listen to live music by Reedo & The Front Porch Offering while sampling brews from members of the guild, including 16 Mile, Dogfish Head, Fordham-Old Dominion, Iron Hill, Stewart’s and Twin Lakes. Enjoy food from fine area restaurants such as Striper Bites, Bethany Blues, and On the Rocks Bar and Grill, and take a ride on the ferry. Buy tickets online at $30, or at the gate for $40. Don’t forget your lawn chair and blanket. Cheers. delawarebrewersguild.org
