Chefs + Farmers = Delicious Fun
Look for The Farmer and The Chef South on Aug. 29 at the Baywood Greens in Long Neck, a dinner to celebrate community and healthy eating while raising money for the important work of The March of Dimes. It goes like this: pair local farmers with local chefs, let them start cooking, then enjoy the fruits of their labors. Because agriculture is still an important industry in Delaware, the MOD believes it is vital to support local farmers and to make sure you know where to buy fresh, local produce. Chefs include Ryan Cunningham of Abbott’s Grill, Hari Cameron of a(MUSE.), Lion Gardner of The Blue Moon Rehoboth, Jay Caputo of Espuma, Ted Deptula of Nage and others. Farms include Fifer Orchards, Hopkins Farm Creamery, Magee Farms, T.S. Smith & Sons and more. The March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. It focuses on advancing research on maternal and health issues, helping moms have healthy pregnancies and supporting families. To learn more, click here. Look for The Farmer and The Chef North on Sept. 19 at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington. Same idea, different cast of characters. thefarmerandthechef.com
Taste the Beach
The so-called First annual Taste of Rehoboth happens Aug. 22 at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center, the tasting event will include live cooking andd food samples from Rehoboth’s best restaurants and most notable chefs, all with pairing of wines and with Dogfish Head beers. An initiative of the Rehoboth Inspired Chef Initiative, a forum for local chefs to engage the community on food related issues and to coordinate their charitable efforts, the taste will benefit the Food Bank of Delaware. Advanced tickets are $40, with $50 tickets available at the door day of event. Tickets can be purchased a a(MUSE), Eden, Espuma, Hobos, Azura & Rehoboth Beach Main Street.
Finally
The second annual Wilmington Burger Battle will take place Aug. 24 at Twin Lakes Brewing Company in Greenville. Area restaurants—including last year critic’s choice Kildare’s Irish Pub and people’s choice Union City Grille—are expected to throw down again for an outdoor, rain-or-shine charity event. Proceeds support the Ministry of Caring’s Emmanuel Dining Room. Admission prices will include food, beer tastings, soft drinks, and music; tickets are available through wilmingtonburgerbattle.com. Event co-founder Matthew Curtis, chef-owner of Union City Grille, says, “I consider the burger to be the perfect food, and a restaurant’s burger can really tell you a lot about its quality. We were thrilled that 16 of Delaware’s best restaurants came together last year to compete, and are hoping for more this year. I bet some of last year’s chefs want a rematch with me!” More than 400 people attended the 2012 event to place their votes for People’s Choice Burger, and the event raised over $4,000 to fight hunger. Three Delaware sports legends served as Delebrity judges, tasting 18 burgers like champs, ultimately declaring Kildare’s burger their favorite. “We are hoping for a rich field of entries in the Alternative Burger category this year,” says Battle co-founder JulieAnne Cross. “Many of our vegetarian friends supported the event last year, and we want them to enjoy the food as much as they enjoy the Delaware-brewed Twin Lakes beer.” The Twin Lakes farm in Greenville has again agreed to be the host, and event proceeds will again support the Emmanuel Dining Room, which helps alleviate the immediate needs of Delaware’s hungry by serving more than 180,000 nutritious meals at no cost and with no questions asked. Restaurants are encouraged to contact ucgcharities@gmail.com for more information.
La La La
We are charmed by La Fia Bakery+Market+Bistro. The long-awaited place is owned by Bryan Sikora, locally known for Talula’s Table in Kennett Square, a single table in a gourmet shop that had to be booked for dinner a year in advance, thanks to the amazing food served there. So has the city gained something special? It sure has. Sikora was a founder of Philly’s acclaimed Django, and turned a.kitchen into one of the city’s best. His La Fia, in the LOMA district, delivers delicious sandwiches on home-baked bread for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We are a fan of the salads and the pleasant bustle of lunchtime. The place is small—35 seats—decorated with the chefs own food photographs and reclaimed wood in a style that is yet old fashioned and retro—given the age of the building and its original architectural elements—yet totally contemporary. We’d say the same about the food—fresh, treated plainly, but combined creatively. We like. Patrons will also find plenty of specialty meats, artisanal cheeses and other high-end groceries in the store next door. 543-5574, facebook.com/LaFiaWilmington
Looking Forward to Cheesy
“If there is one thing we cannot stand, it is a sandwich that calls itself a grilled cheese when it is actually a panini. Just say ‘no’ to panini-ing.” —Famous Grilled Cheese Judge That You Have Never Heard Of
What’s all the hubbub? Only the event we’ve been waiting for all our lives. Cheesetoberfest, says its organizers, is “an all-out, no holds barred, grilled cheese competition” that will go down at Fordham & Dominion Brewing in Dover Oct. 5. Twenty restaurants from Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Philadelphia will battle for top honors while the brew flows and an oompah band toots on. The categories:
HandKrafted Goodness
White bread, butter and either American or cheddar cheese. Just like Mom used to make.
We Will Roquefort You
Any so-called bread and any so-called cheese. No additional ingredients.
Cheeseballs to the Wall
A sandwich that is savory more than anything else. Internal ingredients must be at least 60 percent cheese by weight. Contestants may use any type of bread, butter, cheese and additional ingredients.
Looking for a Gouda Time
A dessert sandwich. Again, internal ingredients must be at least 60 percent cheese by weight. Contestants may use any type of bread, butter, cheese and additional ingredients
Participating restaurants include, among others, The Pickled Pig Pub in Rehoboth, 33 West Ale House and Grill in Dover, Ulysses Gastropub in Wilmington, and more. Book the date now. This one is the cheesiest. cheesetoberfest.com
