Delawareans love their coffee, and now they have more ways to enjoy it, from specialty mugs to creative concoctions.
But that’s 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 Taplin, a Salesianum High School graduate, is now executive chef.
Hoping to taste Taplin’s food, I revisited the restaurant only to find he was off that night. Oh, well. It’s an excuse to go back.
The place was packed for Brandywine Valley Restaurant Week, but we got a table for two outside with a view of the covered patio and open dining room.
The straightforward filet mignon with sauce on the side was deftly cooked but needed more seasoning. The server quickly remedied the minor issue by providing flake finishing salt.
Pan-seared halibut was also nicely prepared with a crisp sear on one side. If you are strictly pescatarian, note there are chunks of bacon in the carrot and leek accompaniment.
The restaurant features potato chips with ossetra caviar for $76. The same caviar must come on the bougie eggs, which were three for $18. I would have been happy with a domestic sturgeon’s egg if it meant getting more roe.
I still need to get for breakfast pastries or lunch. I’ve heard good things.
A cup of coffee news
If you love BrewHaha!, you can sip the Delaware coffee shop’s specialty beans from a branded cup.
The limited-edition mugs and cups are available on the website, where you will also find caps, a spoon rest/ ashtray and socks.
The new fall menu at kaffe Karma in Greenville includes cold brew topped with brown sugar-pumpkin cold foam, spiced pumpkin smoothies, an oatmeal bowl with fresh pumpkin puree and chicken salad with granny smith apples.
Taking a cue from breweries, Scout Café in Wilmington introduced the Scout Fall Discovery Flight.
A late September lineup included a latte with pumpkin spice whipped cream, lavender hot cocoa, honey-cinnamon Latte and apple cider
Flights are also available at the new SipUrban Farmhouse in Milton, a coffee and pastry shop on Federal Street.
Owner Kristen Latham is no stranger to the historic town, which is just 7 miles from the Delaware Bay. She owns the Milton Dough Bar, a pizza place beside the Broadkill River.
And since coffee is part of a good American breakfast, note that Bramble & Brine at The Buttery is now open for breakfast and lunch.
Breakfast is available from 9 a.m. to noon; the lunch menu is offered from 11 a.m. to close.
Along with omelets and eggs Benedict, interesting items include French toast made with challah bread and topped with bananas foster and buttermilk-sausage gravy over French toast with hot sauce.
Rosenfeld’s takes over S. Bethany
Warren Rosenfeld recently announced that the South Bethany location is entirely dedicated to Rosenfeld’s Jewish Delicatessen, the restaurant group he started in Ocean City, Maryland. There is also a Rehoboth Beach location.
Rosenfeld previously partnered with Big Fish Restaurant Group to expand the brand.
The two businesses opened a combination deli and Big Fish Market near Sea Colony in South Bethany and one in North Wilmington. Briefly, the partners had a Rosenfeld’s deli in downtown Wilmington.
Both New Castle County locations closed, and Big Fish Restaurant Group has left the South Bethany building.
Rosenfeld cleared out the location, brought in 52 seats and hired waitstaff so it is more in line with the other two beach restaurants. If you want Big Fish products, you’ll need to go to the market in Rehoboth.
Bob Dylan, wine and dining
Many people don’t realize a second winery exists in Sussex County. Twin Branch Winery opened last spring.
Owner Shauna Thompson created the winery on property on the 27 acres that her family owns. The first planting was in 2013, and there are 4,500 wines.
On Thursday, Oct. 19, sommelier Gandhi Hurwitz is hosting a Bob Dylan-inspired wine dinner called “A Harmonic Evening.”
MORE FOOD NEWS: Delaware restaurants go Pink to mark Breast Cancer Awareness
Known for his photography, Hurwitz is also building a business based on wine, and the dinner is a good example of his business plan.
David Landis, the executive chef of Fondue in Milford, has prepared a menu inspired by Dylan’s songs.
For instance, the evening starts with “Blowin’ in the Wine” charcuterie, and the main course is “The Times They Are a-Changin’” surf-and-turf fondue.
Tickets are $95. For details, go here.
Thursday beach restaurant specials
Downtown Blues in Rehoboth Beach features a different meat-and-potatoes special each week and half-priced bottles of wine.
Admittedly, most people think of seafood when they picture the beach, but Downtown Blues is an offshoot of Bethany Blues in Lewes and Bethany Beach, which is known for hearty fare.
Thursday is Bistro night at JAM in Rehoboth Beach, which means diners can get two courses for $29. Recent selections included grilled oysters, salad Lyonnaise, lamb Bolognese and pan-seared black bass.
A reminder that JAM moved from Baltimore Avenue to the corner of Wilmington Avenue and Second Street.
Mariah Calagione honored
Mariah Calagione of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery recently received the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award for Outstanding Public Service Benefiting Local Communities from Multiplying Good, an organization founded by Onassis, Sen. Robert Taft Jr, and Sam Beard.
Multiplying Good recognized exceptional individuals who embody the spirit of public service and community betterment.
Calagione founded Red Wagon Calagione Family Foundation, a nonprofit that has granted more than $3.7 million to organizations and people in the Delaware community.
Calagione received the Jefferson Award in New York.
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