Jazz Brunch at the Cultured Pearl

Two weeks ago, Susan Wood, owner of the Cultured Pearl restaurant and shopping complex, was honored by the Delaware Restaurant Association as Restauranteur of the Year. Last week, I enjoyed the opportunity to dine and take in the sounds of the Pearl’s Sunday Jazz Brunch and find out some of the reasons the aforementioned honor was bestowed on it’s proprietor.

Ever since Sydney’s Blues and Jazz Restaurant changed hands, locals and tourists alike have realized a loss of something once taken for granted….steady access to live music. Applause to the Cultured Pearl and Susan Wood for supporting and promoting live music and working to create an “event” on Sundays. On the entertainment list, The Eddie Sherman Show, the Pam Miller Band, Jay Hoad and Justine Miller and Bay Jazz. Now we have to return the effort and show our support. Go, eat, drink, enjoy live music and bring the whole family.

The Pearl offers a kid’s package during brunch that includes a “little pearl activity meal” and a Japanese activity session. So, while the grown-ups dine, the little ones can learn origami or Japanese fan painting in their own supervised activity room.

Food abounds. There is a full sushi menu and, in addition, you will find traditional brunch/egg fare…try the seafood scramble… and a lunch menu with the likes of Kobe beef grinders, vegetable tempura and cream of crab soup. Don’t forget the libations….enjoy a twist on the classic mimosa, the sakeosa or a great bloody mary.

Our server, Bridgette, was exceptional. It was not just great service that made her stand out, it was a tremendous amount of ownership and enthusiasm she had for the food and the concept of the jazz brunch and the Pearl organization. This was another testament to Susan Wood, her business savvy and leadership.

Susan discussed her own take on an economic relief package for Pearl Club members on Monday nights….a complete sushi dinner for $10. The Pearl employs approximately 100 people in full-season and off-season, Susan is on a mission to retain her valued employees. So, this night is designed simply to break-even and keep staff on a full schedule. In these tough economic times, it was refreshing to hear about the hard work and dedication to generate business and retain employees vs. the next measure to simply cut costs.

This is a long post, but hey, there is a lot going on at the Cultured Pearl. I would be remiss if I did not mention the fabulous shops below the restaurant. A wine shop, jewelry, shoes, and the Pearl’s own gifts shop are some of the offerings. Do yourself a favor before the holidays and make this a destination. You will not be disappointed.

And, to all the staff at the Cultured Pearl and to the musicians making it happen…….thank you.

Applause for Ovations and the Blues Daddy!

Last night I had the distinct privilege to groove to the blues thanks to Bryan Lee, direct from New Orleans. I say groove, because this was no dark, deep, down and out kinda blues show…..Bryan resonates riffs that come from his heart and travel down to your toes. It was fun and funky blues all the way, though his lyrics tell real stories with real truths. His latest album, “Katrina was Her Name”, still rings of the joy Bryan finds in life. Check him out. www.myspace.com/BrailleBluesDaddyBryanLee

The scene was set at the new Rehoboth Theatre of the Arts. Downstairs, the evening began with bartendress Mimi in the lounge, Ovations. Thanks Mimi. There were a lot of new faces that joined a lot of familiar faces from the days of Sydney’s Blues and Jazz Restaurant. A thank you goes out to Sydney Arzt who produced the evening along with the team at RTA and Ovations.

These venues are new in Rehoboth and both have great potential. The rooms have great sound. I hope people continue to support the stage productions and live music! The word is that live music and all that jazz will continue to be booked on Thursday nights, 7pm - 10pm thru December. To keep it going there has to be an audience…….soooooo….I’ll see you there!

The Back Porch Cafe’

Happy 34th birthday to my friends at The Back Porch Cafe’ in beautiful downtown Rehoboth Beach, DE. One of the most valuable work experiences I ever had was working as a Sous Chef at the Porch. So, I am way biased because I know the amount of care and dedication that goes into the preparation of the food. Each plate is planned and crafted with extreme passion for food combinations that deliver the best in taste and the whole dining experience. Eat their food and drink their drink and you will begin to understand and appreciate the value of scratch cooking.

The Porch has the best lunch and brunch in town, hands down. I was craving one of my favorites….the Grilled Turkey Burger, served with orzo salad, salsa, avacado and a delicious roasted red pepper coulis. I was also fortunate to try the Potato, Bacon, Leek and Gruyere Omelette….perfect and fluffy. Looking at the dinner menu which changes frequently and as each new seasonal ingredient is ready for the picking, I could see the efforts made for the Porch to continue to evolve and I would look forward to future samplings!

The Back Porch Cafe is authentic. You will receive the best service in town. It has always been true to itself as it has become its own entity, its own brand which still seems to be one of the towns best kept secrets. Do yourself a favor, eat there……….then let the secret out.

SurfSide Chicken, YUM

I hope to have this blog site for years to come and if you did a word search for common words/terms, I hope “authentic” will be a top hit. Authentic was the first and last word to come to mind as I ate a delicious lunch at SurfSide Chicken in Rehoboth, DE. Located down the strip from Midway Movies on Rt. 1, SurfSide Chicken opened up in July 07, this past summer.

The chicken is outstanding. Here is why…..

Pollo A La Brasa is authentic Peruvian Style Charcoal Rotisserie Chicken…it is marinated for at least 24 hours in a “guarded” recipe handed down from generations in Lima, Peru. Although the chicken itself can stand alone, there are two, daily fresh-made sauces to accompany the bird….one is an egg-based light and creamy dipping sauce and the other is a fine blend of fresh jalapeños for a little kick in the chick. Saffron and corn rice, black beans, fries, plantains and such round out the side menu.

I hope people continue to try the food and support this joint….The next time you think about a quick rotisserie chicken from one of the fine super sized grocery stores in the area…go here instead! Support authentic fresh cooking and treat yourself and yours to awesome food.

Keep your eye on what they have going on as these young entrepreneurs have promised to deliver new Peruvian dishes to the Rehoboth palate.

The McQuay’s Market Story, as told by Bill McQuay Jr.

When I first started at the Market, I could sense a lot of history. The Fates sent a visitor to the store one day. Van, the current owner, my boss, was working and I was just passing by. Our visitor turned out to be Bill McQuay Jr. The following was a story he passed along via email after his visit. Here goes:

MCQUAY’S MARKET

McQuay’s Market was the continuation of Rehoboth Market which was located in the 100 block of South First Street. Rehoboth Market was conceived as a plan by Butch McQuay with a lease in the winter of 1937. It opened as a butcher shop in the summer of 1938. As to be expected, money was a problem. Alice, Butch’s wife opened a boarding house on Maryland Ave to help the cash flow problem. The butcher shop became a full blown grocery store for the same reason. The shelves in the store were stocked by the wholesaler that would give Butch the longest time to pay. So you may understand about the times, the first telephone number was 80. Then the telephone company became fancy and the number became 2211 during the war.

When the war started, meat was hard to find. A slaughter house was built and meat was easier to get. A small chicken farm was rented and chickens were raised. The next big venture was frozen foods because a large freezer became available and frozen foods were the up and coming thing.

By 1945 Butch had made money and winters in Rehoboth were too quiet so he went to Pompano Beach Florida, a sleepy little farming community with the world’s largest produce market. The market was about ½ mile long and the width of a football field. Pompano, located half way between Miami and West Palm Beach, had a surplus of produce and a shortage of new cars and the north had the opposite problems, so Butch stepped in to make more money. During this time Rehoboth Market was maintained open by an employee and a trend was started. Rehoboth Market was never closed. It was open 365 days of the year. Christmas morning the store opened late, but that was all.

Finally Butch got caught with too many pineapples and a frost that almost wiped him out. Rehoboth Market had to be sold. The present location was bought in 1946 or 1947 and the roof raised to make an apartment over the store. This was the start of McQuay’s Market on Rehoboth Ave across from the ice house. Alice, Beatrice, William Jr, and John all put their time in the store, in one position or another. A Sealtest Dairy distributorship was started which did well but hired help was still a problem. Seafood was a natural and Butch started steaming lobsters for the summer people who did not have the facilities to do their own steaming. There was no additional cost to the customer.

A liquor license was obtained to help the winter cash flow. Butch did well with this venture. As you may have realized, Butch was a very good butcher, but he was first and foremost a salesman. He died in the manner that he wanted. He drove up to the store, got out of the car, and had a major stroke. Active to the end. As a result of his stroke, the store was closed by family. When Butch learned of this, he died.

Now I know why I feel some history…..

Fall Mums

Gorgeous color for mums this season, don’t you think?