West from The East, then South again....

After the rain and chill of the previous evening, we awoke the next morning to unpredicted and unexpected sun and (chilly) blue skies. Our hotel was right on the boardwalk so we donned some heavyish gear and took a stroll. It’s funny about water places. Landlocked people would consider the “street side” the “front” of a place, but if there is water involved, in reality the water side is the “front yard”. While the road side of all these hotels and dives are stark and cold, the waterside beckons people inside.



But if you turn your head toward the ocean, there it is.



And, although it was spring and not yet the high season, there were still a few intrepid souls enjoying the day.






After the bucolic and rugged lower eastern shore, we decided to journey north and take a look at the renowned Mecca of bargain hunters, the legendary Rehoboth Beach. On the way out of town the Bottom Feeder, ever watchful of eating opportunities passed this one up:




Along the way we were able to catch glimpses of the Delaware version of the seashore



Finally, caffeinated with a Starbucks (after a successful second attempt to locate one ~ my clever little “Find Starbucks” app first directed us to an abandoned house), we found the place, actually a series of three kind of unassuming centers of commerce with different stores in each.



Perhaps with the assistance of Aliens, I think the place may have perfected the art of mind control or subliminal suggestion. Somehow when you enter these places, you develop this attitude of “we gotta buy something!” that overtakes your senses and you wind up with stuff that you really don’t need, but geez, three Ralph Lauren’s for a 100 bucks HAS to be a deal.. It was a Tuesday, and we found many of the stores to be relatively unpopulated, for instance the Coach store had more clerks shoving coupons with “Over $150 purchases 20% off!!” at you than actual customers. But I guess there are bargains out there, for instance MFO scored a little black purse marked at $150 for about a third of that. Who knows…

After contributing to the financial success of Rehoboth, we headed back across the bridge to Annapolis for our final “formal” meal of the trip. As readers (hopefully) know by this time, I am a big fan of “just right” places. For us, somehow Harry Brownes always does that (I might now add Scossa to this list). I always feel comfortable when I walk in with its relatively dark interior, those chandeliers from the Normandie, the raised dining platform, tables set with white tablecloths, sparkling crystal, and silver. It just says: “come in! relax. Sit down! Unwind! Have some good food!”. We were seated at a table on the raised portion and approached by a gentleman of some years (our experience has been servers have been on the younger side) and asked about drinks. Road weary and deserving I ordered “the drink” and was politely asked “if I cared for a smallish portion of Sweet Vermouth or would I prefer dry?”. Thank you.

Drinks and bread were brought, all as ordered and after a bit of conversation we turned to the menu. A relatively few choices included some of the standards and some new dishes, for instance the “grilled Salmon Werthmann” has been on the menu since we have been going there, but there were also some new dishes, such as “Pork Osso Bucco over Cheddar and Jalapeno Grits Sauted Haricot Vert and Fried Onions”. There were some tough choices, but I couldn’t resist an appetizer of “Seared Diver Sea Scallops and Braised Pork Belly Topped with Pickled Seabeans And Balsamic Glaze”; while others apps were two servings of the (standard) Cream of Crab and a heirloom beet salad. For the main course I went for their version of “Surf and Turf” in this case: "Seared Sea Bass and Braised Short Ribs with Roasted Root Vegetables and Natural Jus”. Other choices included the always reliable Salmon, a Strip Steak, and the only Poultry offering of Seared Maple Leaf Duck Breast and Pumpkin Flan Topped with Chilled Duck Confit Salad. With all those mixes of flavors we went with the DWTHYL theory of wine parings and FOJTE chose an ’06 Rosenblum Cellars Heritage Clones Petite Syrah.

Without going into detailed descriptions (thank heaven you say) of each dish, they all were good. Okay, just a little on the diver scallop appetizer. Although “scallops” meant just one, it was just right - seared on the outside with just a little caramelization for flavor, just set inside, and combined with the sweet and smoky pork belly was just great. The pickled sea beans (“Fresh, they make a crunchy snack while clamming, and retain that pleasing crunch even after cooking. The flavor, if it can be called that, is subtle, a salty taste of the sea with a hint of wild green”) were a great addition.

Service remained attentive, there is just something nice about somebody with a little maturity about them (okay, I’m biased – deal with it). Then we piled back into the Momster and returned to the digs.

What a great trip it turned out to be. A glimpse of the “real" Eastern Shore, some unique experiences and new friends made, some good meals and deals, but best of all getting to spend time with our family.. (Priceless) Who, incidentally were always

DFD

PS - some of the (more better) photos courtesy of FOJTE