Unique Flavors on Union Street

Union Street is coming up in the world of Wilmington, DE. Amidst the Dollar Trees and loan offices, some very pretty new restaurants/bars are opening, one of them being 8th & Union Kitchen, which opened in April 2015.

I stopped by for lunch last weekend with not a soul in sight, which I think will be a rarity even during the day as the word spreads. The first thing I noticed is the ambience. 8th & Union has a clean, modern exterior, and the inside is warm and inviting. Rustic wood pairs with trendy wall art, minimalistic plants and bright lighting. There is a large bar area, and a nicely separated intimate dining section where you can still see the bar.  

 Our server was prompt and friendly, and kindly explained he was training another person while helping us. His knowledge of the menu was impressive, and he gave detailed descriptions of their oysters for the day and specials. The menu overall is seafood-heavy, with an Asian-American fusion theme. There are also plenty of gluten-free and vegetarian options, but it is not a menu that will turn away the carnivores, either.

  
I didn’t try a cocktail because I was going to the gym after, but their drink menu was extensive and contained some classic cocktails, which I love. I ordered a Vietnamese iced coffee, which arrived with a nice foamy head and herbs sprinkled on top. A bit fancier than a traditional Vietnamese coffee, the addition of nutmeg and some other spices made it very refreshing.  

 I went with one of our server’s recommendations – the pad thai. It came with both shrimp and chicken, and a pretty presentation.  
 The garnish was similar to a bowl of pho, which they also had on the menu, and I will be returning to have. Overall it was a very fresh and flavorful dish, and I liked that our table had homemade chili oil so I could crank up the heat to my own taste.

I was pleasantly surprised to hear EDM playing while we ate, and could tell the owner is really working to create a fun and unique atmosphere from other local restaurants. I think it is a great place for the mid-twenties to early forties crowd, which is very much appreciated and needed! 

I left feeling very well taken care of and wanting to try more. If you’re in Wilmington, I highly recommend venturing away from Trolley Square and the Riverfront and giving this new business a try! Check them out at 8thandunion.com.

Escaping the Norm

I am currently in the midst of planning a huge gala, and haven’t been taking time for me. It’s not too late for a New Year’s resolution, right? If so, I vow to make time to write more!

Recently, for a friend’s birthday, I went with a group to Exodus Escape Rooms in Newark. The location is what used to be a large house, which is now transformed into a series of themed rooms. Each room contains a variety of clues and puzzles to help you “escape” the room.

Rooms vary in difficulty and number of people the room can hold. Due to having a large group, we booked the Shawshank Redemption room. If you have read the Stephen King book or seen the movie 

 you’ll understand the concept of the room quickly. This room was broken into two parts – the prison cell, and an outer room. 

We started things out by being handcuffed together. After finding the handcuffs’ key (which was disappointingly easy), we combed the room for clues. Each clue was a puzzle based on finding a series of numbers to unlock multiple padlocks.

I was a bit let down by the fact that there weren’t any riddles to solve that didn’t involve numbers, but it was definitely a challenge. Thankfully, a tv screen prompted you with clues if the group was having trouble figuring things out (oh, I forgot to mention, you are being watched on camera the entire time!). The hardest part was trying to concentrate with a large group. I am very competitive and easily annoyed when people goof off vs trying to solve a problem, so I got heated a couple of times! Haha

Although the room wasn’t what I’d pictured in my head, I would definitely visit Exodus Escape Rooms again. For $20 a person, it is a unique way to spend an hour with friends and a great alternative to a night out at a bar. It would also be a fun team building activity. Main Street continues to lure some unique new businesses – I love it.

You can book a visit at http://www.exodusescaperooms.com/.

Deep Thoughts and Donuts

Yesterday, after having a particularly shit-tastic morning, a co-worker made an intriguing comment: “Have a donut. It’s like a reset button for your day!” It made me laugh, but being the pensive soul I am, it also made me think about humanity and our indulgences.

There really is something wonderful about “allowing” ourselves a treat when we’re stressed, but why do we continue the cycle of treating only when it’s a reward for something bad? Overindulgence is a fear for many people, but there’s something to be said for allowing ourselves to do what we want, purely because we WANT to do it! In moderation. 

Although I did not have a donut yesterday, the last time I allowed myself to eat one was out of full on food lust. And it was worth it. Over the summer, Duck Donuts opened on Main Street in Newark, and each of their donuts is fresh and made to order. You can choose a variety of coatings and toppings.

When my girl friend and I first arrived at Duck Donuts, I didn’t think I even wanted a donut. I was wrong. The smell in the store is so lusciously enticing and sugary…I couldn’t resist. I ordered a donut with chocolate icing and chocolate sprinkles to appease the chocoholic inside me. 

 It was warm, with crispy little fried edges, and the chocolate soaked into the melt-in-your-mouth cakey goodness of the donut…LORD. You can purchase little cartons of cold milk to go with your donut, which took it to another level. If you’re going to have a donut, this is the type of place to go. Dunkin Donuts always tastes of stale regret 😦

I hope Duck Donuts does well! Main Street businesses are ever-changing, but this is a unique and welcome addition. And well worth the occasional indulgence…just because you want to 😉 

DE Saengerbund Oktoberfest

Getting sick as an adult sucks. There is no one to take care of you, so since yesterday I’ve been dragging myself around while dirty dishes pile up. I made the mistake of attempting to work today, and my body said, “hell nah.” So, back in bed, with the only perk being I have time to blog.

Before I moved to DE, I began attending Newark’s annual Oktoberfest. There are two guarantees: great food and not being able to remember the second half of your experience. Oktoberfest takes place off of Salem Church Road, and is put on by the Delaware Saengerbund and Library Association. They serve the beer and even make the food! The set up is pretty large, which is much-needed for the huge crowds the event attracts.

  
   
I took these photos early in the day. Oktoberfest starts at noon, and after the sun goes down, it is a madhouse. There are carnival rides for children included in the $8 admission price, but I would not want to keep a child around at night amongst so many drunken adults. Why do people get so drunk? For merely $12, you can get an entire LITER of beer. You can also purchase a glass boot if mugs don’t strike your fancy. The initial purchase is $25 (which includes the beer), but you can bring your mug/boot back every year and get the $12 refills.   

 I highly recommend the Franziskaner Hefeweizen…it was very good, and the banana really came through. For $6, you can get a normal-sized cup of beer.  

This year, there were quite a few varieties of pumpkin ales and Oktoberfest brews; I was impressed! To combat all of the alcohol, I think it’s essential to try a variety of the food.   

My background is German, Irish and Native American, and I am admittedly not very in touch with my German roots. However, I grew up eating brats and other various German meats, so it is nice to be able to get this kind of food. The potato salad is amazing. They also typically have Black Forest and German chocolate cake, which I had zero room for this year.

Despite my best intentions, I was pretty buzzed by the time we left.   

Oktoberfest is always a good time! The website already has dates up for next year, so mark your calendars: http://www.delawaresaengerbund.org/v5_Oktoberfest.shtml. And while you’re at it, read up on the origin of Oktoberfest…the website gives a nice historical summary. Because no, the event is not a festival celebrating October but randomly held in September. 

I strongly recommend getting a ride to the event. There is limited parking, although some houses along Salem Church Road do allow people to park at their homes for a fee, and it is great to have the high school available to park at (not always the case). However, with the amount of beer to try, you will not want to be designated driver! Get a ride, or use Uber…have I mentioned how much I love Uber being legal in DE? It’s the best. 

So, dig out those lederhosen and prepare for next year! Cheers. 

The Best Pizza and Beer in DE

Yeah, I said it. And I’m not talking about nasty Grotto’s with their weird rings of sauce and cheese. As a non-native Delawarean, I don’t think I’ll ever care for their pizza. 

The best pizza/beer combo in Delaware is at Argilla Brewing Co. at Pietro’s Pizza off of Kirkwood Highway. The beer is never the same as new creations come out frequently, and the wood fire pizza is AMAZING.

Let’s start with the craft beer. This small brewery puts out a surpringly diverse and frequent rotation of beers. They are hit or miss, like any rotating new beers, but the majority are wonderful.

  
The last time I was there, my boyfriend and I each ordered different drafts and sampled each other’s. I ordered the Meeting House Pale Ale, which was delicious, but the best beer on the current menu was their Sin City Strong stout.

  
This American style stout had strong coffee and bitter chocolate notes, and was very tasty, despite my usual preference for a thicker mouth feel with stouts.

The real diamond in the rough here, and I say that in terms of the random strip mall-esque location and unassuming appearance, is the pizza. Well, the food overall is just fabulous. Don’t let the well-worn booths and lack of a wait fool you…I truly do not understand why this place isn’t always jam-packed. I’ll chalk it up to lack of awareness, because it is some of the best pizza I’ve ever had, including the pizzas I’ve had in Manhattan.

  
If you try Pietro’s out, you really must try one of the house pies. I’ve been a few times, and stand outs are their bacon and apple pie (instead of marinara sauce, they use apple butter. LAWD) and their cheesesteak pizza. My favorite is the simplest: they have the best margherita pizza I’ve ever tasted. They slightly changed it recently, so I recommend ordering it the original way – with roasted garlic cloves instead of fresh chopped garlic. 

  
I also like to add mushrooms to mine, which are fresh, not canned, by the way.

  
Ugh. I’m not even hungry and I want one! The flavors are always fresh and perfectly balanced. I’ve also never been to another pizza place offering whole roasted garlic cloves on their pizzas. It takes things to another level of indulgence.

My boyfriend also tried some wings the last time we visited. I sampled to try the sauce, which was maple syrup and sriracha. My immediate reaction was, “why isn’t maple syrup and sriracha on everything?!” It sounds unusual, but the combination was phenomenal.

  
So, so good. 

Last but certainly not least, the people who work at Argilla Brewing Co. at Pietro’s Pizza are simply wonderful. Service is great, and everyone is very friendly. The general manager helped wait on us, and he went above and beyond to check on us and make certain we loved everything.

I haven’t been, yet, but they also offer a variety of live entertainment, and regularly host comedians and live bands. NOT cover bands – actual bands who wrote their own music! Love it.

My hope is for more people to visit this little restaurant and spread the word…I can’t think of a place more deserving. The next time you want pizza, skip the delivery, put on some pants, and give Pietro’s a try – it’s worth it! 

Stress Be Gone – Spa and State Park Time in Rehobeth Beach

Even before I became a Delaware resident, I’ve been a huge fan of Rehobeth Beach for many years. It gets VERY crowded during the summer, so this post won’t be about tourist favorites such as the Avenue. One of my best friends is living off of Coastal Highway until October, so I will enjoy the Avenue and the outlets in the off season.

A nice option for anyone attempting to avoid crazy crowds and overpriced parking are Delaware’s state parks. If you purchase a year-long pass, for $30, you have access to any park in DE, including the ones at the beach. Cape Henlopen is a popular one. There are a variety of access points. I tried out a trail the last time I was visiting my friend. 

  

  
 LOTS of cyclists, but overall a very pretty straight path through the woods. Despite my blinding pale skin, blonde hair and blue eyes, way back I have a fair amount of Native American ancestry. My family’s tribe were the Lenni Lenape, and I was fascinated to see a historical sign saying they’d lived in the area the trail was on.

   
 Unexpected surprise! As you pass by the historical information, you continue down a straight path eventually leading to the beach. We walked for an hour and chose to turn back, but passed by a very pretty little marsh. 

 Another aspect of Cape Henlopen is, of course, the beach itself. Personally, I prefer Lewes Beach, but it’s still a nice beach to visit with plenty of parking.  

  
The beach is a great way to relax, but I also highly recommend checking out the day spas in Rehobeth. There are several, and they are more affordable and more charming than a posh spa you’d typically find in a city. We chose one at random based on their services called “Made Ya Look!” Salon and Day Spa.

Located off of Coastal Highway, the location clearly used to be an old beach house, which I love. The business has kept all of the wooden flooring, staircase and high rafter ceilings intact, and it is very pretty. 

  

My friend and I purchased their “Stress Be Gone” package. First, I was led into their private sauna room for 30 minutes in their infra-red sauna.  

    
   
I am not a huge sauna fan because I hate sweating, but after rivers of sweating and a shower, I did feel much better!  

 After the sauna, I had a long massage. It was hands down THE BEST Swedish massage I have ever had. I could have laid there all day. But, I had one remaining part of our package to complete – a deep conditioning treatment for my hair. It was a nice way to end our afternoon at the spa. 

I cannot recommend “Made Ya Look!” enough, and will certainly be going back. In general, despite the traffic, Rehobeth proved there are lots of ways to relax without dealing with crowds of tourists! Do yourself a favor and go exploring.

A Nonexistent Pond Hike

A personal goal for 2015 has been to get back into hiking. So, a while back, I purchased some pricey new boots from Eastern Mountain Sports (great store, by the way), and I recently delved into the world of Delaware state parks.

My first choice was to visit Brandywine Creek State Park in Wilmington. I pass it every time I go up to European Wax Center in Concord Pike, and it was even more beautiful than I anticipated.

The park was split into two areas, and I opted for the nature reserve section. There was only one “advanced” trail…a short 2 mile-ish hike labeled “Hidden Pond.” Intrigued, I set off to find said pond. 

  
I was immediately struck by how peaceful the woods were. And how non-advanced the trail was. The Hidden Pond trail is overall an even hike with a couple slight dips down a hill. Much of it passes by the park’s namesake, Brandywine Creek, which was lovely. The trails are well-cleared despite the many summer storms.

  
Onward I hiked, past some fun varieties of fungi and plants…

  
…still no pond. It was starting to feel like I’d walked two miles, and as the trees began to clear, my excitement grew, and I eagerly anticipated the long-awaited pond. 

I emerged from the trees, and saw…the parking lot. I felt hoodwinked! Perhaps the “hidden pond” was too well-hidden, because it never appeared. 

Aside from the false advertising, Brandywine Creek State Park was enjoyable. If you’re looking for a short, easy, and peaceful hike, I highly recommend it. There is also a nice little picnic area. 

  
Happy hiking!

Nostalgia, Served Neat

I am rather behind on my blogging, lately, but something about this cloudy 4th of July makes me want to write. I am drinking Nordic mead and not watching fireworks…not very patriotic of me!

Anyways, one of my favorite unexpected gems in Delaware was the discovery of a speakeasy bar in Wilmington. C.R. Hummingbird to Mars is located behind a block of popular bars in Trolley Square, and comes complete with lack of signage and an intercom to buzz in.

If there is room, the door (marked with a hummingbird) will be unlocked for you, and you’ll be led up a dimly lit staircase into a beautiful old-fashioned bar.

 As you can see, the low lighting makes for a difficult to capture but rather classic ambiance.
In addition to my craft beer snobbery, I adore vintage cocktails. One of my favorite bars in Baltimore, Rye, introduced me to a variety of drinks ranging back to the 1920’s, and also gave me an appreciation for the many types of bitters and flavor profiles one can create with liquor.  

Hummingbird serves up seasonal drinks such as the Bootlegger, made with plantain-infused rum, velvet falernum, blackberry shrub, and Peychaud’s bitters…

 …and also have a nice variety of vintage drinks, including my personal favorite, the Corpse Reviver #2.
The bourbon list is also impressive. This bar is one of my top spots for friendly bartenders, complex drinks and quiet conversation…definitely not a place for one quick drink. Everything served is meant to be enjoyed slowly.

Patrons will also see a lovely little stand up piano upon entering:

If you visit Hummingbird on a Saturday after 9:00 p.m., you can have the pleasure of listening to local singer/songwriter and pianist, Kevin McCove. Another hidden gem, he provides lilting music and soulful singing that is a welcome break from the loud cover bands you’ll find at many other bars in Trolley. He is in a cover band himself, which I have heard at Homegrown Cafe in Newark, but I am extremely biased towards solo piano music (considering I played for years and also sing…no-brainer, haha).

In short, if you are looking for a classier, unique bar in Wilmington, Hummingbird is your answer. I feel a bit transported whenever I visit. Maybe it’s the alcohol…maybe it’s the nostalgic setting…time just slows down a bit and I truly feel relaxed. Be warned, the cocktails are strong…plan to make many visits if you want to try them all.

Happy Independence Day!

For the Love of Beer

This weekend, I found myself at Trolley Tap House two days in a row. If that isn’t worth a blog post, I don’t know what is! The Tap House is a new bar located in Trolley Square in Wilmington, and is a much-needed addition to the bar loop.

The bar is what it sounds like – a restaurant/bar with an extensive craft beer list, food and even a craft cocktail or two. As a huge craft beer nerd missing being able to go to Max’s Taphouse in Baltimore, I was incredibly satisfied when this place opened so close to home. It replaced a very generic sports bar with sticky floors smelling of shame 😦

Firefly was this weekend, meaning the bars around here were nice and empty. It also gave me the opportunity to take photos without looking like a total creeper. Overall, the ambiance at the Tap House is great. Friendly staff, pretty twinkle lights, understated flowers…the bar tends to attract a fair amount of hipsters and older patrons.

The food is excellent. Bar food with a twist! They serve a variety of apps (including one of my favorite specials – Buffalo Tots…tater tots with cheese, scallions, bacon, buffalo sauce…need I say more? I am on a diet and had to skip ordering them this weekend, haha), all-beef hot dogs with sinful toppings such as mac n cheese, and some great burgers, including one topped with peanut butter and red onion jam.

The beer list is categorized by type of beer, then by draft and cans/bottles. I am always pleasantly surprised by the draft list. For example, Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast was on tap this weekend, as well as a 2012 Stone Russian Imperial Stout (in case you’re wondering, age brings out the dark chocolate. So good!). The bartenders are always anxious to make sure you’re drinking exactly what you want, and are knowledgeable about all of the beers.

I was lucky to have perfect timing this weekend in regards to their craft cocktail. Bacon lovers, prepare to wet your pants: they created a maple syrup bacon aged bourbon. LAWD. With which they created one of the best cocktails I’ve ever tasted – the Hoghattan.

I want another one just looking at this picture. The bourbon was a perfect balance of sweet from the maple syrup and smokiness from the bacon. It was so delicious I wanted to eat it. And ended up getting fairly tipsy from drinking it too fast. I hope the owner continues to create craft cocktails, because all of the ones I have tried at Trolley Tap House were creative and wonderful.

In a nutshell, this establishment brings a welcome trend to Trolley Square. It has the best craft beer list on the block, and offers unique food and a relaxing environment. I suggest going early and day drinking, because it’s impossible to just choose one beer. Do yourself a favor and download the UnTappd app on your phone so you can keep track of the tastiness. Cheers!