Edible Delmarva: Holiday/Winter 2018
FROM THE EDITOR
As the seasons take another turn, our thoughts turn to celebrating the winter holidays and the dawning of the new year. For many of us, that means not just honoring cherished family traditions but also making way for new ones. And if you’re like us, many of those traditions are centered around food! The coming of shorter days and longer nights means more time for gathering indoors, more time for friends and family, and more time for our favorite food and drink.
Here in Delmarva, food traditions are deeply connected to the seasons–on the farms, across the marshes, and in the waters that surround us. The coming of winter on the Chesapeake means Stewed Jimmies, a Smith Island tradition that features the biggest, most flavorful crabs of the year. Photographer Jay Fleming takes us to Janice Marshall’s kitchen to peer over her shoulder as she prepares this local dish for her Islander family and friends. This season also evokes powerful memories for writer Kate Livie, who shares how her father’s love of waterfowling fostered deep connections in her own life, creating a rich legacy and a permanent seat at the table.
And then there are the new traditions, anchored in the past but very much looking forward. Like Meghan Lee’s vision for Heirloom, the young restaurant in Lewes that is getting so much notice for its inventive menu and relaxed vibe. Lee and Chef Matt Kern are both skilled in the art of “effortless perfection” when it comes to locally-focused cuisine and welcome-to-my-home atmosphere. This is surely a place that needs to be on your must-visit list this season. The Shelton family is also bringing a fresh face to old traditions with their Christmas Market at Poplar Hall, celebrating the holiday at their 18th century farm with 21st century local artisans, crafts and food.
Here at Edible Delmarva, we are excited about the new year ahead as we launch a fifth seasonal issue. There are so many stories to tell and we’re having trouble keeping up! We’ll be adding to our lineup next year and publishing in Spring, Early Summer, High Summer, Autumn and Holiday/Winter. Still seasonal, still full of stories about the people, places and programs in our region, still supported by the advertisers that believe in what we are doing to celebrate the bounty of Delmarva.
So as we begin a new year, we send our gratitude for your support and wish you a joyful winter season, with time to reflect, to celebrate, and to savor all the gifts in your life.
