Edible Delmarva: Holiday/Winter 2021
Across Delmarva, the rhythm of a new season is evident. The start of the holidays comes as the harvest winds down and we all prepare for winter’s rest. This is a time to catch our breath — individually and collectively — as we reflect on the year gone by and to set our sights on the year ahead with hopefulness and anticipation.
We have been so inspired by our neighbors and local businesses and entire communities who have responded to all the challenges of the last year with a renewed sense of purpose and a palpable energy. There is a wonderful feeling of Great Expectation that underlies each of our Holiday/Winter stories, and we are excited to share them with you.
The best partnerships arise when individual skills are focused on a common vision, but there’s a whole other level of dynamic synergy that happens when just the right team comes together at just the right time and place for just the right project. This is the DNA behind the launch of Snuff Mill Restaurant in North Wilmington, and the four colleagues inspired by the bountiful Brandywine Valley. In our cover story, writer Sam Anderson takes a look at what makes this new place so special.
Looking for ideas for gift-giving this year? Check out our annual guide to local foodie gifts, as well as the Cookshelf’s roundup of some of the best books to share with everyone on your list. And if comfort food is on your wish list, Chef Melina Hammer shares a few of her favorites for the season.
In downtown Chestertown, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Chef Rodney Scruggs and his team opened Watershed Alley with a clear vision for everything from the menu to the local artwork to the lighting to the wine list. Opening night this fall brought diners from near and far, and from all angles the future looks bright.
Life of the Party, an essay from one of our most prolific and thoughtful contributors, Kate Livie, is deeply personal, both heartbreaking and life-affirming, and a reminder that the holidays (like life, I suppose) are what you make of them. Carve out space for yourself to breathe, to laugh, to grieve, to celebrate, to both remember and to make new memories.
We are deeply grateful for all the storytellers, farmers, chefs, artisans and food-and-drink lovers who support our mission and read our magazine; and for the advertisers, coalitions, advocates and associations who have partnered with us to make sure we can continue to tell the stories of Delmarva.
Wishing each and every one of you the gifts of abundance, gratitude, and joy in the season ahead,
