Edible Delmarva: Spring 2020
Although every season has its moments, for me there is nothing like the coming of spring! The anticipation of what’s to come – warmer weather and more daylight, outdoor dining and abundant farmers markets – has me nearly giddy with excitement, imagination, and inspiration.
If you’re like us, planning the garden was one of winter’s most fun activities, and now the time has come to put those plans into action. It’s easy to start small with room to grow, and Cathy Schmidt provides ideas and tips for creating an outdoor pantry that can contribute to your table all year long. To get an early start, foraging for wild asparagus is well worth the eff ort, and learning where the local spots are (and trying to remember them!) can yield some of the best dishes to start the season. If you can’t find a good spot, check out the farmers’ markets opening up this month.
If you’re a novice in the kitchen (and even if you’re not), chef Melina Hammer shows how simple-but-luxurious ingredients can turn toast into showstopper plates on the table. Your favorite breads, spreads, toppers and flavors combine for imaginative meals at any time of day, for yourself or for entertaining friends and family.
Chef Carrie Baird captured the hearts of Top Chef lovers nationwide, and we loved learning more from her interview about what inspires her. This year she’ll chair the Celebrity Chefs’ Brunch in support of Meals on Wheels Delaware. With 25 great chefs on board and nearly 1000 guests it’s sure to be a memorable event. (P.S. Get your tickets now, they always sell out early!)
Continuing our series of profiles on Women and Wine, writer Pam George introduces us to Michelle Souza and Linda Collier. Souza, who was recruited to Delaware Importers after attending the University of Delaware, has not only built a successful career in the wine and spirits distribution industry, but is a sought-after educator, collaborator and coach. Collier, celebrating nearly 40 years as a wine-shop proprietor, is credited with helping create a legislative agenda for the state, including the passage of in-shop wine tasting laws (thank you, Linda!)
In every corner of Delmarva, local artisans are putting down roots and settling into communities, finding success and creating connections that are making a difference. In Chestertown, MD, two local food-and- drink aficionados, Neyah White and Thomas Kaylor, have returned to the Eastern Shore and joined forces to open The Retriever, serving “lusty technical food and good booze” in their home town. Further north in Newark, DE, Oliva Brinton and Joe Lins partnered up to parlay their love for coffee into Little Goat Coffee Roasting Co., building on that success to open a shop that immediately feels like home. Up in New Castle, Mike Ioannoni’s eponymous sandwich shop was built on family recipes and the commitment to doing everything just right – every time. And in Dover, siblings Monika Urquhart and Andreas Janke focus on European excellence and first-class customer service at their Bavarian Bakery. How lucky we are to have so many artisans choosing Delmarva as their home!
So as spring moves across our region, imagination and inspiration mark this season of renewal and rebirth and we celebrate the fresh, abundant feast that is Delmarva. We cannot wait to see what delights the season has in store for us!
