Edible Delmarva: Summer 2018
FROM THE EDITOR
There is something magical about the lightness of summer. The long days that start with fresh mornings, which move into the mesmerizing heat of midday and then into the sweetest evenings of the year. Here in Delmarva, the population swells with the onset of the season – clearly because everyone knows we’ve got something truly special here!
For some in Delmarva, roots go back generations and they wouldn’t consider living anywhere else. Others return after exploring the world, and some come by choice, deciding that the opportunities, climate, culture and lifestyle can’t be beat. Whatever brought you to Delmarva, it’s easy to see why people stay. Warm and friendly communities, a thriving food and drink community where the harvest-to-table distance is short, and a place where entrepreneurial ideas can blossom.
In this issue, we share stories from local entrepreneurs who have shown us that dreams can come true. Carl and Lisa Georigi from the Platinum Dining Group opened their first restaurant in Wilmington in 1996 and, more than 20 years and many restaurants later, are as excited about their next project as they were about their first. On the Chesapeake’s Eastern Shore, John Laucik and Jennifer Laucik Baker chose Chestertown for their dream business, opening the Chester River Wine and Cheese Co. in 2015 after falling in love with the foodie community’s vision for the future. And down in Eastern Shore Virginia, two entrepreneurial families are learning new math: one plus one equals three! The collaboration between the teams at Eastern Shore Coastal Roasting and Cheriton eatery The Local has led to the birth of a third food-inspired start-up, Java Food Co.
“Entrepreneurial craft distiller activists” is a mouthful, but the term that best describes the Cook brothers from Blackwater Distilling. While launching their spirits business on Kent Island, the pair also took on getting a Maryland law passed that enabled distilleries to offer tours and sell their spirits on-site. This summer, as they celebrate a decade since receiving their initial license, the distillery will expand operations to include a tavern and tasting room.
Innkeeping is not for the faint of heart, but for those who have an affinity for hospitality, history and home, it’s a win for all three. Beautiful historic bed-and-breakfast inns abound in Delmarva, and here we explore three that are situated on some of our area’s most lovely rivers – perfect for a getaway weekend no matter where you call home.
As in every issue, our recipe box is full of everything we love about the season: fresh fruit, fresh greens, fresh everything from the garden! We showcase a full complement of gorgeous salads from Melina Hammer that will wow your family and friends while keeping kitchen time to a minimum. And celebrate blueberry season with some new twists from Estelle Tracy on this summertime favorite.
So as the season unfolds with all its delicious abundance, consider your own dreams and perhaps following an as-yet-unexplored path to see what Delmarva might have in store for you! Happy Summer!
