No noodles for you! Plus, high-powered bidding for new charity
It’s not often that I’m the victim of my own enthusiasm. But I did get excited about last Thursday’s 2 Nixons multi-course pop-up ramen feast at a(MUSE.), Hari Cameron’s emporium of modernist/progressive cuisine on Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth Beach.
The one-night-only event was based on the humble yet ever-so-ubiquitous ramen noodle, and was presented in association with mortgage broker-turned-chef Jeffrey Stoneberger. For those of you who have either (1) never found yourself held prisoner in your college dorm room without anything to eat, or (2) still trapped in (1), but with nothing more than about 93 cents in your pocket, Ramen is a Japanese wheat-noodle soup served in a meat- or fish-based broth. It is very inexpensive, and is often sold dry, prepackaged and ready to reconstitute in hot water. Many a college education has been fueled by this Asian staple.
The chefs’ image of a 1972 Richard Nixon dining with assorted Chinese leaders generated an unprecedented number of clicks to my article on RehobothFoodie.com and an unusual amount of attention to my Facebook posts and Tweets. Along with the very un-Hari-like price of only $30, I suspect that those factors might have contributed to filling a(MUSE.) to capacity (twice, yet!). The upshot? I was unable to get a seat. Nada. No way, no how. And I couldn’t have been happier for Chef Hari’s good fortune.
Butcha gotta eat, right? So, in order to remain both noodle-centric and Cameron-centric, I walked about 100 steps east to Grandpa(MAC), the pantheon to mac ‘n’ cheese brainstormed by Hari and his brother Orion. So all was well that ended well. Next time I’ll wise up and make a reservation.
I was equally enthusiastic about Saturday’s kickoff event for SoDel Concepts’ new humanitarian effort, SoDel Cares. Fish On in Lewes was packed with Matt Haley fans, friends and family, itchin’ to bid on several one-of-a-kind auction items. SoDel executive chefs Doug Ruley and Maurice Catlett treated the crowd to equally unusual hors d’oeuvres. One of the stars of the show was Maurice’s seared pork belly, laced with his sticky rib sauce and impaled on a stick with pickled cucumber. Regional manager Mike Dickinson confided to me that the kitchen crew consumed almost as many of these crunchy/savory little gems as did the guests. Of course I promised I wouldn’t tell a soul.
One of the auction items was a 5-course dinner and wine pairing for 10, prepared and served in the winner’s home by Touch of Italy owner Bob Ciprietti, noted cheesemonger Bill Wilson and … wait for it … yup, yours truly. Wilson and I start off the dinner with a cheese plate and my (at least I hope it’s) famous fried chicken. (Matt loved it.) Then Ciprietti steps in with a selection of his Bronx family’s Sunday supper favorites with all the fixins’ ranging from seasoned rack of lamb to moist and tender pork loin to Italian braciole in gravy. Touch of Italy’s legendary desserts top it off. Value? Priceless, of course.
SoDel Concepts CEO Scott Kammerer saved the best ‘til last: A shiny, handcrafted Moto Guzzi motorcycle, one of Matt’s favorites. These bikes have been produced since 1921 in Mandello del Lario, Italy. This one kept the auctioneer busy for a while.
Other items that sparked spirited bidding (and over $70,000 for the charity when all was said and done!), included a Tuscan vacation to the beautiful Conti di San Bonifacio wine resort; a no-holds-barred lobster bake for you and 25 of your closest friends, hosted by none other than SoDel Concepts’ Big Thunder Roadside Kitchen; and a 4-course dinner for 10 at Catch 54 in Fenwick Island.
I wrote a few weeks ago about how much action there is here at the beach when the vacationers aren’t looking - and to think we’re not even to Sea Witch yet! Hang on to your seats: Things are just getting started.
Bob Yesbek is a serial foodie and can be reached at byesbek@CapeGazette.com.
