Sen. Chris Coons visits Bluecoast Seafood Grill in Rehoboth Beach

U.S. Sen. Chris Coons recently visited Bluecoast Seafood Grill & Raw Bar to meet the staff and tour the new restaurant, which was built from the ground up on Route 1 near the entrance to downtown Rehoboth Beach.

"We were so pleased that Sen. Coons took time out of his busy schedule to see Bluecoast," said Scott Kammerer, president of SoDel Concepts, which owns Bluecoast and nine other restaurants near the coast, as well as The Clubhouse at Baywood in Long Neck. "From the building to the kitchen design to the menu, Bluecoast in Rehoboth is the culmination of a lot of hard work. The reward is the positive feedback that we've received from our customers and our staff."

This is the second time Coons has visited a new SoDel Concepts location. In June 2016, he came to Matt's Fish Camp, which had just opened on Route 1 in Lewes.

At Bluecoast, Corporate Chef Doug Ruley gave Coons a tour. There was much to see. One of SoDel Concepts' largest restaurants, the new establishment has a main dining room, bar area, raw bar and a space for small groups, which is known as the library because it boasts shelves filled with cookbooks. Outdoor seating includes a covered porch, an outdoor bar and a patio with a stage. There's also a landscaped area with cornhole games.

As he did at Matt's Fish Camp, Coons got into the trenches and helped prepare a dish. "It was an honor to work in the kitchen with him," Ruley said. "Afterward, we chatted over tuna poke." (Poke is a Hawaiian salad with cubed raw tuna.)

Coons also spoke with the staff, and he greeted those who stuck their heads in the door to see if Bluecoast was open yet for lunch. (Lunch service started June 27.)

SoDel Concepts has an ongoing relationship with the senator, who recruited the hospitality group to participate in a NASA project. Chef Ronnie Burkle is growing tomatoes using both seeds that spent time in space and seeds that stayed on Earth. He's recording the results. SoDel Concepts has also sent chefs to Delaware Day in Washington, D.C., which showcases the food and beverages the First State offers.

"We are so grateful for the support that Sen. Coons has given to us over the years," Kammerer said. "His visit and time in the kitchen with SoDel chefs has become a tradition that we cherish. Access to our legislators is just one of the many reasons we love doing business in Delaware."

For more information, call 302-278-7395 or go to www.bluecoastrehoboth.com and www.sodelconcepts.com.