Cape Region eateries step up to the plate for local seniors

The annual Top Chef of the Culinary Coast event taking place Wednesday, May 17, at Ivy is already the talk of the town. This friendly competition among some of the area’s best chefs is not only fun, but also it’s the primary fundraiser for our local Meals on Wheels Lewes-Rehoboth. In fact, the Top Chef of the Culinary Coast event is the only local food-related event where every penny raised stays right here in Sussex County to benefit our homebound seniors in Rehoboth, Lewes and Harbeson.

The generosity of most Cape Region restaurants knows no bounds, and a ticket to the event grants access to their best and most creative cuisine. You stroll. You taste. Sip a little wine. You taste some more. Quaff a brew (or two). Taste yet again. Enjoy live music from 2nd Time Around band. Then vote for your favorite in several categories — all while helping to provide nourishing meals to our local neighbors. Additional help is provided by the event’s two annual presenting sponsors, Meineke Car Care in Lewes and W.E. Cross Charitable Foundation Inc.

Armed with wire whisks, spatulas and cases of their finest products, participating food industry professionals this year include (as of this writing) Café Azafran, Fins Hospitality Group/Big Oyster Brewery, Crooked Hammock Brewery, Lefty’s Alley & Eats, Harvest Tide Steakhouse, Zava Café, Backyard in Milton, Hopkins Farm Creamery, Touch of Italy, Thompson Island, Salt Air/Big Fish Group, Lewes Oyster House, Ivy, Atlantic Liquors, Brimming Horn Meadery, Nassau Valley Vineyards, Bethany Blues, Frank & Louie’s Italian Specialties, Henlopen City Oyster House, Ocean View Brewery, The Pines, Dogfish Head and Zogg’s. There will be last-minute additions, so keep an eye on the Meals on Wheels Lewes-Rehoboth ad here in the Gazette.

It’s no secret that parking has been an adventure during past Top Chef events, but through the kindness of Alex Pires and team, parking has been opened up at Ivy to accommodate everyone. Additional media promotion has been generously donated by Cape Gazette, WMDT47, WGMD 92.7 & 98.5, WOCM 98.1, Radio Rehoboth 99.1 and Southern Delaware Tourism. So many people working together to make Top Chef of the Culinary Coast the premier food event in Sussex County!

Tickets are $80 per person (over 21 only; there will be booze), and $90 if purchased at the door. Tickets may be had by calling Meals on Wheels Lewes-Rehoboth at 302-645-7449, or you can drop by the Meals on Wheels office at 32409 Lewes-Georgetown Hwy. (Route 9/404) just west of Five Points. Tickets are also available online at mealsonwheels-lr.org. Each ticket purchase includes two drink tickets.

Join the generous sponsors, chefs, restaurants, businesses, producers and benefactors from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 17, at Ivy Restaurant in Dewey Beach for a scrumptious battle to benefit a worthy cause. Who will win? Our local homebound neighbors and seniors for sure. The rest? You decide. I’ll see you there.

Bob Yesbek writes and talks beach eats nonstop. He can be reached at byesbek@capegazette.com.