Delaware celebrates its hardworking restaurateurs

In keeping with the yearly tradition upheld by many of our local eateries, last Monday's Delaware Restaurant Association's 16th Annual Cornerstone Awards Celebration did not disappoint. Not that we expected anything less from Delaware's leading food industry trade organization. Powered by over 1,900 businesses, the Delaware restaurant community employs more than 47,000 people with an economic impact of over $2 billion. So they should be able to throw a pretty decent party.

It was 6 p.m. at the revamped and resurrected Queen Theater in downtown Wilmington when our very own Love Seed Trio kickstarted the gala directly into high gear. Many of Delaware's shining stars lined the perimeter of the stylishly unfinished venue, proudly serving their best to their peers.

Some of Delaware's best included Mikimoto's and Washington Ale House, the upstate installations of the restaurant group recently purchased by Eric Sugrue that includes Rehoboth's Stingray. They dished up delicious bites that included a spicy shredded pork slider with an Asian accent. Touch of Italy's official cheesemonger Bill Wilson wielded that beautiful red slicer (around $6,000 for that thing!) to crank out paper-thin cuts of hot sopressata along with bites of intensely flavored cheeses accented by sun-dried tomatoes.

The perpetually off-centered Dogfish Head crew handed out samples of Sam's latest brews and spirits conveniently adjacent to Henlopen City Oyster House's endless steamed shrimp perched on a block of ice. Delectable bites were also available from 2FatGuys American Grill, Blue Earl Brewing Company, Crust & Craft, Dewey Beer Company, Brick Works Brewing and Eats, Mispillion River Brewing, 16 Mile, FINS Fish House & Raw Bar, Big Oyster Brewery, Eclipse Bistro, a(MUSE.), Crooked Hammock Brewery, Harry's Savoy Grill, Twin Lakes Brewing Company, La Fia Bistro, Pizza by Elizabeths, SoDel Concepts, Domaine Hudson, Two Stones Pub Wilmington, 2SP Brewing Company, Vita Nova at the University of Delaware, Little Goat Coffee Roasting, The Starboard Restaurant, Newark Standard Distributing Company, NKS Distributors Inc., Breakthru Beverage Delaware, Southern Wine & Spirits, Stateside Vodka and more. Generous sponsors included B+H Insurance, The Buccini/Pollin Group, Platinum Dining Group, Ecolab, US Foods and Sysco.

And this is a partying bunch! After listening to DRA Chairman of the Board Steve "Monty" Montgomery kibitz back and forth with Governor John Carney about football, foodies in the know began to stream next door to the Merchant Bar and Monty's famous after party featuring the Blue Cat Blues Band.

Though it seems like tastings shouldn't qualify as actual eating, many revelers seemed to have trouble leaving the theater under their own power. Amid all the cheering and virtually endless food, our Delaware eateries stepped up to the plate in every sense of the word. The answer to the eternal question, "What's for dinner?" shines brightly here in Delaware, and I'm proud to know so many talented entrepreneurs and risk-takers who are genuinely dedicated not only to their craft but to our culinary enjoyment as well.