Good food, good mood – enjoy the holidays!

Monday night specials in off-season places,
Hot crunchy pizzas put smiles on our faces,
Cheesesteaks and burgers with french fries and rings,
These are a few of my favorite things.

Dear Santa,

Has it been a year already!? I’m still enjoying our many (many!) restaurants here in the Cape Region. And even better, every week I get to coo about them on the radio and in the newspaper. I love grand openings, media events, wine, beer and spirits tastings … it never ends. Truth be told, Santa, I really don’t need any presents. You gave me the best one when I moved here to the beach more than 20 years ago.

That being said (let’s face it – nobody doesn’t want presents!), perhaps I can at least hint for a few of my favorite things this Christmas. I would love Richard Steele’s haricots verts at Café Azáfrán. Oh, and his veal sausage with cannellinis. I would also like Yolanda Pineda’s savory tamales and pupusas at Mariachi (fresh jalapenos on the side, please). And while we’re on the subject, the salsa at La Tonalteca, the chili con queso (and face-melting sauce) at Dos Locos, and the homemade Salvadorean Sopa de Mariscos (seafood soup) at Cabañas in Lewes.

I would also thoroughly appreciate the Monday night salmon burger at Summer House, the Wednesday night burger at Kindle, the Wagyu burger special at Harvest Tide and of course that apple/brie burger at Zogg’s. If you’re in a hurry, throw in a bacon cheeseburger from Five Guys with fresh jalapeños, pickles and mustard. (The warming drawer will be under the tree and preheated to 160F. Please note that the tree is in the kitchen.)

New kid in town Henlopen Pizza Kitchen bakes up a fine pie, and just around the corner, the Vegan Samurai bowl at Seedbol provides enough crunch and flavor to last all night. The chicken noodle soup and the cherry cheesecake at Pete’s Steak Shop are both sleepers and make wonderful stocking stuffers. Just a few steps north is the delightful Hammy’s Burgers & Shakes. May I request the Jerk Wings and the Thai Chili Wings? I’ll wash ‘em down with an Onion-Tended Consequences Burger. And while you’re in the neighborhood, would you taxi your sleigh across the street to Fins Ale House for a Peacemaker with slaw? Then follow the plume of hickory smoke up the highway to Bethany Blues to snag the Pigs on the Wing appetizer. You’ll love my expression of childish surprise as I rip into those little gems. While you’re pointed north, I’d also appreciate a lunchtime slice with that light, puffy crust from Mr. P’s Pizzeria. You’ll get a repeat performance of my look of surprise when I unwrap an order of crispy fried Honey Chili Water Chestnuts from Chef GG at Raas in downtown Lewes.

I will share a few secret go-to goodies that would make great stocking stuffers: the lasagna at Pat’s Pizza. And the Thai Lettuce Wraps at the new Bodhi, the chopped antipasto at Villa Sorrento, the Green Curry at Sticky Rice, one of those beautifully built Italian subs from Casapulla’s, and the cold spicy noodles at Confucius. I will be brokenhearted (do you really want that on your conscience?) if I don’t get an order of black ravioli and the brûlée’d cheesecake from 1776 Steakhouse, and a lobster BLT - with a Thermos full of New England clam chowder – from Henlopen City Oyster House.

I hope I’m not being greedy, but will there be room in your bag for a Dangerous Dog from Billy Lucas’ Taco Reho truck, the baby arugula salad (extra lemon vinaigrette, please) from DiFebo’s, and the Fried Mozzarella log from Starboard Claw?

By the way, Santa, I do actually cook at home from time to time, so I’d love a gift basket loaded with the various spice blends (in their own grinder bottles) from Spice & Tea Exchange. While you’re there on the ocean block of Rehoboth, please pick me up an order (two if you have room) of the Shiitake Mushroom Potstickers from Grotto Pizza and one of those fine-looking cheesesteaks from the new Tiki Jac’s. Set your GPS screen just slightly west to Long Neck for one of Chef Kevin Reading’s Brisket & Bleu Cheese Spring Rolls and that Smoked Gouda Griller (with short ribs!) from BrickWorks in the Taormina Square Center. 

I’ll have some goodies waiting for you, too: Help yourself to a plate of Touch of Italy’s indescribably good ricotta cookies, a couple of oatmeal raisin cookies from Patty’s in Lewes, and Roberta Desch’s creamy banana pudding from Chaps Pit Beef.

By the way, Santa, if you see Richard or Oscar, offer my apologies for butchering their song at the beginning of this article.