Local wines and trucks full of food = family fun for our veterans

This Friday and Saturday, April 14 and 15, some 30 food trucks will roll into Harvest Ridge Winery in Marydel to support a great cause. As of this writing, these kitchens on wheels include The Little Sicilian (arancini are their forte), Falling off the Bone Bar-Be-Que and Fish Fry, Mojo Loco, Dixie’s Downhome Cooking from Smyrna, Vanderwende Farm Creamery, The Polish Connection (their pierogis are to die for), Crazy Rick’s Food Truck, Burgers by Wildwich, Amy’s Grill (home of the signature strawberry lemonade and peach milkshakes),Taste of Philly, Taco Jardin (part of Painted Stave Distillery in Smyrna), Frozen Farmer (they found fame on “Shark Tank”), the dumpling masters of Wandering Chef, and Delmarva Bob (distinctive barbecue out of Seaford).

It’s quite a lineup, courtesy of the world’s longest run-on sentence. And it (the event, not the sentence) all goes to benefit two worthy causes: the local chapter of Disabled American Veterans and the Hero-Hunts Foundation. The DAV serves more than 1.2 million U.S. military veterans who suffered disability during their time of service. The organization and its volunteers transport sick and disabled veterans to and from VA medical facilities for treatment along with offering education and counseling. The DAV receives no federal funding and relies solely on dues and contributions.

The Hero-Hunts Foundation is the brainchild of Chuck and Chris Nunan, the owners of Harvest Ridge Winery. Over the years, they have hosted veterans on deer-hunting expeditions in the local area, at absolutely no charge. A few years ago, under the auspices of Operation Whitetail, Chuck volunteered to take in a veteran, gave him room and board, and took him hunting on the family property. True to form for the affable winemaker, he even cooked breakfast for the guy! When Operation Whitetail was disbanded due to the original founder’s health issues, Chuck picked up the baton (or, more appropriately, the rifle) and started his own foundation with a similar mission. Chuck said, “The men and women of the armed forces have given so much for the freedom of this country. This is my way of giving back to them.”

Nunan began making wine in his basement in 1995. After visiting a South Carolina vineyard in 2010, he and his wife Chris converted their Marydel farmland into Harvest Ridge Winery. Chuck, his family and their employees planted the first vines – Chardonnay, Viognier, Malbec and Merlot – in 2011. What was to be Delaware’s fourth winery officially opened to the public Nov. 1, 2013. The property straddles the border between Delaware and Maryland, smack-dab on the Mason-Dixon Line. Among its unique features is one of the Mason-Dixon surveyors’ original witness stones and crown markers – No. 47. In fact, that historic number is integrated into the winery’s logo.

Of course, it’s too soon to name this year’s winners, but Chuck Nunan and his social media team report that the thousands who attended one of the recent events voted Fifer Orchards (and those warm apple donuts!) first place in the sweet category. The Nothing Better Truck was voted No. 1 in the savory category. The panel of judges honored the Wandering Chef Catering Cart with the top prize, followed closely by The Plum Pit and Nothing Better.

This year’s live music will be provided by Rehoboth Beach JazzFest favorite Joe Baione. This Delaware native is all about music! His dad, noted clarinetist-saxophonist-educator Jim Baione, is a graduate of Combs Conservatory of Music in Philadelphia. But that’s not all: Barbara, Joe’s mom, and his two older brothers Tom and Jimmy are all accomplished players. Joe studied music education and jazz performance, graduating from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 1995. He also served as the assistant stage manager for all the headline concerts at the Delaware State Fair. In other words, you gotta hear this guy play.

Never without an opinion (me? really?), my take for star of the show at past competitions was the Quack Attack sandwich at Plum Pit (tender smoked duck stuffed into a warm, yeasty roll with crunchy chicharrones, chipotle peppers and ... bacon (surprise, surprise). Sharing the top position was the Mac & Cheesesteak from I Don’t Give a Fork (Philly steak, grilled onions and mac & cheese on a hoagie roll), followed by those ridiculous made-to-order caramel apple donettes (a mini donut – work with me here) at Nothing Better.

Chuck’s support for the DAV reaches its goal – and then some – every year. Harvest Ridge Winery is about 20 minutes west of Dover. Schedule a tour and hope to have Chuck as your guide. He’ll treat you the same way he treats his wines and his favorite charities: like family.