I’m dreaming of a white Christmas – unless there’s red, then I’ll take the pinot noir

Sirloins with mashers and cole slaw with crabcakes. 
Big crunchy salads and simmering clambakes. 
Thursday night specials with french fries and rings, 
These are a few of my favorite things.

Dear Santa, I’ve suffered through yet another year, enjoying many of the good restaurants here in the Cape Region. To add insult to injury, I have to write about it in the paper and talk about it on the radio! I endure grand openings, menu meetings, media events, wine, beer and spirits tastings … it never ends. (Work with me here, Santa. I’m going for the sympathy vote….) 

So in light of all that, it just seems right that I get at least a few of my favorite things on Christmas morning. 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 soups at Cabañas. 

I’ll take an order of Chef Ciro Verdi’s Robiola Ravioli at Touch of Italy, and anything made with rabbit by Tim McNitt at Back Porch Café. Oh, and the mac and cheese topped with buffalo wings at Dogfish Head. I’ll wash it down with a frosty Namaste, thank you. I would also thoroughly appreciate the La Frieda Burger at Shorebreak Lodge, 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. Please add to that Chef Raul’s short rib double decker at Fish On. 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. Note that the tree is in the kitchen.) 

It doesn’t really matter which dessert you bring from Palate. They are all amazing. And can 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 a rack of St. Louis ribs slathered in spicy Memphis sauce. Speaking of smoke, I’d also appreciate the octopus small plate (roasted by a wood fire) at Crust & Craft, and a lunchtime slice with that light, puffy crust from Rick Thomas’ Mr. P’s Pizzeria. My expression of childlike surprise will warm your heart when I unwrap an order of freshly baked onion kulcha naan from Indigo Indian restaurant. 

I will share a few secret go-to goodies that would make great stocking stuffers: The lasagna at Pat’s Pizza. The fried chicken at The Pines. The chopped antipasto at Villa Sorrento. The cold spicy noodles at Confucius. And the burger with the onion frizzles at Blackwall Hitch. 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 crispy, salty lime wings from Minh’s Bistro? 

Santa, I do actually cook at home from time to time, so I’d love a gift basket loaded with infused balsamics from Olive Orchard Tasting Room at First Street Station. While you’re there, please sneak in the Texas Frito Pie just upstairs at Cooter Brown’s, along with one of those unbeatable sloppy joes from The Pond. 

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 Georgetown, and that 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.