The generosity of our beach eateries knows no bounds

The 10th annual Top Chef of the Culinary Coast event will take place Wednesday, May 15, at Ivy in Dewey Beach, and it’s already the talk of the town.

This friendly competition among some of the area’s best chefs is not only fun, but also 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 the Rehoboth, Lewes and Harbeson areas.

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 homebound neighbors. Additional help is provided by the event’s two annual presenting sponsors, Meineke Car Care in Lewes and the W. E. Cross Charitable Foundation Inc.

Armed with wire whisks, spatulas and their finest products, participating food industry professionals include (as of this writing) Bethany Blues, Café Azafran, Ivy, Fins Hospitality Group, Lewes Oyster House, Diamond State Meats, Hopkins Farm Creamery, Touch of Italy, The Backyard in Milton, Bluecoast, Frank & Louie’s, Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, Mule Run Meats, Sazio, Henlopen City Oyster House, Lefty’s Alley & Eats, Nassau Valley Winery, and more to come!

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, WRDE-TV, WGMD 92.7 & 98.5, WOCM 98.1, Radio Rehoboth 99.1 and Southern Delaware Tourism. Don’t miss Backyard restaurant owner Amy Rae and Meals on Wheels Lewes-Rehoboth board member Lana O’Hollaren on Coast Life TV! 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 in advance (over 21 only – there will be booze), and $90 if purchased at the door. Tickets may be reserved 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. They’re also available online at mealsonwheels-lr.org. Admission includes two drink tickets.

Join the generous sponsors, chefs, restaurants, businesses, producers and benefactors from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 15,  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.