Bananas Foster – Eastern Shore Virginia Style!

Alas, no flambé,  but given my track record for safety, this is probably a good thing.  Nonetheless – when in Cape Charles, Virginia, please visit the Brown Dog Ice Cream store. They are just opening up for the season and are offering a new menu item that has caused quite the stir in this peaceful beachfront village: the Bananas Foster Sundae.

No, not the dessert of the same name from Brennan’s Restaurant in New Orleans – this one is similar, yet flame-less and named for the brown dog himself, Foster! Imagine a sundae with warm buttery brown sugar and rum sauce drizzled over a melee of sliced fresh banana, whipped cream and puff pastry – all atop three scoops of a vanilla-based, bananas foster-flavored ice cream. I had one last Sunday and I suddenly have a craving for another – just from typing the description. Caveat – you must be 21 years old to get the adult version. Those under 21 can receive the rum-less version, which is also mighty tasty from what others tell me!

E gads! And I am six hours away by fast car. The weekend cannot get here soon enough!

If you are visiting the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, it is worth the trip. Let me end with a photo so you can start salivating, too!

Bananas Foster Sundae at the Brown Dog in Cape Charles, Virginia

Review: Surf Rider at Taylors Landing

Yesterday, when it was 103 degrees outside with a heat index of 115, the boss offered to buy lunch for the team. Giving the weather a “Pa-shaw”, and never one to turn down free food, we all agreed and met at the Surf Rider, Taylors Landing edition, located on Shore Drive in the Oceanview section of Norfolk, Virginia. (Click on the link for pictures and location info.)

What a nice experience!

We had a party of seven, which was not a problem for the staff, even with the lunch crowd coming in. To be fair, there are no reservations at Surf Rider (any of them) and they only seat you when at least half of your group has arrived. The place was full by the time we left and there were several people waiting. Given the heat of the day, this is a testament to the restaurant’s popularity.

The food was very good. Not five-star gourmet fare, but down-home seafood cooked with some thought and care.

We tried the crab cakes, fried oysters and seared tuna bites. Others had one of the chalkboard specials, the fried flounder.  There were no complaints and not much talking once the food arrived. The talk of the table was the vegetable of the day, however.

Most items come with your choice of two vegetables or steamed broccoli.  By all means, if you like broccoli – get the broccoli. What you get is an entire crown of the green veggie, steamed, served with a side bowl of Hollandaise sauce.

Who’d a thought?

Surf Rider has several locations throughout the Hampton Roads area, each with a slightly different ambiance. Having several Surf Rider aficionados at our table, it was agreed that this was the best one overall.  Cost? Reasonable. With a generous tip (deserved I will say) our tab came to $130. That works out $17 per person, including tax and tip.

I will definately be going back, when it is cooler so my lovely wife and I can have a nice lunch or romantic dinner on the deck facing the beautiful marina. Can’t wait!

 

Sweet Potato & Corn – a Savory Summer Soup!

A savory sweet potato & corn soup!

Still being relatively new to the Eastern Shore, and not owning our own farm, we have many friendly neighbors who stop by to share vegetables from their own gardens. This week we received fresh tomatoes and red banana peppers, plus a few yellow squash. What to do, what to do?

The corn fields are at the point where they should be harvested soon. The drought we are experiencing right now isn’t helping; I am not sure how long the corn will be available so…

Sweet potato and corn soup!

I’ll save the tomatoes and the yellow squash for another day. Still need to get a sweet potato and some corn. A while back, I learned one (of the many) secrets of the Shore, something kept close to the chest by most here, and for good reason – the location an unmanned vegetable stand that uses the honor system for payment.

Known as the Fresh Market (although there is no sign) it is located at…wait, I’m not supposed to tell…sorry. (I will say this, it’s on the Eastern Shore and it’s by a corn field. Now you have to do the leg work to find it. Good luck!) Anyhow, the Fresh Market has a variety of vegetables, refreshed daily by the farmers nearby. There is usually a handwritten price list tacked to the wall, sometimes prices are written on the larger items, such as melons. There is a cash box nailed to the wall; just put enough cash in to cover what you take. The honor system! Apparently it still works well here; not sure this would happen in Virginia Beach. 😦

Just pay for what you take...

I picked up some corn, only 6 ears needed for the soup, and they were priced at $3 a dozen. My lovely wife put money in the box – I bet she paid for a dozen anyway. Hey, the family farmers need all the help they can get!

Now for the soup. This was my first time creating this pseudo chowder and I must say it turned out better than I imagined.

Sweet Potato – Corn Soup

1 large Sweet Potato, peeled and cubed into pieces no larger than a 1/2 inch.
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 can (14 oz) Chicken Stock
1 can (14 oz) Water
6 ears of corn, shucked, kernels shaved of the cob
1/2 Red Banana Pepper, seeded, chopped
1/2 cup Cheddar Cheese, shredded
1/2 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
1 Teaspoon Black Pepper
Salt to taste (please use some! It makes a difference!)
1/2 cup Oyster Crackers, crushed almost into a fine meal consistency

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Then start preparing the vegetables.

Put the sweet potato cubes in a baking dish, slather with the Olive oil.
Roast the sweet potatoes in the oven for 10 minutes, stir a bit to prevent sticking, then roast for another 10 minutes. If they are not fully cooked, it’s alright.

In a large sauce pan, place the roasted sweet potatoes and the rest of the ingredients except the crushed oyster crackers.

Stir the ingredients to mix in the seasonings, then heat on the stove top until the soup starts boiling. Reduce heat and let the soup simmer for about 20 minutes.

Add the crushed oyster crackers bit by bit, stirring after each addition, until the soup thickens to your liking.

There you have it – you are done! Serves 4.

It’s not a chowder in the traditional sense; there is no milk or heavy cream added. But… the cheddar cheese gives this soup a nice creaminess and the oyster crackers thicken everything without the slick taste of corn starch or the lumps of flour. The banana pepper isn’t hot at all; it gives the soup a nice textural element plus some color.

The best part is the sweetness of the orange potato cubes and fresh corn, balanced against the savory seasonings of the cayenne and black pepper.

Sweet Potato – Corn Soup. Perfect with a BLT on a nice summer evening by the outdoor fireplace. Try it and let me know what you think!

The Chesapeake Grill is no fish story….

The Flounder Sandwich at the Chesapeake Grill

Driving across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel from Virginia Beach to the Eastern Shore is normally about 18 miles of dodging wayward seagulls and New Englanders speeding their way to or from the Outer Banks of North Carolina. People who like to fish also know that the Seagull Pier, located on the first island (the South Island,) is a great place to hook monster flounder. Now there is a new reason for everyone to stop – The Chesapeake Grill.

Totally refurbished, the mini-rest stop on the world famous bridge is a combination of a rest stop, scenic overlook, snack bar, gift shop, fishing pier, and…fine dining?

Okay, the Chesapeake Grill is not exactly fine dining. There are no white tablecloths. I did not see a wine list. Zagat has not visited. If, however, you are in the neighborhood, do yourself a favor and stop by for a bite to eat. Open from 6 AM to 10 PM, the C.G. offers awesome food for reasonable prices.

Grilled Vegetable Sandwich at The Chesapeake Grill on the CBBT

My wife had the grilled vegetable sandwich. Presented on grilled focaccia, the sandwich had sauteed yellow squash, zucchini, spinach, tomato, red onion, mushroom, and artichoke heart (just a wee bit.) The chef used an aioli that was seasoned with a hint of sun dried tomatoes, along with a nice blend of spices. As a vegetarian, my wife was thrilled that someone put that much thought into a dish for those who do not choose seared animal flesh for meals. It was a hit!

I always try the seafood when dining over the water, literally. The flounder sandwich was a total surprise….in a good way. Two HUGE flounder fillets, slathered in a beer batter and then deep fried, covered the bun and then some. I had the option of sides: fries, cole slaw, potato salad or pasta salad. The pasta salad that I chose did not come out of a tub. It was put together by caring hands: penne, red and yellow bell pepper, chopped green onion, feta cheese, tomato, capers and seasonings. Again, a very nice surprise.

The price? $7 for the grilled veggie sandwich and $11 for the flounder. Looking at the menu, it seems that prices range from $5 to $14 or so.

Everything that came out of the kitchen had presentation that would rival the best of restaurants.

The fine details: sandwiches and salads for lunch / full menu for dinner. We already plan to go back for dinner. You just can’t beat the view, either. BONUS: the food is procured from local sources whenever possible.

Walking in the door you will be confused. There is a sign that helps, but let me elaborate: gift shop to the right, to-go snacks to the left. For table service, go straight ahead and wait at the entrance to the dining area. A server will seat you.

Is it worth the $12 toll to cross the bridge, maybe or maybe not. That’s up to you, but if you are visiting the Eastern Shore, the Chesapeake Grill is a GREAT PLACE to start your culinary adventure. Try it and let me know what you think.

Next week…how “corny” can you get?

New look – new food adventures!

So I was at work today, in the maw of the cube farm machine, when a nice lady asked me “How was your Fourth of July?” We had just returned from a long weekend off and most of my fellow gray partition warriors were hard at work, already trying to determine when the next long weekend would occur. I looked up from my computer screen and realized that yes, she was, indeed, talking to me.

“Why, I had a great time. We watched a parade and some fireworks on the Eastern Shore…”

Then came the reply.

“Eastern Shore? Now where *is* that, exactly?”

-sigh-

I explained that if she drove down the road for about 15 minutes, she would come to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. “The land on the other side of that bridge…is the Eastern Shore.”

“I never knew that” she replied.

That is when I knew it was time to give Exploding Potatoes a specific mission: Explore the Eastern Shore of Virginia and give a weekly report of my culinary adventures.

Trust me…it will be worth the toll…

Stay tuned.