Fireworks aren’t the only festive way to celebrate the holiday at the beach. No Independence Day event is complete without food and refreshing libations. Here are five tasty ways to make the most of the weekend.
1. PAINT THE TOWN RED, WHITE AND BLUE
Show your true colors at Big Chill Surf Cantina’s summer pop-up bar, Glory Daze Cantina, which is festooned in the nation’s signature hues. The Route 1 establishment between Lewes and Rehoboth has installed a sandlot for a beachy vibe.
Seasonal beverages are fun takes on childhood delights. Consider drink pouches with cranberry, lemonade and vodka, which chill in a red Playmate cooler. The sandy scenario remains at the cantina until Sunday, July 20, and a food truck is usually in the parking lot.
2. POP A ROCKET
Crooked Hammock Brewery, situated at the entrance to Lewes, recently introduced Rocket Pop, a hard seltzer available on draft and in 12-ounce cans. The cherry, lime and blue raspberry flavors will remind you of the popsicles you enjoyed on the Fourth of July as a kid.
Pair it with one of the brewery’s July summer seafood specials, including Brewer Bob’s Drunken Mussels. The shellfish comes with Hammock Light “beer blanc” sauce studded with onions, garlic, roasted tomatoes, slab bacon and fresh herbs. Lemon and grilled toast points are the finishing touches.
3. GET DIRTY
Crooked Hammock’s sibling, Taco Reho, has been selling Dirty Sodas since spring. Born in Utah, the alcohol-free beverages are sodas with enhancements, such as syrups and creams. It’s a drink that sips like dessert. For the holidays, the California taco concept, located on Route 1 between Lewes and Rehoboth, will create a Rocket Pop version.
Picking crabs is another way to get messy, and it’s the consummate Delmarva activity on Independence Day.
The Crab House on Route 1 is offering specials on half and full bushels for medium, large and extra-large crabs. Prices range from $200 for a half-bushel of mediums to $900 for a full bushel of extra-large blue claws. Add-ons include fried chicken, hushpuppies, corn, coleslaw and potato salad.
The newly opened Hocker’s Family Restaurant in Ocean View sells crabs by the dozen for carryout. Or you can dine in. You can also do both at The Surfing Crab, which is just north of the Nassau bridge.
4. FOOD & FIREWORKS
Admittedly, most restaurants with a view are booked. Above the Dunes, for instance, offers private ticketed balcony seats overlooking Rehoboth Beach. “That event has been sold out for a few months,” says owner Mike Venanzi. “We do not guarantee any other table with views of the fireworks.” But you can try. And purchase your tickets early next year.
The beach, however, is free, and there is a plethora of places for carryout. Consider Big Fish Market, which sells prepared sandwiches, salads and even sushi. The market, located just outside the entrance to downtown Rehoboth, is open daily.
5. BUY LOCAL
If you plan to barbecue at home, head to Hickman’s Meat Market on Route 1 near Rehoboth. Choose from red meat, including ground chuck, sirloin, brisket or round, as well as pork and poultry. As for fixings, make a holiday stop at the Historic Lewes Farmers Market at George H.P. Smith Park.
Don’t forget the corn. You can always check the Freeman corn stand – aka the Corn Man – on Robinsonville Road outside Lewes. However, the crop usually comes in a little later in the month.
Meanwhile, check out Lloyd’s Market in Lewes. Along with local produce and addictive roast chickens, the market is selling T-shirts featuring fireworks over the much-loved store’s façade.
It’s a coastal thing.
