June 21, 2012
My son, Michael, is working at The Wine Specialist in Kitty Hawk. He often calls when there is a new wine or micro-brew on the shelf. He called yesterday to tell me about some artisanal cheeses that just came in and asked me to help spread the word.
Christine McMaster is The Wine Specialist. Originally from Rockville, Maryland, Christine moved to France when she was 20 years old. She learned about grape growing and wine making and received a certificate from the French Department of Agriculture. She moved to the Outer Banks, where she vacationed as a child with her family, and opened her store. Christine brings a level of knowledge and expertise to local wine enthusiasts. She will customize a wine or beer tasting for you in her bright and comfortable tasting “parlor” at her store at MilePost 4 in Kitty Hawk (next door to Capt’n Frank’s).
This assortment of cheeses will certainly pair well with a variety of wines and some may even stand up to a Stout/Porter Ale.
- Black Mountain Cheddar – a combination of garlic, herbs and white wine blended with creamy American cheddar makes a potent, assertive cheese. Pairs with dry red wine, such as a very affordable Morro Bay White Oak Estates Cabernet Sauvignon, 2008, in stock for $10.99.
- Brillat Savarin Mini, – cow’s milk, triple-crème brie-style cheese from France. This lovely cheese is buttery, rich, creamy and decadent. Incredible on its own or served with a fruit jam on hearty bread. For a special event, serve Brillat Savarin with a bottle Pascal Doque Premiers Crus Champagne from France, in stock at $65.99. Brillat Savarin will also work very well with a Viognier, this one by Bonterra, 2009, is in stock for $19.99.
Brillat Savarin
- Manchego Wedge – Perhaps the most famous Spanish cheese, Manchego is a D.O. (Denominacion de Origen) protected cheese, meaning that only 100% Manchego sheep milk is used in a traditional recipe. The breed has proven sturdy enough over the centuries to traverse the rocky, arid central plateau region known as La Mancha- where cows just can’t hang. It has a deep rich flavor and would go well with apple slices, ginger snaps and rich, fruity wines. Traditionally paired with Rioja.
- Purple Haze Goat Cheese – sprinkled with tender purple buds of lavender and fennel pollen, Purple Haze goat cheese is intense, floral and piquant. Serve this cheese at room temperature with crackers with this crisp Chardonnay from Argentina: Catena Chardonnay, 2008, in stock $22.99.
Categories: Dining, Food & Wine, outer banks, Shopping, Things to do, travel, Uncategorized.
Tags: Beer, Cheese, food, Micro-Brewery, outer banks, Outer Banks things to do, travel, Wine
February 25, 2012
Lots of things to do and see along the Outer Banks, here’s a sample:
FIRST FLIGHT CRUISERS 5TH ANNUAL SHAMROCK CAR SHOW AND POKER RUN
March 15 – 18
All events are ‘rain or shine’! Start the show off right with a Welcome Reception, Thursday, March 15th at Mako Mikes. The following day enjoy the Poker Run, Friday, March 16th. The Shamrock Car, Truck and Bike Show is Saturday, March 17th at First Flight High School. Visit http://firstflightcruisers.com for more information.
SOUTHERN CIRCUIT FILM TOUR PRESENTS A GIFT FOR THE VILLAGE
March 24
Dare County Arts Council is pleased to bring the Southern Circuit Film Tour to the residents of Dare County! Six independent films will travel to Dare County, and local residents and visitors are invited to screen the films and meet the director. The film, A Gift For The Village, will be screened at Roanoke Island Festival Park Indoor Film Theater on March 24th at 7:00pm. Doors open at 6:30pm. The filmmaker, Tom Landon will be on hand for a question and answer session after the film is screened.
TASTE OF THE BEACH
March 15-18
Presented by the Dare County Restaurant Association, this grand food festival will feature wine tastings, cooking classes, special menu presentations, celebrity guest chef appearances, brewery tours, tapas crawls and many more events with an exciting array of creative combinations and culinary delights. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.obxtasteofthebeach.com/home.htm.
KELLY’S 4TH ANNUAL RUNNING OF THE LEPRECHAUNS 8K
Saturday, March 17, 2012 | 2316 S. Croatan Hwy Nags Head, NC 27959
8K ADULT or under 18 age categories. Register at http://fsseries.com/index.php?action=event&event_id=104
KELLY’S ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE
Sunday, March 18 – 1 p.m. on the Beach Road, Nags Head
This year’s parade celebrates The Outer Banks Hospital’s 10th Anniversary & a Decade of Care, and the theme is “Health is Happiness!” Following a traditional Irish Blessing, each petal on the Shamrock represents a wish for good health, good luck & much happiness. Awards include Best Overall, Best Float, Best Band/Music Theme, Best Unity & Best Parade Route Theme. The parade hosts 100+ entries annually & is viewed by 8-10 thousand bystanders.
OUTER BANKS BOOTCAMPS “EXPRESS” MARATHON TRAINING CAMP
March 27 – 4 weeks
The camp will culminate at the 3rd annual running of the Flying Pirate Half Maratho. Curriculum includes but is not limited to:
- Short and long distance running
- Speed and Tempo workouts
- Strength & Conditioning Weight Training
- Plyometric Drills
- General and Sports Nutrition
- How to compete and successfully participate in an endurance foot race
For more information on how to join and train with the leader in Race Training on the Outer Banks call 252-489-8239 or email us at outerbanksbootcamps@yahoo.com.
Categories: Arts, Dining, Food & Wine, Holiday Happenings, News, outer banks, Sporting Events, Things to do, travel, Uncategorized.
Tags: Dining, Fitness, food, fresh seafood, marshes light new home community in historic manteo, outer banks, Things to do, Walking Neighborhood in Small Coastal Town
January 27, 2012
There are lots of reasons to visit the Outer Banks now: it’s quiet, there are no crowds and there are lots of things to do and see. The beaches are deserted, practically guaranteeing a bounty of shells and sea glass waiting to be found.
Rather than post all the current events here, I highly recommend that you check out www.outerbanks.org. They have a great new look and it’s easy to navigate. The current calendar of events is found here. For art happenings, check out Dare County Arts Council’s stylish new website here.
Be sure to check out Sip & Dip, offered at Art Space in Southern Shores. Workshops by local artists. www.artspace.com.
Off Season usually means discounted rates and local specials. And to me, that means WINE. We are fortunate here to have several great wine shops with knowledgeable vintners and incredible selections.
The Wine Specialist in Kitty Hawk is located at Buccaneer‘s Walk (next to Capt’n Franks). Owned and operated by my friend Christine and her husband, Fernando da Mota, they offer free wine tastings on Wednesday nights from 5 until 8 p.m. It’s a great way to sample new wines before purchasing. My husband especially liked the Highway 12 Cabernet Sauvignon, admiring the ripe aromas of dark berries and soft French oak nuances. I especially like the name.
We recently discovered ½ Price Night at Trio in Kitty Hawk – on Mondays, starting at 5 p.m., all wines by the glass, draft beers and wine station tab cards are 50% off. The wine station is the talk of the OBX. It’s a help-yourself automated station where you can enjoy a taste, half or full glass from a selection of high and medium priced wines. I tried a glass of the Biltmore Viogner 2010 and can heartily recommend it as a well balanced white wine with a smooth finish.
Check back again and I’ll share more on restaurants, shopping and what’s fresh at the Beach Road to Manteo.
Categories: Arts, Food & Wine, Holiday Happenings, outer banks, People of Interest, Things to do, travel, Uncategorized.
Tags: Dining, food, Kitty Hawk, Outer Banks things to do, Outer Banks Winter Weather, Things to do, Wine
November 5, 2011
“Shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, sautee it. There’s, um, shrimp kebabs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo, pan fried, deep fried, stir fried. There’s pineapple shrimp and lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich… That’s, that’s about it.”
Bubba Blue from the film, FORREST GUMP.
The second annual Shrimp CookOff will be held on Sunday, November 6, at Ocean Boulevard Bistro & Martini Bar on the Beach Road in Kitty Hawk – from 12:00 noon until 3:00pm. This casual, fun competition was a huge success in 2010 and raised almost $5,000 to benefit the Outer Banks Center for Dolphin Research.
There will be nine competing chefs from around the Outer Banks, cooking fresh, local shrimp in their favorite style of preparation. A DJ will be keeping up with announcements and door prizes and a silent auction will also be held on the second floor of Ocean Boulevard, with a People’s Choice Ballot. The bar will be open serving Beer & Wine specials along with your favorite beverage. The cost per person is $20 at the door, and tickets can be bought in advance at Ocean Boulevard, or at Outer Banks Veterinarian.
Categories: Dining, Fall Weather, Food & Wine, outer banks, Things to do, travel, Uncategorized.
Tags: Dining, Fall Outings, food, fresh seafood, Outer Banks things to do, Roanoke Island
June 5, 2011
Boot Camp. 6 weeks running and fitness camp on the beach. Great workout for all skill levels. www.outerbanksbootcamps.com.
Boot Camp Graduation, Wright Brothers Monument
Hang Gliding. Soar high above Jockey’s Ridge State Park. Visit Kitty Hawk Kites and learn to fly.
Paddle Boarding. Ocean or sound, it’s a great way to explore and see the aquatic wildlife in our local waters. www.kittyhawkwatersports.com.
Sailing, Jet Skiing, Windsurfing. Hobie cat day sailing or windsurfing. You can do it all at Kitty Hawk Water Sports, excellent instructors, great location on the By Pass in Nags Head, next to Jurassic Putt.
June 4-10 brings the Triple-S Invitational Kiteboarding Competition to Cape Hatteras. This professional event attracts the top 24 men and women kiteboarders from around the world to compete.
Surfing. Some of the best breaks on the East Coast are right here on the Outer Banks. There are a number of local surf shops that can hook you up. In the meantime, check out these sites: www.surfline.com/travel/index.cfm?id=2150; www.obxsurfinfo.com; and outerbanksesa.com.
The Lost Colony. Live outdoor theater about the story of 117 men, women and children who vanished without a trace more than 400 years ago. May 27 through August 20th 2011, Monday through Saturday at 8:30 p.m. (252) 473-3414 or www.thelostcolony.org.
Art. Dare County Arts Council showcases local artists including Chris Bickford (photojournalist) and Holly Nettles (acrylic, oil & collage) in the old court house, Manteo. www.darearts.org.
Food:
PIZZA – Pizzazz, 4 locations, Corolla, Duck, Kitty Hawk & Nags Head. www.pizzazzpizza.net or 252-261-1111.
COFFEE – Front Porch Café, 3 locations, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head & Manteo. www.frontporchcafeonline.com.
SEAFOOD – Carawan’s Seafood Market, Kitty Hawk. Fresh to go. 252-261-2120.
CASUAL DINING –
- Kill Devil Grill www.thekilldevilgrill.com (252) 449-8181.
- Darrell’s Restaurant, Manteo. www.darrellsseafood.com (252) 473-5366.
- Art’s Place, Kitty Hawk. Featured in the June issue of Our State Magazine for best burgers in the state of North Carolina. On the Beach Road. (252) 261-3233.
- Blue Point Bar & Grill, Duck. Overlooking Currituck Sound. www.goodfoodgoodwine.com. (252) 261-8090.
WINE -
MUSIC & WINE & FOOD – The Brine and Bottle, on the Causeway, Nags Head. Every Thursday enjoy live jazz on the deck from 7 – 10 p.m. www.thebrineandbottle.com.
Categories: Arts, Dining, outer banks, People of Interest, Roanoke Island, Sporting Events, Things to do, travel, Uncategorized.
Tags: Boats, Dining, Family Reunions Outer Banks Summer Fun, food, fresh seafood, Nags Head, outer banks, Outer Banks things to do, Restaurants, sailing, Things to do
May 2, 2011
My favorite salad right now has baby kale sprouts, baby lettuce (growing in a pot on my deck), , hearts of romaine, purple onion, celery, spinach, red grapes, avocado (optional), and feta cheese and walnuts. I like the onions and celery super thinly sliced and crisped in an ice bath while I’m preparing the rest of the salad and dressing. I suggest a good Feta cheese, the kind that comes in a block (with liquid), not the “crumbles.”
It gets pulled together in a most delicious way with this dressing:
The dressing is “Global House Salad” from Jadine Sayer (Epicurious.com).
- 1/2 tsp minced garlic
- 1/4 cup olive oil (I use an Italian extra virgin cold pressed olive oil)
- 2 TBS balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp honey
- 1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/8 tsp Sriracha sauce (Thai hot sauce)
- Pinch of freshly ground black pepper & a smidge of kosher salt.
- Whisk all the ingredients tother.
Toast the walnuts in the oven at 400 for a minute or two, or stove top. Be sure to watch them so they don’t burn. Assemble salad, layering lettuce, grapes, celery, onions, avocado, walnuts and sprouts on top, add dressing to taste.
Categories: Dining, Home & Garden, Recipes, Things to do, Uncategorized.
Tags: Dining, farmers market, food, outer banks, Outer Banks things to do
March 22, 2011
When there’s a special occassion, or I’m just plain sick and tired of leftovers or frozen microwavable meals, there are some great local eateries to choose from in Manteo.
One of my all time favorite places in Poor Richard’s on the waterfront in downtown Manteo. The place is casual, the views are great and the food is fresh. Order at the counter and find a seat inside or out. If it’s not listed on the menu, chances are they can make it for you. http://www.poorrichardsmanteo.com/. 252-473-3333.
We recently tried the new Harbor Point Bar and Grill at Shallowbag Bay. This is a new restaurant that took over the space once occupied by Striper’s. The view was outstanding and the food delicious. I enjoyed a turkey/bacon wrap with fresh home-made chips and salsa. 252-473-3222.
Another favorite place is Ortegaz Southwestern Grill and Wine Bar. The service is always great, and the food is served with a fresh spin and a nod to the flavors of the southwest. Their fish tacos are delightful. http://www.ortegaz.com/index.html. 
Categories: Dining, Home & Garden, outer banks, Roanoke Island, Things to do, travel, Uncategorized.
Tags: Dining, food, fresh seafood, manteo, manteo family fun, outer banks, Outer Banks things to do, Restaurants
March 9, 2011
Could you imagine yourself living here?
How about waking up each morning with the sun rising over the Atlantic Ocean nearby? Perhaps, after a cup of coffee and a bite to eat, you put your kayak in the water and paddle around Festival Park, maybe take a fishing rod, but most definitely a camera. That might be the most you do in a day, or maybe you would meet some friends for lunch at a local restaurant that’s just a short walk away via the sound-side boardwalk. If your days are leisurely, perhaps you’d want to take a pottery class next door at the college.
Could you imagine yourself boating here and mooring up for a week? Staying in a destination marina and exploring a charming historic town on foot. There’s a history center, mariner’s museum, outdoor theater, summer farmer’s market and “First Friday” street festivals. There are plenty of locally owned restaurants serving fresh food and fresh caught seafood daily. Maybe rent bicycles or don your running shoes and hit the miles-long bike and jogging path that run the length of the island.
Imagine.
Visit www.marsheslight.com for more information. For information on the Outer Banks and things to do, visit www.outerbanks.org.
Categories: Arts, Dining, Historic Architecture, Home & Garden, marina, Marshes Light Marina, outer banks, Real Estate, Roanoke Island, Things to do, travel, Uncategorized.
Tags: boating, Family Reunions Outer Banks Summer Fun, farmers market, food, manteo, Manteo Real Estate, marshes light new home community in historic manteo, outer banks, Roanoke Island, Things to do, Walking Neighborhood in Small Coastal Town
February 26, 2011
TASTE OF THE BEACH WEEKEND
Saturday, March 19th, 2011 from noon until 2 p.m.
Elizbethan Gardens on Roanoke Island presents: Green for Herbs - Learn how to grow, harvest and cook with fresh herbs presented by special guest Chef Jason Smith from the Black Pelican Restaurant, Kitty Hawk.
The class will concentrate mainly on appetizers. Appetizers include: rosemary skewered bacon wrapped scallops with caramelized 
onion and sweet thyme sauce, smoked salmon bundles wrapped in chive with lemon caper dill sauce, herb poached mussels and clams with toasted baguette. Chef Jason will be using herbs grown at The Elizabethan Gardens. Assistant Greenhouse Manager, Kathy Crawford will be on hand to give you hints on selecting, growing and purchasing herbs from The Gardens. Workshop includes a visit to the greenhouses and admission to The Gardens.
ONE FREE ADMISSION TO THE FIRST PERSON TO EMAIL lee@marsheslight.com and put HERBS in the subject line.
Plants and Herbs will be on sale 10% off in the plant sales area. Members/Friends: $25 Non Members: $30 (Visa , MasterCard & Discover accepted)
UPCOMING EVENTS:
4/16/2011 Photographing Nature with Jeff Lewis
Visit www.elizabethangardens.org.
Categories: Arts, Dining, Home & Garden, People of Interest, Recipes, Roanoke Island, Things to do, travel, Uncategorized.
Tags: Dining, food, manteo, manteo family fun, Outer Banks things to do, Taste of the Beach, Walking Neighborhood in Small Coastal Town
December 17, 2010
I use a couple of search engines and apps to find information to share with you in this blog including WhosTalking.com and several Google alerts (Outer_Banks, Roanoke_Island, Manteo) that send posts with those names mentioned to my In Box.
Which led me to an article in BClocalnews.com. Written by Jennifer Schell for the Kelowna Capital News, the article lists her “Favourite Things to Share this Holiday Season,” and in which I discovered the other Manteo, a resort in Canada. Kelowna is located in the middle of British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley and lays approximately midway between Vancouver and Calgary. Pretty far from Outer Bank’s Manteo. 
Let’s see what Kelownan’s want under their Christmas tree:
- Homemade crackers at Discover Wines or Okanagan Grocery
- A gift certificate to Wine Plus+ Wine School
- A Thermomix. Just rated the No. 1 foodie gift on the Food Network
- Sea to Sky Seasoning, mini flavoured salts, tins of luscious Fanny Bay Smoked Oysters, smoked salmon, Maldon Sea Salt from Codfather’s Seafood Market
- Monika’s coveted Christmas cookie boxes at Okanagan Grocery
- Moni’s Nuttier Than A Fruitcakes
- Wine
- Cheese, Carmelis Goat Cheese and Gort’s Gouda
- Jars of grilled artichokes, olives and other Italian delights.
- Simply the freshest, best olive oil (and red wine vinegar) from the Olive Oil Merchant—online store offers fast, free delivery in Kelowna (free delivery for olive oil? Wow!)
- Beautiful chocolates and chocolate bars from Sandrine Pastry & Chocolate and great Christmas breakfast Ideas and quiche
- Chef Rod Butters of Raudz Regional Table now has his personal line of preserves for sale. Drunken Cherries, homemade pickles and more
- Chef Bernard’s, Wild Apple Restaurant at Manteo, Blackberry Basil Jam or Star Anise Marinade for your gift basket
- Summerhill has the perfect bubbles (including the Cipes Gabriel that won Best International Sparkling wine recently) and decadent Icewine chocolates
- Broken Barrel Furniture Company has beautiful wine racks or cheese boards (a place to store all that wine)
- BBQ master, chef Martin Laprise’s line of sauces and rubs, including Taboo BBQ with cute, saucy labels
- Wrap your wine gifts this Christmas in one of these gorgeous, cozy wine bags made from recycled wool
- Gift Certificates to The Rotten Grape for your wine loving pals.
It’s all about food and wine! Here’s a link to the full article: http://www.bclocalnews.com/lifestyles/112039504.html.
Categories: Arts, Holiday Happenings, outer banks, Things to do, travel, Uncategorized.
Tags: Christmas, food, Gift Guide, manteo, outer banks, Things to do, travel
September 29, 2010
This recipe is going into the Family Favorite Great Recipe Folder! It received great reviews at a recent baby shower and has passed the discerning eyes of the resident fresh-food lovers and chefs in my family.
Tart and Crunchy Fresh Tuna Salad
(adapted from a Food Network recipe by Claire Robinson)
1 ½ pounds fresh tuna steaks (make sure it’s FRESH) http://www.outerbankscatch.com.
2 lemons, thinly sliced
Kosher salt & freshly ground pepper
½ cup chopped celery
½ cup halved red grapes
¼ cup toasted chopped walnuts
1 cup fat free Greek yogurt
1 tsp. mayonnaise
I deviated from the recipe which called for baking the tuna in parchment paper.
Cut the tuna into chunks and layer with lemon slices. Steam in lightly salted water (add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to cooking water). I used my trusty vegetable steamer (nothing fancy), but it is important to spray the steamer with Pam or brush it with olive oil. I 
watched it for about 10 minutes and as soon as the tuna meat was almost cooked (or almost white), I took it off the heat to cool.
After tuna has cooled, shred meat with a knife/fork and put in bowl, add yogurt, touch of mayo, grapes, celery and walnuts and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper and fresh lemon juice to taste. Serve with crackers, in a sandwich or a wrap and enjoy.
I think the secret is the Greek yogurt, it adds a rich/slightly tart taste without the calories that mayo delivers. I probably could have left the mayo out, but felt it added a little bit to the flavor. This tuna salad was awesome!
Categories: outer banks, Recipes, Things to do.
Tags: Dining, food, fresh seafood, outer banks
July 11, 2010
After a day of work or play, this dish spotlights the fresh flavor of local clams (small cherrystones are best) on a tangle of pasta. If you”re on the northern beaches, I recommend Carawan’s Seafood in Kitty Hawk – they are a family owned business and always have the freshest selection of fish and shellfish, local veggies, beer and wine.
This dish has become a weekly favorite! The recipe has been adapted from Mario Batali.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons kosher or coarse sea salt
1 pound linguine
12 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
24 fresh cherrystone or small clams in shell, scrubbed
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 cup dry white wine
1 (14-ounce) can tomatoes in juice, juice reserved and tomatoes coarsely chopped
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup fresh baby spinach, chopped (optional)
In large pot over moderately high heat, combine 8 quarts of water to boil and salt. Bring to boil, then add linguine and cook to 1 minute short of al dente according to package directions (pasta should still be quite firm).
Meanwhile, in large sauté pan over moderately high heat, heat 6 tablespoons extra- olive oil until hot but not smoking. Add garlic and sauté until just golden, about 30 seconds. Add clams and 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes and sauté 1 minute. Add wine, tomatoes and juice, and 1/2 cup parsley and simmer, uncovered, just until clams open, 7 to 8 minutes.
Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, then drain linguine and add to pan. Simmer, tossing occasionally, until linguine is just tender, about 1 minute. If necessary, add some of reserved cooking water to keep moist. Remove from heat. Add remaining 2 tablespoons parsley, 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, and extra-virgin olive oil, tossing to coat. Transfer to serving dish and serve immediately. Serve with crusty bread to sop up all the delicious juices.
Categories: Home & Garden, Things to do, Uncategorized.
Tags: clams, Family Reunions Outer Banks Summer Fun, food, fresh seafood
June 28, 2010
The Town of Duck on NC’s Outer Banks is not just a collection of shops selling t-shirts and kites. There are some of the best restaurants on the Outer Banks in Duck, a great book store, a delightful art gallery and so much more. My three sons all work in Duck.
We recently had dinner at Red Sky Cafe (www.redskycafe.com) where my son is one of the chefs. We sat at the bar and enjoyed fresh sushimi and a delicately fried softshell, crispy goodness with corn relish. I wanted to post of picture of the soft shell, but we devoured it before I could get my camera.
Rib eye with sauteed veggies and mashed potatoes
Wayne had the rib eye and I had the grouper. It’s a wonderful relaxed setting located on NC 12 in downtown Duck.
The Town of Duck sponsors a Summer Music Series, which is returning for its fourth season. For six weeks, local musical groups will take the stage at the Duck Town Park gazebo. The concerts are from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. and are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from June 29 through August 5.
I’ll explore other favorite shops, eateries and things to do in Duck in later posts. Enjoy!
Categories: Things to do, Uncategorized.
Tags: Dining, Duck NC, Family Reunions Outer Banks Summer Fun, food, outer banks, Things to do, Walking Neighborhood in Small Coastal Town
March 13, 2009
According to the NC Division of Marine Fisheries, rock fish is also known as striped bass and is regulated according to the five coastal areas where it is found. I am only interested in ocean rockfish – this is buttery, white meat that to me is better than lobster! It is fortunate that my husband is a great cook as we have rock fish once to twice a week when it is in season. Tuesday evening, he made pan-seared rockfish, roasted asparagus and cheese grits – delish!
When he’s not in the mood to cook, we love dining at the Kill Devil Grill, located near Eighth Street on the Beach Road in Kill Devil Hills. Yesterday, my friend Stephanie and I enjoyed lunch there. It was a beautiful day and she had the fried rockfish sandwich with fries – she’s skinny, she can get away with it- and I enjoyed grilled salmon over salad. It was excellent! Two other specials looked good – the beer battered flounder and the crab cakes! All so good!
Categories: Uncategorized.
Tags: Dining, food, outer banks, Restaurants
February 28, 2009
We are making things ready at Marshes Light for another wonderful season. Boaters are checking the batteries and fuel lines on their vessels when they are not out fishing for ocean rock (better than lobster, yum). The crack of the bat heralds little league in practice, daffodils are blooming, buds are forming on trees, and the sounds of birds chirping in the early morning brings a smile to our faces. Spring is my favorite time of year!
Next weekend March 5-8 hosts the Taste of the Beach Event. This Event showcases the best in food, wine, restaurants and music along the Outer Banks. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.obxtasteofthebeach.com/home.htm.
There are incredible values at Marshes Light Marina Villas right now – call Ann or Lee for more information at 888-319-3557. See you soon!
Categories: Uncategorized.
Tags: boating, food, Spring, villas
October 21, 2008
The Manteo Homecoming Parade was held last Saturday. Shown here is the Manteo High School marching band.
Coming up on November 6 at 8 p.m. at the Sea Ranch on the Beach Road in Kill Devil Hills is a concert featuring the Statesmen of Jazz. Find out why legends like Charlie Byrd, Herbie Hancock, Dizzie Gillespie, Etta James and Les Paul chose to perform, record and tour with the musicians honored by this non-profit network. This is a benefit to establish a need-based music lessons fund hosted by The Carolinian Studio. For more information, call 252-473-7154. Make it an evening with dinner at The Pearl – oceanfront dining with a French flair.
Finally, here’s a photo of a recent visitor to Marshes Light, meet Diesel an English bulldog puppy and landscape mascot.
Categories: Uncategorized.
Tags: food, jazz, manteo, Music, puppies
September 16, 2008
After a week of HOT humid weather, a much welcome northeaster has blown in, dropping temperatures and bringing some rain.
It’s a quiet afternoon in Marshes Light, perfect for sitting in a rocking chair on the front porch with a good book or magazine – I was just looking at the Paula Deen’s magazine, trying to find inspiration for dinner tonight. Shrimp & Grits or Linguine with Clam Sauce? Hmmm…
This weather just feels good, bringing a change of seasons and my favorite time of year on the Outer Banks.
Categories: Uncategorized.
Tags: books, food, manteo, outer banks, vacation
July 26, 2008
On days like this, it’s easy to imagine living in coastal North Carolina. On the Outer Banks, Carolina Blue Skies and soft easterly breezes herald perfect weather to be outside. And what better weather for the Roanoke Island Maritime Museum’s 5th Annual One Design Regatta featuring Optimist, 420, Sunfish – adult and youth and Laser.
We were a major sponsor for this year’s race by providing food for the participants from High Cotton BBQ of Kitty Hawk, NC. Check out their menu at http://www.highcottonbbq.com/. High Cotton is famous in Eastern North Carolina for their pulled pork barbeque, brunswick stew and cornbread, to name a few.
In the News: http://www.marsheslight.com/news_releases/july2008.htm.
Christopher Cross must have been thinking of days like this on Roanoke Island when he composed:
It’s not far down to paradise
At least it’s not for me
And
if the wind is right you can sail away
And find tranquility
The canvas
can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me
Categories: Uncategorized.
Tags: bbq, food, sailing, watefront real estate
