Eat, Drink and Be Merry

June dishes up plenty of summertime wining and dining.

Fresh mahi-mahi from Avalon SeafoodI started my week planning to do a post on great eats in Avalon and Stone Harbor, but I didn’t actually get out and about as much as I thought I would over the holiday weekend. I opted to cook a couple of good meals with the kids. We did pretty well with teriyaki-marinated grilled chicken, an Asian-spirited couscous and steamed broccoli—plus some thick-cut New York strips, which proved a tad less tender than I’d hoped for. But my simple marinade of soy, Worcestershire sauce, tarragon, garlic powder, salt and pepper was a hit, as were the monstrous baked potatoes and Caesar salad.
 

However, that all left me with very little Shore dining material. I can report that I purchased a beautiful piece of mahi-mahi, which had been caught and brought into Avalon Seafood only hours before. It made the trip home safely and proved to be one of the best-tasting and -textured pieces of fish I’ve had in a very long time.

*****

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"Summer Nights Under the Stars" at Chaddsford WineryLooking ahead to this weekend, June 4 is the start of Chaddsford Winery’s “Summer Nights Under the Stars” Friday Concert Series, featuring local musicians and, of course, its wines. New this year is the opportunity to purchase food on-site, thanks to local barbecue outfit Nick’s Chicks. The weekly grill menus are themed to the night’s musical style:

June 4: Alligator Zydeco and Nick’s Chicks’ Cajun cooking
June 11: Budesa Brothers Jazz and Nick’s pig roast
June 18: Been There Done That (rock ‘n’ roll to classic soul) and Nick’s classic barbecue
June 25: The Mermaid Mountain Men Bluegrass and Nick’s fried chicken

$22/person. Reservations recommended. Discounted admission is available by reserving admission for three dates. 632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford; (610) 388-6221, chaddsford.com.

*****

Another cool—well, maybe not temperature-wise—activity for those who live more east than west is dinner and a movie al fresco chez Bistrot La Minette. This summerlong Philadelphia offering is considered a must-do for many food and film lovers, so don’t wait to make your reservation. French movies are shown in a lovely garden courtyard on Mondays and Thursdays through September, starting at 8:30 p.m. (The June schedule is listed below.) While I still have yet to have the pleasure of dining there, I have heard only the highest praise. And, in case you have a special celebration coming up, this is a wonderful spot for a private party.

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June 7, 10: La Vie en Rose (La môme, 2007)
June 14, 17: Exiles (Exils, 2004)
June 21, 24: Delicatessen (1991)
June 28 and July 1: Coco Before Chanel (Coco avant Chanel, 2009)
 
623 S. Sixth St., Philadelphia, (215) 925-8000. For a full line-up and the menu, visit bistrotlaminette.com.

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