Charlie Delray

Covering food, restaurants and cooking in South Florida (and whenever possible, beyond), online sinc

09/29/2023

Shhhh! Top Secret Spot Alert!

As the warned last week, “No one who loves Tinder Hearth wants you to know about it.” Well, sorry but I’m blowing the lid off this kinda remote spot, just named to the Times’ “Restaurant List 2023 – 50 Most Exciting U.S Restaurants Right Now”.

Originally “just” a bread bakery, in summer it’s also an outdoor pizza restaurant, serving in a garden field near Blue Hill, Maine. You may have seen TH mentioned many times on The Lost Kitchen, or enjoyed their bread in restaurants from Portland to Bar Harbor, or just seen call it “a magical place run by awesome people.” Indeed…

Some pics from my visit on September 29, 2022… and maybe some to be added after dinner again tonight, 364 days later.

🔥 Meat Pizza - Pulled Chicken, Caramelized Onion, Smoked Chilis, Tinga, Queso Fresco, Oregano

🔥 Cheese Pizza - Mozzarella, Pecorino, Tomato Sauce

🔥 Salad - Baby Lettuce, Micro Greens, Carrot, Cucumber, Radish, Hakurei Turnip, Shallot Vinaigrette

🔥 Garden Views of Tinder Hearth

Thanks to all involved!

09/23/2023

Postcards from our (first) Five Days in Maine – Great restaurants, chefs, and amazing coincidences!

Plenty here will get detailed in future separate posts, but here’s the down low in short…

📷 Arrived in Portland Tuesday, started with outstanding lunch of Fried Clams at scenic Two Lights, perfectly seasoned batter.

📷 Tuesday evening, enjoyed the epic Bread and Butter w Sabayon (and much more), as great as ever, at Central Provisions…

📷 Afterwards, I grabbed a delicious Substance Ale from Bissell Brothers at Bar Futo, the newer spot from Jordan Rubin of Mr. Tuna. As I was leaving, I thought I spotted a South Florida Chef friend at a 6-top, but nahhh, what would the chances be…

📷 Wednesday, we lunched on steamers in Freeport at the very scenic Harraseeket Lunch (pro tip: there’s a hidden upstairs deck in back).

📷 Then it was a mind-blowing dinner at Twelve. Reminded me of some of my most elevated meals in the past from spots such as The Modern and EMP, but still casual and easy-going.

📷 Thursday, we hit Leeward for more great bites. Lobster bucatini fra diavolo, yes please.

📷 After dinner, had time to say hello to Cameron Lewin, formerly of Contra, now GM/Owner at Regards, my must-do on next trip.

📷 Friday it was time to head North. Stopped by the Lost Kitchen, just to see the spot we’ve spent so much time enjoying on tv and in books. Beautiful spot, and had a few nice words with Erin’s mom, Deanna Richardson, while she was preparing flower arrangements (of course)!

📷 On Saturday morning we arrived up in our Blue Hill cabin for the next week. Needing provisions, we went to the tiny TINY Farmer’s Market, and who do I see as we’re walking in…

It’s Chef Dean Max, South Florida friend, and mentor to many chefs. And where has he been dining? “Hit Bar Futo when I was in Portland”. Crazy. It was him in Portland and now him again in a tiny town 140 miles north. Anyways…

A great time so far - and thanks to all the folks who make it possible.

09/21/2023

Absolutely terrific dinner from Chef Colin Wyatt, capped by this breathtaking dessert from pastry chef Georgia Macon.

She has been named as a Rising Star, Class of Coastal New England 2023.

📷: TCHO Chocolate Sundae - Miso Caramel, Candied Cocoa Nibs, Cocoa Tuile, Urfa Biber Chile

07/22/2023

The game is strong at in Upstate NY!
🍩 🥐 🪄

07/19/2023

Caprese “Harvest” Salad - Backyard Carolina heirloom & cherry tomatoes, homegrown basil, Upstate NY nasturtiums, pansy, & marigolds, with burrata, EVOO and Maldon.

07/11/2023

Some of today's tomatoes from the backyard garden… 🍅 🍅🍅

Several were cracking on top, which locals say can happen after heavy rain (like we had Sunday). ⛈️💧⛈️

Plus, in the interest of getting to enjoy them before various rascally varmints might 🦌 🐰 🦝…
I'm now picking these off pretty much as soon as they start to blush.

Varieties include...
🍅 Pink Berkeley Tie Die
🍅 German Johnson
🍅 Green Zebra
🍅 Blazing Beauty DTP
🍅 Hannah’s Prize DTP
🍅 Sungold Cherry
🍅 SuperSweet 100 Cherry

Really loving sourcing our meals 15 feet from the kitchen and dining room!

06/18/2023

Father’s Day / Welcome Summertime lunch. Same-day local sweet corn is now coming in here, and it’s fabulous.

With chips, watermelon and a Lobster Roll, I’m happy! 🦞🌽🍉🍠

05/04/2023

Wow! What a great time at this special collaboration of X X in NOLA.
So nice spending some time with Chef Compton as well as Shake Shack corporate Culinary Director .

Heard some fun Miami stories through the evening including shoutouts to (cheeseburger foam?) and more.

Also met Shack’s NOLA GM, Junior - (with stories of growing up at Union Square GrnMkt and GT)…
Also met from Shake Shack who mentioned (who opened the Boca store a few years ago).
Fun pics…
*Nina and Mark 2x
*Nina w fan boy
*Mark w same fan boy
*Menu (delish all around)
*GM Junior
Thanks all for a great time!

09/26/2022

Maine Monday Morning…
🍞 Bread from .hearth
☕️ Coffee from
🌲 from Mother Nature.

Perfect!

04/10/2022

Back for a second life visit. And these ribs are as spectacular as I remember!

Address

Delray Beach, FL
33444

Website

https://www.instagram.com/CharlieDelray/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Charlie Delray posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Charlie Delray:

Shortcuts

Want your business to be the top-listed Food & Beverage Service in Delray Beach?