Christopher Pataki Hockessin Delaware Real Estate

Behold the Jenny Burger: eight ounces of juicy, grass-fed heaven.

When a group of big guns from Harry’s Hospitality Group (the people behind Harry’s Savoy, Seafood, and Market)—namely, Xavier Teixido, David Leo Banks and Kelly O’Hanlon—purchased Kid Shelleen’s Charcoal House and Saloon in September, observers wondered what sort of changes might occur at the already well-established and popular neighborhood spot.

Certainly one big change I learned about after speaking with chef Banks last week is a renewed attention to fresh ingredients at Kid's. The Jenny Farm Steakburger, a new signature item, is made from choice cuts of grass-fed beef (hence the “steak” in the name) from Green Valley Farms in upstate New Jersey.

Kid's Loaded Potato Skins

The Jenny is just plain made from superior beef that’s free of growth hormones, steroids and antibiotics. You can taste the difference. It comes topped with caramelized onions and cheddar cheese, and a side of hand-cut fries. I demolished one during a lunch meeting with chef Banks...then came back a few hours later to eat another one for dinner.

Kid's crab and corn chowder

Stay tuned for more on the Harry's restaurants and Kid Sheleen's in Delaware Today's February dining guide. And if today is Tuesday, go get a Jenny Burger for half-price at Kid’s. If it's any other day, go out and get one anyway. You'll be happy you did.

By Matt Amis

A little bit of friendly hospitality can go a long way, particularly when tequila is involved.

I’ll always remember an otherwise routine trip to pick up a takeout order from Rasa Sayang, the excellent Malaysian eatery in North Wilmington's Independence Mall. As I waited for my order, I took a seat at the bar and noticed a tank of pineapple chunks bobbing in a vat of clear liquid. A nearby staffer caught me staring.

“It’s Patron,” he said. Try it.

This was server/manager Patrick Wang, who was now lifting a tab at the bottom of the container to release a stream of pineapple-infused tequila into a shot glass. Then he pried open the top, scooped out a sizable hunk of fruit and plopped it into the glass. Bottoms up.

It wasn't an earth-shattering moment, but a friendly and fun gesture from a smiling and enthusiastic staffer. These sort of things stick with customers and go down smoother than a tequila-soaked pineapple.

I was happy to see this Wang had made his way over to Padi, a new pan-Asian sister restaurant in Hockessin named for the Malay word for rice plant.

I spotted Patrick carrying a tray of goodies during Padi's grand opening party last week and asked him if he remembered me and the Patron story. His eyes lit up and a grin spread across his face.

"I've got something you need to try," he said, before dashing off and returning quickly with a tray of lemongrass-infused vodka shots. This time he did one with me.

Padi's pan-Asian umbrella allows for maximum creativity and flexibility from the kitchen, which borrows elements from Thai, Japanese and Malaysian traditions. Up top are fried dumplings, and chicken breast stuffed with a melange of veggies, cellophane noodles and more. Below are cups of endive cradling homemade rice paper stuffed with a delicious mixture of pork, peanuts, and more.

And then there's Padi's secret weapon: sushi from former Utage chef Chihiro Oka. Plain and simple, the man is Delaware culinary royalty, having worked side-by-side with his father Yuichiro for 22 years at Delaware's first sushi restaurant. Look for more on Padi in an upcoming issue of Delaware Today.

By Matt Amis

She's back! Yes, dear CSP possums, our own Delaware version of Dame Edna, Scott Mason, is back at Chapel Street Players with a whole new show!

As it is almost Halloween, the Dame encourages all her attendees to wear their best Halloween costume to the show!

There are only 3 shows to catch the Dame in action, but we are taking reservations and all seats are assigned (as opposed to previous shows that were general admission) so now you can sit with your bestest friends and enjoy the frivolity.

Chapel Street Players
27 N. Chapel St.
Newark, DE

Additional Information

Telephone: 302-368-2248
Website: http://www.chapelstreetplayers.org

Break out your most festive Halloween attire and join us for hors d'oeuvres, cash bar, silent auction, haunted house, fortune teller, DJ, dancing, and costume contests. You'll have a howl of a good time! This is a people-only party, so please leave your pets at home. Costume or festive attire suggested!

Arden Gild Hall
2126 The Highway
Arden, DE

Additional Information

Telephone: 302-571-8171ext301
Website: http://www.dehumane.org

The Grand Opera House has been booking major talent. Pianist Chucho Valdes plays October 18, and the Indigo Girls hit Wilmington October 20.

But on October 19, singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant rocks (or should we say, caresses) the stage for what promises to be an evening of seriously easy listening.

Merchant, who first hit the scene as the voice of 10,000 Maniacs, helped the band turn tunes like “These are Days” and “Trouble Me” into mega-hits. She began her solo career in 1994 with the self-produced album “Tigerlily,” which did pretty well. It sold about four million copies.

For this show—part of her first tour in seven years—Merchant will perform music enhanced by symphonic arrangements, which should add extra lushness and dimension to already beautifully melodic music. Players from the Delaware Symphony Orchestra will accompany her at The Grand.

Merchant, who has been on the scene for 28 years, is expected to perform some of her old hits, as well as songs from her new album, “Leave Your Sleep,” a six-year project in which she researched, wrote and recorded adaptations from works of several classic and contemporary poets.

Contact info: www.thegrandwilmington.org, or 652-5577