Quick Course in Basics, by a Native Delawarean (Wilmington, Dover: apartments, hotel)

[rdlr]

Originally Posted by dch123

Um maybe you should mention that these are the basics for lower Delaware. I have lived in New Castle County for 35 years and I don't think I have ever met anyone who eats possum or muskrat! And I have never had grits, I don't recall even seeing it on the menu anywhere except Cracker Barrel.

Yes, I stand corrected. Thank you! Kent and Sussex Counties are quite different than New Castle County. But those New Castle Countians are all migrating south to join us below the ditch. As I said, if you want to try any of those 2 critters, stop at the Wagon Wheel in Smyrna. Trapping is prevalent near Bombay Hook, Woodland Beach, Frederica, and other marshy areas. Grits is pretty much standard in Kent and Sussex Counties restaurants. The Harrington Raceway & Casino Cafe has the best grits around. They have them in most grocery stores around here, also. I bought a box of the individual packets (like oatmeal) and tried one today. Very good!

[ltdontcare]

It's funny. Outsiders always ask "What's in scrapple?" I always tell them it's the stuff the guys in the hotdog factory scrape off their shoes at the end of the shift. Now shut up and try it. Once they try it, they stop asking and just want some more.

[rdlr]

Originally Posted by ltdontcare

It's funny. Outsiders always ask "What's in scrapple?" I always tell them it's the stuff the guys in the hotdog factory scrape off their shoes at the end of the shift. Now shut up and try it. Once they try it, they stop asking and just want some more.

That's a good one!

[Georgia to Northeast PA]

I Knew I should not have come here. Now I am home sick. Grew up in Dover. Even graduated from Dover High School. My family still live in the area. You all have me laughing because I never really thought of all this. Don't forget Lookerman St. that no one in Dover pronounces right.

[Georgia to Northeast PA]

Originally Posted by Delly

Possom and musrat are not available in supermarkets, Charley. Oh, my. Can't believe you said that!

Morris' Market in Frederica is the place to go for fresh trapped of them both. I saw their big wooden sign out just the other day as I was breezing through town. Frederica is a marshy area, and locals trap during the winter months.
You could trap your own, but I doubt if you would want to do that My suggestion is to head on up to the Wagon Wheel Restaurant in Smyrna. Don't know if possom is on their menu, but musrat and stewed tomatoes is a specialty item during the winter (February and March, I think). And, I believe the Boon Docks had that on their menu at one time.

I've tasted both, just to say I did. I'm ashamed to say they are not my favorite foods, and I feel like I am an embarrassment to my die-hard local friends. However, I have skinned musrat before. About 15 years ago a friend of mine entered a musrat skinning contest and from a tree stump in her back yard, taught me that art! But, the peach peeling contests suit me better. Gosh, I feel like such a sissy!

But if any of you are thinking about trapping musrat for a hobby, or for business, or just to EAT, we have laws about that, too!
Subchapter III. Muskrats

Delly, is the Wagon Wheel still open? The only place I know to get these "Delaware treats" is Whitts Market in Camden, DE

[rdlr]

Originally Posted by Georgia to Northeast PA

Delly, is the Wagon Wheel still open? The only place I know to get these "Delaware treats" is Whitts Market in Camden, DE

Hello, Georgia to Northeast PA!!! Oh, most certainly! The Wagon Wheel is still alive and well! Kitty Budd used to own that place, and I think she still does. Witt Brothers doesn't carry as much of the "down-home" food as they previously did. I'm in Wyoming (Delaware, that is) So many new people have moved here, and the older ones have died off, that our culture is changing. Wish you would come back! We need you here! Morris Market in Frederica is doing well, and they are a lot like Witt Brothers was. They carry muskrat, possom, frog legs, fat back, ham hocks, etc. Strange, we can ride to Atlantic City, order breakfast, and there's no scrapple or grits on the menu, and that's only 2 hours away. I guess not so strange, though, because one poster said she never heard of any of that food in Wilmington. Kirby & Holloway is still here, in Dover. Yes, I forgot Loockerman Street, and you're right. If people know how to say it, they can't spell it. Even some of the street signs are spelled wrong. Your Dover High School has a great drum line called Roaring Thunder. They were in our Peach Festival Parade last August, and are awesome. The Caesar Rodney High School Band won't participate in our Wyoming Peach Festival Parade in August, yet Dover does! I was in Forney's gift shop (it's not a jewelry store anymore) and the downtown area is in bad shape....limited stores, etc. Dover Hardware has been demolished and they are putting up a high rise apartment with a parking garage on top. The old Loockerman Exchange finally sold, opened for a couple of months, then closed again. If you have specific questions about Dover, just ask! I'll fill you in!

[Charley]

Originally Posted by Delly

They carry muskrat, possom, frog legs, fat back, ham hocks, etc.

Oy!

[rdlr]

Originally Posted by CMTAD

Oy!

Sound like Lunch???

[Charley]

Originally Posted by Delly

Sound like Lunch???

Nope. Lunch is going to be with my son and Elizamary and Bill and I don't even know who exactly is coming but I KNOW it's going to be special!

[elizamary]

Originally Posted by CMTAD

Oy!

Oh Charley..........More like barf, barf