August in Delaware: Savoring Our New Home, One Bite at a Time

After July’s whirlwind of Utah farewells and cross-country chaos, August felt like a deep, delicious breath of fresh Delaware air. With boxes mostly unpacked and my new job settling into a rhythm, we eased into exploring our new backyard. No grand plans—just spontaneous strolls, playground pit stops, and the thrill of discovering what “local” means here. From breakfast-bar adventures to berry-stained fingers, August was a month of gentle, flavorful onboarding to East-Coast life. Here’s every scrumptious stop on our Delaware dining map!

Peach Blossom Eatery – Newark, DE

Our Sunday quest for UDairy’s legendary grilled cheese hit a snag—the Main Street spot was shuttered. Undeterred, we wandered and landed at Peach Blossom Eatery, where a 30-minute wait earned us prime real estate at the bustling breakfast bar. The girls turned the spinning stools into their personal carnival ride (minor chaos, maximum giggles). Erik kicked off brunch with a monte cristo pastry—flaky, powdered-sugar-dusted perfection stuffed with ham, cheese, and a whisper of raspberry jam. I mourned a sold-out specialty latte, but Erik’s key lime cooler—tart, creamy, and crowned with whipped cream—became our communal lifeline (I may have “helped” more than my share). Madi ordered the omelet of the day: fluffy eggs folded around smoky pork and tender summer squash. Erik went classic with a breakfast sandwich oozing cheddar and bacon. Jules demanded the combo plate: a chocolate-chip pancake the size of her head, two sausage links, and scrambled eggs. Every dish arrived with fried hashbrown balls—crispy orbs of potato bliss that disappeared faster than we could count. Curiosity led us to a side of scrapple, Delaware’s iconic breakfast mash-up of pork scraps formed into a golden, pan-fried patty. Greasy? Absolutely. Intriguing? Undeniably. Madi eyed Jules’ pancake with envy, but our family-style sharing rule saved the day. The bar vibe, usually a parental gamble, turned into a front-row seat to kitchen magic—and the girls behaved like seasoned diners. A chaotic, charming win.

UDairy Creamery – Newark, DE

Plan B: UDairy’s other location, open and ready to redeem our ice-cream dreams. I dove headfirst into a double scoop flight: U Be-Be Baby (electric-purple ube ice cream, nutty and nostalgic) and affogato cookie crunch (bitter espresso ice cream swirled with raw cookie dough and dark chocolate shards). The contrast was pure genius. Jules, predictably, demanded straight chocolate—rich, fudgy, and gone in record time. Madi kept it sweet and simple with strawberry, bright and bursting with summer. Erik mixed blue hen tracks (vanilla with chocolate-covered pretzel pieces) and cookie dough dynamite—a sugar-bomb masterpiece. We left sticky, smiling, and utterly convinced that sometimes the best plans are the ones that fall apart.

Summerfest at Whitehall – Whitehall, DE

A last-minute Facebook scroll led us to Delaware Summerfest, a 10-minute drive north in the planned community of Whitehall. Food trucks, craft booths, a petting zoo, and a sprawling green field greeted us under a blazing August sun. The girls squealed over baby goats while we beelined for Artic Ice Snowballs. Their Italian ices—shaved to fluffy perfection—were a kaleidoscope of cherry, blue raspberry, and lemon. One bite and the heat melted away. I elected to get the soft serve swirl in a red velvet cone that Jules ended up enjoying more than me. We capped the afternoon with playground sprints and slides, then piled back into the car, sun-kissed and sugar-fueled. A perfect slice of small-town summer.

Wawa – Various Locations, DE

Confession: I scoffed at the idea of gas-station gourmet. Wawa converted me in one stop. Touch-screen ordering, hot cases steaming with breakfast sandwiches, and a deli counter rivaling any sub shop—mind blown. Beach-bound, we grabbed creamy mac and cheese cups for the girls (they inhaled every noodle) and built custom cold-cut hoagies layered with turkey, provolone, oil-and-vinegar-dressed veggies, and a sprinkle of oregano. The bread was fresh, the portions generous, and the convenience unbeatable. Wawa isn’t just a pit stop—it’s a lifestyle upgrade.

Pizza Di Napoli – Middletown, DE

Post-Maple’s first vet check-up (same strip mall—destiny!), pizza called. We ordered garlic knots that arrived piping hot, tangled in buttery, garlicky bliss—pure doughy heaven. The garlic bread, sadly, was a dry afterthought. The girls split a sausage-and-pepperoni pie, while we tackled The Boss—a supreme loaded with peppers, onions, sausage, and pepperoni. Toppings were plentiful, but the crust lacked that perfect chew-crisp balance we crave. Verdict: solid in a pinch, but our hunt for a new pizza soulmate continues.

Milburn Orchards – Elkton, MD (just over the DE line)

End-of-season raspberry and blackberry picking lured us to Milburn Orchards. The fields were a patchwork of green and jewel-toned berries; Madi and Erik filled our box with plump treasures while Jules and I retreated from rogue bugs to the AC-blessed car. Victory tasted like warm apple cider doughnuts from the farm shop—cinnamon-sugar-crusted clouds of joy. Lunch was two personal pizzas: a sweet peach special with caramelized peaches, peppery arugula, and a honey drizzle (surprisingly sophisticated), and a classic pepperoni for the girls. The backyard playground—complete with slides, swings, and a corn box—beckons for a full-day return. Milburn is pure family magic.

Crooked Hammock – Middletown, DE

Instagram screamed $1 beers—we answered with a sunny patio lunch. The playground kept the girls happily occupied while we sipped ice-cold brews. Madi’s coconut shrimp arrived golden and crunchy, paired with a tangy mango dip. Jules stuck with mac and cheese and hammock fries (her comfort zone). Erik’s pulled pork sandwich was smoky, saucy perfection. I played sampler, snagging bites from everyone (predicting leftovers—nailed it). The laid-back vibe, affordable drinks, and kid-friendly space made Crooked Hammock an instant repeat.

Uncle Mike’s Ice Cream and Water Ice – Middletown, DE

Middletown’s ice-cream density is unreal, and Uncle Mike’s was next on our hit list. Madi chose rainbow water ice—a tie-dye swirl of cherry, blue raspberry, and lemon that stained her tongue for hours. Jules and I split strawberry soft serve, silky and bright. Erik went full raspberry. For soft-serve specialists, the texture was spot-on—creamy without being icy. Real ice cream? We’ll save that for another parlor, but Uncle Mike’s nailed the summer nostalgia.

Cuzino’s Pizza – Middletown, DE

Pizza quest, round two: Cuzino’s. We ordered a cheesesteak pizza—shaved ribeye, melted cooper sharp, and caramelized onions on a thicker crust. The girls got pepperoni-sausage. Dough was hearty and flavorful, if a touch bready for my thin-crust heart. Solid contender—we’d return, but the search for our Delaware pizza holy grail marches on.

August was Delaware whispering, “Welcome home.” From Peach Blossom’s hashbrown balls to Milburn’s sun-warmed berries, every bite helped stitch us into this new landscape. We’re trading Utah’s towering peaks for salty breezes, but the mountains—and the friends we left beneath them—live in our hearts. Here’s to cooler evenings, more playground beers, and the next flavor waiting just around the corner. What’s your must-try when you move to a new state? Drop it in the comments—I’m taking notes!