After less than a year as Marco's Sushi and Raw Bar, St. Michaels chef Marc Chew is changing the name of his Talbot Street restaurant to Marco-ritaville at the beginning of this month. With the new name, Chew says he’ll launch a menu that focuses on fun, casual food—without removing the Eastern Shore classics such as crabcakes and oysters—with a total bill that comes to less than $25 per person. “The economy hasn’t been kind to a lot of people, all of us in fact,” Chew says, which led to his decision to make the shift. Other menu items will include fish tacos, burgers, and plenty of drink specials such as margaritas to be enjoyed on the restaurant’s deck topped with the restaurant’s signature colorful um ellas. Call the restaurant at 410-745-5557 for more information.
Kent Island is mourning the loss of local restaurateur and cookbook author Betty Thomas Schulz, whose parents opened the original Fisherman's Inn in 1930. Schulz died December 8th at age 87 at her home. She and her husband, Oscar “Sonny” Schulz, opened a newly built restaurant in May 1971, and added in July 1991. Betty, who is survived by three sons, published a cookbook, simply called “the Fisherman’s Inn Cookbook,” in June 2005, and it has since sold more than 6,000 copies. The book contains local history and photographs, and is sold only at the restaurant.
Waterview Grille at the Easton Club is now The River House and has a new face at the head of the kitchen. Chef Michael Rork, formerly of Jimmie & Sook's in Cam idge, has taken over the restaurant at the golf course. The River House also has new management.
Easton Realtor Tim Miller has begun an effort to revive National Premium beer, the sibling to National Bohemian, Baltimore’s favorite ew. He purchased the and name last year at an auction in New York City. Apparently, the National Brewing Company, founded in 1872, produced National Premium for the elite, while Natty Boh was for the working class. After a myriad of company changes, it stopped producing National Premium in 1996. Miller, who is the son of Bill Miller, a founder of the Washington Street Pub in Easton, is currently looking for a ewmaster and location to ew the beer—and he hasn’t ruled out opening a ewpub in Easton. Read more about National Premium Beer at Nationalpremiumbeer.com.
If you have any food or restaurant news you'd like to share with the readers of What's Up? Eastern Shore, e-mail the food editor at Kcasselbury@whatsupmag.com.
