We left the Taste of Coastal Delaware event with full bellies and grins on our faces! Between the amazing delicious dishes and friendly down-to-earth service, you could say we were cared for quite well! It was a fine day of taste-testing for all who attended, and there was even live music by Paul Collen (formerly of "Bad Company").

This was the 11th annual event of its kind, held by the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce, featuring well over a dozen restaurants who host their operations right here on the coast of southern Delaware. These were all local businesses, no chains involved, which means you must head out to Bethany Beach to try them for yourselves. In other words: be there or be square! Most of the featured restaurants acquire their produce and supplies from local growers and markets, so supporting them has a broader positive impact on the local economy. For more photos, check out our photostream.

The BFACC also gave out two awards: one went to Fenwick Crab House for Best Dish, the other went to Cottage Cafe for the Best Display, so congrats to those two!

Here are some more details on the restaurants we tried:

Armand's: They make pizza the way pizza should taste! Everything is made from scratch. Homemade raviolli and lasagna. All produce is bought locally, meat is from G&E.

The Blue Crab: Located on Bethany Beach. Great jambalaya and crab cakes!

Fat Tuna: Try their new Tuna Sashimi Crisp appetizer. Home of the Strawberry Basil Mojito.

Harpoon Hanna's: On Fenwick Island by the water. A family friendly restaurant 26 years running, serving everything from seafood to beef roasts.

Chalkboard Tavern & Grille: Best mojito in the world, willing to prove it! They'll make a martini to match your favorite flavor. Check out their Oyster Chowder and Carribean Tuna.

Fenwick Crab House: Named "Best Ribs" for 2010 in DE. Named "Best Crab Cakes" in '06 and '08. NY Times says: "they have the perfect crab cake!" And it's a family business, folks.

Local breweries Fordham and Old Dominion from Dover, DE: They brew 30,000 barrels a year. Fordham Copperhead Ale was delicious, and the Dominion Oak Barrel Stout was the best stout I ever had! All malts and hops imported from Germany.

Magnolia's Seafood: Passer-bys called Tia the best bartender ever. They served a refreshing guava martini, and their special dish is sea bass. Happy Hour everyday from 11:30-6:00!

The Cafe on 26: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, everything home-made. Anything on menu can be made gluten-free... and still taste good! Best coffee I've had since hitting Delmarva!

Mango's, Bethany Beach: Try their Myer's Rum Shrimp, and they also serve plantains! Known for fresh fish and their mango-ritas. Good deals on Happy Hour, and live music.

Jammin' Jon's Island BBQ & Sushi Bar: Known for pulled-pork and the crab-daddy burger. Get some traditional sushi, or sushi with and island twist!

Mio Fratello: Home of the Lobster Raviolli in Champagne Cream Sauce. Chef Burte Parks also does veal -- won "Best Veal Dish" in DE by Delaware Today. 4 stars in the Daily Times. They also serve Amarone, the King of Wines.

Fenwick Wine Cellars: They would say they have "tasty, unusual wines." Their Ambrosia was fruity and peppery with lots of flavor. The Vignoles was a nice crisp white, and the Port was smooth and pure with no brandy added. Check out their #1 seller: the Chambourcin, a dry red.

Host Our Coast would like to thank the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce for their support on this event.

Written by Erik Yount. Photography by Errol Webber.