“Our local Boys & Girls Club provides a wonderful service to families in our area, and they help kids realize their potential,” said Scott Kammerer, president of SoDel Concepts

Now is an ideal time to book a function. "For locals and off-season visitors, this is the perfect time of year to get together with friends, whether you're celebrating a birthday or anniversary, holding a rehearsal dinner or organizing a bridal or baby shower," says Scott Kammerer, SoDel Concepts president. "It's also wise to call now for spring, summer and fall events, since many of these spaces become booked very quickly.

SoDel Concepts' foundation, SoDel Cares, recently donated $2,500 to the Cape Henlopen Food Basket. Located on Oyster House Road in Rehoboth Beach, the nonprofit is an emergency food service that provides assistance to those living in the Cape Henlopen School District.

“Since it opened in Bethany Beach more than 10 years ago, Bluecoast has become a nationally recognized, award-winning restaurant,” Kammerer said. “Now our customers in the Lewes and Rehoboth Beach area don’t need to cross the Indian River Inlet Bridge to experience their favorite restaurant.”

The company will open its 10th restaurant, the second Bluecoast Seafood Grill & Raw Bar, in the Rehoboth Gateway Mall by June 2017. The shopping center on Route 1 is already home to The Fresh Market and Bed Bath and Beyond.

Anyone who knows Scott Kammerer would say 2016 has been his year. He was named Business Man of the Year by Coastal Style Magazine, won the Marvin S. Gilman Superstar Business Award, and most recently, the most coveted award in the industry — the Delaware Restaurant Association's Cornerstone Award.

Kammerer founded a charitable non-profit, SoDel Cares, in September 2015. The charity has given several grants to organizations that help children, the elderly and at risk youth and adults. This year, SoDel Cares received a Best of Award from Coastal Style Magazine and Kammerer received an award for Businessman of the Year in the same readers’ poll.

When the smoke cleared, Ruley was declared the winner for his crabmeat hash, made with Manchego cheese and Anson Mill white grits and a Nocello-candy corn butter jus. It was all topped with a sunny-side-up egg. Jester made a semolina-fried crab cake with walnut-scented bacon-Brussels sprouts-pumpkin hash and Old Bay frozen yogurt.

“Since it opened in Bethany Beach more than 10 years ago, Bluecoast has become a nationally recognized, award-winning restaurant,” Kammerer said. “Now our customers in the Lewes and Rehoboth Beach area don’t need to cross the Indian River Inlet bridge to experience their favorite restaurant.”

The new Bluecoast Seafood Grill will be open year-round, serving lunch and dinner. The restaurant — 4,500-square-feet inside and 2,500-square-feet outside — will be able to accommodate 250 guests. The large outdoor gathering area will feature fire pits, a fully stocked bar and an acoustic stage.

The restaurant managers and the directors of operations selected the employees. “As a criteria, we ask the managers to look for employees who represent out company culture and our mission.”

“As a company, it’s been an honor to carry on Matt’s passion for giving back to the community,” said Nelia Dolan, marketing director of SoDel Concepts. “At the same time, we are creating our own legacy with a new generation of the SoDel Concepts family. The primary mission of SoDel Cares is to contribute to the communities in which we live and work.”

“We were totally surprised and pleased when the staff at Seaford High School nominated us for the award,” Burkle said. “We love meeting young people who’re interested in the restaurant business and talking about career paths available to them in this industry.”

“Our Servers are taught how to talk about wine, suggest pairings and properly serve it,” he said. “We also want our team to learn all facets of the industry, which includes visiting farms and wineries.”

"We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support we received this year from our community. We received donated goods and services from so many fellow business people and friends, and the turnout for the event was amazing," said Lindsey Barry, SoDel's controller.

Matt's Fish Camp, named after the company's late founder Matt Haley, is the ninth restaurant to be opened by SoDel Concepts.

“Our people are people,” SoDel CEO Scott Kammerer said. “They should have lives and feel like they can spend time with their families. And in the end, that makes them better employees.”