A Family-Owned Farm-To-Table Restaurant In Delaware, You'll Fill Your Stomach And Heart At Heirloom
By Sarah McCosham|Published November 01, 2022
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
There’s a saying that we “eat with our eyes first” because eating isn’t simply the act of consuming food for sustenance — it’s a total-body experience that touches all the senses. We see the vibrant colors before our eyes. We smell the aromas of fresh-cut herbs and ripe produce. We touch and taste each morsel with our hands and mouths. And finally, we feel the physical sensation of filling our stomachs; and, on a deeper level, our hearts and souls. Eating is an experience, and food brings cultures together in a way nothing else can or does. In Lewes, Delaware, Heirloom is a restaurant that celebrates the experience of eating from start to finish. This is a restaurant that takes “farm to table” dining to heart, highlighting the local farmers and fishermen of the Delmarva region from whence it hails. Heirloom is a restaurant in Delaware that celebrates the communal experience of eating out loud, with its white house with red shutters welcoming diners to the table since 2015.
Interested to learn about other unique American small businesses? Our 2022 Small Business Spotlight series highlights the often-overlooked work of small business owners across the country, from Massachusetts to Southern California.
Eating the rainbow is easy when food looks this good. This is a typical special on the menu at Heirloom, a farm-forward restaurant located in lovely Lewes, Delaware.
But let's back up. Because dining at Heirloom is so much more than simply eating... it's an entire experience, beginning when you step inside the historic Victorian house in downtown Lewes.
The inside of this restaurant is as postcard-perfect as its dwellings. You'll dine surrounded by a whimsical decor of botanical drawings, plants, mismatched vintage plates, and the original pine floors -- think "cozy farmhouse by the sea."
The circa-1899 house in which Heirloom is located is peak New England vibes; Lewes, which has a history dating back to the 17th century, is a historic seaside town full of historic seaside homes.
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So, how did this charming restaurant come to be? Owner Meghan Lee explains, "Heirloom was a long-standing dream of mine since I was 22 years old. With the intention of building a magical experience one day, I put my head down and worked very hard, building a solid resume and creative experiences in the restaurant business."
Lee says that in her mid-thirties, she had the opportunity to bring this dream to fruition in the humble little seaside town of Lewes, Delaware.
"Inspired by all our (untapped) local farmland, I wanted to create a restaurant unlike any other - focusing heavily on the ingredients of the Delmarva region," she explains.
In addition to the local bounty, Lee wanted to create a space that felt like home, complete with vintage plates and silverware, botanical drawings, plants, floral pillows, and more.
Once you've admired the setting, your eyes will gravitate toward the menu, which is all about what's available, local, and in season. This is intentional, explains Lee, who adds that Heirloom is an active supporter of the Historic Lewes Farmers Market.
These cherry tomatoes, for example, are from nearby Baywater Farms and factored heavily into the summer specials.
With its location on the Atlantic Coast, seafood plays into many a menu item at Heirloom, too. These soft-shell crabs were a fresh catch Heirloom chefs enthusiastically incorporated into several summer dishes.
Speaking of chefs, the biggest standout at Heirloom is the kitchen. Explains Lee, "Heirloom runs a collaborative/team kitchen, where every person has a voice filled with creative ideas and recipes to bring to the table."
"With bi-weekly meetings, the Heirloom kitchen squad mulls over the hundreds of cookbooks that sit in the back kitchen, in addition to the yearly food destination trips that I take them on," she adds.
In the seven years since opening, Heirloom has become a cornerstone of its Delaware community. Regularly donating to local causes like Lewes in Bloom, the Historical Society, and Canalfront Park, Lee says she's proud to have created this warm and welcoming space.
"My favorite part of being a business owner is the culture I have built and continue to build for all the people who love and respect this industry," she says. "I have worked in some amazing places, and some not so much, and I collectively took all my experiences and promised myself to make and create the best work environment for anyone willing to put in the work."
By the looks of it, we'd say Lee is most certainly succeeding.
Many thanks to Heirloom’s owner Meghan Lee for sharing the story of her delightful Delaware restaurant. Learn more about Heirloom at its website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.
Of course, Heirloom is just one of the many top-rated restaurants in Delaware; please nominate your favorite attractions and businesses for a chance to be featured in an upcoming Only In Delaware article. And be sure to follow Only In Delaware on Facebook and Instagram to learn about the First State’s most incredible places, attractions, and events.
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