FIFTY/FIFTY

Sometimes all you really need in life is a big, juicy burger and a side of fries. Luckily for all of us, there’s a new food truck in town specializing in exactly that. Fifty/Fifty calls itself a “burger-centric, innovative food truck” and says they’re “all in on a good burger.” This statement is very true. At Fifty/Fifty, they use fresh, locally sourced ingredients, rotated seasonally. Their signature sandwich starts with a 50% beef and 50% bacon smash patty topped with white American cheese. The basic burger is hot, fresh and delicious. And it only gets tastier from there. Choose from an extensive list of free toppings to add onto your burger, including lettuce, tomato, caramelized onions, pickles, candied Serrano peppers, Fifty/Fifty sauce, bourbon molasses, ketchup, mayo, mustard or barbecue sauce. Or try one of their signature burgers, such as the PBPBB&B – a burger topped with spicy peanut butter and sweet pickles; or She’s My Cherry burger, smothered in cherry jam and goat cheese. The Old-Fashioned comes with bourbon molasses sauce, sweet pickles and caramelized onions. For the truly adventurous, Fifty/Fifty offers up the I Can’t Feel My Face burger. Warning: this burger is very, very spicy (in case you couldn’t tell that from the name). They take the classic smash patty and top it with candied Serrano peppers then add ghost pepper sauce, with real ghost peppers, red onion, cilantro and lime. Ghost peppers measure about 1 million Scoville heat units, that’s 416 times hotter than the mildest jalapeño, said to average about 5,000 Scoville heat units. Good luck with this one!

And Fifty/Fifty doesn’t leave out our vegan or vegetarian friends! Vegan offerings will change with the season. This fall, on the menu was a Pumpkin burger, made of pumpkin puree, rolled oats and smashed chickpea patties with tzatziki sauce and pickled red onions on top. All these toppings and burgers are juicy and very flavorful, but without the right bun, a burger can be ruined. Let’s just say they got the right bun. Soft and fluffy, but substantial enough to contain all those fillings and sauces Though you’ll surely get your fill with any one of Fifty/Fifty’s burgers, don’t forget the sides! Burger + fries – we dare you to name a better duo. Fifty/ Fifty offers two varieties: regular or sweet potato fries. The “regular” have a Maryland staple sprinkling of Old Bay and include a tub of Fifty/Fifty sauce. The sweet potato fries are a unique treat. Truly sweet, they come with a dusting of cinnamon sugar and plenty of blueberry ketchup to dip them in. Find Fifty/Fifty around town by following them on social media. They post their upcoming schedule regularly on both Instagram and Facebook. Regular haunts include most of Frederick’s downtown breweries and a few other spots. So the next time you’re craving a good, oldfashioned burger with a twist, seek out the Fifty/ Fifty truck. “From the meat to the sauce, every burger we create is authentically delicious,” they say on their website.

We agree. Well done.

Fifty/Fifty Food Truck fiftyfiftyfoodtruck.com F facebook.com/frederickfiftyfifty/ d @frederickfiftyfifty

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Explore the Du Pont sites of theBrandywine River Valley

Words and Photos By Shuan Butcher

When most think of the American titans, names such as the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts or Morgans come to mind. They built massive fortunes, lived lavish lifestyles and were the epitome of the gilded age. The Mid-Atlantic region had its own such family, the du Ponts of Wilmington, Del., and you can visit their haunts in just a short jaunt from Frederick.

Wilmington, and the surrounding Brandywine River Valley, is a great place to visit. There are some fantastic destinations in the area that highlight that era of American capitalism and have direct connections to multiple generations of the du Pont family.

Start where it all began for the du Pont family, at Eleutherian Mills, the first du Pont home in America. The house has furnishings and decorative art that belonged to the family which you can see through one of the guided tours. An office, dating to 1837, is right next door. Don’t forget to check out the barn, as it contains a collection of antique weather vanes and a hodgepodge of wagons, carriages and antique cars.

The property is officially known as the Hagley Museum and Library and is truly a unique place to see for anyone interested in learning more about early American industrialism. You can explore the powder yard, millwright shop, the Birkenhead Mills, as well as an 1870s steam engine.

For a different, and more grandiose experience, check out other du Pont estates open to the public. The mansion at Nemours Estate, finished in 1910, has 77 rooms and is 47,000 square feet in size. Here you’ll find many glamourous rooms, and even a bowling alley in the basement. Stunning chandeliers, oil paintings, tapestries and statues will also catch your eye.

The lawn is reminiscent of the grounds you would walk on at a European castle, broken into different sections such as a maze garden, oriental gardens and a stunning sunken garden.

Winterthur is another not-to-miss home. This was the childhood home and country estate for Henry Francis du Pont and is known for its 60-acre garden of stupendous beauty and the surrounding nearly 1,000 acres of woods, meadows and farmland. Board the Garden Tram to explore the property and take in the magic at the Enchanted Woods, the Sundial Garden, Magnolia Bend, Azalea Woods or the 1750 House.

You will be blown away when you tour the mansion. This home has one of the finest collections of American art and antiques amassed.

The Brandywine River Valley serves as an epicenter for public gardens. One of America’s finest is Longwood Gardens. Created by Pierre du Pont, these gardens are magnificent. More than 11,000 plants are on display and they have one of the largest greenhouses in the world.

Catch a live concert, hear music played on the chimes tower, or enjoy one of the light installations scheduled regularly. Regardless of what time of year you visit Longwood, there is always something in bloom or something to see.

For overnight accommodations, stay at the Hotel Du Pont. Completed in 1913 to woo business clients and impress travelers, it is now a Historic Hotel of America. As such, each room is unique and far from the cookie cutter chain hotels that lack character and décor.

They have hosted their fair share of celebrities and dignitaries over the past century. Be sure to ask about the suite that was once used by Bruce Willis and Demi Moore.

In terms of restaurants in Wilmington, the first recommendation is brunch at Le Cavalier. Led by chef and partner Tyler Akin, Le Cavalier is inside the Hotel Du Pont. The walls are adorned with work by local and regional artists and the food is fantastic. You can’t go wrong with the Belgian waffle served with banana, Nutella and ganache.

Another culinary delight in downtown Wilmington is Bardea Food & Drink. Bardea is an Italian term for “the goddess of food and drink.” The menu of this James Beard Award semifinalist focuses on shared plates with a creative Italian twist.

Great choices here include the grilled romaine with sun-dried tomato, smoked pistachio and carrot hollandaise and the spicy honey pizza which includes fresh mozzarella, tomato and spicy pepperoni.

Another great dining destination is Ciro 40 Acres. This quaint place blends right in with the Trolley Square neighborhood. Dine here for one of the best sausage gravy and biscuit entrées ever made by Chef Michael DiBianca (a three-time James Beard nominee) and his team

After you are done exploring some of the du Pont properties, grab a bite at the BBC Tavern and Grill in Greenville. Select the cheesesteak eggrolls or hot soft pretzels. The Monte Cristo sandwich is sinfully delightful.

On your way to Longwood Gardens, the final dining suggestion for you is Buckley’s Tavern. Located in a historic home in the charming town of Centreville, the food here is superb. Kick off your meal with the pear salad then order the barbecue chicken flatbread and the quiche. Top it off with some Woodside Farm ice cream, made just down the road.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

HOTEL DU PONT and Le Cavalier 42 W. 11th St., Wilmington 302.594.3100

Hagley Museum and Library 200 Hagley Creek Road, Wilmington 302.658.2400

Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library 5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur 800.448.3883

Longwood Gardens 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square 610.388.1000

Nemours Estate 1600 Rockland Road, Wilmington 302.651.6912

Bardea 620 N. Market St., Wilmington 302.426.2069

Ciro 40 Acres 1836 Lovering Ave, Wilmington 302.543.8948

BBC Tavern and Grill 4019 Kennett Pike, Greenville 302.655.3785

Buckley’s Tavern 5812 Kennett Pike, Centreville 302.656.9776

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