Where I’m Eating: Aqua
Aqua Clams Provencal
Arriving to the Virginia Eastern Shore after four hours in the car equaled a much-needed glass of Pinot and comfort food. Luckily Aqua was the first thing on my schedule and the restaurant offered just the comfort I had been looking for after an evening on the road. The image of a huge beach home versus a restaurant was what initially crossed my mind as we drove up to the popular Eastern Shore restaurant. Home is what it felt like when we entered to a hostess that was warm and happy to escort us to one of the private dining rooms in the restaurant. Though I love a good private dining room experience, the spacious public dining area was just as inviting where the lighting and soft tones muted any thoughts of claustrophobia or obnoxious loud dining room chatter.
Aqua Fried Green Tomatoes BLT Salad topped with Local Crabmeat
Finally, food was meeting my palate and it began with a few of my favorite things. Clams Provencal planted themselves in the center of the table draped in a broth with tender notes of celery, onion, garlic and all things good. This introduction, I would learn, was just the beginning of a weekend that would teach me all I needed to know about clam life. Clearly seafood is a staple in the Virginia Eastern Shore dining scene, which Aqua has quite a hold on, and most restaurants have some form of clams, oysters or fish. The Fried Green Tomatoes even had “Local Crabmeat” as the garnish.
Aqua is one of those places in a small town that all the locals visit for a night on the town. Lucky for the Virginia Eastern Shore, this is actually a place that out-of-towners, like yours truly, can appreciate when trying to ease into the small town atmosphere. Creative flavors with local fare tucked in a huge space reminding you of what you always thought a large country haven should entail, Aqua is a welcome reflection of what you have to look forward to on the Virginia Eastern Shore.
Category: Food.Fun.Stuff., restaurant reviews, VA, Virginia Eastern Shore
About the Author (Author Profile)
Johnna French is a Harlem NY native with deep roots in Panama, Washington, DC and North Carolina. All four places have heavily influenced her life and the foods she loves today. After graduating Howard University School of Law and beginning her life as a young professional in the city she was led to start Johnna Knows Good Food in November 2007 to keep family, friends and colleagues updated on where to go and what to eat while dining in the nation’s capitol. French, who still practices law, leads a team of three writers to cover the ever expanding Washington, DC food scene. French has been featured in print and television, appearing in Washingtonian Magazine and is a regular contributor to various local TV affiliates including WUSA 9, FOX 5 DC and WJLA (ABC Affiliate) News Channel 8. During the 2016-2017 football season, Johnna aired on Comcast Sports Mid-Atlantic (CSN) show, Redskins Life, as the weekly tailgate host. Johnna is currently a regular contributor to the FOX Baltimore Weekend morning show.Subscribe
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