Ray Ray’s bringing Snack Shack cuisine to Taste

Ray Ray’s Snack Shack in Bethany Beach may be less than a year old, but already it’s becoming a stand-out stop for passers-by and hungry visitors. On June 7, co-owners and brothers, Alan and Ronnie Zizmor will bring their beach-inspired dishes for the first time to the Toll Brothers 10th Annual Taste of Coastal Delaware, adding to the slew of inspiring restaurateurs sharing unique style and expertise.

“What we’re trying to do here is bring a restaurant-quality snack bar, minus the seats and the hassle,” said Alan Zizmor. “We’re trying to have fun but make really good food with it.”

Coastal Point • JESSE PRYOR
Ray Ray's Snack Shack in Bethany Beach features breakfast bites and lunchtime favorites, like Caesar salad topped with homemade crab cakes, or a pan-seared (not fried) softshell crab sandwich, with Maryland crab chips and homeNamed after Alan Zizmor’s daughter Rachel, Ray Ray’s is truly a family affair, bearing warmth and sentiment beyond measures. In the summer of 2006, Alan and Ronnie’s mother, Abby, passed away after a courageous fight with breast cancer. Her love for the beach and her fondness for great food helped inspire the menu at the Snack Shack, one that anyone who stops in can appreciate.

“Naming the place after my daughter is a way we can keep the legacy of the family in the restaurant,” said Alan Zizmor.

Although Ray Ray’s Snack Shack has only limited dining space inside, they have specialized in authentic beach cuisine that can easily be taken outside to the beach and boardwalk, or to home or work. Breakfast burritos, bagels with lox and fresh-brewed coffee can start the day off, with plenty of lunchtime and dinner options that include everything from specialty salads to the “Fighting Blue” burger.

Everything but the bread, Zizmor noted, is made right in the kitchen, including the creamy cold slaw and spicy salsa. And the chips alone are enough to draw in a crowd. Sandwiches are paired with original, homemade chips, dredged in special seasonings. Customers can also choose their favorites, including zesty Hell’s Kitchen, three-vinegar, Maryland crab and chili lime tortilla chips.

Zizmor uses all-natural ingredients at Ray Ray’s, and is looking into shopping for all of his produce locally.

“We want to stay in the community,” he said, “and we’re really trying to get our name out there.”

Later this summer, Zismor hopes to open up a bike delivery service to the Bethany Beach area.

At this year’s Taste, Zizmor plans to bring some of the Snack Shack’s noted salads, such as the apple walnut salad, Asian salad and “The Abby,” a favorite of his late mother. He also will feature homemade milkshakes and shrimp salad at the event.

“This show will be great exposure for us,” he said, “and we want to do what we can to stand out.”

Running a restaurant is nothing new to the brothers, who have been pumping out meals by the thousands each year for almost two decades. From a raw bar and lounge in New York City’s Upper West Side to a successful concept restaurant out in Denver, Colo., the family trade is quickly catching on. It was only a matter of time before the skills were brought to the Delaware beach.

“We’d like to move further south with the business, eventually,” noted Zizmor. “We’ve always loved Fenwick.”

For more information about Ray Ray’s Snack Shack, including menu items, check out www.rayrays.com online or call (302) 537-7373. Ray Ray’s is located at 108 Garfield Parkway in Bethany Beach.

The Taste of Coastal Delaware will be held this year at the Sea Colony Marketplace on Sunday, June 7, from 1 to 4 p.m. Guests will be able to enjoy music from the Wes Davis Band and get cooking tips and demonstrations from professional chef John Shields, who specializes in coastal cuisine.

Tickets for the Toll Brothers 10th Annual Taste of Coastal Delaware on June 7 are now available for $35 each. They can be purchased online by visiting www.bethany-fenwick.org, by calling (302) 539-2100, ext. 16, or by stopping into the Chamber office, located at 36913 Coastal Highway in Fenwick Island.

Pick up the Coastal Point or visit our Web site weekly for continuing coverage and more exclusive interviews leading up to the event.