Tuesday was no ordinary day on Capitol Hill, as Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland and Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware faced off to see who could make the superior Orange Crush cocktail.

This battle comes after Delaware lawmakers passed a bill to make the drink the official state cocktail. It combines orange juice, vodka, triple sec, and lemon lime soda, and it’s taken quite seriously among Marylanders.

“I really do want to thank Delaware for the flattery. We know imitation is the best form of flattery,” said Sen. Cardin.

The cocktail originated in Ocean City, Maryland. It was first concocted at Harborside Bar and Grill — but that was just the birthplace, said Sen. Coons.

“All of us know that something that is wonderful when invented can be improved,” he said.

The battle started out with the two taking slight jabs at each other, but all in good fun.

“We’re great friends but on this issue of Orange Crush we have to draw the line in the sand,” said Sen. Cardin.

“We share a peninsula, we share a history, we share a hope, we share a yearning, we share a memory, and today we will not share a victory because we will have the best Orange Crush,” said Sen. Coons.

At the duel the two senators were set at separate cocktail making stations. A judging panel that included Washington Post Food reporter Emily Heil, Washingtonian food editor Jessica Sidman, Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware waited in the other room so the judging could be “objective.”

Sen. Cardin quickly made his drinks, taking time with his presentation placing a straw in the drink and finishing with a garnish of orange. Sen. Coons took a bit more time, juicing his oranges and then filling his glass with ice by hand.

When the judges came back into the room they took notice of the presentation.

“First impression — it feels like this is a Top Chef challenge where one chef didn’t finish plating the dish,” Sidman said of Sen. Coons’ cocktail.

“When I was governor of Delaware, we used to compete with Maryland on who had the cleanest beaches, who was the best place to incorporate in, who had the best water, who had the best state parks, the best national parks, and all that stuff. I never imagined we’d be competing on this field today,” said Sen. Carper.

In the end Sen. Coons defeated Sen. Cardin, securing the votes of three of the judges. The one vote against Sen. Coons’ cocktail came from Sen. Carper.

After winning the duel Sen. Cardin read a proclamation from Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland:

“I, Wes Moore, Governor of the state of Maryland, do hereby proclaim the Orange Crush as the official Maryland drink of summer and do commend this observance to all of our citizens in Maryland and Delaware.”

Jessop’s Tavern in Old New Castle is one of 50 small U.S. restaurants that will receive a $50,000 grant from a historic preservation organization to upgrade, bolster, and grow its business.

The money given to the colonial American tavern, which has roots tracing back 350 years, comes from a four-year-old program from American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s “Backing Historic Small Restaurants.”

It was started in 2021 to help culturally significant restaurants during the pandemic. The program has aided nearly 125 historic small restaurants in every U.S. state, Washington D.C.., and Puerto Rico. 

The restaurant management software company Resy also is offering each historic restaurant complimentary use of its program for one year to help streamline costs and boost restaurant operations.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation selected this year’s grantees from a group of restaurants that operate in historic buildings or neighborhoods and provide cultural significance to their communities through their history, cuisine, and locations.

Many of the 2024 grant recipients include family-owned establishments or those operating for generations.

Jessop’s Tavern at 114 Delaware St. in the historic section of New Castle has been operated by the Day family since November 1996. The colonial tavern is located in a structure that was built in 1674 and predates the end of the Revolutionary War by more than 100 years.

The name Jessop’s comes from Abraham Jessop, a coppersmith who began living in the building in 1724 and operated his barrel-making business there.

It has housed various businesses through the years including the Captain’s Log restaurant in the 1950s and The Green Frog Tavern in the 1970s.

Jessop’s serves American foods with English, Dutch, Belgian, and Swedish influences such as Dutch pot roast, shepherd’s pie, roast duck and Dutch apple cakes.

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It is well-known for its focus on Belgian beers, with more than 300 bottles and 20 drafts dedicated to Belgian brands. Don’t be surprised to see someone in a tricorn hat. The staff has been known to wear colonial-style garb.

Here is the complete list of restaurants that received grants.

Visit savingplaces.org/historicrestaurants for more nformation.

Patricia Talorico writes about food and restaurants. You can find her on Instagram, X and Facebook. Email  ptalorico@delawareonline.com. Sign up for her  Delaware Eats newsletter.

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Family and friends gathered along the Delaware River Monday night to celebrate the life of one of their loved ones.

Through prayer and memories, loved ones shared a few words to honor 42-year-oldDarnell Dogan.

They gathered along the river in Philadelphia because it’s a spot he visited often to fish. It’s also the last spot Dogan was seen before he went missing.

“Last Thursday they found his body in the water. We don’t know the circumstance — suspicious circumstances,” said Juanita Johnson, Dogan’s mother.

Dogan’s family said he was out on a boat last Tuesday night with people they didn’t know.

That was the last time they heard from him.

By Wednesday afternoon, his family reported him missing.

“He loved his family, he loved his religion, his dogs, and he loved fishing. That’s why we’re here,” said Johnson.

Some kind of material was seen around Dogan’s wrists when the marine unit found him floating in the water on Thursday.

When the missing person report was filed, detectives say they spoke with the people who were on the boat with Dogan.

Police said the death is suspicious, but no charges have been filed at this time.

“That was my best friend, and to know I’m not gonna get a call from him, not talk to him anymore — nobody can understand except people who went through this,” pleaded Johnson.

Homicide detectives are working on the case, and the cause of death is still pending from the medical examiner’s office.