STAFF WRITER MARK NARDONE DISHES ON THIS WEEK’S
BEST WINE EVENTS AND MORE
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11/01/11Dining Insider: a blog about Domaine Hudson's wine honor, the new Ubon Thai Cuisine, Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza, and roasted suckling pig at Olé Tapas LoungeDomaine’s Domain: Top of the Heap We’ve always known Domaine Hudson’s wine offerings—400 by the bottle, 40 by the glass—were among the best. Now the nation knows, too. OpenTable.com has ranked Domaine’s list as one of the 50 best in America. It includes an extensive selection of popular labels and highly rated boutique wines, some available as a flight of three 3-ounce pours. Is the recognition a surprise? Not to us. Domaine consistently ranks among OpenTable’s best in the Philadelphia. OpenTable.com is the world’s largest online restaurant reservation system. Use it to make your rezzie now, then stop in and see what all the wine-ing is about. Fit to be Thai-ed We’ve been waiting awhile now because, you know, one... Posted at 09:00 AM | Permalink |
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10/25/11Dining Insider: a blog about wine and cheese for the Rehoboth Beach Museum, dining for historic preservation at The Biggs, Little Lee's Breakfast in America tour, the wine and beer expo at the Chesepeake Inn and moreA Fun One in Rehoboth You know how The Insider feels about wine and cheese. No wonder this one caught our eye: Tour the World With Wine and Cheese. It happens Nov. 5 at the Rehoboth Beach Museum. It’s pretty self-explanatory, but you should know this: The $40 for your ticket ($75 per couple) benefits the children’s education room at the museum. You’ll sample wares from Italy, New Zealand, Argentina, and the United States in one of the coolest places at the beach. It’ll be fun. For more, call 227-7310, or visit rehobothbeachmuseum.org for a downloadable reservation form. Artful Dining, Indeed One for the day planner: An Evening of Artful Dining: A Preservationist’s Approach to Historic Buildings in Delaware at the Biggs Museum of American Art... Posted at 11:00 AM | Permalink |
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10/18/11Dining Insider: a blog about the Delaware Wine & Beer Festival, brunch at Chelsea Tavern, Frank's wine dinners, Orillas' big move and the urban agriculture summitA Festival for the Books We’ve been hyping this one for weeks. At long last, it’s here: the Delaware Wine & Beer Festival on Sunday, Oct. 23, at Pizzadili Winery in Felton from noon until 5 p.m. “This event is a showcase for locally made wines, beers and artwork by local artisans, and a place where those who appreciate Delaware-made products can sample and enjoy them in one venue,” says Cindy Small of Kent County Tourism, producer of the event. “It is the only place where you can meet all of Delaware's brewers and vintners in a single setting”—or watch a highly competitive keg-tossing contest. All in all, there will be more than 30 wines and brews, as well as food by Pizzadili, handmade cigars from Veritas Cigars and delicious... Posted at 10:00 AM | Permalink |
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10/11/11DT Dining Insider: a blog about brunch at Deerfield, the new Firebirds, the Delaware Wine and Beer Festival, learning to cook at Abbott's Grill, and a special dinner at the Biggs MuseumA Brunch for the Books News we can use: Sunday brunch is back at Deerfield in Newark, and we couldn’t be happier. Why? First, the view. With windows from floor to ceiling in the dining area, there is no better place to greet the morning sun, even if morning is almost gone by the time you get there. The view is of the rolling golf course, and it is one of the most picturesque around. Second, and more important, is the food. The Deerfield crew measures 111 linear feet of buffet space that brims with every kind of brunch food you can imagine. There are stations for Belgian waffles and omelets (you pick the fillings); a raw bar with oysters, clams, shrimp—even sushi—carving stations with roasted meats; and, for dessert, a chocolate dipping station. And that is by no... |
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10/04/11The Dining Insider: A blog about Vendemmia da Vinci in Wilmington, a Weyerbacher beer dinner at Longwood Gardens, beer festivals at Dover Downs and Pizzadili, wine and cheese at Stone Balloon Winehouse and banh mi in NewarkCelebrating Wine If you thought the Societa da Vinci Vendemmia Wine Festival was one kickin' party, you're not alone. Buses already come from as far north as Brooklyn and west from Lancaster. Now the push is on to lure wine lovers from the Washington-Baltimore area. “We’re turning it into a regional event,” says chairman Ron Oronzio. And why not? Vendemmia, which celebrates the annual grape harvest, is one of the best wine events going. Twenty-five of the best restaurants in the state—Caffé Gelato, Harry’s Seafood Grill, Soffritto Italian Grill, and the Martuscelli family’s La Casa Pasta and Chesapeake Inn, to name a few—will provide delicious food. Most of the state’s distributors will supply the wine, as will the... Posted at 12:00 PM | Permalink |
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09/27/11The Dining Insider: a blog about Richard Hebben at The Green Room, endless Sunday Dinner at Pomodoro, Culinature at Longwood Gardens and Brown Betty Dessert Boutique at Terrain at Styer'sA Real Treat This promises to be one of the great culinary treats of the year, so we’re telling you now: Richard Hebben, executive chef at the Park Hyatt Philadelphia, will prepare a four-course dinner at The Green Room of the Hotel du Pont Oct. 7-8. Hebben has honed his skills in hotel kitchens around the world, making him a favorite of such celebs as Robert De Niro and Jay Leno and of such influential publications as the Conde Nast chain of magazines. Just take a peek at what he has in store for you at The Green Room: Start with an amuse bouche of sweet corn with sorrel pesto and savory biscotti. Your choice of first courses is grilled Spanish octopus, warm potato and leek salad with aged sherry vinaigrette, or calabaz squash ravioli with sheep’s milk... Posted at 12:00 AM | Permalink |
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09/19/11The Dining Insider: A blog about Taste of Trolley, taste of Newark, Delaware Dines Out, Peco's Liquors, the Brandywine Wine Trail Harvest Festival and moreThere’s An App for That The Delaware Center for Horticulture wants to know if you’re hungry for a taste of adventure. If so, visit its beautiful and historic Trolley Square home (1810 N. Dupont St., Wilmington) on Thursday, Sept. 22 for “A Taste of Trolley Square: All About Apps.” Chefs from nine neighborhood restaurants—Catherine Rooney’s, Lime, Santa Fe, Temptations, Kelly’s Logan House, Fresh Thymes, Kid Shelleen's, Piccolina Toscana and El Diablo—will prepare their A-game recipes. You taste, then vote for the winner. Two hours of delicious fun starts at 5:30 p.m. To get in on it, register by Wednesday, Sept. 21. Call 658-6262, or visit thedch.org. Taste of Newark Year eight promises to be great for the annual... Posted at 04:26 PM | Permalink |
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09/12/11The Dining Insider: A blog about The Farmer and the Chef, the second anniversary party at BBC Tavern and a special wine dinner at Bella Vista Trattoria, and cooking class at the Hotel du PontThursday is a big night this week, with several great events. How will you choose? Here’s the dope.Down on the FarmChefs need farmers. We need chefs. And everyone needs to have fun once in awhile. The funnest (yes, we said funnest) dining event on the horizon this week? The Farmer and the Chef, to benefit the March of Dimes, happens Sept. 15 at the Chase Center on the Riverfront. Taste what happens when local chefs go to work with all locally sourced food. You’ll also have an opportunity to meet celebrity chef Joseph Poon of Philly’s Chinatown (you can’t miss him in the local media), and there will be a concert by Delaware’s own Chuck Wicks, a former “Dancing with the Stars” contestant whose “Stealing Cinderella” was a top 5 country... Posted at 05:34 PM | Permalink |
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09/06/11The Dining Insider: A blog about the 26th annual Mushroom Festival, Denim & Diamonds for Meals on Wheels, and the Dover Downs Brew FestWe will, reluctantly, pardon the pun: The 26th annual Mushroom Festival promises Fun(gi) for All. Sept. 9-11, tour mushroom farms, eat mushroom foods, see the mushroom soup cook-off and browse among 200 vendors set up on State Street in Kennett Square to celebrate—well, what else would you celebrate in the mushroom capital of the world? And guess who will be there? Jennifer Behm of Wilmington, who won Fox’s “MasterChef” after being charged with preparing a dish with mushrooms. (There is justice in the world.) She’ll be joining celebrity chefs Jose Garces and Kevin Sbraga of Philadelphia in the special events tent on Saturday. Not enough celebs for you? “Action News” reporter Alicia Vitarelli will also be on hand. For a complete schedule of... Posted at 07:12 AM | Permalink |
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08/30/11The Dining Insider: A blog about Labor Day restaurant specials at Back Porch Café, Harry's Savoy Grill, Deep Blue Bar & Grill, Doc Magrogan's and more.Labor Day weekend is here. It’s time to party, not time to cook (unless you’re grilling). So the Dining Insider went in search of some deals. Here are a few:Start the weekend early to beat traffic on SR1. Thursday, head straight to Rehoboth’s iconic Back Porch for its weekly prix fixe ($38 per person). Here’s a sample of the menu from last week:First Course: Choice of char grilled octopus, chorizo and borlotti bean ragout and gremoulata; or roasted eggplant and feta ravioli with cinnamon-basil pesto; or buffalo mozzarella, prosciutto and pickled grapes; or brown sugar and tea-smoked duck breast with pickled ginger, sesame shiitake and jicama. Whew.Main Course: Choose oven-roasted Guinea hen, pancetta-corn pudding, and stewed green tomato; or chili-cocoa rubbed... Posted at 07:17 AM | Permalink |
