Asia Attacks!

The Asian Invasion
So last week we told you the Del Rose Cafe on Delaware Avenue would be closing and a new concept, Asian, would move in at summer's end.  You likely know by now that it will be run by Trolley Chef/Owner of Moro, Michael DiBianca.  But you guys knew that, already.  Satsuma Asian Kitchen will emerge with sushi, among other things.  For more details, read your newspaper.

That makes two Asian concepts now for Trolley.  Southeast Kitchen at 1901 Delaware Avenue in Wilmington has been set-up for a little over a year now selling humble versions of Asian street food, like bahn mi and lettuce wraps.  

But wait, there's more.

photo by roving reporter Ron Ozer

Top China Buffet at 1714 Marsh Rd has closed. A high-tech sign (see above) in the window says, "Opening Soon Kung Fusion Asian Cuisine".  Certainly better name than Latin Fusion Cuisine.

And, word has it yet another place, Mizu Sushi Bar, is looking at the space formerly held by Toscana ToGo in the Shoppes of Gilpin Plaza.  At under 1000 sq. ft. you can bet it would be just a sushi bar and take-out.  And that can't be a bad thing.  

Mikimoto's, watch your back.

I guess 1998 is making a big comeback. Who knew?

The Restaurant So Nice, They Opened One Twice...

Arenas Cafe in Rehoboth is opening yet another location in downtown Milford on the Riverwalk.  This brings their empire up to five locations in and around Kent and Sussex Counties.  

Glen Mills, PA Restaurant Il Granaio, which has been open about two years, is scouting a second location.  Haven't heard of them?  They're a mid-priced, mostly Northern Italian BYOB run by two Albanian brothers, mixing in Ital-American favorites (i.e.long hots- love 'em, but not so Northern).    Yeah.  And it's good.

Housed in a former turn of the century mill and storage barn, they are rustic Brandywine charm with brisk service and non-fussy presentation.  They're part of the new-school of fast-cuisine, which I call Stephen Starr Service, whereby no matter what you order, they bring it when it's ready and hide behind the moniker "great for sharing!"  But, did I mention it's good?

Not necessarily new (Fall 2012) The Odd Fellows Cafe in Smyrna has opened serving dine in or take-out.  They describe themselves as American with "farm fresh and home-made" dishes.  In the kitchen is "certified culinarian" Brandon Lindell who graduated with his Associates in Culinary from DelTech and Community College. They are located at 34 South Main Street in Smyrna.  

*Whew*  With all that to consider, we'll have to wait until the end of the week for "the big bombshell".


Contributions from DelWriter@comcast.net Pam George.  Know of any openings, closing, changes or otherwise?  Pam is compiling her annual Dining Guide for Delaware Today- hit her up with the scoop!

Tidy Up

Consider restaurant gossip like the Stock Market.  Eventually it will correct itself no matter how wild it was yesterday.

After Wednesday's post, a couple of clarifications:  

The spot next to the Charcoal Pit will not be a Capano operation, but the Sugrue brothers.  ?  Yeah, me too.  They're the Big Fish Restaurant Group, who also have Firestone Pizza downtown, and a slew of places at the beach.  Word has it, it'll be....wait for it....an Italian concept.  Echo.

Bryan Sikora's La Fia Bakery, Market and Bistro on Market Street just posted yesterday, "We are now in the process of hiring servers, line cooks, dishwashers, gourmet market retail and bartender. Please email resume and position desired to bryan@lafiawilmington.com "

Also, Bryan's Facebook pages says opening is set for June 17.

Earlier this month in a FB thread that led to the formation of this blog, we heard that the Del Rose Cafe on Delaware Avenue in Trolley Square was closing to renovate extensively and would reopen as an Asian Bistro with rooftop dining.  It was a boast so wild, I wrote it off as not worth following (that is until I heard it again).  And then there was this post on the Del Rose Cafe's Facebook Page this week:  

Thank you for your loyalty and continued patronage through the years! The bonds made and experiences shared over the years could never be duplicated or replaced! Let’s continue the fun! We will be closing on Memorial Day to renovate and give the restaurant a much needed face lift! Our goal is to have everything completed in under 2 months. Please like us on Facebook to follow our progress during the shut down!

Sounds more like a "see ya!" than a "see ya later", to me.  We've got the scoop, but you'll have to tune in next week...

Lets just say its all true.    

Have a Slice

Well, it IS getting interesting.  

On the subject of openings and closings, we have this to report.

Overheard:  The Columbus Inn is for sale and current owners are opening a new restaurant next to their flagship burger barn, The Charcoal Pit.  What the, what?  Yup.

Signs are getting clearer and clearer that a POPULAR spot on Market Street is closing and it's POPULAR kitchen team is headed to the D.C. area.  When?  The smart money has it at end of month.  So- yeah, talk about that.

The Stone Balloon Winehouse still hasn't found a replacement for their recently departed chef.  There could be other changes on the horizon, too.

Lastly, DD hears another POPULAR chef in Wilmington is opening a second spot (notice I didn't say "another" spot).  Anyone care to chime in?

L'Addition

Another feature of Delaware Digestivo is a regular round up of positions in the biz we hear are open.  As technology evolves, the hottest positions seem to be found on the faster forms of media, making even Craigslist seem like a relic, especially when users interface more.  

Here's what we've heard. 

• First, SODEL Concepts, Chef Matt Haley's Delaware restaurant group is opening their 7th venture with Papa Grande's Coastal Taqueria, their first foray into Latin cuisine.  The restaurant will be located at 38929 Madison Avenue, Fenwick Island on the bridge of Route 54, across the parking lot from Catch 54, one of its sister restaurants.  Haley's corporate chef Doug Rouley was brought in as partner for this, their latest opening.  Applications and resumes are being taken for all positions. Contact sodelconcepts@gmail.com

• Last time we ventured a guess at who was taking over the kitchen at Ulysses Gastropub in North Wilmington.  We have confirmation that Alex Shrimpino formerly of Victory Brewing will be the new chef to replace founding chef Sean McNiece who left recently to head up Henretty's Market in Hockessin.  General consensus: don't change the wings, yo.

• Bryan Sikora's La Fia Bakery + Market + Bistro was showing signs of opening this month, but their Facebook page shows an image of the store front and a sign moving that date to Summer 2013.  A Facebook inquiry about hiring (in April) stated "mid-may".  Whether this is on the old timeline or the new, is unknown.

• Across the lovely Delaware River and on the way to Cape May, friends of ours want you to know Cape Resorts Group's Congress Hall Hotel is looking for a tenured Pastry Chef to fill a void.  Contact their site with a resume.  FYI, Cape May was just named one of America's Top 10 Best Beach Resorts for Families by Parenting Magazine (Rehoboth is No. 7).    Could be time to make that big move you've been contemplating.

We've got more, but we need some confirmation before we post.  

Got some you want to share?  Hit us up (reply at bottom of post).  

We're also starting a Facebook and Twitter page for Delaware Digestivo to get you more and quicker buzz from the First State food/beverage world.

Saluti!

In the Italian family, after-dinner drinks, or appertivi, are standard.  As he was trained by my grandfather, my Dad goes to his special cabinet while dinner plates are being cleared and begins to assemble various liqueurs on the table.  A tiny collection of mini snifters and pony glasses begins to arrive.  The kids are well into a movie, and the conversation shifts from desserts to the esoteric.  

As the liquor loosens the tongue, the topics cover little known family facts to vacations, future and past, irreverent humor and through it all, the gossip flows.  It's a time when the really good stuff comes up.  And you leave the table feeling a little more in the know.

Such is the culture of sharing a meal around a table with family and friends.

In a Facebook post today that was meant to share a couple of industry tidbits, the very scenario described above evolved online.  People stopped in on the conversation, adding tidbits of stories they had heard, confirming or debunking restaurant rumors.  Snippets of humor and inside jokes.  And lots of name dropping.  I had four separate conversations that were coming in off the thread, all discussing in further detail the idea of a "gathering place" for our tightly knit community of food and beverage brethren.  

Are you integrally woven into the food culture of Delaware? Are you wondering when a new spot is about to launch?  Do you know a position that's opened up in a kitchen or bar (or about to) and want to share?  Maybe you've got the inside scoop on where to get the best tacos or how to score a reservation at the latest dish.  There are many reasons to have a culinary social site for Delaware foodies, and our appetite for knowledge is voracious.

I'd like to think this site is part Wikipedia, part Craigslist, part Twitter and part Tumbler.  There's lots of information out there, and we all can share, investigate, promote, clarify, fact-check, dispute and discuss with aplomb.  

Sign up, comment, suggest.  Let's share a digestivo, together.  Saluti!

There is a big chef swap in the works right now in The 302.  As many of you know by now, the long-time chef of Krazy Kats in Montchanin Donny Merrill has left to do his own gig near Hockessin.  Delaware writer and food friend Pam George relayed a reply on that Facebook thread from Chef:   

" I'm opening 'Skipjack' in the Shoppes of Louvieres. It was the old Blackstones. It's named after a Chesapeake bay fishing boat. I'm doing locally sourced food and beer with a vintage Chesapeake Bay feel."

That leaves an opening at the stove which we hear Stone Balloon Wine House toque Andy Matulaitis is going to fill. No word on who may take his spot.

Chef Sean McNiece has left Ulysses Gastro Pub in North Wilmington to head out to Henretty's Market in Hockessin, and we heard former back-in-the-day Buckley's Chef Pat Bradley is going to slide into the spot and take the reins of Bertha, Sean's inaugural meat smoker he helped---well--- birth.  (Sorry).  Unconfirmed

We heard a rumor that corporate Chef Dave Anderson of Iron Hill Brewing has left after 16 or so years to take over the The Granary Restaurant on the Sassafras River in Maryland.  Along with the Sassafras Grill, it has been closed while owner Ford Hall, Sr. searches for a new tenant.  This message has been on their website: 

Should you or a business associate wish to discuss leasing the Granary and Sassafras Grill restaurants complete with liquor license, please contact me for all the details of this rare opportunity. The restaurants were last available for lease in 1998, 14 years ago.

The two restaurants seat about 330 persons and are located on the beautiful Sassafras River in Georgetown, Maryland 21930. Famous for steaks and seafood since 1946.

Call me on my cell at 443-480-6138, to explore this rare opportunity.

Mr. Ford Hall, Sr. 

Property Owner 

Again- unconfirmed.
UPDATE: CONFIRMED!

Indeed, former Wilmington Country Club manager Jacques Macq has reopened Mona Lisa Euro Bistro on Lincoln Street with his wife.  Despite its name, the opening menu is very Franco-centric, but then Macq is a native of Belgium.  "Euro" and not "French" is apparently going to give them license to border hop with cuisines.

On that note, has anyone heard anything about Latin Fusion in the old Pan Thai?  I hear they're up for Worst Name of the Year award for a restaurant.  

Look- there's lots more, but let this digest (see what I did there?) and we'll be back with more developments, including one that is pretty big for the Little D. 

R