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