Food friends, a trio of questions today. First, check out Eric Ruth's review of The Cultured Pearl in Rehoboth Beach. For other recent dining reviews, click here.
Keep the questions coming....You ask. We answer. Every Friday.
What Indian restaurants do you recommend? We live in Newark, but would go to Wilmington if you think that's where the best Indian food is. (We lived in India for 4 years.) Thanks, The Toshes
Hi Toshes. Thanks for the letter. I’m going to approach answering this letter with some caution. Since you’ve lived in India for four years, I’m sure you have some very strong opinions about Indian cuisine. I’m not sure what part of the country you lived - northern, southern, eastern or western - and the food is so vastly different, I’m not sure what your looking for. For instance, the curries of Kerala are so different than from Punjab. I know from experience that once you get a flavor memory on your palate, it’s hard to find it again in another part of the world. That said, I just had dinner at Palace of Asia, 3421 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington; 994-9200; www.palace-of-asia.com., and really enjoyed it. The atmosphere is upscale and everyone around us seemed to be ordering the sizzling tandoori dishes. (If you go, definitely order a mango juice drink.) Look for an upcoming review on Sept. 21.
I used to be a fan of Taste of India, 2628 Kirkwood Highway, Newark, 737-9483, but was disappointed during my last visit. I’m hearing good things about Himalaya Indian Restaurant 2671 Kirkwood Highway, Meadowood Shopping Center Newark, 497-0586, but I haven’t eaten there since it changed hands. (It used to be Cafe Chettinad and they offered wonderful dosas, idlis, the spongy rice-and-lentil white patties known as idlis, and the excellent medu vadas, the crisp rice-and-lentil doughnuts.) I’ve liked Nirvana Fine Indian Cuisine 1601 Concord Pike in the Independence Mall Shopping Center.
Good luck. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Hi Patricia. I am going to try that eggplant lasagna dish you wrote about last week. Any suggestions as to where to buy fresh mozzarella besides going to the Italian market in Philly. Thanks. Paula Kelly.
Andrea’s Best of Italy store (off Del 41), 723 Ace Memorial Drive, Hockessin; 235-0237, sells both buffalo mozzarella and cow’s milk mozzarella. Or try Pagano's, an Italian grocer and catering company in in the Olde Ridge Village Shoppes off U.S. 202 in Glen Mills, Pa; (610) 459-5900.
SIW Vegetable Stand off Route 100 in Chadds Ford, Pa., (610) 388-0656, was selling fresh mozzarella made by the famed Philadelphia Italian market stores Claudio’s and DiBruno Brothers this summer. They were still carrying it last time I stopped by, about 2 weeks ago. Janssen’s Market in Greenville usually has both buffalo mozzarella and cow’s milk mozzarella as does Trader Joe’s.
Buon appetito!
Can you give a recommondation for an inexpensive best bet for an Asian resturant in the Wilmington/Newark area? Thank you for your response.
In a July 7, 2006 review, Eric Ruth gave three stars (very good) to China Royal, 1845 Marsh Road, Plaza III shopping center (just north of Branmar Plaza). 475-3686. He wrote that “fair prices, vibrant execution and attentive service - along with the high standards to do it all consistently - put China Royal at the top of Delaware's long list of Chinese restaurants, and make it one of the best dinner values in the state.”
Ruth also has liked Shang Hai, 2815 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont (at corner of Pennsylvania Avenue), 798-0142, which he wrote “looks like just another unspectacular suburban Chinese takeout joint from the outside. Inside, the menu looks just about the same as any other - until you ask for the "Chinese menu." Available in Chinese and (thankfully) English, it's filled with the offbeat and authentically crafted kinds of dishes that can make you forget chicken chow mein ever existed.”
And Ruth has recommended Szechuan Restaurant, 3615 Kirkwood Highway, Apollo Shopping Center (near Duncan Road). 999-0286. His suggested dishes: Noodles with hot sesame sauce; noodle soups; shredded beef with hot spice sauce; beef, chicken, shrimp or pork with black bean sauce; Seafood Delight with shrimp, scallops and lobster; C.J. Special with "the hottest of hot peppers" house special pan-fried noodles with shrimp, beef and chicken; Gen. Tso's Chicken; "Create Your Own Dish" with choice of meat, vegetables and sauce.
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Regarding fresh mozzarella, I think it's worth it to go straight to the Italian Market. Sure, you can get barely adequate cheese in Delaware, but the stuff you get at Claudio's is so good it's light years beyond anything else around here, and to not go when it's so close is denying yourself a pretty special thing.
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