Reader Mail

Happy Friday!

The holidays are officially over, but I'm sure some of you still have post holiday celebrating on the agenda this weekend. (While it's hard to let the party end, I'm ready to put my dancing shoes away for about a month or so.)

Sad restaurant story of the holiday season - the New Year's Eve fire at Irish Eyes in Lewes, the Anglers Road eatery which overlooks the Lewes & Rehoboth Canal.

The popular Lewes bar/restaurant reopened a year ago after a 2007 arson fire. I spent some time at Irish Eyes this past summer. Ironically, owners hung framed photographs near the front entrance of firefighters battling the March 2007 blaze which caused damages estimated at $1 million.

This is a beloved spot, especially with locals. Customers hand-built the 30-seat bar. I hope they can rebuild soon.

IN OTHER NEWS:

If you need something to do, check out the new British Bell Tea Room and Wine Gallery, which just opened in Peoples Plaza on U.S. 40 and Del. 896. Pinkies up!

Eric Ruth picked up chopsticks at Sumo Sushi. Here are his thoughts.

I haven't been in BrewHaHa! lately for a coffee refuel - Wawa has been my fast and cheap alternative in recent months- so I dropped into the Greenville location for a coffee au lait.

Tried to get my coffee club card punched and oops! - they discontinued the program about a month ago. Drat! No more buy 10 beverages get one free! 

Mailbag is light today. Keep the letters coming. You ask. We answer. Every Friday. Email me at ptalorico@delawareonline.com.

SHOP TIL YOU DROP

QUESTION: Hi Patricia,

I'm wondering if you are going to check out the new ShopRite on Market Street. We went in this weekend (there was an ad in the paper that they had opened) and this store is BEAUTIFUL!!!!! It's big and bright and has all these fancy bells and whistles - an olive bar with bruschetta mix and several delicious types of olives, a little cafe area with a large selection of ready to eat foods, fresh pizza (!), and gorgeous produce. I'd love to know your thoughts on it.
Thanks!
Katie

ANSWER: City shoppers got a belated holiday present with opening of the new ShopRite in Wilmington.The store at 501 S. Walnut St. near the Riverfront opened on Dec. 27. Construction work is still being completed. In the photo above, taken earlier this week, you can still see the Tyvek fabric on the outside of the building. The entrance can be a little confusing. The store, on a plot of land between South Market and South Walnut streets, is across from the Salvation Army Thrift Store.

The 70,000 square-foot site, the first new grocery store in downtown Wilmington in more than 20 years, has an expansive produce department - Look! fresh persimmons, Meyer lemons and Key limes! - as well as a prepared food section, bakery, seafood area and a cafe.

It also boasts the largest meat department in Delaware, according to the Kenny family, who owns three other ShopRite stores in the state. Bernie Kenny, President and CEO, began operating supermarkets in Delaware in 1995. Coming soon is roof-top parking, customer elevators, a cartveyor system and numerous in-store department enhancements.

FRUITCAKE MADNESS NEVER ENDS

QUESTION: There has been a fruitcake in our family for years. At my sister-in-laws annual Christmas party, in Philadelphia, at the home of Maureen and Francis De Vicaris, there is a fruit cake that is passed around to a different person who is invited every year. It's been in the family for 35 years. Whoever it is awarded to writes their name on the tin, using a Sharpie, and holds on to it until the following year's Christmas party.Then it's handed over to the next person. It's funny; sometimes a person will actually say that they don't want it.

Barbara Reichert

ANSWER: That's funny Barbara. But please don't pass me the fruitcake.