Reader Mail is coming at you early today. There are a couple of questions that have appeared recently in the comments section that I'm working on getting answers. And more food news is coming on Friday.
Stay tuned.
Stay tuned.
(Hey! I just heard that the UD Blue & Gold club is closing this summer?? More to come on that soon.)
Recently, we blogged about "Project Runway" guru Tim Gunn being spotted at the Wilmington train station. Gunn apparently has been spotted in Delaware more than once.
(And, did you see, that the former Bravo fashion series is finally coming back to TV - but it now will be on Lifetime? Good news.)
We're working on getting an interview with the classy Mr. Gunn. In the meantime, a reader sent me a funny email that I don't think she'll mind me sharing about her husband's encounter with the sharp dressed man at the Wilmington train station over Thanksgiving last year:
My husband: "My wife and daughter watch you all the time on the show and love it. As you can see I have no style."
Tim, being polite, since my husband was dressed in grubby jeans and a T-shirt: "Well, you have your own sense of style."
Nicely done, Mr. Gunn. What a gracious, classy guy.
The mailbag is stuffed today. Keep the email coming. You ask. We answer. Every Friday (or earlier.) Email me at ptalorico@delawareonline.com.
TO CLARIFY: LOYAL GUESTS SING PRAISES FOR LAMBERTI'S CUCINA
QUESTION: Hello Patricia,
I am writing to you on behalf of Lamberti's Cucina on Centerville Road in Wilmington.
I am writing to you on behalf of Lamberti's Cucina on Centerville Road in Wilmington.
I recently discovered your postings regarding our restaurant and I wanted to make a clarification. In talking with our different guests, we discovered that they had taken it upon themselves to write reviews about their experiences on various sites, including delawareonline.com.
Neither of the reviews below that you posted on the site were written by any member of the Lamberti organization. The reviews may sound suspicious, however, I assure you, they were written by our loyal guests.
We make it a point to talk to our guests when they come in to dine with us, this is how they would know so much about our operation. We pride ourselves on giving a great dining experience for each guest that walks into Lamberti's Cucina on Centerville Road.
When we see a review, especially a positive one, it is encouraging to see our hard work rewarded. For any negative feedback, we do our best to correct anything we can with our customer service. For you to suggest to the online public that we are writing reviews ourselves, it is disheartening for us because it is not true and it gives negative feedback and thoughts about Lamberti's Cucina.
We have no way of responding to these comments of yours, except through you directly, the one that is suggesting such. Please consider posting this in reponse to the comments you have on your site.
Thank you for taking the time to read my email.
Regards,
Denise Sanfarraro
Marketing Coordinator
Thank you for taking the time to read my email.
Regards,
Denise Sanfarraro
Marketing Coordinator
Lamberti Restaurants
ANSWER: Thanks for the email Denise. And your letter has been posted. Part of my job is to be skeptical about information I receive - and share with readers. My Spidey sense begins tingling if letters sound too familiar or read almost too "P.R." ish. Restaurants are very lucky to have such loyal guests, which it sounds like this organization does indeed. IS ARSENAL CLOSED?
QUESTION: Do you know what happened that the Arsenal on the Green is closed? They said they couldn't tell us when they cancelled our reservation. Thank you.
ANSWER: OK, this gets a little confusing, so bear with me. I called the Arsenal at Old New Castle at 30 Market St., in historic New Castle, and Sue Ellis told me that the restaurant was "temporarily closed." While banquets were being honored, the eatery would be closed "to the public for a while." Then I was asked to call the nearby Jessop's Tavern at 114 Delaware St., for more information. Both restaurants are owned by Dick and Tika Day, but the actual Arsenal building, which dates back to 1809, is owned by the state.
The director of operations at Jessop's, who declined to give his name, said "we're exploring how to rearrange the business matters of the Arsenal." He added that "the state has been gracious." This is, apparently, going to be an ongoing process - and I'll be checking back with the Arsenal (and Jessop's) again soon. Keep reading Second Helpings!
WHERE TO FIND "AUTHENTIC" ITALIAN?
QUESTION: Good morning. I love your website!
I really enjoy Italian food, but I want to take her to a place and after the meal just say.....'Wow, that was great.'"
Have any ideas??? Thanks. Keep up the good work.
I'm jealous of your job,
Jason Fox
You can't go wrong at Toscana Kitchen + Bar. And I had a very good dinner last summer at Lupo di Mare in Rehoboth Beach - and was pleased to see that served negronis!
ANYWAY TO FILTER OUT THE HECKLERS?
QUESTION: Hi Patty,
Some other blogs I read and respect are Chowhound.com and the New York Times blog by Frank Bruni.
I appreciate your knowledge and reporting, your wit and candor, but also your tact in dealing with what seems to be an inevitable downside.
I appreciate your knowledge and reporting, your wit and candor, but also your tact in dealing with what seems to be an inevitable downside.
My comments today are on the absolute ignorance of some of the people who are able to post on Second Helpings. They range from the juvenile, to grossly misinformed to flat out rude and nasty. I've read other posts on delawareonline.com, and some are downright offensively racist.
Best regards,
Chef Robert Lhulier
ANSWER: Welcome chef. We LOVE getting email from our toque-wearing friends.
All dining reviews in The News Journal have bylines. And kudos to those who use their real name in comments section.If you want to send an email that is critical of a restaurant, I must insist that you use your name before I will post on Second Helpings. I think that's fair.
The bottom line: I don't want to censor. But, please, all I ask, dear readers is that we be respectful and intelligent with our comments. Humor also goes a long way.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE "LAST STOP BEFORE HOME?"
QUESTION: Last summer, [Third Base Produce] stand was closing down at the end of the season due to more houses that were going to be built on the site. At the time, no one could say where they would be relocating. This was the stand on U.S. 13 not far from the Moose Club. Have you any idea where it is going to be? They had the best produce and their corn was always fresh. I went to no other place.
3 comments:
I thought the bartender was rather short.
Robert, go suck eggs
"There's nothing more pathetic and cowardly than an anonymous on-line heckler."
Yes. Yes there is. Tons of things. Settle down and relax that sphincter.
This blog has it's moments, but compared to the rest of the paper's online commentary, it's pretty thoughtful and unoffensive.
PS. I'm anon because if I weren't my boss would know I'm here and I'd get fired and not be able to come to your restaurant anymore!
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