Dining notes: Vendemmia returns to city, The Goat closes, Cavanaugh’s refresh, Goodbye Ruby Tuesday, Margherita’s Pizza and a ‘feastable’

1137
Advertisement
Vendemmia
Image courtesy of Vendemmia.

The  Vendemmia Italian Wine Festival, which made its debut in  Wilmington in 2003, is returning to the city next month after a four-year absence.

The event returns to Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park on Sunday, October 13 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets to the event, which will be held rain or shine, are $60 or a table of 10 for $500, and can be purchased at ItalianWineFest.com
  
Event organizers are  Ciro Poppiti, who is also New Castle County Register of Wills, and Steve Silacato, a local singer.

Festival-goers will enjoy samplings of wines from throughout Italy and food from vendors such as Sitaly, Café Pomodoro, Café Riviera, La Pizzeria Metro, Nicola Pizza, Serpe’s Bakery, Talluto’s, La Casa Pasta and Olevano olive oil.
 
Bob Trostel, executive vice-president of Breakthru Beverage Delaware, will be honored.  Dogfish Head’s  Sam Calagione will be making a presentation to  Trostel. 

 Entertainment includes   Silicato and the classical arias of renowned mezzo-soprano Andrea Arena. And, as in past years, there will be an Italian sauce competition and homemade wine competition.  The competitions will be professionally judged.
 
The event is sponsored by the Delaware Italian American Foundation, a 501(c)3 not for profit.  All proceeds will be spent locally in grants for at-risk youth and educational initiatives.  The grant process will be overseen the Societa` da Vinci.
 
Sponsorships are still available.

Image courtesy of Downtown Visions.

Cavanaugh’s gets a refresh

Advertisement

It isn’t always mentioned in listings of downtown Wilmington restaurants, thanks in part to its lunch focus.

But Cavanaugh’s is marking its 30th anniversary as a hardy survivor on Market Street with recent renovations.

The five-day-a-week restaurant got assistance from  Downtown Visions’ Main Street Wilmington Program and Facade Improvement Program.

Through the programs, Downtown Visions staff oversee each individual exterior improvement project from beginning to end as well as provide grants on a matching basis up to $25,000 per façade improvement.

The program gets support from Comenity Bank and Bank of America.

The grant helped fund the restoration of the building facades that face Market and Shipley Streets, installation of exterior signage, and a number of interior renovations.

The Goat closes

The Goat Kitchen & Bar,  a highly regarded gastropub in north Wilmington, has closed.

The restaurant was started by the late David Weir, a long-time area restauranteur.

The closing was reported in a brief post on Facebook.

I hope to many of our long-time customers, you remember Goat as how it began and not how it ended. To quote one of Dave Weir’s favorite authors: “Some people are more forgiving when they understand a situation, while others become even more furious once they see the whole picture.”  ― Jonathan Carroll

Margherita’s Pizza open for carryout

Newark student  mainstay,  Margherita’s Pizza is open for carryout at its new location at the Park ‘N Shop center on South Main Street, formerly Elkton Road. A full opening announcement is expected this week.

The New York-style pizza spot moved out of its long-time location in the heart of Main Street. The old location has been proposed as part of a  development that would include a hotel and parking structure.

Goodbye Ruby Tuesday

The Rehoboth Ruby Tuesday’s has closed its doors, the Cape Gazette reported.

The mid-sized casual dining chain, like many aging brands,  has been reducing its restaurant count. Like many such chains, it is now owned by a private equity firm.

The restaurant got its name from a  Rolling Stones song that was popular at the time of its founding in the 1960s near the University of Tennessee campus.

Restaurant Feastable announced

The  First State Restaurant Feastable is being now held through Thursday.

The promotion from Gatehouse newspapers in Delaware features a dozen restaurants in three Delaware counties and a portion of Maryland.

The fixed price menu promotions range in price from $25 to $45.

Click here for more information.

Advertisement
Advertisement