Celebrity chef Guy Fieri is back in town, minus the red Camaro that popped up in Wilmington a while back.
Fieri quietly rolled out a delivery-only chain operating under the name Flavortown Kitchen.
This time around, Fieri, known for highlighting local establishments in Wilmington and elsewhere through his “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives TV show, is going the corporate route.
He’s joined other celebs in cashing in on the trend toward “ghost kitchens.” Fieri hooked up with the Earl chain, which owns a host of restaurant brands that fell on hard times.
The locations for Flavortown Kitchen in Delaware are Earl’s Bertucci’s at Christiana Town Center and north Wilmington, and the Brio at Christiana Mall.
The Bucks County Courier Times reported that Fieri and Earl opened more than two-dozen ghost kitchens in the Delaware Valley and a total of 100 nationwide.
The delivery-only restaurants offer a limited menu that includes mac and cheese, wings, cheese-drenched burgers, a Cuban Sandwich, and Jalapeño Pig Poppers.
Another restaurant chain, Brinker International’s Chili’s operates It’s Just Wings, which offers deliveries and pick-ups. The wings are available in the Newark and Route 40 areas through the Chili’s ghost kitchen in Elkton MD.
Fieri will take some heat for heading over to the chain side in a big way. At the same time, his show continues to promote independent spots. Fieri has also been involved in fund-raising efforts that assist restaurant workers.
Goodbye Ruby Tuesday (Bear location)
While on the subject of fading chains, the Ruby Tuesday restaurant in Bear is closed, with the building now on the market.
The chain, named after a Rolling Stone tune from the ’60s, retained a back-in-the-day salad bar up until fairly recently. The restaurant was wedged into a low-visibility location off Routes 40 and 7, with the pandemic delivering the final blow. Rubys in the Pike Creek area and Middletown remain open.
Vita Nova opening for carryout business
If you are looking for a gourmet home experience in the Newark area, the University of Delaware’s Hospitality Business Management’s Vita Nova will offer carryout service on Monday.
The restaurant that has earned top ratings over the years will offer lunch meals beginning Monday, Feb. 22, with dinner to follow on the 24th.
Prices range from $15 for lunch to $30 to $35 for dinner, with a side dish. Paying will get you a filet and sides.
Hospitality students will be on hand to deliver meals to a designated area.
Click here for further information and to place an order.
Finally, there is still time to check out Newark Restaurant Week, which runs until Feb. 24.
