Mailbag: Bing’s Bakery celebrates; Pastabilities reopens
Bing’s Bakery, which calls itself Delaware’s longest-running bakery, celebrates 70 years in business on May 21.
Festivities at the 253 E. Main St. bakery in Newark take place that day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Staff are giving free cupcakes to the first 250 customers. (Limit one per customer.)
Several baked items also will be priced at 70 cents in honor of Bing’s seven delicious decades of selling pastries.
Bing’s was founded by Russell and Selina Bing in 1946. In 2005, Selina Bing sold the business to head baker, Tom Guzzi, and his wife, Carla. Tom has worked at Bing’s Bakery since 1996.
Now, onto the mailbag:
Is Italian eatery opening?
I have been watching the renovations on Pastabilities on Lincoln Street. When will this restaurant reopen?
Thanks,
Margaret Kenney
Margaret, I know you sent this letter a while ago. At that time, I didn’t have an answer. Now, I do. Keep reading.
Luigi back in Pastabilities kitchen
I’m sure you remember Luigi Vitrone’s funky Little Italy restaurant from many years ago. I drive by there every night from work, and recently started to notice signs of life. On May 4, the lights were on!
We ate there Thursday, May 5, and must tell you how happy we are to see Luigi back in his kitchen. The restaurant has been remodeled, but still retains the controlled chaotic ambiance of before. And the food, the food, the food.
A revised menu features a wonderful variety of apps, mains, sandwiches and sides. Much less formal (and pricey) than the old menu, our choices were delicious, well-presented and satisfying.
Since it was only his second day open, there were some learning curve hiccups, but our server Heather was a delight and worked hard to answer our questions about menu items.
I encourage everyone to visit his websitewww.ljvpastabilities.com/ and please share the news!
Regards,
Jim Fortgang
Wilmington
Jim, thanks for the update, and for being such a good restaurant scout. The 415 N. Lincoln St. eatery first opened in 1988 as a takeout operation, and later expanded into a little regional Italian eatery. It is indeed a funky, neighborhood spot – you walk in through the kitchen, run by Brooklyn, New York, native Luigi Vitrone.
There really are few places like it. When Vitrone first opened, I remember being hooked on a homemade spinach pasta he made with marinara sauce.
The chef had some serious health problems in 2010, and had to step away from the kitchen to concentrate on his recovery. But he returned to the restaurant 16 months later. According to a message on the answering machine, the snug restaurant has a new menu and new look. It opens at 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays with seating until 9 p.m. “Luigi is back!” says Vitrone. Call (302) 656-9822.
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Juliana’s Kitchen ‘absolutely delicious’
I had lunch at Juliana’s Kitchen on West 11th Street in Wilmington yesterday. Each dish was individually prepared and absolutely delicious. The chef, Juliana, is Peruvian.I hope you’ll try it. This restaurant is certainly worth a little extra at lunchtime. In fact, it makes me hungry right now!
Beverly Wright
The restaurant, opened since 2010, is owned by Julian Jimenez and his Peruvian wife, Juliana, who met more than a decade ago through family connections. She worked at Texas Road House in South Jersey, he was a truck driver. The two hit it off and moved to Wilmington, opening the restaurant a converted townhouse. (Anyone remember when it was home to the late, great Black Trumpet Bistro?)
Juliana uses recipes that have been handed down by her mother and grandmother. Juliana’s Kitchen is at 1828 W. 11th St., Wilmington, (302) 888-1828. Facebook page is Juliana’s Kitchen.
Contact Patricia Talorico at (302) 324-2861 orptalorico@delawareonline.com and on Twitter@pattytalorico.