Drip Cafe reopens; readers want ostrich, upscale eats

Drip Cafe in Hockessin is reopening this weekend after a major remodel and expansion.

The popular Lantana Square Shopping Center eatery has been closed since Sept. 19. Owner Greg Vogeley said he plans to begin serving coffee and meals again on Friday morning, Oct. 21.

UPDATE:  A slight change of plans. On Thursday afternoon, Vogeley said he will be opening for coffee and espresso on Friday; the kitchen will begin serving meals on Saturday.

Last month, Vogeley, who opened Drip Cafe in April 2013, shuttered the 144 Lantana Drive coffeehouse so he could expand the space and double the size of the dining room.

Contractors knocked out a wall near the front entrance to make room for a new, 500-square-foot dining room. Vogeley expected to increase the seating from 50 to about 102 seats. He also has a larger table for parties of 10 people.

Visit the Drip Cafe Facebook page or dripcafede.com for more information.

Hockessin's Drip Cafe, Skipjack in Newark expanding

Last week, a reader asked about getting restaurant meals delivered to her home. I mentioned three services, Takeout Taxi, Grubhub and Bring Me That, but Nathan Henry, via Twitter, told me I missed Zoomer, a free app you can download from iTunes.

Zoomer delivers from area restaurants and lets you track your order from the restaurant to your door. Visit www.zoomerdelivery.com

Going wild for wild game

Can you tell me where I can find ostrich meat and eggs? I want to cook them at home.

Thanks, 

James Simms

James, oooooh, how exotic.

For a while, ostrich meat seemed to show up on more restaurant menus. But the lean, specialty meat from the flightless bird is still relatively uncommon. Ostrich meat, the color and texture of beef, with the same flavor, tends to be embraced by health enthusiasts who want to eat foods lower in fat and cholesterol.

Here's a little tidbit: In the U.S., a male ostrich is a rooster and the female a hen, according to the American Ostrich Association. Although an ostrich egg is the largest of all eggs, it is the smallest egg in relation to the size of the bird. An ostrich egg weighs about 3.5 to 5 pounds and is equivalent in volume to two dozen chicken eggs, according to the ostrich association. Soft boiling a fresh egg takes one hour; hard boiling is more like 1 1/2 hours.

I contacted John "Doc" Hopkins (yes, that's really his name) at The Meat House, a cool gourmet foods store just over the Delaware state line at 200 Wilmington-West Chester Pike in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. He said he can get pretty much any exotic meat (and eggs) you're looking for "as long as you give us a heads-up and it's legal."

Call him at  (610) 910-4030. You also can visit The Meat House's website at www.themeathouse.com

If you're looking for someone else to cook wild game for you, head to the Half Moon Restaurant & Saloon, 108 W. State St. in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. The restaurant, around since 1996, is about two miles from Longwood Gardens.

Menu items can include wild boar tacos, elk loin, bison New York strip steaks as well as wild game burgers and chili. Visit www.halfmoonrestaurant.com

Readers, I feel as though I've seen ostrich eggs in a store somewhere in Delaware at one time? Any other suggestions on where James can find ostrich eggs and meat?

Dining like 'back-in-the-day'

We're looking for nice fine-dining restaurants, like what the Green Room used to be back in the day. Do you have any recommendations? 

Geri Taylor

This year, I dined three times at the Hotel du Pont's Green Room restaurant for a restaurant review that was posted July 1 on delawareonline.com  The gorgeous Old World atmosphere of the restaurant never fails to impress, but I enjoyed the grand European opulence and sophistication of the room much more than food.

The highlights of my visits were the desserts and an delightful, albeit lonely, Thursday afternoon tea. (A colleague and I were the only patrons in the room.)

So, is a Green Room dining experience worth it? This is what I found: For a step back in history and a deep appreciation for an iconic, beloved Delaware landmark, yes, it is. As a stellar, splurge-worthy, four-star culinary experience? Not really.  Dishes were hit or miss. And while there were touches of excellence, some flaws could not be ignored, especially given the cost.

Geri, you didn't say what area you're looking to visit, so I'll assume you want to stay in the Wilmington area. I think you'll likely be happy if you visit Domaine Hudson which also is located in downtown Wilmington. This 1314 N Washington St. restaurant is classy, intimate and has top-notch service, American cuisine and a staff that is extremely knowledgeable about wine pairings.  Call (302) 655-9463 or visit www.domainehudson.com

La Fia Bakery + Market + Bistro at 421 N. Market St. in Wilmington is another good choice, though not so formal. Call (302) 543-5574 or www.lafiawilmington.com 

Same goes with Eclipse Bistro, 1020 N. Union St. in Wilmington. In recent months, I've had excellent meals at this Platinum Dining Group eatery (they also own RedFire Grill Steakhouse, and Capers & Lemons). Visit www.eclipsebistro.com or call (302) 658-1588.

The News Journal/delawareonline.com reserves the right to edit letters for clarity, length and accuracy. Contact Patricia Talorico at (302) 324-2861 orptalorico@delawareonline.comand on Twitter@pattytalorico.