ShopRite downplays Can Can dancers

For nearly half a century, grocery shoppers have been kicking up their heels for bargains during ShopRite’s Can Can Sale.

unnamed-4The twice-yearly sale’s still on. But the cartoon can can dancers are out of the spotlight. The dancers went missing during the summer sale in July, when real-life ShopRite employees were front and center in the grocer’s ad campaign. A company spokeswoman says the saucy dancers have been canned before but always make a comeback.

Could this be related to Moi Aussi? (That’s Me Too in French.)

This week’s circular shows a dancer demurely peaking out from behind a promotion for Progresso Soup, priced at 10 for $10. (Yes, you must take home 10 cans to get the deal.)

Canny shoppers will find lots of other deals, including 12 cans of Tutorosso tomatoes at 69 cents per can, 59 cents for a one-pound box of Ronzoni pasta and 40 percent off Tyson chicken.

Krankz, a MAXX choice for music lovers

If Santa didn’t treat you to every item on your list, why not buy something nice for yourself?
Krankz Audio MAXX headphones on tableGive yourself the gift of incredibly crisp, clear music with Krankz Audio MAXX noise-cancelling headphones that create an up-close and personal relationship between the wearer and the music.
You can get lost in sound, then quickly reconnect with the real world. A built-in microphone and automatic call notification makes it easy to switch between music audio and phone calls when synced with your smartphone.
Expect high-quality wireless sound for up to 44 hours. (Yes, that’s almost two days.) To recharge your headphones, plug them into any computer USB port or USB power cube.
 Krankz Audio MAXX Headphones
 Krankz isn’t available in stores. (Full disclosure: the company sent a pair of headphones so I could review them.) Even though they don’t have a presence on the shelves, the brand is building a niche as affordable premium headphones.
Krankz Audio MAXX is priced at $199 with free, two-day shipping at the Krankz Audio website at www.KrankzAudio.com and online at Amazon, Sears, and Newegg. (Bargain alert: the headphones are $50 less on Amazon.)
Here’s a list of the features:
  • Active Noise Cancellation
  • Voice Capability, which translates to hands-free control on iOS devices, and on voice capability compatible devices, including Google assistant
  • Custom Studio Grade 50mm drivers fine-tuned for accurate acoustics
  • Vented diaphragms (open-air) for spacious, low-distortion sound and extended bass response
  • “De-stressed” diaphragms and an eight-conductor connecting cable for enhanced levels of inner detail with a more open sound 
  • Adjustable headband for comfortable listening

Cheers to 2020 with Mionetto Prosecco

Mionetto-Prestige-Prosecco-DOC-Treviso-Brut-Bottle-Shot-New-Label-2017-750mlWe are about to celebrate a sparkling New Year, traditionally rung in with bubbly. There are lots of libations to choose from, but I suggest popping the cork on Prosecco, a slightly sweet and especially festive sparkling wine.

A preferred pour is Mionetto Prestige Brut (MSP, $14), made from Glera grapes from the province of Treviso, an area renowned for high quality Prosecco, with a luminous straw yellow hue, stylish mousse and a  palate marked by aromatic notes of honey and white peach.

Mionetto Prestige Rosé Extra Dry ($14 750ml / $4 Mini 187ml) is pretty in pink, a sparkling rosè produced by the soft pressing of red grapes.

1205518_2_new-years-eve-party-2019-swing-soul-duo-plus-alex-devine_400

Pull out all the stops with Mionetto Luxury Cartizze DOCG ($45). This elegant Cartizze is elevated by luminous golden tones and delicate beads of tiny bubbles. The bouquet is lush and fruity
with apple and pear with notes of citrus and glazed almond.

Let’s raise a glass, share a kiss and look forward to the next decade. Cheers to a fabulous 2020!

Brandywine in White is Saturday–and the forecast is spectacular

If you were waiting for a weather report to commit to Brandywine in White, the popular popup dinner, start packing your picnic hamper.

seatEach year, food and wine enthusiasts gather at a location that’s kept secret until the day of the event, although hosts Vince and Elizabeth Moro have been known to let the cat of the bag early. No word yet on this year’s destination but Vince promises it is exceptional. And with clear skies and a high of 80 degrees, it’s shaping up to be the best BIW yet.

Here’s how it works. Guests dress in their spiffiest white outfits, bring their own place settings, centerpieces, food and drink. The hosts provide tables and chairs. Each year, proceeds benefit a local cause.

I’ve been to several BIW events, as well as BIW’s winter counterpart, Brandywine in Black. I can tell you it’s always a great time. BIW is Saturday, August 24 from 5:30 to 10 p.m. For tickets, visit https://biw2019.brownpapertickets.com

Make dad feel like a king with ribeye crown steaks

On Father’s Day, dads grill steaks. So why not give dad a gift of premium beef that he can enjoy at leisure?

unnamed-2We sampled the ribeye crown from Omaha Steaks Private Reserve, with packages starting at $59.99. The steaks arrive in individual frozen portions so you can treat a crowd or treat yourself.

The ribeye crown is the smaller part of the steak that sits atop the eye of the rib. It’s beautifully marbled, so the steak is tender. And it’s aged for at least 28 days, which enhances the rich flavor. I appreciate that it’s a manageable 5-ounce portion, a serving that is satisfying yet doesn’t tempt me to overindulge. (The ribeyes also are available in 7-ounce cuts.)

IMG_5539The beef is the star of the show, so I focus on great supporting players: a yellow onion, sliced thin and cooked long and low with a smidge of olive oil until it caramelizes. Bring it home with a red wine reduction. For a bit of crunch, I grab a leftover ear of corn from a previous go-round on the grill, take a knife to the cob and sprinkle the kernels over the steak and onions.

IMG_5546It’s a simple, lovely dish, so I pick a table setting that is equally simple. This steak deserves more than a paper plate, so I serve it on a  Royal Doulton dinner plate in the Oxford Black pattern that is embellished with slender rings of black and gold. I further celebrate my repast with a white linen napkin in Grandmom’s silver napkin ring and pour a J.Lohr Cabernet Sauvignon from California with hints of black cherry and cocoa. We discovered the wine on Christmas Eve in Salamanca, New York, in the form of a generous pour from Shelley Finn, a childhood friend of my hosts who was home for the holiday from Buffalo. (Back in Delaware, I pick it up at Costco.)

A great steak, velvety red wine and a pretty table. Hey, we’re living.

You can send Omaha Steaks to wherever dad lives and you don’t have to wait for a special occasion. The beef arrives in a styrofoam cooler that dad can repurpose for brewskis.

Middletown, your kind of play

Anson Williams asked me to tell my friends to go see the play Middletown, a Broadway hopeful on stage through Sunday at Delaware Theater Company on the Wilmington Riverfront. I’m happy to share the news because the cast and play truly deserve a wider audience.

IMG_1253Williams, best known for playing Potsie on the 1970s series Happy Days, is one of a quartet of gifted actors who could be sitting home counting their royalty checks but are instead trodding the boards–and putting on top-notch performances. Williams, for many years a producer, took on his first acting role in 20 years. He costars with an ebullient Sally Struthers, who won two Emmys for her iconic role as Gloria in All in the Family; spunky Didi Conn, aka Frenchy in Grease; and smoothie Adrian Zmed, late of TJ Hooker.

IMG_1255

Middletown, the North Jersey locale where the characters meet as their daughters start kindergarten, is best known as the community second only to New York in casualties of 911. (Spoiler alert: this hits home in the play.) The play follows their friendship of more than 30 years, through thick and thin and copious dinners at their favorite Italian restaurant.

I like Williams’ character Don because he’s a pool man like my dad. He’s a mensch who drinks beer and loves his wife Dotty, played by Conn. Struthers plays Peg, a Smith-educated stay-at-home mom, married to Zmed’s Tom, a writer who loves poetry.

There’s no scenery, which doesn’t seem to matter because the actors are so engaging.

IMG_1249After the show, the cast mingles with the audience. Cheese and crackers and wine in plastic cups on a rainy night in Delaware–and they appear truly happy to be there.

Struthers, cute as a button at 71, hugs her fans and entreats them to hold their cellphones above their heads as they snap selfies. (It makes us all look younger!) She tells me that most of friends–“two years younger to five years older”–can’t find roles but she keeps working. Zmed signs autographs in the lobby. Williams tells us he had great pasta at Mrs Robino’s in Little Italy the other night. Conn gives me a hug and a smile. Later, she waves to my guy Dave and me when we see her and Williams after the show at Iron Hill Brewery, sadly the only place we can find open at 9 p.m. on a Thursday night.

Yes, yes, go see Middletown. If you appreciate live theater and gifted actors, you will find it’s your kind of place.

Burger Month at Iron Hill Brewery

May is Burger Month at all 16 Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant locations, with choices ranging from a black bean veggie burger to the Chug-a-Lug Burger, 
a juicy beef patty topped with Vienna Red Lager cheese sauce, pickled roasted red peppers, griddled onions, and spicy serrano peppers.

IMG_4884Iron Hill’s freshly refurbished location on the Wilmington Riverfront is hopping on a stormy Monday night. (This picture, provided by Iron Hill, shows the bar area on what is clearly a less busy time.) The updated interior features hip concrete floors and a more open layout in the first-floor dining area and bar. The second level is closed the night we visit but we understand the flow has been enhanced in that area, too, including the open-air dining we are looking forward to when summer finally arrives.

Burgers have long been a favorite nosh. But I also like to try something more exotic. For an appetizer, I order octopus salad ($13), a nightly special. And, wow, I’m glad I did. Lightly breaded whole baby octopi are deftly cooked so they are tender not chewy. Greens are lemony and lightly dressed, a fresh foil to the octopus.

unnamed-1My dining partner David orders the tried and true, Iron Hill’s signature Philly cheesesteak egg rolls ($12), served with fried onions, American cheese, ketchup, horseradish sauce. They are crunchy, meaty and flavorful, the best of bar food.

And a round of Iron Hill’s quality brews, please. Ore House is a golden India pale ale with bitter hops and a hint of pine and citrus; and slightly sweet Vienna red lager.

On to the burgers. We sample the Three Little Pigs Burger, a moist, beefy burger enhanced with triple porktomato-bacon jam, bacon, and bacon aioli, on a brioche bun with smoked gouda cheese. The recommended brewski pairing? Pig Iron Porter, a dark and foamy beer with a malty, roasted taste that Iron Hill has been tapping for 20 years. (It’s also available in cans.)

60092086_10218190998393655_3124690575874326528_nAnd since we are being indulgent, we choose home-made crispy chips on the side instead of a green salad. Warm, salty and glistening, they are hard to resist. We know we should only eat a few. Then we tuck into a few more.

Throughout Burger Month, the featured burger of the day costs $14.50 with an optional 8-ounce seasonal or signature beer  for an extra  $2. King of the Hill members receive $5 in rewards; burger lovers who chow down on all 31 days receive $500 in rewards.

For classy Eagles fans, Dooney & Bourke bags

I’m a passionate Eagles fan. Even people who don’t know me can see that when I carry my Dooney & Bourke Eagles tote, the bag of choice for classy Birds fans.

B1721G_NJGRPATNEAGLNot to jinx the game, but the underdog Eagles have it in the bag in their comeback this afternoon against the New Orleans Saints. Specifically, it’s the Richmond bag, a roomy tote from Dooney & Bourke’s NFL line of hand bags that is my personal favorite. The bag is rugged but elegant, with a durable green exterior in the signature Eagles print, trimmed with camel brown leather straps.

The newest assortment of accessories includes the compact and stylish leather NFL Eagles Medium Wristlet ($68)NFL Eagles Carrington Pouch ($98), NFL Eagles Ginger Crossbody ($148), NFL Eagles Richmond Tote ($248) and much more. Whether you’re looking for a Philadelphia Eagles tote bag or crossbody, you can find the perfect accessory at the official stadium store as well as onlinehttps://www.dooney.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/

 

Veganuary II. Because once is not enough

Today is the first day of 2019–and the launch date of Veganuary, my month-long  commitment to abstain from all alcohol, meat and refined sugar.

It’s my second go-around with Veganuary. I didn’t plan to repeat the pledge after successfully staying the course in 2016. I got bored with a diet devoid of meat and fish of any kind. I missed wine. And although I don’t have a sweet tooth, I chaffed at denying myself an occasional chocolate.

clipping-piglets-teeth-and-cutting-off-their-save-ernie-tails-10248828So why am I doing Veganuary II? Because I need to cleanse and recalibrate after months of eating and drinking too much. I want to lose weight. I want to be more productive. And I believe it’s healthy to challenge ourselves to do better.

The first time around was a personal test.

This time, it’s something I need to do so that I can be my healthiest, most authentic self.

The concept of Veganuary was born in Britain, where animal rights activists encourage carnivores to go meatless for a month in hopes they will lay down their steak knives for good. I upped the ante by adding alcohol and sugar to the challenge. It’s not enough to forgo pork chops. Let’s go whole hog!

Fruit-Veggies-P4EI’m looking forward to Veganuary. Really, I am. The wine is in the rack and the gin is tucked away in the liquor cabinet, where they will stay until February. I stashed the bacon and a few Christmas cookies in the freezer and added faro and lentils to my shopping list. I will even give tofu another try.

On New Year’s Eve, I enjoyed a dinner party with shrimp, chicken, free-flowing wine and a lemon drop martini. Tonight’s repast: eggplant parm, with a tall glass of H2O.

One day down. Thirty to go. Happy Veganuary.

The Delaware Antiques Show, first in collectors’ hearts

In Delaware, folks have an affinity for old things. After all, it’s the First State, the oldest of the 13 original colonies.
So it’s no surprise the Delaware Antiques Show is one of the nation’s premier venues for antiques, featuringIMG_0854 60 meticulously vetted dealers. The annual event, celebrating its 55th year, benefits Winterthur, the museum and country estate that is home to Henry Francis du Pont’s exceptional collection of American furniture and decorative arts.
At the show, you will find such treasures as chiming tall-case clocks with six-figure price tags, maritime paintings, vintage jewelry, rare firearms and delicate stemware that has miraculously survived centuries of wining and dining. My personal favorite: 18th century highboys crafted from tiger maple. For my money, it’s the world’s most exquisite wood.

The preview party gives supporters a chance to buy before the show opens to the public. It’s also a wonderful opportunity for the locals to dress up, connect with friends, enjoy abundant fine food and drink and people watch. Here I am with David Wunsch, director of the Delaware Geological Survey, who deals with some of the earth’s oldest elements.

The first year I attended, I rubbed elbows with Leigh Keno of the Keno twins on the PBS show Antiques Roadshow. We were both putting together mini roast beef sandwiches. He asked me to please pass the horseradish. I did. A cherished Delaware Antiques Show moment.

Make your own moment. The show runs through Nov. 11 at the Chase Center on the Riverfront.