Blue Chip Gourmet manager, Neil DeAngelo, is preparing the new shop on the corner of Northhampton and South Main Street in Wilkes-Barre for their soft opening next Thursday. S.John Wilkin/The Times Leader
by Nikki M. MascaliStaff Writer
BLUE CHIP’S MENU SCORES
When former Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguin Dennis Bonvie was searching for a franchise in which to get involved after he retired from hockey, Blue Chip Gourmet was a frontrunner.
“We thought the product that they had was second to none,” Bonvie told Dish Friday while sitting at a corner table in his store at 78 S. Main St., Wilkes-Barre. “For me it’s a completely different business. I wish I was still playing, that was the easy part,” he joked.
Blue Chip, which offers fresh-baked cookies, gelato and more, opened in July. Now, it’s the “more” part Bonvie and Blue Chip General Manager Neil DeAngelo want to focus on, especially with the shop’s expanded menu. The menu includes an array of sandwiches — like a roast beef club sandwich on tomato basil focaccia with a mayo-based sauce that has a touch of horseradish — soups and salads.
“We use premium ingredients,” DeAngelo said. “We make everything from scratch here every day. Our ingredients for gelato are imported from Italy, and it’s made here on the premises.”
Blue Chip also has gourmet coffees and Ghirardelli hot chocolate. Being just down the street from two well-known coffee sellers — Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts — doesn’t faze DeAngelo or Bonvie.
“There’s no doubt it’s tough with the competition,” Bonvie said, “but we know what we have to offer is first class. We feel we have more to offer.”
Bonvie and DeAngelo let me sample a few gelato flavors before I left. The almond was tasty, the chocolate was rich and delightful, but the pink grapefruit was my favorite. It tasted like summer.
In other Blue Chip news, this week’s features are taco soup and a seafood salad wrap. Plus, Bonvie and Penguins center Tyler Spurgeon will be on hand for an autograph signing Wednesday, Jan. 13 from 5-7 p.m. For more info, call 570.208.2700 or visit bluechipgourmet.com.
GOING TO W-B’S SOUTH SIDE
Rumors swirled last year about a new bar opening up in downtown Wilkes-Barre called Wilkes Bar. Well, Dish can tell you that name isn’t happening. Instead, that new establishment is going to be called South Side W-B. It will be in the former South Side Bank building at 268 S. Main St. near the post office.
South Side will have two bars, an upstairs VIP suite, a wine vault housed in the bank’s former vault and gorgeous exposed brick walls and high ceilings. It’s slated to open sometime in March.
“We’re going for two slightly different atmospheres,” General Manager Ken Weiss told Dish last week.
One side will be a “graduate student kind of college bar,” while the restaurant will be “a little bit more high-end” with an American contemporary menu with many small plate offerings.
South Side is owned by New Jersey native Sam Johnson, who lives in Weatherly. It’s his first restaurant venture, but Weiss has worked for Ruby Tuesday and did food sales for a food broker. Most recently, he was the food and beverage manager for the Westmoreland Club in Wilkes-Barre.
“I’m super excited to be a part of this,” Weiss said. “Projects like this are what the city needs.”
South Side will also have live music, and the building will have 16 apartments upstairs.
PEPPERWOOD NO MORE
Pepperwood Grill & Alehouse (301 N. Main Ave., Scranton) has closed. Saturday was its last day of business. The restaurant, owned by Jim Arnold, Bill McFadden and Joe Corey, changed its menu and name from Faccia Luna to Pepperwood last fall.
WINE ON THE AVE
Bistro on the Avenue (174 United Penn Plaza, Kingston) will host a Wine Tasting Dinner Sunday, Jan. 17 beginning at 5 p.m. with a cash bar and cheese and crackers. The 6-course dinner, which begins at 6 p.m., will be paired with appropriate wines presented by Ivan Mines of Southern Wines & Spirits.
The dinner is $75 per person, and seating is limited. For more info, call 714.8725 or visit www.bistroontheave.com.
SPECIAL ON TAP AT BOG
The Bog (341 Adams Ave., Scranton) recently started a $1-off special on all draft beers from 9-11 p.m. seven days a week. Drafts include some of my personal favorites: Victory Hop Devil, Lindeman’s Framboise, Hoegaarden and Guinness.
For more info, call 341.6761 or visit thebogscranton.blogspot.com for a complete draft list.
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