DISH: NEPA shells out Bizarre Food

Andrew Zimmern host of "Bizarre Foods" on the Travel Channel visited the kitchen of Delmar Anthony of Drums (seated) on Thursday to tape a food segment on turtle soup. (PETE G. WILCOX/THE TIMES LEADER) 06/17/10

by Nikki M. Mascali
Weekender Editor

NEPA SHELLS OUT BIZARRE FOOD

The Travel Channel’s “Bizarre Foods” hosted by Andrew Zimmern focused on Pennsylvania in Tuesday’s episode.

The host with the iron stomach visited several Philadelphia-area restaurants like Morimoto and DiBruno Bros., as well the Redneck Ranch in White Haven, where he sampled real Pennsylvania scrapple, and Drums, where the host went turtle trapping.

“It wasn’t exciting. It was awesome!” Zimmern told the Times Leader of grabbing one of the reptiles by the tail after filming the segment in June.

Zimmern then visited Drums resident Delmar Anthony to sample his snapping turtle soup.

“It really is good … better than restaurant quality,” Zimmern opined.

If you missed episode’s premiere Tuesday, it will air again Thursday, Jan. 27 at 10 p.m.; Friday, Jan. 28 at 1 a.m.; Sunday, Jan. 30 at 11 a.m.; Tuesday, Feb. 1 at 8 p.m. and Wednesday, Feb. 2 at 3 a.m.

For more info, visit www.travelchannel.com.

ICE ICE BABY

Damenti’s Restaurant (870 N. Hunter Highway, Mountain Top) has opened its Winter Garden Ice Bar. This year’s ice bar, a refrigerated structure that will maintain below-freezing temperatures, features carvings of flora-and-fauna filled walls, sunflowers, roses, birds, rabbits and a 6-foot-tall frog playing a violin that was worked on by several “world-class ice sculptors,” according to a press release from Damenti’s owner Kevin McDonald.

“I extend Damenti’s hospitality each year, and my ice carving friends return,” said McDonald in the release. “It’s somewhat of a class reunion.”

Donations will be accepted this year for McDonald’s longtime friend Dennis Beach, a wood and ice carver who lost his workshop in a recent fire. A donation box made out of ice will be on hand; donations of new and used tools are also welcome.

The Winter Garden Ice Bar is open during Damenti’s normal business hours Tuesday-Saturday, 5 p.m.-close and Sunday 4 p.m.-close. There is a $5 admission, and children under 10 are free.

For more info, call 570.788.2004, e-mail kevin@damentis.com or find Damenti’s on Facebook.

A PAWSTA DINNER

Trax Perfectly Cosmopolitan inside the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel (700 Lackawanna Ave., Scranton) will host A Pawsta Dinner that will benefit the Griffin Pond Animal Shelter in South Abington Twp. Sunday, Jan. 30 from 1-5 p.m.

The event features continuous buffet service. Advance tickets are $12. Donations are also accepted, visit www.griffinpondanimalshelter.com for wish-list items.

For more info, call 570.558.3920 or e-mail radissoncaringhearts@gmail.com.

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