by Nikki M. MascaliStaff Writer
FEEDING FRENZY
One thing I always find synonymous with the holidays in NEPA is WNEP’s Feed-A-Friend Campaign. Last year, Feed-A-Friend raised $165,171 and fed 46,378 people in our area. Danielle and Company (831 Adams Ave., Scranton) is an official partner this year and is accepting donations until Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 6 p.m. For each non-perishable item or monetary donation someone makes, customers will receive a 20 percent off coupon for any item in the store.
Food pantry items needed are macaroni and cheese, spaghetti, tomato sauce, peanut butter, jelly, tuna fish, rice, soup, Spam, stew, chili, crackers, powdered milk (small boxes), Hamburger/Tuna Helper, noodles, cereal, canned fruit and canned vegetables.
All items will be given to United Neighborhood Center or Scranton for distribution. Danielle and Company’s hours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The store is closed on Sundays. For more info, call 800.893.5950 or 570.207.1777 or visit www.DanielleandCompany.com.
ACE OF ARENA BAR AND GRILL
Arena Bar and Grill (380 Coal Street, Wilkes-Barre) will celebrate its seventh anniversary on Dec. 12, not with a bang, but a cake.
Given my penchant for cakes, this makes me immensely happy. Here’s why: owner Nicole Theodore told Dish last week that Arena is having a cake designed for the occasion by Charm City Cakes bakery in Baltimore. The bakery is owned by Duff Goldman, star of Food Network’s “Ace of Cakes.” The show, which premiered in 2006, was one of the network’s first reality series and gives a behind-the-scenes look at the bakery.
I’d like to wish an early happy anniversary to Arena Bar and Grill! Stay tuned to Dish for more info on what is sure to be an awesome — and delicious — cake.
BRING ON THE BBQ
There’s a new barbecue in town: Virginia BBQ (Gateway Shopping Center, Edwardsville) will hold its grand opening Sunday, Nov. 22 from noon-5 p.m. A ribbon cutting will be at 1 p.m. Owned by Alison and Vince Splendido, this will be the first Virginia BBQ franchise in Pennsylvania.
Vince told Dish Monday that the franchise process began in June and was the fastest-opening franchise the company ever had.
“We wanted to bring something different,” Vince said, “and thought true Southern foods and pulled-pork barbecue is a niche that’s not here in this region.”
The menu, naturally, features barbecue — pork, beef and chicken — plus ribs and tons of other tasty-sounding items. Anyone who stops by during Sunday’s grand opening will get to taste complementary samples from the menu.
The Splendido’s franchise area also includes Scranton and Hazleton, so there’s a chance those areas will get some Virginia BBQ of their own.
“We certainly hope so — we’re cautiously optimistic,” Vince said.
For more info, call 570.288.0220 or visit www.virginiabbq.com. Virginia BBQ will be open weekdays from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
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