DISH: Hope never tasted so good

by Nikki M. Mascali
Weekender Editor

HOPE NEVER TASTED SO GOOD

Gertrude Hawk Chocolates has released “Smidgens of Hope,” a special, limited edition of the company’s popular product, in support of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and its fight against breast cancer. The Smidgens, which are dark chocolate with a raspberry filling, will be available at all Gertrude Hawk retail stores throughout Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.

For every “Smidgen of Hope” box sold, Gertrude Hawk Chocolates will donate $1 to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure affiliates in all three states. Since 1995, the chocolate company has been a sponsor of the Komen Northeastern Pennsylvania Race for the Cure, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

For more info, visit www.komen.org or call 1.877.GO.KOMEN.

POTLUCK GOES RAW

There will be a Raw Food Potluck Tuesday, Aug. 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Wilkes University Student Center (84 W. South St., Wilkes-Barre), hosted by Natural Chef Toby Landon. Guests are asked to bring a vegetarian, vegan or raw dish.

The potluck will also feature a discussion on the effects of cosmetic chemicals, and attendants can bring some of their products to investigate their ingredients.

For more info, visit meetup.com/Northeast-PA-Raw-Food.

ONE PERFECT PRETZEL

Auntie Anne’s inside the Viewmont Mall (100 Viewmont Mall, Dickson City) has been recognized as a “Pretzel Perfect Store” by its franchise system, which is the system’s highest honor. The award was presented by Auntie Anne’s Inc., the world’s leading franchisor of hand-rolled soft pretzels. Out of 850 store locations in the United States, only 30 are chosen to receive this recognition.

To be “Pretzel Perfect,” a store must provide guests with fresh, hot, golden brown pretzels and extraordinary service in a clean and spotless store every day. The store is then evaluated on its management and staff, sales and marketing and charitable actions. The team that has met these qualifications at the Viewmont location include franchise partners Joe and Irene Paradise and manager Joanne Paradise.

For more info, visit, auntieannesfranchising.com.

WILKES-BARRE’S LATIN CORNER

El Rincon Latino Restaurant will soon open in the North Main Street Wilkes-Barre building that was most recently Mr. Tony’s, which opened in February and closed in June. The building is owned by Thom Greco, who is leasing the space to El Rincon co-owners Jerry Ruiz and Yanires Borbon. El Rincon means “The Latin Corner.”

“I’ve always wanted to open my own place,” Ruiz told The Times Leader last week. “We feel this is a good location — a lot of downtown businesses and two colleges nearby.”

The restaurant/bar will be open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. and will serve lunch and dinner.

Ruiz, who along with his wife Paola Mendez and Borbon worked for the past month to get the space ready, said that he expects to open this week sometime; take-out orders will be available, but there will be no delivery service.

Previously, the building at 69 N. Main St. was Aprilia, Martini Ristorante & Bar, Nono’s, Bazooka’s, Hacienda and The Grogg Shoppe, and before Mr. Tony’s, a pizza buffet.