June 22-28, 2006
Eats : Food
Feeding FrenzyThe Mann Center's pre-show tented dinner affair just got a huge face-lift as part of the theater's expansion project. The 50-by-100-foot area now boasts an even better view of the city skyline. Frog Commissary GM Len Terranova says they've modernized everything, including the furniture and buffet structure. Bite This: The antipasto buffet features grilled corn zucchini and summer squash succotash, Tuscan white bean hummus and homemade croutons.
West Chester (which, by my estimation, is the Best Chester) is now home to one of the most ambitious food franchising ideas this side of Nuts to You. With Dream Dinners, you select meals online. Then, you go to the location, where they have all the necessary ingredients on hand. You put your dishes together and bring the meals home, where they can be frozen until they're ready to eat. Bite This: Surprisingly, the meals, which include mango-glazed Indian salmon, and Dijon and black pepper flank steak, sound decent.
Business and life partners Donna and Vince Totaro, whose popular catering-takeout business is entering its 14th year, recently unveiled a 25-seat dining area. Donna says customers have been requesting a sit-down for years, so she finally made it happen by renovating the apartment adjacent to her catering space. It's classically adorned in stone and marble, and local artists have created Italian-style murals on the walls. Bite This: Totaro's red snapper is sauteed with capers, olives and anchovy sauce, and served with lemon-glazed carrots.
The new Rittenhouse location of Di Bruno Brothers is expanding to include an old-school butcher shop. The cheesemongering family will offer fresh seafood (including shellfish), semi-prepared and raw meats and dry goods such as sauces and rubs. The grand opening is scheduled for Monday, June 26.

