Area Chefs Set To Appear On Food Network

Once a month, local Patch.com websites offer a roundup of the latest restaurant and food news in and around the North Shore. Here is the latest sampling:

Wilmington And Wakefield

The trio wanted to be featured on New England culinary television program “Phantom Gourmet” within a year, and they wanted to be on Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” within five years.

It took the restaurant owners just months to achieve their first goal. And by this fall, the group will be able to say they achieved their second goal as well.

PEABODY

The Cabaret Lounge and Carrabba's Italian Grill have each been slapped with three-day suspensions of their liquor licenses by the city Licensing Board.

The two establishments were among a group of six to appear before the board on June 25 after having failed a random alcohol compliance check (or sting) on May 23 by Peabody police and undercover operatives.

Maki Sushi, Martino's Liquors, Fuji Sushi and Royal Garden all had a first offense and were issued a warning and encouraged to train their employees if they hadn't done so already, but both the Cabaret and Carrabba's had violations within the past year as well.

And at Carrabba's, both the manager on duty that day and the managing partner for the Peabody operation lost their jobs in addition to the bartender.

--

Oliveira's Steak House won't have to close after all, according to attorney John Keilty.

Keilty said that his clients, the new owners of the Brazilian restaurant and bar, were able to obtain an indefinite court injunction that will keep the establishment open for business for as long as it takes to have the new management of Oliveira's approved by liquor licensing authorities at both the local and state levels.

The Peabody Licensing Board, in June, gave Oliveira's up to 90 days from July 1 to file proper forms with the city and state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, identifying who the corporate officers and manager of record are or else lose the license permanently. And that documentation had to be approved first by the ABCC within that same time period.

--

If you've purchased meatballs at the deli in Hannaford's recently, the supermarket chain says you can toss them or return the products for a full refund -- the meatballs may be contaminated with listeria.

Hannaford Supermarkets initially alerted customers to the recall by Buona Vita Inc., based out of New Jersey, on July 10,.

The recall is specific to three meatball products from Buona Vita that are possibly contaminated with listeria monocytogenes. They are all sold through the deli department at Hannaford's -- Homestyle Meatballs with Sauce (sold by the pound), Meatball Panini (cold) UPC #941260723096, and Meatball Panini (hot) UPC #94126072102.

Hannaford's says customers who purchased any of those products should not eat them and can return them to the store for a full refund. The products have been removed from the delis at Hannaford stores.

--

Where are all the traffic improvements? That's what city councilors are wondering in the face of the new Dunkin' Donuts at 79 Lynnfield St. opening its doors this month, but apparently without agreed-upon traffic safety upgrades in place.

"I don't know what happened, but the ball was dropped or thrown away," said Ward 2 Councilor Arthur Athas, who lives down the street from the shopping plaza.

--

Progress has crawled along for more than a year at the site of the new Bagel World on Route 1, but according to city officials, the popular local chain of eateries is preparing to pump out its famous bagels by the end of August.

Building Commissioner Kevin Goggin said he met with the construction contractor Tuesday morning and spoke recently with the project architect as well, both of whom say plans are to open up shop within the next month.

Goggin said the entire bakery operation may be moving over to 246 Newbury St. (it's on the southbound side of Route 1) from where the lone Peabody location is now at

Owner Stanley Kantorosinski did not return a phone call for comment.

Goggin said the interior plans for the Route 1 spot are similar to the setup on Sylvan Street except that there will be a drive-through window for customers. The City Council approved a .

DANVERS

on Elm Street will be offering a new line of speciality Rail Trail beverages, including soda, lemonade, and spring water.. 

"When Kate [Day] told me she still had a lot of drinks left from the , I told her that I would try to sell the items in the store to help out the rail trail,"  owner Andrea Harry said. "We feel that it is a great cause and we are willing to help out the town our business is located in as much as possible."

Proceeds from the drinks will benefit the . 

Rail Trail beverages will range from $1-2. 

Reading-North Reading

The self-serve concept allows you to choose exactly how much fro-yo you want, and you pay by the ounce. Try every flavor, or just one and then cover your yogurt with as many toppings as you'd like. 

"We are truly excited to be bringing a quality franchise like Zinga! to Reading," Pothier said. "We hope and trust that the community will embrace this new business and help us succeed. We look forward to many years of serving our community with his healthy and delicious product.

--

 has re-opened for business. Regular Hot Spot customer Jerry Costa, CEO of JT Costa, LLC, acquired the business last month from its original owner . 

Stop by the café on Saturday from now until Labor Day for a free treat with the purchase of a coffee or fresh baked item. 

Hamilton-Wenham

Ben Shute is taking over at the popular downtown Hamilton restaurant located in the Shoppes at Hamilton Crossing.

Shute was promoted to the position when the former manager Andrea Knight was promoted to a corporate position with Serenitee Restaurant Group, which owns 15 Walnut and several other North Shore restaurants, according to attorney Gilda Elmstrom.

---

The dining room at Wenham Tea House now extends outdoors – onto a new patio.

The patio, built of bluestone, has been open a little over a week but did not get much use for the first few days because of the hot and humid weather. But when things cooled down and dried out , the 35 seats on the patio started to fill up.

The patio was one of the changes that were unveiled when Henry’s Fine Foods of Beverly took over management of the Wenham Tea House – which is owned by the Wenham Village Improvement Society – earlier this year.

--

A pouring liquor license for the is inching closer to reality, with the Tea House’s management hoping to have the license in hand by fall. John Keohane, owner of the Tea House’s operator, Henry’s Fine Foods, said his attorney is working on the paperwork to submit to town officials.

Late last month, Gov. Deval Patrick signed the home rule petition into law, granting the town of Wenham a pouring license for the Tea House. Now it is up to Henry’s to submit the required paperwork. The Board of Selectmen, acting as the Licensing Board, will then review the application. If approved, the license would then also need approval from the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission.

“We’re thinking it won’t be until fall,” Keohane said.

Marblehead

In addition to a and retail establishment, is expected to be home to a cafe that will sell breakfast, dessert and sweets, the building's co-designer said Tuesday night. 

The plan for the cafe was revealed during a Zoning Board of Appeals meeting at , where board members approved changes to the building's facade and narrowly shot down a request to add a 40-seat outdoor dining area.

 --

Bracamontes said he and his brother, Jose Bracamontes, will meet with the town's Health Inspector today and will open for business early next week if everything checks out.

Jose Bracamontes spent five years working as a chef at Mexico Lindo in Melrose and the pair said they expect Marblehead's lack of an authentic Mexican restaurant will mean big business.

--

The former home of Fruit of the Four Seasons on Atlantic Avenue has undergone a facelift in recent weeks. Charles Patsios, a representative of of Stone River LLC, said a investing group didn't rehabilitate the interior of the building with a specific business or type of business in mind but simply "did it the right way."

"Sometimes (investors) will just try to get a remediation project like this done as quickly as possible," Patsios said. "We got in there and knew we wanted to get it done right."

Although he said Stone River is currently accepting offers from a variety of prospective businesses, Patsios, of Swampscott, said he thinks the location would be perfect for a healthy Mediterranean restaurant.

--

The Board of Selectmen unanimously approved the transfer of three licenses to new owner Jason Rakauskas at their meeting. Appearing before the board at Wednesday were Rakauskas, of Swampscott, his lawyer, John Keilty, of Peabody, and former owner and Swampscott resident Patty Johnson.

Keilty provided the board with signed checks for the restaurant's liquor license, entertainment license and Sunday entertainment license and said patrons shouldn't expect any sweeping changes.

--

It has been little more than a year since an electrical fire forced the owners of 5 Corners Kitchen and Terry's Ice Cream Shop to close their doors and now both businesses are eyeing the finish line.

On the anniversary of the two-alarm fire, which fire investigators later determined originated in the ceiling of Terry's Ice Cream Shop, a post appeared on the 5 Corners Kitchen Facebook page letting customers know that their reconstruction effort was nearly complete.

"Our wonderful 5 corners family, our staff, is returning home next week to refresh their palettes with the new delicious menu and amazing wine list," The post read. "We will be opening the week of July 23rd."

Reservations for the restaurant's big reopening, which are expected to go very quickly, are not yet being accepted, according to the post.

--

Yannalfo's Ristorante owner Brett Yannalfo was hard at work on a recent afternoon, putting the finishing touches on the new Italian restaurant he hopes to have open later this summer.

Yannalfo's will open in former home of Pellino's Ristorante, located at 261 Washington St.

Although Yannalfo, 43, of Andover, said his professional background has been rooted in "the corporate world," he has always dreamed of opening a restaurant of his own.

SALEM

People are barking up a storm in Salem after a decision by City of Salem Health Agent Larry Ramdin to suddenly enforce this law banning dogs from outdoor restaurant patios.

For the last 15 years, more than a few Salem restaurants have become known for their hospitality to local dog owners and their pets. Outdoor patios offer water, biscuits and, in one case, even a small doggy menu. Sunny weekend days bring these folks and their animals out in great numbers.

This month, Contributor William Legault weighed in on the Health Department's recent decision to start paying closer attention to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 272, Section 98A.

Legault reported the health agent said there have been complaints about man and beast on the same patios, and enforcement may jeopardize the time pups and owners spend together at local restaurants

---

The Votto family, which owns Brodie's Pub in Peabody Square, is planning to open another establishment at 215 Derby St. in Salem — the current location of the Seaport Cafe.

The Salem Licensing Board approved an application and a pledge for the transfer of an annual beer and wine license. Word is the restaurant in Salem will also be called Brodies and will likely have an ice cream window on the Derby Street side of the building. 

WILMINGTON

Mary Buscone’s business is still several weeks away from opening its doors. But it’s not difficult to predict that Wilmington’s newest ice cream shop will be well-received in the community.

“I think I get 20 messages a day asking when we’re opening,” said Buscone, the owner of Fro-Yo to Go, which will open on August 11. “It’s been no secret that we’re coming to town.”

Fro-Yo to Go, located in the Square One Plaza at 2 Lowell Street, will provide 12 flavors of self-serve frozen yogurt along with a variety of topping choices. Customers fill their own cup and can do so with multiple flavors if they desire before hitting the toppings bar.

Self-serve frozen yogurt shops are popular as they pop up around the country. But Wilmington’s location is not a part of a chain, and brings a local flavor thanks to its owner.

--