Vita Nova accepting spring semester reservations

Vita Nova, the popular fine-dining restaurant operated by faculty and students from the University of Delaware's Department of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management, is now accepting reservations for the spring semester and will be open for lunch beginning Tuesday, Feb. 13, and for dinner beginning Wednesday, Feb. 14.

Located on the second floor of the Trabant University Center, Main Street and South College Avenue, on UD's Newark campus, Vita Nova is open for lunch from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, and for dinner from 5:30-7:30 p.m., Wednesdays through Fridays. Reservations are required for lunch and dinner and may be made by calling (302) 831-0500 or by e-mailing Julie Fagan at [juliep@udel.edu].

No reservations are needed for Vita Nova's Darden Bistro, a tapas-style wine bar, which is open from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

New this spring, the Darden Bistro will hold a wine education/tasting series. The events include samples of wine, as well as light fare prepared by UD students. All tastings are $29 per person and will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on four Wednesdays. Reservations are required and may be made by calling (302) 831-0500.

The dates for the wine education/tasting series are:

March 7--Wines from Montalcino presented by Brian Connors from Banfi Vintners;
March 14--Cabernets from around the world presented by Tom Ditzler from The Country Vintner;
April 18--Bouchaine Vineyards, Carneros, Calif. presented by Nina Sygnecki from Wine and Spirits Co. of Greenville; and
April 25--Argentinean whites and reds presented by Tom Ditzler from The Country Vintner.

On Wednesday, April 11, Deborah Brenner will be signing her book, Women of the Vine, at the Darden Bistro.

Media contact: Martin Mbugua, (302) 831-8749, [mbugua@udel.edu]
January 30, 2007