Wally Waffle, an area breakfast favorite, is baking up a new location in the under-construction New Village at Town Center in Tallmadge, near the busy circle.
In Bath Township, at Vaccaro’s Trattoria, it’s Negroni Week. The Italian restaurant is celebrating the cocktail as part of a nationwide effort to raise money for charity. A portion of proceeds from a Negroni sampler — three versions, including the classic made with gin, Campari (a liqueur with notes of orange) and sweet vermouth — will go to Stewart’s Caring Place.
And there’s more.
First up, more on the new Wally Waffle. Breakfast comes way before cocktail time, after all.
Owner Justin Miletti hopes to open the first week of July. On Tuesday, crews were busily working on the new site at 100 North Ave.
It will replace the Wally Waffle in the Eastwood Square shopping center at Darrow Road and Eastwood Avenue. Everyone calls this the Tallmadge Wally Waffle although it’s in Akron, near the city line. Soon, the restaurant really will be in Tallmadge, and Miletti said the new location will boast 50 percent more seating.
It looks like it will be the first business to open in New Village. The complex — being constructed by Welty-Testa Builders — is designed to tie in with Tallmadge City Hall and the Tallmadge police station to help create a downtown.
The development will include senior apartments and loft condos.
Wally Waffle started in 1975 in Wallhaven in West Akron. Josh Miletti, Justin’s brother, runs the Akron Wally Waffle, now at 845 W. Market St. in Highland Square. The brothers are the grandsons of the original owner.
Negroni for charity
Raphael Vaccaro, owner of Vaccaro’s Trattoria, was offering the Negroni long before the rise of craft cocktail bars revived the drink’s popularity. He likes its simplicity and its Italian roots.
So when he heard about Negroni Week, he jumped at the chance to celebrate the drink and raise money for one of his favorite causes.
Through June 11, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Negroni samplers will go to Stewart’s Caring Place. Negroni Week is sponsored by Imbibe magazine and Campari, one of the ingredients of the classic Negroni cocktail.
Vaccaro said he plans to use Carpano Antica vermouth, which he said is the original formula for vermouth, created by Antonio Benedetto Carpano.
The two other drinks making up the sampler are the Negroni Sbagliato, featuring prosecco (Italian sparkling wine), Campari and sweet red vermouth (Carpano Punt e Mes); and the Vaccaro Negroni. This is Raphael Vaccaro’s concoction, featuring gin, Aperol and blood orange sorbet. Aperol is similar to Campari but has a lower alcohol content.
The sampler runs $15, of which $5 will go to Stewart’s Caring Place, the Fairlawn nonprofit that provides services to people with cancer.
Here’s another Vaccaro’s happening: The restaurant will host a five-course Wood Fired Wine Dinner, including pizza and wines of Vina Robles, at 6:30 p.m. June 14. Cost is $65. See the Vaccaro’s Trattoria Facebook page for more information or to get tickets.
Vaccaro’s is at 1000 Ghent Road, 330-666-6158, www.vactrat.com.
Uncork wine events
• The Acme Fresh Market’s first Ohio Wine Spectacular will run from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at its Coventry Township store at 3235 Manchester Road.
More than 50 Ohio wines will be available for free sampling.
Bob Golic, the former Browns defensive tackle and radio host on WNIR 100.1-FM, will broadcast live. Red Horse Winery of New Franklin makes a blackberry wine named for Golic that is available at Acme stores.
• The Summer Solstice Festival at Sarah’s Vineyard in Cuyahoga Falls runs from 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. June 16, noon to 10:30 p.m. June 17 and noon to 6 p.m. June 18.
This is an outdoor event featuring the vineyard’s wines, food vendors and lots of live music performances. Daily admission of $10 gets you seven tastings of Sarah’s wines and a glass.
Take a lawn chair and/or a blanket if you want to be guaranteed a place to sit.
I goofed last week in writing about the festival. I got some incorrect information and didn’t correctly identify two food operations that will be on hand: American Classic Homegrown Popcorn and Heini’s Natural Cheese.
Winery reopens
The Winery at Wolf Creek in Copley Township reopened its tasting room Monday less than a week after an explosion in the winery’s distillery.
The tasting room and other areas were not damaged in the explosion and subsequent fire that decimated the distillery and the party room above it.
The cause of the explosion remains under investigation. The winery is at 2637 S. Cleveland Massillon Road. You can find my story about the explosion here: http://bit.ly/2rRRVTv.
Reminders
• This Saturday is the free Lil’ Chef Family Event at Summit Mall in Fairlawn from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The lineup: Pretzel rolling organized by Auntie Annie’s and a dough-throwing demonstration by Dewey’s Pizza.
• Heinen’s and the Hudson Library and Historical Society are teaming up to offer a 21-Day Fresh Start for a Healthier You program. It starts at 6:30 p.m. June 15 and meets weekly.
Space is limited. Register in person at the second floor reference desk. A $5 workbook fee is required. For information, call 330-653-6658, ext. 1010.
Send local food news to Katie Byard at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com.