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Bites & Bites: Della Porta, Dinner in the Vineyard & New Wine Club

Italian Comes to Ellison Bay

Della Porta Trattoria e Pizzeria Napoletana – a modern southern Italian trattoria featuring Neapolitan pizza – has opened in Ellison Bay, where executive chef Robin Brown, a native of Naples, Italy, is bringing the flavors of his homeland to Northern Door.

Brown is partnering with Joe Ouimet and Joe and Tesa Schulte of Blue Bear Ellison Bay. In keeping with the farm-to-table focus of Blue Bear, Della Porta will be sourcing most ingredients (that are not imported from Italy) from Wisconsin, partnering with Hidden Acres Farm in Sister Bay, among others. 

Della Porta serves authentic southern Italian small plates, entrées, desserts, cocktails and wine, and with its Acunto Napoli pizza oven from Naples, it creates VPN-certified Neapolitan pizza.

Della Porta’s Acunto Napoli pizza oven arrived from Naples, Italy. Facebook photo.

Della Porta will occupy the former Viking fish boil building, whose patio will have an outdoor bar, fireplace and oven. The patio will be completed in late June, and the interior restaurant is expected to be finished in fall 2023.

Brown was previously the executive chef at Milwaukee’s San Giorgio Pizzeria Napoletana, has earned a fourth-place medal at the World Olympics of Neapolitan Pizza in Naples, was awarded the Grande Cheese Fior di Latte best-recipe award, and was featured on PBS’s Wisconsin Foodie.Della Porta is serving dinner Friday-Tuesday inside Blue Bear and outside on the patio until the remodel is complete. Then it will relocate to the new building. Learn more at dellaportadc.com.

At Dinner in the Vineyard, the table is taken to the farm, not the other way around. Photo by Ana McCabe.

Dinner in the Vineyard Returns at Gathering Ground

Gathering Ground will host its fourth Dinner in the Vineyard on July 21, 4 pm. This year’s event features the Chicago-based Southernish, which is owned and operated by chef Joseph Rousey and Linsey Sowa, who blend seasonal ingredients with a Southern-inspired twist.

Southernish is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business, as designated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. After his military service, Chef Joe found his calling as a chef as a new way to be of service to others.

Dinner in the Vineyard includes offerings from Island Orchard Cider, Island Edibles, local produce and more. It also has a silent auction and wine pull, and it raises funds to support the activities of Gathering Ground. These activities include a community garden, fruit and nut orchards, workshops and a summer internship program for young adults.  

Purchase tickets ($150 per person) online at gatheringgroundwi.org or in person at the Washington Island Farmers Market.

Fragrant Isle Wine Club

Fragrant Isle lavender farm is launching a new Tuesday evening wine club. The club will meet from 5 – 7 pm beginning June 6 to check out new wines and appetizers at the cafe. Visit the club four times and receive a free bottle of wine. Fragrant Isle is located at 1350 Airport Road, Washington Island. Contact Dawn at [email protected] to learn more or call 920.847.2950.

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