Tag Archive: Restaurants

  1. While You Were Out: GHeav edition

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    [ydn-legacy-photo-inline id=”940″ ]

    As some of us are already giving up our New Year’s resolutions for self-improvement, Gourmet Heaven started 2012 with a number of big changes itself.

    The furniture on the upper level of the store has been replaced with sleek wooden tables and benches. The old chairs were unstable and diners could potentially fall over while sitting in them, said Adam Juarez, GHeav’s night-time manager. The other renovations, which closed GHeav from Dec. 19 to Jan. 3, include freshly painted walls (orange) and ceiling (off-white), in addition to freshly-waxed floors.

    As for the bacon-egg-and-cheeses, nothing has changed.

  2. Insomnia Cookies opens on Chapel Street

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    Night owls, rejoice — Insomnia Cookies is ready to fill your every gluttonous late-night desire.

    The delivery chain started at the University of Pennsylvania opened its Chapel Street store last Wednesday. It sells a variety of desserts — nine types of cookies, three jumbo deluxe cookies, cookie cakes, brownies, chocolate milk (yum), ice cream and ice cream cookie sandwiches — and is open until 3 a.m. If winter ever comes and makes the walk to Chapel Street way too hard, Insomnia can deliver within a three mile radius through 2 a.m. Store manager Cedric Emery said they’ll provide discounts if you order online.

    Emery said Insomnia is already baking between 300 and 400 cookies during the day. It will hold a grand opening celebration this Tuesday, at which customers will receive a free cookie.

  3. Claire’s loses a founder

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    Frank Criscuolo, who along with his wife Claire became a fixture in downtown New Haven as the founder of Claire’s Corner Copia, died suddenly at his home in East Haven on Wednesday. He was 62.

    Frank and Claire Criscuolo operated Claire’s, a vegetarian restaurant famous for its cakes, together at its location at the corner of Chapel and College Streets since its opening in 1975. In 2004, they opened Basta Trattoria, a restaurant featuring Southern Italian cuisine, next door on Chapel Street. In addition to his work at both restaurants, Frank Criscuolo served on the board of the New Haven Public School Foundation and, along with his wife, wrote a column on vegetarian cooking in the New Haven Register.

    “Frank has been part of the fabric of downtown New Haven for many decades and it’s hard to imagine New Haven without him,” wrote Anne Worcester, the head of Market New Haven, in a community email, the New Haven Independent reported.

    Criscuolo is survived by his wife Claire, his brother Michael Criscuolo of North Haven, three nieces and a nephew. Iovanne Funeral Home, located in Wooster Square, will hold a service for Frank on Saturday.