Omnivore - News from Edgewood Avenue

Things are happening on Edgewood Avenue. The most pleasing rumor in circulation is that the Top Flr folks have leased the space above Over da Edge, at the corner of Edgewood and Boulevard. I don’t have details yet, but will fill you in when I do....

You’ve probably already heard that Dynamic Dish, where I dined Thursday night, will be expanding into the neighboring space, effectively doubling its size. That’s the good news. The bad news is that it may be a year before it happens, according to owner David Sweeney. A license to serve alcohol is also in the works, according to multiple blog sources.

My dinner there, alone at the bar, was as delicious as usual — cornbread dumplings over a creamy blend of leeks and crimini mushrooms with a sharp cranberry sauce on the side. Everything in the dish, including additional herbs, was locally sourced....

The restaurant’s walls feature some wintery paintings by Jeff Hyde and Sweeney has installed a few Christmas decorations, including a wall of berry-laden holly and some cool wreaths. Jesus and Santa are not in sight. The restaurant will close after lunch Dec. 24 and reopen for lunch on Jan 2....

I went back to Pizzeria Vesuvius recently and ordered “El Chichon,” a pizza featuring carnitas, pineapple and jalapenos. I confess I was morbidly curious about this and didn’t expect it to taste very good, but it was delicious. I thought the carnitas tasted a lot like pork belly, but the chef assured me he used pork shoulder to make them.

Wayne predictably ordered the restaurant’s namesake pie, the Vesuvius, which features smoked chicken, blue cheese, buffalo sauce, celery and mozzarella. He can’t get enough of those flavors. I’ve been over them so much for so long that I refused even to swap a slice with him.