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he dragon-inspired sign has been hung by the front door. The potatoes have been scrubbed. Oriental’s newest take-out restaurant, the Village Food Emporium, is ready for business.

Ready for business

The Village Food Emporium is being started by Bama Lutes Deal and will be Oriental’s first purely take-out establishment.

Not all people “come to Oriental to cook” says Deal. Many just come “to relax and sail”. Now, folks that are hungry but don’t want to sit down to a restaurant meal have another option. They can pick up a meal at the Emporium and enjoy it at home, on the go or on their boat.

Owner Bama Lutes Deal (in straw hat) and Laura Turgeon

The Emporium, located on the corner of Church and Broad Streets, will feature take-away meals including sandwiches, soups and salads in addition to gourmet cheeses, chocolate and hostess gifts. When possible, the restaurant will offer locally grown produce. “We’re working with local growers” says Deal to provide season fare. This week, that means fresh-dug Yukon potatoes from Sandie and Robbie Beal’s Academy Street Gardens. They were dug “yesterday”.

The “Village Food Emporium” staff in potato-scrubbing mode: (l to r) Barbara Stockton, Michelle Korzeniowski, Laura Turgeon and owner Bama Lutes Deal

In the days leading up to the restaurant’s opening, Deal had asked Laura Turgeon (of “Drawing the Town” fame) and Gil Fontes to come up with a logo for the restaurant. It had to meet three requirements. It had to feature a dragon holding a fork and a knife. Said dragon needed an attitude. And, for nautical flair, it had to feature scroll work, the type seen on the bowsprits of old schooners.

Turgeon returned with a logo that was just about perfect – except for one detail. Notes Deal, the knife in the dragon’s hand was deemed “vicious” so “we switched to a spoon”. Deal later commissioned Turgeon and Fontes to turn the logo into a carved wood sign that now flanks the business’ entrance.

Spoon wielding dragon sign

The Village Food Emporium is offering a “Picnics-to-go” menu for CroakerFest (July 3 and 4). The official opening date is scheduled for Tuesday, July 7. Summer hours are Tuesday through Saturday 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. Call in orders, including special requests, are welcome at 252 249 FOOD (3663).

Posted Friday July 3, 2009 by Bernie Harberts