This article appeared in the July 30th Issue of TV Times
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By David Maull
TV Times

It was a physical ailment that ended Bob Cirelli's construction career but good timing that turned him into a restaurant success story.

Cirelli entered the culinary field nearly four years ago after a lengthy recovery from a blood clot on his spinal cord. The condition, which was a complication from a previous surgery and briefly left him paralyzed, forced him out of the construction trade.

"I had to find something else to do. It was basically a career change," he said. "That changes your whole outlook."

Cirelli went back to college to study computers and culinary arts and in 1995 was hired as a chef at La Rosa Negra restaurant on Second Street in Lewes. A year later, he bought the restaurant from the previous owners and has made it into one of the finest Italian restaurants in Delaware.

"I just happened to be here at the right time," he said on a recent weekday morning while methodically placing cherry topping on a tray of small cakes.

La Rosa Negra, which first opened in 1989, has been praised by numerous publications, including the New York Times, Philadelphia magazine and Delaware Today magazine, which named its ravioli the best in the state. It has also racked up 20 chocolate festival awards.

"Everything we do has some Italian in it," Cirelli said.

The menu features seafood, chicken, veal and beef dishes along with a specialty pasta selection that includes 20 different types of ravioli. Favorites such as veal and chicken parmesan, shrimp scampi, fettuccini alfredo and pasta primavera are available.

An upstairs bakery produces fresh bread and an award-winning selection of pies and cakes.

La Rosa Negra also serves lunch Monday through Saturday in its simple, yet elegant dining room and offers catering services.

"We make everything here," Cirelli said. "Everything is fresh. That's really important."

But Cirelli shies away putting a "gourmet" label on his restaurant, noting such establishments tend to be pricey.

Instead, he's made La Rosa Negra into a family-oriented restaurant where no entree costs more than $19.95.

The result has been a 40-percent increase in business since Cirelli took over in 1996.

"I would say it's an upscale family restaurant," he said. "We want to attract locals as well as tourists. We are very price-conscience."