Annabella’s adds in-house bakery

To serve spaghetti and meatballs without slices of fresh Italian bread just wouldn’t be right.

That’s why the owners of Annabella’s Italian Restaurant on Savannah Road in Lewes have ensured that it never happens.

The restaurant, which opened in October, recently opened an in-house bakery serving a variety of dessert items and breads, many of which are made on the premises, and some others produced in the area by local culinary craftsmen.

“My great-grandmother, Clara Brittingham, was well known around Lewes and Rehoboth for her cake decorating. I think my father is living vicariously through her,” said Mike Spray talking about his dad, Ed Spray, who seems to have found a calling in cakes.

Mike said the baking team includes wife Amy Spray, who co-owns the restaurant, and mother-in-law Sharon Morgan, who adds her special touch to cake embellishment.

Spray said Annabella’s, which features classic, handmade Italian dishes, has added the bakery, with its mostly scratch-baked goods, to enhance the dining experience.

The bakery and restaurant feature breads produced by Steve Kogler’s Old World Bread, handcrafted and baked by Kogler, owner of Teller Wines, which offers a selection of fine wines only a few feet away from the restaurant.

Kogler’s artisan breads are baked in Ellendale and include French, Italian, country white and San Francisco sourdough varieties. Starting with the finest ingredients – King Arthur flour, filtered water, yeast and salt – the breads are formed to create the delicate textures, flavors and golden crusts of Old World European breads.

Annabella’s sells Kogler’s breads only on days they’re delivered fresh from the Old World Bakery – Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

When other retailers around Lewes have sold out of Old World bread, Kogler still has some to sell at the Historic Lewes Farmers Market.

In the evening, one of the restaurant’s dining areas has become a dedicated dessert room where customers enjoy coffee, wine, cordials and other beverages along with desserts.

Spray said Annabella’s also features his longtime friend and local chef John Sapienza’s popular rice puddings – one with raisins and one without.

He said the bakery welcomes requests for special-occasion items including custom-flavored and decorated cakes and specialty desserts including tiramisu and Sicilian cannoli.