Sounding Off:

As we were traveling for the holidays, when the article about Dean & DeLuca canceling its plans for Fashion Island was published (“Grocer cancels flagship location,” Dec. 25), and as we remain out of town, on our way to Paris aboard the Queen Mary II, we would be remiss if we didn’t seize the opportunity to register our thoughts, albeit late, regarding the article.

First and foremost, as longtime patrons of Dean & DeLuca (both the original in Soho in New York City and its subsequent flagship store, along with both Washington, D.C., and Napa Valley) we take particular exception to your referring to Dean & DeLuca as a “grocer” (your word, not ours). Suffice to say Dean & DeLuca is not just a remarkable food emporium, they are, simply put, arbiters of exquisite taste as they set the standard by which all others are judged. Enough said?

Secondly, contrary to the Irvine Co.’s feigning “surprise” at Dean & DeLuca’s decision, we, as well as friends, saw the handwriting on the wall when the signage promulgating Dean & DeLuca’s arrival did not remain once the chain-link fence barricading the building sites came down. And that was more than six months ago.

Insofar as the Irvine Co. never squanders an opportunity to engage in self-aggrandizing and shameless promotion, the missing signage was a clear sign that something was amiss. Exacerbating the issue is the fact that the Daily Pilot perpetuated the myth by taking the Irvine Co.’s word as gospel. Lastly, whatever circumstances that might have contributed to Dean & DeLuca’s decision are moot, as their absence in Newport Beach will be conspicuously missed by those of us who have come to appreciate the uniqueness that defines Dean & DeLuca. Given Donald Bren’s re-envisioning Fashion Island as a “Mediterranean-inspired” environment, the question that begs to be asked is, how many reincarnations does Fashion Island have to go through to get it right?

One final thought — not that it has anything to do with Dean & DeLuca. It has to do with holiday decorations. Having just been in New York City, we believe that Bren could learn a lot about decking the halls, so to speak, of Fashion Island by taking a good long look at Rockefeller Center.

Their Christmas tree actually looks like a Christmas tree should, in contrast to the monstrosity at Fashion Island that masquerades as a Christmas tree. It looks as though it has been put through a pencil sharpener. Even in ‘Mediterranean’ climates, which Bren seems to fancy and hopes to emulate in Fashion Island, Christmas trees still look like they should, not pruned to excess.

BETTE AND BILL DOREMUS live in Newport Beach.