Philadelphia

Outtake of the Week

2009-11-06T22:53:00Z

It was good, but not nearly as good as the employees kept telling me.

She-Brew Studies

2009-11-06T22:37:00Z

The Naked Pint

Photo: courtesy of Perigree Trade

Christina Perozzi and Hallie Beaune, authors of the female-oriented craft-beer book, The Naked Pint, are organizing a book launch/beer dinner at Fork in Old City. The November 16 event features brews made by women in Philly's beer community accompanied by American tapas. For the full menu, click here (exact time TBD; $55 per person, including beer; call to reserve 215-625-9425).

Dining News Elsewhere: Obesity and Cancer, Bacon-Wrapped Matzoh Balls

2009-11-06T16:56:00Z

– A baguette dropped by a bird stopped the Large Hadron Collider. [Times]
– Linking obesity and cancer. [MSNBC]
– Scripps (which owns the Food Network) sets its sights on the Travel Channel. [EMD]

– Jamie Oliver, upholder of justice. [Telegraph]
– How wine became a "fast food." [Daily Beast]
– Daniel Boulud sets his sights on London. [Bloomberg]
– LA's Orso prepares for a final bow. [NYT]
– A long chat with Gordon Ramsay. [Telegraph]
– Not kosher: Ilan Hall's bacon-wrapped matzoh balls. [Jewish Journal]
– 7-Eleven gets ready to roll out its own wine. [MSNBC]
– Why Guinness can taste different in Ireland (and elsewhere). [Accidental Hedonist]
– Will laser etchings replace fruit and vegetable stickers? [Gizmodo]
– Portion sizes, then and now. [DivineCaroline]
– How exactly does Jell-O work? [BG]
– Meat, the fabric. [EMD]
– Cookie monster cupcakes love cookies. [Leila Cohan]

The Fixe Is In at Bellini Grill

2009-11-05T20:19:00Z

Bellini Grill

Photo: courtesy of the restaurant

At Bellini Grill, it's like Restaurant Week year round. The Rittenhouse Square Italian is now offering a three-course dinner, including a glass of red or white wine, nightly for $25.95. More of a lunch feaster? You're covered too, with a three-course lunch, sans vino, for $15.95 (215-545-119; reserve online).

Catelli Turns Quindici

2009-11-04T22:15:00Z

Catelli

Photo: courtesy of the restaurant

Cherry Hill Italian Catelli marks its 15th anniversary this month with a slew of deals. In addition to various $15 entrees, there will also be: “Wine Down Wednesdays,” where a bottle of wine is included with dinner for two; "Frugal Fridays", which features a special small-plate menu with nothing over $10; and "Sunday Suppers," a three-course family-style dinner for $25 per person. If you are one of the first 100 to make a reservation for the actual anniversary, November 12, you'll receive a free entree. Want more? From now until November 7, each diner receives a $15 gift certificate for a future visit, and from November 15–21, there will be a special 15-course tasting menu for $50 (856-751-6069; reserve online).

Dining News Elsewhere: An Illy Invasion, Iron Chef in the White House

2009-11-04T17:11:00Z

– Illy is making inroads into U.S. coffee shops. [WSJ]
– Gordon Ramsay is planning to bring the popular MasterChef to the U.S. [THR]
– Sam Kass: assistant White House chef, policy wonk. [NYT]

– Related: Iron Chef America heads to the White House. [NYT]
– After 17 years, Jean-Georges is shutting down Vong. Though maybe not for long? [Eater]
– Learning to compost in Chicago's public schools. [Chicago Tribune]
– More on the affect of calorie counts on menus. [NYT]
– The Kogi Truck folks in LA have their own custom car now. [Mouthing Off]
– Kids menus should grow up. [BG]
– What does your beer choice say about you? [AdAge]
– Yellow Tail isn't the only Aussie wine, y'know. [WSJ]
– One 225,000-ton ship, more than 24 dining options. [EMD]
– Grant Achatz stands sternly in front of an airplane. [GS:C]
– Is it a steak house or a gay bar? [SteakHouseorGayBar]

Celeb Chefs Cover the Market

2009-11-03T22:17:00Z

Amada

Photo: courtesy of the restaurant

Though fine dining may have cooled off a little as a result of the past year’s economic turmoil, celeb chefs remain as popular as ever. Fortunately, many of them have opened more casual concepts, allowing diners with tighter budgets to get a taste of their culinary vision. But how do these budget-minded sibs stack up against their high-end counterparts? Read up, and then add your own votes and opinions.

Jose Garces

With five restaurants and counting Jose Garces is easily one of Philadelphia's brightest culinary stars, and with spots like the new Chifa, the current Next Iron Chef contestant seems intent on bringing his inventive cooking to the masses with more reasonable price tags.

Amada

217 Chestnut St.
(bet. 2nd & 3rd Sts.)
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-625-2450; reserve online

Food	Decor	Service	Cost
28	24	25	$52

“Tapas of the heap” sums up the sentiment on Jose Garces’ “sexy”, “sublime” Spaniard in Old City, where armadas of amigos (“book way in advance”) share small plates of “awesome”, “cutting-edge” comida and “primo” sangria served by an “informative” staff; it may be “pricey”, but the $45–$65 tasting menus help contain costs, and if “noise” is a concern, come early (or for lunch).

Key to Zagat Ratings

Chifa

707 Chestnut St.
(7th St.)
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-925-5555; reserve online

Food	Decor	Service	Cost
-	-	-	M

The little-known culinary hybrid of ‘chifa’ – Cantonese-Peruvian fusion – is explored at this glam, yet moderately priced, Wash West arrival from Jose Garces (Amada, Distrito, Tinto); its ceviche bar has 10 varieties daily, a communal table offers a gathering point for friends and who knows what goes on in the opium den–inspired bar downstairs.

Marc Vetri

Marc Vetri was ahead of the curve, following up his top-rated Vetri with the more affordable Osteria way back in the good-old-economy days of 2007.

Vetri

1312 Spruce St.
(bet. Broad & 13th Sts.)
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-732-3478; reserve online

Food	Decor	Service	Cost
27	23	27	$88

Although “you’re not under the real Tuscan sun”, fans swear you’re as good as there at Marc Vetri and Jeff Benjamin’s “rustic” Italian “legend” in Wash West, which “continues to amaze” with a menu of “sublime” “handmade everything” and “outstanding”, “knowledgeable” service; it’s “tough to get a table” in the “shoebox”-like space, and be prepared “to pay an arm and a leg”; N.B. there’s no à la carte on Friday or Saturday.

Key to Zagat Ratings

Osteria

Photo: courtesy of the restaurant

Osteria

640 N. Broad St.
(Wallace St.)
Philadelphia, PA 19130
215-763-0920; reserve online

Food	Decor	Service	Cost
26	24	24	$56

“Bravo” declare devotees of chef Marc Vetri and Jeff Benjamin (the Vetri team) who’ve “done it again” with partner-chef Jeff Michaud at this “spectacular”, “industrial”-style North Philly Italian “destination” distinguished for its “cutting-edge” cuisine, including “sublime” brick-oven pizzas, complemented by an “interesting” wine list; though less expensive than its celebrated sibling, many say it’s still a “splurge.”

Key to Zagat Ratings

Tasting Tavolo

2009-11-03T16:21:00Z

Hearty portions of housemade pastas and other traditional Italian fare (plus an attractive dessert list) are the main draws at Tavolo, a moderately priced Huntingdon Valley BYO; the mauve-tableclothed environs include a convivial front space and a romantic back room.

2519 Huntingdon Pike, Huntingdon Valley; 215-938-8401

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Tried Tavolo? Write a review
See more new restaurants in Philadelphia

Chew, Man, Chu!

2009-11-03T16:15:00Z

With sexy graphics and a mod soundtrack, the energetic Pan-Asian Chew Man Chu in the Symphony House on the Avenue of the Arts is positioned as a magnet for theatergoers and late-nighters craving low-cost noodle dishes and dumplings; grab a seat at the counter to chat with the chef, whose résumé includes stops at NYC’s Lutèce and Le Cirque.

400 S. Broad St.; 215-735-8107

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Masticated at Chew Man Chu? Write a review
See more new restaurants in Philadelphia

Walking (and Tasting) the Town

2009-11-02T22:30:00Z

In cities as foodie-friendly as New York and Philadelphia, sometimes even locals need a guide for eating adventures. Enter City Food Tours, run by Joyce and Robert Weinberg (who owned Beyond Measure in Philly), which leads walking tasting tours seven days a week in both cities. The tours themselves vary dramatically, with everything from a Top Chef tour to an ethnic-food trip around Nolita to a craft beer and artisanal cheese tasting in Philly. All include access to good food, good company and a touch of exercise. Interested? Book now and mention Zagat to get 20% off two or more tickets (prices vary; call 215-360-1996 for Philadelphia tickets; 212-535-8687 for New York tickets; For more information click here).

Dining News Elsewhere: PBR For Sale, Wading Into the Tip Pool

2009-11-02T16:44:00Z

– Talking with the troubled Ciprianis. [Vanity Fair]
– The brewery behind PBR and Schlitz is for sale. [NYP]
– Restaurants seek to better manage tip pools. [NRN]

– Western foods are gaining in China. [ABC]
– Where have all the Angostura bitters gone? [Bostonist]
– Who gets all of those 7 PM reservations, anyway? [Between Meals]
– The last days of Gourmet. [Last Days of Gourmet]
– Nation's Restaurant News to go biweekly. [Food Writer's Diary]
– Who needs to tip when you can buy the chef a beer? [GS:C]
– 222.5 pounds? Now that's a big meatball. [MSNBC]
– Could you eat 78 pieces of cutlery? Would you? [Daily Mail, via EMD]
– The manually operated hamburger vending machine. [JapanProbe]

Cooking With Coco

2009-11-02T16:15:00Z

David Chang's pork neck with succotash

Photo and recipe: courtesy of Phaidon Press

For its latest cookbook, Coco, Phaidon Press turned to 10 world-leading chefs – Ferran Adrià, Mario Batali, Shannon Bennett, Alain Ducasse, Fergus Henderson, Yoshihiro Murata, Gordon Ramsay, René Redzepi, Alice Waters and Jacky Yu – to each pick 10 contemporary chefs from around the world. In turn, each of those chefs then wrote a menu and recipes for the book. The final product is more than 400 pages of gorgeous photographs, mouthwatering recipes and interesting tidbits from kitchens around the world. Want a taste? After the jump, get the recipe for pork neck with succotash from New York chef David Chang (of the Momofuku empire).

Pork Neck with Succotash
Serves 4
Recipe by David Chang

For the pork neck
300 g kosher salt
270 g sugar
6 liters hot water
2 bay leaves
25 g black peppercorns
6 liters cold water
10 g pink salt
1 pork neck

Mix the salt, sugar, hot water, bay leaves, and black peppercorns.
Mix the cold water with the pink salt.
Add the pork neck and confit 5 hours at 300°F (150°C) covered.
When tender, press between 2 sheet trays. Portion into serving size pieces.
Crisp on a griddle or pan to heat through.

For the succotash
100 g ground (minced) smoked, think-cut pork belly
12 g chanterelle mushrooms
250 g lima (butter) beans
175 g corn (sweetcorn) kernels
Butter for sautéing
1 tbsp tarragon, chopped
4 ml buttermilk
120 g butter
130 g arugula (rocket)

Sauté the pork belly, chanterelles, lima beans, and corn in a pan.
Finish with a pinch of salt and pepper, chopped tarragon, buttermilk, butter, and arugula.

Outtake of the Week

2009-10-30T22:01:00Z

A bit out of the way and not worth finding.

Series Suds

2009-10-30T19:01:00Z

You already know what team you're rooting for, but it can be harder to know where to go watch the World Series. Although most bars will be playing the game, here are some that are going the extra mile with specials and deals. Go Phillies!

The Bayou Bar & Grill

4245 Main St.; 215-482-2560

Stop by Saturday night for "Trick or Treat with the Phillies," which includes Adult Swim prizes, $2.50 Miller Light bottles all night and a $200 costume prize for best-dressed fan.

Bleu Martini

24 S. Second St.; 215-940-7900

Every night a game is on, there is an optional $20 open bar (serving vodka, gin, rum, tequila, wine and beer) from 8–10 PM. There will also be a DJ and half-priced appetizers.

Cavanaugh’s Rittenhouse

1823 Sansom St.; 215-665-9500

Specials include $3.50 Bud and Bud Light drafts and bottles all night, $5 Jameson shots and 35¢ wings and clams.

Finn McCools

118 Sansom St.; 215-923-3090

Get $2.50 Budweiser drafts and Bud Light Golden Wheat drafts over the duration of the game.

For Pete’s Sake Pub

900 S. Front St.; 215-462-2230

Cheer on with $2.50 Miller Light drafts and Yeungling bottles, and $3 Kenzingers and Spaten.

Mad River

126 Chestnut St.; 215-923-5553

Join in on $3 Bud and Bud Light drafts, half-priced select appetizers and $1 hot dogs. It’s also offering private parties at three different levels ($10 per person for a choice of four appetizers; $15 per person for a buffet; and $30 per person for beer and mixed drinks).

McFadden’s

461 N. Third St.; 215-928-0630

The Third Street location is selling $3 domestic bottles and 35¢ wings. A DJ will spin during commercials and call out shot specials.

Smiths Restaurant

39-41 19th St.; 267-546-2669

This New American by day and lounge by night is serving $2 Miller Light drafts with $1 hot dogs, corn dogs and chili dogs.

South Philly Bar and Grill

1235 E Passyunk Ave.; 215-334-3300

Drink $2.50 Yeungling drafts and $2.75 bottles while chowing down on a $4.95 hot dog basket (two hot dogs and waffle fries with cheese).

The Whiskey Tango

14000 Bustleton Ave.; 215-671-9234

Get in on $1 pizza slices, $2.50 Coors and Coors Light bottles and $1.50 Coors and Coors Light 16-oz. drafts from 10 PM–midnight while watching the game on 20 50-in.screens and one 140-incher in the main bar. On Halloween, enter the costume contest for a chance to win the ultimate first prize: two tickets to Game 4.

– Aynsley Karps

Dining News Elsewhere: Menu Labeling Goes National, No More Kitchen Nightmares

2009-10-30T15:51:00Z

– Menu labeling hops onto health-care reform. [NRN]
– 2009 had the worst honey crop on record. [Daily Green, via GS:C]
– Not with a bang, but a whimper. Ramsay kills Kitchen Nightmares. [The Sun]

– The return of the milkman. [WSJ]
– Restaurants look to Halloween for a boost. [NRN]
– The White House garden, by the numbers. [Obama Foodorama]
– Europe's eel population is slipping away. [WSJ]
– Costco is getting ready to accept food stamps. [CityRoom]
– Hooters is facing a lawsuit for making its waitresses buy their uniforms. [NYP]
– Just try and top this Halloween dish. [Not Martha]
– 100-year-old whiskey, anyone? [GlobalPost]
– In Illinois, 100 hours of community service or...a tray of jerk chicken? [Chicago Tribune]

Philadelphia

Outtake of the Week

She-Brew Studies

The Naked Pint

Photo: courtesy of Perigree Trade

Dining News Elsewhere: Obesity and Cancer, Bacon-Wrapped Matzoh Balls

The Fixe Is In at Bellini Grill

Bellini Grill

Photo: courtesy of the restaurant

Catelli Turns Quindici

Catelli

Photo: courtesy of the restaurant

Dining News Elsewhere: An Illy Invasion, Iron Chef in the White House

Celeb Chefs Cover the Market

Amada

Photo: courtesy of the restaurant

Jose Garces

217 Chestnut St. (bet. 2nd & 3rd Sts.) Philadelphia, PA 19106 215-625-2450; reserve online

707 Chestnut St. (7th St.) Philadelphia, PA 19106 215-925-5555; reserve online

Marc Vetri

1312 Spruce St. (bet. Broad & 13th Sts.) Philadelphia, PA 19107 215-732-3478; reserve online

Osteria

Photo: courtesy of the restaurant

640 N. Broad St. (Wallace St.) Philadelphia, PA 19130 215-763-0920; reserve online

Tasting Tavolo

Chew, Man, Chu!

Walking (and Tasting) the Town

Dining News Elsewhere: PBR For Sale, Wading Into the Tip Pool

Cooking With Coco

David Chang's pork neck with succotash

Photo and recipe: courtesy of Phaidon Press

Outtake of the Week

Series Suds

4245 Main St.; 215-482-2560

24 S. Second St.; 215-940-7900

1823 Sansom St.; 215-665-9500

118 Sansom St.; 215-923-3090

For Pete’s Sake Pub

900 S. Front St.; 215-462-2230

Mad River

126 Chestnut St.; 215-923-5553

461 N. Third St.; 215-928-0630

39-41 19th St.; 267-546-2669

1235 E Passyunk Ave.; 215-334-3300

The Whiskey Tango

14000 Bustleton Ave.; 215-671-9234

– Aynsley Karps

Dining News Elsewhere: Menu Labeling Goes National, No More Kitchen Nightmares

217 Chestnut St.
(bet. 2nd & 3rd Sts.)
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-625-2450; reserve online

707 Chestnut St.
(7th St.)
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-925-5555; reserve online

1312 Spruce St.
(bet. Broad & 13th Sts.)
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-732-3478; reserve online

640 N. Broad St.
(Wallace St.)
Philadelphia, PA 19130
215-763-0920; reserve online