|
|
|
Underground Eats at the Underground Arts Building
Since its first show in May 2009 (Pig Iron alum Sarah Sanford's Appetite), Gary Reuben's Underground Arts basement theater space in the Wolf building at 12th and Callowhill has promised a food-and-booze component.
Underground Eats at the Underground Arts Building
Since its first show in May 2009 (Pig Iron alum Sarah Sanford's Appetite), Gary Reuben's Underground Arts basement theater space in the Wolf building at 12th and Callowhill has promised a food-and-booze component. By December's end, that facet finally got its name (Underground Eats), its chef (Tom Stalling) and a ready-to-install kitchen.
"Just as the overall development of Underground Arts has been an organic process, so will be its food component — not organic food, just the process," says Reuben with a laugh. "We hope to be as creative with our food as we are with the rest of the venue, and plan to offer food items specifically created to complement whatever performance is taking place any particular night." (Think Latin fare to go with musicians like El Malito, who played there recently.)
Though new coats of paint have been added to the room's Keith Haring-like murals, Underground Eats will surely maintain its dark basement vibe and dedication to live events, such as the relaunch of Theatre Confetti (formerly Nice People Theatre Company) on Jan. 12 and Illuminoir by Move and Groove Productions on Jan. 21.
Underground Eats' conditional liquor license means the venue has to have food available whenever they're serving booze. "We are in the process of getting the approvals for the kitchen from the Department of Health," says Reuben. "As soon as that issues, we install the equipment, get a final inspection and we're off and running. ... We'll have the kitchen constructed by the end of January, ready for our final inspection." Chef Stalling is a session drummer who happens to also be good with a whisk and a spatula. His menu at present looks something like this:
- Olive Tapenade and Garlic Toast
- Shu Mai Dumplings
- Voodoo Shrimp
- Falafel
- Bacon and Scallops
- Mac and Cheese Croc
- Stuffed Mushrooms
- Spicy Chicken Sliders
- 3-Way Wings
- Hush Puppies with Fries
- Portabella Mushroom Veggie Wrap
- Baklava plate
- Phyllo Fruit Cup
- Tastycake Bread Pudding
- barstool scientist
- Booze
- Brew Revue
- Chef Salad
- Closings
- Coffee
- Contests
- Dealage
- Dirty Dishes
- Don't Front
- Eat This Immediately
- Field Trip
- Food and Art
- Food and Holidays
- Food and Movies
- Food and Music
- Food and Politics
- Food and Sports
- Food and Web
- Food Blogs
- Food Books
- Food Events
- Food News
- Food TV
- Gifted
- Happy Hour Hopper
- How-To
- In Print
- Interview
- Meal Ticket
- Menu Time
- Not So Quickfire
- Notes from the Weekend
- On Wheels
- Openings
- Patio Drinking
- Philly Beer Week 2010
- Photos
- Private Chef POV
- Product Placement
- Recipes
- Snack Time
- Stiff Drank
- SUPPER
- Tea
- Testing
- Ticket Stubs
- Top Chef
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Video
- Weekly Candy
- Weird Regional Foods
- We're Here to Help
- Where'd We Eat?
- Drew Lazor's Ill-Advised Rant Factory
- Pregame
- Ill-Advised Ranting
- The Week Without Meat
- Philly Beer Week 2009
- Real Big
- Where'd I Eat Last Night?
- Top Chef Masters
- The Good Word
- Next Iron Chef
- Arterial Terrorism
- Food and Radio
