Chef change at Le Virtù

The Web site for the award-winning alternative weekly, the Philadelphia City Paper.

options

Chef change at Le Virtù

POSTED: Wednesday, September 8, 2010, 11:24 PM

Filed Under: Chef Salad | Food News

Photo | Adam Erace

Le Virtù's lemon tagliolini with prosciutto

Its been a busy summer for Francis Cratil Cretarola and Cathy Lee, sweetheart owners of South Philly cucina Le Virt ù (1927 E. Passyunk Ave.). In the past month, they won a Best of Philly award for their ethereal pastas; premiered their year-in-the-making Il Campo beer garden; and parted ways with opening chef Luciana Spurio a mutual break-up, according to Cretarola. Meal Ticket brings you the first word on her replacement, Joe Cicala. Cicala is a 27-year-old Maryland boy Lazor likes him already whos done time at Del Posto in New York, Galileo in D.C. and the Michelin-starred Ristorante al Cenacolo in Salerno, Italy. "I'm excited to be here," he says of our fair town. "All the natural resources nearby ... it's a chefs dream." Cicala is of Sicilian descent, and while this might mean bloodshed in the old country, hell retain Le Virtùs Abruzzese focus while introducing his own recipes, like quail stuffed with house-made pork sausage, porchetta-style rabbit and smoked potato gnocchi (!!!!!!) layered with braised lamb ragu. New menus will be rolling out officially next week well have them then or make rezzies for Mon., Sept. 27, when Cicala plates up four courses paired with Duvel and Ommegang beers for $65 a head (menu below). Warm chocolate budino with mascarpone gelato and sour cherry purees already got us drooling.

Antipasto

Duvel-marinated swordfish ceviche with fennel, oranges, red onion and arugula

with Duvel Golden Ale

Primo

House-made tagliatelle pasta with Rare Vos-steamed mussels and Muffata sheeps milk cheese from Abruzzo

with Ommegang Rare Vos Amber

Secondo

Ommegang Abbery Ale-braised short rib, creamy polenta and root vegetables

with Ommegang Abbel Ale Dubbel

Dolce

Warm chocolate budino with marscarpone gelato and sour cherry puree

with Ommegang Three Philosophers Quadrupel Ale

lorraine

Posted 2010-11-05 12:06:24

My husband and I were able to tell the chefs had changed, even before the change was announced. The food had gone downhill. The dish above used to be one of my favorites when the former chef was there...the fried rolls were terrible. I wish I knew where the former chef went!

Southron

Posted 2010-09-08 22:24:14

Sounds like he's got good credentials, but I go to Osteria way more than Le Virtu these days. Better food, better service.

David Mancini

Posted 2010-09-10 10:10:47

I am looking forward to the new menu and experiencing Chef Cicala's cuisine.  I was introduced to Le Virtu recently by my family (roots in Marche) and was delighted to find authentic regional cuisine in my home town.  What a treat! The service and hospitality made it feel like coming home again.  I gladly make the trip from Manhattan to Philly anytime to dine at Le Virtu. Chef Cicala can only add to what makes Le Virtu special.

VIDEO: Le Virtu chef Joe Cicala’s smoked potato gnocchi :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-10-06 15:05:45

[...] this clip of chef Joe Cicala (Adam Erace told you about him here) rocking a smoked potato gnocchi with lamb ragu at Le Virtù (1927 E. Passyunk Ave.). That kitchen [...]

JIM LIBERATORE

Posted 2010-10-04 12:32:07

WHERE DID LUCIANA SPURIO GO ?

Chuck Shotton

Posted 2010-09-09 07:48:05

Philly is incredibly lucky to have Chef Cicala in town. We enjoyed many months of his creative talents, attention to detail, and wonderful food while dining at Palio in Leesburg, VA. Our town's loss is certainly Le Virtu's gain. We are already planning the next road trip for dinner. In the meantime, definitely check out the charcuterie (Joe makes some awesome stuff!) and the budino is not to be missed (warm chocolate, a drizzle of EVO, and some sea salt make an incredible combination.)  Buona fortuna a tutti!

Posted by Adam Erace @ 11:24 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Comments (0)

First Gigs: Jeff Ziga, Little Baby's Ice Cream
If you don't know Nutella is bad for you and your kids, then you are a total idiot and a bad parent.
An edible guide to Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival
Notes from the Weekend: May 20
Hell's Kitchen casting in Philly
Frozen Drinks Alert: Water ice cocktails at Noir
Bummer: Grub Street Philly shutting down
Spike TV's "Bar Rescue" turns Swanky Bubbles into Sheer
Afternoon Snacks: Rachael & Guy do improv, Bacon hot dogs, Seasonal cocktails both posh and... less-so
Now Serving: Jerry's Bar

About this blog

Founded in October 2008, Meal Ticket is a City Paper blog about food, drink and assorted other things that make you go mmm. We do recipes, interviews, restaurant news, commentary and much more. We don't do restaurant reviews here — those are handled in print, mostly by our critic (and Meal Ticket contributor) Adam Erace. Got a tip, question, thought or concern? Just want to say hello? Please shoot a note to caroline@citypaper.net.

Follow team Meal Ticket on Twitter:

@mealticket | @carolinerussock | @adamerace

Search this blog:

Topics:

Blog archives:

May
April
March

February
January