HAPPY HOUR HOPPER at FARMiCiA

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HAPPY HOUR HOPPER at FARMiCiA

POSTED: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 6:49 PM

Filed Under: Booze | Dealage | Happy Hour Hopper

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Happy Hour is a place to vent daily frustrations and unwind, a time to reconnect with friends and coworkers you don't mind seeing beyond the boundaries of Cubicle Land. It's is also the ideal time to score a deal on your favorite gustatives and gulpables. Although my work scenario has me behind a kitchen prep station rather than a desk, I can appreciate HH just the same. For this feature, I'll hop bar by bar to HHs across the area and report back to Meal Ticket every Tuesday. If you've been to this week's featured HH, tell us about it in the comments. I want recommendations for future trips, too! Let's delve into it at FARMiCiA. WHERE YOU AT? A red doorway, wooden window frames, brick walls and red flags waving above assure you that you've made it to FARMiCiA (15 S. Third St.) in Old City. Once inside, however, city life seems far away. Exposed ceilings painted gray and lined with copper tiling, flowers and trees (some artificial), fresh apples garnishing each table and a mounted flowerpot behind an ajar red barn door practically sing âthe hills are alive." Even at the tin FARM bar I feel like I'm in a hacienda, staring at a liquid inventory stashed in carved-out shelving backed by another red barn door. Distressed wood floor panels, dark wooden tables and red leather chairs make it all very farmhouse chic. WHAT'S THE SCENE? I commissioned my mother for this research session even though she admitted to be a bit wary of happy hours. In her mind people would be getting crazy and she'd end up with someone's drink on her blouse. She needn't have worried. A thin crowd was most likely due to the rain, said barkeep extraordinaire Ed Jones. Then a young guy wandered in, and after much indecision, plopped down at the bar with us. A trend I have noticed as of late is babies at the bar. A corporate-clad man came in alone, then shortly after raced out the door and returned with an occupied baby carrier. He later relocated to a table in the dining room with his family and was replaced by two middle-aged couples and another wanderer, this time a woman. A few young, martini-loving girls gathered at a table in the bar area. WHAT'S THE DEAL? Jones told us Happy Hour features half-off any drink and runs Tuesday to Friday from 5 to 7 p.m.; you can snag the same deals at brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. That's any drink whether you like chocolate martinis like Momma D, shots like Momma D's imaginary happy hour regulars or one of the several intriguing infused boozes on hand, like me. As a sucker for spice and Asian flavors, I fell in love with Jones' Thai-kill-ya, tequila spiked with Thai chilies and Kaffir lime leaves hit with lemongrass syrup and a spritz of soda water. This first infusion led naturally to another: enter the Mumbai Fizz, gin infused with coriander, cardamom, bay leaf, mustard seed, allspice (and a few secrets) with a fig puree and soda water. I also tried the St. Germain Cocktail of Champagne, elderflower liqueur and soda water, a sweet concoction in comparison to my other choices.

poncho

Posted 2010-04-27 14:00:34

Does Farmicia offer any deals on food during happy hour?  I've walked by so many times and yet never been in.

Marie DiFeliciantonio

Posted 2010-04-27 14:29:39

Sorry, Ponch (can I call you "Ponch"?), no food specials for happy hour but there is a reasonably priced bar menu. We ordered the cheese platter with chutney, toasted baguette slices and three cheeses (feta, smoked goat and cheddar) - a delicious and filling snack. I think it was about $11. You should stop in next time!

Tweets that mention HAPPY HOUR HOPPER at FARMiCiA :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper -- Topsy.com

Posted 2010-04-28 06:26:13

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by MarieDiFeliciantonio, Meal Ticket. Meal Ticket said: It's Tuesday — Happy Hour Hopper time! This week @luckyporkchops (and Momma Porkchops too!) hang at Farmicia: http://bit.ly/dmWJHN [...]

poncho

Posted 2010-04-28 13:13:27

Of course you can call me "ponch", I'm totes easy-going!  I heart cheese so I will def stop in soon.  Thanks Happy Hour Hopper!

HAPPY HOUR HOPPER: Chifa :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-05-18 16:06:09

[...] bag, there's beer and wine on the menu, as well (Garces enjoyed a glass of white). I like it hot (see HHH: Farmicia) so I had a couple Spicy Margaritas ($6) with Thai chili garnish. We also sipped on the Lychee [...]

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