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Archive: June, 2012
"It's like where an urban skateboard kid in France would want to hang out." That's how Mahari Bailey describes his concept for Cafe Rue 52, the creperie and espresso bar he's opening at 503 S. 52nd St. There will be various kinds of Frenchified coffee and espresso drinks, and crepes of both the sweet and savory kinds. "We created a nice, modern, urban interior," says Bailey, a lawyer who's never been in the restaurant business before. But for Rue 52 he enlisted the perfect partner: Jean-Luc Fanny of Cafe L'Aube (1631 Wallace St.). Cafe Rue 52's opening date is in the fickle hands of the city's health department, but keep an eye on its website. Right now it's just a shell of a website, but info surely will be coming.
View gallery“Honest eating, growing local: that’s what Honeygrow stands for,” said Justin Rosenberg when he sat down recently to discuss his first-ever restaurant on 16th off Sansom. “I wanted something simple in every way.”
The young guy with the realty-management background (he worked around the corner from where Honeygrow stands) was methodical in planning what he wanted his restaurant to be. He liked the idea of hands-off technology, something like a Wawa only with healthy food and thoughtful décor. And no hoagies. So after bugging “about 93 of my personal friends” Rosenberg got his way and decided to apply touch-screen techno-tronics and linear design concepts to a simple menu: just salads, smoothies and stirfrys, the latter done with canola oil for its happy lack of calorie and fat content.
Pizza and cigarettes is good way to sum up the culinary scene around Sixth and Oregon, in the legpit of Deep South Philly. So it’s not exactly where you’d expect to find El Costeñito, a month-old ultra-causal BYOB specializing in the cuisines of the Latin Caribbean and the Central American coast. The name translates to “young boy from the coast.” Meal Ticket has a call in to learn exactly who that boy is, but we were so stoked at the possibility of legit mofongo, juicy pernil, banana batidos and Salvadoran pupusas with crackly pork skin (a short sample of the large menu), we couldn’t wait to share the find. El Costeñito is open Mon. through Sat., 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. for eat in, take out and local delivery. Full menu available on their spiffy website. They’ve also got a Facebook and a Yelp page set up. This boy knows his stuff. Here’s hoping he knows his pupusas, too.
In the coming weeks, Reading Terminal Market (12th and Arch streets) will unveil the fruits of its long-awaited construction. The new locations of DiNic's, Spataro's Cheesesteaks and Flying Monkey Bakery are now up and running, and new vendors The Head Nut, The Tubby Olive, Valley Shepherd Creamery and Wursthaus Schmitz are coming soon. Next week, Reading Terminal will be hosting a series of events to celebrate its new digs, kicking off with the Renovation Project Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Monday, June 18, at 10 a.m. See the Market's website for more information and full list of the week's proceedings.
On Tuesday night at the farthest end of the Urban Outfitters complex, the seventh-annual Vetri Foundation for Children and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Great Chefs Event welcomed a sell-out crowd of 1,200 attendees and raised more than $1 million courtesy of ticket sales, sponsorships, donations and auction items. The last one included a multi-day gastro tour for six of Piemonte, Italy, with Jeff Michaud and Marc Vetri that sold for $35,000 and a meal for six with Shake Shack owners Danny Meyer and David Swinghamer that sold for $19,000 to two separate bidders. If that’s what it takes to get through Shake Shack’s long lines, so be it.
Over the bridge, Ralic’s Steakhouse (26 S. Haddon Ave., 856-616-1520) in Haddonfield “Unveils Menu Designed for Obese Diners,” exclaims a less-than-tactfully-worded release that recently found its way to our inbox. If you’re thinking the concept sounds a little ... slimy, you should know this not some exploitative marketing ploy. “I had [weight-loss] surgery on May 1, and I noticed there’s no menu for people like me,” says owner David Ralic, who’s dropped 40 pounds since the procedure. The special menu, designed in collaboration with a local bariatric nutritionist, features portions in 1 to 4 ounces, sugar-free desserts and complimentary unsweetened iced tea. Check it out after the jump.
There’s a song from A Tribe Called Quest where its protagonist talks about the new school learning from the old school — when “I used to have clout and I used to have a pager.” Now, an old-school DJ can get his mojo going with a whisk, a ladle or an espresso machine. That’s what Jugo Stevcic did when he opened his Café Chismosa (900 N. Fourth St., 609-257-7153) in the old Almanac Market space. Stevcic was once better known as DJ Jugo of Magnetic Mondays and Grass Saturdays at Silk City. He was also a one-time manager of Cue Records on Fourth Street and an over-all promoter of all things grooving.
He took some time off from spinning locally to spinning around the globe — professionally and personally. “After six years in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and two years of figuring things out here in Philly, I decided to open a cafe in Northern Liberties,” says Jugo of Chismosa, where locals looking for a Latin-inspired fare will find Stevcic and his staff serving ceviches, tortas, quecas (quesadillas), avocado salads, home-made salsas and “the freshest guacamole in the hood.” Along with serving hot local roasts from One Village Coffee, cool drinks like coconut Cubano and all levels of Mexican sodas, early risers from 8 a.m. on can enjoy spinach, egg and cheese sandwiches served on fresh foccaccia bread, seasonal scones and other morning goodies. Thankfully Stevcic hasn’t left his musical past too far behind. Customers can "listen to an LP from my extensive record collection" while chowing down or using the cafe's free WiFi, he notes. Such a host.
photo by Lindsay Moyer
Arrivaderci, Rocchino and Azione (239-241 Chestnut), we barely knew ye. Gordon Dinerman and Rob LaScala have reintroduced the side-by-side spaces as Barra, an uptown sibling to Dinerman's Birra pizzeria on Passyunk. Expect coal-oven pies, scampi-style prawns, black-pepper fettuccine carbonara and other twisted Italian standards from chef Andrew Fox, who will split his time between Old City and South Philly. The restaurant will serve till 1 a.m. nightly, and Dinerman and LaScala are promising "progressive lighting and top DJs" Thursday through Sunday. Looks like a return to the Paradigm days for 241 Chestnut. Makes us want to order an espresso martini and fire up a Parliament.
On Thurs., June 28, from 6 to 10 p.m., the Food Trust hosts its second Night Market of the year (they're taking over Washington Avenue), and they've just announced a new last-minute addition: ?uestlove. Don't get too excited; the Roots frontman won't be there in the flesh, but in spirit he'll be hosting the ?uest Loves Food Pop-Up, a tented VIP lounge with ?uest's famous fried chicken, Yards beers, Philadelphia Distilling cocktails and local art curated by With Art Philadelphia. While the Night Market is free to the public, the pop-up is a ticketed jawn, so reserve yours early. Book the $55 pass for admission, open food, etc., or if you're feeling generous, the $75 one, which includes a donation to the Food Trust/Night Market and gets you some cool swag. Check nightmarketphilly.org for all details.
Recently diagnosed with a congenital heart valve defect, 35-year-old Aaron Weber, beloved bartender at Race Street Cafe (208 Race St., 215-627-6181) underwent a valve replacement and bypass surgery last month. The operation was a success, but Weber's recovery has a dark cloud hanging over it: the hospital bill; without medical insurance and unable to work for several months, it's looming ominously. His coworkers are Race Street have organized Get Your Heart on for Aaron, a benefit for Sat., June 23, from noon to 4 p.m. For $25, you get beer, snacks and local musicians. All money raised goes directly to Weber. You can also make donations via their Facebook event page. We wish Race Street success with the event, and Weber a speedy recovery.
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