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Archive: April, 2012
Last September we mentioned that Wingstop, the national chicken chain pitchmanned by Troy Aikman (booooooo), was targeting the Philly market heavily. Now comes word from the company that Philly franchisee Richard Johnson has signed up to open eight Wingstops in the area. Right now he's scouting in Roxborough, Wyncote and the Northeast for locations (there's already one at Temple). So what motivated Johnson, a prolific McDonald's franchisee, to run with Wingstop? One of Team Meal Ticket's favorite rappers, of course:
Johnson first heard about Wingstop on the radio while driving around Philadelphia with his youngest son, Tristan.
"My son and I were in the car, listening to the radio, and we heard a DJ talking about Rick Ross opening a Wingstop franchise in Memphis,” he remembers. “My son said 'Dad, if Rick Ross has a Wingstop, you need one, too.'"
FUCK A BLOG DOG CUZ ONE DAY WE GON MEET!
- Adam Erace reviews Russet, the new BYO from husband/wife chef team Andrew and Kristin Wood. He leaves impressed with the couple's thoughtful seasonal sourcing and cooking, from his gorgeous stinging nettle chittara (pictured) to her salted caramel sundae with local (!) bananas.
- In Feeding Frenzy: Square Peg, Blue Belly BBQ, expanded hours for Nom Nom Ramen, the return of Ortlieb's and a new Divan.
- In Icepack: A.D. Amorosi drops food-scene rumors on Jennifer Carroll's movements (scoping a space on Chestnut?), a potential new partner for bartending couple Phoebe Esmon and Christian Gaal and more.
Photo: Neal Santos
View galleryGarces Group has decided to turn its westward charge eastward — Jose and Co. are opening three new restaurants in Atlantic City. Located in Revel, the newly built casino on the AC boardwalk that already houses a bunch of restaurants, Garces' Jersey expansion includes new locations of Amada, Village Whiskey and Distrito.
Perhaps you've heard? IT'S RAMP SEASON! Cue the cheers (from lovers of the wild onion's garlicky flavor) and jeers (from jaded "foodies" and preservationists who insist foragers are committing allium genocide across the country). Should you fall into the latter category, I suggest you stop reading, because I'm about to drop word on one of the most delicious ways to execute some rampage.
Notes from the Weekend is a feature that sees the members of Team Meal Ticket compiling all the food/drink highlights uncovered during prime eatin' time, Friday to Sunday. Consider this a place for good deals, great dishes, wicked cocktails, recipe triumphs (and tragedies), bizarro conversations and more. We're eager to share our notes, but especially excited to read yours.We encourage you to leave notes from YOUR weekend in the comments. Have at it! (View past NFTW installments at citypaper.net/notes.)
Johnny Utah's, the mechanical bull-centric concept popular with urban cowboys in NYC, is coming to Philly, taking over the space most recently held by Buckhead Saloon (461 N. Third St.). The grand opening is set for April 26 and it looks like they're in the thick of hiring shot girls and waitstaff right now. What's being overlooked here, at least in our view: Johnny Utah happens to be the name of the greatest Big 10 quarterback-turned-fed in cinematic history. And we also happen to already have a coffee shop called Bodhi (410 S. Second St.). Ahhhhhhh! It begs the question: Will the Philly JU's serve a meatball sandwich? (Nothing on the New York menu.) If so, we're definitely getting two. Vaya con dios.
- The soft-open Nom Nom Ramen (20 S. 18th St.) has eased its way into regular operating hours that include lunch. Get yourself some shoyu or shio weekdays from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dinner hours are 5 to 9 Monday to Thursday and Sunday and 5 to 10 on Friday and Saturay.
- Last Thursday marked the start of lunch at Matt Levin's Square Peg (929 Walnut St.). They're doing a slightly modified version of the dinner menu (view it here) Monday to Friay from 11 to 3.
- Last week also saw the debut of lunch service at Tapestry (700 S. Fifth St.). Here's their menu (PDF) — the Queen Village restaurant now serves straight through every day, with lunch frmo 11:30 to 5 and dinner from 5 to 1:30 in the morning.
Photo: Drew Lazor
Marc Vetri's Alla Spina (1410 Mt. Vernon St.) is getting all curatorial with their draft list this week, hooking up 10-plus beers in the saison style because it's spring and why the hell not. Beverage manager Steve Wildy, who was also responsible for putting Negronis on tap here, has successfully collected farmhouse-ish kegs from all over — America, Italy, Scandinavia — making for a lineup bolstered by stuff you don't often find on tap in Philly. A preview of what's getting tapped is below; they'll run "The Saisonale 2012" through this Sunday, April 15.
- Lost Abbey, Carnevale
- Dogfish Head, Noble Rot
- Brasserie Dupont, Saison Dupont
- Yards, Saison
- Sixpoint, Harbinger
- Del Ducato, Nuova Mattina
- Piccolo, Seson
- Jendrain, V Cense
- Allagash Mimh
- Brooklyn Sorachi Ace
- Stillwater, As Follows
- L'Olmaia Karkade
- Evil Twin, Ron & the Beast Ryan
- Allagash, Mimh
Photo: Courtesy of Alla Spina
Just a heads up that posting will sporadic between today and Tuesday, April 10. Heading down to Jackson, Mississippi for a few. We'll miss ya, talk to you soon. In the meantime, please enjoy this sonorous selection from Jackson native David Banner. Stuntin' is a habit.
It was back in January that we first told you about Bodhi Coffee/Federal Donuts dude Bobby Logue's plans to institute a new Friday-night market in Headhouse Square focused more on hand-crafted goods than locally grown foods (leave that to The Food Trust on Sundays). Said new market — which is actually called The New Market, properly — will make its debut on May 11. A showcase for locally based artisans and purveyors, The New Market will be built around a rotating roster of vendors hawking goods and offering expertise in areas that include lighting, furniture, composting, framing and biking, as well as a lineup of local food producers. (The website will soon boast a full list of participants.) There will be live classical music starting at 7:30 p.m. (the market goes from 3 to 9), and surrounding bars, restaurants and businesses have plans to open their doors onto the street to contribute to the convivial atmosphere. If you're interested in becoming a vendor, email info@newmarketphiladelphia.com.
Photo: Drew Lazor
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