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Archive: April, 2012
Gene Giuffi of Cochon (801 E. Passyunk Ave.), perhaps the most meat-loving chef in all of Philly, is doubling down on his torrid affair of the flesh with Blue Belly BBQ, a "yankee" 'cue joint he's hoping to open in June in the original Little Fish at Sixth and Catharine (above), a space briefly earmarked for a Thai restaurant from chef Tyson Wong Ophaso.
In early March we had a tidbit about a Crepe Town location coming to the Community College of Philadelphia's campus, in a space also designed to house "exciting Philadelphia-originated and well-known menu options." If this tipster's photo of the space is any indication, it's looking like Bain's Deli, which has several holdings in the area (hi Keith Primeau!), will share real estate with the American creperie. One-stop shopping for corned-beef specials and BBQ chicken crepe action. That sounds alright!
A Meal Ticket tipster passed along word/pic that a Mediterranean restaurant called Divan was moving into the old Shouk space at 622 S. Sixth, hopeful that it was a 2.0 version of the G-Ho restaurant Ilker Ugur recently closed at 22nd and Carpenter. (That space is currently in the process of becoming SoWe.) Ugur, however, has confirmed that the identical name is just a coincidence and he is not involved with the new space. (Same font, though...) This Divan is owned by a dude named Kenny Dongal and should be opening next week. Keep you posted.
Art in the Age, the nattily attired makers of ROOT, SNAP and RHUBY, are in snacky cahoots with the ever-popular Federal Donuts (1219 S. Second St.), joining forces to create three donuts inspired by the boutique Pennsylvania liqueurs. While the 'nuts themselves do not have alcohol in them, the flavor profiles have inspired some sugary innovation (L-R) — a "root beer float" with vanilla ice cream icing; "gingersnap cookie," with a ginger glaze and snappy cookie crumb; and "strawberry rhubarb pie," rhubarb-glazed and hooked up with pie-crust crumble (!) and strawberry icing. Available from Friday, April 20 [stoner joke!] until Sunday, April 29, the AiTA donuts will be distributed just like Fed's "fancies," available for $2 a pop daily from 7 a.m. till they're all gone.
Photo: Drew Lazor
Chauncey Scates at Tapestry (700 S. Fifth St.) is rolling out a new spring-friendly cocktail menu. Along with the mainstays that have been on point from go (Sazeracs, Sidecars, Negronis, proper Daiquiris), she's introduced a number of new-to-Tapestry drinks, like the daiquiri variation Hotel Nacional, rum, Marie Brizzard apry, pineapple and lime; or the gangster-y Bensonhurst, with rye, dry vermouth, Cynar and maraschino liqueur. Full menu's after the jump (click to enlarge). Tapestry still has the distinction of having one of the best-priced cocktail lists in town, with per-drink damage maxing out at $11.
Mexico meets the Middle East at La Calaca Feliz (2324 Fairmount Ave.) from April 6 to 13. Chef/co-owner Tim Spinner wanted to offer a Passover menu with a Mexican feel (matzo ball soup with red chile!). Though it's not kosher, the four-course meal meets practically every other dietary requirement of the Pesach celebration — Spinner got creative with the constrictions, e.g. using malanga and lettuce for the tostadas and taco shells to avoid serving leavened bread. The Passover prix-fixe is $30 per person, and will also be offered at Spinner's Fort Washington restaurant, Cantina Feliz (424 S. Bethlehem Pike).
Pick up this week's CP for Adam Erace's review of La Calaca Feliz.
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.)
The beer garden/tiki bar deal from the owners of The Farmers' Cabinet (1113 Walnut St.) may be off, but they're still intent on expanding their brand. They just debuted a new place, The Boilermaker, right around the corner from F-Cab in the space once occupied by Blue Bear Tavern (216 S. 11th St.). Chef Steve Forte plans on keeping the classic comfort food-inspired menu affordable and simple — think cornbread and double cheeseburgers. (The kitchen stays open until 1:30 a.m., too.) The edible offerings, however, are modest in comparison to the one-and-half pages (PDF) of draft beers, bottles, cocktails and (yes) boilermakers, old work-a-day slang for a beer and a shot.
Kevin Sbraga, who we reviewed in the winter, is easing into spring. From Monday, April 23 to Thursday, April 26, the Top Chef winner will be previewing his new warm(er)-weather menu items at five-course chef counter tastings at his restaurant, Sbraga (440 S. Broad St.). Think parsley risotto with snails, chanterelles and sorrel; branzino en croute with charcoal oil, spring garlic soup and grapes; and a Thai take on chicken and dumplings with green curry sauce and coconut rice foam. The preview tasting is $55, and with seating for only six at the chef's counter, reservations are highly suggested. Two seatings, 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Get on it.
Photo: Jason Varney
Last Friday, XFINITY Live!, Comcast's indoor/outdoor entertainment district on the site of the demolished Spectrum, cracked its first beers. The sprawling complex features five distinct eating/drinking venues, plus the Philly Marketplace, which features stands from Nick's Roast Beef and Chickie's & Pete's. The main concepts range in price point and casualness, from the HD orgy NBC Sports Arena to the classy Spectrum Grill. Here at Meal Ticket, the Victory Beer Hall (pictured) piques our interest most, with its 2000-square foot patio, fire pits and Bavarian pretzels, but in the interest of fairness, we've vetted each XFINITY Live! menu so you don't have to. Here's the meal we'd order at each.
- 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
