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Archive: January, 2013
Last week, in conversation with Scott Schroeder, newly-minted Southwark exec/hot-wife-haver Nick Macri confirmed what we've all long suspected: even though they can't even properly protect their own syrup supply, Canadians think they're better than us.
Now, their relentless imperialist pursuit apparently threatens happy hour as we know it: starting today, the (Canadian) chef at Noir (1909 E. Passyunk Ave.) is busting out a new and "improved" (read: Canada-themed) happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. that replaces our sacred citywide special with a version that's distinctly un-American. You guessed it: $5 for a Molson and a shot of Canadian Club. And they're calling it the O'Canada, which looks Irish to us, but let's not confuse the issue.
Oh, and apps are half-price during those hours, too. What's that you say? There's nothing Canadian about appetizers? Tell that to your price-slashed poutine. And maybe start training yourself to sleep with one eye open, eh?
A new cheese shop, a beef & beer to look forward to, and humorous, tangentially food-related links from Girls to Honey Boo Boo: all on today's Afternoon Snacks!
Mike Klein announced today that hotly anticipated Jersey import, Valley Shepherd Creamery, is set to start doing business at the Reading Terminal Market in a mere two days (that's Wed., Jan. 16). Not that the RTM doesn't have plenty of great cheese options already, but really, there's always plenty of room for fresh-pulled mozzarella and duck fat grilled cheese sandwiches, right? (The Insider's got the full menu, too!)
With flu season in full swing – and a new season of Downton Abbey underway, to boot – a nice warm cuppa doesn’t sound half bad. Studies at Harvard University have shown that consuming five cups of black tea a day quadruples the body’s immune defense system after just two weeks. Green tea, too, will bolster your health. Kick the nasty from the back of your throat with three daily shots of antioxidant-loaded mean green.
The Philadelphian temple of remedial elixir is The Random Tea Room & Curiosity Shop (713 N. 4th St.) A sign bearing a comforting message – think “Come heal yourself” or “Healing herbs inside” – marks the spot.
The team inside will help you choose from forty worldly blends. Danielle Dwyer, holistic health student at the American College of Healthcare Sciences and wife of Pizza Brain’s Brian Dwyer, tells us she’s helped customers with whatever ails them, be it an upset stomach, a headache, or a stuffy nose. "The classic question right now," she says, "Is 'do you have anything that's good for sinuses?'"
Danielle explains the right tea should provide not only immediate relief, but also long-term support to the body’s systems (think digestive and respiratory). We’ll drink to that.
We can imagine what's going through your mind at the mention of "health conscious, rice-less sushi." Doesn't the word sushi refer to the rice? Or maybe: Isn't that just called sashimi? Or if, like us, you stubbornly continue to believe that a dozen hand rolls contain a cumulative calorie count of zero: Oh come on, since when is sushi not a health-conscious choice?!
These are all valid questions, but when it comes right down to it, we're willing to put ourselves in the hands of the sushi chefs at Zama (128 S. 19th St.)—especially when they've come up with something as pretty as the combination shown above. They're including tuna wrapped in daikon radish, snapper wrapped in cucumber, yellowtail wrapped in carrot, bluefin tartar with scallions and watermelon radish, and a quinoa chirashi that's got shiitakes, pickled ginger, tamago, eel, and shrimp. As if you needed something to make that protein shake look even less appealing
View galleryThe Geographical Society of Philadelphia has been opening its doors to world explorers, dedicated travelers and those who love and admire them since 1891. In 1902, Robert E. Peary stopped there to discuss his upcoming jaunt to discover the North Pole. In 2008, coffee man Todd Carmichael looked there for support for his solo expedition to the South Pole.
So did explorer Ernest Shackleton. In 1910, he came to the GSoP to discuss his upcoming adventure in Antarctica. Three years later—on January 16, 1913, he and his competing explorers Roald Amundsen and Robert E. Peary were honored by the GSoP with a dinner at the Bellevue Stratford with a menu including then-gourmet items such as roast guinea fowl in currant jelly and clear green turtle in cup. (Man, what I wouldn’t do for some clear green turtle.) Current GSoP executive director Mary Carroll Donahue dug up the menu and the invitation from the 1913 soiree; this week—on the same date and at the same hotel—the society will honor Shackleton and new-school polar explorer Jon Bowermaster with a conversation amongst explorers, a screening of Bowermaster's award winning film, Terra Antarctica, and a commemorative “chill-centric meal” created by the Society’s executive chef at the Hyatt at the Bellevue’s Rose Garden Room. “It really was a memorable event in the history of the city and our Society,” says Donahue. “It is incredible that here, one hundred years later, we can recreate the dinner in the same room, same place and same date. That first dinner took place in the 'Heroic Age of Polar Exploration.' Things are still pretty heroic, and the Society revels in continuing our historic tradition and making history by presenting Bowermaster who navigated Antarctica in a kayak.”
The old menu—starring Lobster Newburg as its centerpiece, along with the turtle and the guinea fowl—has been updated by the Society’s chef to include a chilly-themed starter, an iceberg lettuce wedge salad (who says explorers have no sense of humor?) with tomato concasse, St. Pete’s blue cheese, and tarragon dressing, and an iceberg-whipped meringue finale of a whipped cream and berry vacherin.
The Polar Explorers Dinner is January 16 at 6 p.m. at the Hyatt at the Bellevue (200 S. Broad St.); tickets are $100. If you’re in no mood to chill but do want to get your explorer chat on, on Thu., Jan. 24, the GSoP will meet for their Marco Polo Travelers Networking Night at Bella Cena Restaurant (1506 Spruce St.) with a four-course dinner ($40). There, you are encouraged to bring photos and share stories with your fellow travelers.
Monday, January 7
Joncarl Lachman shares details on is upcoming New Nordic EPX spot.
Hot Diggity featured on the Travel Channel's encased meats doc Hot Dog Paradise 2.
Tuesday, January 8
Real actors reading Yelp reviews will never stop being funny.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia beer coming soon.
Wednesday, January 9
Menu intel about the February Le Virtu and Brauhaus dinners at the Beard House.
Great Lakes barbecue beer dinner happening at JG Domestic.
Thursday, January 10
Phyllis Stein-Novack's dinner at Ela was flawless.
Friday, January 11
Chef Eli Kulp is hosting a seeds and grains themed chef's table dinner on Wednesday at Fork.
There's going to be a real live viking on hand for the Skull Splitter release party at The P.O.P.E.
Time to dust off the horned helmet from three Halloweens ago. On Thursday, January 24th, The P.O.P.E. (1501 East Passyunk Ave.) is throwing a Viking party to celebrate the U.S. tap release of Skull Splitter, not a porn move but an 8.5% Scotch ale full of raisiny richness and wintry spice. A live Viking will be present for pictures, and there's prizes (Skull Splitter pint glasses and a $50 P.O.P.E. gift card) to the person who Instagrams the most outrageous photo with the hashtag #skullsplitter. In other words, good luck beating us.
Metropolitan Café updates, insane ice cream sandwiches, and a little chili-and-beer competition, all on today's Afternoon Snacks!
Confused about the open-but-not-yet-really-open new Metropolitan Café (264 S. 19th St.)? You’re not alone. As of now it looks like the new concept is still a couple of weeks away, though they have been using the new space in limited capacity (selling coffee and bread) while they were doing some reno work on the existing bakery next door. Come Monday, things will be back to normal at 262 S. 19th St.—and we’ll all have to continue to wait patiently for the sandwiches and fennel pretzels with Victory porter mustard. The official café opening date should come toward the end of this month.
Salty-sweet ice cream concoctions, chili and winter ales, after the jump! »
You've gotta love Serious Eats' Ask a Bartender series because, well, a certain amount of time spent behind the bar means that you've seen some pretty wild things. The latest barkeep tapped by SE is Lindsey Krueger who pours glasses of Muscadet and mixes up Black Walnut Manhattans at Oyster House (1516 Sansom St.) to go along with your Wellfleets and Belons.
Head over to SE to hear about a cava-soaked New Year's Eve, an upcoming banana liqueur experiment and embracing your inner fat kid with hot buttered rum.
This upcoming Wednesday newly three belled Fork (306 Market St.) will be hosting Eli Kulp's premier Chef's Table. The focus of the 10-course meal is seeds and grains and although there was talk of human-sized bird feeders, Kulp has crafted an intriguing menu that showcases everything from flax to kasha, spelt, corn and more. The dinner is $75 a head and includes grains mains like spicy tripe with posole, grilled rice cake with schmaltz and seaweed and farro pasta with octopus ragu.
Seats at the Chef's Table are $75 and dinner starts at 8. To reserve your spot call 215.625.9425.
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