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Food News
Adriana's Pizza, three-time gold-medal winner of the South Philly Review's annual Pizzalympics, is moving from its Pennsport digs. The pizzeria is currently closed for vacation (hopefully not at the Shore) and will reopen at its new location on Sept. 6. Where you ask? Not far. The slice-slinging operation is heading just nine blocks west to 1703 S. 11th Street, former home of perpetually empty paesan’ hang Family and Friends Cafe (above).
Earlier this month, we told you about chef Jason Goodman waving goodbye to his gig at Parc (227 S. 18th St.) to become head chef at The Farmers' Cabinet (1113 Walnut St.). Today is his last day at the Rittenhouse brasserie; starting next week, Goodman will familiarize himself with the new digs and prepare F-Cab's first-ever lunch and freshened dinner menus, both of which will debut in time for Restaurant Week. Goodman will combine the restaurant's American farmhouse feel with honed French technique to conceive a menu with a "whole-chop, bone-in" rusticity, big on braises and confits. What's getting his juices flowing? Ribs — buffalo short ribs and St. Louis style, to be more specific. "They don't do that a lot around here," he says.
Joey Vento, of Geno's fame and infamy, suffered a fatal heart attack last night at the age of 71. Outside Philadelphia, Vento is probably best-known not for his glowing Passyunk steak shop but for the small piece of paper he hung in its window in 2006. It asked customers to order in English, provoking the ire of some and the applause of others — a controversy that eclipses hundreds of thousands of dollars in charitable donations. Tourists visiting the neon temple of cheesesteakery today will be greeted with one extra addition to the everyday throngs: a life-size cutout of Vento. Never one to shy away from spectacle, the man would probably be very pleased.
For more on Vento's passing, see the Naked City blog.
Cheers to the Meal Ticket tipster who passes along word that Garces Trading Co. (1111 Locust St.) shut down for renovations yesterday. The plan is for them to reopen Thursday (whether they'll open for lunch or wait till dinner is TBD). They're moving the dessert and coffee counters, now located in the rear of the space, to the same area that houses GTC's cheese and charcuterie cases. That'll make room for additional high-top seating in the back, a section that will be reserved for walk-ins with no reservations. Once they reopen, they'll expand their pastry offerings, too, selling seasonal pies and cakes for special occasions.
Gee wilikers, Philadelphia! Did you feel that earthquake? At first I thought it was my washing machine shaking my entire (poorly built) home.
As I sit here, reflecting on the utter lack of destruction and whether or not I would have frantically run around the apartment to save my cats if I knew what was really going on, I'm finishing my lunch. I realize now that when I tell the story of my first earthquake, it will include eating. Obviously this is a sign from the gods that I should never stop eating.
I was eating two spelt ThinCakes with tuna and white bean salad, homemade spicy fridge pickles, and Apple Tree Goat Farm feta cheese with a Gatorade bottle full of lukewarm water.
What were you eating during the earthquake? Prior to being evacuated from your office building in Center City or running, arms flailing, into the street? A friend of mine sent me this one via Twitter: "I just got off the phone with grandmom. She was in Shop-Rite in the macaroni aisle. The macaroni boxes fell on top of her."
Anyone else craving an Oreo Brownie Earthquake from Dairy Queen?
Bindi (105 S. 13th St.), the new-style Indian BYOB Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran opened along their 13th Street fiefdom in late 2007, applied for a liquor license earlier this summer. But simply adding alcohol to the modern Bombay fray was never the plan — the duo will soon reconceptualize it into Jamonera, a wine bar inspired by their many travels through Spain. (That wanderlust was also, in part, the inspiration for Barbuzzo.) They'll redesign the space, constructing a bar that'll add room for 10 to 12 in addition to Bindi's existing capacity; expect draft beers, plus Spanish-speaking food, wine and cocktail programs. Fall opening. More soon.
Gatsby doesn't typically ride through Center City, but he can be found with Danielle Jowdy (above) at farmers markets in Jenkinstown, Media, Skippack and the Navy Yard. No, we’re not talking about Fitzgerald's mystery man — Gatsby is the nickname of Jowdy's light blue truck that doubles as home for Zsa's Gourmet Ice Cream. Peanut butter, lavender honey and chocolate truffle are but a few of the ice cream flavors she churns; Jowdy sources local ingredients and makes all her sauces from scratch. Even more tempting: She whips up homemade ice cream sandwiches (vanilla with cinnamon chocolate chip oatmeal cookies; peanut butter with double chocolate chip cookies).
Though it's definitely in the works, Jowdy's still in the process of branching out into Center City and doesn’t have an exact date of when this will happen, but she does tell me to be on the lookout for Zsa’s at the next Food Trust Night Market, scheduled for Oct. 6. Until then, someone please take me to Media? I'll buy you ice cream.
Photo: Zsa's on Facebook
We all tend to roll our eyes when out-of-towners ask for directions to the South Philly cheesesteak joints to get a so-called "real taste" of Philly. From now on I'll point them in the direction of Meal Ticket's own Drew Lazor, who's written a "City Dozen" — aka a piece highlighting 12 of his favorite Philadelphia-based spots — for Saveur.com.
That's not to say that a cheesesteak can’t hit the spot after a night of heavy drinking, but we all know Philly has a dining culture that eludes many outsiders — thankfully this piece highlights local gems like Mémé, Café Estelle, Tai Lake, Krakus Market, Café Lutécia and more. Hopefully it'll help the rest of the country see why we take such pride in our city. Check out Drew's favorite digs and sigh in relief that yes, Philadelphians definitely know how to eat!
RHUBY, the organic rhubarb-based Art in the Age spirit we first mentioned in July, will begin appearing on Pennsylvania state stores this week. Not sure on an exact day — these things often roll out in stagger-step — but keep your artisanal liquor-lovin' eyes peeled. In the meantime, scout out AITA on Facebook. They're firing off some preemptive fan-created RHUBY cocktail recipes, including this dope-sounding mix-up of the spirit with Fever Tree tonic and Bitter Truth lemon bitters. (Look at the color of the stuff!)
Photo: basilandco.tumblr.com via AITA on Facebook
Late last week we mentioned a big round of changes and renovations going down at Center City gay-bar institution Woody's (202 S. 13th St.). Now we hear that the new first-floor bar is set to open on Wednesday or Thursday of next week. After the jump, take a peek at what'll be on the new 32-beer, craft-influenced tap list. Did you ever fathom that you'd be able to catch fresh pints of Southern Tier, Dark Horse, Founders or Russian River at Woody's?
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