Thursday, November 1, 2012

Looks like there’s a new addition to the Fishtown sweets scene. Sugar Hook Confections is taking over the old Music Box Cafe at 308 East Girard Avenue. The bakery/coffee shop is the brain child of pastry chef Emma Stohrer who will be baking custom cakes, pies and cupcakes beginning November 15th. A perusal of her cake catalogue shows that Ms. Stohrer knows her way around fondant with all sorts of whimsical designs as well as some elegant classics. And if rolling out lattice crusted pies isn’t on your Thanksgiving agenda, Sugar Hook is now taking orders for T-day desserts including caramel apple crumble, chocolate bourbon pecan and vegan as well as gluten-free pumpkin. 

Posted by Caroline Russock @ 4:55 PM 
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Thursday, November 1, 2012

On today’s Afternoon Snacks, we’ve got apple-centered revelry in Bucks County, a look at the bar at Redwood, and a whole month of local liquor appreciation.

If an apple festival in a charming, old-timey setting sounds good to you, well then we guess that makes you a thinking, feeling human being made of flesh and blood. And happily for all of us with hearts not made of stone, Peddler’s Village in Lahaska is having an apple festival this very weekend. On both Saturday and Sunday (Nov. 3 and 4), you can visit the quaint shopping district and go apple-crazy from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sample apples, buy them by the bushel, eat your way through heaps of apple fritters, apple butter, and caramel apples, bid on arts and crafts that may or may not be apple-related but are definitely handcrafted by local artists and artisans, and (if pictures of previous years are any indication) watch guys in festive costume juggle apples. And oh, NBD, but there’s a pie-eating contest, too. For more details, check it out here; admission and parking are both free.

Posted by Carly Szkaradnik @ 3:47 PM 
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Thursday, November 1, 2012

Not to play favorites but the highlight of Meal Ticket’s week, food-internet-wise has to be Zach Brooks’ weekly Food is the New Rock podcast. Every week Brooks and co-host Chuck P get together with awesome bands and food personalities and talk two subjects near and dear to our collective hearts: eating and music. Past episodes have included everyone from Das Racist, OFF! and Action Bronson to David Chang and Peter Meehan of Lucky Peach and Momofuku fame, and they’re all awesome.

This week our own Jose Garces is on the podcast and it’s a good one. As if Philadelphia’s own Iron Chef wasn’t likable enough already, he earns even more points by confessing his high school love for The Cure and New Order, a soft spot for Neil Young when he’s feeling down and ragging on Marcus Samuelsson. Plus there’s some insider info about a possible new Garces spot opening in L.A. Give it a listen over at Food is the New Rock.

Posted by Caroline Russock @ 2:28 PM 
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Thursday, November 1, 2012

This week South Philly Review restaurant reviewer Phyllis Stein-Novack heads down to Pennsport to check out The Industry (1401 East Moyamensing Ave.) While perusing the pages of the latest Zagat guide she discovered the Moyamensing Avenue spot and was immediately drawn to the brandade and sweetbreads on the menu. With husband Edward in tow she headed down and enjoyed her experience with just a few caveats.

Martinis and Rob Roys were expertly mixed but PSN found the buffalo sweetbreads to be a tad salty and the (we’re adding more grains to our diet) grain salad to be underseasoned even with the addition of ricotta salata.

As predicted the brandade was the highlight of the meal with spot-on seasoning and generous portion size. The crisp skinned arctic char was seared beautifully and reminiscent of salmon and donut holes rounded out the meal.

Accommodating service and a ear pleasing decibel level in the dining room were contributing factors to PSN awarding The Industry three tips of the toque.

 

Posted by Caroline Russock @ 1:27 PM 
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Thursday, November 1, 2012

Well, if you’re thinking about getting shaved at a bar, it must be Movember 1st. We hope, anyway. But if you’re going to eschew shaving your upper lip for the next 30 days for a good cause, the way to do it is definitely with an Art of Shaving razor shave and a little carousing—thankfully, the folks at Frankford Hall (1210 Frankford Ave.) have got you covered on both fronts.

Free shaves for Movember participants are on offer tonight from 6 to 8 p.m., but the happy hour specials continue all night. That means food specials, as well as $10 liter drafts and $5 half-liters. And since the whole point of Movember is to raise awareness for men’s health issues like prostate and testicular cancer, there will be some giveaways to further encourage guys to get involved: the first 25 registrants get one of the Hall’s giant soft pretzels for free, and everyone else who registers on-site gets entered into a raffle for one of three $100 gift cards to Starr restaurants.

Not that you need any more motivation, but on the “it can’t hurt” tip, some local icons will be attending the party: former Phil Tommy Greene, Temple coach Fran Dunphy, Top Chef Kevin Sbraga, and of course, the Phillie Phanatic himself. So even if you’re a little reluctant to wear a ‘stache (like some of our favorite chefs), at least you’ll know you’re in great company.

Posted by Carly Szkaradnik @ 11:51 AM 
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Thursday, November 1, 2012

We’re big kimchi fans here at Meal Ticket but unfortunately limited backyard space means that aging our own spicy cabbage underground isn’t really an option. Lucky for us (and all of the other kimchi lovers out there) fermenter extraordinaire Amanda Feifer is teaching a Countertop Kimchi Class on Sunday, November 4th at 11 a.m. at Indy Hall (20 N. 3rd St.) $5 gets you in on all of the basics of urban kimchi-making plus all of the necessary ingredients for making a jar of your very own to take home and age to funky perfection. For more info and to reserve your spot at the kimchi counter email Amanda

Posted by Caroline Russock @ 10:40 AM 
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Wednesday, October 31, 2012

On today’s Afternoon Snacks: Day of the Dead tequila tasting, free booze on South St., boozy jack-o’-lanterns, and where to score one Halloween must-have.

While Halloween might be just about to wrap up, there’s still plenty of Day of the Dead fun to look forward to. At Distrito (3945 Chestnut St.), the annual Día de los Muertos celebration is tequila-fueled, as always. This Fri., Nov. 2, they’re offering happy hour specials all night long, from 5 p.m. to close. Drink specials include $3 cans of Corona and $7 tequila flights highlighting Cuervo 1800. You can also snag a deal on chicken or steak alambres, gambas a la Mexicana (featuring—what else?—tequila!), or chicken mole poblano tamales. (If you find yourself craving those tamales afterward, you’re in luck: the recipe can be found in Jose Garces’ latest cookbook.)

Posted by Carly Szkaradnik @ 4:11 PM 
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Wednesday, October 31, 2012

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Though the city seemed to be spared the worst of Sandy, our outlying burbs and farmland got plowed (and not in the good way). “The hurricane turned me into an unintentional hydroponic farmer,” joked Ian Brendle of Green Meadow, whose Gap pastures took on water like a Swiss cheese ship. “I expect more of our root crops to split and crack due to an abundance of moisture.”

Yesterday morning, Tom Culton picked as much as he could from the soggy ground of his Silver Spring farm, Culton Organics, also in Lancaster County. “It’s very messy, numbing hands,” he said. “I’ll be wearing my harvesting gear and carrying a knife constantly from here on out.”

In Chester County, Dean Carlson of Wyebrook Farm spent Sunday night worrying about his 15 just-born piglets. “We keep the pigs out on pasture, and I was scared they would drown,” Carlson said. “There was so much water. We just kept bringing straw down to keep them dry.” All piglets survived the storm, as did a calf born Monday. Carlson doesn’t name his animals, but if he did, we’ve got a good recommendation you can probably guess.

Posted by Adam Erace @ 3:18 PM 
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Wednesday, October 31, 2012

There’s nothing inherently creepy about Alla Spina on any given night but this evening things are getting a little dark over at 1410 Mt. Vernon Street.

Beverage director Steve Wildy is bringing in a sideshow for all of your fire-breathing and sword-swallowing enjoyment from 9 p.m. until midnight and there will be Italo-horror classics screening all night long from the giallo oeuvre of Dario Argento. Wildy is throwing together a creepy-cool mix of Halloween appropriate classics including 10/31 must-hears from the Misfits, Bauhaus, Daniel Johnston and chills-inducing Goblin.

Head on up to Alla Spina for inky black shots of Ferent Branca, sinister scenes from Suspiria and in keeping with the dark theme of the evening there will be 8 black beers on tap, Elysian Dark o’ the Moon Pumpkin Stout on special for $3.50 and $2 off any porter or stout if you come in costume.

Posted by Caroline Russock @ 1:37 PM 
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Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Tonight at Monk’s (264 S. 16th St.), you’ll have the chance to taste a bunch of brews from Funky Buddha out of Boca Raton, FL—many of which sound positively dessert-like. If you’ve had enough candy (not possible), this sounds like a great way to stay in keeping with the All Hallow’s Eve spirit. Here’s your annotated tap list:

Blueberry Cobbler (5.6% ABV)
Unfiltered wheat beer flavored with cinnamon, vanilla, and blueberries.
 
Bonita Applebum (6% ABV)
Moderately sweet brown ale with flavors of apple and warming spices à la classic apple pie.
 
Floridian (5.6% ABV)
Fruity hefeweizen brewed with Florida orange blossom honey.
 
Hop Gun (6.5% ABV)
Despite its name (and its 90 IBUs), this IPA is reportly well-balanced with caramel malt.
 
Last Snow (6.3% ABV)
Porter with notes of chocolate, coconut, and coffee.
 
Maple Bacon Coffee Porter (6.3% ABV)
Maybe self-explanatory, but you know you want to try it: coffee porter with mild bacon flavor and smoky aroma, balanced with sweet maple syrup.

Posted by Carly Szkaradnik @ 12:50 PM 
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