"Not Messing Around" is theme of the opening draught list at Leigh Maida and Brendan Hartranft's new Strangelove's pub in the gravesite of Butcher & the Brewer and Blue Bear Tavern. That means Pliny the Elder, Cantillon Rose de Gambrinus, Dogfish Bitches Brew from 2010 and plenty more here. The taps start flowing on Tuesday, April 23rd at 5 p.m., with chef Paul Martin's menu coming online the following day. The former Catahoula cook will be doing chickpea fritters with harissa, steamed mussels, vegan perogies, lemon icebox cream pie and other unpretentious, beer-friendly fare. Stop by for the grand opening for a complimentary taste.

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. We'd love to hear all about YOUR weekend eating adventures in the comments. Go for it! (View past NFTW installments at citypaper.net/notes.)
Adam Erace: AE
Caroline Russock: CR
Oh man, my weekends are getting repetitive. Cantina is becoming last year's Santucci's, with take-out becoming a regular Friday-night thing. Got the usual--hey, I have a usual there now--of the mixta salad glossed in a chile pequin vinaigrette that's full of personality and a girthy burrito filled with chicken and all the trimmins.—AE
With plans to spend a three day weekend in Brooklyn, on Friday evening I hopped on the Amtrak for an easy hour and a half commute to New York. I was kinda banking on the train having a bar car and grabbing a beer and something to eat en route but this particular train was the no frills. Not that any food writer worth her salt should be admitting things like this but Friday dinner ended being a can of Coke on the subway before heading to my friend's totally insane Weekend at Bernie's meets 80s New York themed dance party, Weekend at Basquiat's.—CR

Meatloaf, macarons and many glasses of Riesling right this way. »
Looking for something to make this totally gorgeous Tuesday afternoon even sweeter? Get ready to have your heart warmed: This Sunday Le Virtu chef Joe Cicala and pastry chef Angela Ranalli are getting married! The couple has been keeping their romance under wraps for a while but come Sunday, the secret's out and we couldn't be more thrilled for them.
The Insider has wedding day intel about the fete that's happening in the newly revamped courtyard of the EPX Abruzzese destination. There's talk of all sorts of Joe and Angela touches like a "Presentation of the Porchetta" and traditional Abruzzese candy-coated almonds. Head on over to The Insider for Angela's recounting of the totally romantic proposal. Auguri, you guys! Here's to hoping that someone decides to make a Big Night-style rom com about these two.
First up, a Side-Project-in-the-Suburbs update: the gentlemen will be carting their jerky to the Artisans' Market at the KOP Williams-Sonoma (160 N. Gulph Rd., King of Prussia) this Saturday, Apr. 13. The market runs from noon to 4 p.m. and will feature a handful of small local producers whose wares you can sample and buy. In addition to Side Project, look out for Eclat chocolate, Fat Head Peppers and more.
- So, here's a thing where the Count from Sesame Street says "Don't sneeze, baby!" to an ant that's carrying away his pepper shaker. Or, as Hulu summarizes it: "The Count counts things that ants carry away." You're welcome!
Keep reading for arsenic in beer, the latest scratch-n-sniff developments and more! »
Sometimes things land in our inbox that are just to good not to share. Take this press release for the upcoming Fifty Shades of Kale for example. "Fifty Shades of Kale introduces kale as an enticing seductress whose nutrient powers and mouth-watering flavor make her one sought-after vegetable." Enticing seductress? Really?
If you're not already seduced by kale's nutritional prowess, perhaps you might want to sample a few of the enticing recipes included in Fifty Shades of Kale like a round of Kalejitos (you know, life a mojito but with KALE) or Cherry Kale Camparis (basically a kale smoothie with cherries and Campari) or maybe a batch of Chocolate Chip Kale Cookies.
Our favorite Twitter battle cooking competition Hop Chef is a mere two weeks away (April 23 at 7 p.m.) and we just heard that the chefs have announced the Ommegang beers that they're going to be working with. Fork's Eli Kulp went with Abbey Ale, The Industry's Pat Szoke's got Three Philosophers, Mike Deganis of Alla Spina chose BPA, Southwark's Nick Macri landed Hennepin, La Calaca's Lucio Palazzo opted for Witte and JG Domestic chef Yun Fuentes is working with Rare Vos.
In other Hop Chef news the judging panel has also been released and it's a solid line up of Philly food media talent. Here's who's on board: Foobooz founder Art Etchells, Collin Keefe, editor of Grub Street Philly, Danya Henninger of Zagat and Drink Philly, Meal Ticket guest columnist and last year's Hop Chef People's Choice winner Scott Schroeder as well as yours truly. Hop Chef is brining in some out of town talent as well with Will Blunt of Star Chefs and Corey Baldwin from Saveur magazine. Tickets are going fast so head over to Union Transfer's site to reserve your spot. And be sure to follow all of the Hop Chef shit talk banter using the #HopChef hash tag.
Remember yesterday when we told you that we were going to be on the radio? Well, we're back from the Brooklyn home of Heritage Radio Network and we're thinking that our episode of Snacky Tunes went pretty darned well.
If you feel like listening to us dish on the Philly food scene the archive is live right here. Highlights of the interview include mentioned of a recently renamed cheesesteakery in the Northeast, shows at the First Unitarian Church and teenage hangs on South Street. Plus TOKiMONSTA, the L.A.-based producer who was the episode's musical guest shares a recipe for kimchi fried rice, a big time MT favorite.
Thanks agan for having us on, Snacky Tunes!
Philly.com's got all the details and highlights of this weekend's Philly Farm and Food Fest. Looks like lots of great workshops and panel discussions, including panel discussions on sustainability with the likes of HipCityVeg and the Vetri Foundation, plus cooking demos from Yun Fuentes and Josh Lawler—plus a lesson in canning from Food in Jars' Marisa McClellan.
Sandwich cinema, models eating bugs and a steaming mug of plastic juice, after the break! »
Hey, Meal Ticketeers, just a last-minute reminder: MT's own Caroline Russock is appearing on Snacky Tunes in, oh, five minutes or so.
Tune in here starting at 2 p.m.
ICYMI: You can download the episode right here.
Hopefully Germany's got their soft-boiled eggs and brötchen on lockdown: Two weeks ago, the town of Niederaula was the site of a massive coffee heist, with thieves making off with almost $40,000 worth. And just this weekend, 5.5 tons of Nutella were stolen from the very same town.
Coverage of the robberies, however, appears to be lacking some of the gravity of, say, the Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist of 2012. Per Gawker:
"'That's what it looks like,' responded Hessian police spokesman Manfred Knoch when asked by The Local if the thieves were perhaps 'stealing the ingredients for an enormous breakfast.'"
Here's hoping all that Nutella is recovered and that this is the last hit Niederaula sees for a good, long while.
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