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Archive: October, 2011
Touched base this a.m. with Brian Sirhal (right), who owns Cantina Feliz (424 S. Bethlehem Pike, Ft. Washington) with chef/partner Tim Spinner, about the duo's second venture, La Calaca Feliz.
A takeover of Fairmount's recently shuttered Illuminare at 2321 Fairmount, La Calaca Feliz, or "The Happy Skeleton," will be a 100-seater featuring a menu "about 75 to 80 percent different" from Feliz's. "In terms of Mexican food, it's still an area that's underserved," says Sirhal of the Art Museum region, which actually just notched a Mexicali BYO entrant last week in the form of Isabel. Spinner will use the opportunity to explore new Mexican directions from the kitchen — alambres, or skewers, will be a big focus here — but you should still expect the former Distrito chef's takes on traditional tacos, enchiladas and the like. The popular order-in-advance suckling pig meal they do in Ft. Washington could also carry over here. A big tequila selection and both Mexican beers and American crafts (six on tap) will fill out the beverage program.
At the moment, Sirhal and Spinner are figuring out what to do with the building aesthetically, though Alison Dilworth, the Phily mural artist who created Feliz's Dia de los Muertos look, is definitely on board to lend her skullduggery to La Calaca. Sirhal says they hope to be open in the first or second of January, assuming there aren't any major hiccups with the liquor license transfer.
Photo: Jason Varney
Though they initially planned on easing into it by Wednesday, this weekend's dry runs at Barcade (1114 Frankford Ave.) were so successful that the owners decided to throw the switch and go live to the public last night. They're introducing their combo craft beer/vintage video game concept, the third of its kind, with a grand opening beginning today at noon, meaning those who have off work for Columbus Day can celebrate the explorer's legacy the way he would've wanted you to — with WWF WrestleFest. Check out our Sept. 23 post for more on the spot, peep their current draft list and of course the game lineup (don't sleep on Magic Sword!). As far as dealage goes, they'll knock a buck off all beers and well drinks every day until 7 p.m.; on Fridays and Sundays, you can cop a sandwich, a beer and a side of chips for the flat price of $10. Hours moving forward: Mon.-Thu., 4 p.m.-2 a.m.; Fri.-Sun., noon-2 a.m.
Monday, October 3
Chewy's food truck is rolling in West Philly.
Bistrot La Minette launches weekend lunch service.
Tuesday, October 4
Wednesday, October 5
Falcon Cafe is a new coffee shop and gallery on East Passyunk.
New Greek cocktails and plenty of happy hour dealage are on tap at Opa.
Speaking of bison chili: Here's Adam Erace's recipe.
Former Barbuzzo chef George Sabatino will be exec at Easy Passyunk's upcoming Stateside.
Thursday, October 6
Hop Sing Laundromat hosts tours for the public.
Jennifer Carroll bids fond adieu to 10 Arts by Eric Ripert.
Friday, October 7
Cocktail bar The Attic has opened atop Falls Taproom.
Meal Ticket is three! We feel old. Get off our lawn.
Avram Hornik of 4 Corners Management is taking over the long-vacant Boot & Saddle on Broad Street.
If I hadn't have seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have dun believed it: My neighboring Boot & Saddle, the long-closed belle of Broad Street (off Ellsworth) cowboy bar and rodeo saloon, has a liquor license sticker registered to BootPhilly LLC at 1845 Walnut Street, the address that Avram Hornik and Mark Fichera's 4 Corners Management uses. The same guys who just opened Union Trust on Spring Garden, the same dudes who are doing the Ortlieb's Jazzhaus redo. I just called Hornik to see if it was he who was indeed on the Saddle, to ask if he'd taken it over. He teasingly said, "Boot & Saddle? Where's that?"
ADA: "South Philly. Is that yours now?"
AV: [silence]
ADA: "There's a liquor sticker with yer address on it, pardner."
AV: "Can't say right now."
I wish he had called me cowpoke or Black Bart.
Didn't realize until last night that this goofy little food blog turns three today. On behalf of myself and all the wonderful and good-looking people who have cycled in and out of the Meal Ticket orbit these past few years, THANK YOU for putting up with/reading all our nonsense and making this very fun venture possible. You are the absolute best. Though this has always been the case, I feel it's a good time to remind everyone that I welcome and encourage thoughts, feedback, criticisms and drunken missives all day every day. You know where to find me. Thanks again for reading and cheers!
Though it's a little late in the Oktoberfest season at this point, that's not stopping Philadelphia Bar & Restaurant (120 Market St.) from getting down with its own homage to the 200-year-old Bavarian celebration of beer. Tomorrow, Oct. 8, from noon to 6 p.m., PBR is converting into a beer garden serving more than a dozen locally produced German-style beers, as well as brewed options from across the sea. The menu will boast traditional German fare: Bratwurst, Knockwurst, Bauernwurst, Currywurst and Drei Im Weckla (three sausages on a roll), all with plenty of sauerkraut. If you’re looking for something small to nibble, opt for the street food selections — soft pretzels with beer mustard, Fasnacht (German doughnuts) or Schnecken (triangle-shaped mini cinnamon buns). Tim Carroll will provide live music on acoustic guitar, as well as German waltzes, polkas and folk songs on the accordion.
Here's a peek at the brand-new fall drink and food menus at Zavino (112 S. 13th St.). Chef Brent Hazelbaker has come up with small-plate autumnal dishes, like wild boar ragu over garganelli and crisped octopus with shaved fennel in a Castletrevano olive vinaigrette, to go along with new pizzas like the "Green Apple" (apple, gruyere, Nueske's bacon) and a regularly tweaked all-veg "Garden" pie. There are also two nights left for you to check out the wine bar's "Taste of Rioja" promo, featuring the versatile Spanish wine matched with regionally inspired tapas and pizzas. Check out both menus in full after the jump (click to enlarge).
Craft beer tastings are popping up all over the place, and this fall you’ll have a new spot to taste some brews. The American Swedish Historical Museum (1900 Pattison Ave.) is its first-ever beer/Swedish food tasting, known as SmorgasBeer'd (clever, huh?), on Saturday, Oct. 15. Triumph Brewing's Philly branch will be there with their Oktoberfest, and other spots on hand will be Malvern's McKenzie Brew House, Yards and South Philly's The Bottle Shop. Go for the beer, but eat the food, too: ASHM will be serving up Swedish meatballs, mini sausages, cheeses and more. If you get tickets by Monday, Oct. 10, ASHM will give you five for $100, as opposed to $25 each, so tell your drinking buddies.
The Falls Taproom (3749 Midvale Ave.) will have a grand opening for its new second-story bar, dubbed The Attic, this Saturday.
Open Wednesdays to Sundays, the bar is a Prohibition-style speakeasy featuring drinks based on historic recipes, all made with housemade syrups, brandied cherries and fresh-squeezed juices. Think Tom Collins, Fizzes, Whiskey Sours, Manhattans and Martinis, as well as specials that'll change regularly. The first set includes the Betsy Ross (cognac, egg white, elderberry syrup, fresh lemon, fresh blueberries); the Pennsylvania Dutch (bourbon, apple brandy, Lancaster pear butter, lemon, toasted pumpkin seeds); and the Walt Whitman (Bluecoat gin, green Chartreuse, micro-chervil, lime, Vieux Carré absinthe). There will also be a Bartender’s Pick and 10 beers on tap.
All the food offered downstairs at the 16-draft, 100-bottle Taproom will be available upstairs, as well — think hand-formed burgers, housemade pierogies (rosemary and garlic with fontina; sautéed spinach and garlic) and their smoked gouda and bacon mac 'n' cheese. There will also be snacks, like local beef jerky and pickles provided by Deke's BBQ.
Photo: Courtesy of Falls Taproom
- Some students at UC Berkeley, a school that's basically synonymous with bleeding-heart activism and standing up for human rights, are raging against the flaming-lib machine: College Republicans there recently organized a bake sale with fluctuating prices based on race and gender. The goal was to bring attention to admissions policies that favored minorities. The result? People were pissed.
- A vegan strip club is opening in Portland, Oregon (of course). About half the dancers are vegan or vegetarian, which as we all know is the main thing clubgoers stress about while watching naked ladies display their charms. Quinoa burger with a side of pasties, anyone?
- At the other end of the spectrum, here's an "infoodgraphic" that maps out complementary flavors for your favorite meats.
- Serious Eats did a round robin of Philly, picking out their favorite cheesesteak places. I was prepared to be appalled at the lack of Tony Luke’s — until I noticed the inclusion of Sammy Chon's K-Town BBQ.
- A long time ago, Snack Time featured The Hamburger Bed. The bed was a work of art, fully functional — and depressingly not for sale. (It eventually was sold, however, and now calls the Hamburger Museum home.) If you're still lamenting over the dearth of plush food décor in your home, rejoice: Designer Todd von Bastiaan has created pancake floor pillows with butter-pat accents. It’s only $600 for the set, which is a small price to pay for owning giant flapjacks upon which to recline.
- It’s fall, which means pumpkins. Here’s a guide to puréeing your own pumpkin and a recipe for a pumpkin milkshake.
Photo: unicahome.com via superpunch.blogspot.com
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