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Archive: November, 2012
Although we're not too keen on the boxed wine finds at most of our local State Stores, a newly released bag-in-a-box offering caught our eye on a recent stock-up trip to MT's preferred Jersey liquor-ium Wine Works (319 Route 70) in Marlton.
There are countless absurd innovations in the world of wine packaging (Cupcake Chardonnay and Mad Housewife Merlot, we're looking at you) but the Volére Wine Purse is by far the silliest we've encountered as of late. Of course, the prevailing silliness of a box o' wine dressed up as a quilted leather purse didn't stop us from picking up 1.5 liters of Pinot Grigio.
Coming from Cantina Di Soave in the Veneto, the Pinot is just fine (a little flabby but totally drinkable with a decent chill) and even a steal at around $15 for the equivalent of two bottles, there's something about this purse of wine that screams bachelorette party gone awry or something to do with channeling your inner Carrie Bradshaw. But at the end of the day we're kind of pleased that boxed wine in purse form exists.
This Thursday, Nov. 8, South Philly Tap Room (1509 Mifflin St.) is hosting a nose-to-tail porcine feast. And it features Allagash pairings (with an appearance by Philly's favorite beer lass, Suzy Woods). Oh, and it's all Country Time pork. And it's limited to just 25 guests, fostering the sort of exclusivity that will have late-comers kicking themselves indefinitely. If there's a downside here, we're not seeing it—all we're seeing is phrases like "pickled heart," "pig's foot scrapple," "stomach ragù," and "sweet chicharròn with bourbon ice cream."
$70 a head, 7:30 p.m., and Suzy will be doing some free sampling at Brew before dinner if you want to head over early.
Drinks for election season, drinks for the actual season-season, and sweets for the holiday season: all on today's Afternoon Snacks!
Somehow, some way, McGillin’s (1310 Drury St.) has divined that there will be a heavy demand for booze tomorrow, whether it be related to jubilation or gnashing of teeth. While we all wait for those result to roll in, they’re offering up all three brews in Yards’ Ales of the Revolution series for just $3 apiece. Hey, you need to hold your breath and drink away your nerves somewhere—and if things don’t go your way, the historic presence of the 150+-year-old venue might help reassure you that the world will, in fact, go on.
Cold-weather cocktails and holiday desserts, after the jump! »
It's been pretty much doom and gloom on Jersey shore post-Sandy but we've just received some heartening words from our buddies at Borgata. It appears as though that dramatic footage for the portion of the boardwalk that was swept way was condemned and scheduled for demolition and all of the casino-front planks are intact. Our Borgata buds are also reporting that none of the casinos experienced any major damage.
Good news, right? Well, it gets even better. Savor Borgata, the casino's food and wine weekend is still on for this upcoming weekend and it's going to be a good one. Tickets are still available for Bobby Flay Live, a demo where the Flayster is going to be sharing favorite recipes tips and techniques. Fornelletto chef Stephen Kalt is going to be making meatball magic happen and the one and only Wolfgang Puck is going to be showing us his gnocchi-rolling secrets.
Getting back to AC and sharing the wealth is one of the best ways to help the working folks whose lives have been effected by Hurricane Sandy. This week Borgata is running Restaurant Week specials in conjunction with Savor. Wolfgang Puck American Grille, Micheal Schulson's Izakaya Modern Japanese Pub, SeaBlue and Fornelletto are running good-lookin' $39 three-coursers and the two steakhouse options, Bobby Flay Steak and Old Homestead are offering some choice cuts for $49.
And if you do plan on heading down to AC to check out Savor and these awesome restaurant week deals, take a cue from Anthony Bourdain: Tip heavily. And maybe send a $20 back to the dishwasher.
As efforts to rebound and rebuild continue after Hurricane Sandy devastated the region, there’s no shortage of need. Plenty of organizations and funds—including but certainly not limited to the Red Cross, Red Hook Initiative, and the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund—are looking for any money, goods, time, or elbow grease you can spare.
As you may well have heard by now, the hospitality industry was hit especially hard. While many structures have been damaged beyond repair, loss of inventory and days spent shuttered due to flooding and power outages can also be knock-out blows to restaurant owners and employees alike.
In New York, where so many businesses are clustered in some of the worst-hit areas, the restaurant industry has banded together with benefit dinners (Top Cheftestants including Philly’s Kevin Sbraga and Jen Carroll are throwing one tonight), food trucks rallying to bring food directly to residents and volunteers cleaning up areas cut off from vital resources, businesses like Brewery Ommegang reaching out to fellow breweries unable to operate, and groups like the Restaurant Opportunities Center working overtime to ensure access to crucial emergency aid for embattled restaurant workers.
While many of the groups cited above can use whatever help you can offer, and many champion the direct route of eating out as lavishly and often as possible as affected businesses open back up (Anthony Bourdain tells us to tip big and maybe send a twenty-spot directly back to the dishwasher), there are plenty of ways you can help closer to home, as well.
Click through for a list of ways local industry folks are stepping up. And please help get the word out about other local relief efforts by sharing them in the comments below. We’ll make sure to post or tweet updates as new events roll in.
Check out our list of locals lending a hand, right this way. »
Although there are exceptions to every rule, it's fairly safe to say that kosher dining is rarely something to get excited about. Michael Solomov's Main Line outpost Citron and Rose (368-370 Montgomery Ave.) is sure to be the exception to the rule.
Working within the dairy-, shellfish-, and pork-free confines of kosher cookery Solmonov and chef de cuisine Yehuda Sichel have crafted a menu that playfully and creatively references and reinvents all sorts of kosher staples. Chopped liver and pumpernickel bread are paired with sour cherry and chocolate. Knishes are stuffed with smoked buckwheat. Sholet, a homey Sabbath stew is prepared with confit duck leg and flageolet beans.
Citron and Rose is opening to the public on Wednesday evening and we're particularly looking forward to a menu of kosher cocktails including the Reb Roy, a take on the Rob Roy that incorporates (wait for it...) Manischewitz!
Monday, October 29
Remember when the state stores and Starbucks shut down? That was scary
Tuesday, October 30
Wanna be on TV? Next Food Network Star is casting in Philly on November 8th
It's not quite nouveau season but a.kitchen is kicking off Beaujolais season with a bang
Pizza, pancakes, tacos, burgers and too many Doritos on this week's Notes from the Weekend
Wednesday, October 31
Adam Erace checks in with local farmers about the after effects of Hurricane Sandy
Thursday, November 1
Phyllis Stein-Novack is loving the brandade at The Industry
Custom cakes, pies and cupcakes coming to East Girard at Sugar Hook Confectionary
Friday, November 2
Tomorrow night Amis (412 S. 13th St.) and guest host a.kitchen are putting together an election-eve-themed Industry Night that's sure to be way more exciting than any polling place bake sale action happening on Tuesday morning.
Chefs Brad Spence and Bryan Sikora have put their heads together to create a politically charged spread. Here's the bipartisan breakdown:
Team Sikora
Big Bird Chicken Ballotine
Horses and Bayonets (Beef and Brussels Sprouts Skewers)
47% Rice-a-Roni (Pasta and Rice with Sausage)
Team Spence
Barack's Square Hawaiian Pizza
Obama & Christie Tag Team Sandwich (Chicago Dog alla Parmigiana)
Ann Romney's Meatloaf Cakes
Apple Binder Cake with 5 Point Spice Semifreddo
(If any of the names of these menu items are leaving you scratching your head, please head over to Dispatch for an informative slideshow of election memes.)
And of course it wouldn't be Industry Night without appropriately themed beverage pairings. And on Monday you can look forward to the patriotic Brew Free or Die IPA and Bitter American American Pale Ale from 21st Amendment as well as two custom cocktails: a Cayman Islands Punch and 'You Didn't Build This' a gin and Chartreuse tipple based on Obama's Roanoke, Virginia campaign speech.
As usual, the drinks are cheap, the food is free and the party starts at 10 p.m. at Amis. All you need to get into this party is a pay stub proving your front or back of the house cred.
On today's Afternoon Snacks, we've got more Day of the Dead, our soup crush of the moment, making amends with pasta, and more plans from South Philly Food Co-op.
While Distrito’s got West Philly covered for Day of the Dead festivities tonight, El Rey (2013 Chestnut St.) has posted a compelling, offal-heavy menu to celebrate Día de los Muertos from now through Sun., Nov. 4. Sample menudo, huitlacoche tamales, starters featuring tongue, brain, or blood sausage, and tacos of tripe, grasshoppers, or heart—think of enjoying these would-be offcuts as just another way of honoring the dead.
Soup, sorries, and scoping out the future, after the break! »
One can never get enough tea, especially when there’s an air of civilization to the proceedings, something swellegant. One-time Le Bec-Fin-er David Smith opened La Petite Dauphine (2029 Walnut St.) in a brownstone back in June, in part, for that very reason. Along with serving illy coffee and morning pastries for take out, Smith reports that his weekdays are filled with the ladies who lunch while his weekends are packed with hungry brunchers.
It’s his newest development though that’s most fascinating, something he’s planned since La Petite Dauphine’s start. “The tea service was part of the original plan,” says Smith. La Petite Dauphine is meant to be a chic, relaxed space that dials into a younger demographic. LPD is filled with women from the early twenties into their fifties and the guys who want to hang out with them.”
More bone China and finger sandwiches right after the jump! »
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