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Archive: December, 2011
If the Twits are any indication, Jamonera (105 S. 13th St.), the Spanish wine bar makeover of Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran's Indian BYO Bindi (it closed in September), is getting close-ish — hearing they'll open by early January. Not too much info floating out there just yet, but keep an eye on their website and Twitter account for cryptic and possibly Dexter-themed updates.
Photo: Jamonera on yfrog
UPDATE [06dec11]: Peek at the copper bartop/interior, courtesy of Safran, after the jump.
The fifth of December is Repeal Day, and The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co. (112 S. 18th St.) is celebrating America's 78th consecutive year of legally sanctioned alcohol consumption with a "Dealer's Choice" night headed up by Franklinite Colin Shearn and visiting New York drink slanger Nick Jarrett, who opened the Philly cocktail joint in 2009. In lieu of the bar's usual big-azz menu, the twosome will simply distribute checklists designed to gauge each table's boozy proclivities — indicate how you prefer your drinks (shaken, stirred, bitter, savory, tart, effervescent, etc.) and the gents will do the rest. "There were no cocktail menus in the '30s," says Shearn. "That's the whole idea — we're The Franklin, and we're good enough that you should trust us. Hopefully that will fly. People might revolt."
While we're pretty sure this is going to go well for open-minded drink consumers, Shearn vows that they'll fix something very special for anyone who gets smartass-y with the Repeal Day system (i.e. glibly checking both "shaken" and "stirred"). He won't say what. Just pray for your sake that it doesn't involve Jeppson's Malort.
Photo: susanhessel.wordpress.com
John Taus has unveiled a brand-new menu at The Corner (102 S. 13th St.), featuring a revamped lineup of bar snacks (Asian-style fried turkey tails), new starter options (braised calamari with chickpeas, bell peppers and gremolata; a scrapple/foie gras combo), shareable-format dinners* (whole pork shoulder that feeds six to eight) and some new entrées (a lobsterfied version of Taus' well-loved pot pie). Peep in full after the jump (click to enlarge).
* UPDATE [2:25 p.m.]: Sorry we didn't have this info before — here's how the menu's "Shareable Entrees" option works. The indicated "per person" price includes a dish from the "Snacks" section, a dish from the "Starters" section, the entrée itself, a side dish and a dessert. So for example: Your table orders the pork shoulder entrée. For $40, you could get the salt cod hush puppies, the beet salad, the pork, a side to go with the pork and something sweet to finish.
Monday, November 28
The vegan-friendly Kung Fu Hoagies is opening in early 2012.
South Street's Ms. Tootsie's expands vertically.
We gave away a copy of blogger Dynise Balcavage's new book, Celebrate Vegan.
The name of the Franklin/Supper collaboration in the Fairmount neighborhood is ...
The Thanksgiving edition of Notes from the Weekend is looking robust.
Tuesday, November 29
Sweet lunch dealage at Opa through the rest of the year.
Happy first birthday to the Khyber Pass Pub.
Annihilate T-Day leftovers with Adam Erace's recipe for turkey tacos with cranberry-chipotle salsa.
Wednesday, November 30
Voodoo Brewing visits Tashan for a casual food/beer pairing.
Vedge starts a sweet vegan happy hour.
Be sure to vote for all of CP's reps in the 2011 Philebrity Awards, especially our own Adam Erace!
Pho Le is open on West (not East) Passyunk.
Thursday, December 1
The hay-roasted oysters at Oyster House and something you should eat immediately.
Fred Morin of Montreal's lauded Joe Beef is visiting Osteria for a guest chef/cookbook dinner.
Center City's Pita Pit will be replaced by new concept honeygrow.
The Broad Street Diner, no longer "a place for ribs."
Friday, December 2
Kennett celebrates its first anniversary.
Santucci's launches brunch service.
The Thanksgiving Zone is back at D.P. Dough.
Matthew "Feldie" Feldman and his wife Quavin Johnson Feldman launched the Lucky Old Souls Burger Truck in mid-October, easing into weekday vending at mobile-food-friendly LOVE Park. Now they're cooking outside Center City on the weekends. They'll be at Farm to City's year-round Chestnut Hill Growers' Market (Germantown Avenue and Winston Road) tomorrow, plus Dec. 17 and 31; the second and fourth Saturdays of the month for the winter; and every Saturday in the spring/summer. Also look for them at Clark Park on Sundays.
Since LOS starts serving at the Growers' Market early (10 a.m.-1 p.m.), the Feldmans have developed a new breakfast menu, featuring local free-range eggs, house-cured bacon and local cheese, in addition to their base menu. Peep it after the jump.
Photo: A.D. Amorosi
Michael Solomonov and Steve Cook of Zahav (237 St. James Place) are presenting their take on holiday fare with not one but three prix-fixe dinners this December.
First up, on Tuesday, Dec. 20, is a Chanukah menu ($45/person), featuring dishes such as hummus with glazed brisket, a variety of latkes and date and orange sufganiyot. Next, on Thursday, Dec. 22, is the Israeli restaurant's second annual A Very Jewish Christmas celebration. The $50-a-head evening, dubbed An Even Jewisher Christmas, upholds the age-old tradition of Jews partaking in movies and Chinese food to occupy their time on the most Gentile of all holidays. This year's menu includes Solomonov's versions of Szechuan-style pork belly and moo shu duck, as well as Chinese-inspired cocktails. Movie suggestions can be sent in via Twitter (@zahavrestaurant), and the screening schedule will be kept a surprise until the day of, just like last year. Finally, on Saturday, Dec. 31, Zahav will offer a New Year's Eve menu ($65/person or $100/person with wine pairings), which will include fluke crudo paired with Golan Heights Chardonnay and glazed veal shanks paired with Clos de Gat Syrah. The full menu can be seen here (PDF).
We're hearing that the long-awaited, long-delayed revamp of Old City's Shane Confectionery (110 Market St.), headed up by new owners Ryan and Eric Berley of the nearby Franklin Fountain (116 Market St.), will officially open to the public this Monday, Dec. 5, at 10:30 a.m. Hizzoner Michael Nutter is supposed to be on hand to mark the reopening of the shop, which first opened in 1863 and had been in the Shane family's control for nearly a century before they sold it to the Berleys in May 2010. The siblings will perform some candymaking demos (they'll produce something like 80 percent of their sweets from scratch in-house), using old-school techniques and original equipment the bros refurbished, before kicking off sales in plenty of time for Christmas. More background in Rick Nichols' Nov. 17 Inky column.
Photo: Drew Lazor
Last year, Mike Nagao over at the U-City outpost of D.P. Dough (33 S. 40th St.) noticed a big uptick in orders of his Thanksgiving Zone after the holiday had passed, so this year he waited until post-Turkey Day to strike. Theory: Traditional Thanksgiving accoutrement, in particular stuffing (mmm stuffing), is consumed with such infrequence that one big T-Day binge is not enough to sate our erstwhile addiction through the end of the calendar year. Kids is jonesin'.
Available for $6.85 throughout the winter months as an alternative to the Thanksgiving hoagies we've been discussing recently, the 'zone is filled with cubed turkey breast, turkey stuffing, gravy and melted mozzarella, dusted with ranch powder and served with a side of cranberry/orange dipping sauce. See you fiends over there.
Photo: Drew Lazor
Peep overflow-capturing game: Hip-to-be-square Santucci's (901 S. 10th St.) is now serving brunch. So long, suckers waiting at Sabrina's — we’ll be down the street feasting on buttermilk pancakes with bananas, Nutella and hazelnut butter; hanger steak and eggs; and cinnamon brioche French toast with caramelized apples. Owner Alicia Santucci and chef Bobby Saritsoglu have kept it affordable, with nothing over $12. In the liquid department, the staff’ll squeeze you fresh O.J. ($3 a glass, not bad) and provide Bloody Mary mix if you bring the vodka. Brunch is served Sundays only, 9 in the morning to 3 in the afternoon. Full menu after jump (click to enlarge).
Photo: Mark Stehle
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