Archive: April, 2010

Serious noms: BURGERDELPHIA competitors announced

POSTED: Friday, April 30, 2010, 7:26 PM

Filed Under: Contests | Food Events

As part of Restaurant Weekend at the Piazza at Schmidts, Tommy Up has devised a carnivorous showdown, dubbed Burgerdelphia, where ravenous burger lovers will compete for a trophy, $250 cash and a $100 gift certificate for P.Y.T. More than 150 contestants signed up for the contest by submitting 50 words or less about why they had a shot at the title, but only 10 were chosen to participate. You can catch the gorge-fest at 12:45pm Saturday (Marie D. shared all the deets earlier today). Meet the competitors (and their self-penned bios) after the jump. Eric Duong is a local Asian. He likes to breakdance, absolutely loves cheese and thinks he will win Burgerdelphia because he is really hungry all the time. Leon Sonkin is a local dubstep dj/promoter. He likes hockey, cats, and has been watching Man Vs Food religiously in preparation for his victorious reign as Burgerdelphia champion. Dave Wood hates the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies more than world hunger. He once ate 18 cuts of pizza at dinner just for fun so burgerdelphia should be a walk in the park! Malcolm Conway lives and dies for the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Phillies, but hates competitor Dave Wood. Burgerdelphia should be no problem because he ate the South Street Heart Attack for an appetizer before his meal one night. Katherine Stavniychuk says, "I am a pretty Russian girl with green eyes who loves me some MEAT!! I am 5'6" with shoulder length brown hair. I love love love burgers! and i love a challenge! would love to win and show everyone that a regular girl can eat lots of burgers too!" DJ Sega is a local & national DJ legend, signed with Diplo's mad Decent Records & Old Head records. He is skinny, but he is hungry. He says, "This isn't a game anymore. This isn't funny." Scotty Buck is a local nightlife and softball legend. he says, "Because I eat there 5 times a week and just feels like the right thing to do." Jackson Galka: I'm one of those freakishly awkward skinny kids that can house large amounts of food in one sitting. It's all fun and games, but at the same time I take it seriously and I'm out to win. David Jaffe is a local architectural engineer. Most people think his year long sabbatical from the industry has been due to the economy but a select few know it has been to train for Burgerdelphia with a strict regimen of burgers and whiskey. Matt Gdowik is the champion of over 10 eating championships, and the creator and destroyer of the Summer of 1000 beers. He is also known as Silly Buddha. Matty Mccone is a local house Dj. Loves dogs and playing music to relax and believes he will win Burgerdelphia due to the fact that being the skinny guy doesnt mean you cant beat the fat guy in a eating contest..... and he's here to prove it. Ava-Lauren Weber is a local 9 year old girl. She says, "I'm nine and ate the pounder at cheeburger cheeburger and would love to participate in something like that again! let us know and my dad will take me on saturday - thanks!!! i live in old city philadelphia and LOVE PYT and so do my parents!"

danya

Posted 2010-04-30 15:54:22

Ava-Lauren's gonna kick some butt. I can feel it.

Amy

Posted 2010-04-30 16:55:16

ditto what danya said! i am in total support of her!

Posted by Alexandra Harcharek @ 7:26 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Demetri's closes

POSTED: Friday, April 30, 2010, 6:59 PM

Filed Under: Closings

Frequent Meal Ticket tipster DO put us on to it, and we just confirmed — Demetri's Pizzeria and Mediterranean Cuisine, which opened on the corner of 45th and Chestnut in the summer of 2009, has called it a day. The BYO spot served pizza and various Greek/Medi specialties.

Foobooz » News for People Who Like Bad News

Posted 2010-05-03 10:24:45

[...] Demetri’s in West Philadelphia has closed after less than a year. [Meal Ticket] [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 6:59 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Reminder: Get the boozy vote out for APO's Preston Eckman

POSTED: Friday, April 30, 2010, 6:27 PM

Filed Under: Booze | Contests

We put you on to this in the latest edition of Notes from the Weekend, but here's a reminder: Preston Eckman, beverage manager at APO Bar + Lounge (102 S. 13th St.), has a cocktail entered in a webby vote-off competition organized by Cocktail for a Cause and VeeV, the acai-based spirit. The top three barkeep vote-getters by this coming Monday, May 3, will win a trip to Tales of the Cocktail, set for this July in New Orleans. HEAD RIGHT HERE to vote (you can do it once per day) and check out Eckman's elaborate recipe for A Halo Over Her Head, a crazy-refreshing warm-weather sipper that features elements like honeydew, aloe preserve and spheroid acai juice/Creme Yvette "berries."

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 6:27 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Zama commits to the world's only sustainable bluefin tuna

POSTED: Friday, April 30, 2010, 4:39 PM

Filed Under: Field Trip | Food and Politics

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

The spicy tuna maki you eat for lunch today could be nothing more than a curious relic from the past in 20 years. Bluefin tuna, that unctuously marbled behemoth that makes such nice sushi, is on the verge of population collapse due to the tremendous overfishing its stocks have endured since new fishing and freezing techniques made it commercially viable in the 1960s. A recent global summit just rejected a proposal to ban the bluefin's international trade, but environmentalists are pushing to have it added to the endangered species list before it's too late. New York magazine quoted bluefin expert Sergi Tudela as saying, "Right now we still have a catch quota which is still almost twice the level needed to recover the stock." The stigma attached to serving the fish has well-known sushi palaces edging away from it; Nobu in New York took it off their menu two weeks ago, and Morimoto followed suit, says local chef Hiroyuki âZamaâ Tanaka. At his eponymous restaurant at 128 S. 19th Street, Tanaka serves the world's only 100 percent sustainable bluefin tuna, the Kindai bluefin. Lab-grown at Kinki University in Japan, the Kindai represents more than 70 years of research — the fish, which can grow to 700 pounds, is only on its second and third generation presently. "The taste is more delicate," says Zama. "And there are no flaws, like parasite holes. I can provide a high standard all the time." At a retail price of $5 per piece for sashimi, Kindai bluefin is almost double the price of wild bluefin, but Zama believes that will change. "It's new stuff, only on the second generation. When it's new, it's expensive, but the next five years will be a different story. When they first farm-raised salmon [and] striped bass, it was the same thing ... they are now standard and the price is steady." Zama received a monster Kindai bluefin from supplier Samuels & Son and butchered it for his restaurant. Check out the slideshow above.

chef@sptr

Posted 2010-04-30 17:53:21

thank you zama

PhD Positions at The Civil Engineering Department at Clemson … | Civil Engineering Addict

Posted 2010-05-01 03:08:29

[...] Zama commits to the world's only sustainable bluefin tuna :: Meal … [...]

Marie DiFeliciantonio

Posted 2010-05-01 15:48:53

serious knife skills.

Meal Ticket's 2010 in Pictures: April :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-12-31 14:48:55

[...] - Zama commits to the world’s only sustainable tuna [30apr10] [...]

Posted by Felicia D'Ambrosio @ 4:39 PM Permalink | Post a comment

May 1-2: Restaurant Weekend at the Piazza at Schmidts

POSTED: Friday, April 30, 2010, 2:00 PM

Filed Under: Contests | Dealage | Food and Art | Food and Music | Food Events

Lovely weather is sure to bring crowds to the Piazza at Schmidts this weekend. Add a burger-eating contest, live music and free food and things'll be packed tighter than beach attire on Baywatch. This Saturday and Sunday (10 to 7 and noon to 7, respectively) will host its first-ever Restaurant Weekend. Stop by and shop the farmers market, then stick around to watch contestants swallow burgers a-la-P.Y.T. in the gluttonous race proprietor Tommy Up has dubbed Burgerdelphia. "But you have to say it like this — Burg-Burg-Burgerdelphiam and do the arm movements," Up clarifies to Meal Ticket (he's referring, of course, to the It's Always Sunny flip-cup episode). Pre-contest, he'll be giving out T-shirts and quizzing the crowd with burger trivia; then the gorging begins at 12:45 p.m. More than 150 people entered, but only 10 will scarf to win the Burgerdelphia trophy, $250 cash and $100 P.Y.T. gift certificate. Post-contest, catch Harry Arnold of Darling's Diner recreate his famous cheesecake and other Darling's dishes in cooking demos, then shop lots of great artists and crafters displaying their work and get your grub on compliments of local restaurants. Sunday, vendors are tentatively setting up on Hancock Street, as SundayOUT, hosted by the Equality Forum (see all CP's coverage here) is going down in the Piazza. A full list of vendors and participants after the jump. FOOD Bar Ferdinand (co-sponsor with Yelp) El Camino Real Mixto Apollinare Hikari Rustica Fado Elevation Burger Wine-O P.Y.T. Tiffin Speck Varga Bar Tommy Gunns Darling's Diner ARTS/CRAFTS/CLOTHES/ETC. Rack N Roll Clothing Philly Phaithful Brainstorm Print Diva Chic Jewelry Metropolis Soap Designs by Ilan MH Tshirt Designs The One Eyed Turtle Pia Vintage Jetty Clothing Blacktiques Cathy Gabor Glass Cabin Fever Hula Hoops Tyler School of Art ROOT liquor The Olive Oil Shoppe Philadelphia Greyhound Connection Alex's Lemonade Michael Solomon Art Overdue Industries Keystone Kettle Corn

Serious noms: BURGERDELPHIA competitors announced :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-04-30 14:27:10

[...] vote out for APO's Preston Eckman• Zama commits to the world's only sustainable bluefin tuna• May 1-2: Restaurant Weekend at the Piazza at Schmidts• Amuse Bistro debuts May 6• Early word on Tweed• Giving amidst decadence at the [...]

Posted by Marie DiFeliciantonio @ 2:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Amuse Bistro debuts May 6

POSTED: Thursday, April 29, 2010, 10:19 PM

Filed Under: Openings

Amuse, the restaurant inside the Le Meridien at Broad and Arch, is set for a Thursday, May 6 debut to coincide with the Starwood hotel's grand opening. Situated in what was the lobby of the Arch Street YMCA, the space'll carry a neoclassical feel (renderings after the jump), with room for around 60 people between two rooms, plus an 18-seat bar. Chef Dan Black, last executive sous chef at the Equinox Hotel in Manchester, Vermont, will serve a "lusty" French bistro menu. It hasn't been finalized just yet, but the draft we peeped appeared to be focused the classics — think along the lines of onion soup gratinee, nicoise salad, mustard-crusted salmon, goat cheese tart. Steak frites is said to be the house specialty, with seared hanger steak served with fries and a choice of maitre d' butter or bernaise. One fun touch to play up the name of the spot: Order a drink at the bar and you'll be treated to an amuse bouche, anything from crostini spread with tapenade and bacon-wrapped dates to bite-size portions of mascarpone polenta and white bean cassoulet. UPDATE: Here are all of Amuse's opening menus, in PDF format:

They'll serve breakfast from 6 to 11:30 a.m., lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and dinner frmo 4 p.m. to midnight daily. Bar will run from 11 a.m. to midnight.

Click to enlarge

Amuse in pictures :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-06-15 15:50:35

[...] posted chef Dan Black’s full menus last week, but there’s one more touch we have yet to mention — the rather avant breakfast [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 10:19 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Early word on Tweed

POSTED: Thursday, April 29, 2010, 9:21 PM

Filed Under: Openings

Tweed is the name of the restaurant coming to 114 S. 12th Street, last the home of Les Bons Temps. Though it won't be ready until June, we're told that the concept, decor and food will convey a sense of "relaxed sophistication," not unlike that dapper jacketed gentleman to the right. Argh so effortless! Owner Edward W. Bianchini, a native of Philly, is back in his hometown after time spent opening the Michelin Star-bearing Hotel les Muscadins in Mougins, France and the Lenox Room with Charlie Palmer in New York. Tweed is being designed/built by URBANSPACEDEVELOPMENT, responsible for places like Capogiro, Noble, APO and Sampan. (For what it's worth, we heard Jun Aizaki's name — he does Jose Garces' spots — attached to this project for a minute, but are equally excited to see how USD interprets what is one hell of a unique space.) Chef David Cunningham, who's cooked everywhere from Bookbinder's here in Philly to Lespinasse and Le Bernardin in NYC, will helm Tweed's kitchen, and we're told the food will skew farm-fresh, organic and local. Here are a few sample dishes off his menu, which is still pending:

Cheesesteak Fritters: Grass fed sirloin sauteed and blended with cheese and dipped in fritter batter. Served crispy with a tomato and caramelized onion dipping sauce.
Lamburger: Local ground lamb grilled and topped with sheep's milk yogurt, mint and kerby cucumbers.
Sauteed Mulard Duck Breast: Served sliced with creamy cornmeal and a cider- espresso glaze
Floating Spice Islands: Variation on the classic with fragrant spices, maple syrup and pistachios

Old Les Bon Temps to become Tweed - Philadelphia Speaks Forum - Neighborhoods, Sports, Restaurants and more

Posted 2010-04-29 22:45:35

[...] Spice Islands: Variation on the classic with fragrant spices, maple syrup and pistachios    Early word on Tweed :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper     __________________ "It has shown me that everything is illuminated in the light of the [...]

Locavore odds and ends: Ready, set, shop at the farmers markets! | South Jersey Locavore

Posted 2010-04-30 11:40:31

[...] Paper’s Meal Ticket blog mentions a Philly restaurant, Tweed,  set to open in June where the “food will skew [...]

Howard S. Garabedian

Posted 2010-05-18 11:31:51

Looking forward to your oppening.

A peek inside Tweed, opening June 10 :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-05-25 11:49:53

[...] which we first wrote april in late April, is something new for both this address and this neighborhood. Bianchini, born and raised in Philly, [...]

Tweed in pictures :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-06-09 17:20:09

[...] even has his own corner table, which he can dole out to friends and fam.) Check out our previous posts for information on David Cunningham’s approach, then hit up the jump for a look at the full [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 9:21 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Giving amidst decadence at the Rittenhouse Row Festival

POSTED: Thursday, April 29, 2010, 7:00 PM

Filed Under: Contests | Food Events | We're Here to Help

KingDesignLLC

Parc's offerings at the 2009 fest

Among the blocks of diversions scheduled for the Rittenhouse Row Festival this Sat., May 1, there are opportunities to watch chefs and bartenders play to the crowd on the culinary demonstration stage, add your mark to a community mural while sipping a Blue Moon, browse the Chairman's Selections at at Wine & Spirits pop-up shop and be among the first to try out Philly's new text-message payment system XIPWIRE to make your festival purchases. The springtime festival, which runs from noon-5 p.m. along Walnut St. from Broad St. to the edge of Rittenhouse Square at 19th, has always been a testament to the economic verve of the neighborhood, drawing more than 65,000 guests annually. This year, Starr Restaurant Organization has added a whopper of a reward for those who will help others in less stable situations. Each non-perishable food item donated to PhilAbundance during the festival earns a chance to win dinner for two at all 13 of Starr's local restaurants; chances can also be purchased for a cash donation of $2 per. Contributions may be dropped off at Rittenhouse Row participants Alma de Cuba, Butcher & Singer, Barclay Prime, Continental Mid-town and Parc, as well as at the PhilAbundance truck that will be parked on 19th St. Head to the culinary demonstration stage on the 1800 block of Walnut St. to see the grand prize drawing at 5 p.m.

Technically Philly » Startup Roundup: Lots of love for local entrepreneurship | Covering the Community of People Who Use Technology in Philadelphia.

Posted 2010-05-05 10:21:57

[...] City Paper [...]

Posted by Felicia D'Ambrosio @ 7:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

IN PRINT: City Paper Food and Restaurants, April 29

POSTED: Thursday, April 29, 2010, 6:31 PM

Filed Under: In Print

Photo | Neal Santos

- Trey Popp talks up Mexi food master Leo Saavedra, who runs the Tacos Don Memo cart at 38th and Sansom as well as a sit-down restaurant in Upper Darby. Good news: Saavedra's got plans for something even bigger on the way. - In Spirit Sister, Felicia D introduces the Ranstead Room, the clandestine cocktail bar behind Stephen Starr's new El Rey. She chats with hot-shit drink consultant Sasha Petraske, who whipped up recipes for the project. - Alexandra Harcharek breaks down all the food/drink haps going down week — it's gonna be a good one! — in What's Cooking. - Feeding Frenzy has word on new spots, including the aforementioned El Rey, Savas Brick Oven Pizza, Kraftwork and more.

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 6:31 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Ted Allen talks Dining Out for Life (and Pam Grier)

POSTED: Thursday, April 29, 2010, 5:01 PM

Filed Under: Food Events | Interview | We're Here to Help

It's celebrating its 20th annual Dining Out for Life tonight, April 29, but Philly's ActionAIDS hasn't bothered to rest on its laurels. Raising $290,000 from last year's event for AIDS-related charities (nearly $4 million annually) and stretching its charitable aims to 53 American cities and 3,500 restaurants hasn't made anyone lazy. Monies raised and outreach achieved just strengthened their resolve. This year DOFL enlisted actress/author Pam Grier (in the news this week for her new book, My Life in Three Acts, as well as racy comments about ex-beau Richard Pryor) and Food Network personality Ted Allen as spokespeople for the cause. Several months ago, the pair filmed a PSA (watch here) co-starring Jose Garces, one of many area chefs who've opened their doors to DOFL tonight."Pam was great," notes Allen of the foxy Foxy Brown sensation. "I've admired her for years and love her in Smallville, so a chance to hang out with her was great. She really went to a lot of trouble to get to Philly to shoot the PSA, was super warm and funny, and told me a few stories that I can't repeat." Wow, he beat me to the punch on the Pryor question. "I was really interested to learn that she is a certified equestrian trainer. Who knew?â OK, I'll take a cute horse story — this is charity. That said, while both spokespeople were supposed to attend Philly's DOFL, Grier may currently be either at her ranch in Colorado or in L.A. on set with Julia Roberts in a new project (this according to DOFL press person Matthew Vlahos), leaving Allen to do the good work of eating at Butcher & Singer (1500 Walnut St.) with ActionAIDS execs. "This is the third year that I've had the privilege of being spokesman for DOFL," says Allen. "It's a perfect fit for me. [It] raises a ton of money for the fight against HIV/AIDS right in peoples' own communities, and brings business into hundreds of great restaurants all over the country at a time when the economy is really hurting business. It's win-win-win.â

uberVU - social comments

Posted 2010-04-29 13:48:42

Social comments and analytics for this post...

This post was mentioned on Twitter by mealticket: Dining Out For Life spokesman @ChopTedAllen talks to @ADAmorosi about @DineOut4LifePHL (tonight), Pam Grier: http://bit.ly/9KWHZb...

Posted by A.D. Amorosi @ 5:01 PM Permalink | Post a comment

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Founded in October 2008, Meal Ticket is a City Paper blog about food, drink and assorted other things that make you go mmm. We do recipes, interviews, restaurant news, commentary and much more. We don't do restaurant reviews here — those are handled in print, mostly by our critic (and Meal Ticket contributor) Adam Erace. Got a tip, question, thought or concern? Just want to say hello? Please shoot a note to caroline@citypaper.net.

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