Archive: May, 2010

Amuse in pictures

POSTED: Monday, May 3, 2010, 5:31 PM

Filed Under: Openings | Photos

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Stopped by the yet-to-debut Le MÃ©ridien Philadelphia this weekend to snap a few pics of Amuse, the French bistro that quite literally greets you at the door upon entering the Starwood Hotel. The setup of Le MÃ©ridien (1421 Arch St.), which opens May 7, is unique in that the first thing you see upon entering is the long, illuminated 18-person bar — lots of hotel restaurants like to brand themselves food-forward, but this is a very geographical step in that direction. (Check-in desk's off to the left in a separate room.) Seating for dining is split up between a sunny open dining room off to the right, a "wine tasting" room that can be used for private parties and/or overflow and a free-standing communal table that features hard-line USB ports for business folks who want an alternative to free WiFi. We posted chef Dan Black's full menus last week, but there's one more touch we have yet to mention — the rather avant breakfast menu from none other than chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, who consults on food operations for Starwood Hotels. Here you've got stuff like espresso-steamed eggs, Croque Madame "reinvented," spicy oatmeal soufflle and mango-chilli-lime morning smoothie.

Notes from the Weekend: May 3 :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-05-03 14:00:29

[...] A Rock Romance @ Prince Music Theater, 4/29• MOVIE REVIEW: American Grindhouse Meal Ticket• Amuse in pictures• IN SEASON: A.T. Buzby strawberries• Tonight: (Now-regular) industry night at [...]

daytime drinker

Posted 2010-05-03 14:31:26

This is a perfect example of my number one pet peeve with food blogs 
Everything gets posted regardless of whether its good or not
There is zero time taken to ponder if the place is even worth your time
This place looks like a disaster set in motion

The wine and beer list posted for this place is God awful
Sonoma Cutrer, Clos du Bois, Ravenswood, Beringer and Rufffino Pinot Grigio
Seriously that's the best you came up with?
Is  it the 80's all over again??
Coors , Miller, Bud, Corona, Michelob Ultra, 
I mean obviously they are in bed with an Aramark-type national booze distribution setup

I don't care how good the food is or If Jean-Georges is consulting
This is crap any way you slice it
Celebrity chefs and chain "luxury" hotels tend to bastardize menus, concepts, and themselves when they start getting too rich or too big 
Its what's happening to Stephen Starr 
Its a disgrace in this day and age and with all the local breweries to have a menu like this

getoveryourself

Posted 2010-05-04 00:37:50

daytime drinker you sound like such a snob. just because you dont care about getting info on this place doesnt mean other people dont want to hear about it. and yeah the beer and wine lists might not be that advanced but jesus at least let the place have one full day of business before you rip it to shreds

Foobooz » Quick Bites

Posted 2010-05-04 10:55:23

[...] Amuse opens on Friday, May 6th at the Le MÃ©ridien Philadelphia hotel at 1421 Arch Street. Meal Ticket has the photos. [Meal Ticket] [...]

daytime drinker

Posted 2010-05-04 12:21:05

my point is that there are way too many places to go to that have great wine and beer lists
its not about snobbery
its about making intelligent beer and wine choices that people in Philly demand
I was drinking Kenzinger last nite at The Fire
They have crappy beers there too, but at least they have LOCAL beers on tap and bottles

Michelle C.

Posted 2010-05-04 15:25:09

This place looks like the love child of XIX and MidAtlantic (design-wise).  I'm intrigued!

Amen

Posted 2010-05-04 15:33:14

Too true, DD.  The drinks menu is the very epitome of bad taste. What sends me over the edge are the prices.  They have chosen some of the most corporate, least interesting wines in existence, and they want between 9.50 and 15 bones for them--damn near the retail price of the whole bottle!   This city deserves better.

danya

Posted 2010-05-05 17:35:13

DD - agree w your points about the menu itself, but regarding your beef with "food blogs," mealticket seems to be more of a "publicity about food & drink blog." Drew & Felicia aren't food critics, on purpose. Their goal here isn't to judge but tell us what's out there, and let us draw our own conclusions.

Drew Lazor

Posted 2010-05-05 23:43:38

What Danya said. Thank you!

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 5:31 PM Permalink | Post a comment

IN SEASON: A.T. Buzby strawberries

POSTED: Monday, May 3, 2010, 3:49 PM

Filed Under: Eat This Immediately | Field Trip | Product Placement

A.T. Buzby Farm

Fruit worth fighting over

The Headhouse Market opened on Sunday, May 2 with a bang of fresh produce, hand-made sausages and cheese, flowering plants and a heavy dose of farmer worship. Three Springs Fruit Farm rolled out crates of overwintered apples and gave away cool reusable bags to folks who signed up for the mailing list; Aimee Olexy herself presided over the onion jam and lamb sausage with golden raisins Talula's Table had on offer and that irascible Tom Culton of Culton Organics showed up with another funky headdress, as well as freshly-dug ramps that sold out immediately. However, none of these worthies drew the elbow-jabbing swarms that A.T. Buzby Farm commanded; and the reason is red: strawberries. The New Jersey family farm had boxes of the ruby fruits on sale for $5.50 each or $10 for two, and once you bit into the perfectly ripe flesh, it was truly spring. Red all the way through, these first juicy achenes of the season smack you in the tongue with sweet summer taste memories. In addition to boxes of the fruits, Buzby also had strawberry hanging baskets on offer for $22. Properly cared for, these plants will yield fruit all summer long. Get it before some yuppie takes out your knees for the last basket.

Posted by Felicia D'Ambrosio @ 3:49 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Tonight: (Now-regular) industry night at Amis

POSTED: Monday, May 3, 2010, 3:31 PM

Filed Under: Dealage

Marc Vetri's first industry night, held in March at Amis (13th and Waverly), was a hit — so much so that the chef/restaurateur has officially made it a regular thing. He took April off, but starting this month, the deal — from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., anyone who produces a bar/restaurant pay stub gets access to a gratis food spread served family-style, plus drink specials — will run every first Monday of the month. Vetri says he'll most definitely run industry night through the summer, and'll eventually decide whether he wants to extend it through fall.

SamJ

Posted 2010-05-03 12:38:00

I'm so there.

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 3:31 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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