Archive: May, 2010

Bistrot La Minette debuts midweek $10 app-and-drink specials

POSTED: Monday, May 10, 2010, 5:39 PM

Filed Under: Dealage | Patio Drinking

Photo l Felicia D'Ambrosio

EntrÃ©e vous

Don't call it a combo meal when you hit up Bistrot La Minette (623 S. Sixth St.) for their new Wednesday special, kicking off June 9: $10 "Bistrot Bites" that deliver a tasty snack paired an adult beverage. Available at the petite bar and pretty outdoor terrace, the pairings highlight a few of Bistrot's signature items as well as provide a deal-icous alternative to the mind-numbing crowds that descend on Center City Sips-participating spots every Wednesday all summer long. Score a second beverage for just $5 when you order one of these:

Pizza and Beer: FlammenkÃ¼che (Alsatian flatbread with onions, fromage blanc and bacon) and Kronenbourg

A Sandwich and a RosÃ©: Pan Bagnat (similar to Nicoise salad) with a glass of Provencal RosÃ© wine

Wine and Cheese: a French red with your choice of cheese, with salad and toast

Moules MariniÃ¨re: mussels in white wine with tarragon and leek, served with Dagan cider from Normandy

Bistrot La Minette adds $10 drink and an app | Frugal Foodist | Philadelphia's top restaurant, bar, and happy hour deals and specials

Posted 2010-05-10 14:04:05

[...] La Minette adds $10 drink and an app  Meal Ticket has the details: Don't call it a combo meal when you hit up Bistrot La Minette (623 S. Sixth St.) [...]

Posted by Felicia D'Ambrosio @ 5:39 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Goodbye to Chew Man Chu

POSTED: Monday, May 10, 2010, 4:26 PM

Filed Under: Closings

Photo | Drew Lazor

Restaurateur Marty Grims just called Meal Ticket to let us know that Sunday was the last night for Chew Man Chu, the Asian eatery he opened in October at the Symphony House at Broad and Pine. He cites a rough review from the Inquirer's Craig LaBan and the subsequent resignation of chef Tyson Wong Ophaso as mitigating factors. "For right now, we are exploring all options," Grims says in regards to what will happen to the Avenue of the Arts space. He's both open to taking on a strategic partner for a new concept and to selling the space.

Rock Colors

Posted 2010-05-10 20:14:59

Needs to be something that caters to all the UArts students around. Maybe a diner type thing? Or mid-range market/deli?

Diane

Posted 2010-05-13 10:45:47

What a shame. I loved that restaurant! That an inaccurate review from someone like Craig LaBan can put a good mom and pop out of business, especially in this economic climate, is just sad. Shame on Craig LaBan.

Benjamin

Posted 2010-05-14 10:06:55

I wouldn't really call it a good mom and pop...and the "economic climate" surely isn't stopping stronger concepts, executed in the right niche.  It's almost an excuse that "the critic's bad review put us out of business," but a restaurant that can't turn around after a bad review really can't compete anyways, or maybe shouldn't have ever entered the competition...  I had read the review, and it was pretty awful, almost personal...  But you can't blame the restaurant's entire failure on a writer.  I think that Chew Man Chew just wasn't a great concept from the beginning.

Denise

Posted 2010-05-15 11:15:33

I don't know about that, I didn't go there because of the review. If I didn't go, how many others didn't go. Normally, I read the review and weigh if it was an off night or what not, but there was so much wrong in the one review, I just didn't want to ever go there.

Laurel

Posted 2010-05-26 17:59:06

I hope that Marty Grims gives it another shot. I bet that his chef leaving had more of an impact that Craig did but I agree with Diane, above. We loved Chew Man Chu and ate there at least once a week. Not sure why Craig LaBan put such a blight on them. I find that he has questionable taste and judgment and now make it a point to try all the restaurants LaBan disses just because I know of two he's panned that we actually like (a lot). Unfortunately, Chew Man Chu is now but a memory. We are so bummed.

What We Wrote*, May 10-14 Ticket Stubs: Weekly Recap, May 10-14 :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-05-28 18:25:22

[...] - Chew Man Chu calls it a day. [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 4:26 PM Permalink | Post a comment

BREW REVUE: Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes

POSTED: Monday, May 10, 2010, 4:15 PM

Filed Under: Booze | Brew Revue

BeerMe.com

Better known for chocolate, staggering Alpine views and staying out of messy wars, Switzerland also produces little-know but pioneering craft brews 3,287 feet above sea level at Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes (BFM). Crafted in small batches in the Jura mountains along the northwestern border of Switzerland, BFM represents a collision of tradition and modernism. Brewmaster and founder Jerome Rebetez infuses his handmade brews with unusual ingredients (the sage-inflected La Meule, Tarry Suchong flavored with Lapsang Souchong tea) or ages them in multiple barrels to create complex, wine-like nectars that pair gracefully with food (the 11 to 15 percent ABV strong sour ale L'Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien). Meet the man himself when Rebetez visits The Belgian CafÃ© (2047 Green St.) this Wed., May 12 at 7 p.m. 2006 and 2007 vintages of L'Abbaye de Saint Bon Chien will be available, as well as bottles of La Dragonne, a seven percent ABV ale with honey and spices that will be served heated, as the brewmaster directs. The herbal, golden La Meule and dark La Mandragore will be on draft; a firkin of La CuvÃ©e Alex le Rouge imperial stout will be on the bar. Full Disclosure: I have worked, and still occasionally tend bar, at The Belgian CafÃ©.

Ben Kessler

Posted 2010-05-10 11:40:59

BFM beers are fantastic. La Meule used to have a regular position in my fridge.

Posted by Felicia D'Ambrosio @ 4:15 PM Permalink | Post a comment

City Tap House in pictures

POSTED: Friday, May 7, 2010, 10:30 PM

Filed Under: Menu Time | Openings | Photos

We've been following City Tap House, the behemoth beer bar in the Radian (3925 Walnut St.) owned by the Public House folks, for some time now. The handsome 120-seat space, on the floor above fellow Radian residents Chipotle, Capogiro and Bobby's Burger Palace, will officially open to the public this coming Monday, May 10. Meal Ticket stopped by earlier today to talk brew with beer baron Andy Farrell and food with exec chef Al Paris. Info and photo smorgasbord after the jump. On the beer: Farrell talked to Meal Ticket recently about his approach — he's rocking 60 taps. Yes, he's pouring a selection of what he calls "pay the mortgage" beers (Coors Light, Bud Light, Blue Moon, etc.), but the lineup is aggressively craft-centric, featuring brews sourced locally (Dogfish Head, Flying Fish, Victory, Troegs), domestically (Bell's, Brooklyn, Terrapin, Bear Republic, Stone) and internationally (St. Feuillien, Duvel, Schlenkerla). Here's the full opening beer list in PDF format. There'll be flights ranging in price from $9 to $13; another cool feature are the tasting-notes cards at every table, designed to help you remember a the name of a good brew (a challenge after you've downed a few). The keg cooler, instead of doubling as a terrifying subterranean cave like some bars, is situated on the main floor, in a sort of temp-controlled, metal-door-protected boozy Fortress of Solitude.

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

On the food: The ever-energetic Paris (Rococo, Mantra, Pat Bombino's, etc. times infinity), who came on board for this project from the chef gig at Public House, has constructed a pub-influenced American menu that covers plenty of bases. (Full menu below.) Brick-oven pizzas, "craftwiches," large plates, mussel preparations, veggie-friendly stuff ... there are also "daily supper" selections Monday through Saturday, which include dishes like pan-seared grouper, suckling pig and a New England lobster bake. Farrell says the Tap House's staff is sharp in regards to pairing beer with food, so don't hesitate to ask for recos. On the space: Crazy big! Like we said, room for 120 seats, but the double-sided bar can accommodate a sieable standing crowd, as well. In addition to the bar scene and the dining room scene augmented by an open kitchen, there's a big outdoor area with fire pits and a green roof. You can get in to the space either by walking up the big Radian staircase off Walnut Street or by hopping the elevator, accessible via a marked entrance to the left of Capogiro.

Click to enlarge

no counterspace Â» Blog Archive » City Tap House

Posted 2010-11-11 16:17:18

[...] been looking for an excuse to try City Tap House since Meal Ticket released pictures of the [...]

nick

Posted 2010-05-07 17:43:53

holy hell, that keg cooler is gorgeous.

Drew Lazor

Posted 2010-05-07 17:45:18

It's bigger than my apartment, Nick.

David G

Posted 2010-05-07 17:52:01

Is there some way we can stop Penn kids from going there?

lilacs

Posted 2010-05-08 20:51:13

david g's comment for the win.

James

Posted 2010-05-09 13:20:19

Is there any way we can stop Philly trash/hipsters from going there?

- Penn kid

adam

Posted 2010-05-09 13:37:11

Most impressive thing about this post is Drew's photo skillz. Burger shot is Saveur-worthy.

poncho

Posted 2010-05-09 19:01:04

Adam:

Totes agree, those pics are so good!

Penn kid:

I was going to ask if Penn kids can stop acting like entitled douchebags, but I guess you answered my question.

PhillySon

Posted 2010-05-09 19:15:27

Haha!

Dan

Posted 2010-05-09 21:49:48

Poncho and David,
Now we all know you don't have to go to Penn to be a snob.

Foobooz » Tale of the Tape: City Tap House

Posted 2010-05-10 13:08:50

[...] City Tap House in pictures [Meal Ticket] (Finally) opening: City Tap House [The Insider] Multi-tap experiment in Philly [Seen Through a Glass] geopress_addEvent(window,"load", function() { geopress_makemap(157051,"City Tap House",39.954332,-75.201935,"google",Mapstraction.ROAD, { pan: true, zoom: 'small', overview: false, scale: false, map_type: false },15) }); [...]

Posted 2010-05-10 13:53:43

Yeah.  So we've heard.

Drummond

Posted 2010-05-11 08:17:32

The space was conceived by a local design firm Partridge Architects, who also designed Chickies & Petes, Public House NH, Mikeys...etc.  

The goal was to create a modern interpretation of a rustic timber framed lodge using reclaimed timbers, planks and siding salvaged from old barns and warehouses in a variety of wood species. Hand-hammered copper accent panels add color and vibrancy throughout the space.

philly trash/hipster

Posted 2010-05-19 20:26:14

Where's the hammered copper? I see the bar top that's smooth and looks great.Oh Yeah, stripper pole?

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 10:30 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Shopping for pigs with Jake's Sandwich Board, opening May 10

POSTED: Friday, May 7, 2010, 7:57 PM

Filed Under: Menu Time | Openings | Photos | Video

The other day, we tagged along with Gary Dorfman and Sean Stein of Jake's Sandwich Board (122 S. 12th St.) on a fact-finding pig-finding trip to the Italian Market. The big draw at Dorfman's sandwich joint, which opens this coming Monday, May 10, at 11 a.m. (free pork sandwiches for all while they last), will be a whole roasted pig at a carving station greeting folks as they enter for lunch and dinner. The pair decided to partner with Hollywood Meat Market (1039 South Ninth St.), which has been serving South Philly from their tucked-in little butchery off Ninth and Washington for more than 75 years, for their porcine needs. Sean's brother Scott (Red Sky, Pearl) caught the trip, plus a subsequent tasting session, on video. After the jump, check out some additional behind-the-scenes photos we snapped of Hollywood meatmonger Chappy showing off his wares in the walk-in fridge. Dorfman ditched a career with PricewaterhouseCoopers four years back to open Jake's Philadelphia Cheesesteaks at Liberty Place. He closed that stand a week ago to focus on this new venture, which'll serve seven days a week — 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, and 10 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Roast pork, which'll be offered from 11 to 2 and 5 to 8 daily, is only one part of the game — they're also doing stuff with pulled pork, fryer-roasted turkey breast, ribeye, brisket, meatballs and more. Here's the full menu:

Click to enlarge

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

shelly

Posted 2010-05-07 23:13:45

I can't wait to try it - Good Luck Guys!!

danya

Posted 2010-05-08 10:42:56

Have we determined where the Jake's boys came up with the "Haystack" name for the sandwich ingredients served over fries? Did they make it up? It is a tradition somewheres?

Gary

Posted 2010-05-09 18:08:15

I actually ran a contest last year for my customers to come up with a name for a new sandwich. The idea was from a couple that live in Des Moines, Iowa.  They thought the layer of fries reminded them of "Haystacks" they see in Iowa.  I thought it sounded great and decided to use it.

Gary
Partner,
Jake's Sandwich Board

Gary

Posted 2010-05-09 18:08:41

Thanks! - Gary

danya

Posted 2010-05-11 08:45:15

It IS great. It could totally catch on and be the next hot trend. Better trademark it now ;)

Buy-one, get-one sandwiches at Jake’s through May :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-05-21 11:44:07

[...] 7 p.m. throughout May. To get the deal, mention the password “throwback” to the staff. Here’s the full menu. Also, here’s a video of Jake’s owner Gary Dorfman throwing a sandwich. Dude’s got [...]

Phillykid

Posted 2010-05-25 01:51:42

Cool! Thanks!

EAT THIS IMMEDIATELY: The Sloppy Dog 2.0 at Jake’s Sandwich Board :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-10-07 19:14:46

[...] sandwich masters Gary Dorfman and Sean Stein admit that the OG Sloppy Dog they offered upon opening in May was a bit unwieldy — that’s what happens when you throw eggs, hot dogs, rib-eye steak, [...]

Philly-based eating challenges becoming increasingly challenging, preposterous :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-07-15 14:39:34

[...] Whole-hog-hawking Jake’s Sandwich Board (112 S. 12th St.) just announced what they’re calling the “Jake’s 5-lb. Philly Challenge.” Challengers must shell out $35 to try their hand at eating a two-foot sandwich (cheesesteak, pork, brisket … or all three if you really wanna die), four soft preetzels, an entire box of Butterscotch Krimpets or Kandy Kakes (?!), 24 Peanut Chews and a Champ Cherry. If you finish this haul within 45 minutes, not only do you get the stuff for free, you also get your mug pasted on Jake’s coming-soon “Wall of Fame”; the first person to beat this bit of Philly-centric masochism will also receive a $100 gift card. [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 7:57 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Win a copy of Southern Living's Big Book of BBQ

POSTED: Friday, May 7, 2010, 4:30 PM

Filed Under: Food TV

Compiled by the editors of Southern Living (we like to envision them as a group of jauntily dressed men and women with toothy smiles who wear seersucker year-round and enjoy mint juleps in moderation), The Big Book of BBQ is stuffed with more than 200 recipes for every meaty warm-weather endeavor imaginable. There's also a bunch of sauce/rub tips, tricks of the pit-master trade, advice on killer sides and more. Want to win your own copy? All you have to do is e-mail drew.lazor[at]citypaper.net (subject: "BBQ Book") with ONE SENTENCE describing your favorite barbecue place in or around Philly. Why's it your favorite? What makes it so good? How ridiculous are their ribs? Tell us using only one period. Foreal, one-sentence entries ONLY -- all e-mails that fail to adhere to this will be automatically DQed. We'll pick the funniest, smartest and/or most informative BBQ sentence and award it with this tome. Happy writing, and, if you win, 'cueing! UPDATE [10may10]: Here's our winning sentence, from Meal Ticket reader Al Kapusinski:

I've been all over this green Earth, from burning THC (Texas Hill Country) pits to the Pollo al Carbon units on the highways of Puerto Rico to the rickety Bun Thit Nuong stands by the lake in Hanoi, and you simply cannot obtain better ribs and brisket than the sweet pink smoked meats at Abner's BBQ in Jenkintown.

Strong work, Al. And yes Abner's is pretty sweet.

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 4:30 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Monday: Beefeater cocktail dinner at Koo Zee Doo

POSTED: Friday, May 7, 2010, 3:12 PM

Filed Under: Booze | Food Events | Menu Time

Photo | Neal Santos

On Monday, May 10, the always-excellent Koo Zee Doo (614 N. Second St.) will host a bit of an unorthodox dinner that sounds like hungry boozehound heaven — owners David Gilberg and Carla Goncalves are pairing up five Portuguese courses with five distinct Beefeater gin cocktails developed by local tin shakers Phoebe Esmon (Chick's) and Christian Gaal (Noble, Kraftwork). The meal, which costs $85 per couple, will feature signature Koo Zee Doo dishes like cod croquettes and shrimp piri piri, plus plates like monkfish and blood sausage skewers and roasted lamb with fried corn porridge, orange salad, charred fennel and leeks. (Full menu after the jump.) Esmon and Gaal's cocktails will work off traditional Portuguese wines and flavors — think Vinho Verde, port and even one with chourico-infused gin (!).

Click to enlarge

rory

Posted 2010-05-07 10:19:58

whoa...intriguing. is there a set time seating?

Drew Lazor

Posted 2010-05-09 04:15:53

Rory: 

I'm told there's a fully booked seating at 8pm, but before that any time's fair game; just make a reservation.

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 3:12 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Somewhere in South Philly ...

POSTED: Friday, May 7, 2010, 2:00 PM

Filed Under: Food and Sports

oldmanbeck on Twitter

This soda knows more about Raul Ibanez's ground ball/fly ball ratio than you. (Taken at the Acme at Passyunk and Reed.)

Nikki

Posted 2010-05-07 11:16:59

Incredible!

Posted 2010-05-07 21:59:46

Awesome! Very 8-bit.

Peter

Posted 2010-05-08 17:39:39

true art!

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 2:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Bodhi Coffee in pictures

POSTED: Thursday, May 6, 2010, 11:37 PM

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

Stopped by Bodhi Coffee (410 S. Second St.) earlier this afternoon to snap a few pics of Bobby Logue's cafÃ©, which'll open tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. The narrow, sunny space, right next to Xochitl across from the Shambles, was put together with reclaimed materials from sources high and low. Logue got a bunch of black walnut for counters and trimmings from a purveyor in DelCo, but also snagged some raw wood for shelving from a gutted house out in West Philly; lots of nice custom work by carpenter Doug Powley. Custom lighting and some of the furniture for the space was developed by Robert True Ogden. The fixture in the sixth pic above, for example, was inspired by a hanging light the designer uncovered in a long-vacant West Philly candy store. In addition to Stumptown beans brewed pourover-style (there'll be hoppers with coffee to go, also) and with a Synesso espresso machine, Bodhi ("awakening") will run a chalkboard menu featuring sandwiches, panini, etc. made with locally sourced ingredients. The approach was inspired, of course, by the Sunday farmers market across the street; Bodhi will be ready to caffeinate the crowds for the market's second week, this Sunday, May 9.

Johnny Utah

Posted 2010-05-07 09:26:29

Righteous details....Bodhi coffee is lookin epic

Carl Imf

Posted 2010-05-08 18:59:57

What a ridiculously great spot and incredibly smooth espresso. Its great to see locally sourced, high-quality products in the neighborhood!

poncho

Posted 2010-05-09 18:54:49

I went to Bodhi coffee on Saturday and it is amazing! I wish the owners the best of luck and look forward to going often! Well, that's it for me, little hand says it's time to rock and roll.

Notes from the Weekend: May 10 :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-05-10 13:55:08

[...] of BBQ• Monday: Beefeater cocktail dinner at Koo Zee Doo• Somewhere in South Philly ...• Bodhi Coffee in pictures• Philly rep on new Hell's Kitchen season Video Blog• Behind the Scenes with Kurt [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 11:37 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Philly rep on new Hell's Kitchen season

POSTED: Thursday, May 6, 2010, 9:48 PM

Filed Under: Chef Salad | Food TV

Siobhan Allgood, a La Salle graduate who cooked at McKenna's Irish Pub in Fairmount and then at Table 31, will be one of 16 contestants on the latest season of Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen, debuting Tuesday, June 1 at 8 p.m. on Fox. (Allgood's current employment situation: She's an "open agent.") We wish Allgood the best of luck and hope she keeps her composure when Ramsay inevitably screams at her for the way she cooks riss-ott-o.

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 9:48 PM Permalink | Post a comment

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First Gigs: Jeff Ziga, Little Baby's Ice Cream
If you don't know Nutella is bad for you and your kids, then you are a total idiot and a bad parent.
An edible guide to Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival
Notes from the Weekend: May 20
Hell's Kitchen casting in Philly
Frozen Drinks Alert: Water ice cocktails at Noir
Spike TV's "Bar Rescue" turns Swanky Bubbles into Sheer
Real Talk: 50 Things They Never Told You About Being a Chef
Now Serving: Jerry's Bar
Night Market Watch

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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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