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Archive: June, 2011
Clark Gilbert picked a sweet weekend to soft-open his Gemelli on Main (4161 Main St.) — Manayunk was downright crawling with hungry folk due to its Arts Festival, providing Gilbert the opportunity to roll out his Medi/French restaurant, formerly located in Narberth, to a new crowd. He's now serving dinner nightly, with lunch Saturdays and Sundays. Both liquor license and al fresco dining are on the way, but the booze could very well be ready to go within a week's time (BYO for now). Here's Gemelli's opening menu; we've got shots of the interior after the jump.
It's always easy to tell what's new in Wing Phat Plaza at 11th and Washington — just look for the cleanest awning. The grime-free sign above beckoned us to My Tho, on the same side of the plaza as Pho 75, this weekend. Like 75, My Tho is a multi-location chain (they've got four restaurants in Texas), but instead of the classic beef/noodle/beef broth combo, they specialize in soups thickened with hu tieu (clear glass noodles) and mi kho (egg noodles), plus crawfish, offered after 2 p.m. daily. Yes, crawfish — the little suckers are not widely eaten in Vietnam, but for whatever reason quite a few Viet restaurateurs stateside have taken to serving mudbugs, capitalizing on Southeast Asian eaters' propensity for getting hands-on at the dinner table. (Here's an interesting NYT piece about it.) My Tho's full menu is after the jump (click to enlarge); hours are Mon.-Thu., 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Fri.-Sun., 9 a.m. to midnight.
Monday, June 20
The opening menu for Serafina, Rittenhouse's latest spot.
Lulu's Pizza Bar is new in Old City.
We visit Boston and get down with Dad's Day in Notes from the Weekend.
Tuesday, June 21
Check out food/drink photos from Taste of the Nation.
Olivier Desaintmartin of Caribou Cafe and Zinc represents Philly on Food Network's Chopped.
Wednesday, June 22
JAR Bar, a raw-foods cafe, is opening in Midtown Village.
Hot Diggity!, the new all-hot-dog operation, is open on South Street.
Thursday, June 23
The Food Trust announces the location of its next Night Market.
Taqueria del Sol, a Georgia-based fast-casual brand, is coming to Philly with multiple locations.
Puerto Rican-themed food truck The Latin Farmer launches in Philly soon.
Meal Ticket readers ask: How late is too late to show up for dinner at a restaurant?
Friday, June 24
Adam Erace shares how to make pickles, the lazy way.
Brown Betty launches its new location in Northern Liberties.
You should probably eat the pie at Cafe Estelle immediately.
NoLibs' Chenango, right next to Arrow Swim Club (1031 Germantown Ave.), offers a thrifty and potentially dangerous brunch deal on Saturdays and Sundays. Shell out $20 and you get a brunch entrée (see menu after the jump), plus all-you-can-drink Mimosas and Bloody Marys. That runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days. STAY HYDRATED DURING THIS OK.
Last Friday, I had pie for breakfast at Cafe Estelle (444 N. Fourth St.). Today, I repeat-offended, and I think you should join me.
Brown Betty Dessert Boutique, which has relocated its NoLibs flagship shop from Liberties Walk to 722 N. Second Street, is hosting a grand opening party tomorrow, June 25, from noon to 4 p.m. Expect a DJ spinning to entertain the "vintage-modern lawn party" (you know, it has been awhile since we've been to one) set up on the street. They'll be handing out PYT mini ice cream sandwiches made with Brown Betty cookies and La Colombe iced coffee, and we also hear a smaller, more mobile version of Fourth and Washington's Taco Loco truck will also make a tortilla-wrapped appearance.
Photos: Laura Novak Photography/Red Balloon PR
Confession: I hate pickles. I know, I know. It's unfathomable.
"How can you hate pickles?!" people shout incredulously when I say this, as if pickles are puppies or hundred-dollar bills. Then their eyes roll in the back or their head and they make blowjobby noises as they tell me how wonderful pickles are. Please stop, all of you.
Esteemed Meal Ticket commenter molls to the wall checks in with this restaurant etiquette query we'd like your feedback on:
So I really want to take an out-of-town buddy to Percy Street Barbecue next week but they close at 10 and we won't be able to get there until, like, 9:30. Is it douche-ish if we show up then? Should I just tip 'em a lot as a thank you?
What do you think, Meal Ticketers? Please share your takes in the comments. Meanwhile, here's our two cents: There's a huge difference between showing up at 9:30 and showing up at 9:55 or 10:01. Plus, Percy Street has the distinction of having most everything on its menu ready (or close to ready) to serve the second you sit down, so it's a far different situation than showing up to a restaurant, reservation-less, with 30 minutes to go and ordering a multi-course chef's tasting. We'd advise calling ahead and explaining the situation just to be considerate. All that being said, Percy 'cue is very takeout-friendly, too, so that's always an option.
Really want burnt ends now.
Photo: Neal Santos
The Latin Farmer, operated by Wilfredo Manzano, will introduce "a healthier and more wonderful way of eating authentic Puerto Rican dishes" by early August. Manzano, who grew up in Puerto Rico, is working hand-in-hand with organizations like The Food Trust and Greensgrow Farms to bring a fresh, seasonal lunch menu to different Philly neighborhoods. While the food is still being perfected, Manzano mentions that he'll offer both vegetarian and meat dishes; he'll travel back to his homeland this July to work on recipes for the concept. He says one of The Latin Farmer's biggest goals is to inspire Philly's Latino communities to explore a healthier and sustainable way of cooking.
While the operation won't be ready until August, look for the truck to make a few pop-up appearances in July. 'It's just a matter of polishing up the truck and rolling out soon," he says. In the meantime, follow The Latin Farmer on Twitter and stay tuned to Meal Ticket for updates.
Taqueria del Sol, an 11-year-old fast-casual Mexican/Southwest concept with a handful of locations in Georgia, has officially earmarked Philadelphia for its up-the-East-Coast expansion. The company has announced its intent to open a total of 12 Philly-area taquerias — founder Mike Klank and corporate chef Eddie Hernandez were semifinalists in the "Best Restaurateur" category of the 2011 James Beard Awards — between now and 2016. Their menu looks like it's a little more ambitious than same-market competitiors like Chipotle or Qdoba, featuring six different taco options, enchiladas, a bunch of soups, chilis and sides and daily specials unique to each franchise. No official word on where or when the first Philly del Sol location might be but we'll keep you posted.
UPDATE: A rep tells Meal Ticket that the restaurant is currently negotiating leases in Center City and Springfield; they hope to launch in the first quarter of 2012.
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