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Archive: August, 2009
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| Wiki |
Meal Ticket's hearing that the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation is approaching Chinatown restaurants right now in the hopes of organizing a 'hood-specific Restaurant Week for the fourth week of September. They're currently in the gauging-interest stage, so nothing is set in stone yet, but it looks like the PCDC hopes to gain enough traction to offer diners three prix fixe options � $10 for a three-courser (think small soup and app, then entr�e), $20 for a four-courser or $30 for a five-courser.
Please keep in mind that this plan is still tentative. But folks, if you live in/work in Chinatown or enjoy any of its many eateries, let the PCDC know that you'd gladly stuff your face to support something like this.
[...] Chinatown is aiming for its own Restaurant Week [Meal Ticket] Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corp [Official Site] [...]
Yes, please! I'll certainly be letting them know that I'd support this both early and often.
[...] has it that the Restaurant Week trend might be coming to Chinatown soon. Apparently the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation has been contacting Chinatown [...]
[...] it that the Restaurant Week trend might be coming to Chinatown soon. Apparently the [...]
[...] first wrote about the possibility of a Chinatown Restaurant Week back on Aug. 5, but now the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corp. has confirmed the plans to [...]
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| Courtesy of Bridgid's |
We told you about this yesterday, so consider this your official reminder � tonight, Bridgid's (726 N. 24th St., 215-232-3232) is tapping a keg of Ommegang's ultra-rare 2009 Inauguration Ale (aka "Obamagang," in goblet above) to honor of President Barack Obama's 48th birthday today. Order a glass and you'll get a slice of cake, too.
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| cnn.com |
The big news right now is Kim Jong-il's decision to free U.S. journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee, who've been detained in North Korea since late March. Of course, this is the first story on CNN.com as we speak (see above). But take a closer look at Ling's photo � wondering what that odd object in the bottom left corner is? Here's how Ling and Lee's pictures were originally displayed up until a few minutes ago, when a web editor cropped the image:
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| cnn.com |
That, friends, appears to be a hoagie. Most likely an Italian hoagie.
This raises a few questions.
First � the credit on the photos suggest that they were provided by the families of the just-freed journos. Could it be that the Ling clan was so overwhelmed with joy and emotion that they simply shot off the first picture of their daughter they could find, which just so happened to be the 32-year-old posing with a delicious-looking sandwich wrapped in wax paper?
Second � why did CNN decide to zoom in/crop the image after its initial posting? Is it inappropriate to show a former detainee brandishing a sandwich like a motherfucking microphone? We certainly don't think so. On the contrary � nothing, in our opinion at least, screams democracy quite like this. Fuck you, Kim Jong-il, you evil commie bastard! This shit has THREE KINDS OF HAM ON IT!
(h/t Gerard)
This is amazing!
Now this is what I call breaking news.
Up in the sky There's a man flying by In the WaWa hoagie balloon...
brilliant
Where's unbreaded? Quick, somebody tell them.
Bill Clinton should be dispatched to CNN headquarters to lobby against the repression of hoagies in news photographs. I'll bet one Ricci Bros. Italian on a long roll that he reaches an accord in under two hours.
Gee, really love the perfectly requisite and appropriate F-bombs and other profanity. They add so much shine and sparkle to the vapid swillbait of this post. Honestly? Not. Not one iota.
Serious Eats looooves Drew Lazor! Meal Ticket goes national.... http://www.seriouseats.com/2009/08/laura-ling-freed-eats-hoagie.html
[...] for its own Restaurant Week• Tonight: Bridgid's celebrates Obama's b-day with beer and cake• Emancipated American journalist Laura Ling loves FREEDOM! And ... hoagies? The Sports Complex Publisher's Clearinghouse• Where was the freakin' Mumm-ing?• Bill [...]
[...] But weâve been following the deeper subtext that Philadelphia City Paperâs MealTicket blog broke on Tuesday, and that Comedy Centralâs Colbert Report broadcast nationally a day [...]
Mark Tropea's Sonata, which just opened on Liberties Walk (1030 N. American St., 215-238-1240), has come up with a sharp promo to get bodies in his neighbors' doors � and then his own.
Courtesy of Sonata
The chef tells Meal Ticket that pretty much every non-restaurant business on the Walk � everything from DNA Salon and 1 Shot Coffee to Trophy Bike Garage and Spa East � is stocked with 10 percent off coupons for his brand-new BYO. Just gotta go in and get 'em. Tropea he'll keep the promo up through September 15.
Here's the full menu for the contemporary American BYOB.
[...] Meal Ticket :: Blog Archive :: Hit the Walk, save money at Sonata … [...]
[...] Want to try new Liberties Walk restaurant Sonata? Hit up any store on the walk for a 10% off coupon. [Meal Ticket] [...]
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| Photo l Curt Hudson |
Tonight marks 150 days from McGillin's Old Ale House 150-year anniversary. The oldest continuously operating tavern in Philadelphia is kicking off five months of celebration tonight, with beer scribe Don Russell reading from his hype book Joe Sixpack�s Philly Beer Guide: A Reporter�s Notes on the Best Beer-Drinking City in America (like you didn't know) and culminating in Abe Lincoln Himself tapping the first firkin of the Stoudt's-brewed McGillin's 1860 IPA. Adding to the festive atmosphere, one partygoer will win the chance to start up the giant countdown clock that will ring in McGillin's anniversary year on Jan. 1, 2010.
Meal Ticket got a preview sip of McGillin's 1860 IPA back in May, and even though it was a test batch and not yet finalized, we liked it immensely.� Stoudt's incorporated Centennial and Amarillo hops into the unfiltered, hazy gold ale, and kept the ABV a bit lower than the usual 7 percent IPA bombers � all the better for historically accurate session drinking.
Pints of 1860 IPA are $2 for the party tonight (starts at 6 p.m.), and going forward will be a fixture on draft at $3.75; pick up a three-beer tasting sampler of the IPA, McGillin's Genuine Lager and Real Ale, all brewed by Stoudt's, for $5.
McGillin's Olde Ale House, 1310 Drury St. 215-735-5562, mcgillins.com
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Meal Ticket just got an update on Jolly Weldon's upcoming Rittenhouse-area project, taking over a 2,000-square-foot former electronics story at 2006 Chestnut. Quickie details: The "dueling piano" concept is about six to eight weeks out. The plan is to have live performances � two pianos on stage, surrounded by table/booth seating for 125, plus a bar � Wednesday to Saturday. There will never be a cover.
In a nod to former west-of-Broad mogul Weldon's past venues (he had Jolly's in the Latham Hotel and the Sporting Saloon on 19th Street up until a few years ago), the bar will be doing plenty of regular happy hour specials. Food-wise, expect a sharing-friendly small plates menu from chef Brendan Smith of the nearby Smith's Restaurant | Lounge (39-41 S. 19th St.).
Sounds awesome Jolly, can't wait !
[...] Jolly Weldon (above) is shooting for Oct. 30 for the grand opening of Jolly’s Dueling Piano Bar (2006 Chestnut St.), which was originally slated for a late September debut. [...]
Jolly, it's been too long...looking forward to the sights and sound of your new venue. Get back to me soon! Milton
[...] Dueling Piano Bar (2006 Chestnut St.), which Meal Ticket has been following for a few months now, opens to the public this coming Friday, Oct. 30 (a World Series off day) at 3 p.m. [...]
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| Photo courtesy Xochiltl |
| Lime time: the freshest margarita |
One of the perks of working in a really good restaurant is the daily staff or family meal.� Around 4 p.m. or midnight (or both), one of the cooks sets up a simple, hearty spread of whatever's lying around the walk-in, for the entire staff to fortify themselves before/after the long, busy shift.� Though family meal typically consists of no-frills protein, salad and starch, slick Xochitl in Headhouse Square is offering non-industry folk a chance to eat straight off the menu at employee-discount prices every Thursday.
From 10 p.m. to midnight, Xochitl will halve the prices of 20 tortas, ceviches and more, with nothing topping $8 and some as low as $3.� Their addictive queso fundido is $4 during the Thursday special; a trio of tamales Oaxaquenos just $3.50; tacos stuffed with pork ribs, chicken, skirt steak or lamb all ring in under $5.50. Scope the full late-night menu here.
Oh, and in true restaurant-employee tradition, you can drink you face off� with half-price margaritas, $2 beer specials and the $6 Guero Special, a can of Tecate and a shot of Sauza blanco tequila.� La Hora Feliz prices are offered at the bar Tuesday through Sunday from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., and in the lounge Thursday through Saturday from 10 p.m. until 12 midnight.
Staff Meal Thursdays, 10 p.m.-mid., Xochitl, 408 S. 2nd Street, 215-238-7280, xochitlphilly.com
[...] Also worth mentioning that Xochitl’s “Staff Meal Thursdays” promo, which involved the entire menu dropping to half-price from 10 p.m. to midnight, will be back, with [...]
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| dpdoughphilly.com |
The 40th/Ludlow D.P. Dough, the long-awaited Philly outpost of the multi-location calzone maker that we first told you about in November, has deemed the opening date range above worthy of public consumption. More info soon. In the meantime, get the rundown on the 'zone makers and check out their menu.
[...] and running in Philly since construction began last fall. Barring any last-second snags, Jason is almost certain that this coming weekend will see its [...]
[...] location (33 S. 40th St., 215-796-9809) officially opens for business today at 5 p.m., after a handful of false starts. Meal Ticket popped by earlier today to say what’s up to owners�Jason and [...]
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| Moore Brothers Wine Company |
| Google Maps cannot find this. |
If you're relying on computerized directions to find Moore Brothers Wine Company, be they Google, Mapquest, Yahoo or your talking GPS friend, you will be sorely tried and then thirsty.� Moore Brothers' Pennsauken, New Jersey store, located in "a nondescript suite of offices in the Cooper River Park", is legendarily invisible to whatever techno-algorithm that produces the directions.
Co-owner Greg Moore solves your jug-handle dilemma with his hand-drawn map (above) that guides you from Philadelphia to his Wonderful� Land of Unknown Wines.
Diminishing the thrill of purchasing awesome intoxicants that the irritating PA LCB would never even try to get their monopolizing little paws on is New Jersey's three-day-old, 25 percent alcoholic beverage tax increase.� The hike ups the tax rate for manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors.� Mark Zimmaro of The Intelligencer notes who will likely be footing the bill:
Some distributors acknowledged that the increase most likely would be passed on to their customers.
Taxes on liquor and wine increased by 25 percent, but liquor took the biggest hit in price per volume. A consumer purchasing a gallon of liquor will pay $5.50 in taxes, a jump of $1.10. Wine buyers will pay 87.5 cents per gallon in taxes, an increase of 17.5 cents.
It works out to an additional 51 cents for a 1.75-liter bottle of vodka or 3 cents for 750 milliliters of wine.
Add that extra 3 cents per bottle on to the $4 bridge toll and... well, it's still way better than buying cooked bottles at PA Wine & Spirits stores.
Moore Brothers Wine Company, 7200 N. Park Dr., Pennsauken, NJ, 856-317-1177, moorebrothers.com
Google finally caught up with us. Mapquest is still a no-go, and GPS is still having trouble. Here's a link to the map above. Thanks! DM
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| Photo | Drew Lazor |
Philly's Yards Brewing Co. is introducing an intriguing twist on their flagship India Pale Ale � dubbed Cape of Good Hope IPA, the new beer's production process was decidedly old-school. Brewing notes:
Originally brewed to withstand the epic voyages from the shores of England around the African Cape of Good Hope to the Indian Subcontient, the India Pale Ale has always been a beer for the adventurous soul.
Thoroughly hopped with Amarillos in both the whirlpool and the fermenter, it was then transferred to our makeshift shipping cask, where it was dry-hopped again with Nugget and Columbus. Set adrift in our brewery without cooling, it was able to age as though it had been put to sea for six months. The result is an authentic double dry hopped and uniquely aged India Pale Ale reminiscent of something you'd find solace in on a balmy, Indian evening far away from home. Beware of tigers...
Cape of Good Hope boasts 8.1 percent ABV, a little beefier than Yards' traditional IPA, which sits at 7 percent. It'll carry much less carbonation due to its cask aging. You'll be able to check out the special draft-only release at P.O.P.E., Rembrandt's, The Swift Half, The Dive and Standard Tap.
UPDATE: After the jump, check out a full list of bars boasting the IPA. If they don't have on draft already, they will by week's end, says Yards.
- Memphis Taproom
- Dawson Street Pub
- Kite & Key
- Bridgid's
- P.O.P.E.
- Rembrandt's
- The Swift Half
- The Dive
- Jose Pistola's
- Standard Tap
- Prohibition Taproom
- The Institute
- Grey Lodge Pub
- Varga Bar
It's already on the Hand pump over at Varga Bar, has been about a week. Delish.
Genius, accept that whole "IPA brewed to make the voyage to India" legend is just marketing hype.
Tom, you have piqued my interest. How could the IPA legend be false!? Explain!!!
Ours kicked yesterday. Fear not loyal hop heads! We have a firkin coming this Saturday. A firkin?! Yep. Hope in a glass. As for the story, Tom what do you have to back up your statement? Cheers! Heather@the institute
They also have this (or did 2 nights ago) at London Grill on 23rd St.
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