Archive: August, 2010

Ticket Stubs: Meal Ticket Weekly Recap, Aug. 23-27

POSTED: Monday, August 30, 2010, 1:30 PM

Filed Under: Meal Ticket | Ticket Stubs

Monday, August 23 We challenge critic Adam Erace with a bunch of weird ingredients (pickled lettuce?!) for his Top Chef Not So Quickfire, and he comes out smelling like a canned sardine rose. Wanna be on Food Network? They're casting for The Next Food Network Star in Philly on Aug. 31. Cupcake wars warz, Fond memories, secret drinking spots, Bmore goodness and plenty more in Notes from the Weekend. Tuesday, August 24 West Philly's Milk & Honey Market will open a second location. Wes Lieberher of Vintage is relocating to the West Coast, joining a team of Philly restaurant expats to open a food truck biz called Grindhaus. Details on Grindcore House, the brand-new vegan coffee shop in Pennsport. Wednesday, August 25 Baker Michael "Challahman" Dolich of Four Worlds opens his brand-new bakery and retail space this week. Berry Sweet is the name of the new frozen yogurt spot on South Street. The Khyber era is over, indicated in part by the bar's overhauled Twitter page. RIP! Thursday, August 26 Santucci's Square Pizza, long relegated to the Northeast, will open a much-anticipated location near the Italian Market. Salt & Pepper is close to finalizing a deal to move to East Passyunk Avenue. Friday, August 27 Speaking of P'yunk Plenty is the name of the prepared-foods mart that will be opening there soon. Mitch Prensky of Supper will host Edward Lee of Louisville's 610 Magnolia for a special dinner this week. Valerie Safran and Marcie Turney are poised to open their latest restaurant, Barbuzzo, this week. Check out tons of details and photos.

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 1:30 PM Permalink | Post a comment

More on Union Trust's takeover of Roy's

POSTED: Saturday, August 28, 2010, 6:13 PM

Filed Under: Chef Salad | Openings

Ed Doherty, partner in Union Trust Steakhouse (717 Chestnut St.), checks in with some prelim details on his team's takeover of what was, until recently, a Roy's Hawaiian Fusion location at 15th and Sansom. Doherty says he's in the process of interviewing designers and organized the demo process for Union Tavern, a casual concept that will boast an "urban country" design feel. The Tavern will serve "inspired American comfort food," and Doherty stresses that it will be "priced for the new economy." Tony Aiazzi, who for some time worked for Charlie Palmer's group of restaurants (including several years as exec chef at Palmer's flagship NYC restaurant Aureole, preceding ex-Striped Bass/Gilt dude Christopher Lee) has signed on to be the chef his cooking will focus on wood-burning ovens and rotisserie meats, and they'll also place a big focus on the raw bar and burgers. They want to open in the spring of 2011.

Foobooz » Quick Bites

Posted 2010-08-31 15:02:21

[...] Union Tavern will be the name of the concept replacing Roy’s Hawaiian at 15th and Sansom. Look for wood-burning ovens and rotisserie meats in the Spring of 2011. [Meal Ticket] [...]

Joe Grasso talks American Oak :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2011-02-03 13:42:28

[...] As Meal Ticket previously reported, the food component of American Oak will come from Tony Aiazzi. The former Auerole chef spent a lot of time with the Charlie Palmer Restaurant Group, is readying a restaurant of his own in the near future and has spent more time next to Al Roker on the NBC morning show than Meredith Vieira has. Soon after the Oak opens, he will become the culinary director of both Grassos restaurants. “I’m about to give it an umbrella title,” says Grasso of the organization running both spaces. “But each restaurant will stand on its own. The only thing thatll unite them is good food.”   Joe Grasso talks American Oak [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 6:13 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Barbuzzo in pictures

POSTED: Friday, August 27, 2010, 9:18 PM

Filed Under: Openings | Photos

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

This Wednesday, Sept. 1, marks the official opening of Barbuzzo (110 S. 13th St.), the latest 13th Street offering (and their first to pour booze!) from Valerie Safran and Marcie Turney, who own the eateries Lolita, Bindi and Grocery, plus the boutiques Verde and Open House. Meal Ticket dropped by the space yesterday evening to snag a peek at what's in store. (We wanna talk about the food right now, so read our June post for details on the interior!) Safran and Turney were inspired to pursue a wide-ranging Mediterranean concept since there's only so much culinary room to play at their Mexican- and Indian-inspired BYOs Turney often found herself "cooking in a box," limited by the spices, techniques and ingredients of those respective styles. Safran gives the example of cheese they've got paneer to work with at Bindi, and a handful of queso options going at Lolita. At Barbuzzo, however, they've got multi-traditional options galore, and will be making their own fior di latte for pizzas, which'll be fired in a wood-burning oven. (They'll also be using it to roast whole Murray's chickens, meatballs and more.) We also tried tastes of their pork rinds (or "piggy popcorn," as they've taken to calling it on their blog) with horseradish aioli, and the fideuà, a rich Valencian seafood dish that's essentially upside-down noodle paella it goes under a salamander before it's served, making the top, and not the bottom, wicked crunchy-crispy. Chef de cuisine George Sabatino and a team largely culled from Turney and Safran's other restaurants are executing a from-scratch philosophy at Barbuzzo (that's "bar," like where you have one too many, plus "buzzo," Tuscan slang for "belly"). They're making all their pastas, like the caserecce above, by hand using an in-house extruder (Pete Severino, of the Severino pasta family, has been breaking down the finer points for the kitchen). Charcuterie, too, is being handled in-house, with meats done in a portable cold smoker affectionately referred to the "Big Chief." Much of the kitchen's handiwork is currently dangling on a makeshift curing rack set up in the beer walk-in expect to dig into chourico, lomo, soppresata, prosciutto, pancetta, saucisson sec and fennel-blessed pizza sausage on any given evening. (The fiery-looking dangling sausage you see above is nduja, a spicy spreadable salami native to Calabria.) Starting Wednesday, Barbuzzo will be open for dinner from 5 to midnight daily, with happy hour kicking off at 4. Lunch and brunch should launch a few weeks in. UPDATE [30aug10]: Check out the opening food and drink menus below.


Food (click to enlarge)	Drink (click to enlarge)

Nick

Posted 2010-08-28 12:35:49

That Nduja looks and sounds awesome.

Foobooz » Tale of the Tape: Barbuzzo

Posted 2010-08-30 13:23:07

[...] Blog [Official Site] Barbuzzo in pictures [Meal Ticket] Who’s Making Pig Popcorn on 13th Street? [Thrillist] Turney and Safran to [...]

steve jenkins

Posted 2010-08-29 01:00:53

actually nduja looks nothing like what you find in calabria. whats with all the grease?

FrannyZooey

Posted 2010-08-29 01:30:09

It takes months and months to cure...you start with TONS of fat to ensure the finished product is spreadable. That is probably really early on in the process. All the fat is casting off but it looks greasier than it really is due to the red pepper.

2010 Restaurant Week starts this Sunday :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-09-10 10:18:23

[...] attention for this Restaurant Week is focused on the newly opened Barbuzzo (110 S. 13th St.), which we recently featured here on Meal Ticket. Right now they have some solid openings and are offering a bonus fourth course on their Restaurant [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 9:18 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Another local chef invited to the James Beard House

POSTED: Friday, August 27, 2010, 8:29 PM

Filed Under: Food Events

Photo courtesy of The Latest Dish

Chip Roman

On Mon., Oct. 18, Charles Chip Roman, chef/owner of Conshohockens Blackfish, will be cooking at the esteemed James Beard House. The Conshy Kid is in good company; David Katz of MéMé, Mike Stollenwerk of fish and Michael Schulson of Sampan have all cooked at the JBH in 2010. Tickets are $130 a head for James Beard members, $170 for the general public, and reservations can be made on the foundation's website. Read on for the menus.

Hors dOeuvres

Yellowtail with yuzu kosho and radishes

Butternut squash soup

Foie gras terrine with sour cherries

Flank steak with charred tomatoes

Caramelized onions with white truffles and parmesan

Dinner

Smoked Loch-Duart salmon with deep-fried egg, sour cream and crispy potatoes

Spiced Maine Lobster with Bartlett pear, chicory and pomegranate

Milk-fed poularde with chanterelles, heirloom pumpkin and sour cherries

Fourme dAmbert with beet membrillo and caramel

Butterscotch beignets with English cream

Posted by Adam Erace @ 8:29 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Aug. 31: Mitch Prensky and Edward Lee team up at Supper

POSTED: Friday, August 27, 2010, 6:35 PM

Filed Under: Chef Salad | Food Events | Menu Time


	Photo \| Picklesgee on Flickr
Lee (left) and Prensky

Edward Lee, the James Beard-nominated chef/proprietor of 610 Magnolia in Louisville, Kentucky, is joining buddy Mitch Prensky in Philly next Tuesday for a family-style "Southern Hospitality" dinner at Prensky's Supper (928 South St.). The dinner, which runs a very reasonable $38 a head (not including drinks, tax or tip), will be served up family-style, with dishes highlighting the modern American Southern wheelhouse both chefs like to work within we're talking trotters with wasabi, Kentucky-fried skate, braised collards grown at Prensky's own Blue Elephant farm done up with spicy pecans and white peaches from Linvilla Orchards ... full menu after the jump. Reservations required; call 215-592-8180.

Course One

pig's feet & wasabi griddle cakes herb salad and lemon-chili

Entrée Family Style

crispy pork shoulder Kentucky bourbon and grain mustard

KFSW Kentucky fried skate wing Pickles, hot sauce and crispy sage

Sides for the table fresh corn grits with smoked bacon

braised BE Farm collards spicy pecans and Linvilla Orchard white peaches

BE Farm heirloom tomato-&-pole bean salad basil vinaigrette & cracklins

Dessert

summer cantaloupe soup buttermilk ice cream, fresh berries and mint

peter balmat

Posted 2010-08-31 10:46:47

what does 'full menu after the jump' mean?

julia shaw

Posted 2010-08-31 15:01:59

I'm going to this dinner tonight- so excited!  We can have seconds.

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 6:35 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Plenty opening on East Passyunk

POSTED: Friday, August 27, 2010, 4:30 PM

Filed Under: Openings

We already know there's plenty going on down Passyunk way the just-opened Chhaya Café, the debut of Le Virtu's garden dining area, the in-the-works (but not yet official!) move of Salt + Pepper from Fitzwater Street. But now here's word of capital-P Plenty that's the name of the prepared-foods shop opening at 1710 E. Passyunk, in what was Cellini's. The project, which we first mentioned in July, is on track for an October opening. More soon.

New places on Passyunk

Posted 2010-09-02 17:45:29

[...] to post that I have read. Apparently a food store is opening in the previously occupied Cellinis.  Plenty opening on East Passyunk :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper  And salt and pepper does look like a go. Salt & Pepper to East Passyunk :: Meal Ticket :: Food [...]

Plenty in Pictures :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2011-02-03 12:47:42

[...] opening, one of the ovens at Plenty (1710 E. Passyunk) went on the fritz.(Previous Plenty coverage here, here and here.) Alls good in the hood today, and when we stopped by this morning, chef Tim [...]

jim flaherty

Posted 2011-02-09 12:58:17

Stopped by Plenty 5ish last night and had some really great things to go - Free Bird Salad,  a salmon spread, mashed potatoes, and brussel sprouts, I know a pretty eclectic mix, but all of them, shared with others, were delish!  definitely going back for more.

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

IN PRINT: City Paper Food and Restaurants, August 26

POSTED: Thursday, August 26, 2010, 9:12 PM

Filed Under: In Print

Photo | Neal Santos

- For an addendum to his big feature on the state of Philly's Italian Market, A.D. Amorosi shares the story behind Nina's Trattoria, an upcoming restaurant going into the ground floor of the Frank Rizzo mural building at 910 S. Ninth Street. He gets the full backstory on the legendary space from Agnes Bonuomo Viso (above), whose father was a architect of the Market, as well as the latest on its future from new owner Nick Nastasi. - Adam Erace hits up Back Bay Barbeque, a roadside 'cue joint on the remote shore strip connecting Longport and Somers Point. - What's Cooking has word on a brand-new Dogfish Head beer, a James Beard dinner in Philly (not New York!), a Kentucky-fried collaboration supper and much more. - For word on the latest openings, check out Feeding Frenzy this week we've got details on Catahoula, Grindcore House and lots of other tidbits.

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 9:12 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Salt & Pepper to East Passyunk

POSTED: Thursday, August 26, 2010, 7:08 PM

Filed Under: Food News | Openings

Robert Reilly, owner of wee Bella Vista BYOB Salt & Pepper, confirms he's close to signing a lease for the space at 1623 E. Passyunk. The storefront, which housed Roselena's for many years before becoming Michael's Cafe, is currently in rehab, but Reilly says no (no, no) in response to whether it's a totally done deal yet. His plan include includes closing the current, five-year-old location of Salt & Pepper and relocating the business to Passyunk after renovations have replaced the Victorian dollhouse look with something less, um, dusty. Bonus: They're applying for a liquor license, too.

Plenty opening on East Passyunk :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-08-27 11:31:18

[...] It Be on Filter mag cover Meal Ticket• IN PRINT: City Paper Food and Restaurants, August 26• Salt & Pepper to East Passyunk• Sausage Split• Confirmed: Santucci's to South Philly• Tonight: Drink up to [...]

Posted 2010-08-31 21:20:47

Maybe Little Fish will come back into Salt & Pepper's place? That'd be great for the neighborhood...

Salt & Pepper/Little Fish shuffle dance well on its way :: Meal Ticket :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-11-09 18:21:09

[...] up at 1623 E. Passyunk, now officially the new home of Robert Reilly’s Salt & Pepper. (Adam Erace shared news of that move, still pending at the time, back in August.) This means that chef Mike Stollenwerk is officially [...]

Posted 2010-08-31 15:21:11

HOORAY!!! Salt & Pepper is one of my very favorite restaurants in Philly, and now it will be yards away from my house!

Little Fish 2.0 on Fitzwater Street? :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-09-07 12:17:07

[...] weeks back, Adam Erace shared the news that Robert Reilly of Salt & Pepper (746 S. Sixth St.) was looking to move his Bella Vista BYOB to 1623 E. Passyunk, the former home of Michael’s Café. (Remember  this is not a done deal just yet.) Food [...]

Michael's Cafe

Posted 2010-08-26 14:20:05

[...] look with something less, um, dusty. Bonus: They’re applying for a liquor license, too.    Salt & Pepper to East Passyunk :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper    "It has shown me that everything is illuminated in the light of the past" Jonathan [...]

Salt & Pepper (v. 2.0) in pictures :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-12-21 13:39:49

[...] we reported the move way back in August, restauranteur Robert Reilly has been renovating the former Michael’s [...]

Posted by Adam Erace @ 7:08 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Sausage Split

POSTED: Thursday, August 26, 2010, 7:00 PM

Filed Under: Food News

Photo | Neal Santos

Bret Cavanaugh (left) and Dan Semko (right)

Perhaps you've noticed something missing from the Renaissance Sausage truck on Sundays at Headhouse? That something is Bret Cavanaugh, who one month ago, left the fresh-local forcemeat business he started with longtime buddy Dan Semko back in April. Semko, who's kept on truckin', confirms Cavanaugh's departure, but won't say anything more. (We'll update if he does.) Fortunately, all reports indicate Renaissance's sausage is still the best in town.

Felicia D'Ambrosio

Posted 2010-08-26 19:56:37

The food biz is unforgiving to any sort of personal relationship.  I'm sure we could rattle off a few dozen excellent restaurants that suffered similar breakdowns.

poncho

Posted 2010-08-26 14:28:20

Oh no! It's so sad when friends part ways...

Posted by Adam Erace @ 7:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Confirmed: Santucci's to South Philly

POSTED: Thursday, August 26, 2010, 6:11 PM

Filed Under: Openings

Photos | Drew Lazor

The Santucci family, which has began cranking out their signature buttery pan-baked pizzas on O Street in Kenzo Juniata in 1959 and has since grown to boast a handful of Northeast Philly locations, will most definitely open a branch on the corner of 10th and Christian this fall, confirms Alicia Santucci, whose grandparents founded the original pizzeria and subsequent mini-franchise. (A.D. Amorosi first mentioned the deal here on Meal Ticket two days ago.) Third-generation Alicia is partnering with her boyfriend, Blake Barabuscio, to operate the pizzeria (901 S. 10th St.), which will feature about 35 seats inside and plenty of outdoor seating, as well. This Santucci's will offer some new stuff, namely a whole-wheat crust option and a selection of Italian specialties and gourmet sandwiches that reaches beyond the usual hoagie/cheesesteak realm. They will deliver in and around Center City. This counts as a bit a of return for the Santucci clan, too Alicia tells Meal Ticket her grandparents, Joseph Sr. and Philomena, started their family just one block away, at 10th and Carpenter, before relocating to Northeast Philly and making a name for themselves up there. Welcome back!

Jenna Collier

Posted 2010-08-26 17:39:33

Now this is a location I will buy from!

Jon

Posted 2010-08-26 14:06:57

O St. is Juniata. Also the best Santuccis location.
Psyched on this though.

Brion Shreffler

Posted 2010-08-26 16:02:36

Wow. This is an early Christmas present. I worked at the location opposite Grant Plaza while in high school - THE BEST- and it's very hard to top this pizza. Pure gold. Can't wait to walk less than 2 minutes from my door to pick up a pie. I've made the trip back to the Northeast, but thank God indeed they've come home. The spicy sauce blend and crisp, robust crust makes for pizza that demands a spicy red. thank you.

Del Coro

Posted 2010-08-31 15:40:12

Great news, but the original Santucci's is in Juniata, not Kensington.

Don M

Posted 2010-08-26 14:29:59

So excited to be able to get this downtown, instead of just NE Philly.. Santucci's pizza is AMAZING!!!

Ticket Stubs: Meal Ticket Weekly Recap, Aug. 23-27 :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-08-30 08:32:35

[...] Paper Food and Restaurants, August 26• Salt & Pepper to East Passyunk• Sausage Split• Confirmed: Santucci's to South Philly• Tonight: Drink up to support local AIDS orgs Video Blog• Behind the Scenes with Kurt [...]

ThadS

Posted 2010-08-26 13:55:49

Can't wait!

Lou Perseghin

Posted 2010-08-26 14:03:35

Staying local for your grand pizza bet winnings then?

poncho

Posted 2010-08-26 16:36:35

the pizza at Santucci's is good, but the white pizza was lame

It’s beginning to look a lot like square pizza :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-09-30 12:04:47

[...] location at 10th and Christian. How heartening! It’ll be opening within the next few months; see our August post for more details.   It’s beginning to look a lot like square [...]

The Top 10 Pizzas in Philly: Santuccis, Tacconellis, Osteria, Franzones and more | whiskeygoldmine

Posted 2011-02-14 12:52:18

[...] Featured Photo by Drew Lazor of the City Paper [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 6:11 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 13
Bar Crawl: What's new at Ortlieb's
Afternoon Snacks: Richard Blais's Ikea Burger, Waffle "tacos," Coffee nerdery, The U.N. wants you to eat more bugs
Extra! Extra! Lobster openings, chocolate closings and lots of free stuff
Spike TV's "Bar Rescue" turns Swanky Bubbles into Sheer
Real Talk: 50 Things They Never Told You About Being a Chef
Hell's Kitchen casting in Philly

About this blog

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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