Archive: September, 2010

Today is Free Dessert Day

POSTED: Wednesday, September 15, 2010, 4:10 PM

Filed Under: Dealage

Photo | Michael T. Regan

Today is Free Dessert Day at participating restaurants in the area. In honor of Top Chef: Just Desserts, debuting on Bravo tonight, OpenTable is offering free dessert to every pair of diners who reserve for dinner at a wide range of restaurants, from South Jersey (Tre Famiglia in Haddonfield) to South Street (Percy Street Barbecue). This deal cannot be combined with a Restaurant Week menu, and each person must order a minimum of one entrée. Complete list of participating restaurants here.

Posted by Anthony Sica @ 4:10 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Breaking Away: South of South Restaurant Week

POSTED: Wednesday, September 15, 2010, 1:00 PM

Filed Under: Dealage | Food Events

We had brief mention of a South of South Restaurant Week in the latest installment of Notes from the Weekend, and now a total of 10 restaurants geographically ineligible to take part in all the Center City fun have strung together a formidable prix-fixe alliance, demarcations be damned. (We like to think of this group as the scrappy Cutters cycling team from Breaking Away, beating all those prepped-out, well-to-do university students at their own game.) Spearheaded by Kar Vivekananthan of Adsum, the three-course SoS dealage (prix-fixe prices may vary slightly, from $30 to $35) technically kicked off this past Sunday; just like regular Restaurant Week, this one will run through this Friday and then pick up again from Sept. 19 to 24, though some participants are plowing straight through (and some are doing additional courses and wine/cocktail pairings). After the jump, a full list of participants, plus menus and relevant links. As always, reservations are recommended. - Adsum (700 S. Fifth St.) (menu PDF) - Gnocchi (613 E. Passyunk Ave.) (Call 215-592-8300 for menu details) - Hoof + Fin (617 S. Third St.) First Course: Choice of House Salad OR Empanadas Criollas, corn and cheese or beef OR Cornmeal crusted calamari, tomato, onions, peppers salad with a Smoked Orange BBQ Sauce Second Course: Choice of Gnocchi, Ricotta style, sage, truffle brown butter, capers & shaved grana padano OR Asado, sampler of different cuts of meat and sausages grilled to perfection OR Grilled Scallops over a potato frittata served with Provencal sauce and grilled vegetables Dessert Course: Choice of Tres Leches Cake OR Banana Bread pudding with vanilla ice cream OR Panqueques, thin crepes filled with Dulce de Leche and strawberries - Izumi (1601 E. Passyunk Ave.) (call 215-271-1222 or see their website) - James (834 S. Eighth St.) First Course: Choice of housemade country pate, pickled pears and dried cherry mustard OR butternut squash soup, granny smith apple and sage Second Course: Choice of Atlantic salmon bathed in EVOO, smothered onions and Swiss chard- and bay-scented white wine sauce OR wild mushroom risotto, aged balsamic Dessert Course: Choice of chef's selection ice creams OR lemon mascarpone panna cotta, local berries and their syrup - La Fourno (636 South St.) (Call 215-627-9000 or see their website) - The Latest Dish (613 S. Fourth St.) (Call 215-629-0565 or see their website) - Paradiso (1627 E. Passyunk Ave.) First Course: Choice Of Crispy Chicken Livers, Carmelized Onion, Vin cotto OR Heirloom Tomato, Fresh Mozzarella, Roasted Peppers OR Arancini di Riso, Roasted Pepper Puree OR Baby Spinach, Roasted Pear, Pancetta , Parmigiano Reggiano, Cider Vinaigrette Second Course: Choice Of Fettuccine Pomodoro OR Spaghettini, Swordfish , Spicy Puttanesca Third Course: Slow Roasted Porchetta, Haricot Vert, Yukon Gold Potato OR Speck- and asiago-stuffed chicken, spinach aglio olio OR Skate Milanese, Baby Arugula, Lemon Aioli Dessert Choice Of Venetian pice pudding, Grappa-soaked cherries OR ricotta and mascarpone cheesecake, fruit compote, crème anglaise - S&H Kebab House (611 E. Passyunk Ave.) (Call 267-639-3214 or see their website) - Southwark (701 S. Fourth St.) (They will be serving a version of their menu with special pricing)

Oct. 3-10: River Ward Restaurant Week :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-09-30 15:21:59

[...] month, Adsum, Izumi, James and seven other spots the Center City District didn’t ask to prom turned their jilted emotions into their own pre-fixe par-tay. In October, the River Ward districts do the same, though you could call the comprised nabes of [...]

Oct. 3-10: River Ward Restaurant Week :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-09-30 15:21:59

[...] month, Adsum, Izumi, James and seven other spots the Center City District didn’t ask to prom turned their jilted emotions into their own pre-fixe par-tay. In October, the River Ward districts do the same, though you could call the comprised nabes of [...]

Restaurant Week Pick(s) for Sept. 17-19: Zama, South of South, Mémé :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-09-17 14:01:43

[...] Tonight or tomorrow would also be a great opportunity to check out some of the South of South Restaurant Week choices.  James (834 S. Eighth St.) for $35? Sign me [...]

Cause why should Center City have all the fun? | South Of South (SOS)

Posted 2010-09-15 09:32:34

[...] Paper reports here that restaurants South of South are hopping on the prix-fixe bandwagon. Add to this list Bistrot La [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 1:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Philadelphia Chutney Co. kinda-sorta open

POSTED: Tuesday, September 14, 2010, 11:12 PM

Filed Under: Openings

Earlier today, a hawk-eyed Meal Ticket tipster noticed that Philadelphia Chutney Company, which we first told you about way back in January, appeared to be open, so they popped in to find out more. Turns out the quick-serve Indian concept (1628 Sansom St.) is not fully open just yet, but that didn't stop the owners from hooking our tipster up with a sneak peek (looks like a kati roll dosa to us). A fresh update on the Chutney Company's Twitter page indicates that they're doing a "selective tasting" deal this week, with all menu items priced at $5. More soon. UPDATE: Owner Nirav Metha just rang official grand opening is set for this coming Monday, Sept. 20, Wednesday, Sept. 22, but folks are welcome to stop in and check out the space/the food in this soft-opening week.

Philadelphia Chutney Company in pictures :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-09-17 17:03:48

[...] this week, we told you a bit about the soft-open Philadelphia Chutney Company (1628 Sansom St.), but now we have some more details about the operation. Taking over the space [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 11:12 PM Permalink | Post a comment

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia! Free sandwiches! Read this now!

POSTED: Tuesday, September 14, 2010, 10:50 PM

Filed Under: Dealage

Courtesy of Square 1682

To celebrate the sixth-season premiere of FX's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia this Thursday, Sept. 16, Square 1682 (121 South 17th St.) will be giving away 200 free lunches, from 11 a.m. until those babies are gone. The bagged meals will include a crispy chicken breast topped with a sunny-side-up egg, frisee and a bacon-soy viniagrette (aka chef Guillermo Tellez's "It's Always Sunny" chicken sandwich, available on the menu with garlic-parm fries for $12); a bag of chips; and a house-baked chocolate cherry blondie. The event is first-come first-serve, and 1682 recommends you come earlier than later as they are sure to go fast. I personally would of preferred a milk steak boiled over hard, but this sounds like a pretty great deal instead.

Posted by Rachel Burgos @ 10:50 PM Permalink | Post a comment

EAT THIS IMMEDIATELY: Pawpaws

POSTED: Tuesday, September 14, 2010, 7:34 PM

Filed Under: Eat This Immediately

canidoit.org

Sit. Good boy. Gimme your pawpaw.

This is a pawpaw. Looks like something Angelo would have ~~made love to~~ purchased at the Singaporean market in this weeks Top Chef, no? Though its appearance, tropical flavor and family tree (cherimoya, soursop, ylang-ylang) suggests far-flung origins, this fruit grows right in our backyard. A blend of smoky banana, mango and passion fruit, is how Ian Brendle, who grows pawpaws on his familys Green Meadow Farm in Gap, Pa., describes the fruits evocative flavor. The taste is really unbelievable. To open, slice along the oblong fruits prime meridian, exposing the custard-y, peach-colored interior crossed with onyx, lima-bean-shaped seeds. The flesh is full of natural pectin, says Brendle, making pawpaws perfect for ice creams and jams. A delivery of Green Meadow pawpaws lands on Thursday at Fair Food Farmstand (Reading Terminal Market, 12th and Arch streets), where theyre running about $5 per pound. Be vigilant: They sell out in a day or two, according to product manager Emily Gunther. While theyre in season (through September), you can also try foraging for pawpaws yourself. Gunther came upon a grove while foraging in the Susquehanna River Valley just last Wednesday. I dont remember exactly where, she says. A likely story, but we cant player hate. Having tasted this exotic indigenous crop, wed also keep the coordinates confidential.

danya

Posted 2010-09-15 08:47:12

Ate my first pawpaws this season. Truly an original flavor, unlike other fruits I have tasted. Great texture, silkier than a banana but not stringy like a mango.

WDIW: Pawpaws « Green Aisle Grocery

Posted 2010-09-30 15:11:08

[...] seasonal window on pawpaws, those exotic-tasting North American oddities, is closing fast. So you pick up a set of these seeded studs–and then what? For virgins, the [...]

Ed Levine profiles Glenn Brendle, Green Meadow « Green Aisle Grocery

Posted 2010-09-30 15:11:23

[...] kaffir lime leaves, candy-sweet red cipollini (currently in stock) and the pawpaws we’ve been talking about all month. A great article on a great farmer who keeps us stocked with local goodness [...]

Ticket Stubs: Meal Ticket Weekly Recap, Sept. 13-17 :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-09-20 08:01:49

[...] What the hell is a pawpaw? Read on to learn why you should eat them immediately. [...]

Farmer Ben

Posted 2010-09-15 12:42:22

The paw paw is the only tree fruit species that is indigenous to the the continental US

Posted by Adam Erace @ 7:34 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Starr announces chef for 18th/Sansom pub

POSTED: Tuesday, September 14, 2010, 4:31 PM

Filed Under: Chef Salad | Openings

Robert Aikens, who just sounds like he'd be British (he is), will be the chef at Stephen Starr's still-not-named English pub concept at the corner of 18th and Sansom, right across from Tria. (Let's just call it Guvnah's for now, savvy?) Aikens, who most recently cooked with his Michelin-starred brother, Tom Aikens, in the south of London, is preparing a menu of "approachable" Union Jack grub, with attention paid to local/seasonal starting points. Guvnah's the pub, which will have 166 seats and an international beer list (some cask ales, too), should be open by early December.

ICE CUBES: Good Charlotte, little monsters, Big Bugs and more :: Critical Mass :: A&E Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-09-16 09:02:19

[...] for Sept./Oct., and Kevin Sbraga leaving Starrs Rat’s in N.J., whats Stephen Starrhire Brits (Robert Aikens joined Starrs UK-themed 18th-and-Walnut gastropub) and relocate his Italian [...]

The name of Stephen Starr’s pub :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-12-09 11:17:01

[...] We told you about the English pub that Stephen Starr’s putting in at 18th and Sansom, and plenty of you have seen the crazy pace at which his construction team is putting the project together. Now we’ve got the official name: the concept, helmed by British-born chef Robert Aikens, will be called The Dandelion. Though we’ve heard a couple opening dates being tossed around, we’re certain it will open before Christmas Day. More soon.   The name of Stephen Starr’s pub [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 4:31 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Notes from the Weekend: September 13

POSTED: Monday, September 13, 2010, 10:31 PM

Filed Under: Notes from the Weekend

Notes from the Weekend is a Monday feature that sees the members of Team Meal Ticket compiling all the food/drink highlights uncovered during prime eatin time, Friday to Sunday. Consider this a place for good deals, great dishes, wicked cocktails, recipe triumphs (and tragedies), bizarro conversations and more. Were eager to share our notes, but especially excited to read yours. We encourage you to leave notes from YOUR weekend in the comments. Have at it! (View past NFTW installments at citypaper.net/notes.)

Rachel Burgos: RB

Adam Erace: AE Drew Lazor: DL Anthony Sica: AS

Photo | Adam Erace

Friday, scooped calorie-conscious take-out from Fuel (1917 E. Passyunk Ave.). Chef/owner/DJ Rocco Cima says hes about a month away from opening a new Center City location; heres hoping the uptown café will serve Passyunks charred corn-stuffed guacamole, Thai chicken wrap dripping with protein-packed peanut sauce and cool agua de jamaica brewed with hibiscus flowers grown and dried by one of his Mexican cooks. AE Friday, met up with friends sitting outside at the P.O.P.E (1501 E. Passyunk Ave.) for a Southern Tier Pumking, one of my most favorite beers ever. It tastes like fall in a bottle, which was perfect for the cooler weather. Headed up to The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) to see a friend's bands play, had some Kenzingers and some of a sketchy bar slice of pizza. I still enjoyed it. RB Saturday: A chef friend from Chicago landed in Philly, eager to see some of the food sites he told me he'd never had a good meal in Philly, which shocked and offended me so much that I a) punched him and b) no I didn't and c) decided to do my part to make sure he wouldn't be able to say that anymore. First stop: South Philly Tap Room (1509 Mifflin St.), where chef Scott Schroeder, who was only slightly drunk at the time, hooked us up with some new dishes he's working on, including a ridiculous Ultimo Coffee- and cider-glazed duck leg over sautéed lima beans and slivered duck gizzards. We geeked the hell out, it was awesome. DL

Photo | Adam Erace

: Continued the seaside bacchanal at Margate institution Two Cents Plain (9305 Ventnor Ave.). The warm waffles crowned with slabs of Breyers dulce de leche, bananas and hot fudge were as sexy as the dame that greeted me at the door. AE Was in Wildwood this weekend during the Roar to the Shore. I was looking for some peace and quiet, post-summer shore relaxation; instead, I was met with thousands bikes running from 8 a.m. to midnight. Did stop in to The Dogtooth Bar and Grill (100 E. Taylor Ave.) for some of the best food on the island. The Irish clams with bacon and grouper sandwich are standouts. Will certainly be back. AS

Photo | Drew Lazor

Post-SPTR, took the crew to Adsum (700 S. Fifth St.), which in just two months of existence has become one of my favorite impulsive drop-in spots. It was packed at the bar so we grabbed an outdoor table, got down on Mr. Preston Eckman's cocktail stylings and ate some wow-we-really-shouldn't-have-ordered-this goodness, including foie gras poutine, that confoundingly delicious Kool-Aid watermelon, and, of course, their fried oysters (favorite in the city). Also heard that Adsum, plus a bunch of other south-of-South restaurants, are planning their own Restaurant Week to coincide with Center City's. More details soon; here's Adsum's RW menu for now. DL

Photo | Adam Erace

Saturday: Almost threw down when a quartet of hillbillies slithered into the stool Id been waiting for at the outdoor clam bar at Smittys (910 Bay Ave.) in Somers Point. Contemplated the weapon utility of a bottle of Flying Fish Exit 11 I killed while seething on the wood-and-concrete benches. After about half an hour (quick for Smittys), I settled in for white and red clam chowder, fried calamari, steamers, smoked scallop dip, U-peels, shrimp parmesan and fried oysters. Worth the wait, and assault charges. AE Saturday got up ass early and headed to Fishtown to watch some EPL Soccer at a friend's house. After the game, hit up Kraftwork (541 E. Girard Ave.) brunch for the first time. I played it cool and got the standard two eggs, bacon, and garlic herbed fries awesome, though after peeping a breakfast sandwich wish I ordered that instead. They come with housemade sausage, arugula, chees and some other goodness between two massive biscuits. Walked through scenic Kensington to get to another friend's house. Stopped by a bodega for an Arctic Splash and got barked at by a strange man as I was leaving. In the evening, I hit up a block party on Palmer Street, drank some beers and was jealous of the coolest moonbounce ever that I was too "big" to play in. Got a ride to South and had a Tecate at Copa (344 South St), followed by a falafel at Maoz (248 South St.) with every available topping on it, including garlic mayo and a sauce dubbed only "cilantro." RB

Photo | Drew Lazor

Post-Adsum: One-block stuffed-silly stumble to Southwark (701 S. Fourth St.), where Aviations, Manhattans, somethingsomethings and Sly Fox Pikeland Pils-es happened. We shut down the bar and were politely ushered out. Thank God they did that because if they didn't we'd probably still be sitting there arguing about ... what the hell was it that we were arguing about? DL Sunday afternoon went to the South Philly Acme (1400 E. Passyunk Ave.) with a friend to get supplies to make sandwiches: roast beef, provolone, au jus (in a can!), horseradish and some rolls. I also picked up a bottle of Tabasco Chipotle hot sauce, which we slathered on individual potato chips before devouring them. I think it's my favorite new condiment. RB

Brunch Sunday afternoon at Garces Trading Co. (1111 Locust St.). Was a little concerned that I'd screw myself for the week by blowing my entire budget on some Garces Eggs but it actually turned out to be generally affordable, considering how much food we destroyed. Three brunch courses runs $25 a head. I got down on a richrichrich steak/eggs/potato/bernaise plate and a decidedly less artery-piledriving melon/yogurt thing, while my companions got down on what looked to be an amazing smoked bronzino breakfast pizza. I would've indulged, but I got that bet going. And I am not fucking losing that bet. DL Sunday: Ventured out into the rain to the tropically charming Melelani Cafe (5202 Atlantic Ave.) in Ventnor. The name means place of palms in the South African language of Tswana, and since opening last summer has become the de facto clubhouse of Downbeach artistes. I washed down their combo french toast (one slice crusted in almonds, another in Rice Krispies) with a pot of pineapple-papaya tea as big as a beach ball. AE I was purchasing some honeycrisp apples at Whole Foods (929 South St.) and the checkout chick dropped one of them, badly bruising it. She apologized profusely and proceeded to give us the three non-dropped honeycrisps we'd brought up $2.99 a pound! for free. I have no idea why she did this, but it was a really nice gesture and I was extremely appreciative. I'm also glad she offered before I could start blabbing, because I was about to be like "Yo, I'll eat that ground apple right now, give it here." By the way, AE's Green Aisle Grocery (1618 E. Passyunk Ave.) gets honeycrisps in this Wednesday. DL

Photo | Drew Lazor

This Chocolove's dark chocolate/almond/sea salt bar is prob the best damn candy bar in the Milky Way. More in our soon-to-launch Candy Bar of the Week feature. DL

CMF

Posted 2010-09-15 17:26:34

a friend of our fam who lives in margate always called it, "two cents plain, five bucks a scoop" ;)

kibby

Posted 2010-09-13 19:13:11

Spent the weekend in OC, MD for the last beach-y session of the season.  Ate boardwalk pizza and birch beer on Friday before wandering off the boardwalk to find a bar.  We stumbled into The Bearded Clam (awesome) and drank super cheap drafts for hours and hours and hours.  We also ordered $1 jello shots that came with whipped cream on top.  Cute and totally gross.  Saturday morning we made an awesome brunch (shrimp and grits and tomato salad) after swinging by a mini farmers market right off the highway.  I got roped into listening to a long story about wizards with one of the old tanned hippie stoners manning the booths.  I'm not sure how it started but I'm pretty sure that I just smiled and said hello.  I must look like I'm into wizardry? Saturday night- crabs crabs crabs crabs crabs.  And bud light lime.

danya

Posted 2010-09-13 20:32:36

Friday night celebrated the birthday of my pal Phillygrrl with a girly sleepover. Her man had provided homemade Filipino egg rolls (they have a name... Drew?) and drank 3 Olives Bubble Gum vodka while singing 80s and 90s karaoke to the touristy dudes congregating outside the windo. Oh, and her present was Cafe Estelle housemade bacon, snagged from Green Aisle.

Drew Lazor

Posted 2010-09-14 21:43:32

That's my bad Sarah. Fixed! I owe you a sundae.

Drew Lazor

Posted 2010-09-14 21:43:51

Lumpia is the best.

juliana

Posted 2010-09-15 20:02:27

word. also word on the impulsive, outdoor meal stops at adsum -- stopped there one wednesday afternoon after hitting philly aids thrift for an adsum burger (that pancetta-onion orgy legit killed me) and an old fashioned, even sat out in the drizzle and it was wonderful.

friday we sucked the last grilling days out of summer and had asian-ish burgers with cabbage salad, wasabi mayo & mushrooms sauteed in sherry vinegar & madeira. afterwards, hit up teri's in the ital market for their hop wallop special (eh) + shots of jamison (in hindsight, the shots were unnecessary).

saturday went to paesano's at 9th & christian and decided to branch out and choose something other than the gustaio or the bolognese. got a zawzeech, which was pleasantly sweet and enjoyable, though my friend called it "just a sausage and pepper sandwich." but sometimes, you don't need marinara and fried egg all over your fingers (though i'm kinda aching for it right now). my friend had the pesce fritti which he said tasted like a "big mac in the best way possible." (i agreed)

phillygrrl

Posted 2010-09-14 11:59:48

Lumpia :) They're called lumpia, Danya.

Doron Taussig

Posted 2010-09-14 11:49:33

Was home in Queens for Rosh Hashana. Ate challah, gefilte fish, apples and honey. Also ate several bagels. God damn those were good bagels. You can't argue with Queens bagels.

sarah p

Posted 2010-09-14 18:52:09

two cents plain is at 9305 ventnor avenue in margate. they also make a mean mint chocolate chip milkshake, complete with all of the settled pieces of chips at the bottom...best eaten with a spoon. a childhood favorite.

M.E.

Posted 2010-09-13 17:48:39

Is there a reason no one goes to Devil's Den brunch? Stumbled in around 1 on a Saturday because the $3 ($3!!!!) Bloody Mary's called, and left with a stomach full of some oh-so-fluffy eggs benedict (and vodka), but there was no one there! A couple held down an outside table but my party were the only other people in the joint. What gives? Was I just there on an off day? The other notable weekend meal came courtesy of Lee How Fook, which was all delicious (subgum duck = fave) and ludicrously cheap for the amount of food consumed.

Breaking Away: South of South Restaurant Week :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-09-15 08:01:50

[...] Read this now!• Eat This Immediately: Pawpaws• Starr announces chef for 18th/Sansom pub• Notes from the Weekend: September 13• Restaurant Week Pick for Sept. 13: Bistrot La Minette• Top Chef Not So Quickfire: [...]

Daniel McLaughlin

Posted 2010-09-14 00:02:18

So I really made the rounds this weekend, and all with a local theme. Friday night started at Tweed for drinks, where we tried a duck burger with duck breast from River and Glen farms. Then wandered over to Barbuzzo and had an under-whelming Vegetable board of local veggies with less than local dressings. Saturday was redemptive with a trip to the Kennett Square Mushroom Festival where we loved mushroom risotto from Talula's Table and mushroom ice cream at one of the local stands--delicious. Not to mention a box of beautiful portabellas to take home for grilling. Then we went out to Terrain in Glen Mills on Sunday for a delicious brunch where we had an amazing mushroom quiche (I obviously didn't get my fill of shrooms the day before) and a beautiful egg white omelette with local leeks and farm fresh goat cheese. Since we're counting Monday too, I rounded out the weekend with a Pocono River Bluefish BLT from the Standard Tap. Apparently I'm not the only one keeping the 3 day Labor Day weekend spirit alive...

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 10:31 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Restaurant Week Pick for Sept. 13: Bistrot La Minette

POSTED: Monday, September 13, 2010, 8:08 PM

Filed Under: Dealage | Food and Movies

Courtesy of Bistrot La Minette

Need somewhere to get your deal on tonight? Every day during next two weeks, Team Meal Ticket will bring you a daily Restaurant Week pick. We will highlight some of the best deals being offered by officially participating restaurants, as well as some renegade Restaurant Weekers around town. Tonight, check out Dinner and a Movie at Bistrot La Minette (623 S. Sixth St.). From Sunday to Friday for the entire month of September, Peter Woolsey's restaurant is celebrating a deal of its own three courses for $30 ($5 cheaper than Center City), or $42 with wine pairings. Click here for the full menu. Combine this deal with the ever-so-sexy film screenings running this month in La Minette's courtyard and you have a date night that even Nicholas Sparks would approve of. Showings take place on Monday and Thursday evening through Oct. 28 (here's the full schedule). Tonights movie is Christophe Honorés Dans Paris, starring Romain Duris and Louis Garrel. Seatings for the movie are at 8:30 p.m., and plenty of tables are still available.

Posted by Anthony Sica @ 8:08 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Top Chef Not So Quickfire: Wok-a Wok-a

POSTED: Monday, September 13, 2010, 6:30 PM

Filed Under: Food TV | Not So Quickfire | Recipes | Top Chef

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

If youre a food nerd like me, you cant watch Top Chef without screaming obscenities at the contestants while peacefully pondering what youd whip up for Transcendently Beautiful Padma each Quickfire. If a case of backseat cooking is what ails ya, dig this fresh weekly column featuring recipes based on each TCQF. Let me preface this NSQF by saying that, no, I still do not know who was axed from Top Chef this week. I was so beat Wednesday night and passed out just after the chefs rocked woks for the Quickfire and Jersey Kev called shotgun on cockles for his Elimination Challenge protein. In this NSQF, I honor J.K., my maybe-fallen, maybe-not comrade, with a cockle and calamari stir-fry that gets its numbing heat from the mysterious Sichuan peppercorn. Wok cooking is so fast, so furious. Ingredients are added in intervals that can last a few seconds or a few minutes this recipe takes less than 10 so it's best to have all prep done before cooking begins. Mis-en-place bowls bring control to the chaos; just arrange them alongside the stove in the order youll need them.

Sichuan Cockle & Squid Stir-Fry

Go Get This: 1/2 lb. cleaned squid, rinsed and cut into rings 1/2 lb. cockles, purged* 1 lb. dragons tongue beans (or another, not-as-badass variety) 2 garlic cloves, chopped 2 stalks lemongrass, minced, or lemongrass paste 1 small knob ginger, julienned 2 tbsp. Sichuan peppercorns, toasted and ground 1 lime, juiced 1/4 cup tamari or soy sauce 1 tbsp. canola oil 1 cup cilantro leaves, chopped Salt and pepper, to taste Now Do This: Place the wok over high heat and add oil. Once the oil is rippling, add the garlic, ginger and lemongrass. Saute 30 seconds, then add the Sichuan pepper and cilantro root. Saute an additional 30 seconds, then add the beans, tamari and lime juice. Saute 2 minutes, then add the calamari. Saute another minute, then add the cockles. Saute till the cockles open, about 2 minutes, add the cilantro, toss and serve. * Most cockles available at your neighborhood fishmonger are farmed, which eliminates a lot of the sand and grit. Still, I always purge them by soaking the bivalves in a bowl of cold water with a handful of kosher salt (and cornmeal if Ive got it around). Leave them in the fridge for and hour or so, and the cockles will expel any residual sand hiding inside. (This also works for mussels and clams.) And as always, discard any that dont open after cooking. Theyre as dead as anyone who drops spoilers in the comments.

Cast Iron Steak Weight. Sold Individually | Cast Iron Cookware Sets Reviews

Posted 2010-09-17 14:11:44

[...] Top Chef N&#959t S&#959 Quickfire: Wok-a Wok-a :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Pape... [...]

Posted by Adam Erace @ 6:30 PM Permalink | Post a comment

A deal inked in icing: Baker E to take over Flying Monkey

POSTED: Monday, September 13, 2010, 6:28 PM

Filed Under: Food News | Openings

Courtesy of Elizabeth Halen

Baker E's chocolate whoopie pies

On Oct. 1, Elizabeth "Baker E" Halen will take over Rebecca Michaels' Flying Monkey flagship shop in Reading Terminal (12th and Arch). "I've been the early-morning baker there for about a year, ever since leaving my job at Temple," says Halen, who currently bakes her own whoopie pies and mile-high cakes out of A Full Plate Cafe (Liberties Walk, 1040 N. American St.). "I knew [Michaels] was looking for a buyer, so I just asked her one day how much she was asking for the place." Two months of RTM red tape later, the deal is nearly done, and while the name will stay, many of the recipes will change. "One thing Flying Monkey doesn't do now is emphasize seasonal anything, and that is really important to me, so I want to showcase local and seasonal produce as much as possible," says Halen. Seasonal fruit "Pop Tarts," for example, will feature flaky strudel dough filled with Halens jam made with local fruits. "Ill also be adding my signature cakes like Elvis and Arnold Palmer, as well as my line of whoopie pies, little bites and healthy breakfast cookies." Fear, not cupcake freaks. Therell be plenty of those, too, both at Halens Flying Monkey and at Flying Monkey Deuce (1112 Locust St.) check out their oh-so-civilized garden room which Michaels is in the process of morphing into a more of a cafe with extended hours, croissants and banh mi. "Im really confident that E can take this to the next level," says Michaels. "She and I have a very similar sensibility in terms of our baking style. Shes a really good fit." Flying Monkey will be Halen's first turn as an owner. "It's been just about a year since I left my academic life to start Baker E, and it feels amazing to have made such gains in that year," she says. "If you had asked me last year if I thought I'd be starting my own bakery in RTM, I'd have laughed at you. It seemed so impossible at that moment, but now it's really happening and it's simultaneously exciting and overwhelming."

Flying Monkey’s Pumpple Cake on Food Network tomorrow night :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2011-01-06 12:06:57

[...] Elizabeth “E” Halen, who took over the Flying Monkey hub at Reading Terminal Market this fall, has earned her fair share of national attention for her Pumpple Cake, the tempestuous [...]

Posted by Adam Erace @ 6:28 PM Permalink | Post a comment

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