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Booze
Look alive, beer enthusiasts and good Samaritans: Osteria (630 N. Broad St.) has tapped the first kegs of Ex Gratia, an easy-drinking kolsch brewed by Stoudt's for the House of Vetri. Proceeds from all the citrusy suds — E.G. is brewed with chef Jeff Michaud’s Meyer lemon marmalade — benefit Vetri’s favorite charity, Alex’s Lemonade Stand. Last year, Osteria raised $15,000 via Ex Gratia, which means "out of kindness"; the 2011 goal is double that, with restaurants like Amada (217-219 Chestnut St.) and Percy Street (900 South St.) joining in on the philanthropy. After the jump, peep the full list of local spots/events where Ex Gratia will be poured.
Photo: Courtesy of Steve Wildy
The shmance drunky emporium Farmers' Cabinet (1113 Walnut St.) is now doing brunch Saturdays and Sundays from 11 to 4. Chef Peter Felton is doing dishes like cornbread waffles with country ham and gruyere; key lime/apricot bread pudding; and a Full English-style "farmers' breakfast" plate with eggs, beans, fried pork belly and a cheddar biscuit. Not to be brunchily outdone, the bar is also getting into the act, supplementing its cocktail list with daylight-appropriate drinks like "Death in the Afternoon" (like a mimosa, but swap the OJ for abinsthe); the "Morning Glory Fizz" (bourbon, Cointreau, Champagne, bitters); and, if you're feeling hair-of-the-doggy, the "Morning Cocktail," equal parts cognac, whiskey and absinthe. Woof.
In late April, we shared that American Sardine Bar (18th/Federal), from the team behind South Philly Tap Room and Brew, would go through a zoning hearing today to gain the go-ahead for commercial and kitchen operations on the space's second floor. (It used to be the infamous Wander Inn.) Just heard from ASB owner John Longacre that said approval has been acquired — all red-tape hurdles are cleared. Longacre says he expects to open the Sardine Bar right after Philly Beer Week (June 3-12). For background on the concept, check out our September 2010 post.
We're quite fond of hoppy beers here at Meal Ticket so this is right up our embittered alley: Bar manager Cristina Tessaro of London Grill (2301 Fairmount Ave.) sends along word that she's just tapped an obscene number of IPAs for today (rain day drinking woooo) and tonight. The all-American draft lineup (after the jump) goes along with a relevant special: a $10, 8-ounce preztel-bunned burger topped with pepperjack cheese, and bacon and served with Green Flash IPA spicy mustard and Cajun fries. Between this serious-ass lineup and tonight's monthly High Gravity Night at The Sidecar (2201 Christian St.), you've got a lot of bigbig beers to drink tonight, kiddies. Please schlep from north to south and back again responsibly.
May 21 is going to be a big day at South Philly Tap Room (1509 Mifflin St.) and we recommend you pencil in a visit on your schedule now. At noon, this Saturday, SPTR will be kicking off its sixth annual Wheat Beer Fest. There'll be 30-odd breweries ready to pour their best wheat beers (choices from PBC, Sly Fox, Great Lakes, Harpoon, Victory, Unibroue and more), several bands lined up and, of course, chef Scott Schroeder (one of our favvy-fav Twitter personalities) will be grilling up grub for attendees. Unfortunately, Schroeder's hot dog cart Scott Dogs will not be ready for the fest (look for it at the Food Trust Night Market on June 9), but there will still be plenty to eat and drink. Meal Ticket accepts no responsibility for your food babies, early-evening hangovers or meat sweats.
We first made note of MilkBoy's plans to open a Center City café/bar/music venue waaaay back in December 2009. Though they have run into more than a few speed bumps in their efforts to open (perhaps you're familiar with the unions in town?), the Ardmore-based coffee house and recording studio is poised to open its 11th-and-Chestnut Philly digs as early as June 10 — or, depending on construction delays, closer to the first week of July. Those estimates come via MilkBoy Communications, the brand's newly minted PR hub.
Ten varieties of bock-style beer are on tap this Saturday at Johnny Brenda's (1201 Frankford Ave.), starting at the early hour of 11 a.m., and they're looking toward you beer geeks to help them kick all 10 by 2 a.m. Bocks are rich and malty German and German-style strong lagers (higher ABV) with a spectrum of shades from almost golden to dark brown. You've got your maibocks, which tend to be refreshing, paler and a little more hopped; doppelbocks, the dark, uber-malty, stronger variety; and eisbocks, with the highest level of alcohol content, causing them to drink hot, usually with fruity notes.
JB's pay-as-you-go selection this weekend will showcase local bock-style brews. Your lineup includes Victory's Moonglow (spicy, wheaty Weizenbock); Stoudt's smooth Blonde Double Maibock; Lancaster Brewing's Rumpsringa, brewed with local honey; Sly Fox's toffee- and caramel-heavy Slacker Bock; and six more from Troegs, Manayunk, Ramstein and Great Lakes breweries. As dank beers and sausage go hand-in-hand, several styles of German sausages from Bucks County's Illg's Meats will be offered in tandem with their usual a la carte menu.
Though whiskey-sipping purists might cry foul at the apparent Buffett-ization of the American South's most cherished cocktail, I say lighten the hell up — it's getting sticky outside, and this new staple at Khyber Pass Pub (56 S. Second St.) is here to help. Masterminded by Khyber GM Diana Coble, the process behind these icy wonders is simple — bourbon, mint-infused simple syrup, water and a little lime juice commingle in the silver slushy machine behind the bar, which gently churns out the classic version, plus flavors like white peach, raspberry, blackberry and strawberry (they'll rotate as more fruit comes into season). There are no frosted julep tins here, but you won't miss them much.
Drink this immediately!
Photo: Drew Lazor
The kegs have yet to be tapped and not a single sausage has hit the grill at Stephen Starr's Fishtown beer garden, but Frankford Hall (1210 Frankford Ave.) looks to be on serious pace to hit its May 17 debut date. Right up the street from Johnny Brenda's, the Stokes Architecture-designed space is large, industrial and mostly open-air, with communal tables along Frankford leading back into the gravel-scattered outdoor biergarten area that accommodates 240. Done up with trees, string lights and walk-up beer and food counters (brats, weisswurst and käsekrainer from Buxco's Illg's Meats are the centerpiece), this area will play host to jovial drinkers (nine beers on tap, mostly German), live music and Phillies games projected onto the yard's southern wall. Frankford Hall will operate from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. on weekdays and from noon till 2 a.m. on weekends.
Every second Saturday of the month, Nodding Head (1516 Sansom St.) hosts a special tasting highlighting one-offs, rarities and other interesting specimens from the brewpub's on-premises tanks. This coming Saturday, May 14, the hop-obsessed should swing by between 3 and 6 p.m. to take advantage of NH's hoptastic draft lineup. Check out what brewers Gordon Grubb and Mike Fava have in the works after the jump. (Free admission; pay as you go for beers.) Meet you there for few rounds of Goldihops.
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