Chef Salad

Speaker's Corner at The Dandelion

POSTED: Wednesday, January 19, 2011, 4:01 PM

Filed Under: Chef Salad | Food Blogs | Food Events

ideasinfood.com

It's only been open for a few weeks now, but Stephen Starr's new English pub The Dandelion (122-124 S. 18th St.) is already branching out into unexpected territory. On Feb. 1 at 6 p.m., it'll introduce an ongoing lecture series aptly titled Speaker's Corner. The series will bring in food industry luminaries to participate in panels and discussions about their work, and best of all, it's totally free (if you grab a pint and some grub). The first two speakers are H. Alexander Talbot and Aki Kamozawa, authors of the exploratory food blog Ideas in Food as well as the brand-new cookbook of the same name (check out our review here). The panel will be moderated by food columnist Rick Nichols of the Inquirer, and should be a good opportunity to get to know the minds behind the book.

poncho

Posted 2011-01-19 13:28:19

Aaaaaaaaahhh, this sounds like my worst nightmare!

Tweets that mention Speaker's Corner at The Dandelion :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper -- Topsy.com

Posted 2011-01-19 11:21:37

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Lisa Grimm. Lisa Grimm said: Interesting. RT @mealticket: The new Speaker's Corner series at The Dandelion will feature @ideasinfood: http://ow.ly/3GwH8 [...]

Posted by Adrian Pelliccia @ 4:01 PM Permalink | Post a comment

VIDEO: The Chef in Residence program at MangoMoon

POSTED: Tuesday, January 18, 2011, 6:36 PM

Filed Under: Chef Salad | Video

At the beginning of this year, chef Moon Krapugthong of Manayunk's MangoMoon launched a Chef in Residence program at her Manayunk restaurant (4161 Main St.). The Thai chef/restaurateur has taken it upon herself to invite lesser-known chefs of varying backgrounds to cook in her kitchen, offering a supplemental menu of their own devising to MangoMoon's diners. The inaugural chef in Krapugthong's series is Harry Ige, a native of Okinawa and longtime South Philly resident who's cooked in in New York and Seattle, and locally at Ardmore's Mikado, among other spots. Chef Ige's menu, which will be available at MangoMoon through the end of January, is his interpretation of traditional Okinawan food, which stands apart from mainstream Japanese cooking due to the influence of the Chinese as well as the unique produce that blossoms on the island. You might assume that raw fish is a staple on Okinawa due to its location at the southern tip of the Japanese archipelago, but the truth is there is no overarching sushi tradition on the island; instead, Ige focuses on vegetable preparations and atypical seafood dishes, from steamed monkfish liver drizzled with ponzu sauce (see the foie-like rounds he's plating in the video?) to marinated salmon with sliced mountain potato and wakame wrapped in a thin sheet of egg. Krapugthong says her next Chef in Residence, who will start in February, will be bringing Ethiopian ingredients and techniques to the table, so be on the lookout for more info on that soon. (Special Thanks to CP's own Neal Santos, who shot, edited and produced this vid!) UPDATE: Here's a selection of items that Chef Ige is currently serving at MangoMoon ... - Salmon carpaccio: thin-sliced salmon with special MangoMoondDressing - Ankimo: steamed monkfish liver, spicy radish, ponzu sauce - Age-nasu no nihitashi: Deep-fried Japanese eggplant cooked in special sauce.Â Served chilled, topped with ginger chiffonade - Deep-fried wonton skin: avocado, lettuce, chopped onion, chopped salmon dressed with spicy sauce and sprinkle of Chinese parsley - Cream cheese wrap with thin-sliced salmon and dressed with MangoMoon special miso dressingÂ and topped with Italian parsley - MangoMoon Roll: Shrimp tempura, Japanese mayonnaise, boiled asparagus, Lettuce avocado, Broiled eel, Inside out roll with wasabi tobiko outside - Manayunk Roll: Broiled eel, Cucumber, avocado, Inside out roll and topping with spicy tuna

Anthony Sica

Posted 2011-01-18 18:55:05

This is straight up awesome.

Tweets that mention VIDEO: The Chef in Residence program at MangoMoon :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper -- Topsy.com

Posted 2011-01-18 14:32:12

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Drew Lazor. Drew Lazor said: RT @mealticket: VIDEO: Meal Ticket talks to Okinawan chef Harry Ige, now in residence at Manayunk's @mymangomoon http://ow.ly/3FWOY [...]

Felicia D'Ambrosio

Posted 2011-01-18 15:27:11

Love this video -- so elegant.  Both chefs have a wonderfully engaging camera presence, and Chef Ige's food sounds delicious. Monkfish liver is awesome. Well done, Neal!

poncho

Posted 2011-01-18 21:58:59

Wonderful video guys! This is such a great idea for a restaurant and Moon & Ige are awesome!

P.S. the cloth on the banquette that Moon is sitting on is beautiful

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 6:36 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Blue Hill at Stone Barns chef moving into Wash West

POSTED: Monday, January 10, 2011, 1:00 PM

Filed Under: Chef Salad | Openings

bluehillfarm.com

Here's a very promising chef get for Philly: Josh Lawler, a PA native and chef de cuisine at Dan Barber's acclaimed Blue Hill at Stone Barns, has signed on to open a restaurant at 1120 Pine Street, the former home of Paul. Lawler, a graduate of Drexel's hospitality school, started as a sous chef at the acclaimed farmstead restaurant â located less than an hour north of NYC, it's Barber's operation within the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture â in 2006, moving into a chef de cuisine role a year later. The project is in the very early stages so there's not much to share yet; we do know, though, that Lawler's targeting a March opening for the spot, which we understand will be a BYO. No word on concept/cuisine just yet, but knowing Blue Hill's reputation, we imagine Lawler will be putting a legitimate emphasis on local growers and purveyors. More soon.

Paul to become new restaurant

Posted 2011-01-10 10:29:14

[...]  [...]

Adam Erace

Posted 2011-01-10 10:38:01

Gaaaaah!!! So exciting!

Foobooz » Quick Bites

Posted 2011-01-10 12:00:23

[...] Pine Street is getting a new restaurant with an exciting pedigree. Blue Hill Farm’s chef de cuisine Josh Lawler is aiming to open the BYO in March. [Meal Ticket] [...]

greg.l.

Posted 2011-01-10 12:01:35

Congrats, it it a nice room. Hope he can make it work.

Details emerge on Blue Hill alum’s Philly spot :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2011-01-24 11:12:47

[...] had word of former Blue Hill at Stone Barns chef de cuisine Joshua Lawler’s intention to move into Philly two weeks back, but now he’s dropped some official details on his Wash West BYOB (1120 Pine St.), called The [...]

bonn.b.

Posted 2011-01-18 22:19:33

dined with chef josh several times during his time at bh.

philly, you are so lucky to have him. he is extremely talented.

even though we are several states away chef josh is still on our food radar! will be worth the trip.

philly, you now have two of my favorites, you keep this up and we'll have to move.

Ticket Stubs: Meal Ticket Weekly Recap, Jan. 10-14 :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2011-01-17 10:13:17

[...] Chef Josh Lawler, formerly of Dan Barber’s Blue Hill at Stone Barns, is opening his own restau... [...]

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

New chef at Oyster House, again

POSTED: Thursday, January 6, 2011, 8:21 PM

Filed Under: Chef Salad

Chef Ted Manko, who started at Oyster House (1516 Sansom St.) in the fall of '09 and steered the shuckerie toward its top-10 Philly Mag ranking, is no longer with Center City restaurant, a rep confirms. OH's new chef is Andy Kitko, who was last at Cedar in Northwest D.C. Before then he was saucier at Café Boulud and sous chef at the seafood restaurant Aqua in San Fran.

poncho

Posted 2011-01-06 17:55:56

I hope this means the food will improve at OH.  I love going in for the raw oysters, clams and a cocktail, but have found the rest of the menu to be disappointing every time.

Also, Skint:

Did you look into the future and see that the Oyster Queen would leave a comment?

skint

Posted 2011-01-06 15:51:55

the Oyster Queen strikes again!

Oyster Queen

Posted 2011-01-06 16:26:32

Micro Managing with no props guarantees a revolving door

herman

Posted 2011-01-07 13:30:11

They're shuckin', yes, but are they jivin'?

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 8:21 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Tim McGinnis turns up

POSTED: Wednesday, January 5, 2011, 6:15 PM

Filed Under: Chef Salad | Food News | Openings

Photo | Adam Erace

Tim McGinnis, Plenty of smiles

Tim McGinnis, late of the called-off American Blackboard project, has a new job. The chef and former food scribe has been all-quiet after his departure, but says today he's signed up to wear the head whites at Jesse Spalletta and Adam Baas' Passyunk prepared-foods cafe, Plenty. âWe're doing a modern salute to the neighborhood,â McGinnis says. âHouse-made deli meats the old guard can relate to, but done with local, seasonal ingredients newcomers will appreciate.â The old/new food vibe will echo Plenty's vintage decor: refurbished circa-1950 cooler, salvaged slate menus and 12-seat reclaimed-wood communal table where McGinnis will reprise his popular Spinal Tapas pre-fixe dinners on a monthly basisââan urban Talula's,â he says. Plenty gets its health inspection this week, after which they'll stock the cold cases with ready-to-go lunch noms, heat-at-home entrÃ©es, sliced-to-order cold cuts (mesquite-smoked brisket, gravlax) and more. We'll have the full menu (and pics) soon, but for now marinate on these teases: clove-and-garlic turkey leg confit, roasted mushrooms/chestnuts, cauliflower pistou. Welcome back, McGinnis.

Jennie Hatton

Posted 2011-01-05 17:32:53

Yeah TIM!!!!!  That's great news!

poncho

Posted 2011-01-05 14:36:05

Fantastic news!

David G

Posted 2011-01-06 13:14:57

Is it possible to be both happy and upset that this will be so close to my house?

Dan P.

Posted 2011-01-06 13:42:28

Best of luck, Tim!

Tweets that mention Tim McGinnis turns up :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper -- Topsy.com

Posted 2011-01-05 15:24:56

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Erin Mulrooney. Erin Mulrooney said: Way to go, Tim! Excited for Plenty. RT @mealticket: Tim McGinnis of @spinaltapas lands a chef gig in South Philly: http://ow.ly/3yQpA [...]

New places on Passyunk

Posted 2011-01-07 18:04:16

[...]  [...]

From Tim McGinnis, menus a-Plenty :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2011-01-19 14:24:51

[...] week, we told you about Tim McGinnis’s new perch at Passyunk’s Plenty. This week, we’ve got the eat-in and ready-to-go [...]

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

Posted 2011-02-03 13:04:54

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

Posted by Adam Erace @ 6:15 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Georges Perrier on Le Bec-Fin's second chance

POSTED: Wednesday, January 5, 2011, 12:55 AM

Filed Under: Chef Salad | Closings | Food News

Photo | Michael T. Regan

It's the day after Le Bec-Fin's holiday staff party and Georges Perrier sounds delighted â and not just because he had a damn fine time. Perrier informed his staff in days previous that he would not be closing his legendary French restaurant as planned. "Such an outpouring of letters from all over the world, many from Philadelphia, insisted that I could not close this restaurant,â says Perrier. Executive chef Nicholas Elmi said the same thing. "He wanted more," says Perrier of Elmi. "That was a thing I needed to hear â the future I was looking for." Now Elmi wields even more power in the kitchen, with Perrier taking a step back to work on other projects. "I cannot do this alone,â says the chef. "I need someone young like him to take this into the next dimension." A next anything is a big change from what was supposed to happen. In July of 2010, Perrier famously claimed that he was putting his restaurant (1523 Walnut St.) up for sale. It seemed odd to hear it then, nearly unbelievable. Many diners thought it wouldn't happen, that the tales of sale were just Perrier testing the waters, a grand opportunity to remind diners to use it or lose it. Even Eric Ripert of 10 Arts reportedly didn't think it to be true, either. Perrier fluffs it off. âAh, Ripert is a good friend of mine,â he says. âNo, I was selling. I didn't really want to do it, [but] I was prepared to walk away from it if someone met my price.â Nobody did. (He reportedly sought $3.6 million for the building and $600K for the business.) Perrier won't say how close to his asking price any suitors came âÂ only that several callers did make serious inquiries, but that their prices weren't right and Perrier wasn't prepared to undervalue his treasured space. So upward and onward to the future of LBF, which includes Elmi and new GM Sylvain Briens, who just started today. They're younger men who'll allow Perrier to relax a bit, not have to run to the market every day at 4:30 a.m. "I'll still be there,â says Perrier. "Do some sauces. Teach them what they need to know, to be better.â Perrier knows, too, that Elmi has his own ideas, and believes LBF will benefit from an infusion of new recipes, and applications. âI am not going to be around forever." Perrier has a few new things on his own plate. For those keeping score, Perrier stated in 2010 that he'd open two new spaces in the wake of LBF's sale. One, a bakery called the Art of Bread by Georges Perrier in Narberth, is ready to go and should be opening in the next two months. The other thing is also happening; he can't say where or what it is yet, as the paperwork's not yet signed, but he expects it to be a done by late 2011. Le Bec-Fin will get a facelift by spring/summer, too, as its downstairs Le Bar Lyonnais will soon become more "elegant, sexy and beautiful." The $40 anniversary menu commemorating LBF's 40 years in business will continue indefinitely â as will Perrier himself. "All I've heard for the last six months is 'Don't close, don't close don't close' â young customers and old," he says. "It's a good sign for me to know that people want this restaurant. Remember, I changed the restaurant world in Philadelphia. I did it. It's done. There's nothing to prove. Except that we can go forward. And I'm proud to do so."

Jawn Philly

Posted 2011-01-05 00:00:46

check out and review Le Bec-Fin on the jawn
http://www.thejawn.com/view/911/le-bec-fin

Congrats to Perrier and his staff

Posted by A.D. Amorosi @ 12:55 AM Permalink | Post a comment

Chestnut Hill Cichonski/Roman collabo up for March

POSTED: Tuesday, January 4, 2011, 9:56 PM

Filed Under: Chef Salad | Openings

Though the specifics are still very much shrouded, here's what we've been able to glean thus far about the brand-new partnership between Blackfish chef/owner Chip Roman (right) and former Lacroix chef de cuisine Jason Cichonski. Roman, in mid-January, will get the keys to the close-to-defunct Â¡Cuba! at 8609 Germantown Avenue in Chestnut Hill. Cichonski will be the opening chef at this still-unnamed New American spot â prix-fixe driven and liquor-licensed, it will ideally open in March â but it won't be a permanent perch for the 26-year-old. He says the menu will mostly reflect Roman's cooking style, since the plan is for Cichonski to open his own spot in Center City, in a partnership with Roman, in the near future. "I want to make sure [the menu] really reflects his cooking style moreso than mine ... so things will stay congruent when I go to open my spot back here in the city," says Cichonski. They haven't even gotten in the kitchen at the new spot yet (it'll officially close as Â¡Cuba! after this weekend), but once they do, Cichonski says the menu "will come pretty naturally."

Tweets that mention Chestnut Hill Cichonski/Roman collabo up for March :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper -- Topsy.com

Posted 2011-01-05 18:28:11

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Nick Normile, Meal Ticket. Meal Ticket said: The Chip Roman/Jason Cichonski collab in Chestnut Hill is up for March: http://ow.ly/3yjqT [...]

Adam Erace

Posted 2011-01-04 17:10:35

I love how Roman looks like a Crucible extra in this pic. Excited for his collab with Cichonski..

solaris grille closed

Posted 2011-01-14 16:03:40

[...] to the cuba space this spring goes well enough, maybe it will help attract quality competition.   Chestnut Hill Cichonski/Roman collabo up for March :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City ...           Reply With Quote              + Reply to Thread      « Previous Thread | Next [...]

The name of the Roman/Cichonski joint in Chestnut Hill :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2011-02-04 11:45:39

[...] In early January we discussed the partnership between chefs Chip Roman and Jason Cichonski and their plans to open a spot at 8609 Germantown Avenue in Chestnut Hill. Though the name Stone House had been floated for the space â prix-fixe-driven, liquor-licensed, up for a March opening â we now hear the project will be called Mica. Keep you posted.   The name of the Roman/Cichonski joint in Chestnut Hill [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 9:56 PM Permalink | Post a comment

New chef at Lucky 13 Pub

POSTED: Wednesday, December 29, 2010, 5:57 PM

Filed Under: Chef Salad

For the longest time, Id drive by Lucky 13 (1820 S. 13th St.) and think, "Man, thats a swell spot for a tattoo parlor. But no, its one of the neighborhoods better punk-pub experiences, courtesy of owner/bartender Clark Newman. It's a manly place one that needed a strong womans touch. A little while ago Ice Cubes welcomed World Cafe Live ex-sous chef Amy Selevan to L13. We knew what she could do at WCL, especially as we understood she was often responsible for the venues booze, beer and meal parings. So in L13s small kitchen ("It's not very glamorous, she says cheerfully), Selevan is working to make the pub veggie-friendly, while also taking good care of the meat eaters. To start, thats meant her crispy tempeh (or chicken wings) that she dry-rubs and slow-cooks before frying crispy, available dry or with one of five sauces. And shes also making one big bold claim. "I'm pretty sure I have the best steak sandwich in South Philly," she says. "It's named 'Hey Stud,' and it's marinated skirt steak seared and sliced thin, topped with sautéed peppers and onions all nestled on some thick cheesy garlic bread." Dag, woman. Of her entire menu from brunch on down to her dinner specials she says she's "tried to keep it all simple but really delicious."

Tweets that mention New chef at Lucky 13 Pub :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper -- Topsy.com

Posted 2010-12-29 13:47:14

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by James David Saul. James David Saul said: Tempeh Wings? Ooohhh. RT @mealticket: South Philly's Lucky 13 welcomes a new chef: http://ow.ly/3vLgK [...]

betsy shipley

Posted 2010-12-29 14:25:53

Crispy tempeh wings, that sounds great. Maybe the Lucky 13 would like to know about our easy method for making tempeh either at home or in their restaurant.
http://www.makethebesttempeh.org

Posted by A.D. Amorosi @ 5:57 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Photos: Bistrot La Minette at the James Beard House

POSTED: Tuesday, December 28, 2010, 5:20 PM

Filed Under: Chef Salad | Food News | Photos

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

Last week, we tagged along with chef Peter Woolsey and his crew from Bistrot La Minette (623 S. Sixth St.) as they traveled to New York to cook an opulent French Christmas dinner at the James Beard House. (The menu for the dinner is here.) We'll have much more on the experience in this week's CP food section, but for now, take a gander at these Philly dudes in full preppin'-weapon action.

Ticket Stubs: Meal Ticket Weekly Recap, Dec. 27-Jan. 2 :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2011-01-03 08:31:29

[...] Peep our inside-the-kitchen photos from Bistrot La Minette dinner at the James Beard House. [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 5:20 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Christopher Lee looking to Philly for seafood spot

POSTED: Friday, December 24, 2010, 3:00 PM

Filed Under: Chef Salad | Openings

chefchristopherlee.com

In a Dec. 22 Q&A with Zagat, Christopher Lee (soon-to-be-former exec chef at NYC's Michelin-starred Aureole) teased that he'd been poking around Philly for spaces for a seafood concept he plans on pursuing after he leaves Charlie Palmer's company at the end of the year. When we ended up at the same table as Lee during Bistrot La Minette chef/owner Peter Woolsey's Dec. 22 dinner at the James Beard House (more on that awesome meal next week), we couldn't help but ask about it. Lee, who knows Woolsey from his days at Striped Bass, says he's in the very early stages of space-hunting, exploring Center City and Old City for real estate (Second/Chestnut and Ninth/Chestnut were two intersections mentioned by name). Lee likens the concept to an upscale, whole-fish-on-ice Greek seafoodery (think Estia), but with a distinctly American focus and an elaborate raw bar. No name for the restaurant yet, and all Lee will share in regards to an target opening is "2011." When we mentioned that Stephen Starr, Lee's former employer at the Bass (now Butcher & Singer), was working on a seafood concept called Route 6 (at 600 N. Broad), Lee cracked a smile. "Next time you talk to Stephen," he said, "tell him I'm coming to Philadelphia to open a seafood restaurant."

barryg

Posted 2010-12-24 11:33:18

Soon, all the Lee's in NYC will come to Philly instead.

barryg

Posted 2010-12-24 11:33:35

er, Lees.

Tweets that mention Christopher Lee looking to Philly for seafood spot :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper -- Topsy.com

Posted 2010-12-24 14:13:46

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jason Malumed, Meal Ticket. Meal Ticket said: Former Striped Bass chef Christopher Lee, who's about to leave NYC's Aureole, working on a seafood restaurant for Philly: http://ow.ly/3u2bg [...]

Colinthechef

Posted 2010-12-24 18:40:55

Good to see Chris Lee back, he was great st Washington Square and unbelievable at Striped Bass, let's see if Philadelphia is ready!

jaded chef

Posted 2010-12-26 13:50:53

Meh-New York can keep Mr. Chicken Broth, we're all good down in Philly, thanks.

cleevus

Posted 2010-12-28 13:33:22

who cares  guess being buried in a city of great restaurants took its toll on captain ego.  lets not forget how he basically walked out of striped bass with his key players.

Ticket Stubs: Meal Ticket Weekly Recap, Dec. 20-24 :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-12-27 12:20:26

[...] place like Di Bruno's for the holidays• City Paper/GoTime launch Happy Hour Guide, mobile app• Christopher Lee looking to Philly for seafood spot• IN PRINT: City Paper Food and Restaurants, Dec. 23• New Year's Eve at Cafe [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 3:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

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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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