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Food Events
"Theater has become so exclusive and expensive — and you always need to eat dinner beforehand," says Emma Gibson of Tiny Dynamite Theatre. That was the thinking that led the Brit to apply for and eventually land a $25,000 Knights Arts Challenge she's now using to organize A Play, a Pie and a Pint, a new onstage initiative that combines food, drink and live theater.
Inspired by a similar program that originated in Scotland, Gibson has organized four productions, all of which will enjoy a two-day, Tuesday-and-Wednesday run at Society Hill Playhouse (507 S. Eighth St.) during each week in October. For just $15, theatergoers get a seat, beer (Yards has signed on as a partner) and pizza. "In Scotland, the thinking was, 'How can we create theater and support new playwrights where people can afford to come and see it?'" says Gibson. Across the pond, PPP took place at lunchtime and featured short-crust meat pies. Since daytime drinking isn't quite as socially embraced in the States, Gibson's Americanized the idea a bit, moving the plays closer to happy hour (6 p.m.) and subbing in slices from a TBD pizzeria. Full details on October's productions after the jump.
Photo: Courtesy of Tiny Dynamite
Chef Matt Levin, late of Adsum, is bringing his menu eccentricities to Mémé (2201 Spruce St.) next Tuesday, Sept. 27, when he'll partner with chef David Katz on a five-course, cocktail-paired dinner based around a late-summer theme ingredient: corn. Priced at $50 a head, the duo's menu will feature dishes like Japanese jack fish with popcorn purée; fried chicken served with 10 textures of corn; sea scallops with smoked corn cobbler and Armagnac cherries; and pushed foie gras with corn sherbet, mascarpone spheres and burnt vanilla. Drinks, also be of the corn variety, will come courtesy of Mémé's Tom Pittakas, former beverage director of Alison Two. "The dessert cocktail will have a caramel corn thing going on," teases Levin. Grab a spot for the 6 or 8:30 p.m. seatings by calling 215-735-4900.
In anticipation of the fast-approaching Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur holidays, Larry Rosenblum of Rittenhouse's Spread Bagelry (262 S. 20th St.) has issued a public challenge to prolific television eater/Jewish guy Adam Richman of Man v. Food fame. The terrifying 13-pound sandwich pictured above is known as The Classic Whale — it consists of a four-pound Montreal-style "Everything" bagel layered with three pounds of nova, two pounds of housemade whitefish salad, two pounds of cream cheese and two pounds of tomatoes, onions and capers. Rosenblum is trying to coax Richman into breaking his fast after sunset on Saturday, Oct. 8 by taking on this Hebrew Moby Dick (it technically has a blowhole!), but he's also planning on adding the item to his catering menu, as it can easily feed 10 to 12 people. He's also receptive to the idea of letting mortal eaters try their hand at finishing it as an everyday challenge, though he has yet to set a price or parameters.
Photo: Courtesy of Spread
Eat Along the Street (EATS), the kickoff for Manayunk's Eco Arts Festival, is just two days away, but readers can still purchase tickets for the street-food event, headed up by chef Moon Krapugthong (Chabaa Thai) and restaurant consultant Judy Spielman (Space by Spielman, Ltd.). Taking place on Sept. 21 from 6 to 9 p.m., the food festival and cooking competition at Propper Brothers (115 Levering St.) benefits Thailand's Wat Bodd Vorraditth orphanage, with the goal of training youth for a future in the culinary/hospitality industry. Come out and experience street cuisine flavors with Krapugthong and other local chefs, such as Clark Gilbert of Gemelli (4161 Main St ), Mary Cullom of Spring House's Arpeggio (542 Wood Spring Road) and Rich Landau and Kate Jacoby of the upcoming Vedge. Stay for the culinary competition, which will be judged by a panel including chef Jose Garces, Munish Narula of Tiffin and Tashan and CP's own Drew Lazor. General admission tickets start at just $35.
Vendemmia is the name of the Italian fall grape harvest. It’s also a South Philly scholarship foundation whose annual festival is on the calendar for this Sunday, Sept. 25. Now in its 15th year, the vino-soaked bash returns to historic Girard Park (21st and 22nd, Porter and Shunk streets) after spending the last few years in the parking lot of the Eagles’ NovaCare practice facility. The South Philly-fabulous festival's centerpiece is a contest between local winemakers, but there’s also live music and food stalls from local restaurants. Most of the attendees BYOB and BYOF, too, and lay out elaborate picnic spreads. (Cacia's tomato pie is always popular with my family.) General admission tickets are $40 and are available through PayPal on the Vendemmia website; you can also ball with a 10-top for $400.
Photo: vendemmiafoundation.org
Tomorrow, Sept. 17, marks the 11th annual Upper Darby Chicken Festival. Beginning at 11 a.m. and going until 7, the congregation at Christ Lutheran Community Church (7240 Walnut St.) will be serving up the best pollo in town to thousands. Dinners include baked chicken and two sides (mac 'n' cheese, potato salad, veggie medley, etc.), all home-cooked by church members. There will also be a bake sale and bevs, but it is a strictly alcohol-free event.
Of course, like any good fest, the church has lined up several contests. At noon it's the chicken toss; at 1 p.m. they'll hold the largest simultaneous chicken dance in the state; 2 p.m. will see a "Best Chicken Legs on a Human," contest; 3 p.m. is "Most Beautiful Beak"; 4 p.m. is the "Egg Drop and Catch" (raw eggs are dropped from various heights and people try to catch them while others run for cover) and at 5 p.m. there'll be a cookoff. Carnival games include the high sticker and moon bounce for the kiddies, as well as a dunk tank. (The unfortunate dunkees are teachers from the local school district.) To top it all off, Miss Pennsylvania 2011, Amber Joi Watkins, is scheduled to appear at 2. In case eating chicken and chicken-related activities aren't quite enough to fill your poultry quota for the day, they'll sell a bunch of chicken merchandise — clothing, pots, pants, towels, clocks, plates, spoons and even furniture.
Chicken Fest tix are $9 per-sale (going until 5 p.m. today; call 610-352-1610) and $10 at the door, but arrive early — they sell only 5,000 and usually sell out.
For their third Oktoberfest celebration, Brauhaus Schmitz (718 South St.) is pulling out all the stops over six days of festivities, from Sept. 19 through Sept. 24. Chef Jeremy Nolen and owners Doug Hager and Kelly Schmitz have everything from Bavarian Quizzo to a brat-eating contest lined up, all leading to a massive block party next Saturday. All of the 700 block of South will be closed to traffic for celebrants to gather under two 100-foot tents. Nolen is promising plenty of sausage, German beer and a pig roast. Peep their full schedule of events after the jump.
Photo: Drew Lazor
This Sunday, sausage-loving Scott Schroeder of South Philly Tap Room (1509 Mifflin St.) has invited all his like-minded chef buddies (Nick Macri of Southwark/La Divisa Meats, Jeremy Nolen of Brauhaus Schmitz, Gene Giuffi of Cochon and Pat Cancelliere of 943) over for the Tap Room's first-ever Sausagefest. The link-makers-in-arms are crafting seven sausages, among them grilled chorizo and morcilla, bierkaswurst, even sweet Calabrese blood pudding for dessert. (Check the full menu after the jump; click to enlarge.) They’ll be available starting at 4 p.m. on a separate pay-as-you-go menu. To drink, SPTR will be tapping Oktoberfest brews from Flying Dog, Ayinger, Victory and more.
Last weekend saw a real official-like Mexican Independence celebration go down on Penns Landing, but the fun (read: eating) ain't over — this Sunday, Sept. 18, all the Mexicanos in the Italian Market are teaming up for yet another party. Simply shoot down Ninth Street between the hours of 11 and 5 to check out everyone cooking in the open air. Just a few things to look forward to: Los Taquitos de Puebla will be hand-pressing and grilling masa tortillas for quesadillas. Moctezuma will be preparing barbacoa. Luz Jimenez of the nearby Los Gallos will be selling street-roasted tacos al pastor. You know the elote man will be out, and mariachis too, of course. See you on the calle!
Photo: Neal Santos
Got a few more details on the Oct. 5 edible swan song of Jennifer Carroll, whose impending departure from 10 Arts by Eric Ripert we mentioned back in August. On Wed., Oct. 5, Carroll will host the traveling Celebrity Chef Tour at the Ritz-Carlton restaurant (10 S. Broad St.) for a seven-course wine-paired dinner benefiting the James Beard Foundation. Joining Carroll in her Philly kitchen — D.C.-based chefs Adam Sobel, Scott Drewno and Victor Albisu; fellow Top Chef alum Eli Kirshtein; Michael Ginor of Hudson Valley Foie Gras; and 10 Arts pastry chef Monica Glass. Tix, which include food, drink, tax and grat, are going for $180 a head.
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