We’ve been meandering past the Bellevue in the late afternoons recently where we’ve been witnessing an interesting promotion. It involves attractive girls clad in form-fitting black outfits standing behind a table or wandering up and down Broad Street, handing out cards that look like the one pictured above. All of this nubile fuss is for JL Sullivan’s Speakeasy, the new sports bar opening today, that for some inexplicable reason, is pretending not to be a sports bar, but an under-the-radar “restaurant, sports bar, lounge.” So under-the-radar, in fact, that they’re promoting it to every single person walking down Broad Street.

My raging disinterest in sports has been well documented here (except for baseball, which I like since it’s not really about sports, it’s about food), so perhaps I’m biased, but why try to pretend a sports bar isn’t anything but a sports bar? Why not wear it loud and proud? Why pretend it’s not a place to watch TV and yell?

Since Foobooz’s resident Sporting Life Expert is currently tormenting all of us by traveling in Belgium, I’m turning to you, loyal readers, to find out what you think makes a decent sports bar? Is it the number of TVs? The crowd? The beers on tap? The variety of fans? Which is the best in the city? The worst? Also, can someone please explain Chickie & Pete’s to me?

JL Sullivan’s Speakeasy [Official Site]

Half of Foobooz is in Belgium right now. Not the half who is typing this with lambic-scented tears of jealousy streaming down her face. That’s really all you need to know. Also, if there is suddenly a shortage of Belgian beer available for export, you’ll know why.

Chicago overturns their foie gras ban. Haven’t heard much about the proposed Philly foie ban in a while - not since there was word of a mysterious investigation surrounding the ban’s proponent councilman Jack Kelly. [Diner’s Journal]

Are you a conscious carnivore? Have you bought ‘happy chicken’ lately? [Inquirer]

Everybody in Virginia is packing heat during dinner. Could this happen in Philly? Does it already? Is there even a Fuddrucker’s here? [AP]

Food prices are up again, but you knew that. [Inquirer]

Not much happening tonight. Why not take advantage of a Recession Special and drown your sorrows in Happy Hour bliss? It’s Pierogie Wednesday over at Tattooed Mom’s until 11pm. If you’re looking for something a little fancier, there are free hors d’oeuvres at Brasserie Perrier from 5-7p.m. Visit the Recession Specials Guide for more ideas.

So many palaces, so little time.

It’s not Minar Palace, but why not check out Ashoka Palace, the very pink Indian restaurant in Rittenhouse that opened in the former Bootsie’s space? They don’t have a website, but we scanned in the menu for you. Check it out after the jump… there are lunch specials! Woo!

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Here are some Minar Palace details to go with highlights from today’s edition of The Bite.

Vegetarian Specialities range from $6.95 - 7.50
Chicken Specialities range from $7.95 - 8.95
Lamb/Goat Specialities are $8.95
Shrimp Specialities are $11.95
Biryanis range from $8.95 - 12.95
Platters range from $7.95 - 8.95

The Daily Specials are…

Monday
Alu Baingan - Morsels of eggplant and potatoes sauteed in mild spices…$7.00

Tuesday
Dum Alu - Chunks of potatoes in a thick tomato gravy mildy spiced…$7.00

Wednesday
Rajmaah - Kidney beans in a thick tomato gravy medium spiced…$7.00

Thursday
Vegetable Jalfrazi - assorted vegetables in a highly spiced tangy gravy…$7.00

Friday
Chilly Chicken - succulent pieces of chicken breast sauteed with onions and bell peppers in a spicy sauce…$7.95

Hours of Operation will be
Monday - Friday 11:30 AM to 9:00 PM
Saturday 11:30 AM to 7:00 PM
Sunday Closed

Invasion of the Farmers Markets [Metro Philadelphia]

The Inky has a pro-reform editorial on the challenge to the six-pack law. [Inquirer] Which beer genius Lew Bryson breaks down for you here. [Seen Through a Glass]

No more spending those welfare benefits at the beer distributor! [kyw1060.com]

Dan Gross has the scoop on visiting celebrities and where they’re dining while in town. Which seems to only be the Continental. Also Parker Posey feeds her dog gum and Stephen Starr loves the Circus. Ahem, the Cirque. [Phillygossip]

Someday, we hope to achieve this sort of legendary status at a bar. If it takes us 93 years to do it, then so be it. [NY Times]

There’s a lot of events in the Foobooz calendar for tonight, from the vegetarian dinners we profiled earlier to the Haagen Dazs new flavor day which promises a free scoopof Vanilla Honey Bee ice cream at participating stores.

A reader tipped us off to this WOGL deal. Each week radio station WOGL partners with local restaurants to offer gift certificates for half-off.

Right now you can get a $50 gift certificate to Ansill Food + Wine for $25. There are 57 certificates remaining.

Ansill Food + Wine Dinner Deal [WOGL]
Ansill Food + Wine [Official Site]

Drew Lazor has all the details fit to print on Nicholas, set to open at 2015 E Moyamensing Avenue. Owned by two chefs, the menu can be called New American and will feature lots of local ingredients and seafood as both owners have spent time in the kitchens of Striped Bass and Morimoto.

Details on Nicholas [The Clog]
Nicholas [Official Site]

Talula’s Table cannot stop getting press. This time it’s a spread in the New York Times Sunday Magazine. [New York Times via McDuff’s Food & Wine Trail]

Forbes Traveler has a slideshow of deluxe nose to tail meals and features Ansill among the offal best. [Forbes Traveler]

The Wall Street Journal goes interactive on us with its look at the power tables at Lacroix. [Wall Street Journal via Phoodie.info]