Archive for the 'Food' Category

Rick Nichols visits Mark Bee’s “beer garden” at Silk City geographically nearby the Piazza at Schmidt’s but half a world away in vibe.

In short, the space is the goofball fantasy of one man’s imagination – old tubas on the wall stuffed with flowers, wrought ironwork (by metal worker Jason Roberts) shaped into rickety bones for the stair rail and spiky webs over portholes in the curvy walls, beer kegs as seats: the slaphappy anti-design, in other words, of an anarchic anti-developer. The unapologetically unhinged Piazza on Spring Garden.

Did I mention the sense of contentment and otherworldliness that descends beneath the strings of lights, the birdbath-size fountains dribbling, the potted plants riffling in the breeze? There are few spots in the city more laid back to drink beer or sip a Negroni, or, have I mentioned the stylings of the chef, Jay Henson, back in town (where he once headed the kitchen at the Happy Rooster) after a five-year hiatus at the Shore (the Inlet at Somers Point, Bobby Flay’s place at the Borgata, etc.)?

Chefs like cheap eats too. Jose Garces dines at Taqueria Veracruzana. Noble’s Steven Cameron has taken a liking to Mama’s Vegetarian and Taco Loco. Pho at Pho & Café Viet Huong is Lacroix’s Jason Cichonski’s choice. But who admits to heading for Wawa’s “Junior” turkey hoagie.

Chefs bent on a bite: Refined palates need cheap eats, too, & here’s where they go [Philadelphia Daily News]

It’s Thursday and that means Meme is serving lunch and David Katz is cooking up his fried chicken deal for $11. Craig LaBan recently took it in.

Not surprisingly, like any serious cook, the opinionated Katz has his own thoughts on what makes great fried chicken. He fries only legs and thighs (”I don’t mess around with breasts, it’s the worst piece on the bird. Dark meat, baby!”) He cooks his chicken in batches slightly in advance of service, rather than piping hot to order (”it has to sit a while before you eat it, or it’s just too hot and the flavors haven’t settled down.”) He prefers to fry yellow-skinned birds rather than the white-skinned breed he roasts whole at dinner (”the yellows have more fat, which helps give skin a little more pliable integrity – it doesn’t shatter.”) 

 Meme fries up a memorable bird [Philadelphia Inquirer]

Stop by Capriccio at Cafe Cret this afternoon between 4 and 6:30 pm for the kickoff of GoPhila.com’s postcard campaign and enjoy some BBQ, ice cream, lemonade and music. Capriccio at Café Cret is located at 16th and Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Georges Perrier is going to be cooking lunch today outside the TD Bank at 19th and Market Streets. Perrier will be there treating passers-by to lunch and the chance to win tickets to the TD Bank Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival that’s set for July 30th to August 2nd.

Michael Klein follows up on the ongoing saga that is the Freehouse/Mims Food & Drink in Wayne. The latest has the restaurant still shuttered and chef Brett Naylor spotted working in the kitchen at Urban Outfitters’ corporate offices.

Main Line Dine puts all the twists and turns into a lovely timeline for us.

Mystery of the Freehouse [The Insider]
The Freehouse Saga Continues [Main Line Dine]

We’ve been hearing good things about the P.O.P.E’s new menu of late. Living on the Vedge sings the veggie burger’s praises while Drawing for Food calls the sandwiches “damn good.

The P.O.P.E will be celebrating its 3rd anniversary on Tuesday, June 30th and boy are they going to have a beer list.

• Hitachino White Ale
• Bayrische Bahnof’s Berliner Weisse
• Ichtegem’s Flemish Red
• New Holland Dragon’s Milk Stout
• New Holland Brother Jacob’s Dubbel
• Avery Salvation
• Avery Reverend
• Southern Tier Heavy Weizen
• Lost Coast Imperial Pils
• Avery Ale to the Chief
• Bell’s 3rd Coast Old Ale
• Bell’s Double Cream Stout
• Left Coast Black Magic Stout
• Laughing Dog Crotch Sniffing Bastard
• Left Hand Chainsaw
• Pennichuck Pozharnik Expresso Stout
• Hebrew Lenny Bruce IPA
• Smuttynose Star Island
• Left Hand Oak Aged Imperial Stout
• New Holland Imperial Hatter

Veggie Burger Off: PoPE vs Noble [Living on the Vedge]
Philadelphia Quickies [Drawing for Food]
Pub on Passyunk East [Official Site]

We’re back, just in time for the weekend. Yes, mojitos did a number on us as did waiting for the iPhone 3G S today. But we’re ready for the weekend!

Friday

We’re big fans of Duck Rabbit’s Brown ale and a firkin of it at Jose Pistola’s sounds like a great way to welcome the weekend. The firkin gets tapped at 5pm.

Saturday

It’s the 2nd Street Festival in Northern Liberties. Plenty to see, hear and eat here. The festival runs all day from 11am to 9pm.

Sunday

Try something from our Recession Specials. There are a lot of good deals out there for Sunday nights.

There’s a new summer menu at Snackbar. They’re calling it small plates with big flavor. The new menu crosses the $20 mark a couple of times in the olive oil poached salmon, chicken breast in garlic jus and the steak frites but most items hover in the low to mid-teens.

Check out the full menu after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

Main Line Today compiles a worthwhile of list of places to dine al fresco in the burbs.

Wanted: Fresh Air Fund [Main Line Today]