Archive for the 'Food' Category

This week in Philadelphia Magazine’s Restaurant Club newsletter.

• Six Outdoor Spots We Can’t Wait to Try
• Starr moves Into the Mann This Summer
• Help a Member Out: How Much Should I Tip at a Buffet?
• Five Questions: Katie Loeb, Head Bartender at the New Oyster House

Restaurant Club Newsletter [Philadelphia Magazine]

These three tasting menus caught our eye this week. Bindi is offering a “Seafood Delight” themed tasting menu today and tomorrow. The four-course meal is $35 and will include choices of poached lobster, banana leaf mahi and more.

It’s “Outrageous Onions” week over at Matyson where their themed weekly tasting menu costs $45. The highlight this week has to be the cashew crusted soft shell crab with sweet potato and caramelized onion fricassee, madras curry and grilled ramps.

Bistro 7 has gotten into the tasting menu fun through as well. Through Thursday you can get 5 courses for $35. Potatoes play an important part of the menu in the potato-goat’s cheese ravioli in sweet basil broth and the potato gnocchi with cured salmon and salmon caviar.

Complete menus for all three tasting menus after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

Chip Chantry’s One Man Show (with Special Guests) is at the Khyber tonight at 8. Certain Foobooz editors may even be spotted in a video segment.

Then when you get home, set up your DVRs to record tomorrow’s Martha Stewart Show (Tuesday, 2pm, NBC10), which will feature Marc Vetri.

Lynda’s Mediterranean, the Middle Eastern spot on Passyunk Avenue opened so quickly, we barely got wind of it. Thanks to our eagle-eyed commenters, we found out it closed shortly after we posted the menu.

We hear Lynda’s was not long for this world due to a lack of restaurant personality and food not exciting enough to overcome it.  The short-lived restaurant only lasted 30 days – perhaps a new record?

We also hear that other restaurant parties – parties with experience – are interested in the space. If you’re interested in the space, you can call the number in the photo. In the meantime, let’s play Restaurant Yenta and decide what we think should go in that location. Fire away in the comments below.

One note: the current incarnation is just one storefront, but it can be expanded into the next door space, doubling the size. Just something to consider while you Yenta.

Friday night, we wandered by the future home of the Capogiro on East Passyunk Ave. to press our face against the glass in sweet anticipation of their opening – earlier this week owner John Reitano told us they were just waiting on a health inspection – and holy gelato, they were open and scooping!

Turns out, they threw open the doors at about 7 p.m. on Friday night. Don’t be jealous, West Philly. Your super Capo opens on Friday, May 22.

So we had ourselves some stracciatella and it was gorgeous. The Reitano’s remake of the former Roselena’s is gorgeous – all cool blue paint, old-fashioned black-and-white photos and grey marble countertops. There’s a tiny back courtyard strung with lights that looks like a movie set.

Not so gorgeous? Our lack of willpower. This location is alarmingly close to home. Then again, wasn’t it Ben Franklin who said gelato is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy? Ok, so maybe he said it about beer, but gelato could give it a run for its money. Some photos after the jump Read the rest of this entry »

It would have been a busy week on Foobooz even if we hadn’t launched two new features. That we did launch Jobs.Foobooz.com and our Outdoor Dining Guide made it a banner week.

• Too bad Zahav doesn’t have any room for outdoor seating. Au contraire, mes amis!
• Craig LaBan hands out two-bells for Mexican in Kensington.
• Susanna Foo to close in August.
• We have another New York import to get excited about. Death & Co. is opening Franklin Mortgage and Investment Co. in Center City.
• Step away from the bar at Southwark and you can save some money.
• The Korean Taco phenomenon lands in Philadelphia.
• Is the tide changing? Adam Erace discovers good BBQ in Roxborough.
• We deliver Bibou’s tale of the tape.
• Stephen Starr’s Pizza spot generates a lot of comments about Philly pizza.
• At Girasole the pasta is the thing.
• We love Sriracha, don’t you? Tell us your favorite Sriracha dishes.
• Piazza at Schmidt’s is going to be huge. We’ve got the rundown of the food and drink ahead of tomorrow’s grand opening.

It’s looking like one of those great Spring weekends where there’s way to much to do. Here’s our suggestions for maximizing your fun coverage.

Friday

It’s Munich in Mayfair this evening at the Grey Lodge with Spaten Munich available in bottles. There will also be Spaten goodies for giveaway and food specials like smoked pork tenderloin with braised red cabbage and Spaten soaked bratwursts with kraut and spicy gherkins.

Saturday

Saturday’s plans require dedication to the bicycle or a SEPTA day pass. It’s the first day of the weekend long Italian Market Festival but we’re saving that for Sunday. After a breakfast burrito  from Honest Tom’s truck at the Clark Park in West Philadelphia we’re doing the trolley to the El to get to the Kensington Kinetic Scultpure Derby. Philadelphia Brewing Co. will be there to quench your thirst.

Here’s where things get tricky. Do you head right to the Piazza or go to celebrate Bishop’s Collar’s 10th anniversary where they’re hosting a block party. Bells, Sly Fox and Yards on special? Make an appearance.

Then as the sun begins to descend it’s back to the Piazza at Schmidt’s to check out all that’s going on there.

Sunday

Sure you’re groggy but we present to you a most unconventional hangover remedy. Roast pork with sharp provolone. We don’t know what it is about the sharp prov but it certainly does the trick. The pork doesn’t hurt either. Head to the Italian Market festival and you can get back in the swing of things at Canulli’s. Then walk around a bit, build that hunger back up and check out the much talked about Bebe’s BBQ, which we look forward to finally sampling.

And if we may offer one more tip for the weekend and life, “wear sunscreen.”

Make like burger crooner Craig LaBan and head over to Sketch for a “smashed onion burger.”

GoodTaste [Philadelphia Inquirer]

There’s tension between Marc Vetri and his landlord, and it’s coming to a head over a mural.

Dan Rubin has the scoop on a story so ridiculous, you would think it had to take place in South Philly.

Mural feels the heat [Philadelphia Inquirer]

Bibou, the storefront French BYOB near the Italian Market has created substantial buzz the old fashioned way, culinary pedigree. Here’s the tale of the tape.

Space

• Tiny storefront on South 8th Street near the Italian Market.
• Used to be home to another French BYOB, David Ansill’s Pif.
• Hardwood floors, blonde chairs and white tablecloths set in a peach and charcoal accented room.
• Capacity for 30.

The Owners

• Pierre Calmels and his wife Charlotte.
• Pierre Calmels was Le Bec-Fin’s Executive Chef for five years.
  • French born and trained.
  • First US job was at Daniel in New York.
• Met his wife in Switzerland.
  • She joined him in United States, working at Brasserie Perrier, Restaurant School, Patou and Bistro St. Tropez.

The Menu

• Traditional French menu with an emphasis on freshness.
• Prices range from $7 for soup to $26 for hanger steak with shallot and red wine sauce.
• Highlights include:
  • Escargots with fava beans and mushrooms, flavored with tarragon
  • Pan-seared foie gras with roasted mango, Port wine and cassis reduction
  • Braised pig feet stuffed with foie gra, green lentils
  • Duck magret “Tournedos” style, sauteed arugula, gratin Dauphinois, honey and lavender sauce.

Bibou
1009 S 8th St
215-965-8290

Bibou [Official Site]
Table Talk: French flavor in a small space [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Bibou [Thrillist]
Five Questions: Pierre Calmels, Chef/Owner, Bibou [Philadelphia Magazine]