Archive for the 'Food' Category

Friday, Foobooz editor Arthur Etchells was interviewed by CBS 3’s Nicole Brewer about where to go for some good Fall eats. 

Foobooz On CBS 3 Video [CBS3.com]
Dining Out With Foobooz [CBS3.com]

As mentioned on Friday, one half of Foobooz has dropped everything to follow his beloved Phils to Los Angeles. So that leaves you all with the other half of Foobooz, who doesn’t know a bat from a puck drop and has a rotten sense of direction. I do have other redeeming qualities though, like a sharp eye for orange signs!

While cruising by the old West Coast Video at 212 S. 15th Street between Walnut and Locust, I spotted a license transfer application, posted October 9th. The entity applying for the license transfer was Max Brenner, Inc. Could it be Max Brenner, Chocolate by the Bald Man? Which is not really a he, but an Israeli chocolate company with shops in Australia, Southeast Asia and two branches in New York, one of which Frank Bruni at the New York Times reviewed and gave no stars. 

Still, can more chocolate ever be a bad thing? 

A number of Philadelphia restaurants and chefs have recently received national recognition.

Esquire’s list of top 20 new restaurants includes two Philadelphia restaurants, Michael Solomonov’s Zahav and Jose Garces’ Distrito. Garces is on the list twice as his Chicago restaurant, Mercat a la Planxa also made the grade.

Ristorante Panorama was named 2008 Wine Hospitality Restaurant of the Year by Santé magazine. We keep saying we’re going to get there.

Kevin Sbraga of the Garces Restaurant Group may not have come away as the overall winner at Bocuse d’Or USA but he did win best meat dish with his beef tenderloin served with peach wood smoke, red eye gravy.

Redheads rejoice! The Memphis Taproom is going to tap two amazing Red Ales tonight from 6 to 9pm. Ommegang Rouge, a Flemish Red Ale and an American Strong Ale from Lagunitas, the Imperial Red. Plus Red Barn Ale from The Lost Abbey Brewery will also be a buck off.

Which neighborhood will get the next Tria? It’s been a pretty hot topic of conversation around these parts. Every time we ask owner Jon Myerow to confirm the burblings of Bella Vista or G-Ho, he tells us no deals have been made. And we believe him! From the looks of this craigslist posting, he’s still on the hunt for restaurant magic. Check it after the jump.

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Johnny Mac is now turning out perhaps the city’s finest, crispiest, tastiest fish and chips, applying the care that only true affection can confer.

He uses fresh, hand-selected pollack (the flaky white, environmentally correct substitute for stressed-out cod). He cools it on parchment, covered with more paper or towels and ice packs (not ice!), the better to keep its surface dry to create traction for the batter. He uses amber lager for the batter, simply adding flour and seasoning, but taking care not to overmix it, which cuts down on its desire to adhere to the fish. He lets the batter ferment, at 125 degrees, over the hot line above the stoves. He dusts the pollack with flour. Batters it. Drops it in hot, clean vegetable oil, cranked to 375 degrees to drive out any greasiness. He blots the fish, twice, for 30 seconds on paper towels. And hits it with a grind of black pepper and a flick of kosher salt.

It’s a tour de force! It is why God invented the gastropub. Welcome back to earth, Johnny!

Froufrou-free fish and chips [Philadelphia Inquirer]

• We did our second 5-7-5 review, this time on Pub & Kitchen.
• Cafe Estelle gets two bells for their brunch options and smoked meats.
• If it weren’t for the whole stock market thing, we’d remember this week as PieHoleGate.
• Could Stephen Starr go Greek at the Broad Street Diner?
• We take an early look at the new Bar 210 at Lacroix.
• The Tiedhouse will open at 20th and Hamilton Streets on Thursday, October 9th.
• Cochon turns one and celebrates with bacon creme brulee.
• Bella Vista Beer Distributors is going to be BIG.
• Our pig v. pig battle is going down to the wire. We’re sure it’ll be settled by a snout.
• University City’s Hummus sounds delish.
• Wow Rachel Ray, that’s excellent form.
• Have a guess on this week’s Eyeball Bender? We also provided a hint to last week’s eyeball bender if you want to take a shot at that.

This Sunday will see the start of brunch at West Philly’s Marigold Kitchen. Brunch will run from 10am to 2pm.

Menu after the jump.

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Our oh-so-smart readers have come up with some good places to watch the debate tonight. But of course before the debate is game two of the Phillies and Brewers. GoPhila.com has ten suggestions on where to watch that.

Oh and we just found this, vice-presidential debate drinking games.