Almost Meatless, the cookbook by Philadelphia writers Joy Manning and Tara Mataraza Desmond has been named one of the Best 10 food books of 2009 by Publishers Weekly. [Publishers Weekly]

Gianna’s meatballs lauded by PETA as having some of the best faux meatballs in the nation. [VegCooking via Meal Ticket]

Check out next month’s edition of Bon Appetit where Pub & Kitchen’s fish and chips recipe will be featured.

The 2010 Forbes Travel Guide (formerly Mobil Travel Guide) as awarded the Fountain at the Four Seasons 5-stars. It’s one of just 21 restaurants in the United States and Canada to receive the prestigious honor. The last Philadelphia restaurant to hold 5-stars was Georges Perrier’s Le Bec-Fin but he relinquished the shiny stars last year as he went a la carte.

Inqlings: Fountain gushing with 5 [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Fountain Restaurant [Official Site]

What won’t be a Stephen Starr restaurant? We had heard that the serial restaurateur was interested in the former Wawa at 20th and Locust but there are signs up saying a new 7-11 is coming soon.

Ristorante Panorama is aiming to get itself in the Guinness Book of World Records for its 120 wines by the glass and its wine-preserving cruivnet system. [Restaurant Club]

AOL’s Lemondrop has nominated Cosmi’s Deli as one of the four best sandwiches in the United States. [Lemondrop via Phoodie]

Michael Klein has a few more details on 500°, the upcoming burger business from Rob and Maggie Wasserman of Rouge. [Philadelphia Inquirer]

Marigold Kitchen is changing its menu every month. The Colorado rack of lamb with parsnip-white chocolate puree, petite watercress salad, blood orange, pomegranate, pine nuts catches our eye. New item marked with a *. [Marigold Kitchen (PDF)]

Nectar’s Scott Morrison and Executive Chef Dan Kremin of Barclay Prime and Buddakan are partnering to open Floret in Radnor in the space that is currently Pond. There will be a lounge and restaurant menu with everything from burgers to Amish raised chicken coq au vin. Opening is set for December.

A.D. Amorosi says Katie Cavuto’s Healthy Bites will be filling out the rest of the Chef’s Market/Capogiro space on South Street as the  next Food Network Star contestant gets her own store. [City Paper]

Chew Man Chu is getting set to open at the base of the Symphony House. Michael Klein has the rundown on “effervescent” chef  Tyson Wong Ophaso. [The Insider]

Masaharu Morimoto is planning a series of yakitori-based quick service restaurants in American airports. Skewers will be the name.

Whipped Bakeshop has opened on Belgrade Street in Fishtown. It’s part workshop and bake shop with coffee and cupcakes. [Meal Ticket]

Tavolo is the second restaurant for Warminster chef Augusto Jalon. This one will be in Huntindon Valley. [Philadelphia Inquirer]

There’s no stopping the Tiffin juggernaut. In addition to the announced Elkins Park )11/2 opening) and Wynnewood (2010)

Pico de Gallo’s Baja Room is open across from the original Pico de Gallo at 15th and South. [Meal Ticket]

Le Bec-Fin has a new pastry chef. Cedric Barberet who worked previously at Las Vegas’ M Resort and was Executive Pastry Chef at Donald Trump’s private club, Mar A Lago in Plam Beach.

Coquette is closed and is facing a sheriff’s sale. Cary Neff says he’s re-conceptualizing and will reopen. [The Insider]

Swan song accolades for ROOT liqueur in the final edition of Gourmet. Nicholas Jarrett of APO Bar+Lounge also gets a shout out. [PDF]

Marty Grims is set to open Chew Man Chu on Wednesday, October 28th. It’ll be classic Asian dishes prepared by chef Wong Ophaso. Ophaso has experience around the world in French and Asian restaurants.

Muffaletta, fried oyster po boys, beignets and more ‘Nalins cuisine will be available at Beck’s Cajun Cafe at the Reading Terminal Market.

The Tap House is now officially City Tap House and the 75 tap bar and restaurant is aiming for a December opening. [Daily Pennsylvanian]

Jose Garces confirms he is in talks to take over the Rae space in the Cira Centre. Farm to Table would be the concept. [The Insider]

Men’s Journal calls Philadelphia the number four beer town in the US. San Diego gets #1. [Men's Journal]

World Cafe Live is refurbing the fomrer Queen Theater in Wilmington into a 400-seat live music venue. Opening is set for 2011. [Philadelphia Business Journal]

Michael Klein reports the former Deux Cheminees brownstone on Locust Street will be reborn as a Greek restaurant, Ulysses Voyage. [The Insider]

Grey Social is a nightspot planned for Chestnut Street in Old City. The menu will include French crepes and fondue and there will be prohibition era cocktails to drink. [The Insider]

Little Fish which had been having some problems with emergency renovations has reopened. [Grub Street]

Penn’s campus dining is promising to be 33% locally sourced by 2010. [Philadelphia Inquirer via the Illadelph]

British celbri-chef Jamie Oliver has a magazine Jamie that has just done a big profile on dining in Philadelphia. And yes there are mentions of cheesesteaks but also brag worthy props given to Vetri, Zahav, Bibou and a host of other places. Plus this great quote:

It’s a blend of pride in the old and embrace of the new that seems, curiously, essentially Philadelphian.

Philadelphia (PDF) [Jamie Magazine]

Esquire names David Katz of Meme as one four “Breakout Chefs to Watch” in its November, Kate Beckinsale is the sexiest woman issue.

Katz has also recently been recognized by USA Pears as a top chef for his nine-spice squab breast with roasted pear. That dish has him a recipient of the Pear  Panache honor.

Nine-Spice Squab Breast with Roasted Pear Recipe [Pear Panache]
Esquire Suggests You Watch Meme’s David Katz [Grub Street]

Philadelphia area beers did well in Denver last week but they’re not the only ones getting national attention.

Gourmet’s John T. Edge “falls hard” for Philadelphia street food and names eight great street-food vendors in Philadelphia. [Gourmet via The Illadelph]

It wasn’t just the beer geeks who though that Flying Fish Exit 4 was the bomb. Men’s Journal called it the best Belgian Style beer of 2009. [Liquid Diet]

Zahav and Paesano’s make October’s Gourmet as restaurants “worth the money.” [Gourmet via Grub Street]

The New York Times’ Sunday travel section makes like Craig LaBan and praises Bibou too! [New York Times]

The Los Angeles Times’s Daily Dish notices that Roots drummer Questlove is showing the love for P.Y.T. [Los Angeles Times]

Gourmet Magazine lists eight great pilsners around the world and both Victory Prima Pils and Sly Fox Pikeland Pils make the list. [Gourmet]

Modo Mio chef and owner Peter McAndrews gets a recipe for Sunday Gravy published on Esquire’s site. Special advice worth heeding? Prepare it as you drink a glass of red wine. [Esquire]

Positano Coast bartender Andres Sanchez is competing in GQ & Bombay Sapphire’s “Inspired Bartender Search” having won the regional round last week. He’ll be headed to Las Vegas for the national contest. He’s pouring his Shiso & Samba. Meal Ticket has the recipe. [Meal Ticket]

Alexandra Harcharek, a local college student and co-founder of afoodcoma.com is profiled on Epicurious. [Epicurious]

GQ adds a city guide of Philadelphia to their site. A host of spots to eat and drink are highlighted and we can’t really gripe about what’s included.  [GQ City Guide: Philadlephia]