High profile bartenders and their fancy cocktails have mixologists stepping into the limelight.

Raising the bar [Metro Philadelphia]

We stopped in Chick’s Cafe the other night for a cocktail but what blew us away was the beer side of the menu, where there are 5 bottles of beer available for $24 or more.

Damm Inedit, a Spanish beer developed in collaboration with famed Spanish chef Ferran Adria is available in a 25oz bottle for $24. Previously we had only seen and enjoyed this beer at Jose Garces’ Amada and Tinto.

Brasserie mandrin aux Noix, a French beer that doesn’t even come up on  typical  sites like Beer Advocate is described in broken English by BeerMenus as “incredible taste unveil the subtle flavours of walnuts.”It’s $24 for a 25oz bottle.

A second French beer, Brasserie Saint Rieul Grand Cru is a Belgian-style Tripel that scores an excellent A- on BeerAdvocate. It’s $28 for 25oz.

Birra del Borgo Genziana is brewed about 60 miles northwest of Rome by Leonardo di Vincenzo who was originally trained in biochemistry. We actually got to try this at Tria Fermentation School in February of 2008 where according to our scribbled notes we found the beer to be a pleasant with hints of coriander and the tastes of a high mountain flower root. We wrote it would go well with seafood and other summery fare. It’s $28 for 25oz.

At that same Italian beer tasting we marked Picollo Birrifico Seson with a star. We described it as citrus and so light it almost evaporates off the tongue. The beer is aged in Chardonay barrels and flavored with chinotto peel, corriander and juniper. From what remember, it was an exceptionally good and different beer. It’s $28 for a 25 oz bottle at Chick’s.

Anyone want to split a bottle or two? We’re game!

Chick’s Cafe & Wine Bar [Official Site]

Chick’s Cafe has a new head bartender, Phoebe Esmon and Monday they’re formally introducing her with a fun event.

The $45 event will feature five of Esmon’s hand-crafted cocktails paired with four courses of Mediterranean inspired food. Among the highlights:

• Plymouth gin, cucumber and green Chartreuse elixir paired with a market fresh Italian crudo
• Spicy rye whiskey, orange pekoe tea and muddled mint cooler paired with Spanish influenced barbecue plate

Chick’s Cafe [Official Site]

Food & Wine’s new Cocktails 2009 book lists these cocktail bars and lounges as Philadelphia’s best: Tequila’s, Southwark, APO Bar + Lounge and Chick’s Cafe. [Via MenuPages]

Jose Garces is one of “120 Reasons to Love Being Latina” in Latina Magazine. He’s among four “culinary masters” saluted.

Esquire’s Philadelphia based-writer Francine Maroukian won an Ellie at the ASME Awards for her work on The Esquire Almanac of Steak. A hat tip goes out to her, especially since we know she reads Foobooz! She’s also featured this week on Unbreaded.  [ASME]

Friday night Chick’s Cafe & Wine Bar is having a special happy hour from 5 to 7pm with Jerome Dupont, 4th generation Calvados (apple brandy) producer from Domaine Familial Louis Dupont. 

Sidecars will be $9 and flights of aged Calvados will be $12. 

Chick’s Cafe & Wine Bar [Official Site]

Rick Nichols checks out the cheap and fancy grilled cheeses at Chick’s Cafe & Wine Bar.

Our favorite of the ones we tried was a diced dried fig, dulce gorgonzola and caramelized onion (with a dash of balsamic) job that toggled nicely tangy and sweet.

Tuesday Blues Plate [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Chick’s Cafe & Wine Bar [Official Site]

The 75th anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition is tomorrow and naturally we and bars are celebrating.

If you’re out early hit up the Memphis Taproom from 3 to 4pm when they’ll pouring all beer on draft for just a buck.

Chick’s Cafe will be featuring several old school specialty cocktails priced at $7.50 that are made using all American spirits – the Ward Eight (bourbon), Sazerac (rye), Scofflaw (blended American whiskey) and the Jack Rose (applejack).

The Institute gets in on the repeal day specials with 3.50 Tullemore Dew, $3.50 flavored Bacardi $1.50 PBR  all day.  From 9pm until 11pm there will be $2.00 Philly Brewing and Yards drafts. And they go all 1933 crazy at 19:33 (that’s 7:33pm), they’ll be offering all their draft beer for 10 cent beers for 19 minutes and 33 seconds. Never tried a Backwoods Bastard, it’s a worthwhile gamble for a dime.

On Saturday from 7 to 10pm APO Bar and Lounge (formerly Apothecary) and Philadelphia Distilling will be celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Repeal with big of Punch and some early jazz. APO will be offering bottles of punch (which serve 4-5), featuring Bluecoat American Dry Gin and Penn 1681 Organic Rye Vodka, for $19.33. They’ll also have select cocktails available for $6. [Facebook Invite]

Resist Prohibition is the tag line for Victory Brewing, so do your part and lift a pint of cask-conditioned Hop Devil at the London Grill.

And where could be more appropriate to go than to the recently opened Prohibition Taproom.

Chick’s Cafe & Wine Bar is promoting their Tuesday night grilled cheeses but these are a long way from government cheese on Wonder bread. These $5 paninis are a tad more upscale.

• Smoked Mozzarela, oven roasted tomato, basil
• Truffled wild mushroom and Taleggio
• Fig, Gorgonzola and caramelized onions
• Serrano and Mahon with Dijon
• Chicken, brie and pear with Membrillo

Add soup, salad or fries for just $3 more.

Chick’s Cafe and Wine Bar [Official Site]

Philadelphia Weekly’s Field Guide lists six Philadelphia wine bars worth visiting.

Wine of the Times [Philadelphia Weekly]

Caution: do not look at Philadining’s photos of Chick’s mini beignets with Nutella and raspberry dipping sauces on an empty stomach. [Philadining]

Uncle Jimmy weighs the “Yays” and “Neys” of dinner at Kanella. [Uncle Jimmy Eats]

Dish & Bitch is pretty cool. They have a brunch club and invite a guest along each Sunday whom they interview. Most recently they were at the Royal Tavern. [Dish & Bitch]

PhilaFoodie tips us off that Wine Spectator’s Sam Gugino is in love with Daniel Stern’s (Gayle and Rae) apple pie. [PhilaFoodie]

Collin Flatt dines on the “All Pork Menu” at Cochon with mixed results. [Phoodie.info]

Blogalicious is partial to the flagship in the Primo Hoagies chain and rarely varies from ordering the Chicken Suprimo on a seeded Sarcone’s roll. [Blogalicious]

Mac & Cheese gets some Egyptian and Mediterranean bites at Mazag Cafe in South Philly. [Mac & Cheese]

Our beer runs are much shorter (from wherever we are to the Foodery or Food & Friends) than the one Bryan Kolesar and Chris Leonard are preparing for this Saturday. They’re doing 13.1 miles from the General Lafayette to the new Tiedhouse. [Brew Lounge]

Foodzings has only a mediocre time at Mantra. [Foodzings]