Craig LaBan looks back at the year in dining, naming Jose Garces’ Distrito as the best overall new restaurant.

Among the other highlights, he refers to Bindi’s Marcie Turney as a contemporary Muse of Indian food, notes Cafe Estelle is his “favorite new funky brunch place” and adds no new 4-bellers to his list. In fact it’ll be interesting to see the fate of several of his 4-bell restaurants as there have been regime changes at Lacroix and the Fountain plus Le Bec-Fin went a la carte and Striped Bass out-and-out closed to make way for Butcher & Singer.

LaBan also revisited several restaurants, awarding a third bell to Xochitl, that provides Steven Cook with three three-bell restaurants (Marigold Kitchen and Zahav are the others). Chima went from zero to one bell and the sprawling Maia in Villanova slipped from 3 to 2 bells.

Big doings on the dining scene [Philadelphia Inquirer]

Craig LaBan positively gushes over Distrito, Joses Garces’ fun Mexican restaurant with serious food.

Garces has always used authenticity as the springboard for his innovations. But the steady focus on tapas at his Amada and Tinto has given him the discipline and aesthetic to convey an intricate world of flavor and texture on each gorgeous small plate. Each added blade of corn shoot or roasted pumpkin seed makes a subtle flavor imprint. Every micro-garnish or temperature contrast is a deliberate balance play.

Three Bells - Excellent

Distrito [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Distrito [Official Site]

Jose Garces’ Distrito is offering some World Series deals. Get $2 Tecates and $5 frozen margaritas as you watch the games on their big screen or in the semi-secret karaoke room.

Distrito [Official Site]

34th Street Magazine chats with Jose Garces asking some interesting questions about how he is different than Stephen Starr, what happened to the taco stand and how he would construct a meal with a dish from each of his Philadelphia restaurants.

Dawn of a New Empire [34th Street Magazine]

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.

Adam Erace finds some things to quibble about at Distrito but it still is very much a Jose Garces experience.

Distrito [Philadelphia Weekly]
Distrito [Official Site]

David Snyder reviews Jose Garces’ colorful Distrito.

Dual themes of playfulness and sophistication are echoed in Distrito’s menu. Garces and his chef de cuisine, Tim Spinner, who formerly helmed Garces’ Amada, turn out dishes that are festive while still retaining a sense of tradition. Dig underneath it all, though, and you’ll be wowed by layers of elegant, complex flavor. It’s this harmonious juxtaposition of fun and fancy that makes the fare so inspired.

Who is that masked man? [City Paper]

Foodzings visits Distrito for small plates feast and has lots of delicious looking pictures. [Foodzings]

Philadining had been having mixed experiences at Apothecary but now he thinks he has it figured out. [Philadining Blog]

It’s a football sized burrito that can get you through hard times at El Jarocho. [Living On The Vedge]

Foodzings also has us salivating for a crepe after her weekend photo-fest at Beau Monde. [Foodzings]

Almaz Cafe is a spot that we always forget when we’re wondering around looking for something to eat. Living on the Vedge reminds us, that we evidently NEED TO GO. [Living On The Vedge]

The Metro’s Dorothy Robinson interviews Jose Garces asking him about starting in Philadelphia and beating Bobby Flay.

Philadelphia’s own ‘Iron’ man [Metro Philadelphia]

Dawn Warden recounts the visuals and culinary highlights of her visit to Distrito.

The esquites were a crowd favorite. Served in a petite pilsner glass, this was a creamy mix of sweet corn and queso fresco (fresh cheese), with a little kick of chipotle and lime. As decadent as it was with its spicy-sweet, crunchy-creamy contrasts, I was surprised to learn that it is a very traditional street food and quite simple to prepare.

Another great dish was the carne asada, New York strip steak in an adobe sauce, served with a cornmeal crusted tomatillo and a creamy Poblano corn rice that delivered a satisfying dose of comfort and reminded me of grits but with better texture.

No Mexicali Blues Here [Main Line Today]
Distrito [Official Site]