The Gary Maddox BBQ Challenge is this Saturday from 4 to 7pm at Citizens Bank Park. The event is open to the public (you don’t need tickets to the Phillies game to attend) and food tickets make money for the Youth Golf & Academics Program, an academic enrichment program founded by Garry Maddox to support children who reside in troubled city neighborhoods.

This year Stephen Starr has been brought on board and four of his restaurants, Barclay Prime, Jones, El Vez and Buddakan will be competing.

Check out the complete list after the jump, sorry Illadelph, no Bebe’s.

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UWISHUNU gives some love to the hidden Cafe Lift in the lofts district. Brunch is the meal to hit up with six kinds of frittatas and rarely a wait. [UWISHUNU]

Mac & Cheese hits up the vegetarian options at the Abbaye in Northern Liberties. [Mac & Cheese]

Keeping it veggie, Living on the Vedge dines out at Lolita. [Living on the Vedge]

Foodzings makes it out to the Royal Tavern for a couple vegan dishes and also over to El Vez where they get back in the meat swing. [foodzings]

Jose Pistola’s has a new chef–apparently the old one is attempting to pull off a heroic feat–Brenton Wallace, most recently of Loie. He just came on board last Friday and he’ll be tweaking the menu, owner Casey Parker says, expanding, fine-tuning and just for fun, “throwing in things that will make no sense.” We believe this translates into “expect to see the menu expand far beyond south of the border”, but we’ll have to wait and see.

El Vez is running one of its Get Your Agave On tequila dinners this coming Monday, Feb. 4th. $35 gets you four courses and a Don Julio tequila tasting and lesson.

Tequila has taught us many lessons, the most important one being to respect its might.

El Vez [Official Site]

Philadelphia Weekly’s Field Guide this week focuses on Philadelphia’s best margaritas rating them in 7 categories.

• Xochitl
• El Vez
• TGI Fridays
• Mexican Post
• Los Catrines Tequila’s
• Lolita

Lovely ’Ritas [Philadelphia Weekly]

Adam Erace highlights some of the best drinks around town that feature muddled fruit, vegetables or herbs.

• Cuba Libre
• Rum Bar
• Tinto
• Alfa
• El Vez

Muddle Up [aroundphilly.com]

Creative Cocktails is a series of free tastings at Pennsylvania Wine & Spirits stores. Attendees receive free samples and complementary hors d’oeuvres as well as cocktail recipes and pricing specials on featured spirits .

July Philadelphia Events will take place at the Wine & Spirits Premium Collection Store at 1218 Chestnut Street.

From 5 to 7 PM on July 12, 13, 14 Captain Morgan’s Parrot Bay Rums will be featured. Valanni will be the restaurant partner.

On Saturday, July 21st Cabo Wabo tequilas will be featured with the help of El Vez.

Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board [Official Site]

With Cinco de Mayo just about upon us we have just one question.
[Poll=16]

Stop by the rotunda at The Shops at Liberty Place all week from 12-2 pm for cooking demonstrations by chefs from Center City restaurants:

• September 5 Roy’s Restaurant & Zanzibar Blue
• September 6 Le Castagne Restaurant & Ristorante Panorama
• September 7 Twenty21 & McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant
• September 8 El Vez & Tangerine

Tequila isn’t just for frat parties anymore. Learn about the agave based spirit and enjoy appetizers from El Vez as you do so. El Vez is offering monthly tequila tastings that feature a variety of tequilas paired with appetizers. $35 gets you the tequila, apps and an education.