David Snyder learns it’s the ingredients that are the special ingredient at Ekta.

“Garam masala,” Bhattarai cited when asked about the ingredients in the dishes I ate. This spice blend is very common in Indian cuisine. But what is unique about Ekta’s, I learned after some gentle prodding, is that Bhattarai makes it from scratch by blending more than 10 different components, including coriander, black and green cardamom and star anise. “It’s hard,” Bhattarai told me, “but it brings real good flavor and good taste.”

The Magic Powder [City Paper]

Adam Erace feels pangs of guilt over his new love affair with Ekta, the Girard Avenue Indian takeout spot that is not Tiffin. But that doesn’t mean he’s going to stop.

When it comes to spice, normally I’m a heat-seeking missile, so I was surprised that my favorite dish at Ekta was among the menu’s mildest. Not the crisp, greaseless onion bhaji or the minty, tamarind-streaked samosa chat—though both of those not-hot starters charmed—but the chicken korma. Ekta’s cooks just killed it on this one: a mellow curry so deep golden it was as if Midas himself made it.

Thickened with heavy cream and cashew paste, spiced with green cardamom and mace, the nutty, buttery korma must be what Indians turn to in times of comfort. After the tender cubes of chicken were gone, I piled my plate with basmati Himalayas and poured on the surplus sauce. So good I smoked a cigarette afterward.

Ekta! Ekta! Read All About It [Philadelphia Weekly]

Nothing like a nightspot to bring together community groups. Developer Avram Hornik looks to have a battle on his hands regarding reopening the Jumbo Theatre as a 500-700 capacity theater/bar/restaurant combination.

Neighbors fight bar/concert hall [Philadelphia Daily News]

Adam Erace tries several of the 400 possibilities of burger at Fishtown’s Sketch and calls them some of the best burgers in the city.

Color me nostalgic. When it comes to the burger I’m a purist— at least I always thought I was. But all it took was one bite of Sketch’s buttery Kobe jawbuster smothered in chunky green chili and Thai peanut sauces to totally challenge my entire burger belief system. Existential meltdown commencing.

Sketch [Philadelphia Weekly]

Buzz is definitely building for Ekta, the other Indian takeout spot on Girard Avenue. Phoodie.info says they’ve fixed all the problems that Tiffin has had and Brian Friedman of AroundPhilly.com pours on the praise.

Truth be told, the fact that such marvelous food is being served in such humble surroundings makes its deliciousity even better somehow. Not that it needs the help.

Because this is the kind of place that serves food of such layered precision, such finely filigreed detailing that you really need nothing else than what’s on the plate in front of you to make for a serious eating experience.

Review: Ekta [aroundphilly.com]
Takeoug of the Gods: Ekta [Phoodie.info]
Ekta [Official Site]

The folk at Philebrity say you’re going to like Kung Fu Necktie. We say, necktie is one word? We had no idea.

The Fu was formerly a Kenzo dive called The Penalty Box. Bearing that in mind, we couldn’t have been more surprised when entering the Fu space, which has been gorgeously rehabbed and evokes a kind of 1930s charm with a long, wraparound bar, high ceilings, tables made from old bowling alley lanes, and loads of original touches — including a stage with a handmade wooden arch and a smoking garden in the rear.

Believe It Or Not, You Are Going To Love The Bar Called Kung Fu Necktie [Philebrity]

Philly Skyline’s Bradley Maule braves a Fishtown neighbors meeting to find out about Avram Hornik’s plans for the Jumbo Theatre at Front and Girard.

PhillySkyline provides all the gory details while Philebrity boils it down to the highlights.

Mumbo Jumbo [PhillySkyline] via Philebrity

The Fishtown Neighbors Association will be hosting the 1st Annual River City Festival at Penn Treaty Park on Saturday, September 13.

In addition to a 5K run and bands there will be food from Fishtown eateries from noon till 5:30.

Complete list of participants and menus after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

Avram Hornik’s 4 Corners Management is looking to add to its stable of establishments, this time in Fishtown at the former Global Thrift. Avram plans a restaurant with a live performance area. An ambitious plan for a big parcel that got its start as the Jumbo Theatre. It also got us wondering, what does the average Foobooz reader think of 4 Corners’ stable of Drinker’s Tavern, Drinker’s Pub, Loie, Lucy’s, NoChe and Bar Noir.

 

Blind Item: Who Is Helping Girard Ave. Get *This* Much Closer To Getting That “Official Live Music District” Status? [Philebrity]
Meet the Jumbo Theater [Food and Drinq]
4 Corners Management [Official Site]

The Memphis Taproom’s Brendan “Spanky” Hartranft was on the 10 Show Tuesday explaining beers and promoting his Mystery Beer Weekend.

And just what is Mystery Beer Weekend? Well we’re glad you asked.

Mystery Beer Weekend will take place Labor Day weekend, August 29 to the 31st starting at noon on the 29th. The Taproom will tap 33 beers of 11 different styles in 3 days . It’s up to you to taste them all and tell us what you’re drinking. Mystery ballots will be available at the bar and at www.memphistaproom.com starting August 25, 2008.

Video via LIQUID DIET.