Foie Gras Week is underway and here are a couple of restaurants that are participating and open this evening. And even better, we know what they’re offering.

Valanni is offering their $5 foie gras (pictured), a pan seared torchon (cured, then poached) with black pepper rhubarb compote and  cherry reduction.

Meme is also in offering $5 foie gras, lighly cured with medjool date and bacon with some aged balsamic.

Whether you’re a foie gras enthusiast or just foie-curious you’ll be excited to learn that Foie Gras Week 2009 kicks off Friday with more than 15 restaurants taking part. Participating restaurants will be offering special $5 foie gras plates.

Full list of participants after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

Half of Foobooz is in Belgium right now. Not the half who is typing this with lambic-scented tears of jealousy streaming down her face. That’s really all you need to know. Also, if there is suddenly a shortage of Belgian beer available for export, you’ll know why.

Chicago overturns their foie gras ban. Haven’t heard much about the proposed Philly foie ban in a while – not since there was word of a mysterious investigation surrounding the ban’s proponent councilman Jack Kelly. [Diner's Journal]

Are you a conscious carnivore? Have you bought ‘happy chicken’ lately? [Inquirer]

Everybody in Virginia is packing heat during dinner. Could this happen in Philly? Does it already? Is there even a Fuddrucker’s here? [AP]

Food prices are up again, but you knew that. [Inquirer]

This foie gras business just gets curiouser and curiouser.

Last week Hugs for Puppies, the animal advocacy group that protests against restaurants that serve foie gras, posted a statement on its website congratulating seafood-centric BYOB Little Fish for going foie gras-free. As the source of this information, the website cited a letter from Little Fish to Professionals Against Foie Gras, a group supporting Councilman Kelly’s proposed ban on the controversial delicacy.

I called Mike Stollenwerk, chef-owner of seafood-centric Little Fish, to ask him about his decision, and he told me that he never sent a letter to anyone.

Read the rest of this entry »

It looks like local chefs can breathe a temporary sigh of relief. Councilman Jack Kelly might be too busy to reintroduce his bill to ban foie gras now that he is the subject of a FBI probe.

According to the Daily News:

His relationship with the two real-estate developers, who have large holdings in Northeast Philadelphia and a growing stock of Center City properties, came under scrutiny last year, when three of their partnerships gave a combined $30,000 to Kelly’s re-election campaign.

Under the city’s new campaign-finance laws, contributions are annually limited to $2,500 from an individual and $10,000 from a partnership or political action committee.

Hmmm. Wonder if they had to gavage that extra $20,000 down his throat?

FBI Quizzes Kelly & Staff on Top Aide, Two Contributors [Philadelphia Daily News]
Councilman Jack Kelly [Official Site]

Last Saturday night, we were driving by Matyson and saw a huddle of people clustered outside. Not waiting for a table, but chanting at tables. These were the infamous foie-gras-fighting Hugs for Puppies folks.

Their website lists an event planned for tonight, meeting up in Rittenhouse Square, with the ultimate destination TBD. Where will they go? Where will they march? Who will they protest against?

An interesting tidbit. Councilman Jack Kelly, the force behind the proposed ban on foie gras voted against the smoking ban back in the day. His official website says

Councilman Jack Kelly’s been fighting to make conditions at the city’s animal shelters more humane, both for the pets and the workers.

But the workers in bars that allowed smoking? Not so much.

Matyson [Official Site]
Hugs for Puppies [Official Site]
Councilman Jack Kelly [Official Site]

In what is turning into the real-world equivalent of arguing on the Internet, a Hugs for Puppies foie gras protester was doused with coffee in front of the Standard Tap on Saturday night.

Cops from Civil Affairs, who monitor Puppies’ protests, went into the bar to get his info for a police report; Cooney says employees refused to give him up. It’s believed that he works at Johnny Brenda’s.

Foie gras dust-up [Food & Drinq]
Standard Tap [Official Site]

The Philadelphia foie gras batte has gone national. Yep the moronically named Hugs for Puppies versus the almost as poorly named Philadelphia Chefs for Choice have made Time Magazine. Oh glorious day!

Well we do learn this tidbit, Michael and Terry McNally of the London Grill are planning a foie gras dinner October 22nd with Hudson Valley Foie Gras founder Michael Ginor. The dinner will feature foie gras in all six of the courses, $165 per person.

Fight for Your Right to Pâté [TIME Magazine] via the Illadelph
London Grill [Official Site]

Some Philadelphia chefs have gotten together to form a group, Philadelphia Chefs for Choice. They have organized to respond to animal rights groups who are against foie gras, line caught fish, veal, lobster and eggs.

Next week they are offering “Freedom Foie for Five.” From October 1st participating restaurants are offering a sample of foie gras for just $5.

Manifesto and participating restaurants after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran of 13th Street fame plan to add to their portfolio of Open House, Grocery and Lolita. This time with an Indian spot, Bindi taking over the Grocery cafe side this fall. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Bookbinder’s of Linwood, NJ is now open and cheaper than the Center City location, plus more meat dishes and even a brick pizza oven. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

“Euro-inspired bistro fare, with recognizable American and Asian touches” will be on the table when Swallow opens on Liberties Walk in late August of early September. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Looks like Dock Street Brewery and Restaurant will also be opening in late August or early September. Half the old firehouse floor accommodates the brewing equipment with the rest holding the dining area. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Nick Meglino, the owner of the now closed Felicia’s Café is working on a couple of new endeavors. He’s reportedly shopping for a new spot for a seafood Italian restaurant near Rittenhouse Square and is also planning an “an open-air Italian gastropub” on East Passyunk. [Blogalicious]

Georges Perrier has evidently had it with animal-rights activists who protest outside Le-Bec Fin over his serving of foie gras. Over the weekend he came outside to heckle the protesters back. [Dan Gross, Philadelphia Daily News]