Last week Joe Sixpack tried to help get you laid, this week he continues his quest to bring sexy back to beer with this article entitled “In this cold, warm up your tummy (and parts south) with a good stout.” It has a great clip-n-save on the many different varieties of delicious stout. Also, Joe has a book on the Philly beer scene coming out, just in time for Philly Beer Week.

Lew Bryson lasers in on the itsiest of microbrewers in Micro Microbreweries: Beer on a Truly Micro Scope [Portfolio.com]

Alert Hugs for Puppies! There’s a Philadelphian candidate in PETA’s annual Sexy Vegetarian contest:

The contest sponsored by PETA, people for the ethical treatment of animals, is hoping to highlight vegetarians with beauty and brains. Amanda Whiting, a former Eagles cheerleader with a degree in public relations, hopes she represents both. [KYW1060.com]

That’s right, a degree in public relations signifies brains.

The Daily News informs us that Hugs for Puppies, the organization that protests foie gras at restaurants around town, is getting into the dining guide business. They’ve launched VegPa.net, a new website with a database of vegetarian and vegetarian-friendly restaurants in Pennsylvania. A useful resource and perhaps, ultimately, a more effective use of their time?

Speaking of vegetarian dishes, the pig-less future of scrapple is here and it’s called Vrapple. And it’s damn good.

Veggie Interesting [philly.com]
VegPa.net [Official Site]

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 »

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]