Trey Popp steps back into another time at Village Whiskey where he finds the burger is king and the drink mark-ups most unkind.

Even the $9 version [of the burger] is among the best in a town with a lot of good ones. Village sources beef from “sustainable farm-raised” cattle in Maine and grinds it themselves, allowing for a loosely packed half-pound patty that gushes with juiciness. Of course the $24 specimen is what’s gotten the most attention. The main upcharge derives from its crown of seared foie gras, but that’s one thing a burger outfitted with thick slabs of smoky bacon, maple-glazed cipollini onions and a mound of Rogue smoky blue cheese doesn’t really need. If I had it to do over again, I’d nix the organs and let that unholy trinity of sweetness and pork fat and mold work its own dark miracle. Even just the cheese itself — which is cold-smoked over hazelnut shells and tastes faintly of toffee — would make for a decadent lunch.

Big Whiskey [City Paper]
Village Whiskey [Official Site]

Philadelphia Magazine is reporting that Jose Garces will be taking over Letto Deli (yes, the location once reportedly going to Stephen Starr) and will be turning it into a beer and brats spot.

We love the idea of make your own brat combos with choice of sausage, bun, toppings, sauces and mustards. Not to mention there’s something very cool about that slanted-roof building. Just do us one favor Jose, make it affordable.

Breaking: Joes’s Newest Project [Restaurant Club]

Marty Grims is set to open Chew Man Chu on Wednesday, October 28th. It’ll be classic Asian dishes prepared by chef Wong Ophaso. Ophaso has experience around the world in French and Asian restaurants.

Muffaletta, fried oyster po boys, beignets and more ‘Nalins cuisine will be available at Beck’s Cajun Cafe at the Reading Terminal Market.

The Tap House is now officially City Tap House and the 75 tap bar and restaurant is aiming for a December opening. [Daily Pennsylvanian]

Jose Garces confirms he is in talks to take over the Rae space in the Cira Centre. Farm to Table would be the concept. [The Insider]

Men’s Journal calls Philadelphia the number four beer town in the US. San Diego gets #1. [Men's Journal]

World Cafe Live is refurbing the fomrer Queen Theater in Wilmington into a 400-seat live music venue. Opening is set for 2011. [Philadelphia Business Journal]

Michael Klein reports the former Deux Cheminees brownstone on Locust Street will be reborn as a Greek restaurant, Ulysses Voyage. [The Insider]

Grey Social is a nightspot planned for Chestnut Street in Old City. The menu will include French crepes and fondue and there will be prohibition era cocktails to drink. [The Insider]

Little Fish which had been having some problems with emergency renovations has reopened. [Grub Street]

Penn’s campus dining is promising to be 33% locally sourced by 2010. [Philadelphia Inquirer via the Illadelph]

On Wednesday, November 11th Jose Garces is hosting a progressive dinner through his Philadelphia restaurants. Starting with the boarding of a trolley at 5pm in front of Amada guests will stop for small plates at Distrito, then to Tinto for more small plates with a cocktail from Village Whiskey, then off to Chifa and finally back to Amada for the finale.

The meal will cost $200 per person and will include beverage pairings. Space is limited and reservations are required.

Check out what will be served at each restaurant after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

Send a With Love Philadelphia postcard and be entered to win a $100 Stephen Starr or Jose Garces gift card.

Surely you know someone who deserves some love, just no one from Colorado, okay?

With Love [GoPhila.com]

Craig LaBan and Jose Garces has an interesting online chat today. Among the most intersting things to come out of it:

Next Iron Chef

• Garces actually prepared the cock’s combs two ways: in a pressure cooker and braised.
• His best weapon on the show is his 15 years of cooking.
• Garces is trying to source cock’s combs for the weekend at Amada.
• What Philadelphia chefs would Garces trust with cock’s combs, stinky tufu or sea cucumber.
  • Marc Vetri (Vetri, Osteria)
  • Michael Stollenwerk (Little Fish, fish)
  • Terence Feury (Fork)
  • Michael Solomonov (Zahav)

Read the rest of this entry »

Jennifer Carroll is kicking it on Top Chef: Las Vegas. Tony Luke Jr. steals the show no matter what he’s on and Sunday. Philadelphia is being represented on all sorts of food related TV shows and Sunday, Jose Garces makes his much-anticipated debut on The Next Iron Chef.

And if you want to watch the debut of Next Iron Chef with Jose Garces, make reservations for the viewing party at Distrito. The party kicks off at 8pm with passed hors d’oeuvres, house and frozen margaritas, and cans of Tecate. Admission is $35 and reservations are suggested.

Local top chefs take over TV [Metro Philadelphia]

Hudson Beach Glass and the Garces Restaurant Group (GRG) are hosting a one-of-a-kind event on Friday, October 9th, a whiskey tasting where the star of the show is the glass.

Sean Gilvey, owner of Hudson Beach Glass has been working with Village Whiskey’s Stephen Seibert to create a whiskey glass that highlights the liquor.

Guests will have a chance to try the glass with three different whiskeys as Seibert explains the different flavors and effects of the glass.

Admission is $40 and includes one glass to take home, tastes of the different whiskeys and snacks provided by Amada.

Tickets are available online, by visiting Hudson Beach Glass or by calling 267-319-1887.

Hudson Beach Glass [Official Site]
Whiskey Tasting – It’s all in the Glass [Design Philadelphia]

We already kind of knew Jose Garces liked us but this UWISHUNU interview reveals he’s really sappily head over heals with Philadelphia.

Among the loves Jose reveals:

• Dollar dogs at Citizen Bank Park
• Sunday brunch with scrapple
• Marc Vetri and Osteria
• Morimoto
• Salt and Pepper Shrimp at David’s Mei Lei Wah late night in Chinatown.
• Reading Terminal Market

All the XOXOs are over at UWISHUNU.

With Love Letters: Chef Jose Garces Dishes On Some Of His Favorite Things [UWISHUNU]

Jose Garces talks Next Iron Chef and Garces Trading Co. with the “vacationing” Drew Lazor.

INTERVIEW: Jose Garces talks The Next Iron Chef [Meal Ticket]
Jose Garces Next Iron Chef Bio [Food Network]