Tonight is the kickoff of OpenTable.com’s Appetite Stimulus Plan. 70+ participating restaurants are offering $35 dinners and $24 lunches.

We don’t have a whole lot of information on the menus but Lacroix and Rae was nice enough to send theirs along.

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I Am Beer Wise was also at the opening of Earth Bread + Brewery and files a complete report. [I Am Beer Wise]

David McDuff enjoys a “fantastic” meal at Zahav and chronicles the Italian wines he paired with it. [McDuff's Food & Wine Trail]

Philly Grub went to brunch at Lacroix feeling skeptical but come out throwing around superlatives like genius and spectacular and unbelievable. [Philly Grub]

Foodaphilia visits Ekta, the most talked about takeout spot in the city. [Foodaphilia]

The Beer Lass comes up with a concept the only concept that can rival Oktoerfest, Porktoberfest. [Beer Lass]

Mac & Cheese finds that it’s slim pickings for the vegetarian at Parc but like just about everyone else she finds the people-watching bountiful. [Mac & Cheese]

Living on the Vedge won’t be back to Hummus at 40th and Walnut but if you work or go to school nearby it might be worth a look. [Living on the Vedge]

I Am Beer Wise visits Kite & Key and the Tiedhouse in the Art Museum area. [I Am Beer Wise]

Mac & Cheese heads to the self-proclaimed “originator of the veggie hoagie,” Chickie’s on Federal Street and discovers the fried tomato hoagie. [Mac & Cheese]

Planning a trip to the Pacific Northwest? Then you might want to check out Foodzings who review everything including the food at the airport. [Foodzings]

Last week we received a sneak preview of Bar 210, the new bar at Lacroix. The bar features its own menu looks like a relaxed and relatively inexpensive way to be introduced to chef Matthew Levin’s culinary skills. There’s also a collection of hand crafted cocktails that is sure to create some buzz, especially the “Bi-Sexual Bourbon,” a tasty concoction of Makers Mark, peach nectar, sugar syrup, smoked maple syrup and rimmed with freeze dried peaches. 

Full snack and cocktail menus after the jump.

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What’s in a name? AD Amorosi reports Bar Ferdinand’s Owen Kamihira is miffed that Brendan Hartranft and Leigh Maida are using the name he came up with for their new bar at 44th and Spruce.Kamihra’s other spot, El Camino Real is less than a month away and is being called a “two-bar BBQ saloon.” [Ice Pack, City Paper]

Cream and Sugar has been open just about a month at 4004 Spruce Street. It’s Philadelphia-centric in this coffee and sweets shop. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Lucky 13 is the name of East Passyunk’s latest pub, taking over for Vincenzo’s. Owner, Clark Newman is a longtime Manayunk bartender and the chef will be Benjamin Johnson most recently of Plough & the Stars. [The Insider]

Ice Pack feeds the Jose Garces rumor machine with word he “was/is looking at the Griffin Cafe on Market and Bank streets in Old City.” Maybe he’s thinking about that taco stand again. [Ice Pack, City Paper]

Capriccio Café & Espresso Bar at Café Cret should open later this month at 16th and the Parkway.

Lacroix’s Matt Levin along with several other Philadelphia chefs are heading to backwater Dallas to do battle with some hack chefs from that town in the Gridiron Chef Classic, an Iron Chef style battle. Levin will be sporting a green faux-hawk for the competition. [Inqlings, Philadelphia Inquirer]

This week The Bite takes you around town, highlighting great tastes at good prices from tasting menus at the likes of Matyson, Lacroix, Little Fish and Modo Mio.

The Bite: Tasting menus mean rare treats at bargain prices [Metro Philadelphia]

Talula’s Table cannot stop getting press. This time it’s a spread in the New York Times Sunday Magazine. [New York Times via McDuff's Food & Wine Trail]

Forbes Traveler has a slideshow of deluxe nose to tail meals and features Ansill among the offal best. [Forbes Traveler]

The Wall Street Journal goes interactive on us with its look at the power tables at Lacroix. [Wall Street Journal via Phoodie.info]

Did you know that the mysterious Queen Village bar La Creole was closing? Those crazy kids at Phillyblog did.

 

Nominees for the 2008 James Beard Awards, often referred to as the ‘Oscars of the food industry’, were announced today. Here are the local connections:

Restaurateur of the Year: Stephen Starr

Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic: Alison Barshak (Alison at Blue Bell), Jim Burke (James), Jose Garces (Amada), Matthew Levin (Lacroix), Daniel Stern (Rae)

Outstanding Pastry Chef: Kate Honeyman (Continental Mid-Town)

Rising Star Chef of the Year: Jeff Michaud (Osteria), Chip Roman (Blackfish), Michael Solomonov (Marigold Kitchen)

Outstanding Chef: Marc Vetri (Vetri)

Outstanding Service: Vetri

Best New Restaurant: Osteria, Tinto, Xochitl

They also give out awards to food writers, which we would undoubtedly win if we could afford the $100 entry fee.

Beard Nominees Sent to Judges [Grub Street]

Celebrate Lacroix’s 5th anniversary with chef Robert Irvine, star of Food Network’s Dinner:Impossible. On Monday, November 19th Irvine and Lacroix’s Matthew Levin will create a special menu for the night.

VIP reception and Celebrity Dinner is $100 per person and includes complimentary hors d’oeuvres, champagne, 4-course meal and private reception with both chefs. There is also a Celebrity Dinner option for $75 that will include the 4-course meal.

That’s a pretty good deal for a special night and it’s made even better because the wine list is 50% off or you can even bring your own.

Lacroix [Official Site]

Well we don’t really wish it were Monday but with these suggestions from the Bite at least you’ll be equipped to make it a bit more of a fun day.

The Bite appears every Wednesday in the Metro and is written by Foobooz editor Arthur Etchells

Enjoy Mondays more and go to a restaurant [Metro Philadelphia]