There was lots of speculation last week when Victor Fiorillo blogged about the potentially fake Maker’s Mark he had at a “popular Center City bar.”

On Friday he was back with a member of the State Police’s Bureau of Liquor Code Enforcement where they took six bottles of liquor from the bar for testing.

Operation Maker’s Mark: The Investigation Continues [The Restaurant Club]

Today’s Philadelphia Inquirer has an interesting story regarding three Philadelphia bars getting busted for serving alcohol without a valid liquor license. Often times it is the bartender and not the owner who winds up getting arrested.

One of the bars, Old City’s Triada was caught substituting cheap vodka for top shelf stuff.

At the Triada lounge in Old City where four bartenders and an owner were arrested Friday for serving without a license, police noted that the bar menu listed $200 for a bottle of Absolut and $450 for a bottle of Grey Goose. But in the back room, investigators said, they found empty bottles of the premium vodka near full bottles of Banker’s Club, a rot-gut vodka purchased for $7 in New Jersey.

Sgt. William La Torre of Liquor Control Enforcement said he questioned the owner, Gregory J. Wright, who told him he substituted the cheaper liquor because “times are tough.”

Three unlicensed Philadelphia bars raided [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Triada [MySpace]

City Council passed a bill that come 2010 will require restaurant chains to list nutritional information. Independent operators are exempt, an industry group was critical and frankly, we have trouble caring.

What’s new on menu? Labeling [Philadelphia Inquirer]

On a day when fireworks were expected in the opening of the court case between Rick’s Steaks and the Reading Terminal Market it turns out Rick’s has quietly lost its case.

Rick’s Steaks appears to have lost its battle to stay in the Reading Terminal Market. A judge has ruled that market management has the right to refuse to give Rick a new lease (see related story).

Rick Olivieri and Terminal Market management were expected to be in court on Monday, with their attorneys arguing over some remaining issues in this long-running dispute. But Judge Mark Bernstein on May 9th quietly issued the key ruling — a summary judgment that the Market has the right to refuse to offer a new lease to Rick’s Steaks.

UPDATE: Rick’s Steaks has reached a settlement with RTM and will be out of the market by October 31st. [Philadelphia Inquirer]

Judge’s Ruling a Setback for Rick’s Steaks [KYW 1060]

The night before Thanksgiving is one of the biggest bar nights of the year. That means it is also one of the biggest late night dining nights of the year. And The Bite has suggestions including what some call the Philadelphia taco.

Satisfy Your Night Cravings [Philadelphia Metro]

The soup nazi was never arrested but the same can’t be said for Blackbird Eating Establishment chef Alex Capasso.

According to Collingswood police captain Richard Sarlo, a dispute took place on Wednesday, October 24th, between Capasso and a group of hungry customers who felt that he had given their table away to another party. A confrontation ensued in front of a packed room of diners, and Sarlo says that Capasso “pushed and shoved” the customers. Eventually, the fight went outside, where, Sarlo says, Capasso punched one of the men in the eye. The man was treated by an ambulance but refused to be taken to the hospital. Police were called, and Capasso was arrested and charged with simple assault.

UPDATE: Here’s the latest from both sides of the altercation. [The Daily Examiner]
EXCLUSIVE: Chef Alex Capasso Arrested for Assaulting a Customer [Daily Examiner]

PW’s Brian McManus highlights the story of Jonn Klein, owner of the Dive and his run in with a curmudgeon and Philadelphia’s Department of Licenses and Inspections.

Diving For Answers [Philadelphia Weekly]

Philadelphia Magazine has posted their story about Chops and its lawsuit against Craig LaBan. Also posted is a post from Philly Mag editor Larry Platt who defends his decision to run the photograph of Craig LaBan with the story.

I do this because, as Zack Stalberg, former editor of the Daily News, points out in Volk’s story, anonymity for LaBan has become something of a gimmick. He shows up in disguise to public book readings, making those of us who have extended the courtesy of anonymity to him complicit in his publicity stunts. Moreover, most everyone in the restaurant community knows what he looks like anyway. (In fact, we’re not the first to out his image; the Chestnut Hill Local and a magazine named Real Philly have already published photos of him.) But mostly, we’re running a shot of LaBan because this whole debate about his anonymity just smacks of so much self-importance. Listen, the guy eats meals and writes about them. He’s not Valerie Plame, okay? If Volk’s compelling story leaves us with one big-picture takeaway, let it be an acknowledgment that with all the problems in this world and city, none of us should take a couple of steaks quite this seriously.

High Steaks [Philadelphia Magazine]
Why We Ran The LaBan Pic [From The Editor, Philadelphia Magazine]

The battle between the Reading Terminal and Rick Oliveri’s Rick’s Steaks looks like it is really heating up.

The Reading Terminal Market Merchants Association has designated Saturday as “Save Rick’s, Save The Market Day” in support of steak sandwich vendor Rick Olivieri, whose lease was not renewed.

There will be a news conference at 10 a.m. at Rick’s Steaks. Speakers will include past and present merchants and members of FORM (Friends of Rick’s and the Market), Olivieri said.

Reading Terminal merchants rally behind Rick’s [Philadelphia Inquirer]

The battle between Rick’s Steaks and the Reading Terminal Market promises to heat up as the Market has retained the law firm of Richard Sprague. A name that has certainly been known to put a good scare into opponents and also empty their wallets.

Reading Terminal spokesman Kevin Feeley says the Sprague firm was retained after the market received “very aggressive” communication from Olivieri and his attorney. He declined to be more specific, but we’re told Olivieri’s lawyer has threatened to file various lawsuits against the market and individuals behind the market. His attorney, William Harvey, could not be reached yesterday. Meanwhile, attorney Lawrence Woehrle, of the Sprague & Sprague firm, yesterday said no suit has been filed against the Reading Terminal, but in the event there is one, the firm will vigorously defend it.

Market gets Dick to fight Rick [Philadelphia Daily News]