Adam Erace heads to Max Brenner hoping to discover a chocolate lover’s paradise, unfortunately this nirvana  is only skin deep.

If I had kids, I’d take them to Max Brenner. (Nurse Jackie took her rugrats to the Union Square location in episode nine.) But I’m a grownup, darn it. My tastes are sophisticated, and I won’t be swayed by complimentary mirrors and cute, cool, adorably awesome chocolate-drinking apparatuses … No! I’m going to Naked or Golosa, where the chocolate caters to adults. Just as soon as someone wraps up an Alice glass for me to take home.

Max Brenner is Better for Kids [Philadelphia Weekly]
Max Brenner [Official Site]

Philadelphia has a rich history as a chocolate town and it continues to this day with the likes of Marcie Turney’s Marcie Blaine chocolates made at Verde on South 13th Street. Italian transplant Fabio Scarpelli’s Golosa is turning out Italian chocolates in Bella Vista. Former Le Bec-Fin pastry chef Antoine Amrani has his own chocolate factory in East Norriton. Even Max Brenner has come to town with his Chocolate by the Bald Man.

Chocolate City [Philadelphia Inquirer]

This week in Philadelphia Magazine’s Restaurant Club Newsletter.

• First Look: Who is Jose Garces?
• Citizens Bank Park Eating Guide
• Sneak Peek Photos: A Look Inside Max Brenner Chocolates
• Food for Thought: Do Kids and Restaurants Mix?
• Restaurant Club Deals: House specials at the Blockley, free wine at Le Bar Lyonnais.

Restaurant Club Newsletter [Philadelphia Magazine]

The Blockley Pourhouse has opened at 38th and Ludlow and Meal Ticket has the pics. [Meal Ticket]

The Korean BBQ spot, Miga has opened on 15th Street. But no table-top barbecue or liquor license yet. [Meal Ticket]

Tomorrow, across the street from Miga, Max Brenner, Chocolate by the Bald Man opens.

The Beer Lass twitters that South Philly’s Sticks & Stones is less than two weeks away. [@BeerLass]

Media is getting Ariano Cafe, a quaint little Neapolitan pizza spot from Anthony Bellapigna who owns Fellini’s. [Restaurant Club]

Sycamore isn’t just a tree, it’s a new BYOB in Lansdowne. [Meal Ticket]

Daniel Stern’s Rae-placement is now set for November high above the city in 2 Liberty Place. It’s also not going to be Rae but rather R2L. [The Insider]

Gayle a top-50 American cuisine restaurant according to OpenTable diners. [OpenTable via Illadelph]

If you like computer renderings of restaurants as much as we do, you’ll be checking out Meal Ticket’s shots of the upcoming P.Y.T. at the Plaza at Schmidt’s. [Meal Ticket]

Table Talk says Capogiro isn’t done yet. After opening their third and fourth stores they’re planning a production facility and cafe in East Falls. And check out the University City location, it will be the model as they head to other cities. [Table Talk, Philadelphia  Inquirer]

Aladeen snuck open a few weeks back. Meal Ticket has the Middle Eastern menu. [Meal Ticket]

Azie on Main will be the name of the new restaurant taking over the upstairs at Maia in Villanova. Azie on Main will be the latest from Win Signature Restaurants. Win’s other restaurants include Teikoku, Mikado, Thai Pepper and Flavor. Zaie will be serving Asian fusion with a global twist by mid-summer.

Draft Magazine features the five best new gastropubs around the country and rightfully highlights our own Local 44. [Draft Magazine]

Max Brenner has been hiring for their 15th Street location and now their web site has the menus for soon to open Philadelphia location. [Max Brenner via PhillyMag.com]

Bish Bish Cafe, we hardly knew you. OK, we didn’t know you at all. Gone after just a couple months. [Meal Ticket]

Haha, union picketers of Susan Schlisman’s Smokin Betty’s actually brought in more business when they were stationed in front of her Devil’s Alley. [Table Talk, Philadelphia  Inquirer]

As mentioned on Friday, one half of Foobooz has dropped everything to follow his beloved Phils to Los Angeles. So that leaves you all with the other half of Foobooz, who doesn’t know a bat from a puck drop and has a rotten sense of direction. I do have other redeeming qualities though, like a sharp eye for orange signs!

While cruising by the old West Coast Video at 212 S. 15th Street between Walnut and Locust, I spotted a license transfer application, posted October 9th. The entity applying for the license transfer was Max Brenner, Inc. Could it be Max Brenner, Chocolate by the Bald Man? Which is not really a he, but an Israeli chocolate company with shops in Australia, Southeast Asia and two branches in New York, one of which Frank Bruni at the New York Times reviewed and gave no stars. 

Still, can more chocolate ever be a bad thing?