We would have guessed Marc Vetri was a roast pork guy. But wiz wit it is. And for a guy whois opening a new restaurant this winter, Amis and already has Osteria and Vetri, he seems to have time to enjoy Philadelphia and the countryside too.

Among his favorite restaurants to dine at:

• Amada
• Morimoto
• Zahav
• Meme
• Bibou
• Xochitl
• Blackfish
• Talula’s Table

With Love Letters: Chef Marc Vetri Dishes on His Latest Restaurant Project, Sunday Excursions to Chester County and His Favorite Kind of Tastykake [UWISHUNU]

Did anyone catch last night’s The Best Thing I Ever Ate on the Food Network. The episode was pizza and Osteria’s Margherita pizza made the show.

We missed the episode but since this is the Food Network we’re talking about, it will be on again. September 5th at 6pm to be precise.

Pizza: The Best Thing I Ever Ate [Food Network]

Oh this should generate some comments. Philadelphia gets two pizzas among the top 25 in the United States in the latest edition of GQ.

Tacconelli’s white pizza comes in at number 9 and Osteria’s Zucca pizza (not currently on the menu) is ranked number 22.

Additionally Philadelphia comes in at number 8 in US pizza cities.

American Pie [GQ/men.style.com via Meal Ticket]
The Top Ten (Cities, Not Pizzas) [GQ/men.style.com]
Alan Richman Names Top 25 Pizzas in the  US [Easy on the Eyes version from Slice]

Philly Mag may have Osteria slipping from 1st to 4th in its list of best 50 restaurants but after reading these two accounts of the restaurant we know we’ll have to be back soon.

Eateria III: The Return to Osteria [McDuff's Food & Wine Trail]
Osteria [Veggicurious]

Philadining has us salivating about the burger on Cochon’s brunch menu. [Philading Blog]

I’ll Eat You isn’t thrilled with an early visit to Chifa. [I'll Eat You]

Adam Erace says Little Saigon offers great Vietnamese food in Atlantic City. [Blogalicious]

Messy & Picky says Osteria is a “meat-eater’s paradise.” [Messy & Picky]

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism and Marketing Corporation has put together a list of restaurants that offer gluten-free menu items for those with celiac disease. There are some great restaurants on the list like Amada, Osteria, Bar Ferdinand and Gayle.

It also gives us a reason to post GPTMC’s adorable LOVE Campaign video, so there!

Gluten-Free Menu Items [GoPhila.com]

The Great Chefs Event, a benefit for Alex’s Lemonade Stand is set for Wednesday, June 17th at Osteria.

The list of participating chefs is a who’s who of Philadelphia and the country. Too many great ones to pick a few so check them out for yourselves.

Tickets aren’t available yet but at least now you know the date.

The Great Chefs Event[Alex's Lemonade Stand]

Jose Garces isn’t slowing down even if the economy is. Philadelphia Business Journal catches up with him and finds out about his plans for a Las Vegas Amada, Chifa and Village Whiskey. [Philadelphia Business Journal]

Table 31 is joining Susanna Foo in offering a high end to-go menu. [The Illadelph]

Osteria has transformed its prep kitchen into a culinary school. There will be classes on pasta and pizza making, wine and cheese tastings, as well as events events like book signings, chef dinners and winemaker dinners for up to 14 people at the kitchen block table. [Osteria]

Temple University sweet lovers have a new option as Insomnia Cookies has opened a cookie truck on the North Philly campus. [Daily Pennsylvanian]

OpenTable is going public. The restaurant reservations site will be the first tech venture to go public in many months. [VentureBeat]

Penn Appetit, the just too cute for words title of the University of Pennsylvania’s semesterly food magazine dropped Monday. If you haven’t been by a dining hall dorm or even Locust Walk in the last couple days you can check it out online.

Osteria, Capogiro and bánh mì from Viêt Hương Restaurant are all featured within.

For the Penn haters out there the Staff page is a treasure trove of loathing. Publicity Chair? Really?

Penn Appetit [Official Site]
Penn Appetit Blog [Official Site]

Serious Eats has debuted a City Guide feature and they’ve gotten Philadelphia Magazine’s Joy Manning to handle Philadelphia.

It’s a good list with lots of love for Marc Vetri plus Cochon gets her nod for best BYOB and Capogiro as the must eat you have to have before you leave.

Serious Eats City Guide: Philadelphia (Way Beyond the Cheesesteak) [Serious Eats]