On Tuesday, May 20th Garrett Oliver and Brooklyn Brewery will be presiding over a $100 per person “100% pork menu” at Marc Vetri’s Osteria. Should be a great time.

Menu after the jump.

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Foster’s demonstration kitchen is pulling some impressive headliners this month.

• Pizza making with Chef Jeff Michaud of Osteria.
• Plate presentation with Chef Shola Olunloya (and occasional Foobooz commenter) of Studio Kitchen.
• Herbs and spices with cookbook author Aliza Green.

Details after the jump.

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The finalists for the 2008 James Beard Foundation Awards were announced today. Although Philly represented quite well in the original group of nominees sent to judges, just a precious few (well, just two really, if you consider that both Osteria and Vetri have the same owners) made it to the final round. The remaining locals still in the running are:

Osteria in the category of Best New Restaurant

Vetri for an Outstanding Service Award 

Jose Garces for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic

The winners will be announced at the invitation-only Awards ceremony on June 8th.

2008 Nominees | James Beard Foundation Awards [Official Site]

It’s always interesting to check in with someone’s meal at Osteria as the menu is constantly evolving. Foodaphilia finally gets a chance at dinner at Marc Vetri’s other spot and shares the experience.

Osteria [Foodaphilia]
Osteria [Official Site]

The rapidly rising costs of flour, gasoline and just about everything else are really starting to hit where it hurts: the pizza department.From the Inquirer:

The price of wheat has surged in the last month because of constraints on global supply and swelling demand from places such as China. The price of cheese has been rising during the last year, in part because of lower-than-normal production and higher demand.

Mavroudis said the price of flour had risen from $8.50 for a 25-pound bag to $24.95 in three weeks. In three months, Spina has gone from paying $18 for a 50-pound bag to $36. He uses 25 to 30 bags a week.

We’re already used to paying through the nose for Osteria’s pizza, which is the best in town, but this is grim news indeed.

As costs rise, pizzerias are hiking prices [philly.com]

 

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]

We missed a week of rounding up of Craig LaBan’s Tuesday chat, but we’re back with the highlights.

Despite his best efforts to coax the proletariat into a discussion of Mardi Gras and the lack of Creole delights to be found in Philadelphia, the chatters had other ideas: Osteria, sushi buffets and Philly Mag’s list of 50 best restaurants.

In response to those who dared to question the primacy of Osteria, we have a deft slap in the face to the haters from La LaBan:

As everyone knows, I’ve been a big fan of Marc Vetri’s and Osteria. And you can see my review for the reasons in detail. That said, I recieve a surprising amount of mail from people like you, who simply don’t get Osteria. I don’t know you, Meghan, but I don’t get those people. Yes, Osteria is expensive, and the portions are on the small side, but it is such a refreshing expression of authentic and rustic Italian flavors in an accessible space – we simply didn’t have anything like it here before. It is quite a different experience from the red gravy palaces of yore, and maybe that’s jarring. Or maybe the build up has been too great.

Take note, easily-jarred Osteria-haters! You have felt his wrath! Fortunately, we’re fans of the Broad Street pizza place, so we’re still able to bask in the benevolent warmth of the big guy.

The real news here might be that the chatters convinced him to visit suburban sushi buffet Minado. We’ve been and it’s certainly an experience.

Dinner Conversations [philly.com]

Several little birds – let’s call them Starrlings – have been twittering about an unholy alliance allegedly brewing between Marc Vetri and Stephen Starr.

There are two versions of this rumor making the rounds. One has Vetri and Starr partnering up on a new project at the now-shuttered Washington Square.

Another version has Starr either selling Striped Bass to Vetri or the two of them going into business there together. Our sources, Starrlings and otherwise, have long been chirping that Starr wants out of Striped Bass. The rumored asking price: $2 million.

I checked with Starr’s rep, a Cashman-iac, and she tells us “there is nothing definite to report at this time.” Which, you’ll notice, is not a no.

Vetri at the Bass could be a beautiful thing, especially if it was Osteria-like. Vetri with Starr? We’ll wait and see. Yes, wait and see.

Philadelphia Magazine has come up with their first ever list of Philadelphia’s top 50 restaurants. Osteria came up on top but it’s some of the other choices that are sure to create some controversy. For example Le Bec-Fin is 26th and the Standard Tap, 11th. Marc Vetri’s other spot, Vetri was 7th.

But defining what makes a restaurant “best” was the subject of months of debate. We took into account food, atmosphere and service, of course. But we also considered even more amorphous ideas like value, consistency, identity and ambition. And every once in a while, we simply found ourselves charmed, as foodies often are, by bold ideas. After that, we argued, narrowing the region’s 8,000-plus restaurants to a list of 80 contenders and then to our final Philly Mag 50.

Among the other notable selections, brand new Supper is 14th and four Stephen Starr restaurants (Striped Bass (8), Morimoto (10), Barclay Prime (16) and El Vez (35)) make the list.

The Philly Mag 50 [Philadelphia Magazine]

Philadining always has photos that could put Gourmet Magazine to shame. Maybe he’s the guy who somehow makes the menu photos at McDonald’s look appetizing. But at a recent visit to Osteria he had a lot more to work with than a Big Mac.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable meal all the way around, even considering the inevitable sticker-shock when the bill comes. It can climb up quickly if you’re not paying attention (or asking the prices of specials!) and having some wine, but when the food’s this good, I never regret it.

Osteria Update [The Philadining Blog]