Village Whiskey is still brand new but it has already been haiku’d about and of course bloggers have made their way to Jose Garces’ latest. Here’s what they’re saying.

The Beer Lass checks out Village Whiskey on Saturday enjoying the nostalgic snacks, big burgers and duck-fat fries with beery cheese sauce. Jose himself told us that the secret ingredient in the cheese sauce is indeed Cheez Whiz! [Beer Lass]

Fidel Gastro digs the old timey chic of Village Whiskey but it is really about the short rib and cheddar fries. [Fidel Gastro]

BROG and friends take in Village Whiskey on opening day, sampling as much as the can. Highlights include the homemade mustard for the pretzel sticks, fries and cheese sauce as well as the Whiskey King burger which they write, lived up to the hype. [BROG]

Living on the Vegdge goes with the veggie burger and is left a little wanting. But not so much so that she won’t be back. [Living on the Vedge]

Village Whiskey is a go. Jose Garces’ Whiskey bar will open at 11:30 Friday morning. We’ll be there!

Village Whiskey [Official Site]

Hope you’re not tired of Village Whiskey coverage yet. Today the Bite over analyzes the menu and the Illadelph breaks down the beer list.

And late yesterday Meal Ticket was back for more pictures, including the burgers and fries.

The worst news, Thursday’s opening will probably be pushed to Friday.

With latest, Garces does whiskey neat [Metro Philadelphia]
Opening Beer List at Village Whiskey [The Illadelph]
More Village Whiskey in pictures (yes, this includes the burgers) [Meal Ticket]

Meal Ticket gets some photos from within Village Whiskey including lots of shots of pickled vegetables and just what Jose Garces means by cheese puffs.

Village Whiskey in pictures [Meal Ticket]

Tomato Station? An unsuccessful early 90s super group? Nope, it’s the heirloom tomato station at Barclay Prime. And color us intrigued, because we really love tomatoes when they’re in season and we haven’t really had any awesome ones yet.

Starting this evening, a display table is being set up in Barclay’s dining room filled with bowls of heirloom tomatoes with fun names like Sicilian Plums, Green Zebra, Pineapple, Purple Cherokee, Sun Gold and Tiger Striped. For $20 (more than a Butcher & Singer rib-eye) diners will receive 3 varieties which are cut, plated and served to the guest in the dining room with their choice of salt (Hawaiian lava, Adler Wood Smoke Salt from Washington, or Maldon salt from England) [Editor's Note: Foobooz's mother is going to be thrilled when she hears about this. Seriously, she has at least three types of salt on her kitchen table. Seriously!] and extra virgin olive oil (Olio Verde or Frantoio Della Rocca, both from Sicily).

The tomato station is available Thursday, Friday or Saturday night. The tomatoes have been freshly picked from Branch Creek Farms in Perkasie, Pa.

Is it really the end of summer? There are a several last of the summer events tonight. As we said earlier, it’s the last of Center City Sips. It’s also the last of the Standard Tap’s Beers of Summer Wednesdays. They’ll be pouring Lancaster Cream Ale. And last but not least it’s the final Concert in the Park at Rittenhouse Square.

We suggest one of two courses of action if you are headed to the park. Plan one has you starting out at the Market at the Comcast Center where you can pick up some discounted sushi, chocolate or DiBruno Bros. dinner. There’s a Wine & Spirits store across from the Comcast Center at 17th and JFK for your vino needs. Or if you’re starting south of the square,  pick up a big bottle of beer or two from Food & Friends market at 20th and Spruce, then swing by Metropolitan Bakery for bread and a sampling of their new American cheese selection. Then head to the park, join up with friends and enjoy.

Can a restaurant reviewer review  a place with no food. Adam Erace does just that with his look at Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co., the inconspicuous subterranean bar just off Rittenhouse Square.

Air of mystery, consider yourself cultivated. Standing at that very door at 9 p.m. on a steamy Thursday, I was dreading what I guessed would be the single-malt mafia and a freezerful of douchesicles waiting on the other side. Instead, I found ad men and hipsters, lawyers and waiters on their night off, all reclining like Gatsby characters in a space as trim and chic as an Italian suit. Not a false eyelash of snobbery. Not a staff member anything less than welcoming.

Savor sophisticated cocktails under the sidewalk [Philadelphia Weekly]
Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co. [Official Site]

Tuesday, August 25th Alfa is hosting a Root tasting dinner that will include cocktails from the Root Cocktail competition at Silk City. It’s 5 mini-courses for $35 and each will be paired with a cocktail.

Check out the menu after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

Metropolitan Bakery is now selling American artisan cheese at its 19th Street location. You’ll find dairies such as Shelburne Farms, Vermont Butter and Cheese Company, Meadow Creek Dairy, Sweet Grass Dairy, and more.

Complete Cheese List (PDF) [Metropolitan Bakery]
Metropolitan Bakery [Official Site]

A week ago we received a press release touting Bar 210 at Lacroix’s happy hour. And we thought to ourselves, they haven’t had a happy hour?

Turns out they haven’t but starting tonight they will! From 5 to 7 tonight and every weeknight there will be custom-crafted cocktails half-price at $6 along with $5 wines and $4 bottled beers and most importantly, complimentary hors d’oeuvres from chef de cuisine Jason Cichonski.

And don’t forget you can get a full meal from the bar menu (PDF) nightly.

Bar 210 at Lacroix [Official Site]