Alexandra Harcharek, intern at City Paper and founder of food blog, A Food Coma makes the New York Times as does a number of other New Jersey based food blogs.

A Vibrant Culture of Food Blogging [New York Times]

Craig LaBan visits the Pelican Restaurant, an Italian seafood BYO in Sewell, New Jersey. What he finds are well crafted Italian seafood favorites from Bill Fischer, former executive chef at Caffe Aldo Lamberti.

Wonderfully sweet and fresh Venezuelan lump crab finds its way into many of the menu’s highlights. Tossed by the fistful into a bright tomato-basil sauce (with a little clam stock), it makes a hearty plate of capellini sing. Sauteed with lemony beurre blanc, it adds another shine of luxury to an already decadent lobster tail francese. Into a creamy pedestal of crab imperial, Fischer folds his signature zucchini, capping the top and bottom with crispy panfried cakes of the squash, whose sweet and lacy vegetal snap is a natural match for the crustacean.

Two Bells – Very Good

Pelican Restaurant [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Pelican Restaurant [Official Site]

Chinatown has a restaurant week going on now through September 25th. South Jersey’s independent restaurants are hosting their own restaurant week from Sunday, October 18th to Friday October 23rd.

And then there is the Philly Neighborhood Food Week before that from October 11th to 18th.

All this on top of the continuing Center City District’s Restaurant Week.

Restaurant Week Guide [f8b8z]

Michael Klein reports that Stephen Starr has taken over Rat’s Restaurant in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. Former culinary director for Jose Garces and US Bocuse d’Or representative Kevin Sbraga is in as chef.

Starr takes over Rat’s in N.J. [The Insider]
Rat’s Restaurant [Official Site]

Opening Today

Iron Hill Maple Shade opens today. It’s the regional chain’s first foray into New Jersey and the first brewpub to open in the state in 10 years.

Chris Lapierre, formerly of Iron Hill West Chester will be manning the kettles at the 280-seat brewery and restaurant. Of particular note is the brewpub’s automated growler filling system which means you can take some of Maple Shade home with you.

Iron Hill Brewery [Thrillist]
Iron Hill Brewery

Opening Tomorrow

Sonata is set to open on Liberties Walk where Swallow once resided. The BYOB from executive chef and owner Mark Tropea will serve American fare “in inventive and unique presentations.” Among the highlights are duck prosciutto with cantaloupe frisee salad and braised short rib with celery root puree.

Sonata Restaurant in pictures [Meal Ticket]

Complete Sonata release after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

But how far are you willing to go for it?

Starting at noon today, the first 350 people to show up at the Fleming’s in Marlton will receive a free mini-cheesesteak sandwich. The giveaway lasts until 2pm or till sandwiches run out.

The sandwiches will be grilled to order in front of the restaurant and will include Fleming’s prime steak, sauteed onions and red bell peppers, and melted Swiss cheese on a homemade potato roll.

The first 200 hungry lunchers to arrive will also receive a gift card for a complimentary selection from Fleming’s new 5 for 6 til 7 menu (which is a selection of 5 cocktails, 5 wines by the glass and 5 appetizers each priced at $6 at served nightly at the bar until 7pm).

Joe Sixpack is reporting that Yards Brewing is close to agreeing to open a new brewpub in nearby Merchantville, New Jersey. The brewpub would take over an 80-year old bank building. Making the plan doable is the borough owns the building and the liquor license already and want to bring Yards in.

Yards to the Garden State? [Beer Radar]
Yards Brewing [Official Site]

Flying Fish launched its Exit Series of beer in March and plans on releasing a beer representing each exit on the New Jersey Turnpike.

According Tollroadnews.com, (a web site devoted to toll roads, turnpikes, toll bridges, toll tunnels & road pricing – how crazy is that?)  it would seem the NJTPK doesn’t have much of a sense a humor about the series. We on the otherhand like the idea and are sitting on a couple of bottles of the bottle conditioned Exit 4, waiting for the right moment to pop them open.

Exit beers – brewer names new beers for NJ Turnpike Exits [TOLLROADSnews]
Flying Fish [Official Site]

Craig LaBan is never easy on chains but maybe Seasons 52 at the Cherry Hill Mall will fare better. After all, there is the promise of fresh, seasonal and healthy food.

Simply writing fresh

Even the essential building block of its best items - dough for the long, paper-thin flatbreads - arrives prepackaged and frozen. That doesn't mean they aren't addictively tasty when properly cooked, scattered with shavings of sirloin, mushrooms, and blue cheese; or with tiny shrimps, cubed pineapple, and tangy streaks of (premade) chipotle sauce. But execution is a nagging issue here, and many of those delicate breads came burnt to an unsavory brown.

One Bell – Hit or Miss

Seasons 52 [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Seasons 52 [Official Site]

Bhiladelphia visits Cherry Hill’s Seasons 52 where he discovers “loooong flat bread,” salad in tubes and dessert in shot glasses. He doesn’t weigh in with much of an opinion but does provide some photos of the meal.

Sunday will be Craig LaBan’s  chance to score this South Jersey chain.

When live gives you suburbs, make chains [Bhiladelphia]
Seasons 52 [Official Site]