Phoodie.info: Jose Garces of Tinto from Philebrity on Vimeo.

Phoodie.info has an interview with Jose Garces of Tinto fame where he talks about the recent expansion of his Basque tapas spot and dishes on this summer’s Distrito.

Exclusive Interview: Jose Garces Of Tinto And Amada [Phoodie.info]

Are you gay if you like to drink rose? [Ansa]

Klein has news on a possible Daniel Stern project in Rittenhouse Square and a definite Bruno Pouget (of the not-yet-opened Apothecary) project coming to 20th and Sansom. It already has Tinto and Capogiro, could this be a new foodie nexus? [Inquirer]

Did you know there’s a “Hypertension Division” at Penn? They’ve determined that the health benefits of drinking eight glasses of water a day are iffy at best. You can now return to your eight glasses of beer. [Telegraph]

Jose Garces’ Chicago tapas restaurant, Mercat a la Planxa has opened and is creating quite the buzz. The Chicago Tribune has already weighed in and the Chowhounds are wowing.

Speaking of Jose Garces, we were recently invited to check out the expansion at Tinto and came away very pleased. The only complaints we had heard about Tinto were related to the tight quarters and high tables, not the food. The new room addresses those concerns adding seating for 40 at low tables. The common wall continues the wine storage lattice scheme while the southern facing wall is exposed brick, which does a nice job opening the room up and making it feel less cellar like.

There is also a new private dining room upstairs, perfect for a private party for you and 15 of your friends. You even get your own server and restroom.

Mercat a la Planxa [Official Site]
Tinto [Official Site]

Tinto has been expanding towards, but not entirely into, the corner of 20th & Sansom for what seems like an eternity and finally, the expansion is open for business.

Alison Barshak has installed Anthony Bonett, formerly of Opus 251 and Oceanaire, as chef at Alison at Blue Bell. Barshak will still be overseeing the menu at AaBB, but she’ll also be busy with the opening of her new restaurant Alison two.

Also, a tipster tells us that Canavan’s, the short-lived pub that replaced the short-lived pub Maker’s Local, may have shut its doors in the Callowhill/Loft District.

Mobile state stores?! MOBILE STATE STORES? Yes, please! [kyw.1060.com]

NY Times restaurant critic Frank Bruni is reviewing the ten worthiest restaurants in the country outside of New York, none of which are in Philadelphia. If he were reviewing the top 15, Tinto would have made the cut. [NY Times]

Beer, beer, beer with cheese. [Philadelphia Weekly]

 

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]

Periodically PhilaFoodie profiles a specific dish in a Philadelphia restaurant, this week he describes Tinto’s Sopa de Castaño, a truffled chestnut soup. And being PhilaFoodie he of course suggests a wine to accompany the soup.

The sweet, velvety soup is poured around a pillow of savory duck and mushroom hash that’s crowned with a fried quail egg. The hash’s chewy royal trumpet mushrooms parallel a delicate whisper of truffle oil to provide deep layers of woodsy and earthy goodness. Flecks of pistachio add texture while simultaneously echoing the soup’s nutty core. So intense, sinfully rich and satisfying on a primal level—one bowl of this soup will make even the most faithful man or woman feel like they just cheated on their spouse.

Plate Profile – Tinto’s Sopa de Castaño [PhilaFoodie]
Tinto [Official Site]

The Peacock on the Parkway is getting a new name and concept. The folk behind Uzu are branding the spot Kujaku, Japanese for peacock. When they open early next week the Kobe burger will be $5 off for a limited time. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Hadar Nisimi of Aden fame is set to resurface with a new restaurant on North 2nd featuring Mediterranean, French and Greek cuisine. [Food & Drinq]

Kristian Leuzzi whose family is behind Kristian’s at 11th and Federal is overhauling the old Passyunk Tavern at Passyunk and Moore. Stogey Joe’s will be the name of the bar that still aims to be a neighborhood place. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Looks like Konstantinos Pitsilliades of the former Mezze is going to be opening a Washington West BYOB at 10th and Spruce. The concept will be an “amalgam of Greek, Turkish, French and Italian.” [Food & Drinq]

Sawdust Report: We got a quick glance inside the expansion area of Tinto where work is progressing. The wine rack lattice work is partially up. The expanded area is expected to open in February. And the biggest sign of progress to date at the Brazilian Chima on JFK Boulevard has been spotted where they’ve taken some jackhammers to the East German inspired facade of the Kennedy House to create a new entranceway.

Craig LaBan looks back at the year in restaurants in Philadelphia bumping up the ratings for three restaurants, Rae to 3 bells and Brandywine Prime and L’Oca were both bumped up to 2 bells. Jose Garces was named chef of the year and Osteria got the nod for restaurant of the year.

The bells: One more time [Philadelphia Inquirer]

DailyCandy Philadelphia is doing year-end awards and has nominated three notables in their Taste category.

• Jose Garces – Tinto
• Daniel Stern – Rae
• Jim and Kristina Burke – James