Drew Lazor heads to Chester to check out Philadelphia Magazine’s Philly Cooks! extravaganza. And after 20 plates he can tell us that “some of the food was really crappy. For every great dish, there was a salty stew, flavorless prime rib sandwich or terrifying gnocchi-on-a-toothpick waiting to suckerpunch my palate back into Arghsville.”

But there were some winners:
Positano Coast by Aldo Lamberti’s Crudo Skewer over Prosecco won Best Seafood Dish.
Brasserie Perrier’s veal cheek with goat cheese torellini got Best Meat Dish.
Valanni’s Oreo beignet received best dessert honors.

Philly Cooks! [City Paper]

Valanni Restaurant & Lounge has several events and deals going on this week and every week.
First off tomorrow, Valanni is offering their Summer Wine Tasting. Featuring seasonal seafood dishes. The five courses and five wines costs $55 per person.
On Monday and Tuesday brings you “friends with benefits” nights. For $25 a person you can get an appetizer and an entree or an entree and dessert. Plus half off pitchers of sangria.
On Mondays, stay for DJs and $4 cocktails and martinis. Tuesdays you can keep in the friends with benefits mood with Kinky Quizzo at 10:30. Full events available at Valanni’s web site.

Wine Tasting menu after the jump.

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