The Atlantic’s Ezekiel Emanuel reviews Vetri and as his title says, the Italian restaurant delivers.

Then came one of Vetri’s signature dishes: spinach gnocchi with brown butter. The four bright green gobs resting in brown liquid and covered in cheese were–as we were warned–rich. Each bite was thick and creamy and tasted like it had 1,000 calories. But even better, during the course there was a plate brought out for the “table” of another pasta–a home-made pappardelle with lamb ragu. This was brilliant–and in my view better than the spinach gnocchi. The pappardelle were perfect yellow pasta ribbons cooked just right, soft and wiggly with just a hint of crunchiness. And the lamb ragu was the right combination of rich with the lamb flavor but delicate and not overpowering.

A Restaurant Lives Up to its Hype [The Atlantic via BROG]

British celbri-chef Jamie Oliver has a magazine Jamie that has just done a big profile on dining in Philadelphia. And yes there are mentions of cheesesteaks but also brag worthy props given to Vetri, Zahav, Bibou and a host of other places. Plus this great quote:

It’s a blend of pride in the old and embrace of the new that seems, curiously, essentially Philadelphian.

Philadelphia (PDF) [Jamie Magazine]

We were involved in a conversation over the weekend regarding Craig LaBan’s ratings where we were asked what restaurants have four bells. As we rattled them off, it dawned on us that not everyone is so dorky to have them memorized. So here are Craig LaBan’s four bell reviews with links right to the reviews.

• Fountain
• Lacroix
• Le Bec-Fin
• Vetri

Update: Craig LaBan rattled these four off in his online chat today. He also said that if he could have eaten more than one meal at Talula’s Table in 6-months it would have been “in that league” and “Jose Garces is bound to land 4 one of these days – his food is there, but there’s always something that holds me back.”

There’s tension between Marc Vetri and his landlord, and it’s coming to a head over a mural.

Dan Rubin has the scoop on a story so ridiculous, you would think it had to take place in South Philly.

Mural feels the heat [Philadelphia Inquirer]

The James Beard semifinalists were announced last month and now come the finalists. Below is the list of Philadelphia area nominees:

• Newspaper feature without recipes: Craig LaBan
• Outstanding Service: Vetri
•  The Rising Star: Michael Solomonov
• Outstanding Restaurateur: Stephen Starr
• The Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic: Jose Garces

James Beard Award Nominees [Slashfood]
 Beard Foundation [Twitter]

Getting a tax refund? Tired of throwing money at expensive steakhouses? Here’s another way to spend some money this week. Vetri is doing a 7-course dinner with Jean Trimbach and his wines this Thursday. The cost is $250 per person and some seats remain for what promises to be a pretty remarkable dinner.

Check out the menu after the jump.
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The prestigious James Beard Foundation has announced its Semifinalists for the 2009 James Beard Awards and there are lots of Philadelphia area nominees out there.

Marc Vetri is nominated for Outstanding Chef and his namesake restaurant is also under Best Service. Jonathan McDonald (Pub & Kitchen), Charles “Chip” Roman (Blackfish) and Michael Solomonov (Zahav) are up for Rising Star Chef of the Year and six chefs make the cut for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic

Complete Philadelphia area list after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

It’s a good week for Philly food bloggers as Le Bec-Fin and Vetri show up among the spots visited.

The Femme Fermental counts the ways she loves Vetri. [The Femme Fermental]

A free meal at Le Bec-Fin. Always say yes. [Fries with that Shake?]

Foodaphilia reminds us that we should really get to Carman’s Country Kitchen more often. [Foodaphilia]

Veggicurious skips Restaurant Week at Alma de Cuba and focuses on Gloria’s Black Bean Soup among other things. [Veggicuious]

It’s a Korean birthday dinner at Nagwon Garden for Foodzings. [Foodzings]

A Foobooz reader writes in today with a tale of unimaginable woe. Well not unimaginable, but heartbreaking nonetheless. She and her boyfriend cannot go to the Vetri+Garces dinner tonight and are looking for someone who might be interested in purchasing the reservation from them.

It’s $370 for the pair and features a six course meal. The first three at Jose Garces’ Amada and the second three at Marc Vetri’s Osteria.

Drop us a line at tips@foobooz.com if you’re interested and we’ll get in touch.

Serious Eats has debuted a City Guide feature and they’ve gotten Philadelphia Magazine’s Joy Manning to handle Philadelphia.

It’s a good list with lots of love for Marc Vetri plus Cochon gets her nod for best BYOB and Capogiro as the must eat you have to have before you leave.

Serious Eats City Guide: Philadelphia (Way Beyond the Cheesesteak) [Serious Eats]