Where do the beans come from? How did owner Drew Crockett get  that fire engine red paint job? Rick Nichols has all the answers about the Hub Bub coffee truck that has set up shop on 38th Street between Spruce and Locust Streets.

Artisan coffee from a truck [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Hub Bub Coffee [Official Site]

We haven’t done a blind item for awhile now but they’re always fun.

Care to take a guess as to what “charming BYOB restaurant” is for sale for $160,000?

Charming BYOB restaurant for sale in the University City area of Philadelphia. 7 Years established, LOW DOWNPAYMENT with Seller Financing to a Qualified Buyer! Needs to sell due to personal reasons. This is a great opportunity for a new owner operator to break into a turnkey establishment with minimal out of pocket expense. Established 7 years ago with rave reviews for food quality, preparation, freshness, and atmosphere. Great location in the burgeoning area of University City. Long term lease available, starting at only 2k per month. Employees willing to stay on. Seller willing to train. Currently seats 40 in and up to 40 people outside during warmer months. Owner not the chef, who should stay. However, some minor changes and a new owner can put their stamp on the restaurant.

David Snyder checks out the latest incarnation of Marigold Kitchen and enjoys what is coming out of chef Robert Halpern’s kitchen.

Halpern proves his mettle with his strong, vivid flavors. Despite that unsettling spinach side, I was blown away by the seared squab. Braised shiitakes delivered a welcomed bass note to the light but gamey bird, and Halpern took things even deeper by combining foie gras and chocolate for an insane ragout.

The kitchen fine-chops cauliflower to mimic rice in its generously portioned New World paella. Though it could use more heat, four individual stocks combined with the smokiness of Spanish chorizo made this dish a sure thing. Elsewhere, poaching Atlantic cod gently on low heat ensured that the fish was moist and tender.

More than words [City Paper]

We’ve got a new food truck on the scene starting today. The bright red Hub Bub Coffee truck is hanging out at 38th and Spruce weekdays and should be rolling around town on weekends.

They’ve got the much praised Stumptown Coffee from Portland Oregon and treats including a Rice-Krispy type deal from Pub & Kitchen among other treats.

You can follow the truck via Twitter @hubbubcoffee.

Meal Ticket has plenty of photos of the shiny red truck.

Peek at the Hub Bub Coffee Truck [Meal Ticket]
Coffee, Coffee, Buzz, Buzz [Daily Candy]
Hub Bub Coffee [Official Site]

Rick Nichols visits Daniel Stern’s MidAtlantic and finds there is still plenty of whimsy and great tastes to pull out of the  farm-to-table, local and seasonal buzzwords.

Thus we have here not just local (and quite succulent) pork chops from Country Time Farm out in Berks County, but surprisingly tasty crab scrapple (yes, crab scrapple), informed by, but by no means beholden to, the old original. And chicken and dumplings with a French-accented, citified polish (richly roasted hunks of chicken, thyme-inflected gravy, cakey biscuits), not that gloppy country cousin found lounging at the smorgasbords that stretch obesely out Route 30 West.

Penn Dutch with pizzazz [Philadelphia Inquirer]
MidAtlantic [Official Site]

Dock Street Great Pumpkin is now on tap at the 50th and Baltimore Brew Pub as is the celiac friendly Dock Street Sudan Grass.

There is also now a rotisserie cooked Lancaster chicken marinated and hand rubbed with special herbs and spices on the menu.

Dock Street Brewery [Official Site]

Daniel Stern’s MidAtlantic opens today in the Science Center at 38th and Market. The modern taproom features flavors from the roots of Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Dutch.

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The change in season has brought a change in the menu at the new Marigold Kitchen. Among the new items are:

• Champagne Braised Escargot over crispy polenta with wild mushrooms.
• Butternut Squash Bisque, garnished with banana bubbles, autumn spiced crema, freeze dried raisins and fried sage leaves.
• Monkfish “Picatta”, served with preserved lemon mash, black olive emulsion, broccoli rabe and crispy fried capers.

Still on the menu is the intriguing pork, beans and beer (pork tenderloin, white bean puree and Guinness foam). Check out the full menu here.

We really need to get to West Philadelphia to check this place out.

Marigold Kitchen [Official Site]

We first wrote about D. P. Dough in November of 2008. At that time the calzone chain was hoping to open in Late December or January on 40th Street in University City. That opening finally happened Saturday as the doors swung open to the public at 5pm.

Located near college campuses and featuring late night hours, D. P. Dough has become a favorite of the college crowd. Follow the Philadelphia location via their blog or Twitter feed for deals and news. All calzones are $6.85 and there are also wings, chicken dunkers and breadstix on the menu.

D. P. Dough Philly [Official Site]

Sprinkles Frozen Yogurt at 36th and Chestnut is giving away all of their flavors today. Among the flavors offered are Birthday Cake, Bubble Gum, Eggnog, Pistachio and Rootbeer Float.

Sprinkles Yogurt [Official Site]