Ultimo Coffee in getting closer and closer to opening. They chronicle the progress on their blog. [UltimoCoffee]

West Chester’s former Coyote Crossing looks like it’ll be back in business as Coyote West. [WC Dish]

Michael Klein finds that some chefs are shrinking the portions in order to keep prices down. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Marc Vetri for just $75 a head and for a good cause? He’s raising funds for Philadelphia Education Fund at Osteria on Monday. [Inqlings, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Conde Nast Traveler has Distrito and Zahav on their “Hot List Tables” list. [Conde nast Traveler via MenuPages]

It’s Tavern on Camac vs Camac in some hot-hot-hot lawsuit fun. The Clog is not amused. [The Clog]

Passage to India has closed at the corners of Walnut and Juniper. It’ll be replaced by an IHOP! [The Insider]

Waiting for the return of Stephen Starr’s Blue Angel. You’ll be holding your breath till fall. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Mediterranean small plates are what’s on the menu at Old City’s new Bocca. [Meal Ticket]

Gulph Mills’ Savona is closed for renovations. They’re aiming to reopen by Mother’s Day. [The Insider]

Michael Solomonov’s Zahav and Michael Schulson’s Izakaya were both named to Travel + Leisure magazine’s 50 Best New US Restaurants. [Travel + Leisure]

Johnny Brenda’s comes in at number two in Gourmet’s Eight Great Rock Venues with Great Food. [Gourmet via Phoodie]

Bon Appetit slots Marigold Kitchen in at number three in their list of Top 10 Brunch Spots. [Bon Appetit]

Yuengling (5th largest), Dogfish Head (33) and Victory (46) are all among the top 50 breweries in the US by sales volume in 2008. [Brewers Association]

Philadining issues an “Awesomeness Alert” for James where they discover a comfortable bar to eat at and a favorite charcuterie plate. [Philadining]

Mac & Cheese may have made some ordering missteps but still comes away impressed with Zahav. [Mac & Cheese]

Sketch on Girard Avenue knows how to make a tasty burger. [Foodaphilia]

Fidel Gastro finds two out of three ain’t bad at Pub & Kitchen. [Fidel Gastro]

Durian juice may not be for everyone but the good and simple Indonesian food at Indonesia on Snyder should have greater appeal. [Drawing for Food]

I’ll Eat You finally visits the South Philadelphia Taproom and gives dinner a split decision but will return. [I'll Eat You]

Philadining concentrates on the Chinese side of the menu at Chinatown’s Sakura. [Philadining]

We recently remarked we never knew anyone who had been to Pagoda Noodle Cafe. But Veggicurious has been there and shares the results. [Veggicurious]

Fries with that Shake makes sure to visit Shank’s & Evelyn’s one more time before the curtain falls. [Fries with that Shake]

Alison two is serving up Passover on Wednesday, April 8th and Thursday April 9th. There will be Matzah Ball Soup, Gefilte Fish, Charoset and a free glass of wine. For entrees choose from salmon, chicken or beef short ribs. $35 also includes dessert. [Alison two]

Le Castagne is offering a special Passover dinner on the 8th and 9th. [Le Castagne]

London Grill is offering a Seder Menu on April 8 and 9 plus Passover specials all week. The four course meal (fish, soup, main and dessert) is $40 per person, $20 for those under 11. [London Grill]

Seafood Unlimited’s David Einhorn breaks out his grandmother’s Gefilte Fish recipe. Just $3.75 per piece. [Seafood Unlimited]

Zahav goes with a Passover menu from the 8th to the 15th of April. The $42 menu includes handmade Matzah, Salatim and hummus, Yemenite-style Matzah Ball Soup, hot-smoked sable with Sephardic charoset, coffee-braised brisket with horseradish and truffled potato kugel and finally chocolate Matzah torte. [Zahav]

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]

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 »

Latte whores, trashy magazines and a Tiffin meal from Barnes & Noble at Temple combine for a good Tuesday. [Living on the Vedge]

Adam Erace gives the Turista meu a spin at Modo Mio. [Blogalicious]

CE Phood gives Zahav a gold star for both its Restaurant Week performance and for its GoldStar Beer. [CE Phood]

At peak times it can take a half-hour to get your order at Tacos Don Memo but with authentic Mexican flavors it is a taste worth waiting for. [34th Street Magazine]

Penn Appétit is pleasently surprised by Thai Chef & Noodle Fusion [Penn Appétit]

And finally, Happy birthday Mac & Cheese. The blog, not the ubiquitous food, turns three and looks back at the last year. [Mac & Cheese]

Leap at this one people! Zahav has a 7:30 reservation available. Brog sums up what we experienced on Monday. Zahav is the best Restaurant Week meal we’ve ever had.

Zahav [OpenTable]
Zahav: Restaurant Week Report [Brog]
Zahav [Official Site]

Phoodie lists its top 5 picks for Restaurant Week. Alma de Cuba, Amada, Tinto, Lolita and Zahav all get the nod.

City Paper also includes a couple Restaurant Week picks too, seconding Zahav and adding Xochitl.

We here at Foobooz have a couple of reservations for Restaurant Week that we’ll share. We’re headed to Zahav and Susanna Foo. Susanna Foo really appeals to us because it’s the only one of LaBan’s 4-bell restaurant that is operating as it was a year ago (Le Bec-Fin has gone a la carte and the chefs at the Fountain and Lacroix have moved on).

Phoodie’s Top 5 Early Picks For Restaurant Week Sweet Spots [Phoodie.info]
The Week In Eats [City Paper]
Restaurant Week Guide [f8b8z]
Restaurant Week [Official Site]

Food magazines just love Zahav. Philly Mag gave it “Best New Restaurant.” Bon Appetit included the Israeli restaurant in its “Hot 10 Summer Blockbusters,” Esquire named Michael Solomonov’s latest to its “Best New Restaurants of 2008″ and now Food & Wine includes Zahav in its “Best Restaurant Dishes of 2008.”

Yep, Zahav’s fried cauliflower with lebneh is one of the top ten dishes the editors of F&W have tasted all year. Kristin Donnelly has the details in the December issue.

My favorite was the cauliflower florets, fried until sweet and caramelized. Crisp enough to pick up with your fingers, they’re a terrific bar snack, served over a pool of tangy, dill-flecked lebneh (a thick, creamy yogurt) for dipping.

Zahav [Official Site]
Food & Wine, December 2008 Contents [Food & Wine]