Alright, people. We've got lots of details on the upcoming Pub & Kitchen, located at 20th & Lombard in the former Chaucer's Tabard Inn space, courtesy of The Clog.

Jonathan McDonald, formerly of Snackbar, will be at the helm and food will be available from 4pm until 1pm nightly. From the Clog:

Some sneak peeks:

Oysters on the half shell from both coasts, which will change daily
Fish and chips, featuring beer-battered hake with housemade fries and lemon aioli
Roasted striped bass with apple potato cakes and cider broth
Bangers and mash with mustard green beans
Lobster BLT
A domestic cheese plate with accompaniments like Guinness caramel

P&K's wine list will feature bottles under $50 and glasses under $10. They'll also be mixing traditional cocktails using house-infused liquors — think vanilla bourbon and blueberry vodka. Twelve beers on tap — crafties like Breckenridge and Sly Fox will be among the opening choices — all for $3-$5.

Expect a September debut.

Pub & Kitchen coming to 20th & Lombard [The Clog]

Well, it seems like everyone loves Kanella. The newest convert is Rick Nichols over at the Inky, who has gone ga-ga over the good thing they do with rabbit:

" Rabbit shows up with artichoke salad and later (with different cuts) in a stew. There are sublime Greek-style meatballs called keftedes, aired out with shredded potato and onion, and seasoned with a dash of cinnamon. (Pitsillides' love affair with cinnamon - which he uses with restraint - continues in the ice creams and flan, glazed in the French style with apricot jam.)

Pitsillides was schooled in classic French technique. That training is evident in the red-wine deglazing of the rabbit stew, and in the sourcing (of his lamb and other meats, for instance) from D'Artagnan, the specialty foods purveyor. But his seasoning is unmistakably Mediterranean."

Mmm.... rabbit.

Go east for good eats [Inquirer]

[Image via Eric Mencher/Philadelphia Inquirer]

Headhouse Square Belgian restaurant Zot recently hosted the amazing "Flintstones Dinner." That night, Zot skipped on moules frites and Jupiler to serve a menu of exotic meats including African lion, python, yak and black bear.

The excellent food blogger behind Philafoodie headed down to the dinner. The tasting menu consisted of python & foie gras, a lion stew with carrots, pearl onions and gnocchi, snapping turtle soup and black bear bacon in greens among others. On the whole, he had a good experience. Here's his take on it:

"To be fair, Zot did a lot of things right with this dinner. First, Zot deserves credit for hosting such a dinner in the first place. We sometimes forget that restaurants are businesses with narrow profit margins, and this is not the type of dinner you host with the expectation of raking in the coin. Second, with the exception of the python & foie gras course (a miss from conception to execution), each dish, individually, was well prepared. In terms of the progression, each plate that was put in front of you became your new favorite.

If this were any other tasting menu, that probably would be sufficient. But this menu, by design, was different."

Zot [MenuPages]
Zot [Official Site]
Yabba-Dabba-Doo! [Philafoodie]

[Photo: Flintstones Dinner at Zot via Philafoodie]

For all those in the service industry, we just got word that Triumph Brewing Company holds "Server Rant Nights" on Sundays from 9pm to midnight. The server who has the worst (or best) horror story wins a $20 gift card, and there are $3 beers and $5 well drinks for everyone.

Triumph Brewing Company [MenuPages]
Triumph Brewing Company [Official Site]

Celeb restaurateur around town Jose Garces is opening a gourmet Peruvian restaurant in the old 707 space. Over at The Clog, A.D. Amorosi reports:

It's gonna feature a ceviche bar with displays. "I plan to spend a good amount of time at the ceviche bar, creating unusual and fresh combinations with ingredients from China and South America," says the chef/restaurateur. The spot will open in 2009.

As for the name, chifas are what Peru's Chinese restaurants are called. They're the places that offer lomo saltado, arroz chaufa and all those good dishes.

Jose Garces to open Chifa at 707 Chestnut [The Clog]

If it's Monday, it's video time. In the clip above, new PHI food blog Phoodie.info goes backstage at Metropolitan Bakery.

Baking at Metropolitan Bakery [Phoodie.info]
Metropolitan Bakery [Official Site]

Something old, something new: Recently closed NoLibs resto Azure will be reopening as a brand-spankin'new Mexican restaurant called Cantina Dos Segundos in July. The team behind the restaurant, Dave Frank and Stephen Simons, are also the owners of the Royal Tavern and Cantina Los Caballitos in South Philly. Sweet!

Frank and Simons are promising that they will offer Philadelphia's largest selection of premium and super-premium tequilas. But what about the food, you may ask? Mark McKinney (formerly of Pasion) is serving as chef:

"Cantina Dos Segundos' opening menu includes Robalo a la Plancha - grilled bass fillet with Seville orange juice-serrano chile salsa, amaranth grains salad, and wild Mexican greens (quelite, huauzontle, amaranth) and Mole Amarillo con Pavo y Verduras - Oaxacan yellow mole with Eberly organic free range turkey, green beans, chayote, green and yellow squash, white rice and grilled jalapenos."

In other words, this stuff is genius.

Cantina Dos Segundos [Official Site]

• Liz Petersen of A Full Plate Cafe is opening a new NoLibs pizzeria (right down the street!) called "Home Slice" that will serve vegan cheese and veggie cheesesteaks in addition to the usual mozzarella/pepperoni arsenal. Fans of Gianna's and Gourmet To Go, please note. [The Clog]

• New Old City Greek resto Prive is opening in just a few days. [Food & Drinq]

• Friday is the last day of business for longtimer Twenty21. [Food & Drinq]

(Photo: A "Pennsylvania Hot Dog" from Coney Joe's in Bucks County via Holly Eats)

The good folks at streettalkin.com just caught Good Dog giving their mac & cheese recipe on video. Check it out.

Good Dog [MenuPages]
Good Dog [Official Site]

This week, Northern Liberties' Swallow got the Craig LaBan treatment. However, our man LaBan got a bit snarky. Snark highlights, you ask?

1: "What's left on this menu has been far less reliable, and simplistic to the verge of boring."

2: "I liked the delicate crisp of the fried frog's legs, but they so lacked seasoning that the cool cucumber salad showed them up. They were also so nakedly presented on a white plate, all those little ankles crisscrossed as if doing a jig on their final leap, that they were not for squeamish eaters."

3: "The shrimp risotto with peas and mint was the only total disaster."

Now, here's the thing. We ate at Swallow before... and we liked it. Even if they're still learning the ropes, Swallow's a good addition to the Liberties Walk Bar Ferdinand/A Full Plate Cafe scene. Here's hoping their next review will be a more positive one, because they've got some adventurous chefs in the kitchen and a good setup.

Swallow [Inquirer]

Another day, another Starbucks murder in Philadelphia. Beau Zabel, a 23-year-old barrista at the Starbucks on Fourth & South, was killed on early Sunday morning by a shooter on the 800 block of Ellsworth Street. Police believe he was murdered for his iPod.

To recap, in the past six months:

• A 36-year-old Starbucks manager was murdered for fun by four youths on the Philadelphia subway. The teens chose him as a random target for a beating — the manager, Sean Patrick Conroy, suffered a fatal heart attack.

• A random man was stabbed in the face, back and chest at a Starbucks on the (relatively crime-free) South Broad Street strip along Jackson Street back in December of 2007. He was admitted to University of Pennsylvania hospital in critical condition.

When Zabel was killed, he was listening to his iPod. His body was found stripped of his iPod... But his backpack, complete with wallet inside, was left behind. Zabel had moved to Philadelphia from Minnesota to teach Math in the Philadelphia public schools and was temping at Starbucks.

His MySpace page was headlined "just waiting for life to begin."

Killed over a iPod. Philadelphia, what the hell?

Police seek public help in Beau Zabel's death [Inquirer]
Was Beau Zabel killed for his iPod Classic? [philly.com]
Beau Zabel [MySpace]
Beau Zabel [Facebook]

Okay, so this week the restaurant Craig LaBan targeted in his review is new Asian nightspot/eating establishment Pearl.

Here's how it went down:

1. Pearl got a respectable (though not impressive) two stars.

2. LaB misses the Little Pete's branch that previously occupied the space.

3. The wine list? Good. The "obscene markup"? Not so good.

4. "The excellent desserts may have been their easiest sell. There was a citrus-tanged yuzu cheesecake topped with rhubarb over a buttery crust of fortune cookies. A chocolate chip cookie sandwich pressed around toasted coconut ice cream was the perfect combo of warm chew and frozen cream. Chocolate-dipped bananas came with the salty Asian sweetness of a miso-caramel dip. And the cocoa pot de creme was the epitome of chocolate pudding finesse, the especially silky custard turned exotic by a spice-box foam of powdered ginger and five spice."

Pearl [Craig LaBan]
Pearl [MenuPages]
Pearl [Official Site]

Sweet. The Daily News decided to stop by new Center City Cajun restaurant Les Bons Temps... and liked it:

"One of Mim's contemporary twists is the Eggplant Beignet appetizer ($8). A combo of fried eggplant and the signature doughnut of New Orleans. With a dusting of powdered sugar and a hit of Tabasco hot sauce, these are a fun concept with great execution.

Another winning twist was the Duck Jambalaya Croquettes with Creole Sauce and Tasso Ham ($9). Once again, perfect frying created a crunchy crust that yielded to a soft interior."

Sounds good to us.

A Taste of New Orleans [DN]
Les Bons Temps [MenuPages]

It's official. Continuing our summer of restaurant closings (Azure/Sansom Street Oyster House/etc.), grand dame 215 icon Striped Bass is closing its doors this fall.

The 14-year-old restaurant, which survived Neil Stein's downfall and became Stephen Starr's anchor resto in the pre-Buddakan days, will be retooled into a 1940s supper club-styled steakhouse called "Butcher & Singer Steak & Seafood."

Once opened, it will join Barclay Prime as Starr's second Philadelphia steakhouse.

According to Michael Klein over at Food & Drinq, staffers will be shifted over to other Starr restaurants.

Barclay Prime [MenuPages]
Barclay Prime [Official Site]

Big news about a certain Center City institution. The Sansom Street Oyster House has closed. Michael Klein has the scoop:

Sansom Street Oyster House is closed, and owner Cary Neff is not talking about it. He filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 last month, and the next move will belong to David Mink, who still owns the building at 1516 Sansom St. Mink is expected to reopen SSOH soon, with his son in charge.

Sansom Street Oyster House [MenuPages]

Sad (but expected) news — Rick's Steaks is leaving Reading Terminal Market.

Inquirer: " Olivieri, whose family has operated from a prime window location on the market's 12th Street side since 1982, said he would reopen at another Center City location, though nothing was definite.
Kevin Feeley, spokesman for management at Reading Terminal Market Corp., said the settlement ended "a very difficult time for all the people involved. . . . Our motivation was always what was best for the market."
Feeley disputed Olivieri's claim that the eviction was retaliation for Olivieri's work as president of the 74-member merchants' group, with which he was involved in difficult talks on a new master lease."

Daily News: " After a meeting with a judge yesterday, Rick Olivieri, chief cook and bottle-washer of the legendary Rick's Philly Steaks, agreed to vacate his venue in the Reading Terminal Market by October. He had been engaged in a year-long fight with the market management, which had been trying to evict him since last summer in a dispute over a long-term lease. "I'm not happy," Rick said yesterday. "But it's a relief in a way. My family has been tortured by this for over a year now."

The last day of business at RTM for Rick's will be on October 31, 2008 and Oliveri is reportedly scouting locations near Broad Street & Arch Street. Business will continue as usual at the Rick's location inside Citizens Bank Park.

Rick's Original Philly Steaks to leave Reading Terminal [Inky]
Rick Oliveri agrees to vacate Reading Terminal steak shop [Daily News]
Rick's Steaks [MenuPages]
Rick's Steaks [Official Site]

Today could be the day the fate of Rick's Steaks is decided. Proceedings begin today between owner Rick Olivieri, his attorney and Reading Terminal Market reps in Common Pleas Court:

Olivieri said this morning it's possible the judge will steer the parties toward a settlement.

"Hopefully, we can work something out," Olivieri, 43, said.

Last month, the judge ruled that the market had the right to evict Rick's and collect punitive damages for its overstaying the lease.

In February, Bernstein pruned away all but one of Olivieri's original 11 counts. The remaining count concerns whether Olivieri deserves compensation for renovations done after what he said was an oral promise of a new lease.

"I was guaranteed a lease," Olivieri said this morning. "I was told I was getting a lease."

The title of the Inquirer's piece, Last gasp in court for Rick's Steaks? gives a good idea (unfortunately) about the estimated odds for the venerable steak purveyor from many observers.

Last gasp in court for Rick's Steaks? [Inquirer]
Rick's Steaks [MenuPages]
Rick's Steaks [Official Site]

Back in April, we wrote about a special all pork dinner over at Marc Vetri's Osteria over on North Broad/almost-North Philly/Greater CCP District/whatever.

Well, Philadining went. The picture above is of the meal's centerpiece, spit-roasted baby pig with patate al forna and toasted fennel seed. Other dishes included a snail and salame spiedini, wild ramp ravioli in pigs foot ragu, testina cannelloni and a very beer-y dessert of black chocolate stout bavarian with raspberry salad. All dishes were coupled with beers chosen by Brooklyn Brewery's Garrett Oliver.

Damn, what a great looking meal.

Pork and Beer at Osteria [Philadining]
Osteria [MenuPages]
Osteria [Official Site]

[Photo: Osteria food via Philadining]

This past weekend, we hopped up to Bart Blatsein-land (aka Liberties Walk) for dinner at Bar Ferdinand. The weather was nice and people were out, so it seemed like a good time to check out the goods. Along with a guest, we ordered jamon croquetas (awesome), a crab/asparagus flan (good, though distinctly lacking in crab taste), patatas bravas (good, though noticably unspicy) and the pechuga de pollo ahumado.

That last item is our new favorite Philadelphia sandwich. It's seared chicken on a baguette-like roll topped with:

• San Simon cheese
• Chorizo
• Bacon
• Steamed swiss chard
• Paprika aioli

The little chunks of cut-up chorizo interacted perfectly with the crisp bacon, the tart greens and the chicken cutlet to create one hell of a sandwich. People, we're talking about a pork explosion here.

And, hey. It looks like the Philadelphia Weekly likes them too.

Bar Ferdinand [MenuPages]
Bar Ferdinand [Official Site]

[Photo: via bocadillos/Fotolog]

When we first read in the Inky about a remarkably popular Jamaican food truck near Philadelphia Community College, it only took us a number of seconds to get hooked:

The oxtails are that good. They rest overnight in a moist rub of onion, garlic, fresh thyme and allspice ("pimento" in Jamaica), and are stewed for two hours in the morning, giving up a sweet, rich, fragrant brown sauce.

In the $6 "small" container, they are heaped over gravy-drenched rice and beans, with a side of collard greens or, well, I always gravitate to the buttery, translucent steamed cabbage. (It, too, is seasoned with onion, scallion, herbs, bell pepper, and an extra sweetener, shredded carrot.)

C'mon people, that sounds amazing.

Real flavors of Jamaica, curbside in Philly [Inky]

A fun fact we just learned: Center City bar TA Flannery's is owned by the family of Kate Flannery, aka Meredith Palmer on The Office.

As a blogger for Tvguide.com, Flannery described the family connection for readers of the site:

St. Pat's day has always been a big holiday for me and my family because my family owns a bar. If you are in Philadelphia, our bar is T.A. Flannery's on 21st Street. Have a drink and don't worry! You can have a drink and catch up!

So go check it out, folks.

Flannery's [Phillytown]
St. Patrick's Daze [tvguide.com]

[Photo: TA Flannery's via Phillytown.com]

First things first. Due to the ethical considerations involved in the consumption of foie gras, restaurants in Philadelphia have been picketed over the past few years for serving the dish. While we respect the opinions of those who choose not to eat foie gras, we've also made it quite clear that we think foie gras is one of the most delicious things on God's green earth.

Now that we've got that out of the way (and no sending us Morrissey-quoting e-mails about the benefits of veganism either. We like our carnivorous ways just fine), here's a comprehensive guide to ome of Philadelphia's most creative and tasty foie gras options.

• The Fountain at the Four Seasons hotel offers sauteed foie gras accompanied with grilled figs and quince, topped with a three vinegar reduction. Sweet (literally).

• Lacroix's dinner menu includes foie gras "bacon" accompanied by that most gourmet of condiments, ranch dressing.

• Brasserie Perrier serves a Daniel Boulud-inspired burger of sirloin stuffed with shredded short ribs and topped with seared foie gras and black truffle cheese.

• Highly regarded Conshohocken BYOB Blackfish also does Lacroix's highbrow/lowbrow deal. In Blackfish's case, foie gras is paired with pickled maraschino cherries (natch)... and frosted flakes.

• Pond is one of the Main Line's most elegant restaurants. The take on foie gras here is strictly traditionalist: the liver comes adorned in a simple apricot glaze flavored with orange peel.

This list is up-to-date and current at time of publishing. If any of these restaurants are no longer serving foie gras, let us know.

Fountain [MenuPages]
Lacroix [MenuPages]
Lacroix [Official Site]
Brasserie Perrier [MenuPages]
Brasserie Perrier [Official Site]
Blackfish [MenuPages]
Blackfish [Official Site]
Pond [MenuPages]
Pond [Official Site]

[Photo: foie gras via Wikimedia Commons]

Over at Food & Drinq, Michael Klein just let us know that longstanding Northern Liberties restaurant Azure closed on Monday night. Here's what the good man had to say:

"Talk on the street is that owner Bob Bitros has retired and will lease out the room to a royally well-known pub team. I'm also hearing whispers of a Mexican theme, which should be interesting given Owen Kamihira's plan to revive Deuce up the street as a Tex-Mex called El Camino Real."

And by "royally," did he mean these guys? Could well be.

Azure [MenuPages]
Azure [Official Site]

Opening day for Eric Ripert's new 10 Arts is tomorrow morning.

Because we love you, here's the press release:

10 Arts, the new Eric Ripert restaurant (helmed by a lady chef!) in the Ritz-Carlton is opening tomorrow (Tuesday 5/20). Prepare yourself with the full press release madness after the jump…

This spring, Michelin-rated chef Eric Ripert makes his Philadelphia debut with the opening of 10 Arts by Eric Ripert in the city’s historic Ritz-Carlton hotel. 10 Arts brings a casual menu by acclaimed three-star Michelin rated Chef Eric Ripert to a city which boasts its share of great dining establishments.

The project entailed a multi-million dollar renovation of the hotel’s majestic, historic Rotunda and the adjoining Pantheon area, which was kept under wraps until the project’s completion, and includes a new bar, lounge and restaurant.

10 Arts’ concept will be American cuisine with an emphasis on the organic and products p from the vast array of local farmers. The restaurant will have a sophisticated yet casual ambiance and an approachable price point. Chef Ripert selected Jennifer Carroll, a native of Northeast Philadelphia, as his chef de cuisine for 10 Arts. Chef Carroll’s most recent position was as sous chef at Ripert’s prestigious Le Bernardin in New York City.

10 Arts’ menu pays homage to the area’s indigenous products, simply prepared so that the natural flavors shine through. In the lounge, a variety of light items and snacks including warm homemade pretzels with creamy cheese sauce and Dijon mustard, mini fish burgers with saffron aioli, prosciutto with grilled sourdough and truffled popcorn. Prices range from $7 to $18. A signature list of Perfect 10 cocktails, each paying tribute to an artist with Philadelphia roots, will also be available along with a vast number of specially selected red and white wines and classic libations.

For dinner, selections include the best of earth and sea from the light bite to the full feast. Appetizers include Wellfleet clams and a variety of oysters, locally made wild boar prosciutto and ‘pork and beans’ –braised pork belly, wax beans, broad beans and haricot vert. Soups and salads feature everything from a seasonal market salad to heirloom corn chowder. Entrees highlights are brook trout with baby bok choy and Hazelnut brown butter sauce, roasted chicken for two with country cornbread stuffing and natural jus and pan seared filet mignon with green peppercorn sauce. A variety of side dishes are available to complement any dish. Breakfast and Lunch service will begin June 9th with a midday menu that features several entrees including Tagliatelle with tomato, basil and meat sauce and roasted chicken Cobb salad with avocado, bacon, egg and chick peas as well as sandwiches such as a fish burger with fennel, oven roasted tomato and saffron aioli, classic sirloin burger with all the trimmings, 10 Arts BLT made with crisp and braised pork belly, lettuce, tomato and spicy mustard and a grilled vegetable panini with fresh mozzarella. Lunch and dinner prices range from $18-$34.

Designed by the acclaimed design firm EDG of San Rafael, California, 10 Arts showcases Chef Eric Ripert’s artistry while creating a lively social space. 10 Arts’ spectacular rotunda is infused with energy and vitality. Intensely colored, contemporary features, set against the backdrop of white-marble architecture, highlight a sense of celebration while sculptural, freestanding design elements render the grand space intimate.

A major wine display stands at the center of the 140-foot, domed rotunda. Tall ebony cases linked with cascading crystal screens house the restaurant’s extensive wine collection while anchoring the soaring room. Contemporary lounge furnishings are set within the field of a dazzling, jewel-toned wool rug, highlighting a varied social space at the center of the lobby. In the dining area, tall windows are treated with magenta film to create a subtle beacon in the busy, urban neighborhood. Within the restaurant these prominent windows are accented with rich, mink-like draperies and contemporary glass bead chandeliers. Freestanding settees combine with warm-toned upholstered chairs and ebony tables.

The private dining room is a cornerstone of the restaurant, entered through magenta-tinted, modern glass doors. Delicate, hand-blown chandeliers and glass-beaded wall coverings are set against the historic white woodwork and period fireplace to create a sensational venue for private parties and events.

“10 Arts will be sexy, modern, sophisticated and casually elegant - keeping the grandeur of the dome but at the same time creating an intimate space,” Chef Ripert says. “We are pleased and excited to be Chef Ripert’s ‘home’ in Philadelphia,” Elizabeth Mullins says. We look forward to continuing to offer our guests a wonderful place to dine, meet and to enjoy a taste of the city’s grand architecture and history. The combination of Chef Eric Ripert’s 10 Arts and The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia ushers in a new and unique venue in the city’s restaurant repertoire.”

10 Arts is located at Ten Avenue of the Arts in Philadelphia. Beginning May 20, the restaurant will be open for dinner Sun –Thurs. 5-10 p.m.; Fri-Sat 5-11 p.m. Beginning June 9th, the restaurant will also be open for breakfast daily from 6:30 -11 a.m. with brunch on Saturday and Sunday; and lunch daily from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lounge hours are Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. and 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. For reservations and further information, call 215-523-8273.

10 Arts [MenuPages]
10 Arts [Official Site]

The pride and joy of Northern Liberties, the new Silk City Diner, was recently featured on an episode of Diners, Dine Ins, and Dives with Guy Fieri. Check it out.

Diners, Drive Ins & Dives: Silk City [YouTube]
Silk City Diner [MenuPages]
Silk City Diner [Official Site]

Time for Americanized bento boxes: Center City's Solefood is offering "lunch boxes" that sure sound like bento to us.

Here's the official word from the restaurant:

The “Lunch Box” at SoleFood will satisfy the soul and mid-day cravings without leaving the diner stuffed. Offering four individual-sized items that lunch-goers usually eat during the mid-day meal - soup, salad, sandwich and chips, the “Lunch Box” draws upon Chef Thomas Harkins’ food inspirations of the day. The “Lunch Box” theme changes daily, depending upon the season and ingredients available at the market. Sample offering would include: grilled cheese with truffle, tomato, fontina, an arugula salad, roasted tomato soup and fingerling chips; tuna slider with wasabi honey aioli, tofu Caesar salad, black bean soup and yuca chips; shrimp po-boy with Creole mustard, tomato salad with maytag blue, fish chowder and vegetable chips. The “Lunch Box” is presented on four, four-inch square plates atop a larger 10-inch square plate.

Sale price is $16.

Solefood [MenuPages]
Solefood [Official Site]

Barely a week ago, we ran a post that alluded to the curse of 1420 Locust Street. The space formerly held barbecue restaurant The Smoked Joint and Toni's Bistro... and was well-known for restaurants opening and closing within a year.

Well, the newest restaurant that opened in the space — Kaizan — just announced that they will be closing indefinitely. They were open for less than a year.

And so it goes...

Kaizan [MenuPages]
Kaizan [Official Site]

Courtney and Kristen Kammerer own the Remedy Tea Bar on Sansom & 16th. They also have a problem: Their store's windows keep getting broken.

And while that might be bad enough, it gets worse. The city of Philadelphia won't let the sisters put a security grate over their door and windows. According to the Inquirer, the city zoning board told them they couldn't have shuttered security grates "because of police and fire department concerns."

On and on it goes:

"Now, even with an alarm system, they feel vulnerable. In the last six months, 15 commercial burglaries have been reported in the area bounded by Broad, 17th, Chestnut and Spruce Streets.

In October, the store's front door was shattered. Two weeks later, it was shattered again, and this time $200 was gone from the store's cash register, which is still bent from the crowbar.

After the third break-in - about 2 a.m. a few weeks ago, the Kammerers sat in the store for hours, waiting for a repairman to board up the front window.

The sisters want to install the correct security grates, but say because of the shop's massive glass structure, they can't afford it now."

The "correct security grates" referenced in the quote above are aesthetically pleasing screen grates — which happen to be too expensive for most small Center City restaurants to install. Viva la bureaucracy.

A city tearoom fed up with the red tape [Inky]
Remedy Tea Bar [Official Site]

[Image via April Saul/Inquirer]

Philly celeb chef Jose Garces of Tinto and Amada was the subject of a recent profile in the Chicago Sun-Times.

The reason for the profile is the recent opening of his Chicago restaurant Mercat a la Planxa. Garces was mentioned along with fellow chefs Marcus Samuelsson, Laurent Gras and Terrance Brennan — all of whom have opened new Chicago restaurants in 2008.

But what about our hometown chef? Here's what the Sun-Times had to say:

Garces graduated from Chicago's Kendall College with a degree in culinary arts, but built his hefty resume in New York and Philadelphia at award-winning restaurants.

"I've been wanting to get home for 13 years," Garces says. "Chicago's come to the forefront as a very modern culinary town. Along with Grant [Achatz of Alinea] and others who work here in town, that's transformed [this] from a meat-and-potatoes town to a culinary mecca."

At his two spots in Philadelphia, Tinto and Amada, Garces took bold approaches to Spanish cuisine. He's taking it farther at the 162-seat Mercat a la Planxa, with grilled-to-order meats and seafood at center stage.

For research, Garces and his team made a pilgrimage to Barcelona, Spain, to sample food inside the city's famed Mercat de la Boqueria and local tapas joints.

Sounds good to us.

Their kind of town [CST]

Pittsburgh's Town Tavern is best known for their annual Irish Potato Olympics (picture above), which we don't even pretend to understand. According to the Tavern, it's a day of "potato bobbing, potato sack races, mashed potato eating contest and more."

And our own McGillins Old Ale House has taken on the Town Tavern in a friendly bet over the Flyers and Penguins.

If the Flyers win the Eastern Conference, two McGillin's patrons will be welcomed to Pittsburgh by the Town Tavern, which will give them a $100 credit, two tickets for the Just Ducky Tour and two nights accomodations for two at the Holiday Inn Express South Side.

If the Penguins win the chapionship, two Town Tavern patrons will receive a reciprocal package in Philadelphia.

Raffle tickets are available at McGillin's starting today.

McGillins Old Ale House [MenuPages]
McGillins Old Ale House [Official Site]

Things you know about Myanmar/Burma:

1) On May 3-4, the country's Irrawaddy delta region was hit by a powerful cyclone, killing 22,500 and leaving over 40,000 missing as of publication time (nationwide population: 55 million)

2) Last fall, the ruling military junta cracked down on widespread, monk-lead demonstrations, leading to the political imprisonment of hundreds and quashing hopes of a democratic revolution

3) Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel prize-winning democracy activist, has been under house arrest there for much of the past two decades

Things you may or may not know about Myanmar/Burma:

1) "Myanmar" is a pre-colonial name that the junta encourages you to use, and "Burma" is the somewhat racist colonial appellation that Aung San Suu Kyi prefers, because one really sticks it to the junta that way

2) Until a few days ago, Burma — let's just go with that...stupid junta — was a net exporter of rice, but the country's rice bowl (this is an official term) was storm-surged into oblivion. Maybe China will give them rice?

3) Burma is shunned by most of the world for its human rights violations and narcotics-based export economy. The junta is reasonably good friends with China

Things you don't know about Burma:

1) The junta is being pretty cagey about taking aid from the international community, but you can donate through the Anglican Relief & Development Fund

2) Burma has a unique and wonderful cuisine that's hard to find in the United States but always a joy to come across. It's a natural fusion of Indian, Chinese and South-East Asian traditions, meaning you can get chicken biryiani, durian ice cream and night market rice noodles in a single sitting if you so desire. They even have their own form of tofu, made from chana dal (split, skinless chickpeas) or yellow split pea flour, depending on the ethnic group. Better than soy-based tofu? In many ways. You like dumplings? The Burmese have half-a-dozen indigenous varieties to try. And so forth.

For us, though, the single biggest achievement of the Burmese kitchen is its myriad and exotic salads. Thai salads are more famous, but the Burmese do a job at least as sophisticated throwing raw and pickled vegetables and miscellany together into something greater than the sum of their parts. Observe:

• Pork Ear & Tongue Salad from the recently closed Burmese Cafe in Queens, NY (Jane! Jane! Jane!):

• "Burmese Feast" Tofu Salad from Golden Triangle in Whittier, CA (Tales of an LA Addict):

More salads than you could properly digest, after the jump...

Continue reading "The Salads Of Myanmar/Burma: A Timely Appreciation" »

Once upon a time, there was a barbecue joint on Locust and Broad named The Smoked Joint. Then they closed down and the space eventually became Kaizan. We always wondered what happened to ex-owner Adam Gertler... then we read at Phoodie that he's skedded to be a contestant on season four of The Next Food Network Star.

Here's the network's bio:

"Adam is an actor and server who has made the kitchen his stage! Adam is the former owner of The Smoked Joint — a BBQ joint he ran with his brother that brought 'the barbecue experience' to Philly. Currently starting up a catering company, he constantly searches for new ways to bring easy, approachable meals to the table with a side of fun."

Do good representing Philly, guy.

Adam Gertler [Food Network]

New Center City gourmet market/takeaway jawn Union Cafe & Market is officially open — and we'll have the menu soon. The picture above was snapped by the good folks at the City Paper this past March; since then, work was completed on the space — which will also include a sitdown brunch on weekends. Obviously, the store is fully stocked with food now.

Menu highlights include a smoked salmon pizza, a steak and blue cheese salad, a crab/artichoke eggs benedict and french toast with lingonberry jam.

Union Gourmet Market & Cafe [Official Site]

So this Sunday's Inky featured a Center City-centric restaurant review blitz, including one by Rick Nichols (dude, do more of them. please?).

First off: Nichols visited new New Orleans-by-way-of-Main Line resto Les Bons Temps and wowed over the decor and the food:

"Grandeur does not quite describe it. The space has enough old wood and occasional crannies to give it claim to intimacy. During its incarnation as Odeon, my wife and I would order flutes of champagne and a magnificent sauteed crab cake ($3.50) with lemon - or was it lime? - butter, and sit at one of the cafe tables tucked on either side of the entry. "Did we only do that once?" she asked the other night, waiting for our blackened cod po' boy (bad bread!), and nicely roasted Chilean sea bass with ginger rice."

In case you haven't figured it out, the restaurant was formerly the much-missed Odeon.

Meanwhile, LaBan stopped by new Center City sushi spot Misso. He dug the creative sushi there:

"I have mixed feelings about kiwi with fish, but Kim adds just a touch, using the pairing again with a raw yellowtail starter, which also gets spicy jalapeño chips and a sour splash of citrus ponzu to counter the heat. A simple little pine nut, and a miso-mustard sauce, are all he needs to transform an appetizer of seared tuna tataki into something memorable, the oil of the nut drawing extra sweetness from the fish."

Good times at stellar spot [Inquirer]
Les Bons Temps [MenuPages]
Les Bons Temps [Official Site]
Misso [Inquirer]
Misso [MenuPages]

In case you haven't heard, chef Michael Solomonov's new high-end Israeli restaurant Zahav is opening on Monday. Of course, we'll have the menu shortly.

But what about Philly's other Israeli restaurants?

A few years ago, Philadelphia was a dry spot for Israeli cuisine. Apart from a few long-standing institutions like Maccabeam and Holy Land Grill, most Israeli restaurants were located out in Cherry Hill or Bala. That was fine for Philly's considerable Israeli expat population, but what about the rest of us who just wanted a boreka or a good turkey shwarma once in a while?

Thankfully, times have changed. Both of the restaurants listed above are still around; Maccabeam makes a heroically awesome shish kebab sandwich, while Holy Land Grill is part of a dining empire that also includes vegetarian and kosher Chinese (!) restaurants.

Meanwhile, there are other newcomers. We've mentioned the all-you-can eat falafel goodness of Maoz before and we're big fans of both Mama's Grill and Mama's Vegetarian. Center City's Pita Pocket also makes a mean Israeli-style schnitzel sandwich with a breaded chicken cutlet, hummus and salad in pita. However, we also want to give props to the ultra-obscure Cafe Zohar in Northeast Philly. Located on a faraway block of Bustleton Avenue, Zohar might just make the best steak sandwich in town: chunks of rib steak topped with tahini and hummus in an oversized pita with french fries on the side. Fuggedabout the cheesesteak; those crazy Kosher kids at Zohar may have just topped it.

Desert Harvest [CityPaper]
Holy Land Grill [MenuPages]
Holy Land Grill [Official Site]
Maoz [MenuPages]
Maoz [Official Site]
Mama's Grill [MenuPages]
Mama's Grill [Official Site]
Mama's Vegetarian [MenuPages]
Mama's Vegetarian [Official Site]
Pita Pocket [MenuPages]
Pita Pocket [Official Site]
Cafe Zohar [MenuPages]
Cafe Zohar [Official Site]

A former assistant manager of the Striped Bass who was shot in 2003 was stabbed on Wednesday in what the New York Post says was a mafia-related incident.

The man in question, George Atterbury, is currently general manager of popular New York restaurant Grayz. According to the Post:

"Atterbury, general manager of Grayz restaurant on West 54th Street, told cops he was hailing a cab when three men drove up in a black SUV, got out and stabbed him in the abdomen and slashed him in the face with a boxcutter or razor."

NYPD sources told the paper Atterbury had ties to the Philadelphia mob. Funnily enough, Atterbury had just been interviewed by the popular New York food blog Eater.

We wish Mr. Atterbury a swift recovery.

Mob Stabbing [NYP]
The Gatekeepers: Grayz's George Atterbury [Eater]
Striped Bass [MenuPages]
Striped Bass [Official Site]

Two (two!) Philadelphia restaurants just made Condé Nast Traveler's 2008 Hot List. The lucky winning restaurants? Rae and Tinto. So kudos to misters Stern and Garces... but what did the Conde Nasties have to say?

Rae: "He wants its flavors to be strong, adventurous even—how else to explain smoked rabbit nachos for lunch? The weekday atmosphere is buttoned-down bonhomie, especially at the row of microbrew taps at the bar, but by evening the lights soften and the regulars move in. The flavors remain intense throughout, whether in the skate with fettuccine and clams or in the riff on the beloved Philly cheese steak, made here with venison and truffles."

Tinto: "The energy-filled upstairs has counter-height tables and an open kitchen, but the downstairs lounge with plush booths is the best way to enjoy the Basque small plates: generously marbled jamón ibérico; tender baby squid in lush ink gravy with crab Bomba rice (a cult brand of grain from Spain); and lamb loin and eggplant skewers wrapped in bacon and served standing upright in shot glasses of sherry jus (pinxtos, $4–$24)."

Rae [MenuPages]
Rae [Official Site]
Tinto [MenuPages]
Tinto [Official Site]

Legendary Brooklyn Brewery brewmaster/beer writer Garrett Oliver (pictured) is hosting a special $100 per person "100 percent pork dinner" at Osteria on Tuesday, May 20.

The prix fie menu will include (among other things) snails with fava beans and black pepper salami, ramp ravioli with pigs foot ragu and roasted baby pig with patate al forno and toasted fennel seed. In other words: You need to go. More info can be found over at Foobooz.

Osteria [MenuPages]
Osteria [Official Site]

Eric Ripert, the legendary new-to-Philly chef behind NYC's Le Bernadin and the Ritz-Carlton's brand new 10 Arts, knows how to get around the media.

In the above clip from the PSFK marketing/trendspotting convention in NYC, Ripert discusses how he gets inspiration for both his food and business. It's well worth watching.

10 Arts [Official Site]
Eric Ripert on Finding Inspiration [YouTube]

Although we still miss the old days when The Khyber served burritos, the new menu kind of rules. Hamburgers, hot dogs... that whole thing. But we haven't gone there early in the day often enough to sample the whole menu.

That's why we're happy that Philadining tipped us off to the Khyber's pretzel dog: A hot dog wrapped in freshly-made pretzel dough at a price that makes the mall chains look like a bunch of punks.

Meanwhile, another Philly indie rock institution does good things with fried food... even if we don't have their menu. You see, Johnny Brenda's features a constantly changing chalkboard menu. But one of the constants on the menu are the awesome french fries, which Foodzings recently paid tribute to. Crisp, sa