Home Slice's grand opening is tonight from 7pm-9pm and they will be giving away free slices of pizza! The pizza looks pretty mouthwatering, and besides, it's pretty hard to argue with free.
On top of the gratis pie, there will also be both a 6-foot cheesesteak and 6-foot vegetarian cheesesteak to sample, plus entertainment. Sounds like a pretty solid way to spend a Thursday night.
[via Foodaphilia]
You know how sometimes, a news item will break, and then before you know it, you see something about it every time you unfold a newspaper or scroll through your blog feed? These days, rising food prices seem to be the latest ubiquitous news story. We suppose it makes sense (tanking economy, etcetera), but the sudden flurry of articles on food costs has both taken us aback and heightened our alarm.
In light of this news trend, we'd like to bring your attention to two eateries that are engendering real kind feelings by having some kind of complimentary grub deal.
• Home Slice, a yet-to-open pizza parlor, is having a pizza slice giveaway tomorrow night (that's Wednesday, August 6)! Foodaphilia has already sampled the pie there, and it sounds pretty good, even if one were paying for a slice. The fact that it's free automatically makes it at least ten times better, right? (Math skills at work!) [Foodaphilia]
• Meanwhile, Pond and Bistro Cassis out in Radnor have a deal in which anyone born in August in a year ending with an eight get an on-the-house three course dinner on 08/08/2008. The menu is up on their site and consists of tuna tartar, sauteed Norwegian salmon, and sorbet for dessert. [The Latest Dish]
Pond [MenuPages]
Pond [Official Site]
Bistro Cassis [MenuPages]
Bistro Cassis [Official Site]
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]
Primanti Brothers is a Pittsburgh institution. The restaurant is best known for sandwiches topped with cole slaw and french fries (pictured). Yes, french fries.
Up until now there was nowhere to get Primanti-style sandwiches in Philadelphia. However, we just got word that the Memphis Taproom over in Port Richmond is hosting a "Pittsburgh Transplant Happy Hour" on Tuesday, July 1 from 5pm-7pm. The good folks over at Memphis are promising they'll serve up an 'Ode to a Primanti Brothers Sandwich."
From our perspective, this is definitely a good thing.
Memphis Taproom [MenuPages]
Memphis Taproom [Official Site]
[Image: Primanti Brothers via Roadfood]
Queens Village offal-and-swine mecca Ansill is throwing an event that, to our ears, sounds friggin' awesome.
On Friday, June 20th, the restaurant is holding a "Euro-style" barbecue. What does that mean? Here's the word straight from the press release:
$30 gets you a heaping plate for two. Chow down on roasted pig, assorted grilled meats, marinated vegetables, various salads, antipasti and a glass of house wine (red or white) or draft beer.
So it's $15 a head for roast pork, fancy bourgie-style barbecue, booze and sides? Sweet.
For reservations, call Ansill at (215) 627-2485.
Ansill [MenuPages]
Ansill [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]
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]
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.
The ranks of James Beard Award nominees have been trimmed and we just got the press release. Something in it caught our eye:
Best New Restaurant: Anthos (Chef/Owner: Michael Psilakis, Owner: Donatella Arpaia, New York, NY); Central Michel Richard (Chef/Owner: Michel Richard, Washington, DC); Fearing's at the Ritz-Carlton (Chef/Owner: Dean Fearing, Dallas, TX); Osteria Mozza (Chef: Matt Molina; Owners: Nancy Silverton, Mario Batali, Joseph Bastianich, Los Angeles, CA); Osteria (Chef/Owners: Marc Vetri, Jeff Michaud, Owner: Jeff Benjamin, Philadelphia, PA).(Emphasis ours)
2008 James Beard Foundation Awards Nominees Announced [PR Newswire]
Osteria [MenuPages]
Osteria [Official Site]
Main Line Chinese restaurant Yangming is getting into the cooking class business. Ever take a seminar on wine and cheese at a Chinese restaurant? Well, you can now:
ITALIAN WINE & CHEESE SEMINAR Sun., Mar. 30, 2008 3-5pm Yangming Restaurant, Bryn Mawr ($55)Come join one of our most popular entertaining and educational annual events. Pair Italian wines with cheeses (new selections) under the direction of "The Cheese Guy," Emilio Mignucci, DiBruno House of Cheese and Moore Bros. "Wine Guy." Zagat awarded Moore Bros. BEST wine buys, BEST top service, BEST overall wines, BEST shopping experience. Explore the fascinating regions where each is produced.
The South Street Headhouse District is offering the "8 Days of Eats" Dining Week from April 23rd until April 30th. Here's the news:
To celebrate good eating on South Street, the District hosts this 8 day dining event April 23 – 30 offering discounted $15 and $30 dining specials at many of the most popular restaurants and small eateries. Since the”8 Days of Eats” falls on two Wednesdays, parking throughout the South Street area is FREE for two of the 8 days!The Restaurants:
Supper - Las Bugambilias - Irish Times - Coquette - Paddy Whack’s Pub - Xochiti - Zot - Tori’s - Ansill - Bistro Romano - Chick’s - Blarney South - Lovash - Bridget Foy’s - Mimosa - Café Nola - Monte Carlo - Cedars - Mustard Greens - Chaleo Thai - Copabanana - North - Core de Roma - La Fourno Trattoria - O’Neal’s - Overtures - Dark Horse - Pad Thai - Django - Downey’s - Reef - Fez - Shouk - Gayle…“8 Days of Eats” Kick-Off Party: Tuesday, April 22, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Participating restaurants and sponsors host a menu sampling and refreshments Restaurant Festival at the Historic Headhouse. This event is FREE to the public.
Free food? Free parking? Sign us up.
South Street [Official Site]
Philadelphia Beer Week kicks off today. The Daily News has put together an exhaustive guide to the week's events, which we heartily recommend you read.
But let's get down to the important stuff: What's happening tonight.
Over in East Falls, Mayor Nutter and beer columnist Joe Sixpack are kicking off PBW with a beer sampling at The Marketplace. $60 gets you access to kegs from 22 local breweries and brewpubs, accompanied by gourmet food from 7-10:30pm. Mayor Nutter, we love ya... but why kick off Philly Beer Week in such a public transportation-unfriendly location?
Meanwhile, Center City gastropub Good Dog is holding a "Meet the Brewer" event with Casey Hughes of Flying Fish... The Northeast's Grey Lodge Pub is holding an event for Sprecher Brewing (both at 7) and another Meet the Brewer event is taking place at Standard Tap for Sly Fox. Meanwhile, Tria's Fermentation School is holding the $50 "Beer and Cheese: A Victorious Combo" workshop.
[Image via Daily News]
The Reading Terminal Market wants to teach you how to cook. We just got word that the market has opened a demonstration kitchen that features brand new Electrolux appliances and classes taught by Temple University's Anna Florio.
Upcoming classes include:
"Mangiamo in Italiano" - 03.06.08, 03.13.08
Receive a great introduction to the Italian language and La Cucina Italiana in a relaxed and fun-filled setting while having the opportunity to learn to cook several Italian regional specialties. You will learn how to prepare fresh pastas, some delicious entrees and more. Come practice your Italian as we prepare and enjoy specialties from antipasti to dolci. Buon Appetito!
This class is held at La Cucina in the Market, a state-of-the-art demonstration kitchen facility in the Reading Terminal Market.
Please call Temple to register at:
215-204-6946 or 214-204-4335
"Cooking For Kids, Section 1" - 03.08.08
This class is especially designed to allow young chefs (ages 9-12) to try their hand in the kitchen. Join our staff as we cook and eat some fun fare that’s easy to prepare. Recipes included. Class size is limited.
This class is held at La Cucina in the Market, a state-of-the-art demonstration kitchen facility in the Reading Terminal Market.
Please call Temple to register at:
215-204-6946 or 214-204-4335
Cooking Classes [Reading Terminal Market]
First things first: We thought this post was a damn good excuse for a Talking Heads video, so enjoy it.
But here's the deal... The Philadelphia Flower Show. You know of it and probably either love it or hate it. Either way, Patrice Rames of Patou contacted us about the restaurant's Flower Shore prix-fie. Starting on Sunday, March 2nd, $30 per person will get you:
First Course (choice of)
Carrot Soup - with lobster, coconut milk and ginger
Spring Salad - with arugula, watercress, spring pea shoots, Begium endive, saffron jumbo lump crabmeat, heart of palm, grape tomato and tarragon lemon vinaigrette
Fricassée - with sautéed wild mushroom, creamy bordelaise sauce and truffle oil
Moroccan Plate - with hummus, eggplant caviar, chickpea and carrot salad, roasted beets and peppers, crispy pita chipsSecond Course (choice of)
Parmesan and Rosemary-Crusted Pork Loin - with white bean cassoulet, carrots and onions
Bouillabaisse - with seared monkfish, mussels, jumbo shrimp, clams, crab leg, white potato, fennel, tomato, golden broth and saffron aioli crouton
French Chicken Breast - stuffed with spinach, goat cheese and prosciutto, with mashed sweet potato, caramelized apple and onions, and cognac green peppercorn sauce
Lemon Risotto - with pan-seared dayboat scallops, watercress , spring peas and asparagusDessert (choice of)
Nutella Chocolate Crepes - with orange blossom whipped cream
Apricot Lavender Praline Mousse Cake - with vanilla crème anglaise
A similar deal is available at Bistro St. Tropez as well.
Bistro St. Tropez [MenuPages]
Bistro St. Tropez [Official Site]
Patou [MenuPages]
Patou [Official Site]
The hopes and dreams of millions of Cubans were dashed when Raul Castro was named as Fidel's successor. But that doesn't mean Cuban restaurants should avoid publicity stunts. Hell, if they didn't... it'd be downright unamerican.
Until Thursday, February 28, eaters at Cuba Libre (in both its Philly & Atlantic City incarnations) get a complimentary Cuba Libre cocktail with each meal. Also:
Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar is also inviting guests to sign Cuba Libre’s “Freedom Book” to express their own hope for democracy. Cuba Libre’s “Freedom Book” is a living document that has been circulating since early 2007. The book is available for viewing and signing from February 24-28 at the restaurant’s Philadelphia location and can be signed online at http://cubalibrerestaurant.com/freecuba/. Cuba Libre hopes to one day send this list of thousands of names to a free Cuban government. Also available for viewing at the restaurant is a copy of Fidel Castro’s high school yearbook, which features his class photo.
Cuba Libre [MenuPages]
Cuba Libre [Official Site]
Good news for coffee fans: On Tuesday, February 16 (you know, tomorrow), Dunkin Donuts will be offering 99c lattes from 1pm until 10pm in hopes of promoting their espresso drinks. We thought we would share that as a public service. After all, we know there is a Dunkin Donuts in your neighborhood.
Get Dunkin Donuts latte for 99 cents on Tuesday February 26 [Slashfood]
Check out this Yoda Cookie. It was baked by Philadelphian Zoe Lukas as part of a whole Star Wars cookie set. The reason? The Franklin Institute's new Star Wars exhibit.
Star Wars cookies [Flickr]
The upcoming Philly Craft Beer Festival at the Navy Yard looks... freakin' brilliant, as this guy might say. A partial lineup of breweries participating?
• Blue Point
• Stone
• Dogfish Head
• He'brew
• Nodding Head
• Sly Fox
• Yards
• Stoudt's
• Brooklyn Brewery
• Straub
Philly Craft Beer Festival [Official Site]
Over at the Daily News, they've got a pretty good rundown of Valentine's Day dining options. We'd say that author Lari Robling is bitter:
Valentine's Day. The restaurant is totally overbooked, the kitchen staff is unhappy about the specials and your server is annoyed at having nothing but clueless deuces all night.
Yeah, damn those high-tipping two tops. Among Robling's recommendations are gourmet Old City takeaway Fork: etc., South Philly's Rim Cafe and the bar at the Ritz Carlton.
Eating out for Valentine's Day? Why? [Daily News]
Over at the Reading Terminal Market, they're celebrating Valentine's Day with... weddings. We just got this press release:
Valentine's Day Weddings at the Market Thursday, February 14th, 2008 Center Court 12:00 NoonWitness the marriages of six Philadelphia couples officiated by Judge Jeffrey P. Mineheart on Valentine's Day
Music by The Kraft Trio
Reading Terminal Market [official Site]
Frida Kahlo is our favorite unibrowed, half-Hungarian, Diego Rivera-married Mexican painter in the world. Society Hill new Mexican joint Xochitl digs her too — especially given that there is a major new exhibition opening at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Xochitl has put together a special Frida Kahlo-themed prix fie that is available until the exhibition closes on May 18. Here's what your $35 per person gets you:
Looks good to us.
Though this isn't restaurant news, it's tangentially food related... The good folks over at the Philadelphia KiXX are offering a dollar hot dog night on Saturday, February 23rd at the Spectrum. So if indoor soccer is your thing... go for it.
Philadelphia KiXX [Official Site]
Apparently, March 1 is National Pig Day. We think it's a completely made up holiday, but we like pork... so we'll go with it.
Amada is hosting a special National Pig Day dinner. Here's the official word from the resto:
Chef-owner Jose Garces recommends that guests sample either the exceptional Jamon Iberico, imported from Spain, or Cochinillo Asado, a whole roasted suckling pig dinner for parties of four or more.Garces’ Amada is the first restaurant in Philadelphia to carry Jamon Iberico, known as the “crown jewel” of Spanish hams for its smooth texture and savory taste. Made from the black Iberian pig that is native to the southwest region of Spain, the meat is air-cured for 24 months. Guests can enjoy this delicacy, sliced paper thin on the restaurant’s state-of-the-art meat slicer. Servings of 1.25 ounces are $20.
The Cochinillo Asado has become one of Amada’s most popular dishes. Guests who wish to indulge in this incredible dining experience are required to reserve suckling pigs at least three days in advance to give the kitchen enough time to special order the pig and prepare the dish. Chef Garces brines each suckling pig for 24 hours in a salt water and sugar solution, to ensure the meat is tender and flavorful. Then he confits or slowly cooks the pig in pork fat for up to three hours. After roasting it at 250 degrees for another hour, to crisp the skin and lock in its natural juices, the last step is to finish it with salt and olive oil. The pig is carved and served tableside with: grilled green onions, herb-roasted fingerling potatoes, chickpeas with spinach and rosemary white beans. The cost is $32 per person.
To quote Homer Simpson, "mmm.... pork."
Super Sunday. Gluttony. Super Sunday. Gluttony. We were just informed by the Franklin Mills branch of Uno Chicago Grill that they're hosting an all-you-can-eat pizza fest at their bar on Sunday. $6.99 earns you all-you-can-eat cheese, sausage and pepperoni deep dish pizza and the chance to watch the Giants kick some Patriot butt on big screen tv.
The unlimited, artery-clogging pizza special goes on February 3 from 4pm until end of game. Now we'll be elsewhere, eating marginally healthier food at a Super Bowl party... But we thought we'd let you know anyway.
Uno Chicago Grill [MenuPages]
Uno Chicago Grill [Official Site]
Valentine's Day is coming up. If you're culinarily inclined, why not find an interesting way to celebrate it? For instance, you could attend a romantic cooking class. Here's the word from Main Line resto Pond:
Anyone can buy flowers and chocolate. Why not plan something a little different this year. Couples looking to spice up their Valentine’s Day can cook up some romance…and delicious dishes, too!Executive Chef Abde Dahrouch of Pond Restaurant is offering the “Sweetheart Special”, a cooking class for men and women who want to woo their partners with a romantic meal. This FUN class will be held for both men & women, couples & singles on Sunday, February 10 from 2:00-4:00pm.
Chef Abde will walk the gentlemen and ladies through the fine points of shucking oysters, making tarts, garnishing plates and selecting wines. The dishes include ingredients with romantic history or symbolism: figs, avocadoes, oysters, caviar.
The cost per person is $75. Space is limited, so call 610-293-9411 to reserve your place.
Sweethearts Cooking Class at Pond Restaurant [The Latest Dish]
Pond [MenuPages]
Pond [Official Site]
One of the best Center City dining bargains around might be the lunch prix-fies at Jose Garces' various restaurants. Adam over at Blogalicious compiled the following:
• Amada: The $12.50 Catalan Express (soup or salad, sandwich, non-alcoholic beverage)
• Tinto: The $14.99 Bilbao Express (soup or salad, sandwich, non-alcoholic beverage)
Food sounds good too:
Chestnut soup was the perfect anti-freeze, warming us to the fingertips with its lush, creamy consistency, hiding tender shreds of duck and a shower of crunchy pistachios. A judicious drizzle was the only time we’ve seen the truffle oil used for good rather than evil. To follow up, Tinto’s riff on the cheesesteak was a crusty baguette stuffed with frisée and charred sliced of skirt steak loaded so generously the beef kept slipping out the sides of the roll.
Chef Garces Discounts [Blogalicious]
Amada [MenuPages]
Amada [Official Site]
Tinto [MenuPages]
Tinto [Official Site]
[Image via Blogalicious]
This flashback from sportswriter Kerith Gabriel reminded us of exactly how much we love the Wing Bowl:
Finally, we're not the only person at the Daily News who takes the Wing Bowl seriously.Sportswriter Kerith Gabriel shares his tale of how he came to appreciate the contest:
"I was 19, and he was a contestant named Sloth. And I attribute my passion for Wing Bowl to him.
"For me and I am sure countless others, one of the highlights of being at the annual glutton festival is the anticipation of an eater saying 'uncle' by way of spewing partially digested chicken all over the stage. And to this day for me, no one did it better than Sloth. I remember being up for most of the night, catching a minute or two of sleep between underage binge drinking and listening to 50 Cent. It was my first Wing Bowl, me a sophomore at Drexel and three dorm buddies who convinced me that the daylong fiesta of chicken, alcohol and scantily clad women was worth the price of the already free admission. But by mid-morning, I was too tired to care.
"However, leave it to the exploitation of one's weaknesses to add to the excitement, and there on the jumbo screen was Sloth, gurgling and covering his mouth, his face mixed with the agony of indigestion and the determination of a pseudo-athlete. At that moment when I realized his plight, so did he and the next thing I remember is the loudest roar from the crowd all morning as Sloth spewed for what seemed like an indeterminable amount of time the largest cascade of vomit I have ever seen. Every year, that image is put up recurrently on the jumbo screen and since that day I haven't missed the event."
Viva.
Wing Bowl [Dan Gross]
Aw, this is cute. Conshy pizzeria Bella Luna Pizza Kitchen is offering a heart-shaped pizza special for Valentine's Day.
$18.85 gets you a 10" heart-shaped pizza, Caesar salad and homemade brownies for two delivered to your home.
Bella Luna Pizza Kitchen [MenuPages]
Heart Shapped Pizza for Valetine's Day [The Latest Dish]
Wing Bowl, Wing Bowl, freakin' Wing Bowl. It's one of Philly's biggest food related events and even with all the naysayers who dis it... we'll say we're kind of charmed by it. It's Philly's giant flag to the world announcing that it's a working class town that's unafraid to hold a buffalo wing eating contest with pretty girls and early morning beer drinking in a hockey arena. We like that aspect of Philly (as opposed to the aspects we wish we could singlehandedly fix: the massive crime wave effecting most of the city, SEPTA and L&I's institutional paralysis, the sickeningly tense state of race relations, etc.).
But onto the Wing Bowl. Dan Gross just gave us a full rundown on the goods for Wing Bowl XVI. It's a good piece too: Gross shows a knack for compelling viginettes about the Bowl:
Shortly after competing in Wing Bowl 16, Dave "U.S. Male" Goldstein is off to Arizona for the Super Bowl. Goldstein turns 40 on Feb. 3, the day of the big game, but he's just as excited to return to Wing Bowl. He placed fifth last year and came in second among local eaters. Goldstein is sponsored by P.J. Whelihan's, the pub chain providing wings this year instead of Rib Ranch (Castor & Aramingo) which supplied them throughout most of Wing Bowl history. He's a postal carrier in Haddonfield, N.J. "I'm not shooting for No. 1," Goldstein says, noting this is "the best field in Wing Bowl history," with El Wingador and Joey Chestnut competing in the same contest. Last year, U.S. Male emerged from a seven-foot mailbox, but this year the Army and National Guard veteran is going for a military theme.To train, the 6-1, 250-pound Goldstein has been eating several pounds of vegetables for dinner and drinking a gallon of water every morning. He's adopted a tip from El Wingador and is eating Tootsie Rolls for jaw strengthening. He works out five days a week. He's joined the IFOCE and has fared well in burrito and waffle bouts.
Goldstein loves the carnival of the Wing Bowl and apparently so does his father. "My dad's a pervert. He went last year and sat right up front," Goldstein says.
The elder Goldstein is more interested in the scantily-clad hotties than in his son's eating. Goldstein is taking pledges for Rangerforacure.info, a charity set up by Army ranger Chris Young, who battled thyroid cancer and now raises money to fight childhood cancer. Interested parties may contact Goldstein at USMaleWingBowl@aol.com. The Postal Service, by the way, has no beef with Goldstein competing so long as he doesn't wear anything with the postal logo.
He's representing the National Association of Letter Carriers, the postal union.
To all the contestants, we say: eat on.
Early forecast: Joey's a winner [Daily News]
Forget about the Wing Bowl. For the vegans, the real buffalo wing eating competition is around 105 miles away in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
That's because W-burg veggie fast food joint Foodswings is sponsoring a "Vegan Buffalo Wing Eating Contest" on Wednesday, January 16. To quote the Brooklyn Paper, who just wrote the event up:
In an event that can only be called revolutionary, once timid, tree-hugging, animal-loving vegans are being invited to take off their gloves (organic cotton, of course) and get up to their elbows in spicy wings just like those thug-like omnivores. Foodswings, a vegan fast-food joint in Williamsburg, will be starting a fun, cruelty-free tradition when they hold the first ever “Vegan Buffalo Wing Eating Contest” on Wednesday, Jan. 16. Contestants, herbivore and omnivore alike, have registered to battle for prizes including cash, T-shirts, tattoo gift cards and of course, ultimate bragging rights in the soy flesh eating community. Bikers, hipsters, musicians and artists are just some of the people stretching their stomachs for the big day.
The event is sponsored by Frank's Red Hot Sauce.
No buffalos were harmed [Brooklyn Paper]
Foodswings [MenuPages]
Foodswings [Official Site]
[Image via Brooklyn Paper]
The free sample of dubiously sweet-sauced chicken, whether in its Cajun, Japanese or Chinese permutations, is a proud mall food court tradition. But what is it like to actually be the person who gives out those toothpick-stubbed chunks of fast food goodness? The Washington City Paper's Erin Zimmer decided to find out:
The samples start life not far from where their sources end theirs, at a poultry plant in the Carolinas where boneless dark meat—typically leg and thigh, since white breast meat dries up—is tossed in what Napoliello calls “washer and dryer-like machines.” Hundreds of pounds marinate in Kelly’s signature sweet, soy-sauce-based “Cajun” formulation. [...] At Kelly’s Cajun Grill in the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, chicken samples don’t seem to last two hours. On a weekend before Christmas, one visored Kelly’s employee hustles through an entire bowl of chicken samples in five minutes. Back at the counter, she hands over her bowl to be refilled; the staff prioritizes filling it over actual customer orders. People in line pause, respecting the holy transaction.
It turns out there's even a war between Kelly's Cajun Grill and Panda Express over who invented the radition of giving out mall chicken samples. Who knew?
Free Bird [WCP]
[Image via Washington City Paper]
Food author Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dillema and In Defense of Food, is appearing at the Free Library tonight. For a sneak peak of what Pollan will discuss, check out this interview at Epicurious. Here's a hint: he's bitter.
breakfast has been the site of so much processing for the reasons you're talking about, the convenience question. It's really the pioneering meal for food science, with breakfast cereal being the big first step, and a continual ratcheting up of the innovations. I don't know if you've looked at a cereal aisle lately, but the latest is the breakfast cereal "straw," a strawlike thing made out of cereal material, with a layer of white "milk" on the inside. Kids are supposed to suck out the "milk" and then eat the "straw." So you don't even need a spoon.CH: That's disgusting.
MP: It really is. I haven't tried one yet. But I think we're real suckers for innovation at breakfast, because we're kind of in a fog and don't want to have to think. Also, a lot of kids eat in the car or on the bus on the way to school. I talk about the percentage of our eating that goes on in cars, and a lot of that is breakfast.
Michael Pollan [Free Library]
Keep It Real [Epicurious]
[Image via Epicurious]
One more quick Bryn Mawr post. Tango Bistro is holding a wine special on Monday nights that includes high-end wines discounted to $30 a bottle. Here's a sample list, courtesy of the restaurant:
Whites Sauvignon Blanc/Semmilon - Ferngrove, Southeastern Australia Chardonnay - Talus Collection, Lodi, CA Torrentes - Bodega Norton, Mendoza, Argentina Sauvignon Blanc - Napa Cellars, Napa Valley, CAReds
Rhone Style Blend - Fess Parker, Frontier Red “Lot 71″, CA
Old Vines Zinfandel - Jewel Collection Wines Lodi, CA
Cabernet Sauvignon - Redwood Creek, CA
Syrah - Montevina Terra d’Oro, Amador County, CARose
Gamay Rose - Sauvignon, Loire Valley, France
Tango Bistro [MenuPages]
Tango Bistro [Official Site]
Tango's Winter Wine Special [The Latest Dish]
We just found out that Taylor of Mac & Cheese Review is organizing a Philly Food Blogger Meet-up and Potluck on Friday, January 11 near Jefferson Square Park. Here's the info from her site:
If you blog, vlog, podcast, or whatever about food in or around the Philly area, are not already a member (you already have an invite if you are), and would like to join up and meet some of your fellow bloggers, please send your name, blog url, and email contact to mac.and.cheese.review (at) gmail (dot) com.
Philly Food Blogger Meet-up [Mac & Cheese]
Morimoto's own Masaharu Morimoto has a new cookbook out. To promote it, he recently headed up to Google's New York campus (you know, the Googleplex) to discuss the book, answer cooking questions from Google employees and to give a cooking demonstration.
It's 45 minutes of the Iron Chef chillin' with some of the most upstanding techie foodies we've ever seen. Gotta love it.
Authors @ Google: Masaharu Morimoto [YouTube]
Morimoto [MenuPages]
Morimoto [Official Site]
Foobooz has the scoop on the New Year's Eve dinner at Marigold Kitchen, which will be chef Michael Solomonov's last at the restaurant. As we've previously mentioned, he's opening new restaurant Zahav and chef Erin O'Shea is taking over at the spot. Courtesy of Foobooz, here's the menu:
“Solo’s Last Meal”
1st Course
Sea urchin, scrambled eggs, caviar, virginia ham
2nd Course
Chick-pea cavatelli, lamb bolognese, yemeni spice
3rd Course
Turbot poached in truffle butter, cauliflower, saffron
4th Course
Roasted rib-eye cap, caramelized cepes, foie gras jus
Cheese
Dessert
Warm chocolate cake, toasted sesame ice cream, passionfruit
New Year's Eve Options Updated [Foobooz]
Marigold Kitchen [MenuPages]
Marigold Kitchen [Official Site]
The London Grill loves beer almost as much as we do. On cold winter days like today, alcohol just feels right. For Art Museum area residents and people in the mood to travel, the resto is offering a Holiday Beer Dinner tonight. For $35 per person (including beer but sans tax & gratuity), guests get the following bit of holiday goodness:
Artisan Cheese Plate with accompaniments Michelob LagerCaesar Salad with crispy house-made Duck Prosciutto
HoegaardenDuck Wings roasted in Duck Confit with mustard dipping sauce
Leffe BlondeMeatball Sliders (2) one Chicken/Prosciutto and one Lamb/Goat Cheese, with Duck Friites (hand-cut fries fried in duck fat)
Leffe BrownChocolate Mousse with Chocolate Espresso Wafer
Michelob Amber BockAfter Dinner Drink with Michelob Celebrate! Cherry Lager and Budweiser Brewmaster Reserve and Bourbon Cask Ale
The Michelob and Belgian-centric beer lists? It's all because the event is sponsored by Michelob owners Anheuser-Busch and beer distributers Penn. Ignore the corporate sponsorship and just make sure to enjoy (all eight) beers.
London Grill [MenuPages]
London Grill [Official Site]
This is cute: Restaurant XIX Nineteen is offering a Nutcracker-themed Tea for the kids. Here's the official word from the restaurant:
The café AT NINETEEN (XIX), located at the historic Park Hyatt at the Bellevue at Broad and Walnut Streets, is offering a festive Nutcracker Tea from 2 to 5 pm daily throughout December. The $38 menu ($19 for children under 13) includes modern twists on tea sandwiches like Curried Chicken Salad with dried currants and walnuts on a mini baguette; Egg Salad with parsley and nutmeg on brioche; Scottish Smoked Salmon with dill cream cheese and watercress on pumpernickel; Strawberry Jam and Cream Cheese on country white; and Honey Ham and Cheddar on toasted brioche.The magnificent three-tiered tray, dubbed “Land of the Sweets,” will feature Nutcracker-themed goodies like Sugarplum Fairy Pudding and Marzipan Financier as well as a wide array of treats based on the flavors of the season including Hot Chocolate Custard, Cranberry Scones, and Citrus Madeleines. This special tea is the perfect way to celebrate the season with family and friends before a Pennsylvania Ballet performance of the Christmastime classic or to refuel after a long day of holiday shopping in Center City while enjoying XIX’s spectacular views of Philadelphia.
XIX Nineteen [MenuPages]
XIX Nineteen [Official Site]
Sweet baby Philadelphia. When it comes to the glutton fest known as the Wing Bowl, all we've got to say is... Tickets sold out in 45 minutes. Yes, really. All 15,000 tickets sold out in the time it takes a typical episode of House to roll out.
Wing Bowl sells out in 45 minutes [Inquirer]
We just got wind of upscale Headhouse Square Mexican Xochitl's special prix-fie menu for New Year's Eve. Price is $50 per person or $70 with cocktail pairings. Here's the goods:
SOPAS (soups) Birria de Borrego (spicy lamb consomme with chickpeas and rice) -or- Caldo Tlalpeño (chicken soup with corn, potatoes, chayote and chipotle) -or- Sopa Azteca (tortilla soup)Xochitl Fizz - sangria with rose champagne
ANTOJITOS (appetizers)
Gorditas Charras (masa pockets stuffed with black beans and chorizo)
-or-
Chiles Mihoacan (poblano pepper stuffed with Chihuahua cheese tamale)
-or-
Ceviche Tostadas (shrimp, octopus and spanish mackerel ceviche with onion, cilantro, jalapeño, tomato and avocado)Champagne Margarita - hornitos plata with fresh lime and champagne
PlATOS FUERTES (main plates)
Venado con Mole de Pistache (venison with pistachio mole)
-or-
Codorniz con Mole de Ciruela Pasa y Pasilla (quail with dried plum and pasilla sauce)
-or-
Enchilada de Langosta (lobster enchilada with avocado and ancho sauce)
-or-
Bacalao a la Viscaína (salt cod stew with tomatoes, olives and potatoesMexico 75 - hornitos reposado, cointreau, fresh lime and champagne
POSTRES (desserts)
Capirotada (mexican bread pudding with dried fruits, nuts and chocolate)
-or-
Buñuelos con Platano Tabasco (mexican fritters with plantains and cajeta ice cream)La Granada - champagne with fresh pomegranate and a spicy pomegranate rim
Reservations can be made by giving the resto a call at (215) 238-7280.
Xochitl [MenuPages]
Xochitl [Official Site]
Xochitl New Year's Eve [Xochitl]
Interesting promotion to report on from local nightlife kings Four Corners Management: They're offering "New Year's Eve Passports" that include all-you-can-drink top shelf bars at either their Old City or Rittenhouse-area restaurants and bars for $85 a pop. The Old City promotion includes Lucy's Hat Shop and Drinker's Tavern while the Rittenhouse Square passport is good for Drinker's Pub, Noche, Bar Noir and Loie.
NYE215 Passports [Official Site]
A fun little promo for the kids over at local mini-chain Santa Fe Burrito. The day after home games for the St. Joseph's Hawks b-ball team, Santa Fe locations are offering free St. Joe's basketball cards (pictured above). Plus, they've provided fans of Santa Fe with a $1.00 coupon as part of the promotion. Not too shabby...
Santa Fe Burrito [MenuPages]
Santa Fe Burrito [Official Site]
Over at Foobooz, they just scored the menu to Osteria's special Christmas in Italy dinner. The five-course meal sticks to central Italian trad dishes like tortellini in brodo and a main course of stuffed capon with root vegetables and salsa verde... And goes for a cool $150 pp including tax, gratuity and wine.
But, hey! The meal isn't on Christmas — it's on Monday, December 17.
Christmas Wine Dinner At Osteria [Foobooz]
Osteria [MenuPages]
Osteria [Official Site]