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Greatest Hits and What You Missed: Softshells, Ice Cream, Potato Skins, Liquor, Dan Dan Noodles, Lobster Rolls and the Death of Le Bec Fin

Posted by Jason Sheehan on May 17th, 2013

soft-shell-crabs-stateside

It’s a beautiful evening. What are you doing sitting around reading about food when you could be out eating it? But hey, for those of you still stuck at your desks or whatever, here are some of the stories you might’ve missed this week…

Scoop DeVille is Reopening And just in time for ice cream season, too

Potato Skins Now A Permanent Part of the Menu at The Industry You’ll have to read the post to know why this is such a big deal

How Much Wine Does It Take To Float Del Frisco’s? About a million dollar’s worth ought to do it

Big News From Citron & Rose And a new chef is just the beginning

Who Are Philadelphia’s Kitchen Nightmares? In which we shamelessly hop on the Amy’s Baking Company media bandwagon

Free Dan Dan Noodles At Han Dynasty And all it’ll cost you is a parking ticket

Where To Eat Softshell Crabs This Season Yeah, we’re keeping track

Food Trucks and Sidewalk Go-Go Dancing All at the Trestle Inn Tonight

First Bite: Luke’s Lobsters The Lobster God is pleased…

Le Bec Fin is Closing In June Last one out, please turn off the lights

 

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Weekend: Rittenhouse Festival, Wheat Beer and more

Posted by Sam Bloch on May 17th, 2013

Friday

Trestle Inn Backyard BBQ on Callowhill Street with Yumtown food truck. 

Bridgewater’s Pub Beer Garden at The Porch at 30th Street Station with live music and food trucks. 

Saturday

First PHAIR at 23rd and Arch.

Brandywine Valley Craft Brewers Festival at Iron Hill Brewery in Media. 

South Philadelphia Tap Room hosts Wheat Beer Fest with 30+ draft wheaties for $3. 

Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival welcomes spring to the city with over 40 of some of Philadelphia’s finest restaurants. 

Sunday

Suckling pig roast, beer, and blues at The Cambridge.

Happy hour, New Orleans style at 1 Tippling Place. 

Le Virtu opens a redesigned outdoor dining area with a party.

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May 17th, 2013

Mama Palma’s Outdoor Seating Is Intact

Earlier this week we reported that Mama Palma’s had a notice from the city hanging in the window regarding its outdoor dining. It turns out that the letter went out to all restaurants with outdoor dining and it was posted at Mama Palma’s to explain why diners couldn’t move their chairs around. So rest assured, you can enjoy your pizza outdoors at Mama Palma’s.

Barren Hill Tavern & Brewery Names Scott Morrison as Brewer

Posted by Sam Bloch on May 17th, 2013

general_lafayette

In March we told you that the Devil’s Den and Old Eagle Tavern owner Erin Wallace was buying the General Lafayette Inn in Lafayette Hill as the site for their new brew pub. Well, the Wallaces officially settled on the property for Barren Hill Tavern & Brewery this week and signed on world renowned brewer and seven-time Great American Beer Festival medalist Scott Morrison as Head Brewer.

The new restaurant will be similar to Wallace’s other ventures with one exception; six of the thirty draft lines will be dedicated specifically to house made brews. Morrison, who was head brewer at McKenzie Brewpubs in 2005 when it was named the 35th best brewery in the world by Rate Beer, is known for his Belgian Ales, plans on getting very creative with his brews, promising to “create new and interesting styles that aren’t readily available in the Philly Market.” Morrison’s special brews will also be available at Devil’s Den and Old Eagle Tavern. Wallace is still shooting to open the restaurant with Paul Towbridge as chef in late summer.

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New Happy Hour at Meritage Begins Tonight

Posted by Sam Bloch on May 17th, 2013

meritage-logo-110

The Meritage  will break out a new happy hour menu starting today, May 17. The specials will be available every Tuesday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Graduate Hospital restaurant and wine bar. A bucket of pony Corona’s for $10 and a Korean pork taco for $5 highlight the new menu. And if you want more than just a drink and some snacks, Meritage is still offering its spring tasting menu with seared scallops, roasted lamb loin, and a flourless chocolate torte at just $35 for the rest of the month.

The entire happy hour menu »

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Le Bec Fin’s Steve Eckerd Is Heading To the Mainland Inn

Posted by Foobooz on May 17th, 2013

mainland-inn

As the final foot on Le Bec Fin dropped yesterday there was news that current chef Steven Eckerd would be landing at the old Mainland Inn in Harleysville, Montgomery County. The Mainland Inn, constructed in 1760, has been closed for almost three years and was purchased by Sloane Six and Scott Clemons, who also run the nearby Quarry Hill Farm, where Eckerd has served as agricultural architect.

Eckerd will bring an honest farm-to-table-concept to the inn, all you need to know to understand Eckerd’s connection with local farmers is to follow his Twitter feed, which is predominantly him talking to local farmers. The menu will feature the freshest, ripest and most flavorful organic produce Eckerd can get his hands on. Eckerd aims to “bring health-conscious, approachable organic meals to the Philadelphia region.” Eckerd says it Mainland Inn will be fine dining, “but it’ll be in a setting that will have a little more of a purpose than just the fine dining experience itself.”

Eckerd, who served as sous chef at Le Bec Fin since it reopened in June, 2012, was promoted to chef de cuisine in February. Eckerd will work with chef Justin Bogle over the summer as Bogle takes the iconic Walnut Street restaurant in a new direction.

Eckerd who studied at the Culinary Institute of America, trained under Francois Bruel and Eddy Leroux at Daniel. In Philadelphia he worked under Marc Vetri at Osteria and Vetri.

New owner: Mainland Inn set to reopen in September [Souderton Independent]

Photo via Souderton Independent

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Rick Nichols on Le Bec Fin’s Second Act

May 17th, 2013

“But in its latest edition, Le Bec no longer had the field to itself. The entire dining scene in the city had moved on, and up, and in many cases surpassed the gold standard Le Bec had set in a less competitive market decades ago. It’s a shame that neither Georges Perrier or his successor could fully absorb just how profoundly the menu, the dining-room stylistics, and the eating habits of 21st century Philadelphia had changed. You have to know when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em. The architects of Le Bec’s second act were clueless on that front. And sadly, instead of going out on top — where it deservedly reigned for decades — it suffered that most ignominious of endings: It threw a party and nobody came. It had worn out its welcome. The emperor, once so resplendent, no longer had clothes.”Rick Nichols, requiem for Le Bec Fin

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Misconduct Tavern Expansion Update

Posted by Alex Tewfik on May 17th, 2013

misconduct-tavern

Misconduct Tavern is amidst some major renovations as they are adding an addition into the lot next door. The bar was closed for a couple days earlier this week as they knocked through the exterior wall and replaced it with a temporary wall for use until the expansion is completed. And here’s what that expansion will include.

  • The existing bar will extend through the restaurant, and then wrap around back in the new area.
  • The front door will move into the eastern-most part of the new building, with handicap access up to the main floor.
  • The new area will have 3 TVs, a fireplace, and low top tables for more casual dining/lounging (family-friendlier).

Below is the floor plan for the new Misconduct Tavern. All-in-all, the new Misconduct Tavern will be about twice as big.

Misconduct Tavern Expansion Floorplan
Misconduct Tavern [Facebook]

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PHAIR, Philadelphia’s Open Air Market Opens Tomorrow

Posted by Sam Bloch on May 17th, 2013

PHAIRlogo34

PHAIRa new Philadelphia open air market, is debuting this Saturday, May 18, at 23rd and Arch Streets. The market will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Saturday, rain or shine, from May 18 to November 23.

The market is celebrating its first Saturday with a food truck roundup. Philly food trucks Zea May’s, Sweetbox Cupcakes, Rival Bros. Coffee RoastersPoi Dog Snack Shop, Made in the Shade Beverage Co., GiGis & Big R Caribbean & American Soul Food, and Reuben on Rye will be present. There will also be a number of non-food vendors that you can peruse through while enjoying your jerk chicken from Gigi’s or bison hot dog from Zea May’s. And don’t worry if you miss this week’s PHAIR because there should be a great lineup of food trucks at 23rd and Arch every Saturday for a few months to come.

PHAIR [Official Site]

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Six Pack: Sunday Tasting Menus

Posted by Alex Tewfik on May 17th, 2013

vintage-family-dinner-e1283721457662

There’s the glitz and the glam, and then there’s the humble and the honest-to-goodness, the unaffected and the unassuming. To each his own, but I prefer the latter.

I get a kick out of the quirky buildings’ awkward seating arrangements and tiny menus—menus that need not say much, and food that says all too much; the chef-driven and food-focused holes, often orienting themselves in such a way that the preparer and prepared are shown off, experienced only through an intimate three-part channel between the chef, his food, and his guest. When done well, the following few weeks (or longer) will pale in comparison. That’s why the tasting menu is so important; it’s a facilitation of exchange between the hand of the cook and the consumed palate it feeds.

Some tasting menus you’ll find in places that don’t deserve them, and others are just a second menu to the main. Some are only available on weekdays, but there are those you can only take part in on a single day: Sunday, perhaps.

An ode to the tasting menus of Sunday »

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