El Camino Real

One Month, Nine Bars, No Repeats

Posted by Foobooz on February 15th, 2013

For the month of March, nine Northern Liberties bars are getting together and making sure they don’t pour the same beer twice. They’re calling it Northern Exposure and plan to offer an unrivaled draft list of over 100 unique beers through the month.

There is no cover charge or tickets, just pay as you go for beers. They’re encouraging small, self-guided bar crawls and there will be Beer Passports to help record the beers tried. Complete one brewer’s offerings in the month and get some free swag.

Check out the Northern Exposure Facebook page for more information and follow @ExposureFest on Twitter.

The participating bars »

Dia De Los Muertos Menus Popping Up Around Town

Posted by Jason Sheehan on October 30th, 2012

Halloween may be a little bit damp this year (or, if you live in New Jersey, rescheduled by official decree of governor Christie), but your plans for celebrating Dia de los Muertos need not suffer. We’ve got several area restaurants putting out special menus for the Day of the Dead, and here’s what to expect.

Show me the menus

Celebrating the Day of the Dead

Posted by Foobooz on November 1st, 2010

Image by mnd.ctrl via Flickr

Last week we profiled several Day of the Dead celebrations at various Philadelphia restaurants. Here they all are again in one place.

Distrito – Tomorrow there is a Herradura Tequila dinner upstairs and street food specials and DJs downstairs.

El Camino Real – Tonight’s tasting dinner will feature four Patron cocktails.

El Rey – Stephen Starr’s Chestnut Street Mexican restaurant is creating a Day of the Dead altar which will be on display until November 2nd. Diners will also receive Mexican candies at the end of their meal.

Xochitl – Tuesday’s Day of the Dead celebration features heart tacos and more on the special 5-course menu.

Day of the Dead Dinner at El Camino

Posted by Foobooz on October 21st, 2010

El Camino Real is hosting a special Day of the Dead Tequila dinner on November 1st. The $40 4-course dinner is paired with 4 Patron cocktails.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Year In Bells

Posted by Foobooz on December 28th, 2009

bells

Craig LaBan looks back on the year that was in Philadelphia’s thriving dining scene and along the way he makes some adjustments to earlier grades.

Five restaurants were revisited with two getting bumps and one an unceremonious demotion.

Meme went from two to three bells.
Alison two went up from one bell to two.
El Camino Real didn’t fare any better in its re-review, the Tex/Mex bar remains at one bell.
LaBan had another “see-saw meal” at Noble: American Cookery and the stylish space sticks with one bell.
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House got slammed even harder in its December inspection and LaBan dropped the steakhouse to the dreaded No Bells.

What 2009 put on our tables [Philadelphia Inquirer]

Chefs Making News

Posted by Foobooz on December 7th, 2009

Jenn Carroll may not have won Top Chef but how can you not like someone who calls their mom everyday after work. [Grub Street]

Adam Glickman is out as chef at Monk’s after 9-years and in is owner Tom Peters! [Phoodie]

Steven Cameron sent us a note this morning saying he had been out as chef at Noble: American Cookery since October. Grub Street has the follow-up. [Grub Street]

El Camino chef Dustin Robinson has been tweaking the menu at El Camino Real and has added close to 20 new items to the Texas/Mexico border bar. [Meal Ticket]

Daniel Stern discusses his thoughts on menu trends for 2010 as well as sheds some light on his upcoming R2L. [Restaurants & Institutions via The Illadelph]

Quick Bites

Posted by Foobooz on September 24th, 2009

Mike’s Steaks has replaced Frank’s Old Philly-Style Sandwiches in the Comcast Center. Mike’s offers burgers, hoagies and hot dogs in addition to steak sandwiches.

Fuel has opened at 1917 E Passyunk. Q102′s Rocco Cima is the man behind the 500 calories or less storefront. [Meal Ticket]

Rouge sous chef Dustin Chalermkittichai is set to become the chef at El Camino Real. [The Insider]

D.P. Dough passes another hurdle, calzones are coming soon…. [D.P. Dough]

Ambler gets a kick as a branch of Lafayette Hill’s From the Boot has opened. Additionally the posh looking Dettera has also opened on Butler Pike. [The Insider]

Grub Street has a slideshow of Square 1682, the hotel restaurant opening at 17th and Sansom on October 14th. [Grub Street]

Restaurant Week hinted that Ly Michaels’ was going to become Tazia. And now we know the details. Tazia will be a restaurant specializing in tapas sized Asian bites. [The Insider]

Del Frisco’s takes Craig LaBan’s advice and installs a stripper pole. [Philly Chit Chat]

Fish is looking to open next week (licensing permittiing) in the former Astral Plane on Lombard Street. Michael Klein has some details on the under $20 menu. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

The Piano Bar closed at 20th and Arch. We’re only surprised it lasted as long as it did. [The Insider]

Top Chef Contestant Out

Posted by Foobooz on August 7th, 2009

Jen Zavala There was talk of a big party for Top Chef contestant Jennifer Zavala complete with a broadcast of the first episode of the Bravo series on the big outdoor screen at the Piazza at Schmidt’s, just across from her El Camino Real. But today we find out from Michael Klein that she’s out at the Northern Liberties border bar.

“Top Chef” hopeful Jennifer Zavala leaves El Camino Real [The Insider]

Update: Zavala to join Xochitl [The Insider]

Top Jen

Posted by Foobooz on July 9th, 2009

top_chef_6_judges

Which of Philadelphia’s contestants on Top Chef will go further? Will it be Jennifer Carroll of 10 Arts by Eric Ripert or will it be Jennifer Zavala of El Camino Real?

Who will go further on Top Chef?

Jennifer Carroll (73%, 96 Votes)
Jennifer Zavala (27%, 35 Votes)

Total Voters: 131

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Phinally Philly Flavor On Top Chef

Posted by Foobooz on July 8th, 2009

Jen Zavala The first five seasons of Top Chef were devoid of Philadelphia chefs but season 6 is looking to make up for that oversight. Premiering Wednesday, August 26th on BravoÂ and taking place in Las Vegas, three chefs with Philadelphia ties will be competing.

Jennifer Carroll of 10 Arts by Eric Ripert
Jennifer Zavala of El Camino Real
Michael Isabella of Zaytinya in Washington DC but with experience at El Vez, Alma de Cuba and Washington Square.

Top ChefÂ [Official Site]

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