Montgomery-County

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

Posted by Foobooz on May 17th, 2013

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

Dave Magrogan Has Created a Sneaky Empire

Posted by Alex Tewfik on April 26th, 2013

savor-harvest2

This guy; cotton candy oysters guy; Mr. Kildare’s, himself. Dave Magrogan is a big deal, and barely anybody knows it.

Philadelphia Business Journal reported that Dave Magrogan, owner of Harvest Seasonal Grill, Doc Magrogan’s Oyster House, and Kildare’s Irish Pub made a little over $40 million dollars last year—and he’s on track to make $50 million in the next. He owns 14 restaurants, and employs 1,200, and is planning to open his 15th (another Harvest) in North Wales, PA this summer.

Those are the kinds of numbers that even make Starr sweat. But then again, that’s not really saying much.

Magrogan Group Plans North Montco Restaurant [Philadelphia Business Journal]

A Single Bell for Conshohocken’s Southern Cross Kitchen

Posted by Foobooz on April 15th, 2013

southern-bell-interior

Craig LaBan travels to Conshohocken to try Southern Cross Kitchen, the latest restaurant from Kim Strengari and Marianne Gere. He was not happy with the shrip and grits, the fried pickles nor the fried chicken. They were all removed from the check but what remained didn’t impress the reviewer either.

Southern Cross has more than a few great beers to wash it down, with those 23 rotating taps featuring American stars from Firestone Walker to Left Hand’s refreshingly restrained English-style IPA, 400 Pound Monkey.

But let’s face it: the giant craft-beer list, as much as I applaud its thirsty march to prominence, is becoming an all-too common cover for restaurants that don’t have the rest of their act together. Anyone can order good beer.

And Southern Cross’ many menu flaws cannot be completely obscured by the latest high-octane Imperial IPA. Or I could be wrong, judging from the dude at the bar who obliviously devoured a plate of calamari that had such a fishy stink I could smell it from the hostess stand.

One-Bell, Hit-or-Miss

Southern Cross [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Southern Cross [Official Site]

Where We’re Eating: Mango Tree Bistro

Posted by Jason Sheehan on April 10th, 2013

mango-tree-bistro

Philly is a desert when it comes to decent Thai food, but compared to the suburbs, the city comes off like Thai-food Nirvana. Which is why it’s such a pleasure to find those rare suburban places that seem to spring into existence against all odds and survive solely on the backs of those who understand how lucky they are to have a reliable outlet for spicy curry and tom yum soup.

Mango Tree is one of those—a lovely BYO Thai bistro set right off Ridge Pike in the charming commuter suburb of Eagleville. It draws a good lunch crowd, serves a lot of pad Thai and Evil Jungle Princess curry, then quiets considerably after dark. Dining in is nice enough (if a bit lonely during the dinner shift), but the place does a brisk takeout business and offers large portions of consistently good drunken noodles, massamon curry and pineapple fried rice. Provided enough people find it and commit to coming back, Mango Tree could easily (and deservedly) become the go-to Thai spot for the NW suburbs.

Mango Tree
3120 Ridge Pike
610-631-0969
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Kings Corner Public House Opens In Jenkintown

Posted by Alex Tewfik on April 10th, 2013

“Ye cometh hungry, ye cometh thirsty, ye cometh primed for soccer, ye will have a great time.”

That’s what they promise, and they’re sticking to it. There’s a new English soccer pub in Jenkintown called the Kings Corner Public House, and they’ve created quite the atmosphere for the avid soccer fan, the avid foodie, and the avid beer snob. They’ve created a menu that boasts pub classics like fish and chips (their house specialty), bangers, shepherd’s pie, lamb stew, rabbit stew, and even venison. All of that, a full bar, 12 drafts, 80 bottled beers from around the world, and a Happy Hour between 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., there’s nothing not to like.

Unless you don’t like soccer. And if that’s the case, there’s beer for that.

Kings Corner Public House [Official Site]

Brittingham’s Is Getting a Serious Makeover

Posted by Foobooz on March 25th, 2013

Brittingham’s Irish Pub & Restaurant in Lafayette Hill is getting a a big-time renovation. New owners, developer Randy Feinberg and David Eckelmeyer (CJ & Ecks) are closing down the local favorite on Monday, April 1st.

When the bar reopens in fall of 2013, it will have the same name and bar area but just about everything else will have been updated. Jonathan Adams (Rival Bros, Pub & Kitchen) will be consulting with his former Brasserie Perrier line-mate Joseph Frost in creating a neighborhood menu with Irish inspiration. Keith Raimondi of Lemon Hill will be creating and consulting on the restaurant’s cocktail menu, beer selection and overall beverage program.

Morrissey Design is handling the redo. Look for two dining rooms, expanded outdoor seating and a bar that will open to the outside, wraparound decks, porches and fire pits.

With Barren Hill replacing the General Lafayette and the renovated Brittingham’s, Lafayette Hill will have some fresh dining and drinking options.

Rendering of Brittingham’s interior »

Devil’s Den Crew To Open Barren Hill

Posted by Jason Sheehan on March 7th, 2013

Word came down this morning that the Devil’s Den/Old Eagle Tavern team have taken the plunge and are (or soon will be) the proud new owners of the General Lafayette Inn in Lafayette Hill. The place has been a regular in the real estate listings for quite some time, but now it looks like it’s going to get new life as a brew pub.

What do we know right now? We know that when it reopens, it will be called Barren Hill (after the original name for the area) and that it will open with 30 taps–6 of them pouring Barren Hill brews with a plan for three of those to be “accessible” (IPA, lager and the like) and three being more “adventurous.” We know that it’ll be a beer-focused joint (of course), but that there will be a menu and that current Devil’s Den chef, Paul Trowbridge, will be manning the burners. And we also know that the beer brewed at Barren Hill will also be sold at Devil’s Den and the Old Eagle Tavern in Manayunk.

Oh, and we’ve also heard that the team is looking at a mid-to-late summer opening, so they’d better get cracking.

Psssst, Wanna Buy An Inn? [Foobooz]

Tired of Pliny Talk? How About Nugget Nectar and Buck-a-Shuck Oysters?

Posted by Foobooz on February 27th, 2013

nugget-nectar-oysters

Today, Dettera in Ambler will be pouring Tröeg’s Nugget Nectar on draft today along with buck-a-shuck oysters.

Dettera [Official Site]

Honeygrow in Bala Is Now Open

Posted by Foobooz on January 17th, 2013

honeygrowCityAve

Honeygrow’s Justin Rosenberg just opened his second stir-fry, salad and smoothie location. This one is at 169 E City Avenue in Bala. The new location is about twice the size of the initial 16th and Sansom Street location.

honeygrow [Official Site]

Cantina Feliz Turns Two and Celebrates with a Tasting Menu

Posted by Foobooz on January 3rd, 2013

Cantina Feliz is celebrating its second anniversary with a $26, four-course tasting menu. The special menu of tuna ceviche, duck sopes and salmon tacos will be available from tomorrow, January 4th through Saturday, January 19th. Beverage pairing is just $12 more.

Read the rest of this entry »

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