Southern

Mint Julep in Liquid and Dessert Form at Rex 1516

Posted by Foobooz on May 3rd, 2013

rex-1516-mint-julep Tonight and all day tomorrow the Mint Juleps are on special for $8 at Rex 1516. The South Street bar and restaurant has the timeless combo of whiskey, mint, sugar and club soda on its menu all the time but this weekend, a special derby version with peach-infused cognac, will also be available. Additionally the cocktail makes an appearance on Rex 1516′s dessert menu. The Mint Julep dessert pairs a rich mint chocolate pot de crème, topped with candied mint leaves and a pecan macaroon filled with whiskey cream frosting.

To accompany all that sweetness, Rex 1516 is offering bacon-scallion hush puppies with Cajun ailoi for just $5 for an order of five.

Rex 1516 [Official Site]

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]

Rex 1516 Rolls Out New Menu This Friday

Posted by Foobooz on March 19th, 2013

rex-1516-full-room

Rex 1516 is rolling out a new menu for early Spring. It is the first menu fully devised by executive chef Justin Swain.

Chef Swain’s menu stays true to REX 1516’s Southern roots with the addition of such classics like Fried Chicken, but diners can also expect to find more options like an escargot with gruyere and whiskey butter. The new menu goes into effect Friday, March 22nd.

Rex 1516 Spring 2013 Menu (PDF)
Rex 1516 [Official Site]

Keven Parker’s Soul Food Cafe Brings Some Swank to the Terminal

kevan-parker-soul-food
Keven Parker’s Soul Food Cafe brings white leather chairs, orchids to the Reading Terminal Market.

REX 1516′s Regis Jansen Stepping Down to Battle His Cystic Fibrosis

Posted by Foobooz on December 18th, 2012

Chef Regis Jansen who has been the chef at REX 1516 since it opened earlier this year is stepping down due to medical reasons. Jansen has been battling Cystic Fibrosis and is leaving his position to focus on his health.

Jansen says he is “incredibly grateful for the opportunity and support owners Jill Weber and Evan Malone have given me. Being part of the REX 1516 launch has been a true highlight in my culinary career.”

Jansen’s former line cook at 1601 and sous chef at REX 1516, Justin Swain will take over in the kitchen.

We wish Jansen the best.

REX 1516 [Official Site]

Mitch Prensky Hosting Scratch Biscuits Pop-Up at Supper

Posted by Foobooz on September 11th, 2012

Mitch Prensky is hosting a pop-up of his Scratch Biscuits concept on Monday, September 17th. The pop-up will take place at Supper from 6 to 9 p.m. Diners will be able to choose from four types of southern-style biscuits, sides like braised colards, barbecue and pork rinds. Homemade lemonade and sweet tea will also be on the menu.

Prensky experimented with the Scratch Biscuits over the summer at Night Market and the pop-up at the restaurant marks the return of Monday hours for the South Street restaurant. No reservations will be accepted for the pop-up.

Read the rest of this entry »

Two Bells for Rex 1516

Posted by Foobooz on September 10th, 2012

Craig LaBan visits Rex 1516 this week for Southern cooking on the now bustling stretch of South Street west of Broad.

The pork loin that was borderline leathery at dinner number one was, at my second supper, as moist and soulful as if someone’s loving Cajun grandma had made it. The juicy roulade of meat pinwheeled around andouille-studded corn bread beneath a rich brown gravy was filled, to my surprise, with big morel mushrooms. A pastry-domed bowl of crawfish pot pie was studded with tender crustaceans in a cheesy sauce that was rich and spicy, yet somehow not leaden, the oozy pepperjack melding with richly creamed house mushroom soup, and the zesty tang of tomatoes stewed (à la Rotel) with jalapeños.

Two Bells – Very Good

Rex 1516 [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Rex 1516 [Official Site]

Modern Southern Fusion a Hit at Rex 1516

Posted by Foobooz on August 27th, 2012

Trey Popp enjoys the Southern cooking of chef Regis Jansen at Rex 1516, especially during the brunch hours.

Rex is best at brunch. The Monte Cristo sandwich is a small miracle: Swiss and pepperjack melting into smoked ham and fig preserves between lofty slices of brioche, the whole caboodle having been battered and deep-fried. And when I popped in one weekday for a profound bowl of lunchtime pulled-duck jambalaya, I found myself ordering an even more surprising soul-soother. Remember the $3 pint? It’s back! And as PBC’s Newbold IPA, no less.

Two Stars – Good

Philadelphia Restaurant Review: Rex 1516 [Philadelphia magazine]
Rex 1516 [Official Site]

Anthony Bourdain Pops Into Chef Ken’s Cafe in Mount Airy

Posted by Foobooz on July 25th, 2012

We just got off the phone with Ken Roberts of Chef Ken’s Cafe in Mount Airy, who confirms that Anthony Bourdain was just at the Germantown Avenue Southern and Soul restaurant, shooting a segment for his Philadelphia episode of The Layover.

Chef Ken’s has been open since 2005 on the same block that has been the long time home of McMennamin’s and more recently, Earth Bread + Brewery. For more on Chef Ken (a former executive chef at the Venetian in Las Vegas), check out this 2011 profile by occasional Foobooz contributor Lou Mancinelli.

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Little Birdy Spots “Good Beer” Delivery to Former Blue Bear Tavern

Posted by Foobooz on March 20th, 2012

Blue Bear Tavern - Photo by HughE Dillon

Matt and Colleen Swartz and Matt Scheller of Farmers’ Cabinet have confirmed that they are indeed taking over Blue Bear Tavern on 10th Street and are converting it into a Southern concept.

Just moments a go, a tipster let us know that the Blue Bear location was getting a delivery of “good beer.” So it would seem that they’re bent on opening their new concept quickly.

Farmers’ Cabinet taking over Blue Bear [The Insider]

Photo by HughE Dillon

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