Top Chef

Details Emerge On Jen Carroll’s NYC Restaurant

Posted by Jason Sheehan on November 27th, 2012

Curious about what’s happening with Jen Carroll’s new Greenwich Village version of Concrete Blonde? Even more curious about the events that transpired which drew her out of the confines of Philly and into the deep waters of the NYC restaurant scene? Well, over on the Philly Post, Richard Rys has some of the answers–which include ex-boyfriends, battles with investors, the loss of a damn-near-perfect Center City location (rhymes with Schmarathon…) and the magic of television.

Here’s a taste:

[Carroll] refuses to nail down a target opening date (“sometime in 2013”), and acknowledges that while her Top Chef cachet kept her afloat this past year, it may work against her in a city where jaded gourmands feast on failed celebuchefs. Her plan to avoid that fate is blunt, as usual: “The food has to be fucking amazing,” she says. “I need to live up to it. If not, it’s my fault.”

You can check out the whole interview right now, over on the Philly Post. Just follow the link below.

Jen Carroll Dishes On Her New York Restaurant [Philly Post]

Cicala, Sbraga, Lacroix, and More Named to American Chef Corps

Posted by Aubrey Nagle on September 13th, 2012

The Inquirer has the story on seven local chefs were recently inducted into a brand new State Department program called the American Chef Corps. Earlier this week at a reception, 90 chefs from across the country agreed to lend their expertise to service the USA by promoting diplomacy between nations. Chefs can be called upon to cook at official functions like a private dinner at the White House or a banquet collaborating with multiple chefs. When chefs travel abroad they can also be asked to do an event with the American embassy in that country.

Joe Cicala of Le Virtu, Kevin Sbraga of Top Chef fame, retired chef of his namesake restaurant Jean-Marie Lacroix, Guillermo Pernot of Cuba Libre, Masaharu Morimoto, Matthew Ridgway of PorcSalt, and Haverford caterer Michael Callahan are the seven local chefs that have joined up with the program.

Essentially the idea behind the Corps is that the sharing of a meal between diplomats will promote cultural exchange and understanding, bettering relations between nations. We are happy to have some of our own cooking for peace here and abroad. Congratulations, chefs!

Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Kevin Sbraga’s Sloppy Jose On the Menu at Lincoln Financial Field

Posted by Aubrey Nagle on September 13th, 2012

Aramark and Lincoln Financial Field have partnered up with Kevin Sbraga of Top Chef fame to bring a brand new sandwich to the concession stands. Eagles fans can pick up the Sloppy Jose – a short rib and chorizo sandwich topped with queso Chihuahua and slaw, served with chips – on either side of the club level every game day. Read the rest of this entry »

Mike Isabella at Sbraga for Guest Chef Dinner

Posted by Aubrey Nagle on September 7th, 2012

Mike Isabella, former Top Chef contestant and friend of Kevin Sbraga, will be traveling up from his home in Washington, DC to cook at Sbraga for a one-night-only, guest-chef dinner on Tuesday September 18^th. Sbraga and Isabella met when working together at Stephen Starr’s Washington Square and have remained friends since.

The menu is a five course prix fixe affair for $85 a person with a $35 optional beverage pairing. Isabella’s dishes will be based on his Italian small plates DC restaurant Graffiato.

Read on for Isabella’s full menu. Read the rest of this entry »

27th Annual Kennett Square Mushroom Festival

Posted by Aubrey Nagle on September 6th, 2012

This weekend, the surprisingly gigantic 27^th Annual Kennett Square Mushroom Festival will take place. It all starts tomorrow with the community parade but September 8^th and 9^th is where the real fun(gi) is. With celebri-chefs, cook-offs, and vendors galore (like Talula’s Table) selling mushrooms in every form known to man, the mile-long Mushroom Festival will have something for everyone – including the National Fried Mushroom Eating Contest. Because that’s a thing.

Read on for highlights of the festival schedule »

Back to School Dinner with Kevin Sbraga

Posted by Aubrey Nagle on August 24th, 2012

While Marc Vetri wages war on school lunches Top Chef Kevin Sbraga will be ringing in the school year with a grown-up version of cafeteria grub. Starting Tuesday, September 4^th Sbraga will be offering a $75 six course menu at his interactive chef’s counter full of re-imagined lunch line staples and an optional wine pairing for $50. We bet chef Sbraga looks pretty cool in a hair net. Read on for the full menu. Read the rest of this entry »

Kevin Sbraga Doing A (Belated) Top Chef Victory Lap

Posted by Jason Sheehan on July 25th, 2012

Top Chef winner Kevin Sbraga has been a busy fella lately. First, there was the guest chef dinner he did with fellow Top Chef contestant Angelo Sosa a few days ago. Then there was the announcement that he will be doing an “interactive chef’s counter” at Sbraga starting in August–a reservation-only prix fixe-type menu where Sbraga himself will be cooking for you. And that’s not all he has in the works.

Read the rest of this entry »

Angelo Sosa to Cook at Sbraga

Posted by Foobooz on June 22nd, 2012

On Friday, July 13th Top Chef contestant Angelo Sosa will be guest chef at Sbraga where he will be preparing dishes featured in his new cookbook, Flavor Exposed: 100 Global Recipes from Sweet to Salty, Earthy to Spicy.

Sosa’s cookbook offers recipes to turn every day dishes into something special with the help of a good curry powder or a great spice.

Sbraga [Official Site]
Flavor Exposed [Amazon]

Fidel Gastro Starts A Beef Jerky Company

Posted by Jason Sheehan on May 22nd, 2012

There are some of you out there who will no doubt recognize Fidel Gastro‘s name from the Foobooz Honor Roll. He has been in charge of all our Top Chef coverage, occasionally spouts off about various taco-shaped junk foods and manages to find other ways to cause trouble as well (like just by expressing his opinion in the Foobooz comments section). More of you might know him from his own blog, fidelgastro.com, where he records his many adventures with tacos, beer, burgers, beer, unwise food choices and beer.

But if all goes well, soon you will all know him as a purveyor of fine dried meat products because Fidel Gastro has gone and done what so many of us have only ever dreamed about: He’s started his own beef jerky company. Aptly named Side Project Jerky, he aims to bring an air of modernity and culinary sophistication to the ‘ol jerky game by making “The jerky for Gentlemen.” And man is he off to a good start…

Read the rest of this entry »

Jennifer Carroll Competing Live at Love Park

Posted by Foobooz on May 21st, 2012

On Wednesday, May 30th Top Chef contestants Jennifer Carroll and Eli Kirshstein will compete in a live cook-off at Love Park. The free event offers fans the unique opportunity to meet Top Chef contestants and step into the judges shoes and rate the chefs’ food.

Guests will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of on-site activities, including:

Top Chef-themed Cornhole Toss
Tip the Scale, where fans will be tasked with putting items in order of weight
Top Chef Horseshoe Toss
Attendees will also have the chance to win prizes
Visitors can purchase Bravo and Top Chef merchandise on-site

The day runs begins at 10:30 a.m. with the first of three live interactive shows, other shows will happen at noon and 1:30 p.m.

Top Chef: The Tour [Bravo]

« Previous Entries

Neighborhoods

Features

Recent Comments

Foobooz Jobs

Tip Jar

Opening Soon

Upcoming Events

Categories

Archives

Masthead

Fun Things To Do in Philly

Subscribe