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Great Chefs Event

On June 17, 2009, the fourth annual Great Chefs Event to benefit Alex's Lemonade Stand will be held at Osteria on North Broad Street. The ticket price is a little steep ($250) but it's for a great cause and the list of chefs who will be participating is incredible.

Italian Market Street Festival

If you're looking for something to do this weekend, check out the Italian Market Street Festival on 9th Street this weekend. Rain or shine, the event is sure to draw large crowds and offer plenty of great food.

The Eagle Has Landed

As of 7pm on Friday night, Capogiro is officially open on East Passyunk! Those of you following this blog know that we've been eagerly awaiting the opening of this awesome gelateria. My trusty companion Sweety McGee and I checked out the new establishment around 11:30pm -- one of the best parts of this addition to the area is that it will be open late (1am on Friday and Saturday, 11pm every other day). Why do so many places in this city close so early?

Anyway, I tried the pineapple-mint and papaya, while Sweetie went with the dark chocolate and sweet milk. (You'll notice I've changed the spelling of Sweetie, since Sweety looks too much like Sweaty, and Sweaty McGee does not sound like a fun eating companion) The flavors were great, the service was friendly, and I can't wait to go there every night and gain 30 lbs. Tables were not yet set up, but it looks like there will be several tables inside as well as in a courtyard shared with Michael's Cafe next door.

Dollar Dog Night

PhoodAddict.com's Man on the Street Murph reports that yesterday's Phillies Dollar Dog Night (combined with the College Night promo) was a madhouse. His source at Aramark revealed that 71,200 hot dogs were purchased last night.

Michael's Cafe on Passyunk

PhoodAddict.com is happy to report that Michael's Cafe is a great addition to the burgeoning East Passyunk Restaurant Row. We've been there a couple of times: once for breakfast and once for dinner, and both instances featured good food and friendly service.

On our breakfast visit, I had the eggs benedict, a special. The eggs were poached perfectly and the hollandaise sauce creamy and lemony. My dining companion, let's call her Sweety McGee, had the Spanish omelet with peppers and salsa, which she enjoyed.

Our dinner visit was also a success. I again had the special, calamari stuffed with veal sausage accompanied by grilled radicchio in a balsamic vinegarette (pictured above). Dinner includes a choice of soup or salad -- I had the New England Clam Chowder. I'm not really a big fan of soups but this was a great cup of soup -- not skimpy on the clams and not too heavy like NE Clam Chowder can be. Sweety McGee had the Mac and Cheese, which I sampled -- to be honest I was not that impressed. I felt it needed a little kick or something extra -- the menu description mentions roasted tomatoes, but there was barely even a bite on the plate -- more of a garnish.

The service was prompt and friendly without being intrusive, and our table on the sidewalk was perfect for people watching. We're eager to see Michael's succeed.

Michael's Cafe

1623 East Passyunk Ave

http://michaels-cafe.net/

The scoop on Capogiro

This morning, I spoke to a painter working on the Capogiro on Passyunk who gave me the inside scoop (Get it, scoop? How clever are we.) on the gelataria. The owners were targeting a Wednesday opening, but he thinks it's more likely that it opens next week. We're still holding out hope for a Friday opening.

Around the Web

Unbreaded has a nice preview of the Starr Burger Shack in Franklin Square. We've never heard of a "Philly Dog" (100% Kosher beef hot dog wrapped in Salami) but it sounds delicious.

Fries With That Shake went to Famous Deli recently. It's been so long since we've been there...not many things better than an enormous pastrami sandwich followed by a nap on the couch.

two.one.five has a great interview with James Beard award winner Jose Garces. Nice that he seems proud to call Philly home. And Cantonese via Peruvian sounds amazing.

Free Drink at Fri Sat Sun

Fri Sat Sun is offering a free drink to diners Monday through Friday. Just mention the Barcelona Delusion (recipe below) to your waiter to get the exotic apertif.

1 oz. of fine sherry, amontillado
1 oz. sweet vermouth
2 oz. prosecco1
lemon peel for garnish

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add
the sherry, vermouth and stir rapidly until the outside of the shaker is
frosted. Strain into a flute glass and top off with the prosecco. Add lemon zest
garnish and serve immediately.

Capogiro coming soon!

City Paper's Meal Ticket blog has a first look at Capogiro's new outpost on East Passyunk. They mention a target opening of Tuesday, May 12th, but a waiter at Michael's (the cafe next door) told me it would probably be Friday, May 15th. In any case, we are thrilled that Capogiro is coming soon, and even more excited that it's going to be open until 11pm on weekdays and 1:00am on Fridays and Saturdays!

Inquirer Article

Craig LaBan had an article on the Philadelphia restaurant scene in the Sunday Inquirer. Nice to see East Passyunk included, but no specific restaurants were named. Come on, LaBan, even Girard Ave had some specific places mentioned.

Turkey Burgers Don't Count

Phood Addict Senior Correspondent Murph sent us this great article on a Burger of the Month Club. We were also disgusted yet simultaneously intrigued by Denny's Beer Barrel Pub, home of the World's Largest Burger Challenges.

KFC offers grilled chicken, dogs and cats living together

Loyal Phood Addict contributor Cheesy McStreet Cred notified us that for a limited time KFC is offering a coupon for a free meal of two pieces of grilled chicken, two individual sides and a biscuit. It's a great idea to get people to try their new menu option. We haven't tried it yet, but we're pretty sure it'll hook you since the Colonel, with his wee beady eyes, puts an addictive chemical in his chicken that makes you crave it fortnightly.

The download is only available until 9:59pm CDT today, so act fast.

Around the web

I'll be honest -- there is a sizable backlog of posts to be written. Coming soon -- we promise -- will be a trifecta of Passyunk Ave reviews: Lynda's Mediterranean, Michael's Cafe and Izumi. In the meantime, we'll just post a bunch of links, like the lazy bastards at Foobooz (just kidding, Foobooz is awesome):

• Philly Mag posted its top 50 restaurants list. My main problem with this list is the same problem I have with the magazine: Kennett Square is not in Philadelphia. Berwyn is not in Philadelphia. Birchrunville is not in Philadelphia. If I'm looking at a list of the best restaurants in Philadelphia, I don't want to read about a place that's an hour and a half outside of the city. That said, I can't wait to try Zahav. They have raw lamb!
  
  
• Lucky 13 got a good review from Craig LaBan. We tried the mac and cheese in March and it was delish.

• Capogiro is coming soon to East Passyunk as well as University City. The sign is already up on Passyunk, hopefully it opens soon!

• Philadelphia Weekly notes that August (13th and Reed) hasn't changed much in the past six years, but why fix it if it ain't broke.

• Being the wonderful son that I am, I made Mother's Day Brunch reservations at Le Bec Fin. $50 per person gets you:

First course buffet: Smoked salmon / Fresh fruit / Freshly baked pastries / assorted salads / Omelets prepared by chef George Perrier

Second course (served): Choice of Scottish salmon / Braised, wild striped bass / Leg of lamb quinoa provençal / Organic, white-feathered chicken / 5 oz. petite filet of beef

Third course: Selections from the legendary dessert cart

Of course, I couldn't get a table until 3:30pm, so it'll be more like a really early dinner.

Philly Beer Week moving to June

Next year's Philly Beer Week will be held on June 4 - 13, 2010. In its first two years, it had been held on the first weekend of March. Joe Sixpack opposed the move but outlines the reasons for the change on his site. The move makes sense -- St. Patrick's Day, the weather, competing festivals, the flower show, etc. are all challenges in March, but Phood Addict kind of liked having something to look forward to in March (sadly, we are too old for the Erin Express). Plus, June offers its own challenges (the shore, the Manyunk Bike Race and Arts Festival, etc.)

The World's Largest Cheeto

Gizmodo, our favorite techno-geek blog, recently had a post that caught the attention of PhoodAddict contributor, Murph: someone eating the world's largest Cheeto over the world's most expensive keyboard.



Someday, we at PhoodAddict hope to have the type of pull to do this sort of thing.

$35 Dinner at Le Bec Fin!

So, I got an email from my close personal friend, Georges Perrier, today announcing his Spring 2009 three course Prix Fixe. This menu is the first of four seasonal three course menus, and the beginning of an exciting time at Le Bec-Fin and Bar Lyonnais. A little over a year ago, the famed French chef announced he was giving back his 5 stars in the Mobil Travel Guide and focusing on creating a new Le Bec Fin with a lighter a la carte menu and more casual atmosphere.

This $35 three course is certainly a marked departure from the Le Bec Fin of years past. Here's the dinner menu, available Monday through Friday:

Appetizer
(Choice of 1)

Rabbit Terrine
Rustic Toast, Moutarde Violette

Braised Red Beet Salad
Goat Cheese, Candied Walnuts and Citrus Vinaigrette

Soup du Jour

Field Greens Salad
Tossed in White Balsamic and Walnut oil Vinaigrette

Main Course
(Choice of 1)

Organic White Feathered Chicken
Roasted Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts, Lamb Bacon,
Sherry Vinegar Sauce

8oz Prime Rib Eye
Pomme de Terre, Carrot Confit, Sauce Bordelaise

Olive Oil Poached Scottish Salmon
Braised Belgian Endive, Toasted Farro,
Zinfandel Beurre Rouge


Dessert Cart
Your Choice of one dessert from off our
Award winning dessert cart

Vegetarian Options Available Upon Request


Phood Addict is all over this -- hopefully reservations aren't too hard to get during the week. Keep watching this space for a full review of the new Le Bec Fin -- now affordable for mere mortals!

Abruzzo Earthquake Relief Benefit on East Passyunk

For a long time, I've been wanting to try Le Virtu, a swanky looking Italian restaurant at 1927 East Passyunk that specializes in Abruzzese cuisine. It's pretty close to home and it's gotten a lot of great reviews. This event seems like as good a time as any to check it out: on Tuesday, April 28th, Le Virtu will hold an event to benefit victims of the earthquake in Abruzzo. A $40 minimum admission will be charged with all proceeds going to victims' relief. Guests will be treated to an Abruzzese buffet, including various antipasti, pasta, grilled and roasted meats and one complimentary glass of wine.

Le Virtu

1927 East Passyunk Ave.

Philadelphia, PA 19148

(BETWEEN MIFFLIN & MCKEAN STREETS)

Phone: 215.271.5626

Home of the Fatty

The PhoodAddict Worldwide Headquarters recently received a take out menu that intrigued the entire staff. Pizzi Pizza recently opened at 6th and Oregon. Most of the menu is pretty standard stuff -- pizza, hoagies, cheesesteaks, etc...but the back cover declares Pizzi Pizza as Home of the Fatty and offers a variety of super-gluttonous sandwiches only a true Phood Addict could love. (Check out their website for the complete menu)

After perusing the options, we eventually settled on the Fat Jamie (Chicken or beef cheesesteak with mozzarella, meatballs, mozzarella sticks, tater tots & marinara sauce) and the Fat Reese (Chicken or beef cheese steak with mozzarella sticks, fries & marinara sauce) as our inaugural selections. Everything is chopped up and stuffed in one moderately large sandwich.

My initial impressions: First, the sandwich looks a bit like it was regurgitated. Everything is chopped up and mashed together, which is not what I was expecting. From a practical standpoint, this probably makes it much easier to eat than if all the ingredients were separate, but still, the pre-chewed look might not be for everyone.

Second, the roll was a little stale, but overall the taste was good. Definitely a good option when you're hungover and just want to sit on your couch in your boxers, stuff your face with greasy food, and watch a House marathon on USA...not that I do anything like that.

Third, it's a filling sandwich but not overly so, at least not enough to deserve the Fatty moniker. One PhoodAddict associate, let's call him "Murph," declared that he could easily eat two in one sitting. I don't know that I could do the same, but if you're going to call your sandwich a Fatty, it should be more difficult to finish. Still, $6.25 is a pretty good price for what you get.

One more thing, the website offers the Fatty Challenge: a discounted price of $15 gets you 3 Fattys of your choice. You then have 20 minutes to consume all 3 fatty sandwiches. If you succeed, you will receive:

• 2 Free Large Cheese Pizzas
• One of our own "Home of the Fatty" T-Shirts
• If you choose, your name will be listed on this website

Even Murph didn't think he could do this. Twenty minutes is just not a very long time.

Yum Yum Dim Sum

One of my biggest pet peeves is when people from New York talk about how things there are bigger, better, etc. than in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, dim sum is one instance where they are correct. Dim sum is far superior in New York -- Queens to be specific.

For those who don't know, dim sum is a Chinese meal comprised of many small plates. Typically, carts with various dishes are pushed around the restaurant. When you order, the server marks a card that is on your table. At the end of the meal, the cashier calculates your bill based on the number and size of dishes you ordered. It is a format that is much more enjoyable with a larger group of people, since you get to try a greater variety of dishes. It's also perfect for the true Phood Addict -- they push carts of food to you! You can try endless varieties of Chinese food! You want to have fried squid, shrimp dumplings, pork dumplings, rice porridge, sticky rice, rice noodles, and more all in the same meal? No problem! And it's cheap (a recent dim sum outing for 9 people cost just $74 plus tip)!

Phood Addict recently visited East Ocean Palace in Forest Hills, NY. This restaurant was vastly superior to anything found in Philadelphia as far as quality, variety and service. The picture above is just a small portion of what was ordered. The standards were all there: shrimp dumplings (har gow), rice noodle rolls (cheong fun), sticky rice...but there were also numerous specials, including shrimp dumplings coated in sticky rice (talk about best of both worlds), clams in black bean sauce, and innumerable varieties of dumplings, plus some wackier fare like fried durian dumplings (I know, durian is stinky, and honestly I didn't enjoy this that much but I liked that it was available as an option), and pickled pigs feet (which were meaty and fantastic).

Now compared to East Ocean Palace, Philadelphia's Imperial Inn is just nothing special. Don't get me wrong, it'll do when you need a dim sum fix. But there's not much variety in the dishes and carts can be infrequent. Unfortunately, it's about the best out of the options available in Philly's Chinatown. I've been to Joy Tsin Lau, HK Golden Phoenix, Ocean Harbor, and a couple of places on Washington Ave, but still haven't found anything special. Any PhoodAddict readers out there know of a superior dim sum place in Philly?