The Philadelphia restaurateur high-fived his way through his Distrito (40th & Chestnut) to thunderous applause last night moments after being crowned the winner of the Food Network series.

Ribs were the secret ingredient that Garces and New York chef Jehangir Metha, who operates Graffiti, a tiny restaurant in the East Village, had to use in each dish of a five-course meal.

Garces, who, in addition to Mexican spot Distrito runs Amada, Tinto, Chifa and Village Whiskey, was the picture of cool, sipping Coronas and mingling with his 450 guests, who paid $50 for the viewing party, which was of course full of food and drink.

While Distrito raged, Graffiti was closed last night in what could have been taken as a hint of the show's outcome.

We asked Garces about how difficult it is to stay stone-faced while judges on the show offer critiques. "Dealing with that is the hardest part of the process," he said. "But you can't think too much about it or you second-guess yourself and your work."

Garces, a Chicago native who says that it was his "culinary journey" that brought him to Philadelphia, says that he plans to work and take a little time off for the holidays.

Garces said that he had a great time working on the show but that it was difficult for the workaholic to spend so much time taping the hit series and away from his restaurants. His wife, Beatriz, a dentist, who was by contract the only person to whom Garces could reveal the outcome, says that everyone, especially her parents, tried to get her to share the results, which of course, she couldn't.

Chef Marc Vetri and fellow Philadelphia restaurateur Mark Bee, of Silk City and North Third, were among Garces' friends and peers who joined him at the party.

Douglas a dud in Celeb Boxing

Buster Douglas looked more a heavyweight chump than a former champion during Friday's Celebrity Boxing Federation card at the Ramada Philadelphia Airport, in Essington.

Douglas's three one-round bouts were exhibition matches with no named winner, but 32 Degrees (16 S. 2nd) doorman Andrew "Dank" Dankanich, and sausage purveyors Domenic Botto and brother Bob Botto, who threw sausages during his entrance, all got the best of Douglas. The Bottos' late father, Bob Botto Sr., was inducted into the Celebrity Boxing Federation Hall of Fame, as was Daily News columnist Stu Bykofsky.

Rodney King , who's been through enough, was still booed before taking to the ring against postman Bob Meloni, but, after a split decision, got applause before fighting Daniel "Tailor of Terror" Morroni. King takes on Lou Bellera, husband of Long Island Lolita Amy Fisher, on Dec. 18 on the next CBF event at the Ramada.

Tymes singer on the mend

Get well soon wishes to Albert "Caesar" Berry, of The Original Tymes, recuperating from recent heart-bypass surgery. Norman Burnett, who, along with Caesar was a co-founder of the Tymes, hopes his friend is back on his feet in time to play Dec. 5 at the Westbury Music Fair, in New York.

Out and about

_ Soulful songbird Jill Scott lunched at Buddakan (325 Chestnut) the other day with a few of her band members.

* Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. had a few drinks with friends the other night and sang along with the crowd at Jolly's Dueling Piano Bar (2006 Chestnut).

* MTV's "Front G's to Gents" host Fonzworth Bentley lunched at the Reading Terminal Market the other day. He was here last week to host Gilette Fusion's Style of Man awards.

'Real Sports' does Donaghy

HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" at 10 p.m. tomorrow airs a piece about Phoenixville gambler Jimmy Battista, a childhood friend of Tim Donaghy, the disgraced Delco native who shaved points from games while an NBA referee. Gumbel interviewed Battista and Penn State professor Sean Patrick Griffin, author of "Black Brothers, Inc.," at Battista's home and at the Rittenhouse Hotel. Griffin is writing a book on Battista's involvement with the NBA gambling scandal.

Sports jock Seltzer spins Phish

Phish fan Brian Seltzer, of 97.5 The Fanatic/950 ESPN, will be sitting in with Bruce Warren on 88.5 WXPN's Jamnation program from 8 to 9 tonight playing Phish live recordings in honor of the group's gigs tomorrow and Wednesday at the Wachovia Center. Before his pre-taped Phish slot, Seltzer will be heard co-hosting the Fanatic/ESPN's DeSean Jackson show live from the Aloft Hotel from 7 to 8.

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