Archive: April, 2012
To say Guy Shapiro and Luli Canuso have been around the block is an understatement.
They met in the 1980s at Mirabelle, a stylish restaurant on Callowhill Street where Kite & Key is now. Her family ran the Two Street Bar at Second and South Street, which later became Monte Carlo Living Room (and wound up as Paddy Whacks). She was a pastry chef at Le Bec-Fin. He went on to a diverse career, cooking for Russian mobsters, running the kitchens for the Toscana restaurant group.
Now they're literally around the block, set up near their Fairmount house with BlueCat (1921 Fairmount Ave., 267-519-2911), which occupies the sunny corner of Fairmount Avenue and Uber Street in a new mixed-use building. (MugShots coffee will be a neighbor this summer.)
Michael Klein, Philly.com
It took many months, but Restaurant Associates has redecorated the restaurant space at the Art Alliance (251 S. 18th St.) to look ... well ... lived-in. Comfortable.
When it opens in late April, Rittenhouse Tavern will boast brasserie-style food from Le Bec-Fin's last chef, Nicholas Elmi, and service fronted by Daniel Elliott, who'd managed such spots as Oyster House, Rouge, Alma de Cuba and Lacroix at the Rittenhouse.
Restaurant Associates chef Ed Brown is overseeing the place, which he intends to be “simple, elegant and fun." Menu is still being refined.
Michael Klein, Philly.com
Ah, he was bad - all right - but in the end, he was not good enough.
Vinnie Caligiuri of Jenkintown submitted himself to the Food Network reality show Worst Cooks in America. Under the tutelage of Bobby Flay, Caligiuri improved dramatically.
But on Sunday night's finale, rival chef Anne Burrell and her protege Kelli Powers of Valley Village, Calif., were declared the winner by judges Marcus Samuelsson, Susan Feniger, and David Burke.
Michael Klein, Philly.com
There's been a burrito war in Center City, as Chipotle and Qdoba seem to be duking it out.
I hear that a new combatant will enter the market this summer: Moe's Southwest Grill.
The chain's first Center City spot will be at 1725 Chestnut St., which was a short-lived outpost of Famous Dave's BBQ.
Michael Klein, Philly.com
Pikkles Plus, the sandwichery at 18th and Market Streets for 10-year-plus after two decades at 16th and Sansom Streets, has closed. I await a callback from owner Paul Berue, whose outgoing voicemail suggests a new location. Meanwhile, Paige Barrow at Fameco Real Estate is seeking a new tenant for the 2,500-square-foot space, which includes the flower shop next door.
Also recently buttoned up is the Sarcone's Deli franchise store in Newtown, Bucks County.
A contingent of chefs has descended on what is known as the Stapler building at 1222-24 Walnut St., so much so that the building's new owners are seeking zoning approval. (The idea is to obtain the zoning clearance to smooth the way for a future restaurant.)
