Restaurant notes
Starr's "pop-up" restaurant; TuB gin hits the shelf; a prominent restaurateur selling her house; a "Hell's Kitchen" chef goes into biz.
Aimee Olexy of Talula's Table will do a three-night gig (June 29, 30 and July 1) with Starr Restaurants as the first of at least six "pop-up" Starr restaurants. Starr announced today by e-mail/Facebook/Twitter that the meals will be held at Washington Square restaurant, which is being used for private events. Menu is here; entrees will be priced in the $20s, said Starr, who said other "up and coming" chefs will be showcased in similar full-service restaurants. Starr said that while talks with Olexy to revive his Blue Angel concept downtown did not pan out, he wants to partner with her. (Info via Facebook.)
Marsha Brown, owner of the Ruth's Chris steakhouses in KoP and Center City as well as Marsha Brown in New Hope, is selling her Bryn Mawr spread, Mill-Brook. "Too much house," she told me. She hosted a party the other night to "announce" the sale. Here's more on that.
Siobhan Allgood, one of the Philly crew on this season's Hell's Kitchen, has started a private-chef service.
OpenTable has rolled out an iPad app.
TuB Gin, available at local bars and restaurants for about a year, and online via pawineandspirits.com, is now going to be on shelf in Pennsylvania. It'll be in rolling out in 224 State Stores in the next few weeks, and at better liquor stores in New Jersey in time for gin-and-tonic season.
Three Starr Restaurant chefs got face time on food shows: Kevin Sbraga (Rat's in Hamilton Township, N.J.) and Angelo Sosa (who's done menu development for Buddakan in New York) started strong on the new Top Chef, while Ed Harris of Buddakan in New York won on Chopped.