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Michael Klein, editor/producer of philly.com/Food, writes about the restaurant scene in his Inquirer column, Table Talk. Have a question? E-mail it, and he'll answer in print or on his blog.

 
Read Michael's blog The Insider
Latest post: Shake Shack sets its opening - 05/25/2012
La Porta is the new rustic brick-oven pizza/small plate restaurant owned by chef Peter McAndrews in Media. Charles Fox / Staff Photographer
Italian in Media from a guy named McAndrews
Michael Klein
Posted 05/22/2012
Peter McAndrews — yes, he’s all Irish — married a second-generation Italian American woman, Lisa DiPaolo, and they honeymooned in Italy. After one bite of the food, “I didn’t want to come back to America,” he said. He ended up training for six months in Piedmont and six months in his wife’s ancestral hometown of Molise. McAndrews, who spent a dozen years as chef at the American bar Rembrandt’s in Fairmount, has opened a string of Italian concepts in Northern Liberties and the Italian Market, starting in April 2007 with Modo Mio in Northern Liberties, followed by two Paesano’s sandwich shops, Monsu, and Popolino. All serve rustic stuff; for McAndrews, a dish doesn’t seem complete without a fried egg on top.
 
Shake Shack sets its opening
Chef-owner Bledar Istrefi of Il Polpo was formerly executive chef at Bellini in Center City. His new menu is focused on seafood, and he makes his own bread and desserts. RON TARVER / Staff Photographer
TABLE TALK
Center City Italian dining, in the NE
Michael Klein
Posted 05/16/2012
Bledar Istrefi, executive chef at Center City’s popular Bellini Cafe, bought a house in Northeast Philadelphia. Istrefi, 33, soon realized that although the Northeast is teeming with pizzerias and other quick-serve options, it has few Center City-style Italian BYOBs — polished, candlelit, great food and service.
 
Shake Shack sets its opening
Emeril Lagasse surprises a Bucks County mother - 05/11/2012
By Michael Klein, PHILLY.COM
The Bucks County street was choked with cars and a TV news van Friday. Police cordoned off the end of the block. But inside the colonial on the cul de sac in Feasterville, it was just another calm morning for Stacey and Brendan Carey and their 11-month-old sextuplets and 2-year-old daughter.
RESTAURANTS
Bringing back Le Bec-Fin - 05/08/2012
By Michael Klein, PHILLY.COM
Behind the scenes: A new owner, a new chef, and a new attitude at the city's most famous restaurant, reopening in three weeks.
The polished Vernick Food & Drink arrives in Rittenhouse - 05/07/2012
Michael Klein
"Simple" good from a Jean-Georges Vongerichten alumnus.
RESTAURANTS
What's for lunch on 18th Street - 05/01/2012
By Michael Klein, PHILLY.COM
Sushi, ramen, soup, sandwiches, vegan wraps, cheese, bangers and mash, eggs over easy. What a street.
Spiga brings casual Italian food to 13th and Locust in Center City - 05/01/2012
Michael Klein
Twenty years ago, Girasole on Locust Street just off 13th Street was the stylish go-to Italian spot for theatergoers. After it packed its tent in 2004 — it reopened in 2009 at Broad and Pine Streets — the space housed a series of sketchy nightspots. Now, with the neighborhood on the upswing — you have Fish on the opposite corner, Green Eggs Cafe next door, and a strip of hot restaurants around the corner (Sampan, Barbuzzo, Jamonera, Zavino, etc.) — the building is going the stylish Italian route again.
TABLE TALK
Restaurants blooming in May - 04/24/2012
Michael Klein
"Table Talk" columnist Michael Klein finds nearly a dozen eateries ready to spring up.
Even the water is Italian here - 04/17/2012
Michael Klein
Wood-fired oven by wood-fired oven, the city’s pizza scene is heating up. When American-raised Antimo DiMeo, 20, expressed interest in following his Neapolitan-born father, Pino, 43, in the pizza business, the son insisted he wanted to cook in the old-country way, with a wood-fired oven. (Pino’s parlors use conventional gas ovens.)
Table Talk: Latin BYOB in Fairmount - 04/11/2012
Husband-wife veterans Guy Shapiro and Luli Canuso have been around the block a time or two after meeting at the once-trendy Mirabelle on Callowhill Street in the 1980s. She was a pastry chef at Le Bec-Fin. He cooked for Russian mobsters, among other employers. Now they have set up on a sunny corner near their Fairmount house with BlueCat (1921 Fairmount Ave., 267-519-2911).
RESTAURANTS
Restaurant Revel-ation in Atlantic City - 04/10/2012
By Michael Klein, PHILLY.COM
Fourteen dining options at the resort's new casino, including 4 from Jose Garces and others from New York and D.C. chefs.
Square Peg fits into Center City - 04/03/2012
Michael Klein
Square Peg, the restaurant-bar at 10th and Walnut Streets (215-413-3600) that replaced a Marathon Grill a couple of weeks ago, has been ramping up its operation. Thursday marks the start of lunch (limited seating at first). Chef Matt Levin (ex-Adsum, Lacroix) is doing twists on American comfort food under owners Barry Gutin and Larry Cohen (Cuba Libre, GuestCounts Hospitality, 32°). Specialty is all-day breakfast.
MORE STORIES
Popolino, serving Roman rustic, opens - 03/21/2012
By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist
French Laundry alum is Le Bec's new chef - 03/14/2012
By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist
Le Bec-Fin alum Nicholas Elmi arrives at Rittenhouse Tavern - 03/07/2012
By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist
Exciting scene west of Broad and South - 02/29/2012
By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist
Vetri's gastropub to open Monday off N. Broad - 02/22/2012
By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist
Husband-and-wife duo offer homey, fresh fare - 02/15/2012
By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist
Nomad Pizza rolls into Philadelphia - 02/08/2012
By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist
KC Prime opens 2d spot, in Warrington - 02/01/2012
By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist


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