http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/michael_klein RSS Feed for Inq Col Michael Klein en-us Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:40:17 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/michael_klein/20120209_Michael_Klein__Nomad_Pizza_rolls_into_Philadelphia.html What a long, strange trip it's been for Nomad Pizza Co. The onetime wood-fired mobile pizzeria - run from a 1949 REO Speed Wagon that co-owner Stalin Bedon won on eBay - put down roots nearly three years ago with its first shop in Hopewell, N.J. All sorts of awards followed. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/michael_klein/20120202_Michael_Klein__KC_Prime_opens_2d_spot__in_Warrington.html The Christou and Kurnellas families, entering their 10th year with KC Prime steak house in Lawrenceville, N.J., have opened their second location, in a former Houlihan's in Warrington. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/michael_klein/20120126_Michael_Klein__Cantina_Feliz_owners_expand_to_the_city.html A year and a half ago, chef Tim Spinner and manager Brian Sirhal spun out of the Jose Garces orbit, choosing the suburbs (Fort Washington) as the setting of their debut restaurant, Cantina Feliz. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/michael_klein/20120119_Michael_Klein__Indian_Bindi_becomes_Spanish_Jamonera.html Center City restaurateurs Valerie Safran and Marcie Turney, enjoying hits with their Italian themer Barbuzzo and Mexican BYOB Lolita, have converted Bindi, their Indian BYOB across the street, into Jamonera, an intimate Spanish tapas bar. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/michael_klein/20120112_Michael_Klein__Brewpubs_proliferating_in_the_region.html To say the region is in a brewpub frenzy is no understatement. Iron Hill just opened its ninth location, in Chestnut Hill, and is planning a 10th in South Jersey in 2013. (See cover story on F1.) In Ambler, Forest & Main Brewing Co. is due to open toward the end of the month. A bit further off is Ardmore's Tired Hands Brewing Co. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/michael_klein/20120105_Michael_Klein_.html Chef Mark Berenato's first solo restaurant - a rustic, balconied BYOB in Haddonfield's Shoppes at 116 - carries the name da Soli, Italian for "on my own." http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/michael_klein/20111229_Michael_Klein__After_long_flight__Pickled_Heron_lands_in_Fishtown.html Many restaurants take a year or more to open. "Or more" amply covers the long flight of the Pickled Heron in Fishtown, which opened last week. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/michael_klein/20111222_Michael_Klein__Table22xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.html Not satisfied with simply selling cars, Cortright Wetherill Jr. of Devon Hill BMW has gotten himself into the restaurant business with Ella's American Bistro in Devon Square (214 Sugartown Rd., Wayne, 610-964-3552). http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/michael_klein/20111215_Michael_Klein__Southern_Italian_In_Riva_new_in_East_Falls.html Chef Arthur Cavaliere, a vet of El Vez and Amada whose last gig here was as executive chef at Parc, has landed in East Falls with In Riva (4116 Ridge Ave., 215-438-4848, www.in-riva.com), a Southern Italian specializing in wood-fired pizzas and antipasti. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/michael_klein/20111208_Michael_Klein__Restaurant_number_2_in_Clifton_Heights.html Tony Blanche washed dishes and shucked clams as a teen at the old Clam Tavern in Clifton Heights, and 30 years later, he returned to buy and renovate it.