http://www.philly.com/r?19=960&32=3796&7=195532&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Frestaurants%2F The latest restaurant and dining news from around Philadelphia and the Burbs. en-us Mon, 28 May 2012 01:41:36 GMT 2012-05-28T01:41:36Z en-us http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168301&44=153702795&32=3796&7=195532&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Frestaurants%2F20120527_Craig_LaBan_review__Nomad_Pizza_goes_for_the_best_in_Neapolitan_pies.html There is a delicate line with pizza these days — as thin as the finest Neapolitan crust — that separates mere love from absolute obsession. Tom Grim knew he’d begun to spiral into the pizza-geek abyss when he nearly burned down his house by rigging the self-clean function of his brick-lined oven to reach optimal pizza-making temperatures of 800-plus degrees. But that didn’t give him pause. Instead, he installed a $10,000 wood-fired pizza hearth in his home kitchen. Then he put one onto the back of a refurbished 1949 REO Speedwagon that his business partner, Stalin Bedon, bought on eBay ("after more than a few beers"), so they could drive their pizza passion anywhere. First came Hopewell, and their first actual restaurant, a picturesque carriage house with stained-glass windows and a breezy patio that is a paradise for puffy-crusted rounds topped with sweet clouds of buffalo mozzarella and the freshest local ingredients. Mon, 28 May 2012 01:41:36 GMT 94b00387d55dfb35c3037b8d28664f0f 2012-05-28T01:41:36Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168301&44=153295245&32=3796&7=195532&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Frestaurants%2F20120527_Craig_LaBan_rsquo_s_Drink__Dupont_Sp_eacute_ciale_Belge.html The air was so bitingly cold this Mardi Gras when a crew from Philly Beer Week arrived at Brasserie Dupont in Belgium to help make a special collaboration beer that everything about the day flashed in high relief — the furnace blaze of a fire jet torching the copper brew kettle, the sweetness of grains being freshly milled, the pungent aroma of peat smoke and toasted barley puffing into the gray winter sky above the malterie, not far from the brewery in Tourpes. To open a bottle of Spéciale Belge just three months later, then, is to discover the magical transformation time and yeast can work. The brew is a richer amber hue than the saison Dupont is most famous for. But the aromatic house yeast is still unmistakably present, in the pop of the bubbles, in the earthy notes of biscuit and black pepper, in the fruity tones (orange zest, apricot, and ginger spice) that circle the tongue before fading into a so-subtle after-puff of malty smoke. What was so boldly vivid on the day of creation has softened and transformed itself into something altogether more refined and complex. Even though I was there, every sip is still full of mystery. Dupont Spéciale Belge debuts Friday, June 1, at Opening Tap of Philly Beer Week, and will be available on draft at several bars (all Iron Hills, Monk’s Café, the Grey Lodge Pub) and bottleshops (the Fooderies, Food & Friends, Pinocchio’s and Landis Deli.) Mon, 28 May 2012 01:39:08 GMT 121a78b2fb51fabd3eb8c16262ddf875 2012-05-28T01:39:08Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168301&44=153135485&32=3796&7=195532&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Frestaurants%2F20120524_Beer_historian_Rich_Wagner_has_new_book_on_Philly_rsquo_s_rich_brews.html YOU THINK WE have a pretty good beer scene now? You should’ve seen this town back in 1879. Every neighborhood had its own brewery, and every corner had a saloon. In the preceding 30 years, more than 250 breweries had opened — many of them closing quickly, but others becoming national powers. A census by Western Brewer magazine counted an astonishing 94 breweries up and running. Fri, 25 May 2012 23:44:16 GMT 22337fab1d686197b807c61516a6d100 2012-05-25T23:44:16Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168301&44=152695535&32=3796&7=195532&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Frestaurants%2F20120524_Escargot_and_foi_gras_-_don_rsquo_t_be_hating__99_percenters_.html DOES ANY foodstuff carry as much baggage for Americans as escargot or foie gras? When it comes to escargot, it can be hard to move beyond the old pop-cultural image of snail as “snob food.” Plus, for many newbies, there’s a primal, knee-jerk repulsion to the animal itself or to the presentation that, when done badly, can look like boogers. And when it come to foie gras — the third rail of the food world — it’s difficult to steer any discussion of fatty duck or goose liver away from the ethical or political and back toward the culinary. Fri, 25 May 2012 22:10:12 GMT 3fbe5ec775a6c45eb577b32980b99d81 2012-05-25T22:10:12Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168301&44=153130125&32=3796&7=195532&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Frestaurants%2F20120524_Eats_Beat__Restaurant_and_food_news.html Bravo hit "Top Chef" has tricked out an 18-wheeler and is roaming the country, setting up cook-offs between former cheftestants on the James Beard Award-winning show. It’ll be Jennifer Carroll vs. Eli Kirshstein when "Top Chef: The Tour" rolls into town Wednesday with events at 10:30 a.m., noon and 1:30 p.m. at LOVE Park, JFK Boulevard and 16th Street. Free. Events include a "Top Chef" Horseshoe Toss. Details at bravotv.com.Summertime on the Delaware River gets some of the old buzz back with the planned opening tomorrow of Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Blvd., morganspier.com), from Avram Hornik and Four Corners Management, Sean Agnew of R5 Productions, Dave Pianka of Making Time and the Bowery Presents. Named after the first person to cross the Ben Franklin Bridge, the seasonal venue plans a back yard beer garden, picnic menu and live entertainment. Coastline Restaurant & Bar (1240 Brace Road, Cherry Hill, N.J., 856-795-1773) has a new name (it opened in 1978 as the Coastline Bar & Grill), menu, decor and an outdoor patio. Fri, 25 May 2012 16:35:02 GMT 4b12f783128a211124059926c1bc7897 2012-05-25T16:35:02Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168301&44=152700035&32=3796&7=195532&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Frestaurants%2F20120524_For_Memorial_Day__a_stash_of_tried_and_true_potluck_recipes.html Memorial Day weekend is here, and with it, all the attendant demands for potluck offerings, followed by the furious thumbing-through of cookbooks. Oh, the glory of basking in oohs, aahs, of being hounded for recipes. No one wants to be the owner of the still-brimming platter on the picnic table — the one everyone politely passes over. The “luck” in potluck comes from tried-and-true, no-fail, consistently awesome recipes. Josh Kim, owner of the Spot truck, has wowed friends and family with his grilled chicken wings, rubbed with the unlikely combination of herbes de Provence and ginger, then basted with a beer-diluted barbecue sauce. My friend Sara Goddard and her fiance, Joe Daly, both avid home cooks, break out their reliable Cornell chicken and venison spiedies once the weather turns warm. My own repertoire, after many summers of trial and error, includes Dave Lieberman’s refreshing Asian slaw, Steve Poses’ zippy Italian pasta salad, and Suzanne Goin’s luscious pork burgers. Fri, 25 May 2012 16:00:42 GMT 74de3af0f22d120e399c7ab18e8ca1fd 2012-05-25T16:00:42Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168301&44=152317585&32=3796&7=195532&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Frestaurants%2F20120524_Rick_Nichols___The_resurrection_of_Bartram_rsquo_s_Bitters.html Had you stumbled upon the well-scrubbed crowd in the tented courtyard at historic Bartram’s Garden one evening last week, you could not be faulted for thinking you’d discovered a country wedding reception under way beside the old medicinal herb beds. The scene offered requisite trays of passed hors d’oeuvres (a pale sliver of pork over white bean puree seemed popular), and punch bowls scented with strawberry and lemon, and busy cocktail stations. Fri, 25 May 2012 01:11:45 GMT 3901b9080f80534c361034309213a42e 2012-05-25T01:11:45Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168301&44=152326145&32=3796&7=195532&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Frestaurants%2F20120524_La_Pe_ntilde_a_Mexicana__One_of_the_best_authentic_Mexican_kitchens_around.html It’s tucked away on the easy-to-miss one-way drive of West Cypress Street in Kennett Square, but La Peña Mexicana has a paint job that’s impossible to miss, its shedlike buildings striped like a bumblebee draped in a Mexican flag. Now that I’ve been inside this modest, five-year-old taquería (with roots in the northern coastal state of Guerrero), its food shouldn’t be missed, either, as it’s one of the best authentic Mexican kitchens in our region. Adventure diners should go for a super-crisp chimichanga stuffed with tongue or cabeza. But more conservative eaters can try something new as well, with one of the huaraches, soft, sandal-shaped ovals of hand-pressed corn masa dough that come layered with creamy frijoles, crunchy lettuce and radish, zippy green salsa, cilantro and chicken stewed tender in mild but soulful guajillo salsa. Chicken huarache, $6, La Peña Mexicana, 609 W. Cypress St., Kennett Square, 610-925-2651. Thu, 24 May 2012 03:58:08 GMT 1a50b4c5f5b230fa539e60e05a4cf816 2012-05-24T03:58:08Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168301&44=152628505&32=3796&7=195532&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Frestaurants%2F20120524_Italian_in_Media_from_a_guy_named_McAndrews.html 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. Thu, 24 May 2012 03:53:20 GMT 52a0ee2a7cb759c39f4ae45de16aa2e0 2012-05-24T03:53:20Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168301&44=153243655&32=3796&7=195532&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Frestaurants%2F20120524_Phillie_Phoodie_rates_the_food_at_Panini_rsquo_s_at_Citizens_Bank_Park_in_Philadelphia.html Throughout the 2011 baseball season, the Daily News was inundated with emails and calls. Nonetheless, Phillie Phoodie is back for another season as the guardian of Phanatics’ taste buds. This year, the Phoodista will sample new offerings at Citizens Bank Park, as well as some nearby eateries that are popular game-day stops for Phillies fans. We may even hit the road to taste test some of the region’s minor league ball parks. First up: Outlet: Panini’s, at Section 133. Thu, 24 May 2012 01:30:08 GMT f36b49ec032b3531c1e14e6a4cfeef09 2012-05-24T01:30:08Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168301&44=153114985&32=3796&7=195532&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Frestaurants%2F20120524_Truck_Stop__Little_Baby_rsquo_s_Ice_Cream.html Food: Handmade ice cream in unconventional flavors. Earl Grey Srichacha sounds like a bad idea. We assure you, it is not. There are usually six flavors, three Philadelphia-style (with 16 percent butterfat cream from Trickling Springs Creamery in Chambersburg) and three nondairy. Who’s behind it? Founded one year ago by Pete Angevine, Martin Brown and Jeffrey Ziga. Thu, 24 May 2012 00:39:16 GMT 6890c6588bbf99ff62a301973bf9d64f 2012-05-24T00:39:16Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168301&44=152726895&32=3796&7=195532&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Frestaurants%2F20120524_Rose_wines_are_not_just_for_women.html Buzz: Hey, Marnie, what’s the deal with all those pink wines stacked up at the wine store? The guy tried to sell me one last week. I guess no one told him pink is for girls. Marnie: Rosé wines are more popular than ever, Buzz, and not just with the ladies. Fans of sweet, light-bodied wines like white zinfandel may still skew female, but those demographics are shifting now that we’re seeing more dry options in stores. Thu, 24 May 2012 00:24:29 GMT bff42aca0d5dce34d9a28ed1b694bb82 2012-05-24T00:24:29Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168301&44=152316075&32=3796&7=195532&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Frestaurants%2F20120524_Bob_Pierson__pioneer_of_Philadelphia-area_farmer_rsquo_s_markets.html It’s farmer’s market season once again, and Bob Pierson is zipping around the edges of Rittenhouse Square this Saturday morning long before any customers arrive, helping farmers hoist their white tents, moving folding tables and heavy coolers, counting heads, and ticking off the minutes till the eight-year-old market reopens, like it’s the Kentucky Derby or something. On the dot of 9, Pierson shouts, “OK, we’re ready to sell! We’re open!” Within a half-hour, the sidewalks around the square are bustling with walkers, runners, and shoppers loaded up with babies, dogs, and canvas bags, many stopping to sample teeny squares of goat cheese or dabs of homemade hummus from the very farmers and artisans who made it. Wed, 23 May 2012 20:50:59 GMT 231a07735f2868787a8fe9d0d95a34e1 2012-05-23T20:50:59Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168301&44=152315455&32=3796&7=195532&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Frestaurants%2F20120524_Farmer_rsquo_s_Market_Recipe__Fresh_strawberries_with_maple_syrup_and_lemon_juice.html Wed, 23 May 2012 20:50:17 GMT 2c428b5a104b7f0378be379988b55a7f 2012-05-23T20:50:17Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168301&44=152315435&32=3796&7=195532&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Frestaurants%2F20120524_Farmer_rsquo_s_Market_Recipe__Green_Beans.html Wed, 23 May 2012 20:49:30 GMT 582a9dac7af2c335c58a4d279fd31961 2012-05-23T20:49:30Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168301&44=152315465&32=3796&7=195532&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Frestaurants%2F20120524_Farmer_rsquo_s_Market_Recipe__Crispy_Potatoes.html Wed, 23 May 2012 20:49:17 GMT da36b060969b07db87efd93dd369f96e 2012-05-23T20:49:17Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168301&44=152315445&32=3796&7=195532&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Frestaurants%2F20120524_Farmer_rsquo_s_Market_Recipe__Cauliflower_Pasta.html Wed, 23 May 2012 20:47:53 GMT ed7e68487040febe7f8110f2f3cffe26 2012-05-23T20:47:53Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168301&44=152315475&32=3796&7=195532&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Frestaurants%2F20120524_Farmer_rsquo_s_Market_Recipe__Maccedonia_di_Frutta.html Wed, 23 May 2012 20:46:05 GMT e84be6224f145591c7443c90e05b80c8 2012-05-23T20:46:05Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168301&44=153232895&32=3796&7=195532&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Frestaurants%2F20120524_Potluck_recipe__Deviled_Eggs_With_Bacon.html Wed, 23 May 2012 20:14:21 GMT c3e0e2b31babd9f00a3276c55f665a2b 2012-05-23T20:14:21Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168301&44=152368705&32=3796&7=195532&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Frestaurants%2F20120524_Potluck_recipe__Strawberry_Icebox_Cake.html Wed, 23 May 2012 20:03:25 GMT 89b910addeabe0f283e640f9fea99e5c 2012-05-23T20:03:25Z