South Street’s third-annual 8 Days of Eats kicked off yesterday, which means you still have seven days left for $30 dining deals at more than 30 of South Street’s top eateries like Django, Las Bugambilias and Xochitl. We say: Go next Wednesday, when parking is free throughout South Street.
But make reservations now. Find the full list of participating restaurants — and their menus — at southstreet.com.
Wine lists don’t scare me. I typically have a greater variety of beers in my house than most bars have on draft. But sake is another story. With the recent spate of pan-Asian openings, I’ve found myself deciphering the offerings and sampling the wares. Here’s my advice on getting acquainted with the world of rice wine.
• Skip the hot stuff. It’s usually of lesser quality and its aroma is lost as the alcoholic vapors assault your nose as they rise from the heated glass.
• Read the list and make inferences based on your wine preferences. Good menus will let you know which sakes are dry, light, crisp or floral. Raw has a good plain-language sake list that offers plenty of info for the newbie.
• Never hesitate to ask. On a recent trip to Azie, whose list is less descriptive than some, I was amazed by my server’s ability to rattle off knowledgeable descriptions of each choice. I had a similar encounter with a smarty pants server at Pearl.
• I look for a combination of these two words: Junmai, which means no additional alcohol has been added, and Ginjo, which refers to a medium-high level of refinement (at least 40 percent of the grain has been polished away.)
• Get educated. The upcoming Sake Fest at the Loews on April 9th will be a terrific opportunity to taste a variety of styles—always the best and most fun way to learn.
This month, Chaddsford Winery’s Peddler’s Village shop will nearly double its existing size. To celebrate the expanded space — now with room for educational classes and seminars, and private events — the shop is hosting two weekends of free wine (and cheese) tastings and flights. This weekend (April 5th and 6th) and next (April 12th and 13th), Chaddsford winemaker Eric Miller will sample his Portfolio Collection wines, as well as the winery’s recently released 2007 Spring Wine, the first young wine of the vineyard’s new vintage.
Stop in the shop between 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. to fill up your souvenir tasting glass with some of Pennsylvania’s premium wines, and, once your hooked, to take advantage of the opening weekends’ discounts.
Last Saturday, the Craft Beer Fest at the Navy Yard — a Philly Beer Week special preview event — set the tone for the week’s upcoming festivities as brewheads raised their four-ounce glasses every 30 minutes in a toast to “America’s Best Beer-Drinking City.” This Friday, the week — more like a full 10 days — officially kicks off with Joe Sixpack’s Philly Favorites, a sampling of favorite local ales and lagers.
Some of the other 100-plus events include food and beer pairings with Sunday’s The Brewer’s Plate, and a region-wide “Meet & Greet” on Tuesday evening, when area bars host brewers from around the world. And, the ’burbs will be getting their drink on, too. Check out phillybeerweek.org for a complete listing of events.
When Pif, David Ansill’s diminutive but delish French BYOB, closed back in July, it was a sad adieu for the restaurant’s many fans. The chef’s second restaurant, Ansill (shown), provided some consolation, but with no escargot special or Edith Piaf soundtrack, it wasn’t the same at all. So to appease those brokenhearted Pif fans, Ansill cooked up Pif night.
Every Sunday, a special prix fixe menu of Pif favorites is offered for $40. Feeling nostalgic for the old Bella Vista spot, I stopped by recently and was delighted by the bistro fare. The endive Roquefort salad was a fresh tangle of shoestring-sliced lettuce and apple. The half rack of lamb, seared to a flavorful crisp on the exterior and a savory medium-rare on the interior, came with roasted brussels sprouts and buttery fingerling potatoes. I chose a trio of cheeses as my third course — I never met a cheese I didn’t like, but the piquant and cumin-scented Muenster Gerome is still on my mind. Pif’s tender escargot were conspicuously absent from the menu, but a server told me to call the chef a few days ahead next time and he’ll be sure to put them on.
Although he recently announced his retirement from acting, Paul Newman’s so-natural and so-good — 100 percent of the royalties are donated to charity — food company Newman’s Own is (fingers-crossed) still decades away from its golden years. Newman just added wines to his burgeoning product line, and you can get your Newman fix by the glassful at Fleming’s Steakhouse in Radnor this Friday.
The wines won’t officially be available until March, but the debut diners will be the first to sample Newman’s California chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon, paired with a five-course tasting menu created by Fleming’s executive chef, Russell Skall. Plus: The Color of Money will play during dinner.
Image, newmansown.com
Tonight, the 4th Annual Flavors of Philadelphia, and all its culinary glory, arrives at the Crystal Tea Room. This year each table of 12 diners will be served a four-course meal (including wine pairings) prepared tableside by their own personal chef.
Oh, and did we mention that those chefs are some of the Delaware Valley’s finest? We’re talking Daniel Stern of Rae and Gayle, Brian Wilson of Le Castagne, David Boyle of Davio’s, and Joseph Frost of Georges’.
If that doesn’t tempt you, maybe this will: All proceeds benefit the American Liver Foundation. Reservations are still available, but hurry up!
So you already make an effort to buy organic, and you’ve got — and use — those cute reuseable grocery bags from Whole Foods. Good news is, the green doesn’t have to stop there.
Next week at Scott Aboretum, Mark Highland, president of The Organic Mechanics Soil Company, reveals the secrets behind executing, maintaining and using a rich compost pile in your backyard, an essential for any green gourmet.
Get this: Compost cuts down on the amount of reuseable waste sent to landfills, improves soil fertility, and saves you money (yet another green benefit we love).
$35 for non-members. 2 to 4 p.m. Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College, 500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, 610-328-8025, scottarboretum.org.
The Organic Mechanics Soil Company, 110 East Biddle Street, West Chester, 610-692-7404, organicmechanicsoil.com
It’s just three weeks until Valentine’s Day. I realized this not because I have the 14th circled with hearts on my calendar, but because I’m starting to get inundated with press releases announcing love-themed, sweetheart dinner specials. My favorite so far? The campy “Virginia is for Lovers” $45 prix fixe at the now-Southern-accented Marigold Kitchen.
Whatever your idea of a romantic dinner, remember that Valentine’s Day is one of the busiest restaurant nights of the year. Make reservations now — and expect to give a credit card confirmation at many area restaurants that don’t usually ask for that guarantee.
It’s only January, but we’re already planning for a whole year’s worth of good eating. Check out our round up of the region’s tastiest annual events, from March’s Philly Beer Week (tickets to many events are on sale now) to the summer’s tributes to ice cream, BBQ and garlic. — Bridget Salmons
South Street’s third-annual 8 Days of Eats kicked off yesterday, which means you still have seven days left for $30 dining deals at more than 30 of South Street’s top eateries like Django, Las Bugambilias and Xochitl. We say: Go next Wednesday, when parking is free throughout South Street. 
Wine lists don’t scare me. I typically have a greater variety of beers in my house than most bars have on draft. But sake is another story. With the recent spate of pan-Asian openings, I’ve found myself deciphering the offerings and sampling the wares. Here’s my advice on getting acquainted with the world of rice wine. 
This month, 
Last Saturday, the Craft Beer Fest at the Navy Yard — a Philly Beer Week special preview event — set the tone for the week’s upcoming festivities as brewheads raised their four-ounce glasses every 30 minutes in a toast to “America’s Best Beer-Drinking City.” This Friday, the week — more like a full 10 days — officially kicks off with Joe Sixpack’s Philly Favorites, a sampling of favorite local ales and lagers. 
When Pif, David Ansill’s diminutive but delish French BYOB, closed back in July, it was a sad adieu for the restaurant’s many fans. The chef’s second restaurant, 
Although he recently announced his retirement from acting, Paul Newman’s so-natural and so-good — 100 percent of the royalties are donated to charity — food company Newman’s Own is (fingers-crossed) still decades away from its golden years. Newman just added wines to his burgeoning product line, and you can get your Newman fix by the glassful at 
Tonight, the 
So you already make an effort to buy organic, and you’ve got — and use — those cute reuseable grocery bags from Whole Foods. Good news is, the green doesn’t have to stop there. 
It’s just three weeks until Valentine’s Day. I realized this not because I have the 14th circled with hearts on my calendar, but because I’m starting to get inundated with press releases announcing love-themed, sweetheart dinner specials. My favorite so far? The campy “Virginia is for Lovers” $45 prix fixe at the now-Southern-accented 
It’s only January, but we’re already planning for a whole year’s worth of good eating.