The Agenda: Firestone Walker, Talula’s Opens & TexMex Shoot-Out

Monk’s Cafe is offering seven Hitachino Nest beers starting at 11:30 a.m. today. Each beer is $6 and 100% of all proceeds will go to Japanese earthquake and tsunami relief charities.

Also at Monk’s Cafe today and other spots around town this week is the introduction of Firestone Walker Brewing’s beers to Pennsylvania. Monk’s event starts at the back bar at 5 p.m. but if you find yourself near Memphis Taproom around noon today you can get a chance to try some of their beers there. Just how good are these beers? At the 2010 World Beer Cup they swept the Pale Ale category taking home Gold, Silver AND Bronze. Firestone Walker will also be at Teresa’s Next Door Tuesday and at Capone’s in Norristown and Kraftwork in Fishtown on Wednesday.

UPDATE: Hawthornes is presenting a Firestone Walker dinner Tuesday night. The four-course dinner is just $25 and each course is paired with a Firestone Walker beer.

Wednesday is a big day as the highly anticipated Talula’s Garden is set to open. We’ll have a complete Tale of the Tape and slideshow tomorrow.

Thursday, Percy Street’s Erin O’Shea and Xochitl’s Lucio Palazzo collaborate on a Tex-Mex dinner at Xochitl. The four-course dinner will cost $35 per person.

Menudo, hominy and tripe soup with tostadas, crema and shredded lettuce

Sopa de Esquites, sweet corn soup with lime, chile and corn salad

Javelin, wild boar and cornbread tamal with fava bean salad

Rajas, poblano, tomato and cornbread tamal with fava bean salad

Barbacoa, a smoked meat platter featuring beef cheek and tongue, young goat and house-made smoked chorizo sausage served with flour tortillas, salsas and two side dishes

Pay de Frito, vegetarian frito pie with black bean and corn chili, served with salsas and two sides

Side Dishes:

Guacamole

Drunken Beans

German Potato Salad

Cactus Salad

Mexican Mac & Cheese

Pay de Pacana, pecan pie with goat’s milk cajeta

Arroz con Leche, rice pudding with strawberries