July 19, 2011
Meritage makes it easy to combine your love for Philly sports and cutting-edge cuisine. (Photo courtesy Meritage)
If you need a stylish spin on your Phillies game night fare, check out Meritage Restaurant & Wine Bar.
During all night games, enjoy Chef Anne Coll’s “Phillies Favorites” menu with small plates ranging from $3-$5. Popular menu items include Korean Fried Chicken Wings, Braised Pork Shoulder Tacos and Vegan Tempura.
The “Phillies Favorites” menu, along with $3 Sly Fox Wheat Beer Cans, is available indoors or outdoors throughout the rest of the season.
Put down those Cracker Jacks and step it up a notch! Join Meritage for the last July night games:
July 22: Phillies vs. Padres at 7:05 p.m.
July 26, 27 & 28: Phillies vs. Giants at 7:05 p.m.
July 29 and 30: Phillies vs. Pirates at 7:05 p.m.
Meritage Restaurant & Wine Bar
500 S. 20th Street
www.meritagephiladelphia.com
June 9, 2011
Summer and sustainable food go hand in hand, especially in Philadelphia. The University City District, with a helping hand from our sister site Philly Homegrown, keeps this partnership alive with “Sustainable Saturdays: The West Philadelphia Local Food Series,” kicking off Saturday, June 18 and continuing every third Saturday through September 17.
Sustainable Saturdays will feature everything from do-it-yourself workshops to urban farming to food tasting events. The June 18 kick start theme is “Grow It Yourself,” Here’s the lowdown on the activities:
• Philly Homegrown™ West Philadelphia Farm-to-Table Trolley Tour: Taste, listen and learn about what farm-to-table really means and what local farmers and chefs have to say about it. Hosted by Paul Steinke of Reading Terminal Market, this trolley-to-farm tour sponsored by our own Philly Homegrown will make stops at Walnut Hill Community Farm, Milk & Honey Market and Farm 51. Tour-goers can catch an on-site glimpse into the world of local beekeeping and taste fresh foods from the neighborhood. The tour will start and end at MidAtlantic Restaurant and Tap Room on 3711 Chestnut Street where Chef Daniel Stern will conclude the day with a family-style dinner using local ingredients. Tickets are $45. 3-7 p.m.
• Ice Cream Tour & Tasting at Bartram’s Garden: Spending time outdoors in the summer should always involve fresh, delicious ice cream. Get a chance to learn about the local history of this tasty treat by touring Bartram’s Garden, located on 54th and Lindbergh Streets. The tour will show how ice cream is made and how local breweries during the Prohibition helped produce this summer treat. Bartram’s will end the afternoon by letting tour-goers gather fresh ingredients to make and taste homemade ice cream! Local milk and cream will be provided. Tickets are $10. 2-3:30 p.m.
Information on West Philadelphia Gardens Day, hands-on workshops and more, below.
May 25, 2011
East Passyunk hotspots like the Cantina will be serving up delicious beer and food all day.
(Photo by M. McClellan for GPTMC)
Some of South Philly’s favorite bars are opening up their doors to celebrate Philly Beer Week, East Passyunk style.
On Sunday, June 5 from 11 a.m. until the wee hours of Monday, eight spots will host a variety of Philly Beer Week-related festivities in honor of Craft Beer Day on East Passyunk.
Here’s the lowdown:
• Cantina Los Caballitos: Mexico and Belgium combine forces. From 4-7 p.m., beer lovers can enjoy Hennepin, Witte and Rare Vos paired with Belgian and Mexican fusion fare.
• P.O.P.E.: Beer and (kid-friendly) brunch will go hand in hand from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Wash down one of their brunch entrees with a tasty Allagash craft beer. You can also catch a live performance by the Glotones.
• Le Virtu: From 1-4 p.m., get free tastings and discounts on Victory, Troegs, Riverhorse, Saranac and Innis & Gunn paired with grilled Abruzzese fare in the outdoor garden. Brewers will be on-site, as well.
• The Bottle Shop: After beer week leaves us, try creating your favorite beer at home. The Bottle Shop’s Barely Legal Home Brew Demo from 2-6 p.m. can give you tips on how. There will also be tasting samples, of course.
• Salt & Pepper: It’s a rarity that you get a chance to spend happy hour with the brewer of the beer you’re drinking. From 4-7 p.m., Salt & Pepper presents the Riverhorse “Meet the Brewer” happy hour. Now’s your chance.
• Sticks & Stones: It’s also a rarity to play Baggo Toss with the brewer of the beer you’re drinking! From 5-8 p.m., the brewer from Bavarian Barbarian Brewing Company will be on hand with four new brews, grilled snacks and an outdoor Baggo Toss.
• Stogie Joe’s: Beer and pizza have always gone together. Starting at 6:30 p.m., Stogie Joe’s will keep that tradition alive with Riverhorse 5-beer buckets and pizza for $20. There will also be live music.
• Lucky 13: From 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Lucky 13 will pair a special brunch with beers from Victory Brewing Co. There will also be a DJ on hand spinning some brunch-worthy tunes.
So whether it’s beer and brunch, beer and brewer or just good ol’ beer, East Passyunk Avenue is a great way to kickoff your Philly Beer Week. Keep in mind that all our Philly Beer Week coverage is available here.
Craft Beer Day on East Passyunk Avenue
When: Sunday, June 5, beginning at 11 a.m.
Where: Various locations
Cost: Varies
More info: www.phillybeerweek.org
May 18, 2011
Penn's Landing provides the perfect setting for a festive spring event. (Photo by J. Smith for GPTMC)
Celebrate Delaware River Day on Saturday, May 21 as Penn’s Landing plays host to many Navy-inspired activities from noon to 6 p.m.
Music is the best way to kick off any event and Delaware River Day will feature the US Navy’s own Band, Cruisers. You can rock out while taking the opportunity to meet one of the many Navy Sailors.
Other interactive events include face-painting, vessel tours and life jacket fittings. One of Delaware River Day’s goals is to mix fun with education; to that end, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary’s Coastie (Safety Boat) will be on hand to drop some water safety knowledge. Coastie is fully equipped with sirens, air horns and even a built-in squirt gun.
If you ever wanted to sail down the Delaware River, Saturday may be your chance. There will be free hourly sailings with Gloucester City Sail, so bring your cameras to capture our beautiful skyline. You may also want to keep your cameras handy for the Tug Fest that starts at 2 p.m. off of the South Quay at Penn’s Landing Marina.
In addition to all of the free events, the Independence Seaport Museum will have a special $5 admission, so you can make a day out of it.
Delaware River Day
When: Saturday, May 21, noon-6 p.m.
Where: Penn’s Landing
Cost: Free
More Info: www.delawareriverevents.com
May 17, 2011
Sing your favorite American anthems, learn about monuments across the country, make American flags and more. (Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC)
Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend at the perfectly patriotic National Constitution Center.
Starting Saturday, May 28 through Monday, May 30, the center will host a slew of free events to celebrate the holiday.
Start the weekend off early by honoring the stars and stripes. On Memorial Day, raising an American Flag is a must, but have you ever wondered how to do it properly? If you want to learn first-hand, you can attend the center’s special flag-raising ceremony each morning. Guests are encouraged to join in.
You may want to stick around for “Memorials: How a Nation Remembers.” This 20-minute interactive program will show participants the history behind such monuments as Little Bighorn, U.S.S. Arizona and the Lincoln Memorial. This program will run at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m., so there are plenty of chances to catch it.
If singing is more your celebration style, check out Patriotic Karaoke, 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Participants will be able to lend their voice to many American-themed anthems, so start practicing. Kids can also join in on the fun from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. by creating memorial wreaths and pins made out of poppies: the (little-known) official Memorial Day symbol.
Get your patriotism on at one of Philadelphia’s epicenters of national pride.
Memorial Day Weekend at the National Constitution Center
When: May 28-30
Where: 525 Arch Street
Cost: Free with museum admission (Adults $12, Seniors 65+ $11, Students $11, Children 4-12 $8, Military and children under 4 Free)
More info: www.constitutioncenter.org
May 9, 2011
Whether you're from the Fairmount neighborhood or not, enjoy a feel-good, fun-filled spring celebration complete with food, games and music. (Photos courtesy Friends of Clemente)
Named after Major League Baseball’s famed Roberto Clemente, Clemente Park has come a long way since its rundown days of the 1980s.
If you live in the Fairmount area, you may have seen the park transform into a safe place of recreation in recent years. To celebrate this extreme makeover, neighborhood group Friends of Clemente is holding their second annual Clemente Fest on Saturday, May 14, from 2-6 p.m.
Festivalgoers of all ages can enjoy dancing to live music from eclectic artists like Bomple, Gregory Morgan, Kaligata and Magic Message. Blankets are encouraged so bring a few, especially for the kids. They may need a place to rest after jumping around on the ever-popular moon bounce. There will also be child-friendly craft stations, local artists, local food and raffles for all ages.
Feeling a little competitive? If so, then the fest’s hand-ball tournament is a definite must.
Bring your family and friends (even your four-legged ones) and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Clemente Fest
When: May 14, 2-6 p.m. (rain date is May 21)
Where: Clemente Park, 18th and Wallace Streets
Cost: Free
More info: www.friendsofclemente.blogspot.com
May 3, 2011
Looking for that one-of-a-kind find that sparks your creative lust? Head down to Penn’s Landing for the Art Star Craft Bazaar, Saturday and Sunday, May 14-15.
The Delaware River Waterfront will play host to more than 100 local and national artists and vendors (full list here. The organizers from Art Star Gallery and Boutique in Northern Liberties have handpicked the artists, so you can expect beautifully made pieces ranging from ceramics to dolls to clothing to accessories.
Although the Art Star Craft Bazaar is Philadelphia’s largest outdoor craft fair, attendees can also look forward to the local music and food. A dozen local bands will be playing sets throughout the weekend to entertain your ears while A Full Plate Cafe and A Soy Cafe will be on hand to, er, entertain your taste buds.
You can also tap into your inner artist with interactive activities such as bookbinding demos and group sculpture. These activities are great for all ages, so bring the family.
Bonus for getting there early: the first 250 people each day will receive Art Star Craft Bazaar Magnets and a coupon book loaded with raffle tickets and giveaways.
Art Star Craft Bazaar
Where: Penn’s Landing, Columbus Boulevard between Walnut and Chestnut Streets
When: Saturday, May 14 and Sunday, May 15, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Cost: Free
More Info: www.artstarcraftbazaar.com
April 28, 2011
If you like your Eggs Benedict served up with a side of live jazz, the new Sunday jazz brunch at Time Restaurant is for you.
Served from noon-4 p.m., the brunch service features not only live music, but also a stellar menu.
Chef Josh McCullough and Sous Chef Sean Magee have put their own spin on the usual brunch suspects like Eggs Benedict, Granola and Berries, Smoked Salmon and of course, waffles.
If you’re up for a Sunday challenge, try their mouth-watering breakfast sandwich concoction “The Beast,” comprised of a brioche bun stuffed with fried chicken, fried egg, house-smoked bacon, duck sausage and cheese. We know.
And if the liquid diet suits your Sunday brunch needs, enjoy a classic mimosa or one of Time’s specialty cocktails, like the grapefruit-tequila-infused Pink Lady.
The windows will be open (feel that fresh spring air!), so follow the sounds of the likes of house band Peaty G to a new brunch destination.
Time
1315 Sansom Street
www.timerestaurant.net
March 15, 2011
Irish Potatoes are a lesser-known Philadelphia food original. (Photo courtesy Pennsylvania General Store)
From the Tastykake to the soft pretzel, Philadelphia has a long list of food icons. An undersung member of that list is the Irish potato candy, surprisingly indigenous to our city.
The misleadingly named candy doesn’t have a trace of potato but is, rather, a white ball consisting of coconut nougat, confectioner’s sugar and butter cream or cream cheese rolled in cinnamon to resemble a mini potato.
As St. Patrick’s Day approaches (March 17), we’re craving the tasty Irish treat. One place to pick up a batch: walk into any local grocery store this time of year and you might see Oh Ryan’s famous hand-packaged white and green box filled with 15 creamy, decadent Irish potatoes. Oh Ryan’s, around since 1989, ships about 80,000 pounds of these spud-candies per year.
Here’s a look at some more of the local places to find this tasty Irish treat:
• Lore’s: Lore’s Chocolates can whip up more than a mean chocolate pretzel. Made daily by hand, Lore’s 40-year-old Irish potato recipe blends coconut and cinnamon flavors to perfection.
• Pennsylvania General Store: This Reading Terminal food and gift shop offers the best of edible Philadelphia favorites, from Bauman’s Apple Butter to Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews to Pennsylvania Dutch Hard Pretzels. Naturally, they stock up on Irish potatoes during St. Patrick’s Day season, which you can also pick up online.
• Anthony’s Italian Coffee House and Chocolate House: Located in the Italian Market, Anthony’s has been whipping up delicious treats since 1995. You can buy their bite-sized, soft candied Irish potatoes online or in-house. It might be the only “Irish” purchase you’ll make from the Italian Market.
• Maron Chocolates: Philadelphia officeworkers have been flocking to Maron, inside Scoop DeVille Ice Cream Parlour, during lunchtime to grab something sweet for years. Buttery and luscious, Maron’s Irish potatoes are the perfect sweet treat for your lunch break around Rittenhouse Square. Grab a quarter or half pound box for your coworkers or friends to share; that is, if you don’t eat all of them before you get back.
• Emerald Confections: If you’re a true Irish potato connoisseur, you probably know about Emerald Confections’ chocolate spin on their Irish potatoes. Located in Warminster, PA, this candy shop has taken the tradition to the next level by dipping their potatoes in milk, white, dark and mint chocolate. They’re made with real cream cheese and butter. Bonus: they’re available all year.
February 11, 2011
Pair the Founding Fathers' favorite ales with their favorite food. (Photo courtesy City Tavern)
In recent years, the meaning of Presidents’ Day has turned into a Monday full of “blow-out” furniture sales and crowded matinees at the movie theaters. If this isn’t your idea of a celebration, try tapping into your inner Founding Father at City Tavern restaurant.
February 18 through 22, City Tavern’s Chef Walter Staib will showcase a special à la carte Presidents’ Week Menu that highlights the holiday’s true meaning through classic colonial cuisine. The historic menu will feature everything from John Adams’ favorite New England Clam Chowder to Thomas Jefferson’s Venison Bourguignon with herbed egg noodles, which was served to troops during wartime.
City Tavern’s daily menu will also be available, along with their dessert and drink options such as General Washington’s Tavern Porter, great for anyone who wants to wash down history with more history.
To honor our early Presidents, make a reservation online. Walk-ins are also welcome.
Presidents’ Week Menu at City Tavern
When: February 18-22
Where: City Tavern, 138 S. 2nd Street
Cost: Dishes range from $6.25 to $32.95
More Info: www.citytavern.com
