April 20, 2011
Vendors at the Rittenhouse Square Saturday Farmers' Market (photo by M. McClellan for GPTMC)
While our official farmers market season doesn’t kick off for a couple more weeks, the Rittenhouse Square Farmers Market is getting a jump on things and is rolling out a couple alternations early in order to get all the kinks out before May 7th. Primary among their changes is that they’re officially stretching the market out along two sides of the Square, so that it spans both Walnut Street between 18th and 19th Streets, and the length of 18th Street south of Walnut.
Last summer, they moved a few vendors to that 18th Street stretch in the middle of the season. Unfortunately, shopper habits were well set by that point and the relocated stalls suffered as a result. The hope is that by starting out the season as a two-length market, it will become routine for shoppers to visit both parts of the market.
We’re hearing that this expansion will go into effect this Saturday. Here are some of the vendors you can expect to see along 18th Street: Triple Tree Flowers, Blue Mountain Vineyard, John & Kira’s Chocolates, Market Day Canele and Frecon Farms. There will also be the occasional special guest set up with these heavy hitters, including folks like Better Butter, who make some of the best peanut butter we’ve eaten recently.
Rittenhouse Square Farmers Market
Where: Rittenhouse Square, 18th and Walnut Streets
When: Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. currently, hours shift to 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. on May 7th
Cost: free to stroll, bring cash to purchase fresh produce, dairy products, baked goods pastured eggs, local meat and more
More info: www.farmtocity.org
April 19, 2011
Bring your kids to the Peddler's Village Strawberry Festival (photo courtesy of Peddler's Village)
Love ripe, juicy berries? Then the Peddler’s Village is the place to be the weekend of April 30 and May 1. You’ll have the opportunity to taste strawberries prepared in every conceivable way, from chocolate-dipped to smoothies, shortcakes, pies and more. There’ll be plenty to take home and transform into your own signature cake or salad as well.
Admission and parking is FREE at this good old-fashioned family festival. Festivities beginning at 10 a.m. and running until 6 p.m. We’re certain the whole gang will find something to do, from pie-eating contests to listening to an array of country-style and quirky musical acts. There will also be craft stations for kids around the Village. Whether the sun shines or the rain pours, the festival must go on!
The country-classic festival will feature an array of local artisans selling hand-crafted products. Don’t miss the bluegrass band on Saturday! Tented carts will be scattered throughout the Village, all offering the different strawberry delights—don’t forget to try a creamy strawberry smoothie—the perfect start to summer!
Peddler’s Village 42nd Annual Strawberry Festival
Where: Routes 202 and Street Road, Lahaska, PA
When: Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1
Cost: FREE
More info: www.peddlersvillage.com
April 13, 2011
Chef Moon and her staff at Mango Moon (photo by M. McClellan for GPTMC)
On April 4, Philly’s favorite Thai chef and restaurateur, Chef Nongyao “Moon” Krapugthong cooked a up a banquet at New York’s James Beard House in celebration of the Thai New Year. Because the menu was such a hit, Chef Moon has determined to recreate it at her Manayunk restaurant Chabaa Thai on the evenings of April 19 and 20.
The menu includes Leaf-Wrapped Crispy and Spicy Chicken, Thai Rice Flour Crêpes, Grilled Northern Thai Sausage, a Crispy Smoked Cotton Fish, Steamed Free-Range Chicken, Green Curried Beef with Vermacelli and more. The 5-course meal costs $65 with wine pairings and $50 without. Both price points include tax and tip.
There is just one 6:30 p.m. seating per evening for this menu and the deadline for reservations is Sunday, April 17. Call 215-483-1979 to make your reservation. (Click here to see photos of Chef Moon’s food.)
Thai New Year Dinner
Where: Chabaa Thai, 4371 Main Street, Manayunk
When: Tuesday, April 19 and Wednesday, April 20
Cost: $50-65
More info: www.chabaathai.com
April 13, 2011
Cool down with a refreshing glass of iced tea
With spring coming, it is the perfect time to learn a little bit more about iced tea. Head over to SA VA this Thursday, April 14 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. to learn all about the best ways to brew and drink this thirst quencher. The session will be led by local tea consultant Alexis Siemons. Siemons is the tea lover behind the blog Teaspoons & Petals and sells a line of tea-inspired items on Etsy.
There will be iced tea and tea cocktails available for sampling and all regular priced clothing will be 20% off during the event. For more information or to RSVP, email rsvp@savafashion.com.
Iced Tea Tasting and Tips
Where: SA VA, 1700 Sansom Street
When: Thursday, April 14, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free!
More info: rsvp@savafashion.com
April 12, 2011
Duck prosciutto from Watkins Drinkery (photo by M. McClellan for GPTMC)
It’s well known that East Passyunk is one of the hottest neighborhoods in Philly at the moment. Not a week goes by with announcement of some new restaurant or shop going in along that angular avenue. Last night, the East Passyunk Business Improvement District held a sneak preview for their upcoming Flavors of the Avenue event. A selection of restaurants who will be participating in Flavors brought an array of tidbits for nibbling and photographing.
If the preview (held inside Urban Jungle’s space) is any indication, this year’s Flavors of the Avenue is going to absolutely delicious. There was house cured duck proscuitto with a dab of spicy, honey-sweetened mustard from Watkin’s Drinkery, a whipped banana dessert from FUEL, and a really wonderful beet, toasted walnut and baby green salad from Salt and Pepper.
For pictures of last night’s preview, there’s a slideshow embedded after the jump.
Flavors of the Avenue
Where: East Passyunk Avenue, between Dickinson and Morris
When: Saturday, April 30, from 12 – 5 p.m.
Cost: $30-50
More info: www.visiteastpassyunk.com
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April 7, 2011
A bowl of dyed Easter eggs (photo by G. Hutchinson - flickr.com/photos/splorp)
The time of year for both Easter and Passover is rapidly approaching and Philly Homegrown wants to make sure that you have the most delicious, locally sourced holiday possible. They’ve put together a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the challenges of finding brunch spots, free range eggs, heritage hams and the perfect leavening-free dessert to finish your Seder. Click the link below to see all your very tasty options!
March 18, 2011
Mark your calendars for Tuesday, April 5 from 6-8 p.m. That when the Brandywine Loca’licious lands at the Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown, PA. A fundraiser for the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association’s Brandywine Chapter, this event will feature cheeses from Birchrun Hills Farm, Conebella Farm, Yellow Springs Farm, Shellbark Hollow Farm and September Farm. The wineries include Black Walnut Winery, Paradocx Winery, and Chaddsford Winery. Victory beers will be flowing, as will samples of Iron Hill beer.
What’s more, you’ll be happy to know that if you discover something you particularly like, the cheesemakers will be selling wedges to go so that you won’t have to go without your new-found favorite for even a moment.
Brandywine Loca’licious
When: Tuesday, April 5, 2011, 6-8 p.m.
Where: Victory Brewing Company, 420 Acorn Lane, Downingtown, PA
Cost: $35 per person
More info: upcoming.yahoo.com
March 17, 2011
It was just two weeks ago that we heard that Marathon Restaurants had bought a plot of land in Brewerytown to start a farm.
Now that we’ve had a bit of time to let the idea of it sink in, we’re pretty darn excited to welcome this new urban farm to the Philadelphia landscape.
In order to give them a helping hand, we’re planning on heading over to Marathon’s 10th and Walnut location this Sunday between the hours of 7-10 p.m. to buy a few drinks. If you’re interested in doing the same, it will cost you $10 at the door.
Once you’re in, choose from an array of drink specials and free food (bbq pork! coleslaw! potato salad!). The Keystone Mountain Boys and Sour Mash will be play some bluegrassy tunes to get you in an agricultural state of mind.
Marathon FarmRaiser
When: Sunday, March 20, 7-10 p.m.
Where: Marathon Restaurant, 10th and Walnut Streets
Cost: $10 at the door
More info: marathonfarm.com
March 16, 2011
If you’ve lived in Philadelphia for any length of time, you’re certain to have heard of scrapple. It’s a cousin of sausage, most commonly made from bits of pork (the scraps), cornmeal and spices. It is cooked together and then allowed to cool in a loaf pan. When it is time to eat, the scrapple is cut into slices and griddled until crisp and puffy. When done right, it is a delicacy. However, because of its unfortunate name, it is most often mocked and vilified.
Next Saturday (March 26), the Reading Terminal Market will be once again throwing its annual celebration of this misunderstood breakfast meat. There will be scrapple tastings (including options for the vegan set), cooking demonstrations by area chefs, scrapple sculptures, a recipe contest and plenty of music to help it all go down easy.
Scrapplefest
Where: Reading Terminal Market
When: March 26, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Cost: Free!
More info: www.readingterminalmarket.org
March 7, 2011
Beer and food lovers, if you haven’t gotten your tickets for the Brewer’s Plate yet, make sure to grab them before they sell out (and they will sell out). This annual fundraiser for Fair Food brings together more than 50 restaurants, breweries and distilleries and is an all-you-can-eat-and-drink event. As far as we’re concerned, it’s one of the best ways to explore new restaurants and discover your next favorite brew.
Taking place at the Penn Museum, the Brewer’s Plate allows you three to four hours (depending on your ticket level) of unlimited access to food and drink. This year, they’re expanding the event to include a speakeasy downstairs in lower Eygpt, a variety of sweets and chocolates and a VIP tent set up in the Warren Garden.
Tickets are $45 for non-drinkers, $75 for general admission and $125 for VIPs (which gets you access to all the eats a full hour before the doors officially open, as well as entry to the VIP tent). Do note that this is a 21+ only event and that parents are asked to leave their little ones at home with a babysitter.
For more general information about the event, click here. To buy your tickets, click here.
