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Chef Brad Spence is dishing up an all-pig dinner at Amis on Wednesday. (Photo courtesy Amis)

Amis Trattoria, the Washington Square West Vetri Restaurant Family eatery, is hosting a four-course whole suckling pig dinner Wednesday night, February 8.

Chef Brad Spence is preparing the meal, just $65 with an additional, optional $35 wine pairing. It will be served at the Chef’s Counter for an extra-special evening.

Feast on Amis’ self-proclaimed “favorite animal,” from trotter to tail. Chef Brad Spence will be dishing up everything from porky borlotti bean stew to pici pasta with pigs head ragu & kale.

Latest word is that there are still a few seats left, so make a quick call and reserve your spot: (215) 732-2647.

Four-Course Whole Suckling Pig Dinner at Amis
When: Wednesday, February 8
Where: 412 S. 13th Street
Cost: $65, optional $35 wine pairing
More info: www.amisphilly.com

The food-and-drink-enthusiasts over at the Philly-based blog BigBite are inviting area chili-makers and eaters to join them at the 3rd Annual Philly Chili Bowl on Saturday, March 3.

BigBite is calling on Philadelphia’s chili connoisseurs to submit an application to compete by Wednesday, February 29. Applicants, which may consist of individuals or teams, will be asked to prepare six quarts of chili from scratch for the event, with excess chili being donated to Project H.O.M.E. after the competition.

If you’re more into the chili-eating than you are the making, then come out and try all the delicious bowls, grab some drinks provided by Narragansett Beer and judge the contestants in the People’s Choice round — all for just 5 bucks.

Three winners will be selected by a panel of judges including Drew Lazor, Editor of CityPaper’s “Meal Ticket,” Chef Kevin Sbraga and Emilio Mignucci, 3rd generation owner of DiBruno Bros. Winners will receive 2 seats at any upcoming class at Audrey Claire’s COOK.

To register to participate, check here.

3rd Annual Philly Chili Bowl
When: Saturday, March 3, starts at 4 p.m. for contestants, 5:30 p.m. for spectators
Where: Fleisher Art Memorial, 719 Catharine Street
Cost: $10 to compete, $5 to eat, drink and judge
More info: www.bigbiteblog.wordpress.com

Leave it to the experts to instruct you on how to pair hand-craft chocolates made at Shane's with delicious wine, selected from an unparalleled selection at Ristorante Panorama. (Photo courtesy Shane's)

Wine and chocolate.

Individually they’re two of the most delicious and decadent delights one can enjoy. But pair them together and the flavors uniquely enhance one another, creating a taste so exceptional that it practically feels illegal on the tongue.

Fortunately, it’s perfectly legal to indulge in this luscious combination. So the experts from Ristorante Panorama and Shane’s Confectionery want to make sure you know how to pair them correctly.

On Wednesday, February 8, from 6-8 p.m., join sommelier William Eccleston of Ristorante Panorama and Eric Berley of the newly-remodeled Shane’s Confectionery for an evening of tasting, trying, sipping and sampling of a variety of superior wines and ports, all the while becoming enlightened on how to mix and match them with a rich array of dark and light chocolates from around the world.

Tickets to this appetizing and instructive event (learn how to impress your date on Valentine’s Day!) can be purchased in advance online for $25 or $35 at the door.

Ristorante Panorama and Shane’s Confectionery Wine and Chocolate Pairing
When: Wednesday, February 8, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Where: Ristorante Panorama, 14 N. Front Street
Cost: $25 in advance, $35 at the door
More info: www.localwineevents.com

For the first time in five years, Inquirer critic Craig LaBan established which restaurants in Philadelphia are the super elite.
(Graphic via Philly.com)

As we mentioned last week, Sunday was a big day for the Philadelphia restaurant scene.

Philadelphia Inquirer Restaurant Critic Craig LaBan yesterday unveiled the results of revisiting the Philadelphia region’s top restaurants for the first time in five years to see which restaurants deserve his coveted four-bell rating.

A quick refresher: Craig LaBan employs a bell system for reviewing restaurants, awarding a restaurant between zero and four bells. No bells is poor; one bell is hit-or-miss; two bells is very good; three bells is excellent; and four bells is superior. And rare.

LaBan considered 13 restaurants as four-bell contenders when he began his quest back in the fall. And five restaurants rose to the top.

The new four-bell restaurants are (drum roll, please): Vetri, Zahav, Bibou, Talula’s Table and Fountain Restaurant at The Four Seasons Hotel.

(Turns out we were not that far off with our guesses last week.)

LaBan writes of the new Philly restaurant elite,

“From the timeless crystal elegance of the Fountain, to the exotically-spiced charcoal-grilled kebabs of Zahav, to Vetri’s inspired pasta riffs, to the seasonal whimsies of Talula’s Table, to the rustic soul of French bistro fare on a pedestal at Bibou, these restaurants cover it all. Every one has managed to distinctly capture that elusive feeling of enchantment: a sense that dinner is more than just a meal of memorable flavors and gracious service, but a special moment in time at a table that could be nowhere else on earth.”

Congratulations to each of the four-bell restaurants. It is a distinction that is well deserved in each case.

Over on Philly.com, there is a lot of great content related to the four-bell recipients, including a full write-up on each one as well updates on the other eight restaurants that were considered. (The other eight restaurants in the 13 considered were Lacroix, Le Bec Fin, Tinto, Barclay Prime, Morimoto, Osteria, Amada and Talula’s Garden.)

On Thursday, LaBan is going to release more great restaurant content when the Inquirer puts out his list of “Best In Their Class” rankings for categories other than fine dining: e.g. Gastropubs, New American BYOB, New American Full Service, Updated International, Italian and Great Restaurants That Don’t Get Talked About Enough. So stay tuned.

Craig LaBan’s Best Restaurants in the Philadelphia Area [Philadelphia Inquirer]

Previously: Philadelphia Inquirer Restaurant Critic Craig Laban To Name The Five Best Restaurants In Philadelphia This Sunday, February 5

Still don’t have your Valentine’s Day plans squared away?

Top of the Tower, located on the 51st floor of Three Logan Square, celebrates Valentine’s Day a little early with dinner, dancing, panoramic views and cabaret entertainment on Saturday, February 11.

Whether you’re single or attached, enjoy bites to eat from various dinner stations, a full bar pouring all drinks under $10 and a love tunes showcase from Eddie Bruce and the Tom Adams Trio.

Doors open at 6 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m. with dancing to follow.

Tickets can be purchased online.

Top of the Tower: Valentine’s Day
Where: Three Logan Square, 51st floor, 1717 Arch Street
When: Saturday, February 11, 6 p.m.
Cost: $90 per person
More info: www.topofthetower.com

Taste of the Nation returns to the Loews Philadelphia Hotel on May 7 with a newly appointed chef chair.

Top Chef winner and owner/executive chef of his eponymous restaurant on the Avenue of the Arts, Kevin Sbraga will follow in the footsteps of two-time chair Jennifer Carroll, another Top Chef star who will continue to support the cause as honorary chair.

Taste of the Nation even ups the foodie goodness with a limited-time offer for $15 off regular ticket prices, now through March 19. (Hint: Valentine’s Day is fast-approaching.)

During this year’s event, Sbraga and about 40 of Philadelphia’s best chefs will serve inventive and mouthwatering dishes to eager attendees, who chase each delightful bite with refreshing drinks from top mixologists.

Plus, guests can try their luck at the silent and live auctions — always crowd-pleasers, with restaurant gift cards, hotel stays, crafts, sports prizes, tickets, chef dinners and more.

Part of the national organization Share Our Strength, Taste of the Nation is a premier culinary event that raises money to achieve its goal of “No Kid Hungry.” In fact, 100% of ticket sales go directly to like-minded local beneficiaries: The Food Trust, Philabundance, Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger and Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center.

Taste of the Nation Philadelphia
When: Monday, May 7
Where: Loews Philadelphia Hotel, Millennium Ballroom, 12th & Market Streets
Cost: $70 for general admission and $120 for VIP, now through March 19 ($85 and $135 regularly)
More info: www.strength.org

Celebrate Super Bowl Sunday, the second biggest eating day of the year (after Thanksgiving) with any of our top picks for wings at bars and restaurants across Philadelphia. (Credit: iStockPhoto)

So the Super Bowl is this weekend. And we thought it made for an appropriate time to bring you a new roundup of places to go for great wings around the city.

Also, in case you didn’t hear, today, February 3, marks the 20th anniversary of a little event called the Wing Bowl, the annual competitive eating competition at the Wells Fargo Center.

And the greatest competitive eater of all time, the legendary Takeru Kobayashi, competed at this morning’s Wing Bowl (the clock started at 6 a.m.; these people are serious about their wings). Not surprisingly, he won, ingesting an unbelievable 337 wings, and in so doing, demolished the previous record by more than 80 wings.

Now on to the roundup. There are simply too many places serving great wings in Philadelphia for us to include in a single roundup, so instead we’ve tried to provide a selection of places to go for some amazing wings. This list is not limited to traditional Buffalo wings; we also wanted to include some upscale takes on wings, a few options for rotisserie wings, and even a few places to go for Korean-style wings.

In honor of Kobayashi’s incredible performance earlier today (and the 20th Annual Wing Bowl itself) as well as the Super Bowl this Sunday, we present to you our top picks for delicious wings in Philadelphia.

As always, let us know your favorite spot for wings in the comments below. Happy eating!

• Pub and Kitchen: Pub & Kitchen is a restaurant/bar/gastropub located on the south side of the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood. P&K sources their chicken wings locally from Eberly Farm (near Lancaster) and serves two kinds of very popular wings: a traditional Buffalo-style wing and an awesome honey whiskey variation. The actual wings are smaller than most but the quality of the wing more than makes up for it.

• Union Jack’s: The sign outside reads “World’s Best Wings” and the regulars inside agree. Bring your appetite because with sauces ranging from traditional “Hot” to “Raspberry Jalapeño,” you’ll want to try them all. Two locations: Manayunk and Glenside.

• Byrne’s Tavern: A Port Richmond favorite, Byrne’s Tavern serves up tender, fall-off-the-bone wings that have kept the crowds coming for nearly 35 years. Available for eat-in or take-out, the wings come in servings of 12 to 100 and are best accompanied by an order of the Irish bar’s popular potato logs.

• Cafe Soho: The wings at Cafe Soho are (urban) legendary. They’ve been endorsed by the likes of James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Solomonov (whose wings at Federal Donuts also grace this list, below) in the New York Times. Cafe Soho’s twice-fried Korean-style chicken wings come in two varieties: spicy and a special garlic and soy sauce. Order both. You won’t regret it. (215)224-6800

• Curran’s Irish Inn: At Curran’s Irish Inn, located in Northeast Philly, the Best of Philly wings come in a variety of temperatures and seasonings: hot, mild, medium, Cajun, garlic, barbecue or plain. Those who want to try more than one kind of the mouthwatering wonders (and who wouldn’t?) can opt for Pudgy’s Wing Sampler, which gives you 15 wings in three styles.

• R2L: Chef Daniel Stern dishes up pan-roasted wings covered with a spicy sauce, scallions and served with long hots that are just as vibrant as R2L’s breathtaking views of the Philadelphia skyline. Tip: plan appropriately and stop by in the early evening to catch a sunset.

• Federal Donuts: Fried chicken and donuts. An uncommon but undeniably delicious combination. And Federal Donuts nails both. So well in fact, that they received a huge write-up in The New York Times. Federal has introduced whole wings into their offerings on the weekends. Available in the two glazed flavors: chile-garlic and honey-ginger; as well as the three crispy varieties: ranch, Harissa and Za’atar.

• Percy Street: Wings? Tails? Whatever. Gobble down Percy Street’s Turkey Tails tossed in Sweet Thangs BBQ sauce and wash them down with a Hillybilly Gatorade.

We’ve got many more recommendations below.
(more…)

Fairmount's restaurant scene is gaining a wine bar, courtesy of and adjacent to London Grill. (Photo courtesy London Grill)

“I see London, I see France” is what you’ll say when owners Terry and Chef Michael McNally of London Grill open their second restaurant, Paris Wine Bar, next door on Thursday, February 9 with a reception featuring free hors d’oeuvres and live jazz.

Although “an ode to the winsome storefronts of Paris’ Le Marais neighborhood,” in Terry’s words, the comfortable lounge and cafe will focus on wines produced here in Pennsylvania.

Food-wise, Chef McNally’s cafe-inspired menu will include comfort fare like steamed mussels, mustard-crusted calf’s liver and his own take on the classic croque madame served with duck confit.

The 50-seater, adorned with French sconces, chandeliers and draperies from the McNallys’ personal collection, will be open Thursday through Sunday from 4 p.m.-midnight as well as for private events.

And, if you can’t visit the City of Lights this Spring, be sure to check out the wine bar’s outdoor cafe which will open with the welcoming of warmer weather.

Paris Wine Bar
2303 Fairmount Avenue
www.londongrill.com/paris

LeBron James is in town today for the big showdown pitting the Miami Heat against your first-place Philadelphia 76ers. The Heat were out and about yesterday and King James was spotted during an afternoon visit to the popular Fairmount location of Philly’s lunch/brunch staple, Sabrina’s Cafe. Word on the street is that it’s a “go-to” spot for LeBron and company when they’re in town. While it’s good to see Bron Bron visiting authentic Philly restaurants, we have a feeling that no matter how good the meal was, it’s not going to help him tonight against your 76ers. Go Sixers! [@SabrinasPhilly]

Make Valentine's Day extra sweet this year with chocolate from a local Philadelphia sweets shop, like Marcie Blaine Artisanal Chocolates in Midtown Village. (Photo by Julie Davis)

You’ve put in your order for a dozen red roses, but one critical element is still missing from your Valentine’s Day gift line-up: chocolate.

That Whitman’s sampler will do in a pinch, but treats from local Philly sweets shops are guaranteed to make your sweetheart’s tastebuds do a back flip, whether they’re craving decadent truffles, old-fashioned taffy or chocolate-dipped bacon.

Check out our top picks for Valentine’s Day chocolate in Philadelphia, below:

• Marcie Blaine Artisanal Chocolates: Midtown boutique Verde is home to Marcie Blaine Artisinal Chocolates, where Chef Marcie Turney churns out chocolates made from locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients. Exotic spices make their way into the chef’s popular boxed chocolates, while creamy caramels and barks combine the earthy flavor of cocoa with nuts, dried fruit, granola and the occasional sprinkling of sea salt.

• Shane Confectionery: Old City’s newly reopened Shane Confectionery delivers a taste of the past with house-made, old fashioned confections that continue the American candy-making traditions of the early 20th Ccentury. Gift your sweetie with taffies and buttercreams made from century-old recipes, or opt for something more modern, like chocolate dipped bacon.

• Philly Chocolate: At this Walnut Street chocolate shop, your traditional gourmet boxed chocolates and decadent desserts are displayed alongside imaginative delights, like rice cereal treats, Oreos, Twizzlers and Swedish Fish, all drenched in white, milk or dark chocolate.

• John & Kira’s: Whether you choose John & Kira’s best-selling 28-piece Valentine’s Day Chocolate Box, or decide on their hand-painted chocolate bees and lady bugs, your sweetheart’s tastebuds will be tickled by the confections’ sustainably harvested ingredients, some of which are sourced locally. You can also pick up John and Kira’s Chocolate Covered Cherries at Di Bruno Bros.

• Lore’s Chocolates: With more than 100 varieties of chocolate piled high under the glass at Lore’s Chocolates, you may have a hard time deciding on just one. Our advice: Take home a little bit of everything, or ask for a sample, and allow your tastebuds to do the decision-making for you.

• Teuscher: Stop into The Shops at the Bellevue for Teuscher’s decadent Swiss chocolates. Red, heart-shaped boxes enclose truffles of assorted flavors, but Teuscher’s signature champagne truffle, made with Dom Perginon and a dark chocolate cream ganache, is the real star of the show.

• Max Brenner: Throw a log on the fire, cuddle up with your special someone, and indulge in Max Brenner’s Chocolate Fondue Tower for two. Or pamper the serious chocolate lover with Max Brenner’s Chocolate Spa Gift Set, which includes everything from cocoa nib sugar scrub and vanilla-infused handcream to mouth-watering, nutty chocolates.

• Chocolate by Mueller: Put a smile on their face with Chocolate by Mueller’s fun molded confections, like anatomically-correct hearts, brains, and noses crafted from yummy, rich chocolate. This Reading Terminal Market vendor also makes more traditional offerings, like fruit and nut clusters, turtles, and a large selection of sugar free treats.