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Mark your calendars, cocktail enthusiasts! On Monday, September 13 Art in the Age will be hosting a SNAP Cocktail Competition at Liberties Walk in Northern Liberties. Festivities begin at 7 p.m. sharp and will take place rain or shine.

Mixologists from fifteen area bars and restaurants (including Adsum, Valanni and Village Whiskey) will be shaking and stirring up the very best SNAP cocktails they can muster. SNAP is an 80 proof, certified organic spirit that is derived from pure cane sugar and features cinnamon, cloves, rooibos tea and fresh ginger.

The event will be judged by the City Paper’s Drew Lazor, Master Sommelier Melissa Monosoff and William Grant & Sons Portfiolio Ambassador, Charlotte Voisey. Cocktails will be judged on taste, originality and presentation. The event is open to the public and will also feature $5 SNAP and ROOT cocktails from Bar Ferdinand and El Camino.

If you plan on attending, please RSVP by emailing Stephanie at stephanie@artintheage.com.

Earlier this summer, local food lovers congregated at Pub & Kitchen for the first summer happy hour from The Food Trust. That gathering was such a success that they’ve decided to do it again. This time, the locavores (and the people who love them) will be gathering at London Grill (23rd and Fairmount Ave.) on Thursday, September 2nd (that’s this week!) from 6-8 p.m.

There’s no cover charge to attend and proceeds from the event will go to support our area farmers’ markets. And speaking of markets, make sure to come with a few extra bucks in your pocket – the Fairmount Market takes place during those hours and so in addition to tossing back a few with likeminded foodies, you can also pick up a few ingredients for your next meal.

A couple weeks ago, we at uwishunu HQ were excited to share the news that the Food Trust was bringing a evening hours food bazaar to the city. Well, now we’re pretty much over the moon with the newest details. The Night Market will take place on Thursday, September 30, from 6 – 10 p.m. at the intersection of Tasker Street and Passyunk Avenue.

It’s the first of six such markets to be held throughout the city over the course of the next 18 months and is sure to be a rollicking good time. Make sure to bring some cash, a few good friends and a very empty belly.

Image courtesy of McGillin's

Though we’re still having some blazing hot days, last week’s cooler temperatures was good reminder that fall is rapidly approaching. Happily, there’s no need to mourn the end of summer, because the advent of autumn means that the many Oktoberfest celebrations aren’t far away.

McGillin’s, Philly’s oldest watering hole, is celebrating the season with a month-long Oktoberfest celebration. They’re adding an array of classic German dishes to their menu and will be pouring German beers throughout September. Festivities kick off on September 2 and run straight through to the Midtown Village Fall Festival on October 2.

Make sure to get down there during the month and cozy up to a plate of German Style Grilled Sausage with Bratwurst, Knockwurst, Red Cabbage and Warm German Potato Salad. It’s good, filling food and goes great with beer!

The Palm has a new $3.50 Happy Hour.
(Photo courtesy The Palm)

The Palm at the Bellevue has just introduced an all new “Prime Bites” menu of seven appetizers for just $3.50 each during Happy Hour.

The Prime Time Happy Hour runs Monday through Friday, from 5-7 pm and then again from 9 pm until close. But at the bar only.

Here’s the menu of appetizers that are just $3.50 each:

* Kobe Beef Sliders
bacon, lettuce, tomato and pesto aioli
* Filet Mignon Capri Sandwiches
imported mozzarella di bufala, tomato and basil with a balsamic aioli
* “Ultimate” Chicken Strips
panko and parmesan battered with sweet and sour chili sauce
* Mini Broiled Crab Cakes
mango salsa and chipotle tartar sauce
* Veal Parmigiana Sliders
Palm classic on a roll
* “Point Judith” Calamari Fritti
cornmeal dusted and tossed with lemon and cherry peppers
* Prime Cheese Steak
prime New York steak, caramelized onions and Vermont cheddar cheese

Also, Oysters on the Half Shell are $1 each and Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail are $2 each piece during the Prime Time Happy Hour.

Pretty solid Happy Hour deal right on Rittenhouse Row.

The Palm at the Bellevue [Official Site]

Time to make it count. (Photo courtesy Table 31)

Don’t look now, but it’s getting dangerously close to the end of summer.

Case in point: this Wednesday, August 25th, is the last Center City Sips of the season!

So make sure you take advantage. $4 cocktails, $3 wine, $2 beers and half-price appetizers at some of Center City’s best bars and restaurants, with some establishments even offering a 15% dinner discount after 7 p.m.

Center City Sips [Official Site]

Amuse at the Le Méridien Philadelphia Hotel. (Photo courtesy of Le Méridien)

Today, Amuse at Le Méridien Philadelphia debuted their new Three Martini Lunch featuring three martinis, Onion Soup Amuse and the brasserie’s signature Steak Frites — all for just $30.

The Three Martini Lunch will be available now through September, during the hours of 11:30 a.m. through 2 p.m., and the menu will feature six martini options:

- The Dirty Martini: Svedka, olive juice and regular or Blue cheese stuffed green olives

- The Classic Vodka Martini: Stolichnaya, dry vermouth and regular or blue cheese stuffed green olives

- Cosmopolitan: Skyy, Cointreau cranberry and fresh lime juice

- Citrus Martini: Skyy citrus, with fresh lemon juice and Cointreau

- French Martini: Belvedere, Chambord and pineapple juice

- Parisienne: Hendrick’s, dry vermouth and crème de cassis, shaken up.

Take your time while enjoying your martinis, Amuse is offering Three Martini Lunch vouchers, which will allow you to redeem any remaining drinks within 30 days. Nice.

Amuse [Official Site]
Le Méridien [Visit Philly]

Huge Cocktail @ Rum Bar

Recently the owner and chief mixologist of Rum Bar, Adam Kanter, served us up the tastiest, most popular, and most unique rum cocktails that he has on his summer tiki cocktail list. I will preface the following individual drink descriptions by saying that each and every cocktail we tried is truly unlike any other drink I’ve ever had. No lie. A huge four thumbs up from me and Lauren.

The Biscayne Bomber was delicious, made with Bacardi Limon, Triple Sec, OJ, lemon and Rum Bar’s own bitters. Adam not only makes his own bitters, but the place infuses its own rum (they currently have a kiwi and a pineapple infusion). The Bomber is sweet like candy with a hint of sour and goes down very smoothly.

My favorite of the myriad cocktails was the award-winning Floating Rum Shack made with Bacardi Superior, Crème de Banana, Orange Curacao, lime & cranberry juice, and a float of Bacardi 160! This drink was literally served on fire! I felt like it was my birthday blowing out the flaming rum shot, and the best gift was indulging in the sweet, fruity rum drink.

Coconut Shrimp @ Rum Bar

The fun music, people, and general atmosphere of Rum Bar solidify why this will soon top my list of favorite places to drink in Philly. Don’t forget the yummy food, either, like the spice-y jerk chicken quesadillas and the jumbo coconut shrimp (so good, even my non-seafood eating friend liked ‘em!).

Stop by Rum Bar for their all night happy hour with daily specials, hang with the super-friendly staff, say hello to the knower-of-all-things-rum Adam and maybe get yourself a Rum Bar Passport. I’ll leave it to you to find out what that is. Did I mention Rum Bar has something like 180 rums from 23 countries? I know you’re intrigued. Go party like a pirate.

Rum Bar Lounge & Restaurant
2005 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 751-0404
www.rum-bar.com

(Photo courtesy Devil's Den)

This week, South Philly gastropub Devil’s Den is pouring all things tart, sour and downright puckery. They’ve devoted one entire draft tower (that’s eight taps total) to an array of acidic brews that will quench your thirst and cool you down. You’ll find Petrus Aged Pale Ale, Cantillion Kriek 100% Lambic, Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca, St. Louis Gueze, Russian River Consecration, Monstre Rouge, Zuur and Bell’s Oarsman.

There’s also a special menu that pairs a four-course, seasonal menu with some of the beers on tap. This tasty-sounding repast (see the full menu after the jump), is just $42.

Devil’s Den
1148 S. 11th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 339-0855
devilsdenphilly.com

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Bridget Foy's boasts excellent outdoor dining on South Sreet. (Photo courtesy Bridget Foy's)

Bridget Foy’s is one place you’ll want frequent this summer to experience the taste of the season.

Start off with the refreshing Watermelon Gazpacho. Served cold with mint and blueberries, it’s guaranteed to cool your palate. Then, order the Softshell Crab for an exquisite taste of the sea blended with fruit and cheese flavors.

Sitting atop a bed of rice, blanketed with a rich sauce and topped with a delicious summery salsa, the Softshell Crab will have your mouth watering at just the description. The experience only gets better when you bite in.

The specials don’t stop at the dinner plate. Make sure to try the Peach and Blackberry Cobbler, made with crystallized ginger and served warm in a skillet with cold, creamy Bassett’s Vanilla Ice Cream on top.

Bridget Foy’s regular menu also serves up traditional summer favorites like a cool, fresh goat cheese salad, with mixed greens, berries, goat cheese, spiced walnuts and white balsamic vinaigrette. Craving something a little more hearty? Try the turkey burger, packed with avocado aioli, gruyere, alfalfa sprouts and topped with cranberry relish.

The food isn’t the only way to soak up summer at Bridget Foy’s. With a Boardwalk-esque outdoor dining area, you can feel like you are on vacation while enjoying the weather and the sights. The restaurant is located on South Street—a prime spot for observing and participating in the excitement of the city.

Bridget Foy’s
200 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147-2306
(215) 922-1813
www.bridgetfoys.com

Upstairs @ Le Bar Lyonnais

Want to enjoy a sophisticated happy hour without having to pay the sophisticated price? Head over to Le Bec Fin’s Le Bar Lyonnais for some fancy and low-priced cocktails and bar bites.

You’ll enjoy $6 specialty drinks like the Pink Lady, made with vodka, homemade grenadine and lemon juice. The price doesn’t compromise the mixture. The drinks are made strong, but the taste is perfectly mixed as to not be too overpowering. Accompany any drink with one of four $5 bites. You can nosh on delicious foods like Shrimp Tempura or Duck Rillettes without spending too much of your hard earned cash—I spent less than $15! And this isn’t typical bar food. There’s no grease, no plastic baskets and no question of taste.

This also isn’t your typical bar scene. Le Bar Lyonnais, located below Le Bec Fin, is dimly lit, with rich tones, candles and soothing French music pouring out of the speakers. The ambiance is laid back, classic and elegant, with a touch of mystery and romance any French establishment should have.

Happy hour is Monday through Friday, 5-7 pm.

Le Bec Fin
1523 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 567-1000
www.lebecfin.com

The Upstairs 'Mezz' Bar @ Union Trust

Though I’d salivated every time I’d walked past, I’d never actually been to Union Trust Steakhouse before. I had never ventured inside the restaurant, housed in a former bank with magnificent vaulted ceilings, because I’d thought of it as a fine dining establishment with an extravagant atmosphere that I’d have to plunk down quite the pretty penny to enjoy.

Luckily I’m not thinking that way anymore, after stopping by for a happy hour that turned into dinner. The steakhouse has two sophisticated bars, one situated on the first floor amongst the tables of diners, and another on the mezzanine, a flight of stairs above the main level of the restaurant, which affords separation from the diners and a quieter, more intimate feel – along with fabulous overlooking views of the amazing space.

This upper bar is where Center City Sips takes place on Wednesday evenings – check it out for a great introduction to the venue. What I loved about Union Trust was how easy it was to sit down at the bar for a cocktail and then segue into a bunch of delicious appetizers that can fill you up and delight your taste buds while make you feel indulgent… all without breaking the bank.

A fan of fruity drinks, I wet my whistle with a Jalé Berry (pronounced like the actress), a berrylicious blend of blackberries, jalapeno, fresh lemon, and Bombay Sapphire. My boyfriend chose a John Daly from the formidable drink list, which anyone who likes Arnold Palmers will love: fresh lemonade mixed with earl grey infused Bluecoat gin.

Raw Oysters @ Union Trust

If you’re the least bit hungry after tippling, do yourself a favor and order up some apps. You’ll get a basket of warm breads including Philly pretzels (with mustard!), ciabatta, and phenomenally delicious cheddar garlic biscuits.

There’s a great selection of both meat and seafood-focused food. You can never go wrong with raw oysters, especially the Latin “Smoked” Oysters, which magically carry the essence of BBQ and are topped with a dollop of avocado for added creaminess.

Salmon Carpaccio

Sticking to the raw fish, the King Salmon Carpaccio is a whole plate of delicately sliced fish with a pile of frisee salad in the middle, all topped off with soy truffle vinaigrette. You’ll never look at a piece of lox the same way again.

Bacon & Scallops

If you’re into both fish and meat, you have to try the scallops and bacon. Perfectly seared sea scallops (just the right combo of sweetness salty crispiness) come alongside cubes of bacon-ized pork belly. I savored each bite as long as humanly possible.

For the true meat eater (this is a steakhouse after all), the Kobe Short Ribs are unbelievably tender, falling apart into flavorful morsels at the mere touch of a fork. If you really want to feel like you’re eating a full meal in the fancy joint, don’t forget dessert (I recommend the s’mores, which are inspired by – but so much more than – the classic campfire treat).

With the fabulous appetizers and elegant bars at Union Trust, there’s no excuse not to turn them into an extremely classy dinner!

Union Trust
717 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 925-6000
www.uniontruststeakhouse.com