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Enjoy an exclusive evening of Route 6 Chef DiRienzo's delicious cuisine prepared with crisp craft beer.
(Photo courtesy Route 6)

Stephen Starr’s Route 6 is hosting a one-night-only special beer dinner featuring the New Hampshire-based nano-brewery White Birch Brewing, Wednesday, March 7, the first event of its kind at the recently opened restaurant.

The four-course menu prepared by acclaimed Chef Anthony DiRienzo will feature plates like Smoked Bluefish Dip and Smoked Cod and Mussel Cassoulet, paired with craft brews from White Birch, including Route 6’s own proprietary blended ESB Ale.

The dinner is $50 per person.

Seats are very limited; reserve your spot by calling the restaurant at (215) 391-4600.

Check out the full menu, below.

Route 6 and White Birch Brewing Beer Dinner
When: Wednesday, March 7, 6-8 p.m.
Where: 600 N. Broad Street
Cost: $50
More info: www.route6restaurant.com

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UPDATE: We just received late word that Love Park has cancelled this event.

There are so many excuses to celebrate in February: Valentine’s Day, Groundhog’s Day and the anticipation of Spring. Plus, there’s this: Winter Fest 2012 in Love Park.

On Saturday, February 11, from 1-5 p.m., you’ll find some of Philly’s favorite gourmet food trucks and brews like Guapos Tacos, Mini Trini, Buttercream Cupcake, Say Cheese Philadelphia and Yards Brewery gathered in the park serving helpings of all-you-can-eat-and-drink options for ticket-holders to degust.

Live music and Philadelphia’s RAW: Natural Born Artists will also be on board showcasing an exhibit entitled “Art Walk” for viewing and purchasing pleasures alike.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online or at the Fairmount Park Welcome Center in Love Park.

LOVE Park Winter Fest 2012
Where: LOVE Park, 15th Street & JFK Blvd.
When: Saturday, February 11, 1-5 p.m.
Cost: $20
More info: www.events.membersolutions.com

Chef Vetri says Alla Spina's look will be that of a converted car garage: lots of metal, wood, earth colors and graffiti. (Photo courtesy Marc Vetri)

Fresh off the resounding four-bell affirmation of Vetri in this Sunday’s Inquirer — in which critic Craig LaBan gushed: “the fact that [Chef Marc] Vetri refuses to rest on his classics is at the heart of why he remains a singular leader for his generation and why his namesake restaurant remains our very best” — Chef Vetri is busy preparing for the opening of his newest restaurant, Alla Spina.

Vetri and crew are now targeting February 27 as opening day for their latest venture.

Alla Spina will join Stephen Starr’s Route 6 as one of two new restaurants putting down roots in what used to be an old automobile dealership at Broad and Mount Vernon. And Marc Vetri is taking that theme pretty literally, saying that the look of Alla Spina “is basically a converted car garage. Lots of metal, wood, earth colors, graffiti. But you’ll feel [the] Italian theme.”

The main entrance will be on Mount Vernon, not Broad Street, right next to Route 6′s main entrance. Alla Spina will also boast three large garage doors that look out onto Mount Vernon Street. We’re guessing they’ll be open when the weather is right.

Both Vetri and Chef Jeff Michaud of Osteria took to Twitter recently to share progress inside the restaurant and bar, teasing photos of one of Alla Spina’s signature design pieces: an inside wall custom tagged by a graffiti artist.

Graffiti and a brand new tap system? Opening can’t be very far.

Alla Spina [Official Site]

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.
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Iron Hill's brand new Chestnut Hill location is hosting its inaugural beer release event next Friday, February 10. (Photo courtesy Chestnut Hill)

What do you get when you combine chocolate, beer and employees sporting green hair and orange skin?

Iron Hill Bewery’s Oopma Loompa Stout release party.

For its very first brew event, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant in Chestnut Hill, the most recent of nine locations to open, will treat guests with samples of their newest creation, Oompa Loompa Stout, from head brewer Paul Rutherford on Friday, February 10 from 5-8 p.m.

A medium-bodied chocolate stout that’s been aged for two weeks on Madagascar vanilla beans and cocoa nibs, Oompa Loompa Stout will be passed around for tastings by employees dressed as those odd little characters from the book and film, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (we weren’t kidding you).

To top it off, guests can also indulge in house-made chocolate truffles and purchase 16 oz. mugs of the stout.

No golden ticket is required for entrance.

Enjoy the chocolatey experience, but try not to pull an Augustus Gloop and be the first to get ejected from the factory for “over-indulging”.

Iron Hill Brewery Oompa Loompa Stout Release
Where: 8400 Germantown Avenue
When: Friday, February 10, 5-8 p.m.
Cost: Free tastings
More info: www.ironhillbrewery.com

UPDATE: EVENT NOW MOVED TO FALL 2012.

“Burgers and Brews,” Philly’s inaugural fundraiser for CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, will take place at Trust in Old City this Saturday, February 4, from 7-11 p.m.

Sample and savor the best burgers the city has to offer, complemented by a wide selection of premium beers, all while raising money for CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, a national non-profit foundation which funds children’s cancer research.

Sink your teeth into an assortment of mouth-watering burgers prepared by some of Philly’s finest restaurants including Devil’s Alley, Smoking Betty’s, Triumph Brewing Company, Rembrandt’s and more and wash it all down with thirst-quenching ice cold brews.

A live auction will top off the evening with items up for bid like four tickets to anywhere Southwest Airlines flies; an Elite Island Resorts Caribbean 7-night complimentary resort accommodation (airfare not included); tickets to Philly sports team events; and gift certificates to your favorite Philly restaurants.

Make a difference in the lives of the more than 40,000 children, adolescents, and young adults who undergo treatment for children’s cancer each year, while you dine and drink to your heart’s content.

Burgers and Brews
When: Saturday, February 4, 7-11 p.m. UPDATE: EVENT NOW MOVED TO FALL 2012.
Where: Trust, 249 Arch Street
Cost: Tickets start at $75
More info: www.phillyfoodandbeer.com

Draft Magazine has released its list of the 100 Best Beer Bars in America and good news: Philadelphia is well represented. Included in the list are six Philadelphia bars: the Grey Lodge Pub in Northeast Philadelphia, Memphis Taproom in Fishtown, Monk’s and Tria in Center City, Eulogy in Old City and Standard Tap in Northern Liberties. It’s a good start. What would make your list of the best beer bars in Philadelphia? There are clearly plenty of choices. Let us know in the comments. Post Updated. [Draft Magazine]

Beef up your appetite for this Sunday’s drink and drining extravaganza at the South Philly Taproom.

Chef Scott Schroeder is hosting the bar’s 4th annual “Beef & Beer” event, $50 for all-you-can-eat, well, beef and beer.

Feast upon a gourmet beef buffet with all the fixins’ prepared by Schroeder, and drink firkins from your favorite local breweries.

Purchase tickets in person call (215) 271-7787.

South Philadelphia Taproom’s Beef & Beer Event
When: Sunday, January 29, 4-8 p.m.
Where: 1509 Mifflin Street
Cost: $50 All You Can Eat and Drink
More info: www.southphiladelphiataproom.com

Iron Hill Brewery has a wide selection of Belgian beer, which will be showcased this weekend. (Photo courtesy Iron Hill)

Want the best in Belgium brews without the hassle of an awkward TSA pat-down?

Then head to Iron Hill Brewery in West Chester this Saturday, January 28 for the annual Belgium Comes to West Chester beer event. This pay-as-you-go brew extravaganza celebrates the best in Belgium style beers from Iron Hill and other regional breweries.

Other breweries that are scheduled to be there include Devil’s Backbone Brewing Company, Dogfish Head, Harpoon, Flying Fish, Manayunk Brewing Company, Nodding Head, Philadelphia Brewing Company, Sly Fox Brewing Company, Stoudt’s Brewing Company, Troegs, Victory Brewing Company, Weyerbacher and Yards Brewing Company.

The doors open at 1 p.m. unless you are a member of the Iron Hill Mug Club; then you can show up at noon. Beers start at $6.50.

Belgium Comes to West Chester 2012
Where: Iron Hill Brewery, 3 West Gay Street, West Chester
When: Saturday, January 28, starting at 1 p.m.
Cost: Beers start at $6.50
More info: www.ironhillbrewery.com

Set your alarm clock for Grey Lodge Pub’s annual Groundhog Day Hawaiian Shirt Beer Breakfast.

Chase away the winter blahs with this annual event, which starts off at 7 a.m.

Cheer on Punxsutawney Phil as he makes his official announcement at 7:20 a.m., and enjoy 10 great beers on tap (mostly local: think Yards, Sly Fox, Philadelphia, Ommegang and Sierra Nevada) specially for little Phil’s moment of glory.

There will be special events with a different brewery every hour, including a Hawaiian shirt contest, a hula hoop contest and more.

Need even more incentive? Grey Lodge will break out a case of Founders CBS that they’ve been saving for almost a whole year for the occasion.

The brew will be first come, first serve, and there are only twelve 25 oz. bottles. Game on!

Groundhog Day at Grey Lodge Pub
When: Thursday, February 2, starting at 7 a.m.
Where: 6235 Frankford Avenue
Cost: Pay as you go
More info: www.greylodge.com