The Latest Dish…

The Latest Dish on Philadelphia Area Restaurants, Chefs and Food

4th of July Lobster Bake at Blackfish: 4 Courses for $45 Monday, June 29, 2009

Filed under: Food and Restaurants — thelatestdish @ 2:08 pm

4th of July Lobster Bake: 4 Courses for $45___________

Celebrate July 4th with Blackfish, where Chef Chip Roman has created his version of the traditional “Lobster Bake.”

Lobster Bake Menu includes 4 courses for $45 (plus tax and gratuity) and will be served on Saturday, July 4th from 5:00PM – 10:00PM.


A la carte menu is also available. Call 610-397-0888 for reservations.

Sample Lobster Bake Menu

first course: lobster corn chowder

second course: lobster “slider”

third course: short rib stuffed grilled lobster tail

fourth course: red, white & blue cobbler

NEW Mid-Week Special: 3 Courses for $40_________________

Chef Chip Roman is pleased to offer a NEW mid-week
menu for $40 (plus tax and gratuity). This special menu is available to guests with reservations beginning at 8:00PM
every Wednesday and Thursday through Labor Day.

Offerings will change each week upon the chef’s selection.


A la carte menu is also available. Dinner is served from 5:00PM – 10:00PM. Call 610-397-0888 for reservations.

Sample Mid-Week Menu:
first course: chilled pea soup, lobster, mint
~ or ~
sautéed hudson valley foie gras, compressed rhubarb,
grains of paradise, candied ginger

second course: cape may skate wing, swiss chard, cherry tomato
~ or ~
agnolotti (meat stuffed pasta dumpling), toasted butter, sage

third course: warm chocolate cake with house made ice cream
~ or ~
vanilla crème brulee

Tuesday Chef’s Tasting: 4 Courses for $45________________

Every Tuesday, Blackfish chef/owner Chip Roman will create a 4 Course Chef’s Tasting Menu for $45 per person (plus tax and gratuity). The menu will focus on a single ingredient each week.

Upcoming chef’s tastings include blue crab July 7, local corn July 14 & tomato July 21. Call 610-397-0888 for information and reservations.

119 Fayette Street * Consohocken, PA * 19428 * 610-397-0888
blackfishrestaurant.com

Summer Hours of Operation______________________

Blackfish offers dinner Tuesday – Saturday from 5:00PM – 10:00PM. Closed Sunday and Mondays.

Be sure to visit the new Blackfish Restaurant & Bar in Stone Harbor, NJ

Blackfish Stone Harbor * 9628 Third Avenue * 609-967-9100
blackfishstoneharbor.com

 

Happy Hour, Alfresco Dining & Manayunk Arts Fest at Cooper’s Thursday, June 25, 2009

Filed under: Food and Restaurants — thelatestdish @ 10:18 am

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Cooper’s NEW Happy Hour Everyday of the Week!
775.jpg
Cooper’s, Manayunk’s premiere wine bar, is now offering Happy Hour 7 days a week from 4pm – 6pm. Check out the best burger in town for just $4, as well as $5 specialty cocktails, $4 glasses of wine and $3 local brews.

Happy Hour Menu:
(available everyday from 4pm – 6pm)

$4 Baby Burger
5 oz USDA prime, crimini mushrooms, caramelized onions
& cheddar cheese

“His awesome new “Jake burger,” a 10-ounce pillow of meltingly rich prime beef topped with an oozy flow of caramelized onions, mushrooms and Lancaster cheddar, is already becoming a popular item…”
- Craig Laban, Philadelphia Inquirer Restaurant Critic

$2 Bar Snacks
House Marinated Olives
Brown Bag Potato Chips
Sweet & Savory Assorted Nuts
Roasted Beets

$5 Specialty Cocktails
Raspberry Lemonade
Smirnoff, fresh raspberry, hand-squeezed lemonade

Orange Spiced Arnold Palmer
Smirnoff, spiced orange iced tea, hand-squeezed lemonade

$4 Wines
Tunnel of Elms
Chardonnay & Cabernet Sauvignon

$3 Beers
Philadelphia Brewing Company
Kenzinger bottle & Walt Wit draft

_____________

Al Fresco Dining…AERICK28Z-C

Cooper’s Brick Oven Wine Bar offers a front seat to some of the best people-watching around. Dine on Chef Bruce Cooper’s seasonal pizzas and enjoy a glass of great wine, while taking in the sites of historic Manayunk.

Manayunk Arts Festival is June 27 & 28.  Stop by for Jake’s famous crab cake sandwich. Just $8 all day (or $10 with homemade lemonade).
_____________

Cooper’s Taking Reservations!

Due to popular demand, Cooper’s is pleased to take your reservation requests. Based upon availability, tables will be reserved in the window-front room of Jake’s where guests are welcome to order off of either Jake’s or Cooper’s menus!

For reservations call 215.215.483.0444.
___________

FREE Parking for Jake’s & Cooper’s

Receive complimentary parking when dining at Jake’s or Cooper’s. Just park in lot “C” located at Main & Levering Streets, have your ticket validated and receive a full refund on your cost for parking!

You can also park in any Main Street parking lot every Monday – Thursday FREE until 3:00pm!

Jake’s & Cooper’s * Main Street Manayunk * Philadelphia, PA 19127 * 215.483.0444 * jakesrestaurant.com

 

Today’s Inquirer features Avril, new BYOB in Bala Thursday, June 25, 2009

Filed under: Food and Restaurants — thelatestdish @ 10:04 am

Michael Klein’s Table Talk column features, Avril…A new BYOB from former Daily News food editor and her chef husband:

Rooster Logo FINAL

Avril – French for April – is the name of a 50-seat white-tablecloth BYOB being planned at 134 Bala Ave. in Bala Cynwyd by April Lisante, who spent 10-plus years as a reporter, food writer, and editor at the Philadelphia Daily News, and her husband, Christian Gatti. Food will be provincial southern French with a little northern Italian, including homemade pasta and bread plus flatbread from a pizza oven. Appetizers will be in the $8-to-$12 range, with entrees $22 to $32. They hope to open Aug. 1. Lisante met Gatti on assignment in 2003 for a hot-young-chefs feature. His background includes City Tavern (Concepts by Staib), White Dog Cafe, and Audrey Claire.

 

Lobster, Libations & Live Music at Stella Blu Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Filed under: Food and Restaurants — thelatestdish @ 3:52 pm


Sizzling Summer Specials from Stella Blu…
Lobster, Libations & Live Music Thursday, Friday & Saturday Nights


Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night:

lobster 2
Lobster Fest ~

Enjoy a whole Maine lobster, linguini aioli and tomato basil salad for just $24.95.

New summer wine list ~
Select bottles of wine are just $20

Late Night Live Music & Drink Specials ~
Starting at 9PM enjoy live acoustic music, while sipping on $5 specialty cocktails and $8 wine flights.

The Star Bar is a great alternative for cocktails, conversation and live acoustic music.

______________________________________


logosHappy Hour: Drink Specials &
1/2 Price Small Plates


Check out Stella Blu’s Star Bar where Happy Hour specials are offered Monday – Friday from 5-7PM (available at the bar only).


Half-off Small Plates
Enjoy 1/2 off all small plates

Flight Nights
Your choice of 3 wines by the glass
(2 ounces each)  $8

Martini Madness

Choose from 5 different martinis  $5


______________________________________

Stimulate your appetite with the
NEW Italian Delight Menu!


Stimulate your appetite with Stella Blu’s new Italian Delight Menu. The new Italian menu will be offered for dinner beginning at 5:00pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.

All entrees are priced under $20 and include soup or a salad and garlic bread.

Italian Delight Menu
Garlic bread
Choice of: White Bean and Escarole Soup or House Salad

Entrees
Spaghetti and Mama Mary’s Meatballs in our slow cooked gravy 14

Cheese Ravioli and meatballs 15

Fettuccine Alfredo with grilled chicken 16

Mussels Fra Diavlo 16

Potato Gnocchi with sweet sausage and Broccoli Rabe aioli 16

Penne Vodka with Prosciutto, red onion in a tomato vodka blush sauce 18

Shrimp Scampi over linguini 19

Call 610-825-7060 for reservations.

____________________________________________________


Offering Pick-up & Delivery for
Bella Luna Customers

Bella Luna is temporarily closed for construction. During this time, you can order your favorite Bella Luna sandwiches, salads,wraps and more from Stella Blu.

Pizza is only available on Friday nights while Bella Luna is under construction.

Call 610.825.7151 for pick-up or delivery at Stella Blu Mon – Fri from 11AM – 3PM.

And check out Stella Blu’s new Lunch Menu featuring even more great salads and sandwiches! Call 610.825.7060 to make reservations.

101 Ford Street * West Conshohocken, PA 19428 * 610-825-7060
stellablurestaurant.com

 

Upcoming Chef Tastings at Blackfish: 4 Courses for $45 Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Filed under: Food and Restaurants — thelatestdish @ 11:55 am

BLACKFISH Chef’s Tasting: 4 Courses for $45_____

Every Tuesday, Blackfish chef/owner Chip Roman will create a 4 Course Chef’s Tasting Menu for $45 per person (plus tax and gratuity). The menu will focus on a single ingredient each week.

Upcoming Chef Tastings________________________________________

Tuesday, June 30 – A Tasting of Short Ribs

First Course:
short rib ravioli, cardamom scented juice

Second Course:
short rib croquette, pickled ramp, sour cream

Third Course:
smoked short rib, warm red onion

Fourth Course:
baba st. germain, fresh local berries

__________________________

Tuesday, July 7 sample menu – A Tasting of Blue Crab

First Course:
blue crab, cantaloupe, verbena

Second Course:
blue crab consommé, dumpling

Third Course:
pan fried soft-shell crab, green tomato, sumac remoulade

Fourth Course:
chocolate terrine, pistachio, salt

__________________________

Tuesday, July 14 sample menu – Tasting of Local Corn

First Course:
foie gras ravioli, fresh corn polenta

Second Course:
corn soup, pickled baby corn

Third Course:
halibut, corn pancake, chamomile emulsion

Fourth Course:
sweet corn crème brulee

__________________________

Tuesday, July 21 sample menu – A Tasting of Tomato

First Course:
Tomato gazpacho consommé

Second Course:
marinated sardines, tomato confit, basil

Third Course:
sous-vide pork belly, oven dried tomato

Fourth Course:
yellow tomato sorbet, aged balsamic

A la carte menu is also available. Dinner is served from 5:00PM – 10:00PM.
Call 610-397-0888 for information and reservations.

Summer Hours of Operation______________________


Blackfish offers dinner Tuesday – Saturday from 5pm – 10pm.

Closed Sunday and Mondays.


About Blackfish BYOB______________________________

Chef/owner Charles “Chip” Roman describes Blackfish as seafood centered, progressive American cuisine with French influences.

Blackfish was voted Top 10 Restaurant in Philadelphia two years in a row and Best Restaurant Suburbs by Philadelphia Magazine. As well Best New BYOB by Mainline Life. Blackfish also received 3 Bells by acclaimed restaurant critic, Craig Laban.

119 Fayette Street * Consohocken, PA * 19428 * 610-397-0888
blackfishrestaurant.com

 

Michael Klein features the new Bar Savona in today’s Table Talk Thursday, June 18, 2009

Filed under: Food and Restaurants — thelatestdish @ 11:50 am
New bar area with outside seating at Savona. The renovation fea- tures natural materials, soft colors, carved-out romantic spaces.
DAVID SWANSON / Staff Photographer
New bar area with outside seating at Savona. The renovation fea- tures natural materials, soft colors, carved-out romantic spaces.

Table Talk: Gulph Mills’ Savona gets top-to-bottom redo

By Michael Klein

After 12 years, Evan Lambert said, Savona, his posh Main Line staple (100 Old Gulph Rd., Gulph Mills, 610-520-1200), needed to “evolve.”

The reconceptualization, a top-to-bottom renovation completed last month, was not intended to be trendy in any way, says Lambert, who got L.A. designer Ann Vering to use natural materials and a soft color palette.

They carved out small, romantic spaces for the special-occasion crowd that craves chef Andrew Masciangelo’s regional Italian cuisine. (Most entrees are $36 to $42.)

They expanded the bar area to occupy part of the first and second floors, and now seat patrons on the patio. The casual menu, with most dishes well under $20, includes charcoal-fired pizzas; hot and cold appetizers (such as polenta with mushrooms, and a frisee with poached egg, bacon and potato traditional); risotto and its Tuscan counterpart farrotto; pastas; and mains (salmon, veal Milanese, pork chop).

 

SAVONA EVOLVES WITH THE NEW BAR SAVONA Thursday, June 18, 2009

Filed under: Food and Restaurants — thelatestdish @ 11:38 am

SAVONA EVOLVES WITH BAR SAVONA

…a second casual dining option at Savona Restaurant


Evan Lambert, owner of Savona Restaurant, announces the opening of Bar Savona, a second casual dining alternative to the luxury dining Savona has offered for over a decade. The new Bar Savona offers guests an affordable “farm to table” regional Italian menu in a new relaxed bar and outdoor patio.

“After 12 years of great success, it was time for Savona to evolve,” explains Lambert. “Affordable luxury is where it’s at and new Bar Savona will set the stage.”

For the Bar Savona menu, Executive Chef Andrew Masciangelo went back to his roots to create seasonally inspired regional Italian dishes, comprised of farm-fresh ingredients with clean, earthy flavors that pay homage to his Abruzzese heritage.

Chef Masciangelo employs the same high-quality, farm-fresh ingredients he grew up with to create traditional dishes as Golden Fried Artichoke Hearts with lemon zest and sea salt, Hand Cut Pappardelle Bolognese, as well as Wood-fired Duroc Pork with asparagus, farro and mustard jus.

A new charcoal oven will turn out classic thin crust pizzas, such as Margherita, Vongole and Napoletana.

Simultaneously, Chef Masciangelo’s culinary team creates Savona’s daily menu of rarefied dishes that have earned the restaurant the highest of praise.

Savona has been recognized by Wine Spectator Magazine with its Best of Award of Excellence for 10 consecutive years, thanks to the 1,100-bottle wine menu, which is the largest in the state.

Bar Savona is open Monday to Saturday, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.


100 Old Gulph Road * Gulph Mills, Pa 19428 * 610-520-1200 * savonarestaurant.com

barsavona.com coming soon!


 

Philly Inquirer’s Rick Nichols on Susanna Foo moving on Thursday, June 18, 2009

Filed under: Food and Restaurants — thelatestdish @ 10:47 am

MICHAEL BRYANT /Staff Photographer
Susanna Foo by the distinctive windows looking out on Walnut Street. A final dinner Saturday for 200 emotional customers put a period to 22 years there, serving groundbreaking Chinese-French fusion fare.

On the Side: Susanna Foo, moving on

Family, a suburban restaurant, her garden all need her. But closing the landmark Walnut Street dining room is not as simple as turning a key.

By Rick Nichols

Inquirer Food Columnist

In one breath, Susanna Foo explains that she is leaving these elegant digs on Walnut Street, closing her eponymous landmark of a dining room – the wellspring of her groundbreaking style of French-Chinese fusion – because she needs to “simplify.”

She is vigorous still, at 65. But she was stressed from splitting herself – sometimes it almost seemed literally – between the Center City kitchen and her sleeker, newer (since 2006) Radnor restaurant, which will remain open.

There’s another reason to stay closer to her Main Line home: Her husband’s health is not what it once was; a worrisome unsteadiness has crept into his gait.

She has two toddler grandchildren, too, now living closer to her one-acre spread in Radnor Township (a soothing, 15-minute walk down a wooded trail to Susanna Foo Gourmet Kitchen).

And there is, of course – and she dwells on this – her garden, festooned with white and golden and red roses and lilies, their needs requiring early-morning attention.

One recent day she walked through the garden with her 3-year-old granddaughter, encountering a nest of baby birds, beaks open wide, and branches pink with cherry blossoms, and came to a pond teeming with dark shapes.

Nye-nye,” the little girl asked, using the Chinese endearment for grandmother, “what kind of fish are they?”

“They are tadpoles.”

Nye-nye, what is a tadpole?

“It is going to be a frog.”

Nye-nye, what is a frog?”

Susanna Foo beams, a slow, broad, silent smile.

So, yes, she says, it makes sense for her to downshift, to close (as Susanna Foo, the dining room, did last Saturday evening, 200 sentimental customers dining on lobster in vodka-infused sauce and tea-smoked duck; tears staining the napkins and menus).

But it was admittedly not an easy thing, dismantling 22 years of history. She could not sign the papers to sell the building at first, her stomach churning, she says, until her sons gently told her it was OK – it was the right thing to do: The bricks are said to be worth more than $4 million more today than when the Foos bought the place, for $750,000, in 1991.

Oy, the daunting immensity of just emptying it out – hauling out the files and the books, the painted Chinese plates that patrons keep wanting to buy, the silky balloon of a lantern that hovers like a big ivory moon over the intimate Empress Room.

But in the next breath, Susanna Foo ponders more projects – a famous chef’s dinner, maybe this fall? A modest dumpling and noodle house?

Simplifying can be complicated business.

It is two days before lights out, and Susanna Foo is sipping a crisp white wine (Shoofly, Buzz Cut 2007, an Australian blend) in the restaurant waiting lounge, looking out the tall, arched windows onto Walnut Street at 15th.

An old customer, looking in, catches a glimpse, reacting – palms cupped to her face – as if she’d just seen Emeril.

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1/2 Off Dumplings & Sushi at Susanna Foo Friday, June 12, 2009

Filed under: Food and Restaurants — thelatestdish @ 1:24 pm


Happy Hour: 1/2 Off Sushi & Dumplings & BYOB Sundays at Susanna Foo



If you’re looking for affordable, local organic, healthy Asian cuisine, look no further than Susanna Foo Gourmet Kitchen in Radnor, where Susanna Foo is putting her heart and soul into every dish…

Happy Hour: 1/2 Off Dumplings, Sushi & Sake Starting at $3

Monday through Friday from 5:00 – 7:00 pm Susanna Foo Gourmet Kitchen offers 1/2 off!

Monday & Wednesday: Sushi & sake starting at $3
Tuesday & Thursday: Dumplings starting at $3
Friday: 1/2 off sushi & dumplings!

Happy Hour drink specials include $3 bottles of beer, $5 glasses of wine and $6 cocktails.

_________________________________________

Sunday is BYOB & 1/2 Off Dumplings

Each Sunday Susanna Foo Gourmet Kitchen is BYOB with no corkage fee.

In addition, all dumplings are *1/2 off.

Susanna Foo’s a la carte dinner menu features handcrafted dumplings, special sushi and creative Asian and Chinese
dishes.

*Offer available with the purchase of an entree.

_________________________________________

Al Fresco Dining


With the beautiful spring weather upon us, Susanna Foo Gourmet Kitchen features two beautiful garden courtyards for al fresco dining.

Kick back, enjoy the fine weather and the affordable creative Asian cuisine at Susanna Foo Gourmet Kitchen.


555 East Lancaster Ave. * Radnor, PA * 19087 * 610.688.8808
www.susannafoo.com


About Susanna Foo Gourmet Kitchen____________________________

The setting at Susanna Foo Gourmet Kitchen is chic. But, the cost is affordable. Susanna offers a wide selection of dumplings, sushi, small dishes and sophisticated entrees with a focus on fresh
and healthy dishes. Farm fresh produce is personally selected by Susanna from the market everyday.

Susanna’s blend of fresh, seasonal ingredients, classical culinary techniques and Chinese cuisine quickly captured the attention of the culinary world. In 1988, Esquire magazine named Susanna Foo Chinese Cuisine one of the country’s best new restaurants; in 1989, Food & Wine named her one of America’s 10 Best New Chefs. In 1995, she authored her first cookbook, Susanna Foo Chinese Cuisine, which received the James Beard Foundation’s International Cookbook Award in 1996, and was followed in 1997 by her second James Beard Award for Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic Region.

 

Daily News Healthiest Happy Hours: Ansill, Fri Sat Sun, Susanna Foo Thursday, June 11, 2009

Filed under: Food and Restaurants — thelatestdish @ 1:35 pm

DailyNews

Healthy happy hours: Taste & value mark a new generation of bar snacks

By BETH D’ADDONO
Philadelphia Daily News

For the Daily News

WHEN I WAS in my 20s, I never cooked dinner. Instead, I’d go out after work with my pals and graze at various bars, slurping up half-priced drinks and munching on questionable happy-hour buffets.

The food, which was usually brown in color, consisted mostly of UFOs – unidentified fried objects – that may or may not have been poppers, chicken fingers, fried zucchini and the like. The occasional cheesy nacho was an exotic and welcome option.

I cook now, and there’s no way I’m eating that stuff.

Yet I still like to throw back a discounted drink now and then, and we all know that drinking on an empty stomach is bad for your health. Fortunately, the bar is up, way up, on the caliber of snacks offered at many local eateries during happy hour.

Restaurateurs get that the better the eats, the longer a customer is likely to stay on that barstool, so the temptation to linger makes dollars and sense for everybody.

Here’s a look at just a handful of favorite spots for nicely priced snacks – the list goes on and on. Play your cards right, and you may never have to cook again. (more…)

 

Check out Cooper’s & Jake’s in Daily News Eats Beat Column Thursday, June 11, 2009

Filed under: Food and Restaurants — thelatestdish @ 12:53 pm

DailyNews

From Eats Beat Column/Daily News

* Cooper’s Brick Oven Wine Bar offers a front seat for Main Street Manayunk people-watching. Now you can reserve a primo spot – just in time for the Manayunk Arts Festival June 27-28 – by calling 215-483-0444. That’s also the number for Jake’s, Bruce Cooper’s other, more upscale restaurant next door. During the festival, Jake’s $8 crab cake sandwich will be served outside all day ($10 with homemade lemonade).

 

Blackfish Reviewed by Aroundphilly.com Thursday, June 11, 2009

Filed under: Food and Restaurants — thelatestdish @ 12:43 pm


Living in Philadelphia poses a certain set of risks to someone hoping to remain under the radar. Our high standard of living coupled with the limited selection of good restaurants/boyfriends/apartments make dodging familiar faces (or a snapshot on a well-intentioned photog’s society blog) quite a feat. Our answer? Conshohocken’s tasty BYO, Blackfish.

DISCLAIMER: We know Conshy isn’t exactly uncharted territory, nor is it known for top-notch cuisine. But given the 20-mile gap between this little business district and the city, I figured I’d be the only urbanite making the Tuesday evening trip on an all but gridlocked 76 westbound. With that in mind, all it took was a quick Google search for the nearest liquor store (44 Ridge Pike, in case you’re wondering) and a bit of OpenTable action to seal the deal.

The decor is exactly what you’d expect from a seafood restaurant that recently opened a location in the swanky shore town of Stone Harbor. White-washed walls, large windows and wide plank flooring give it a summery feel, while low lighting and close-set tables take it from quaint to de riguer in one fell swoop.

We were seated at a little table against the wall, the perfect spot amidst a sea of raucous business execs fresh from work, but already two bottles past sober. Within moments (seriously, I hadn’t even put my BlackBerry on vibrate yet) our Sauvignon Blanc was iced and uncorked, the fresh bread sliced and served and our specials meticulously outlined–always an impressive feat in a busy restaurant.

Before I move onto the food, let me preface my critique with this: my dining partner is a steak and potatoes kind of guy. He doesn’t like deciphering hard-to-pronounce menu items and if there’s no bread basket, you can pretty much bet that he’ll ask for one… appropriate or not.

The menu was broken down in conventional three-course fashion, offering an array of light dishes that piqued my (mostly) vegetarian appetite. I opted for the asparagus soup, which was slowly poured over what can only be described as a crostini, yielding equal parts crunchy and smooth. My dining cohort decided to forgo course one to chow down on bread, a decision that he later regreted. Tip: If there are three courses, you should order one of each in order to leave sated.

The second course was tasty, but then again, I’ve never seen a restaurant go wrong with risotto. A bit of effort and some serious stirring always seem to yield scrumptiousness from this dish, so though happy, I was unimpresssed.

When the final course arrived, I was slightly nervous. Feeling brazen, I’d opted for the salmon– a dish I generally consider too “fishy” for my taste. Luckily, my selection was well-recieved on every concievable level. The fish was not… fishy, for lack of a better word; rather, it was smoky and tender, a perfect balance for the tangy arugula and savory sauce with which it was paired.

Ah, the mark of a truly great restaurant: the confidence to serve salmon (not some safe grilled veggie dish) to a non-meat eater who wields a sharp-tounge and a byline on a food column. Overall, I left Blackfish full (not sick), happy (not drunk) and perhaps most importantly, totally unnoticed. And my date? Any guy who abadons his usual “manly” dish in search of culinary variety is fine by me.

 

Blackfish Chef Chip Roman featured in Courier Post Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Filed under: Food and Restaurants — thelatestdish @ 11:44 am

smalllogoFish done right on the grill

Correct prep makes for tasty seafood

Grilling fish can make even the most experienced grillmeister feel like he’s swimming upstream.

The grill is too hot or it’s not hot enough. The fish sticks, it flakes, it’s not done, it’s burnt or it falls through the grill onto the coals.

It’s the kind of fish story that makes you want to eat red meat. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Grilling fish is an ideal way to sear in juices and capture the true flavor of seafood at its best. It just takes a little practice to get it right.

The benefits extend beyond all the healthy Omega-3 fatty acids. You also keep the kitchen cool, a huge benefit on swampy, humid days. And grilling is quick. Get the prep down, and you can be grill-to-table in less than an hour, no sweat. (more…)

 

Big Changes at Gypsy Saloon Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Filed under: Food and Restaurants — thelatestdish @ 12:26 pm

GypsyLogo

Big Changes at Gypsy Saloon…
A cool NEW look and lots of NEW specials!

New Community Table…

The folks at Gypsy Saloon have torn down the wall between the bar and dining room to create a new 18 seat community table!

“We wanted to give the space a more open and inviting feel, where people could enjoy either dinner or a drink”, says co-owner Kim Strengari.

The folks at Gypsy Saloon know that everyone is feeling the effects of the economic recession. So, to make your martini go down a little smoother, ALL VODKA DRINK PRICES HAVE BEEN REDUCED $1 – $3.

Come alone or with friends and experience the friendly environment that Gypsy Saloon is known for!

___________________________________

Daily Specials
Monday
All You Can Eat Mussels (choice of red, white or margarita sauce)
Includes house or Caesar salad $16.

Tuesday
Half-off all bottles of wine

WednesdayGypsyOutside
Happy Hour Monday – Friday from 5 – 7pm
$2 draft beer, $5 glasses of wine, $5 martinis & $5 bar menu

Thursday
Mexican Night
Includes Mexican inspired dishes, Dos XX & Coronas $2.50, large pitcher of margaritas with chips & salsa $35

Friday, Saturday & Sunday, too!
1 lb King Crab Legs with Old Bay Fries & Coleslaw $22 (add $5 for extra 1/2 lb)

Saturday
Now open for lunch every Saturday starting at 11:30 am

Sunday
Live music by the mellow sounds of “Teddy”

___________________________________
Live Music: Tatter Tucker & Moog

Friday, June 12 & Friday, July 17


Tattar Tucker & Moog is dedicated to honoring the root of music exploration. Whether it’s traditional blues, ragtime, rock ‘n roll or boogie-woogie, it all comes back to the root. A simple ensemble of drums (Scott Tattar), piano (Paul Tucker) and harmonica (Carol Moog), TT&M takes audiences with them on a trip through the American Roadhouse of beat, melody and honest musical expression.

128 Ford Street * West Conshohocken, PA 19428* 610.828.8494


gypsysaloon.com

 

Intimate Wine Dinner & NEW Happy Hour at Jake’s & Cooper’s… Monday, June 8, 2009

Filed under: Food and Restaurants — thelatestdish @ 12:09 pm

668669
Intimate Wine Dinner & NEW Happy Hour at Jake’s & Cooper’s Brick Oven Wine Bar…

671.jpgRosenblum Wine Dinner: 5 Courses for $55 with Winemaker Kent Rosenblum

Kent Rosenblum of California’s Rosenblum Winery, will visit Jake’s Restaurant for an intimate gathering on Thursday, June 18 at 7:30. Rosenblum will showcase his wines and pair them with Chef Bruce Cooper’s special menu.

Only 20 seats are available for this exclusive wine event. Call 215.483.0444 now for reservations.

Rosenblum Wine Dinner Menu:
5 Courses for $55 (plus tax & gratuity)

first course
halibut ceviche, caramelized corn relish, grapefruit segments
paired with 2008 Sauvignon Blanc

second course
tempura soft shell, rock shrimp pad thai
paired with 2006 Chateau La Paws, White Rhone Blend

third course
grilled quail, summer vegetables, blackberry emulsion
paired with 2006 Paso Robles Zinfandel

fourth course
roast lamb/ stuffed morels, radish, fennel, black olives
paired with 2004 Santa Barbara Syrah

fifth course
chocolate & cherry pate
paired with 2005 Desiree

_____________

Cooper’s NEW Happy Hour Everyday of the Week!
775.jpg
Cooper’s, Manayunk’s premiere wine bar, is now offering Happy Hour 7 days a week from 4pm – 6pm. Check out the best burger in town for just $4, as well as $5 specialty cocktails, $4 glasses of wine and $3 local brews.

Happy Hour Menu:
(available everyday from 4pm – 6pm)

$4 Baby Burger
5 oz USDA prime, crimini mushrooms, caramelized onions
& cheddar cheese

“His awesome new “Jake burger,” a 10-ounce pillow of meltingly rich prime beef topped with an oozy flow of caramelized onions, mushrooms and Lancaster cheddar, is already becoming a popular item…”
- Craig Laban, Philadelphia Inquirer Restaurant Critic

$2 Bar Snacks
House Marinated Olives
Brown Bag Potato Chips
Sweet & Savory Assorted Nuts
Roasted Beets

$5 Specialty Cocktails
Raspberry Lemonade
Smirnoff, fresh raspberry, hand-squeezed lemonade

Orange Spiced Arnold Palmer
Smirnoff, spiced orange iced tea, hand-squeezed lemonade

$4 Wines
Tunnel of Elms
Chardonnay & Cabernet Sauvignon

$3 Beers
Philadelphia Brewing Company
Kenzinger bottle & Walt Wit draft

_____________

Al Fresco Dining…AERICK28Z-C

Cooper’s Brick Oven Wine Bar offers a front seat to some of the best people-watching around. Dine on Chef Bruce Cooper’s seasonal pizzas and enjoy a glass of great wine, while taking in the sites of historic Manayunk.

Manayunk Arts Festival is June 27 & 28.  Stop by for Jake’s famous crab cake sandwich. Just $8 all day (or $10 with homemade lemonade).
_____________

Cooper’s Taking Reservations!

Due to popular demand, Cooper’s is pleased to take your reservation requests. Based upon availability, tables will be reserved in the window-front room of Jake’s where guests are welcome to order off of either Jake’s or Cooper’s menus!

For reservations call 215.215.483.0444.
___________

FREE Parking for Jake’s & Cooper’s

Receive complimentary parking when dining at Jake’s or Cooper’s. Just park in lot “C” located at Main & Levering Streets, have your ticket validated and receive a full refund on your cost for parking!

You can also park in any Main Street parking lot every Monday – Thursday FREE until 3:00pm!

Jake’s & Cooper’s * Main Street Manayunk * Philadelphia, PA 19127 * 215.483.0444 * jakesrestaurant.com

 

Chip Roman & Blackfish Featured in Main Line Newspapers Friday, June 5, 2009

Filed under: Food and Restaurants — thelatestdish @ 3:46 pm

Blackfish owner/chef Charles “Chip” Roman.

THE NEW ROMAN EMIPRE

By Len Lear

We’ve all heard the saying, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” After dining at Blackfish in Conshohocken, however, I would update the saying to read: “When in Conshohocken, do as Roman does.”

Roman is 29-year-old Charles “Chip” Roman, owner/chef at Blackfish who has been cooking since he was three years old. He attended Drexel University’s Culinary Arts program while also earning a business degree and he studied with some of Philadelphia’s top chefs, including Mark Vetri and George Perrier .

While working at Le Bec Fin after graduation from Drexel, Chip won the Mid-Atlantic “2004 Young Chef Rotisseur Competition” and came in second place in the national competition. Chip has also been recognized as a “rising star” by Gastronome magazine and was recently nominated for the “rising star chef award” by the prestigious James Beard Foundation. (more…)

 

Happy Hour Special: FREE Flatbread or Wine at Blush in Bryn Mawr Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Filed under: Food and Restaurants — thelatestdish @ 11:17 am

BlushLogo

Happy Hour Special: FREE Flatbread or Wine at Blush in Bryn Mawr

Enjoy one complimentary Flatbread or glass of wine when you join Blush for happy hour from 5-8pm any Monday through Friday (through June 30th). Just mention you read this on Twitter: http://twitter.com/TheLatestDish

Happy hour is available on the rooftop deck or in the open-air bar. Don’t let Blush’s beautiful dining room fool you. From the rooftop deck to the open-air bar, Blush Restaurant & Bar is casual throughout!

763

Happy Hour: 1/2 Off Flatbreads & All Drinks at Happy Hour

For those who don’t mention Twitter…Blush now offers 1/2 off their new Flatbread menu and 1/2 off cocktails, wine and beer for Happy Hour, Monday through Friday from 5 – 7 pm.

Featured Flatbreads include:
Earth: garlic oil, artichokes, spinach, parmigiano reggiano 5

Wind: pulled chicken, pesto, sun dried tomatoes, mushrooms, goat cheese, truffle essence 6.50

Fire: buffalo mozzarella, basil, plum tomatoes, filetto di pomodoro 5

Water: tuna ceviche, pineapple juice, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, cilantro crema, spicy aioli 6.50

24 North Merion Av  |  Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 |  610-527-7700
dineatblush.com

 

Blackfish: June Chef’s Tastings 4 Courses for $45 Monday, June 1, 2009

Filed under: Food and Restaurants — thelatestdish @ 1:14 pm

Monday Chef’s Tastings: 4 Courses for $45_________________

Every Monday through June 8, Blackfish chef/owner Chip Roman will create a 4 Course Chef’s Tasting Menu for $45 per person (plus tax and gratuity). The menu will focus on a single ingredient each week. Upcoming menus include a tasting of lamb, fresh water fish, lobster & foie gras.

Note: As of June 15, Blackfish will be closed on Mondays. Chef’s Tasting will move to Tuesdays.

Upcoming Chef’s Tastings:_____________________________

Monday, June 1 – A Tasting of Lamb

First Course: lamb gelee, tuna, pumpernickel, radish

Second Course: crispy lamb leg,
lambs quarter, english peas, fava beans

Third Course: colorado lamb, merguez, arabica jus

Fourth Course: mary’s chocolate
“pot de crème”


_____________________


Monday, June 8 – A Tasting of Fresh Water Fish

First Course: quenelle de pike, sauce americaine

Second Course: crayfish gelee, beef carpaccio, wax beans, charred tomatoes

Third Course: salt roasted trout, almonds,
brown butter

Fourth Course: strawberry sundaes, elderflower

_____________________



Tuesday, June 16 – A Tasting of Lobster

First Course: lobster, mango, avocado salad

Second Course: lobster, brioche, celery, new potato

Third Course: lobster tamale, salsa verde,
charred tomatoes

Fourth Course: “lemon meringue”


_____________________

Tuesday, June 23 – A Tasting of Foie Gras

First Course: foie gras terrine, compressed strawberry, grains of paradise

Second Course: grilled foie gras, white peaches, cinnamon

Third Course: foie gras sausage, warm lentils, mustard sauce

Fourth Course: foie gras ice-cream, pears,
tawny port


A la carte menu is also available. Dinner is served from 5:00PM – 10:00PM.
Call 610-397-0888 for information and reservations.

Summer Hours of Operation______________________


Blackfish offers dinner Monday – Saturday from 5pm – 10pm.

As of June 15, hours of operation will be Tuesday – Saturday from 5pm – 10pm. Chef Tastings (4 courses for $45) will move to Tuesday. Closed Sunday and Mondays.

 

Susanna Foo Bids Farewell to Walnut Street & Offers 20% Off in Radnor Monday, June 1, 2009

Filed under: Food and Restaurants — thelatestdish @ 10:47 am


Susanna Foo Bids Farewell to Walnut Street on June 13

Award winning chef/proprietor of her eponymous restaurant, Susanna Foo, is closing one door as she opens another. The last day of service at the Walnut Street landmark will be Saturday, June 13.

Susanna would like to say “thank you” to those who have made Susanna Foo Chinese Cuisine a success for 22 years.

Susanna hopes that her old friends will visit the Center City restaurant before closing on June 13 and that they continue to visit her at Susanna Foo Gourmet Kitchen in Radnor.

“I have made so many friends here and look forward to making many more, as I
spend time closer to home at Susanna Foo Gourmet Kitchen in Radnor.”

Dine on Walnut Street & Receive 20% Off at Susanna Foo Gourmet Kitchen

Those who dine on Walnut Street between now and June 13 will receive a 20% off voucher for dinner at Susanna Foo Gourmet Kitchen in Radnor. 20% off is available in the dining room only.


Susanna Foo Chinese Cuisine
1512 Walnut Street * Philadelphia, PA 19102 * 215.545.2666

Susanna Foo Gourmet Kitchen
555 East Lancaster Ave. * Radnor, PA * 19087 * 610.688.8808
www.susannafoo.com


About Susanna Foo _________________________________________

Susanna Foo is the first chef in Philadelphia to receive all of the following awards:

1988 Esquire Magazine
Best New Restaurant

1989 Food and Wine Magazine
Best New Chef

1996 James Beard Foundation
International Cookbook Award

1997 Nation’s Restaurant News
Fine Dining Hall of Fame

1997 James Beard Award
Best Chef-Mid Atlantic Region

1999 Robert Mondavi Award
Culinary Award of Excellence

2006 Food Arts Magazine
Silver Spoon Award

1998, 2001, 2006 Philadelphia Inquirer Restaurant Critic, Craig Laban
Awarded Four Bells

 

Pond’s NEW Summer Al Fresco Grill on the Terrace Thursday, May 28, 2009

Filed under: Food and Restaurants — thelatestdish @ 5:13 pm

Introducing Pond’s
NEW Summer Al Fresco Grill on the Terrace

& Expanded Private Party Options for Every Budget!




The Terrace at Pond’s
NEW Summer Al Fresco Grill Menu


Nestled amid gardens in full bloom beside a picturesque pond, the Terrace at Pond brings al fresco dining to a new level. Priced at $19 for prix fixe lunch and $29 for prix fixe dinner, Chef Abde Dahrouch’s Al Fresco Summer Grill Menu highlights the bounty of the season.

Please note, Bistro Cassis’ and Pond’s indoor a la carte dining are no longer offered.

For Information and reservations call us at 610-293-9411.

(more…)