Back Bar Bottles: Seattle's Anu Apte of Rob Roy on Menthe Pastille 0 comments

By Gabi Porter

Ever wonder about that obscure liquor bottle you've never heard of sitting on the back of the bar - does anyone actually use it? All this week we're asking drink-slingers about their favorite back bar bottles. Below, Anu Apte of Rob Roy in Seattle explains how he uses this lesser-known French liqueur.

Bartender: Anu Apte of Rob Roy, Seattle

Back Bar Bottle: Menthe Pastille

History: Made by the same family in the Loire Valley since 1885, Menthe Pastille was first made as a cure for indigestion by pharmacist Emile Giffard. Less sweet and syrupy than its green cousin creme de menthe, Giffard Menthe Pastille is a clear liqueur. Today Emile's great grandson, Bruno continues to make Menthe Pastille according to the original recipe. Its distinct clean flavor comes from English peppermint.

7 Best Restaurants Near AMC Loews Boston Common 0 comments

Photo: John Gorman

And... action! Summer blockbuster movie season has begun. Watching all those stuntmen and women jump around in front of CGI backgrounds can really work up an appetite. Click through to find the seven best restaurants near the AMC Boston Common.

8 Best Farm-to-Table Restaurants Around LA 0 comments

Gjelina

The phrase "farm-to-table" gets thrown around a lot at restaurants these days - but shopping for your ramps at the farmer's market isn't really enough to merit the moniker in our opinion. Fortunately, there are chefs that take the concept seriously, working with nearby farms to design their menus around the freshest seasonal ingredients. Click through to see eight restaurants that really earn the title.

Shift Drink: An Interview With Drumbar's Craig Schoettler 0 comments

By James Mulcahy

To wrap up our cocktail-centric coverage this week, we're sitting down for a beverage with one of the best bartenders in the country, Craig Schoettler of Chicago's Drumbar. Here he talks about making drinks in the Windy City, taking time off, and drinkers as the new foodies. You can see more episodes of our Shift Drink series here.

7 Best Farm-to-Table Restaurants Around DC 0 comments

Beuchert's Saloon

The phrase "farm-to-table" gets thrown around a lot at restaurants these days - but shopping for your ramps at the farmer's market isn't really enough to merit the moniker in our opinion. Fortunately, there are chefs that take the concept seriously, working with nearby farms to design their menus around the freshest seasonal ingredients. Click through to see eight restaurants that really earn the title.

This Week's Top Restaurant and Food News 0 comments

Photo by Clay Williams

By Kelly Dobkin

Our unofficial ode to all things liquid is over for now and with the three-day weekend just ahead, it's time for the real boozing to begin. But first catch up on your reading by checking out the list of the ten most popular posts of the week below. Bottoms up!

1. 16 Must-Try Cocktail Destinations Around the U.S.
2. 2013 Mixology Survey: Bourbon is King, How Much Do You Tip?
3. The 10 Hottest Places to Drink Whiskey Around the U.S.
4. 9 Bar-Service Pet Peeves
5. The 8 Hottest Cocktail Trends in NYC (and Where to Try Them)
6. 7 Hot Cocktails Trends in SF (and Where to Try Them)
7. 6 Hot Summer Cocktail Trends Around LA
8. New York City's 8 Best Cocktail Bars
9. 10 Hot Chicago Cocktail Trends and Where to Sip Them
10. 8 Best Bars and Restaurants for Cocktails in LA

Photo of the Day: Cocktails on High 0 comments

By Lesley Balla

It's Friday afternoon, right before a long holiday weekend, and this is pretty much all everyone's thinking about. Drinks. Beach. Sun. No work till Tuesday. You can't beat the view from High at Hotel Erwin, one of the best rooftop bars around LA. Whatever's in the glass, it looks perfect for happy hour. Let's go. Now. For everyone else, have a safe and relaxing Memorial Day weekend, and we'll see you next week!

Photo of the Day: Pastry Shells for Foreign and Domestic's Bake Sale 0 comments

By Megan Giller

Earlier this week we chatted with Ned Elliott at Foreign and Domestic and got the scoop on F&D’s pastry chef Jodi Elliott’s new bake shop. We thought we’d keep the love going today, with this photo of pastry shells ready to be filled with goodness for Foreign and Domestic’s bake sale tomorrow morning.

We advise getting there early, as Ned recently told us that when he drove by half an hour before it opened last time, the line was already 60 people deep. On a Saturday morning? Now that’s dedication.

LA's 10 Must-Try Ice Cream Sandwiches 1 comments

By Lesley Balla

It doesn't matter what the temperature is outside, we're already feeling the siren call of summer. In other words: ice cream, or in this case, ice cream sandwiches. Sure, you can wait until National Ice Cream Sandwich Day in August, but why torture yourself? You can't do much better than a scoop of your favorite ice cream or sorbet between two cookies, wafers or even cupcake tops. Here are 10 ice cream sandwiches you need to try now.

5 Great Day Trips From Mexico City 0 comments

By Christine Delsol

Mexico City is not only the heart and soul of Mexico, but its central highlands location is also a hub for surrounding small cities and towns with exceptional repositories of culture, history and cuisine. Their lofty elevations produce a mild summer climate while the coastal destinations that draw most of the country’s 22 million annual foreign visitors are sweltering and torpid. The D.F. (Distrito Federal) has more than enough keep you busy for a week or two, but a detour to these less-visited places, all close enough for a day trip yet enticing enough for a short stay, will add immeasurably to your trip.

Photo of the Day: Adult Snow Cones Return to Red Door 0 comments

By Sarah Freeman

As soon as spring-like weather returns, the adult snow cones will return to Bucktown bar, Red Door. The spiked snow cones come in a rainbow of colors and flavors such as cherry mojito with cherry vodka, mint and lime; “yellow snow” with Malört, Benedictine, Angostura orange; pear chartreuse with pear vodka, honey, lime and green chartreuse; and the Aviation with gin, lemon, maraschino and crème de violette.

In addition to the snow cones, mixologist Jay Schroeder will introduce porch punches in two different flavors – The Wallabee Champ features London dry gin, lemon, black currant, absinthe, Angostura orange and red wine while The Master Cleanse combines white rum, lemon, pineapple, green chartreuse, cayenne, maple and black tea. The snow cones and punches hit the menu next week.

Tourists Flocking to Japan Amid Weak Currency 0 comments

Photo by Colleen Clark

By Colleen Clark

Though tourism numbers plummeted in the wake of the earthquake and Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, tourism numbers have made a spectacular rebound with record highs over the past month, the Christian Science Monitor reports. The record 923,000 visitors beat the previous monthly record of 879,000 set in July 2010, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO). Officials are largely attributing the jump to the increase in affordable international flights to the country and the strength of the US dollar and other major currencies against the yen. Japan hopes to keep the momentum going with tourism campaigns highlighting the country's hipper side, from manga to nightclubs and fashion. Is Japan on your travel wishlist?

First Look: Parker & Quinn Opening in the Refinery Hotel 0 comments

By James Mulcahy, photos by Cherie Cincilla

The Refinery Hotel is starting to roll out its food and beverage offerings starting with Parker & Quinn, a new American bistro with elevated booths inspired by English pubs and an open kitchen where you can watch chef Jeffrey Forrest at work. In fact, guests can enter the restaurant via a special entrance that will let them walk through the kitchen. There's a full rotisserie where Forrest can cook meats and Alex Ott is behind the cocktails. This is the first of three establishments at the property, stay tuned for a new rooftop bar and Winnie's, the venue's lobby bar. Take a look at another shot below.

Talula’s Garden Debuts Summer Dishes 0 comments

By Danya Henninger

The patio at Talula’s Garden is one of the most gorgeous outdoor dining spaces in the city, and this weekend is the perfect time to stop by. Several new dishes from the new summer-inspired menu will debut, including the garden bouillabaisse above.

Benji's Cantina Opens Today on West Sixth 0 comments

By Megan Giller

West Sixth Street’s Benji’s Cantina has been getting a lot of buzz for its “farm-to-table” fajitas by the pound, and diners will be able to find out tonight if it lives up to the hype. Eater Austin has some great photos of the interior of the new Tex-Mex restaurant from the group that brought you Brew Exchange and Kung Fu Saloon.

8 Best Restaurants on the Avenue of the Arts in Philadelphia 0 comments

Scallops at Estia

With the clock tower of City Hall presiding over one end and light shows dancing off Beaux Arts buildings along the way, the Avenue of the Arts is a great place to dine, even if you’re not headed to a show. If you do have tickets to one of the myriad of theaters on the strip, all the better, because when you add dinner at one of these eight restaurants, you’ll be on your way to a most memorable night out.

Stumptown Coffee's Greenwich Village Location Now Open 0 comments

Photo by Colu Henry/Instagram

By Kelly Dobkin

Woot! Just in time for Memorial Day Weekend, Stumptown Coffee opened its long-awaited W. 8th Street outpost a mere two hours ago. Lower west siders no longer have to venture to far off cities to enjoy coffee chains like Intelligentsia, Blue Bottle or even Coffee Bean, they're all now conveniently within walking distance.

30 W. 8th St.

Alton Brown's "Edible Inevitable Tour" Plans Chicago Stop 0 comments

By Sarah Freeman

As far as culinary tours go, Alton Brown's will be something along the lines of a cooking show meets Blue Man Group. The Edible Inevitable Tour, which was announced via a video on Brown’s website; will feature cooking, live music, stand up comedy, audience participation and "some bizarre and potentially messy experiments” that involve air cannons and ponchos. The host of Good Eats and Iron Chef America kicks off the international tour in October, and stops at Chicago’s Oriental Theater on February 8. Tickets will go on sale June 7.

Allison Robicelli on What Went Wrong (and Right) at GoogaMooga 2013 0 comments

By Kelly Dobkin

Baker/blogger/disaster specialist and all-around badass Allison Robicelli takes to her blog to document what it was like being a vendor at this year's GoogaMooga fest 2013. She talks about the failures that included forcing vendors to buy overpriced water, cutesy food villages and more. Here's a snippet:

"But sadly, this is not the most screwed I have ever felt by a food event — at least Superfly is manning up and owning their mistakes. Here’s what Googa fully admitted to me was their biggest problem: their first year was great for the vendors, but not the public. This year they overcompensated in the other direction: by making too many concessions to please the public, they caused the vendors to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars." Read the whole thing here.

Morgan’s Pier Introduces Valet Parking 0 comments

Story and Photo by Danya Henninger

A few weeks after launching for the season with a new George Sabatino food program, Morgan’s Pier is revving up the gears. Valet parking is now available at the riverside bar starting at 5 PM nightly, and Monday-Wednesday there is absolutely no cost. Thursday-Sunday the cost is $12, though a Morgan’s Pier rep made sure to note that the plentiful bike parking along Columbus Boulevard remains free throughout the weekend.

5 Must-Try Sunday Supper Deals in SF 0 comments

Comstock Saloon

By Tamara Palmer

Sundays can often feel like a helpless fall toward the new work week. Luckily, these Sunday Supper specials offer something tasty to look forward to at the end of the weekend, not to mention an opportunity to get more value as restaurants pull out the extra stops for your patronage.

Cocktail Hour: Rio Rita's Famous Bloody Mary 0 comments

By Megan Giller

In honor of both a three-day weekend and cocktail week, we’d like to celebrate with one of Austin’s favorite drinks: the bloody Mary. And not just any bloody Mary. We’re talking Rio Rita’s version, which they call their “famous hangover salad in a glass” and the “breakfast of champions.” But let’s go a little further. We're going for the infused bloody Mary.

Hey Bartender Star Steve Schneider on Tipping, Trends and More 0 comments

By Linnea Covington

New Jersey native Steve Schneider has been slinging drinks for over 10 years, five of which have been spent at white-hot cocktail spot Employees Only (EO) in NYC's West Village. When he’s not pouring perfect Manhattans, swinging his Thor-like hammer around or getting people to dance on the bar (we've seen it), he attends numerous competitions. To date, Schneider has won about 10, including the 2012 Cocktail World Cup in New Zealand, and the recent 2013 Star of the Bar at the International Wine, Spirits and Beer event in Chicago. As if that’s not enough, on June 7, the documentary Hey Bartender is coming out and Schneider is in it. At only 29-years-old, how does he do it and what’s life really like behind the bar? We rang him up to find out.

Zagat: How did you get into the business?

SS: I got involved when serving in the Marines in Washington DC. I got there because I had an injury to my head from when I was on leave waiting to go to Afghanistan. I had to go to get brain surgery and I was depressed because I wanted to be with my unit and the guys, but I was stuck there. So, that’s when I started working at a bar. It was high volume with 18 beers on tap and disco shots. It was just something I did to pick-up chicks and make money, but it ended up being the best rehab. When I got discharged four years later, I had no choice but to start taking life seriously. I had no direction, but being behind the bar gave me purpose. 

5 Must-Try Sunday Supper Deals Around DC 0 comments

By Olga Boikess

Make the most of the long weekend by trying one of the Sunday supper deals offered at restaurants around town. Whether you opt for some crave-worthy pizza or a full-on prix fixe feast, you'll be a little less worried about the week ahead after a meal out with friends or family.

Best Thing We Ate: Jamaican Jerk Chicken at Four Cafe 0 comments

By Lesley Balla

Craving a sandwich and driving through Eagle Rock, we stopped at Four Cafe, which we haven't checked out since it opened in 2010. We know the menu changes every season, which is always a good thing, and the smattering of sandwiches, salads and soups is pretty tantalizing. So much so that it took us a good 10 minutes to figure out what we wanted, but something about the Jamaican jerk chicken sandwich called out. This is by no means a Caribbean restaurant, just a great neighborhood spot that likes to have a lot of flavor on its menu. The sandwich was just right, with good spice to the chicken, a layer of thinly sliced grilled sweet potato and a ginger-lime slaw on ciabatta bread. The carrot-ginger soup was a great accompaniment. It was all simple and fresh. Can't ask for much more.

By the time we got back to our computer, we saw news that a second Four Cafe will open in the now-shuttered Black Cat Bakery and Cafe (and Mani's) on Fairfax this summer. Consider yourselves lucky, Miracle Mile dwellers. A woman in line mentioned that her car had broken down near the Eagle Rock cafe a few weeks ago and she'd waited inside for her tow. It was so good, she added, that she keeps coming back. Now that's a neighborhood restaurant you're lucky to have in your 'hood.

Bartender Secrets: How to Crush Your Own Ice in 60 Seconds 0 comments

By James Mulcahy

Say you want a classic mint julep, but you don't have a blender and all you've got in your freezer are big old chunks of ice. Fear not. During our visit to Jack Allen's Kitchen in Austin we asked bartender David Toby to show us a quick and easy way to fill that julep glass with ice. He called this a "bartender cheat," but we'll be using it the next time we're at a picnic and want to do things right. Check out his trick in the video above, and see more How To segments by subscribing to our YouTube page.

'Mixing Martinis' Fireside Chat at Brookline's Fireplace on Saturday 0 comments

The bar at The Fireplace in Brookline

By Naomi Kooker

We hear it’s going to be a rainy weekend (sorry!), so indoor activities might be in order. The Fireplace in Brookline has just the thing. On the Fireside Chat docket this Saturday, May 25, is "Mixing Martinis". You’ll get the down-low on, well, mixing martinis, have a few nibbles and, who knows, maybe make a few new friends (3-4:15 PM; $30 per person; make a reservation by calling 617-975-1900).

New Bakery Slated for Brookline This Winter 0 comments

Richard Morin

By Naomi Kooker

Bakery cafes seem to be all the rage these days, what with Bread + Butter opening, Joanne Chang’s Flour expanding and Tatte burgeoning. Now another indie is on the horizon: Brown Butter Bakery, another bakery cafe, is slated to open in the Washington Square area in Brookline early winter 2013. 

The location is at 1622 Beacon St., an antiques and rug shop.

Merotoro: Embajada de Ensenada en la Ciudad de México 0 comments

Callo catarina, pistache y aguacate con aceite del Rancho Cortés en Ensenada.

Por Alejandro Zárate Vega

Los ingredientes de Ensenada son ya una referencia de calidad y sencillez en su preparación. No se trata de una simple moda. Muchos chefs sustentan su propuesta entera en los buenos productos de mar y tierra que llegan desde la punta norte más lejana del país: Ensenada.

Merotoro es ya un consolidado y referencia segura para comer muy bien en la zona de la Condesa. El chef Jair Téllez ha convertido a Merotoro en un imprescindible a la hora de la comida así como en las cenas en las que es prácticamente imposible conseguir mesa sin reserva. 

Mr. Chow Malibu Now Open for Weekend Lunch 0 comments

By Lesley Balla

Just in time for a holiday beach weekend, the newish Malibu outpost of Mr. Chow launches lunch this Saturday and Sunday. In addition to the regular menu - the noodles, the Peking duck, the bright orange chicken satay - there are a few new dishes, including cool and spicy Shanghai cucumbers and a shredded tofu salad with celery and chili peppers. There's a bar too, so you can always stop in for a cocktail after you hit the sand and see if you spy anyone famous. Weekend hours are now noon to 2:30 and dinner starting at 5:30 PM.

4 Joyas del Mar 0 comments

Por Alejandro Zárate Vega

Los días de calor nos hacen sentir que deberíamos tener cerca el mar para poder refrescarnos con un rápido chapuzón. A falta de éste en la ciudad y dado que bañarse en las fuentes no está bien visto, la única cercanía con el mar para los capitalinos tendrá que ser por el estómago.

Aquí, una breve lista de sugerencias para comer algunos de los mejores mariscos en la ciudad:

Annotated Map: Philly Beer Week Hammer of Glory Relay Route 0 comments

Story and Graphics by Danya Henninger

On Friday, May 31, Mayor Nutter will hoist the Hammer of Glory and tap the first keg of Brotherly Suds 4, officially kicking off Philly Beer Week 2013. But the festivities actually get started a bit earlier - nine hours earlier, to be exact. At 9:30 AM, the Hammer of Glory (aka the HOG), begins its relay route around the city, traveling by 20 different methods to as many bars around the city on its way to Independence Mall.

Sunburnt Calf Locations Will Transform Into Hawker Bar and Burke & Willis 0 comments

By James Mulcahy

Last week, word came that it was the end of the line for the Sunburnt Calf, a duo of Aussie-themed bars with one on the Upper West Side and the other in Brooklyn. Fans of Down Under shouldn't be too upset, as we hear that owner Heathe St. Clair is passing the keys to longtime employees Tim Harris and Matilda Boland, who will change the concept but still plan to look toward Australia for inspiration. The ground floor of the Upper West side venue will become Burke & Wills, an Australian bistro opening in July while the upstairs of that address will become the Manhattan Cricket Club, a speakeasy-style bar with cocktails by Greg Seider opening in September.

The Brooklyn outpost will become Hawker Bar, a Southeast Asian eatery which will feature skewers fired in the courtyard on a charcoal grill. If you do want to stop by for one last boozy visit to the Cow, they final brunch service is scheduled for May 27.

Daniel Boulud's DBGB Headed to Vegas 0 comments

D-Bigs heading back to Vegas

By Kelly Dobkin

Daniel Boulud's NYC French/American brasserie DBGB is headed to Vegas, the toque announced today, declaring The Venetian will be the future home of the first non-NYC outpost. The opening which is slated for "later this year" marks the chef's return to Sin City. Boulud feels that the concept is perfect for Vegas, and said in a press statement: “While keeping the roots of my French Bistro cuisine, we fuse rock n’ roll, burgers, bangers and beer—not to mention a big bar with an outstanding cocktail and wine program." Stay tuned for more details as they emerge.

Luke's Lobster and No. 7 Sub Opening a Concession in Brooklyn Bridge Park 0 comments

By Jacqueline Wasilczyk; photo Danya Henninger

Luke's Lobster shows no signs of slowing down. Less than a week after the first Philadelphia branch debuted comes word that the seafood specialists will be partnering with No. 7 Sub to open a new location in the Smokestack Building in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Come Monday you'll be able to enjoy lobster rolls and signature sandwiches underneath the bridge (seating is provided nearby), or soon at home if you live in DUMBO or Brooklyn Heights - delivery is expected to happen soon (11 AM-9 PM for Luke's, 11 AM-7 PM for No. 7 Sub; 11 Water St.; phone number TBD).

14 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend Around LA 0 comments

Patio grillin' at Ford's

By Lesley Balla

Staying in town for the unofficial start to summer means no traffic (except at the beach), more parking and lots of food and drink specials around town. Here's what's going down:

Susan Feniger's STREET
On Sunday, May 26, the Hollywood restaurant is throwing a Korean BBQ on the patio with sake and a pop-up shop from Giant Robot, Never Press and Space Camp. 12-9 PM (shop from 12-3 PM). $45 per person and includes three drink tickets; buy in advance and tickets are $35 per person with four drink tickets.

Ford's Filling Station
Big Daddy's BBQ summer series is back, starting Monday, May 27. Ben Ford is rolling out the giant grill for brisket, whole roasted pig, sausage, grilled pork ribs and more. Choice of two meats and two sides (Southern-style greens, marinated tomatoes, mac 'n' cheese, potato salad, baked beans) is $28 per person and beers are only $3. The party starts at 1 PM and runs until the food runs out.

Delta Opens Slick New Terminal at New York JFK Airport 0 comments

Image courtesy of Delta Air Lines

By Colleen Clark

Delta Air Lines revealed slick new $1.4 billion digs today at New York's JFK International Airport. Terminal Four includes nine new and seven renovated international gates, imporived check-in areas, a 24,000 square-foot Delta Sky Club. Travelers who gain entrance to the club can sample a pre-meal menu of chef-designed cuisine ranging from sushi to charcuterie so that they can then sleep immediately after takeoff (score!).  Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson selected wine-by-the glass for the club, many of which are generally only available by the bottle (think Dom Perignon and Muga Prado Enea, Gran Reserva). The centerpiece though is the 2,000 square-foot rooftop terrace designed in partnership with Architectural Digest and Thom Filicia with outdoor spaces and runway views.

7 Great June Festivals Around The World 0 comments

By Emma Levine

From mega-music events in urban spaces to recreating history in historic costume, here are some of our favorite festivals happening in June each year.

Olivia Hosts Summer Dinner Series 0 comments

By Megan Giller

Chef James Holmes and chef de cuisine Maximillian Petty are celebrating the hottest season of the year with tasting menus each month at their South Lamar restaurant. For the first one, on June 20, it’s a “whole beast” dinner (think offal hush puppies with Hops and Grain Brewing spicy mustard, goat rillettes and cold-smoked pork chops with coffee-bacon-jam jus).

Other themes are “summer peach” on July 18, the five-year anniversary dinner on August 8 and the Pacific Northwest dinner on September 5.

The wine dinners range from 5 courses to 10 courses and $75 to $125. For reservations, email the restaurant at eat@olivia-austin.com or call 512-804-2700.

Back Bar Bottles: Desnuda's Chaim Dauermann on Dimmi 0 comments

By Gabi Porter

Ever wonder about that obscure liquor bottle you've never heard of sitting on the back of the bar - does anyone actually use it? All this week we're asking drink-slingers about their favorite back bar bottles. Below, Chaim Dauermann of Desnuda & Gin Palace in NYC explains how he uses this Italian liqueur.

Bartender: Chaim Dauermann - Desnuda & Gin Palace (New York)

Back Bar Bottle: Dimmi Liquore di Milano

History: It's floral, fruity, herbaceous and very bright. Its ingredients include anise, along with peach and apricot blossoms, but nothing dominates. Dimmi was first introduced in 1932 by an American of Italian descent, Stefano Turrini, intent upon capturing the spirit of Italy in a bottle. It starts with a wheat spirit base that is blended with a touch of Nebbiolo grappa. This is a herbal liqueur has been compared to Italian absinthe, with its notes of anise, but also includes licorice, vanilla, rhubarb, ginseng and bitter orange, as well as the apricot blossoms Dauermann describes.

8 Best Farm-to-Table Restaurants in Chicago 0 comments

Rustic House

The phrase "farm-to-table" gets thrown around a lot at restaurants these days - but buying a couple ramps at the farmer's market isn't really enough to merit the moniker in our opinion. Fortunately, there are chefs that take the concept seriously, working with nearby farms to design their menus around the freshest seasonal ingredients. Click through to see eight restaurants that truly earn the title.

8 Best Farm-to-Table Restaurants in San Francisco 0 comments

Bar Jules

The phrase "farm-to-table" gets thrown around a lot at restaurants these days - but buying a couple ramps at the farmer's market isn't really enough to merit the moniker in our opinion. Fortunately, there are chefs that take the concept seriously, working with nearby farms to design their menus around the freshest seasonal ingredients. Click through to see eight restaurants that truly earn the title.

Food Truck of the Week: Jerk 0 comments

Photos by Nick Murway

By Sarah Freeman
Everything about this truck is slightly terrifying. It rolls up with a black exterior. It is packed with a crew of four to six people; each member has more tattoos than the last. Suddenly, there is reggae music playing. “Are we still on the streets of Chicago?” we wonder while hesitantly join the line of dozens of people (it can reach a hundred on a busy day). Then this smell hits – charred meat and apple pie. No, not pie, allspice. Nothing about this truck makes sense, but one bite of the Jamaican jerk chicken with a side of jerk fries and the pieces come together. It is a brand – the Island meets the city led by a Jamaican immigrant with dreams of opening a food truck. The man is Dion Solano and his truck is called Jerk.

8 Best Farm-to-Table Restaurants in Philadelphia 0 comments

Farm-fresh food at Supper

We’re convinced the farm-to-table trend is here to stay, because it just makes sense. Philadelphia is surrounded by arable land on all sides, and chefs regularly tap into bounty produced by local farmers. In the toques’ talented hands, these fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and dairy turn into an array of unmatched seasonal dishes. Here’s where to find the best of them.

5 Things to Know About Black Whiskey 0 comments

Photo: Jody Brady

By Olga Boikess

Black Whiskey, a newly crafted ‘dive’ bar, carvery and performance venue, is heating up the already sizzling stretch of 14 St. NW above Logan Circle. While craft booze is its selling point, the kitchen's nightly, blue-plate specials of carved, roasted meat or fish and sides are drawing foodie buzz. Here are some things to know about this happening venue.

1. The decor matches the scene - stylish and cool. The upstairs barroom is lofty and long, with rows of whiskey bottles lining the exposed brick walls. There’s a pool table at the rear, and re-purposed wood tables that can be pulled together for groups. Light bulbs dangle from wires hung  across the room from rough wood beams.

First US Hotel Brand Ventures Into Burma 0 comments

Photo by eGuide Travel via Flickr

By Colleen Clark

If you had told us five years ago that Burma topped your travel wishlist, we would have rushed you to the loony bin. But as the reclusive nation opens up after years of repressive military rule, travelers are rushing in. Tourism officials expect a 30% jump in tourism this year, but the hotel industry is struggling to keep up with demand. Enter Best Western. They have just announced that they'll be opening a hotel in Yangon, the country's largest city, USA Today reports. The hotel will be the first American chain to open in the country. They'll be taking over Green Hill Hotel, a six-month-old property. What do you think? Are you romanced by the idea of visiting the country?  

Eat This, Do This, Read This: Philly Weekend Planner, May 24-27 0 comments

By Danya Henninger

Celebrate the kickoff to summer with seasonal treats from land and shore, and make the time to catch dinner outside in the park. Then finish out your Memorial Day weekend with Monday brunch, and read up on how we’ll have pizza on Mars and why Instagramming your food might not be so bad. Don’t forget to raise a glass to the men and women who’ve died in service of our nation, making it possible for us to enjoy all this great food and drink in peace.

Eat This

Corndog at Shake Shack
If you’re a corndog fan, or you’re simply corndog-curious, we hear the version at the Shack is legit. The Vienna all-beef dog dipped in housemade corn batter and deep fried is available for a limited time only - from Friday-Monday, May 24-27 - and is served with Rick’s Picks sweet corn relish for $4.50. For dessert, go for a cup of the special concrete Pecan Pie Oh My with pie from Nook Bakery, just down 20th Street from the burger stop (215-809-1742).

Paul McCartney Praises Austin’s Green Scene 0 comments

Vegan restaurant Casa de Luz, which is in danger of closing

By Megan Giller

The former Beatle performed in our city twice this week, and he gave Mayor Lee Leffingwell an award from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, saying that Austin is the most vegan-friendly city in the country. He also wrote a letter to Leffingwell that said,

“The influx of forward-thinking musicians and techies, the thriving university, and the food trucks all over the city run by young veg-friendly hipsters have made Austin the absolute cutting-edge place for green eating.” 

The question is, since hipsters would never self-identify as hipsters, will they accept the praise?

Weekend Planner: Make Sunday an Alcoholiday 0 comments

By Tamara Palmer

Saturday

Pop-up brunch
Michael Mina sous chef Anthony Yang has a side project called Ante Meredien, an upscale brunch pop-up that will appear at 11:30 AM on Saturday, May 25 at Dear Mom with indulgent items such as smoked sturgeon everything bagels, brioche donut holes, soft scrambled eggs and truffle waffles. Plan a nice long nap afterwards.

Avocado in the Avenues
The next installment of an intimate supper club called Comestible (formerly Neck of the Woods) at 7 PM on May 25 follows the theme of "Avocado Madness." Held in a private location in the Sunset District, admission is $30 for this eight-course and sure to be bright green dinner, but you can volunteer to help set up or break down to save $10.

Bread + Butter Cafe and Bakery Opens Today in the North End 0 comments

Bread + Butter in the North End

By Naomi Kooker

Breakfast in the North End just got better. Bread + Butter, a bakery/cafe featuring the pastry (and bread) handiwork of Lee Napoli, opens today.

The cafe is open all day, making it a great spot to refuel along the Freedom Trail, take in breakfast or lunch, or savor dessert after dinner in the neighborhood. The morning begins at 7 AM weekdays (8 AM weekends) with muffins, scones, croissant (plain, almond or chocolate), breakfast pizzas and sandwiches, and the coffee of George Howell. Starting at 11 AM, a new batch of pastries - cookies, macaroons, cakes du jour, tarts du jour, hand-dipped éclairs, brownies and fried-to-order beignets - are offered along with salads, sandwiches and a pizza of the day.