In case you didn’t already know, it’s Country Ham Month — or at least at Marigold Kitchen it is. Until the end of April, the University City BYOB, located on the corner of 45th Street and Larchwood Avenue, is serving up 5-course meals for $50. The menu features three types of ham, from Tennessee Kentucky and Virginia, as well as local farm vegetables, slow baked halibut, stuffed chicken and a “farmhouse style” rhubarb tart.
Also this month, in celebration of 20 years, chef-owner Oliver Desaintmartin’s Caribou Café released its own private label sparkling wine (imported from France) and is offering a $29 prix-fixe champagne-inspired menu — a three-course dinner featuring the cuisine of Champagne, France, Desaintmartin’s birthplace. The menu includes celery root soup with leeks, endive salad with champagnonette sauce, poached salmon and tourte champenoise, which is a traditional pie of bacon, onions, potatos and pork. Top of the night off with a glass of strawberries and champagne, and it sure would be hard to trust a chef who’s had the good fortune of bring surrounded by the extraordinary food and wine of Champagne.
And as the weather breaks and restaurant patios fill with drinkers, why not try out some creative summer cocktails? Distrito has some new selections that chef Jose Garces describes as a “high-energy tribute to the spirited culture and cuisine of Mexico City.” Featuring Mexican-inspired variations of cocktails — from pina coladas to mojitos to gimlets — these drinks are perfect for warm-weather sipping. And if you are having trouble deciding between the frozen passion fruit margarita and the esquilito (mexcal, crème de peche and apricot nectar), I’m sure tequila shots are available upon request.
Be sure to have a Mexican-inspired cocktail in hand on Cinco de Mayo, which falls this year on a Tuesday. Xochitl will be celebrating the holiday with a four-course meal for $35 and half price margaritas at the bar from 5 pm to 1 am. Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of victory by the Mexican Army over the French in the battle of Puebla, and the restaurant’s chef, Dionicio Jimenez is from Puebla — making the celebration of his homeland just that much more special.
Also this month, a food stand offering goodies such as burgers, hot dogs, pretzels and ice cream opened at the historic Frankin Square, located at 6th and Race Streets, and Steven Starr is the man behind the food. The current structure is a rather small stand, but this summer you can expect to see a permanent structure go up in the same location. Designed to match the historic buildings in Franklin Square, will have chairs, tables and picnic benches to let square visitors dine al fresco.
A month of talented guest speakers from local, national and international wineries is underway at Tria Fermentation School, an educational forum that hosts a rotating selection of talented lecturers on wine, beer and cheese. On the 28th, you can catch importer and Chilean wine expert Jens Schmidt of Monntecastelli Selections, and Jim Hutton of Vias Imports will be in the house on the 29th. On April 30, Bouchaine Winery’s wine educator Bob Trimble will discuss the history of the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir varietals in the context of the century-old Bouchaine’s estate, the oldest continually operated winery in Cameros.
There’s a new grocery store coming to town in Glen Mills. On Wednesday, April 29, The Fresh Market will celebrate its grand opening at 925 Baltimore Pike with a variety of activities, including a complimentary outdoor barbeque with professional chefs and succulent baby back ribs, food sampling stations and chef demonstrations. The first 1,000 customers will also get a free bag of coffee.
Old City also has a new opening on the block — Bocca, a stylish brick-walled restaurant and lounge at 3rd and Market Streets that serves up small tapas plates and cocktails. If you check the place out at night you’ll be likely to find mainly twenty-somethings and a house music DJ. The place is an offshoot of Manayunk’s Bella Trattoria.
Speaking of new restaurants, Win and Sutida Somboonsong — who own Mikado Thai Pepper in Ardmore, Flavor in Wayne, Azie in Media and Teikoku in Newton Square — recently signed a deal to move into the old Roux 3 site at 4755 West Chester Pike. No word on the menu, but considering the couple’s good reputation, this restaurant will be worth stopping by on the way to the neighboring United Artists Cineplex in Newton Square.
Chef Michael Solomonov and restaurateur Steven Cook recently earned another award to add to their many honors, such as being named Food & Wine’s “10 Best New Restaurant Dishes” and Philadelphia Magazine’s “Best New Restaurant.” Old City’s Zahav is the only Philly restaurant to be included in Travel & Leisure Magazine’s “Top 50 Best New Restaurants” list. The honor is featured in the May 2009 issue, which just hit stands. The family-style Israeli eatery was a dream for Solomonov and Cook, and Cook says he is thrilled to see that dream “come to life” in the form of positive recognition.
Tinto just got a little more exciting — as if the restaurant didn’t already offer a thrilling eating adventure. The wine bar is offering live flamenco guitar performances every Friday night from 6:30 to 8 pm. The artist is Christian Puig, an Argentine performer who was not only born to two flamenco musicians but also has studied the challenging rhythms of flamenco for most of his life.
Tinto’s chef, Jose Garces, has something even bigger than flamenco up his sleeve. In June he will be debuting Village Whiskey at 118 S. 20th Street, an intimate, 30-seat neighborhood bar. He’ll be serving u pa wealth of whiskies and inventive cocktails alongside simple, inexpensive bar food that’s prepared with signature flair. The bar will offer 16 house cocktails that will be divided into two categories: repeal (modern) and prohibition (classic). Sounds like a brown liquor lover’s dream.
And if you’re more of a comfort food or cheap beer junkie, check out Meme’s Thursday lunch special. Starting this week, the restaurant is offering an $11 special — fried chicken, a biscuit and a bottle of High Life. Each week the menu will feature a different feel-good dish, such as mac ‘n’ cheese, cornbread and coleslaw. These options will fit in perfectly with the warm weather and patio seating.
AroundPhilly Staff
