herbacidal

From what I understand, PW is kosher now, and not upscale at all. Betty the Caterer is another kosher. Culinary Concepts might be decent. Jeffrey Miller as well. Shackamaxon. There's tons of little mom and pop caterers that have emerged in the last 5-7 years that are all solid.

Cheap, reasonably tasty, but also giving a good idea as to the different kinds of Chinese dishes, especially basic homestyle stuff is the place on 11th south of Race, east side of the street. 3 choices, plus rice (and soup if you want) is about 4 or 5. 4 choices, plus rice and soup os 5 or 6. This place reminds me of China and the lunch places where there'd be a table with 30 different bowls of things and you'd choose a few over rice as your meal.

The Philadelphia Inquirer: Craig LaBan feels the burn at Szechuan Tasty House. Rick Nichols confers with the boulevardiers at Ansill. Michael Klein tells us about Shouk, changes at Avalon and more in Table Talk. Marilynn Marter makes a table of contents for The Book and The Cook Festival. Diana Marder toasts local Wine Clubs. City Paper: Elisa Ludwig cleanses her Palate. Alex Richmond deals with global warming with vanilla ice cream at Serrano. Gary M Kramer steeps to conquer local tea shops. Jeremy Samsoe gambles on Las Vegas Lounge. Drew Lazor notes recent openings and closings in Feeding Frenzy. Pat Hogan surveys upcoming events in What’s Cooking. The Philadelphia Weekly Kirstin Henry skewers Picanha Brazilian Grill and takes stock of Stock’s Poundcake. Mara Zepeda decides it’s time to make the doughnuts with Vada Mix from the market. Tom Acox corners two Unqualified Reviewers at Maoz vegetarian. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Karin Welzel pounds a schnitzel at Kleiner Deutschmann. Kimberly M Palmiero gives a snapshot of Paparazzi. Michael Machosky takes a swing at Pinati. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Nacy Naderson is bowled over by the South Side’s Mid-Winter Soup Contest. The Morning Call (Allentown) Susan Gottshall waves a red cape at Fieta Olé in Emmaus.

Never thought about Sunday brunch at El Vez, but I suspect it wouldn't be that crowded but perhaps I'm wrong. I would expect Jones brunch to be crazy busy though, perhaps I'm wrong as well. Ditto to all. Let me add to the Carman's info. Carman's has enough seating for about 15 people inside, I'd estimate. Another 4-6 in the truck possibly, but that's only if the weather is right. Therefore, I'd say it's totally the wrong place for 9 people. Please correct my numbers if anyone wants. What about a Mexican brunch on Washington Ave? I did like La Lupe the last time I was there many blue moons ago, but from the accounts of many here, it's not the same place. Plaza Garibaldi is open at that time so you're good if the idea does appeal. Right down the street, there's Porky and Porkie's, which a few of us did for a ?Saturday? DIY Koreanish barbeque. Dimsum, if you go to Toronto often enough, then don't bother with it. Toronto's should be better. If you don't, Ocean Harbor (if you don't mind the wait) and Golden Phoenix (if you do) are your best bets. Lakeside Chinese Deli remains a dark horse and well-kept secret. But you could always do Vietnamese with the pho. Xe Lua'd be my pick there. Is there strong Vietnamese food in Montreal?

You think so? I mean, I think the place is solid for Philly and maybe even for NE US, but not as good as HK.

This is a different place and owner than Joe's from the 80s. Joe from the 80s is Joe Poon who is doing the semi-restaurant & catering thing above the vegetarian place on Cherry. Chinatown Cafe is run by Cary, who had Joe's before it closed.

Well, there's lots more hedge fund managers than there used to be. Bonuses at i-banking firms all over are up again. Aren't benefactors behind most of Broadway? Something like 80% of Broadway shows lose money, unless that show interviewing one of the producers was incorrect. I'm sure beyond a certain level (let's say a million or so) restaurant financing operations overall are similar levels of vanity/love.

It would be amazing if he did generate as much revenue; he has 1/3 as many restaurants as Starr. Starr has a much better organization, both operationally and financially. Sure, the check average at LBF is a decent bit above any of the other restaurants from either, but that can't make up for the # of restaurants. But I do think the food at BP has gotten better, although its style and mode may not be. I wasn't especially impressed when I was there 5-6 years ago, but the rave reviews from everyone with nary a negative review makes me think that Chris Scarduzio has really whipped the kitchen into shape there. I have heard nothing about the Comcast Center restaurant. It would be interesting. He does have a small cafe in the new Boyds mens store.

To build on that, when I had my plans for a fast-casual sandwich joint (all written up and everything!), I thought I'd want to limit it to the Northeast for phase 1, then perhaps California for phase 2, then perhaps the rest of the country eventually. Have you made similar plans regarding how to target your growth geographically (highest density vs. fastest growing vs. distribution network-based) and as to ownership model (franchise versus corporate versus combination)? Also, how soon do you think operations will have been standardized such that you feel comfortable expanding to Philadelphia and elsewhere?

Does Jim have a middle name?

Hmm Jeff, Maybe you can pick one up for me and bring to our next SK dinner. It'll be a delightful hor d'oeuvre.

True, he's not the easist boss/chef/restauranteur. Anyone with friends/acquaintances in the business knows at least one person who can complain about him. And Philly is most definitely not New York, but I wouldn't say that the same restaurants can be supported for decades longer. Maybe one decade longer. But would Perrier prefer to go out on top? After the troubles with the various versions of Le Mas Perrier, is that a harbinger of future problems? Yes, he's definitely a ham for the spotlight. That's probably part of the reason he's here rather than NYC. He knows it's about as large a market as he can dominate to the extent he does without competing with others as much as he would in places like NYC. SRO---the Starr Restaurant Organization

I'm leaning towards believing it, because of his chef succession problems at LeBec, other grand dame French places going out of business in NYC. Or at least my gut instinct is believing.

Shows how long it's been. Did Starr even try it or has there never been lunch since the sale? PS Thanks for the recommendations! ← I don't think he ever tried it, but I'm not downtown during the day enough to really know. Try Le Bec Fin's lunch. Still one of the best deals in town. We'll see for how long. Based in part on comments in the article in Sunday's Inky, I expect LeBecFin to not be around in a few years.

I do too, but I've never been optimistic of that fact. But I am slightly more optimistic of that than I used to be.

the Philadelphia Inquirer Craig Laban elaborates on the mysteries of four bells while reminding us not to forget about some of the restaurants with three bells and mentioning two that lost a bell. Rick Nichols finds Cornbread and Coffee amidst a revitalized Ogontz neighborhood. Rob Watson test drives some Valentine’s Day cookbooks geared for men who want to impress women. Philadelphia Daily News Joe Sixpack laments the ending of our local availability of Beamish. Philadelphia Weekly Lauren McCutcheon visits Salt and Pepper. Kirsten Henri gives a few of the many options for Valentine’s Day. Mara Zepada continues her food adventures with Supper Club as Meze chef Konstantinos Pitsillides and wife open their home to her. Philadelphia City Paper Maxine Keyser goes back to an old favorite, Villa di Roma and finds little has changed for the worse. Caroline Wyman peeks into Shari Stern’s Love Bites class and learns how couples learn to get along in the kitchen. Pat Hogan finds out What’s Cooking. In these days of love, Kristin Detterline scouts out her top 5 aphrodisiac dishes. Pittsburgh Tribune Review Karin Welzel finds that the Bigelow Grille makes ‘burgh favorites a little more upscale. Ann Haighs knows that kitchen gadgets will always be loved. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Amy McConnell Schaarsmith spices up some stews. Egullet’s Russ Parsons talks with the Chez Panisse co-founder Paul Aratow who recently translated the cookbook that gave him his start in the kitchen. Morning Call Allentown Susan Gottschall falls in love again at Amici Trattoria.

I hope not, most Chinese I know know the difference between the two.

i wouldn't say that--heck, your money is as green as anyone's. it's more likely that they don't know the english names for them, or that there aren't really english names for them. there are lots of things at asian markets like that--i find that posting questions in the various fora here usually nets me some kind of answer. ← That's accurate, in the opinion of at least one ABC. There are more than a few Chinese foodstuffs for which I haven't yet learned the Western name, if there is any.

The Philadelphia Inquirer: Craig LaBan declares the tapas tops at Amada. Michael Klein is fired-up about Palate Restaurant, and lists other recent openings in Table Talk. City Paper: Trey Popp surveys the state of the cheese plate. Ellen Minsavage give props to Mom&Pop ops. Elisa Ludwig waffles about Bonte. Kristin Detterline sips a pint at South Philly Taproom. Drew Lazor notes recent openings and closings in Feeding Frenzy. Pat Hogan surveys upcoming events in What’s Cooking. The Philadelphia Weekly A look at the competitive eating, and apparently, competitive cleavage, at The Wing Bowl. Kirstin Henry is living the Pura Vida at a new Guatemalan restaurant, and then talks about Rome a lot before sneaking in a few words about pizza at Rembrandt’s. Niel Ferguson can barely bear Barristers, so he races to Grace. . Tom Acox corners two Unqualified Reviewers at Mama’s Pizza. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Karin Welzel gets nutty with the chef of Asiago Euro-Cuisine. Alice T Carter drifts down the Blue Nile to Abay. Michael Machosky is over the moon about New Moon. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “Munch” goes to the CreekHouse. Amy McConnell Schaarsmith gets fresh with the chef at Bona Terra. The Morning Call (Allentown) Susan Gottshall finds updates of Italian classics at Pasta e Vino in Bethlehem.

Seconded.

Nice phrase.

Seconded. Evan, you are hereby requested to organize such a fete.

Whenever you want to organize one. Although much like Katie, my wallet very much prefers a wait until March or even April.

I'm sure there is. I can help with that.

Actually, I'm wondering if Babbo is Vetri done in a larger place. Or if Vetri is Babbo done in a smaller place. Having been to neither, it's been unfair of me to go much further, but if Philly Mag can be believed (which is sometimes true and sometimes not) Batali and Vetri get along famously and are great friends.