Obama In Allentown Today, Lunching At Hamiton Family Restaurant

Obama ate lunch at the Hamilton Family Restaurant | Image via

President Obama is visiting the Lehigh Valley today to talk about jobs. After his speech at Lehigh Carbon Community College, he headed to the Hamilton Family Restaurant for lunch.

So even though he didn't dine out when he was in Philadelphia back in September, at least he is showing a little love for a Pennsylvania eatery today.

UPDATE: The President had the cheeseburger.

Related:
Allentown's eateries hungry for chance to feed Obama [ Allentown Morning Call ]

Previously:
Obama To Visit Philly On Tuesday, But Will He Stay For Dinner?

Will Allen Iverson's Return Mark A Return To Glory For The Houlihan's And TGI Friday's Of City Avenue?

NBC Philadelphia very astutely wonders if, now that Allen Iverson is coming back to Philadelphia, he will end up patronizing some of his favorite hangouts from the good old days.

Like the Houlihan's and TGI Friday's that reside across from each other on City Ave. at Presidential, two establishments which AI used to frequent multiple times a week earlier in his career.

To each his own. If Allen still loves his Friday's, we're not going to judge.

We just hope that he throws Center City a bone every now and again. Maybe a pop-in here and there...

It's been three years since he left and we're sure he would be very happy at a number of the new dining establishments that have opened since he left.

And Allen, the fans here would love to see you out and about. Here in town. Dining among the people.

Meanwhile, below is the latest evidence as to why Allen Iverson is probably the greatest individual we'll ever know.

Goddammit, Allen Iverson — you had at us at hello.

You had us at hello.

Related:
Is City Ave. Ready for Iverson's Return? [ NBC Philadelphia ]

Chef Daniel Stern Shares Thoughts On Menu Trends For 2010

As part of their 2010 food trends blowout, Restaurants & Institutions has a Q&A with Chef Daniel Stern about menu trends to look out for in the coming year.

Among other things, Stern addresses the recession and its effects, the differences and similarities between MidAtlantic and R2L, and some of the things he thinks consumers are looking for when dining out.

Related:
Menu Trends Q&A: Daniel Stern, Mid-Atlantic and R2L [ Restaurants & Institutions ]

Philebrity Nominated The Illadelph For An Award

Which was very kind of them.

And even though we have not been covering as much general Philadelphia stuff of late, it's nice to have been included with our fellow nominees.

(Jose Garces and Shane Victorino among them — albeit for entirely different categories...)

Anyway, a big thanks to all of our readers — you guys have great taste.

Related:
The 2009 Philebrity Awards

God Bless Allen Iverson (II)

Welcome back.

You have been missed.

Dearly.

Merry Christmas to us.

Related:
He's Back; Iverson accepts 76ers offer [ ESPN ]

Is The Stephen Starr - Jose Garces Rivalry Escalating?

The coveted Letto Deli in Midtown Village — a culprit?

A brief time line:

- 2001: Jose Garces goes to work for Stephen Starr (via Douglas Rodriguez) at Alma de Cuba.

- 2003: Stephen Starr opens El Vez after then employee Jose Garces brings him the concept.

- 2003: Garces debuts as Executive Chef at El Vez's opening for Starr.

- 2005: Garces leaves El Vez and SRO, opens Amada.

- 2005 - 2008: Both Starr and Garces enjoy success independently.

And now, the fun part:

- July 2008: Garces opens Distrito, directly competing with and looking somewhat similar to El Vez.

Says Garces at the time: "I opened El Vez in 2003. It was a concept I actually brought to Stephen [Starr]. When I left, of course, I had to leave El Vez behind. This [Distrito] feels like I'm taking back something that was mine, very close to my heart."

Note: Distrito was named after Distrito Federal, which is another name for Mexico City.

- October-December 2008: Starr, a self-professed expert at finding great space, finds and then bails on the super hot Letto Deli location in Midtown Village, unable to make the seating work for a rumored burger bar concept.

- October 2009: Garces signs lease for aforementioned super hot Letto Deli location in Midtown Village, vowing to bring a Brats and Beer concept to the space.

- October 2009: Starr signs lease for pretty solid Midtown IV diner location near Rittenhouse.

- November 2009: Garces wins The Next Iron Chef. (Former boss Starr not in attendance at victory party at Distrito.)

- November 2009: Starr releases name for the restaurant he plans for Midtown IV location: Mexico City. As in another name for Distrito Federal. As in Distrito...

ZING.

Starr and Garces will both play it down publicly.

But this recent stuff can easily be interpreted as blatantly obvious restaurateur jabs aimed at one another.

Which makes it all a little more entertaining, no?

Related:
Starr to say ole! to Rittenhouse Square [ The Insider - Philly.com ]

"Hard-Eating" Buzz Bissinger Helps Rick Nichols Evaluate The Texas-Style BBQ At Percy Street Barbecue

Buzz Bissinger makes an unnamed cameo in Rick Nichol's latest write-up:

But I digress: The brisket verdict of a Philadelphia writer who spent a year in Odessa chronicling football under the Friday-night lights? An A, with an asterisk: The meat may seem a tad wet for a true Texan.

The brat-like sausages, house-made and hung like stockings in the big cherry-red smokers (fed with split red oak) had deep smoky flavor: another A from the hard-eating author.
[...]
But of course everything (as it tends to be in the barbecue world) is under the microscope here. "How come two different burnt ends tasted different?" an early bird groused. "Hey, why no peach cobbler?" implored another. "What, no combo platter?" (like you get at the Salt Lick), queried Mr. Friday Night.

Percy Street got two A's from Mr. Bissinger Friday Night.

Related:
Texas BBQ, come to Philadelphia - It's not vinegary, not sweet, not blackened, familiar styles in these parts. It's smoked. [ Philadelphia Inquirer ]

Iron Chef Jose Garces Brines And Deep Fries His Thanksgiving Turkey

Deep frying a brined turkey can be ill advised.

But not for Iron Chef Jose Garces.

Though he is almost always called on to help with the Thanksgiving cooking, Garces celebrates the holiday with his family and three other couples, rotating homes each year. This year's festivities are being hosted at the Garces home in Philadelphia.

Nominating himself to cook the turkey, Garces brines his bird for 24 hours, then forgoes roasting for deep-frying, a method he believes is the best way to cook it.

"It locks in all the juice and flavors and cooks in much less time."

Garces also gets Mamita involved. He tasks her with making the chicken-liver stuffing, empanadas and sweet corn humitas, which are essentially tamales filled with cheese and a creative, flavorful substitute for cornbread.

To pull everything off, Garces tries to "prepare as much as possible the day before, and delegates the work. If you can learn to do that, then you'll have time to enjoy your family and friends, which is the most important part of Thanksgiving and the holidays."

No big deal.

You check out his recipe for a deep fried brined turkey here.

He's also got a Thanksgiving feature in Food & Wine from 2008 with a ton of recipes (like chorizo corn bread stuffing).

Take advantage.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Related:
Iron Chef Jose Garces has much to celebrate this Thanksgiving [ USA Today ]
A Chef's All-American Thanksgiving [ Food & Wine ]
Jose Garces's Thanksgiving Fiesta [ Food & Wine ]

[ Photo via Food & Wine ]

R2L Opening Delayed Until Sometime In January, Rocking A Massive New Year's Eve Party Regardless

R2L will be opening for dining sometime in January according to the restaurant's website. Until then, the restaurant is available for private functions.

The restaurant will also be hosting a New Year's Eve party (invitation above), offering panoramic views of the city and the fireworks, as well as a chance to get a sneak peak at the restaurant and some of its cocktail cuisine.

Meanwhile, The New York Times is reporting that Daniel Stern has hired Chef Alex Ureña out of New York City to be R2L's Chef de Cuisine.

Related:
R2L [ Official Site ]
Ureña Is Heading Out of Town [ Diner's Journal - New York Times ]

Mystery Location Of Paddy's Pub In It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia Finally Revealed

Where in Philadelphia is Paddy's Pub supposed to be located?

The intended location of Paddy's Pub has never really been revealed on It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia.

The show has established that the bar is in South Philadelphia but it has never specified where in South Philadelphia.

There was this clue from an episode from Season One.

Dennis: I don't get it, Dee: There are tons of women in this city; where do they go?
Dee: They're at velvet-rope clubs on Delaware Avenue.
Dennis: Why?
Dee: Dennis, our bar is in South Philly in a scary alley ... might as well call it "Rape Bar."

So Paddy's is located on a scary alley in South Philly.

But what alley? And where?

Well, earlier this season, there was finally a hint in the show that allowed us to pinpoint the theoretical location of Paddy's Pub.

(It's theoretical because the building exterior that is used for Paddy's is actually located in Los Angeles. Paddy's Pub as depicted on the television show does not actually exist in Philadelphia. However, it exists in the show's reality, and now we know where...)

When Dennis and Mac were walking back around the corner to the bar (clip below), you can see a street sign.

The street on the street sign? Dickinson Street?

The block? The 200 block to the left. The 300 block to the right.

So Paddy's is located just north of and around the corner from 3rd and Dickinson.

The fictional Paddy's Pub is located around the corner from 3rd and Dickinson

Which makes sense since Rob McElhenney actually grew up in Pennsport right there at the intersection of Dickinson and Moyemensing. (Not far from the Shamrock Pub at 2nd and Reed, which may have helped originally inspire the Paddy's Pub in the show.)

So in the show's reality, Paddy's Pub is located in South Philadelphia right around the corner from 3rd and Dickinson Streets.

But not in real life — in real life, the building that doubles as Paddy's is located in LA.

Please rest easy now that this great mystery has been solved.

Related:
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia [ Official Site ]

Tom Colicchio Road Trips Through Philly, Making Sure To Break His Vetri Cherry

This week, Tom Colicchio is blogging for Food & Wine about his six-day road trip from Atlanta up the east coast.

His last stop before returning to New York was Philadelphia.

He started the day by visiting Culton Organics Farm in Lancaster with Marc Vetri.

Colicchio then stopped by the new location of Samuels & Sons Seafood.

And then for dinner, he went to Vetri, where he had never dined before.

Although I've been friends with Marc for years, this was my first time eating at his acclaimed restaurant Vetri. It was well worth the wait, and I came away thinking that his impossibly thin, buttery pastas and tender baby goat could hold their own against any I've had.

Related:
Day 6: Dinner at Vetri [ Mouthing Off - Food & Wine ] via Eater

[ Photo via Food & Wine / Tom Colicchio ]

Looks Like Amada Is Headed To New York City

Jose Garces to open an Amada in New York City? | Photo via

UPDATED BELOW.

So last month, Jose Garces revealed to the New York Post that he'd open a restaurant in New York City if he won The Next Iron Chef.

And then a few weeks later he revealed to Grub Street that if that scenario were to happen, the restaurant he'd open in Manhattan would be an Amada.

Well, tonight is the season finale of The Next Iron Chef and not only is Jose Garces a heavy favorite to win, all signs (and rumors) point to him winning.

So if/when he does win the title of The Next Iron Chef tonight, is that a formal confirmation that he'll be taking the Amada concept to New York in 2010?

Pretty much.

UPDATE: Michael Klein reports that after the win, Chef Garces said taking Amada to New York is off the table. At least for now. Regardless, congratulations to Iron Chef Garces on the win!

Related:
Jose Garces Continues Flirting With New York [ Grub Street New York ]
Jose Garces Throwing a Victory Viewing Party [ Grub Street Philadelphia ]

Previously:
Jose Garces To New York?

Del Frisco's Now A Nightclub?

Perloff/Last Call/Philly2Night party. Check.

On biggest party night of the year. Check.

DJs. Check. (Four of them.)

Bottle service. Check.

Light Show. Check.

Giant breasts on invite. Check.

Sounds a lot like a nightclub.

Desperate times? Desperate measures?

(But hey, if Le Cirque is doing it ...)

Related:
Del Frisco's Philadelphia [ Official Site ]

Pub & Kitchen To Answer Its Calling, Will Host Special Fried Chicken Dinner Next Week

We're betting it will be good.

Related:
Pub & Kitchen [ Official Site ]

Crafty Martha Stewart Lunches At Pod, Makes Her Own Chopstick Rests

Martha's design for makeshift chopstick rests at Pod | Photo via

Martha Stweart was in town on Monday to promote her new book and guest lecture at Wharton. Between the two, she lunched at Pod and then posted about her visit on her blog.

"In Japan, it is customary to use chopstick rests. We decided to create our own. This is my knot design."

Impressive.

Now let's see if Starr takes note.

Another design for a makeshift chopstick rest by Martha's team | Photo via

Related:
A day in my life - part two [ The Martha Blog ]