Superbowl Goers: Eat Your Hearts Out

Ah, yes, it’s that time of  the year again; the Superbowl is just around the corner. An American tradition predicated on excellence, the highly anticipated Superbowl is a time to gather with friends and family for an afternoon filled with football, lounging and most importantly, eating.

Let’s face it; expectations are high. All that’s needed is an exceptional television, the perfect seat and a hearty sandwich to satisfy your appetite– which is precisely the goal of Shank’s Original a Zagat-rated sandwich shop located at 901 S. Columbus Blvd. that has perfected sandwich-making for nearly half a century.

Available from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. now through March 21st, Shank’s will be offering a mini-tray option to appease the masses at a budget-friendly $29 plus tax, complete with free delivery for those customers who live within a 5-mile radius of the popular shop. The mini-tray serves up to five people, complete with 15 pieces of your choice, whether it’s a classic Philadelphia Cheesesteak or an unconventional Veggie Hoagie—the choice is yours.

To place your Superbowl order, call 215.218.4000.

Gemelli on Main: The Toast of the Town

Gemelli On MainClink! Do you hear it? Cocktails being shaken. Ice being cracked. Glasses being clinked. And people relaxing in the smashingly sexy space that makes Gemelli ideal for happy hour or ANY hour.

But While Gemelli’s surroundings are decidedly chic, it’s the specialty drinks that are quickly becoming the toast of the town.

Take the Chocolate Manhattan. Rye whiskey infused with organic chocolate and sweetened with Crème de Griotte and brandied cherries.

The Bourbon Peach Cooler, with an infusion of fresh peaches and ginger beer.

The pear infused vodka with baking spices and citrus.

Or the Rosa Bellini, with rose-scented peach essence and sparkling wine.

By the way, Happy Hour is 5 to 7, every evening, everywhere in the restaurant, and Mondays are BYOB. Watch for featured $5 cocktails and select $1 wines. Cheers!

For more enticing concoctions, check out their drink menu.  Gemelli is located at 4161 Main Street in Manayunk. For reservations click here.

Christmas Tree Maze at Linvilla Orchards

Linvilla Christmas Tree MazeHave you ever wondered what becomes of unsold Christmas trees after the holidays? Usually they are just made into mulch, but Linvilla Orchards has come up with a new, exciting and green way to use Christmas trees that were never bought!

Now through March 4th, Linvilla is featuring the world’s largest Christmas Tree Maze.   Over 1400 unsold Christmas trees have been collected from around the region to create this exciting new attraction that is fun for all ages. The maze takes anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to get through, depending on your internal navigation system.

The maze is perfect for a family outing or an afternoon with friends in addition to all the other entertaining activities happening at Linvilla this winter.

After the Christmas Tree Maze is over, the trees will be recycled. They’ll be chipped and used as fuel to heat the green house where the miniature golf course, Fore! the Planet, is located.

The cost of the maze is $5 or only $4 when you combine a round of mini golf. Check out more details and some pictures of the Christmas Tree Maze on Linvilla’s Facebook page.

Linvilla’s hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 8 pm Fridays and Saturdays. To learn more, call 610.876.7116 or visit Linvilla at 137 W. Knowlton Road in Media, PA www.linvilla.com.

Beer Festival in Philadelphia: Let the Fun Ensue

The opportunity to pay homage tImageo crafty beers with over 8 percent of alcohol has presented itself. The Big Ass Beerfest! is scheduled to kick off on Saturday, January 21st at Club Polaris, located at 460 N. 9th Street. Tickets are $45 in advance and $55 the day of the show.

With over 70 brews available for sampling, Big Ass Beerfest! offers a range of stouts, double IPAs, barleywines and more in efforts to satisfy the masses and showcase new alternatives like Evil Genius and Neshaminy Creek Brewing. For the duration of each session, guests can indulge in as many “big ass beers” as they choose, so long as they are 21-years-of-age.

Should you find yourself torn between sessions, please note that Session I has been switched to a new time, beginning at noon and ending at 3 p.m. Session II remains from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

For further information or to purchase tickets to the Big Ass Beerfest! visit www.bigassbeerfest.com.

Let the fun ensue.

Chatting With Craig LaBan

We were on the weekly Craig LaBan chat today and had to giggle and blush when we saw his “Crumb Tracker” contest this week.

Chatters were supposed to guess where the described and pictured dishes were from. The first one was the lobster dumplings at Nectar. We knew right away when we read ‘edamame puree’ in the description of the dish, where it was from. Then he had such nice things to say about Nectar. We just thought we’d share.

Craig Laban and Nectar

Craig Laban talks Nectar


Take a Wok Around Chinatown

If you’re looking to do something a bit different in Philadelphia, then consider Chef Poon’s Wok N’ Walk Tour of Chinatown. The tour includes a walking tour of Philadelphia’s Chinatown and an amazing meal by award-winning Chef Poon himself. During the tour participants stop at a fortune cookie factory, a Chinese herbal medicine shop, a Chinese bakery, an Asian grocery store, a fish market, and more. After the tour, indulge in the four-course lunch or dinner cooked by Chef Poon and his staff. Personally, we think the tour is a great way to learn about the food, history, and culture of Philadelphia’s Chinatown in a way that’s interactive and delicious! Tickets are $60 a person. Tour takes place on select days throughout January, February, and March. For online reservations and tour calendar visit: http://www.josephpoon.com/

Restaurant Week Is Back

Hello food lovers, eat your heart out! Restaurant Week is gearing up again in Philadelphia and there is a ton to look forward to. Restaurant Week will take place January 22 to 27 and then again from January 29 to February 3, 2012. At select restaurants, participants can enjoy three-course, prix-fixe meals with prices at $20 for lunch and $35 for dinner. In the days leading up to Restaurant Week, certain restaurants will be offering cooking demos at The Market & Shops in the Comcast Center building.

Wish you could recreate some tasty recipes in your own kitchen? Well the Center City District is compiling recipes of Restaurant Week chefs to make a complete cookbook, Center City Cooks, which will be available at centercityphila.org. Restaurant Week has also teamed up with Philly Homegrown to promote local grown food on Restaurant Week menus and in the cookbook.

Check out Open Table for a full list of participating restaurants. If you’re interested in going to a cooking demo, visit centercityphila.org to see which chefs will be whipping up some delectable goodies. Bon appetite!

Cooking with Judy at Linvilla Orchards On Friday

Linvilla- Cooking with JudyLinvilla Orchards will be offering a series of classes in their Garden Center from January through April. Enjoy demonstrations on entertaining crafts, scrumptious recipes that are simple to make, and helpful tips to improve your home and garden.

On Friday, January 13th, Linvilla features, Cooking with Judy, as she shares her love for cooking and teaching while preparing ratatouille and shrimp pie along with other mouth-watering treats. The class begins at 6:30 p.m. and is FREE. Arrive early so you can get a seat at the front of the class!

Linvilla’s hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 8 pm Fridays and Saturdays. To learn more, call 610.876.7116 or visit Linvilla at 137 W. Knowlton Road in Media, PA. You can always check out the details at Linvilla.com.