Finally, the weather is warming up and Spring is officially here! We love all this warm weather, but what’s even better are Spring menus. Restaurants are just starting to, or just about to change their menus to reflect the fresh, Spring ingredients. Here’s a list of Spring produce from Food & Wine, so you can start doing the same at home (Also check out the link for yummy recipes to cook with these ingredients):

• Apricots, Artichokes, Asparagus, Avocados
• Carrots, Chives
• Fava Beans, Fennel
• Leeks
• Mangoes, Morels
• Peas, Pineapples, Potatoes
• Rhubarb
• Spinach
• Watercress

Most people identify Philadelphia as the city where people from all over flock to feast upon the renowned “Philly” cheese steak, but around March 20 the city of Philadelphia will be taken over with participants of the “meat out.”

A meat free day, The Great American Meatout, created by the Farm Animal Reform Movement (FARM), is the largest grassroots diet education campaign. This nationwide event promotes individuals to become more conscious of wholesome fruit and vegetable alternatives instead of meat and dairy products.

What will Philadelphians do without their prized cheese steak? Locals can chose from a variety of healthy vegan prepared samples from tofu sandwiches to a mouth-watering chocolate cake, which are being handed out across the city from different volunteers and venues.

Attending certain meatout events will also put money in your pocket. According to a Philly.com article, at an event set up by the Penn Vegan Society at Penn’s Houston Hall, volunteers will actually be paying viewers $1 to watch a short four-minute video. This event will be held Tuesday, March 20, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Find more meatout events in Philly.com’s article above.

Also check out Animal ACTivists of Philly‘s Facebook page for pictures from Sunday’s meatout events.

Who needs meat when eating healthy can be this easy and delicious?

If you love hand-crafted jewelry, elegant scarves, evening wraps, and high quality leather gloves, mark your calendar for Sunday, March 18th. That’s when Bianca D’Aniello, Gloria del Piano and Rosa Agliata Abruzzese will be hosting a sample sale of their beautiful accessories. And the best part is that all items will go for 30% to 50% off regular price.  Stop by to check it all out. And by all means, feel free to invite all of your fashionable friends.

When: Sunday, March 18, from 2 to 6 p.m.

Where: 225 S. 18 Street. 7th Floor

Spring is in the air, and there is no better way to celebrate the end of a long winter than a visit to Linvilla Orchards Bunnyland.  Hop aboard a hayride through the woods to visit the Easter Bunny house in Bunnyland. There will be story telling, lots of treats, and an opportunity to snap a photo with your host. After your hayride, enjoy a pony ride, get your face painted and visit the fluffy chicks and woolly lambs.

Be sure to visit the new Garden Center and Farm Market. The Garden Center will bloom with pansies, primroses, perennials, and all the traditional Easter flowers. The Farm Market’s bakery will be stocked with Easter breads, Easter cakes, and of course Easter candy. Cheese babkas, hot cross buns, cupcakes, cookies and Linvilla’s famous pies will be freshly baked in the bakery for your enjoyment and holiday celebrations.

Linvilla Orchards is a 300-acre family farm dedicated to agriculture, education and entertainment. To learn more visit www.linvilla.com or call 610-876-7116.

Ah, the great debates within the ever-growing, ever-changing culinary world. Which culinary school is the best? Turkey bacon or pork bacon? Is it tomayto or tomahto?

Okay, we know no one really says tomahto.

Chef/owner David Katz, of Meme restaurant, introduced yet another culinary conundrum to his Twitter followers yesterday.

david katz ‏ @MemeRestaurant
Diners: Is a burger a sandwich, or a burger?
11:48 PM – 11 Mar 12 via Twitter for iPad · Details

Nectar's Island Sushi Roll

Are you ready for spring? Nectar’s new Island Roll is delicately crafted to perfection and will sweep you away  to a tropical paradise. Using the finest and freshest ingredients, the Island Roll is hand-rolled with mango, cucumber and crunch (tempura flakes) inside and topped with fresh avocado and chilled lobster for that clean taste and bold texture. This tasty masterpiece is drizzled with papaya sauce, and just when you think this flawless dish is complete, it is then topped with red flying fish roe. The Island Roll is only one of many features to be added to Nectar’s new spring menu. Get ready for spring by being one of the first to taste this island getaway experience today at Nectar!

Nectar is located at 1091 Lancaster Avenue in Berwyn, PA.  For more information and reservations, visit www.tastenectar.com or call 610.725.9000.

Looking for an all in one deal? Immerse yourself into The 8^th Annual Brewer’s Palate, hosted by Fair Food on Sunday, March 11, 2012. With 25 local breweries and 25 local restaurants, this foodie event welcomes all who want to explore and stimulate their palate through one-on-one taste testing with the creators themselves. Engage and learn about our region’s breweries, restaurants, farmers, and artisanal producers around the Philadelphia area. General admission tickets are available for $75. VIP admissions for $125 include an entertaining cooking demonstration by Iron chef, Jose Garces, and an interactive tasting with Victory Brewing Company. The front-row intimacy between you and the chef allows for guests to see the magic behind each dish. Sit back and watch the transformation from using simple ingredients into tasting a dish with depth and complexity. To see the participating restaurants and breweries, visit http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/b220997.

The Brewer’s Palate will be held at the National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA. VIP admissions 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. General Admission 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Mostly, we here at Breslow Partners like to talk about all things food. Occasionally something truly cool enough to divert our attention off the eats for a second comes across our plates. This event is one one them.

FiberPhiladelphia. This international biennial and regional festival for textile art opened this past weekend and has exhibits at over 40 locations across the Philadelphia area until April.The events will feature both internationally-knows and local, new artists emerging into the scene.

When The Inquirer asked the event’s co-coordinator and fiber artist, Amy Orr, “Why is all this happening in Philadelphia? Orr [was] ready with the answer, noting that it is a “city with Amish quilts and immigrants with rich traditions in the fiber arts.””

An excerpt from their Web Site explains a bit about fiber art saying, “In the past 20 years, the boundaries between High/Low art and medium specific recognition have been blurred. Unlike the other major craft media, textile artists have the freedom of transcending materials, unbound from tradition. Although many choose to continue to work with historic materials and methods, many have branched out to explore the infinite possibilities of materials and techniques. One can weave metal, clay, even light. Quilts are not necessarily bound by thread or cloth and vessels can be more than objects to contain physical matter; they can reject functionality and explore conceptual notions of spiritual and metaphysical containment.”

FiberPhiladelphia is partnering with InLiquid, a nonprofit organization that provides opportunities and exposure for visual artists and designers.

Check them out at their Web site here for a calendar of events, exhibitions and more information.