The year 2010 is right around the corner and a few of the restaurants we work with are celebrating this New Year’s Eve! Take a look at what’s being offered, the great food our chefs are creating and where to have fun with your friends and family!

Funky Lil’ Kitchen

Chef Michael Falcone of Pottstown’s gem of a restaurant Funky Lil’ Kitchen has put together a decadent five course menu for $55 (not including tax and gratuity). There are four seating times at 6 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Reservations are required as well as a non-refundable deposit of $25 per person to hold.

Some highlights from the menu include: Red Pepper and Boursin Spread, Crab Fondue and Croutes, Duck Confit Gnocchi, Pan Seared Sea Scallops, Grilled Veal Paillard, Chocolate Cake, and Orange-Jasmine Pot De Crème. Funky Lil’ Kitchen is located at 232 King Street, Pottstown, Pa. For reservations please call 610.326.7400 or visit http://www.opentable.com.

Bistrot La Minette

Queen Village’s Bistrot La Minette is ringing in the New Year with seating throughout the evening until 11:30 p.m. Diners can enjoy the regular menu with specials created by Chef Peter Woolsey and a complimentary champagne toast at midnight.

A few of the specials for the night include: Pâtes Fraiches aux Truffes Noir (house-made pasta, crème fraiche, shaved black truffles), Tournedos de Boeuf au Foie Gras (beef tenderloin, seared foie gras, thyme jus, port reduction, roasted Brussels sprouts, potato croquettes, chanterelle mushrooms), Homard et sa Sauce de Caviar (butter-poached lobster, fennel-caviar sauce, lobster reduction, parsnip-potato puree, pan-roasted heirloom baby carrots, spinach).

Bistrot La Minette is located at 623 S. 6^th Street (between South and Bainbridge Streets). For reservations call 215.925.8000, or visit http://www.bistrotlaminette.com.

Mémé

Chef David Katz welcomes guests to celebrate New Year’s Eve with a special five-course prix fixe menu for $55, as well as special $5 glasses of sparkling wine all night.

The menu will feature quality ingredients such as Griggstown quails, braised short ribs and a selection of cheeses from Cowgirl Creamery. Diners can also enjoy a chilled seafood platter for an additional $15, which will include east and west coast oysters, clams and Florida stone crabs.

Mémé is located at 2201 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA. For reservations please call 215.735.4900 http://www.memerestaurant.com.

D’Angelos Ristorante & Lounge

Ring in the New Year right and enjoy the regular menu with specials by Chef Tony. Seating is available by reservation through the evening until 10 p.m. Also, enjoy party favors and dancing with DJ Inga all night long in the lounge for $15 per person (no fee for diners).

D’Angelos Ristorante & Lounge is located at 256 South 20^th Street, Philadelphia, PA. For reservations please call 215.546.3935 or visit http://www.dangeloristorante.com.

On January 16th, 2010, brave the cold and bear it all.  Take the plunge at the 4th Annual Law Enforcement Polar Bear Plunge. Become one of the thousands  that jump into the frigid Atlantic Ocean to raise money for Special Olympics.

Registration begins at 10 am and the plunge begins at 1 pm.  Join the team at NJpolarplunge.com. Please search the Wildwood Plunge to make a donation. Kindly support Camden County’s Finest as they begin the a year  of raising money for Special Olympics New Jersey.

October 11-18 2009

Philly Neighborhood Food Week, premiers affordable dining

Ever wondered, when neighborhood restaurants outside of Center City would be highlighted?  Well the time has come!  Over 30 restaurants from our favorite hangouts including, Manayunk, Northern Liberties, East Passyunk, Penn’s Landing and Chestnut Hill are offering 3-4 course meals priced at $20 or $30 per person.

2nd annual Phiz Fest benefitting the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital

Sample the world’s finest Champagnes & Sparkling Wines and witness the versatility of Champagne & Sparkling Wines being paired with any cuisine.

Thursday November 12, 2009 at 6:00 PM

Grand Ballroom at the Park Hyatt Bellevue
200 S Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102

For more info and to buy tickets click here.

A Massive Haunted House inside a Real Prison… Terror Behind the Walls is THE scariest Haunted House in the Nation! Voted #1 by AOL Travel

click here for the schedule

and click here to become a fan

Corbin Evans, who did a longtime chef turn around here before moving to New Orleans from 1999 to 2008, is behind a benefit for the Brandhurst family, who’ve been in the Gulf shrimping business for generations and whose patriarch has lung cancer.

Coinciding with the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina — which did a number on the shrimping business — Evans has gathered his Philly allies for a community shrimp boil and fundraiser, from 4 to 8 p.m. Aug. 29 at Greensgrow Urban Farm in Kensington.

He’ll cook the shrimp (donated by the Louisiana Seafood & Marketing Board) and red beans and rice. Philadelphia Brewing has kicked in the beer, David Katz of Mémé will provide its signature fried chicken (because what’s a shrimp boil without chicken?), Michael McNally of London Grill will do slaw, and Carolynn Angle at Standard Tap will put out bread pudding.

They’ll screen the documentary Fauborg Treme during the event and plan to have live jazz.

It’s $30 a head, but get in now because Greensgrow‘s Mary Seton Corboy says there are only 150 to 175 spots.

Reservations: Leah@greensgrow.org or 215-427-2702.

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To attend or donate to the Mustang Scholars Man of the Year dinner on Saturday, Oct 17, 2009, visit the Mustang Scholars Foundation website

September 12 through November 8

An annual trip to Pumpkinland is a Delaware Valley family tradition. During the months of September and October, Pumpkinland takes center stage at Linvilla Orchards. Larger than life figures and scarecrows illustrate the legends and lore of the harvest season, local history and some of the many stories of pumpkins and apples.

Live music, live entertainment, hayrides, train rides, pony rides, face painting, straw bale and cornfield mazes, pick-your-own apples, candy and caramel apples, Costume Parade, Jack-o-lantern exhibit, the Linvilla Grill, Costume & Halloween Shops.

Pick-Your-Own Apples 9am-6pm everyday

September 12 – Pumpkinland Open 9am-6pm everyday
Straw Bale & Corn Mazes Sats. & Suns. 10am-5pm

September 19 & 20 –  ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL 9am-5pm (Rain Dates 9/26 & 27) Local craft persons gather to exhibit their work.

September 26  APPLE FESTIVAL & PIE EATING CONTEST (Rain Date 9/27)

For more information, click here: Linvilla Orchards.

Looking for someplace special to host your Rosh Hashanah dinner, look no further.  London Grill is once again making itself the home-away-from-home for members of Philadelphia’s Jewish community. Leave it to Chef Michael McNally to make dinner as good as your Bubby’s.

Holiday dishes will be served throughout Rosh Hashanah (sunset on September 18th through September 27th). A Yom Kippur fast-breaking feast will be offered after sunset on September 28th.

Price Fix Dinner: $35.00   Friday and Saturday, September 18 & 19
Luncheon, Saturday, September 19
Holiday a-la-carte specials all week.
Break-the-Fast specials, Monday, September 28

Reservations are recommended. Call 215.978.4545. or log onto London Grill.
2301 Fairmount Ave . Philadelphia 19130

Restaurant Week

Three-course lunch, $20.  Three-course dinner, $35.

100+ Restaurants.

Join Center City District Restaurant Week presented by TD Bank, September 13-18 & 20-25. Participating Center City restaurants will offer three-course- dinners for only $35* per person. In addition, many of the participating restaurants will also be offering a three-course lunch for $20*.

Stop by your local TD Bank to enter the Experience the Flavor of the City On Us contest. You’ll have a chance to win $2000 in Center City restaurant gift certificates. Individuals can enter by filling out an entry form at any TD Bank stores in Bucks, Burlington, Camden, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. The contest runs through August 16 and the winner will be announced at the Center City District Restaurant Week presented by TD Bank Tasting on August 20 at TD Bank’s 19th and Market store in Center City.

And participating parking facilities will offer $9 or less parking at dozens of parking lots and garages throughout Center City.

*Tax, alcohol and gratuity not included. Dinner only.