The Owlery

The features blog of The Temple News

Food Archive

Friday

2

May 2014

0

COMMENTS

More than 10 festivals to be celebrated on May 3

Written by , Posted in Art, Arts & Entertainment, Food

Spring is coming in full swing throughout Philadelphia this year with more than 10 festivals on one single day. On May 3, Philadelphia will celebrate the upcoming season in nearly every part of the city with events like the Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival, The World’s Largest Bar Crawl and the South Street Headhouse District Spring Festival.

Last year, the South Street Headhouse District Spring Festival featured more than 20 local businesses and this year, it will return with double the amount of participants. The event will take place from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m from Front Street until 8th Street and will include the 2nd Street plaza between South and Lombard streets.

Well-known for not only their unconventional flavor combinations for hot dogs, but also their prominent illustrations within the restaurant Hot Doggity will be a part of the festival. Owner and chef Keith Garabedian said he loves the opportunity for the business to be part of any creative or fun local opportunities.

Keeping local culture in mind, Hot Doggity hired Philadelphia-based illustrator Hawk Krall as their residential artist. Considered as “Philadelphia’s preeminent hot dog expert,” Krall has been drawing food for well over a decade. His portfolio includes work for City Paper, Philadelphia Magazine, Lucky Peach and more.

Being a part of the South Street Headhouse District Spring Festival just another way for Hot Diggity to be a part of Philly culture.

“I think events like this show off the flavor of each neighborhood,” Garabedian said. “Philly really is a city of neighborhoods, each has its own atmosphere so it gives off its own vibe, its own crowd of people. Philadelphia over all is cool for people watching, but especially South Street I think.”

In addition, Spruce Hill – along with the Woodlands – will be hosting a festival of their own called the Go West! Craft Fest. Mt. Airy will also join in with Mt. Airy Day, Logan Square will hold Sister Cities Park International Festival and the Science Festival Carnival, the Graduate Hospital area will host Plazapalooza, Bella Vista will have Brauhaus Schmitz Maifest and Northern Liberties is hosting the Radio 104.5 Summer Block Party.

Although each neighborhood is bound to change over time, Garabedian believes that South Street has changed significantly just in the last few years.

“South Street has really changed and a lot of people don’t realize that,” Garabedian said. “So it’s a great opportunity to show that off. There’s a lot of great restaurants now – we got Serpico, Nomad Pizza, Percy Street Barbecue – it’s kind of the new dining destination in Philadelphia when it wasn’t like that before. There’s a lot of boutiques and cool new men’s shops, it’s a lot different than the South Street that people once knew.”

The event will not only include South Street restaurants and boutiques that will be holding pop-up shops and discounts.

Hot Diggity will have a mobile cart that will be offering some new flavor variations for their hot dogs as well as a farmers market special.

“It was great putting this festival together, it’s amazing how many local businesses want to do stuff, I’m just excited about bringing different groups of people, this is going to be a fun day,” Garabedian said.

The event is free and open to the public.

Sunday

27

April 2014

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Local restaurants celebrate Cinco de Mayo

Written by , Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Food

Distrito is celebrating the Cinco de Mayo with a Mexican Cultural Week Menu running from May 1 to 5. For $25, the restaurant will be serving three-course dinners ranging from salsa Mexicana with tortilla chips, enchiladas de pollo and more.  

South Philly Barbacoa, the rising food truck serving slow cooked lamb and pancita with tortillas, will have a special pop-up event on May 5 hosted at Tap Room on 19th. Along with some drink specials, Barbacoa Chef Cristina Martinez and husband Benjamin Miller will be selling $3 tacos from 6 p.m. until they sell out.

Saturday

19

April 2014

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COMMENTS

Geno’s Steaks’ English controversy dramatized in “Down Past Passyunk”

Written by , Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Food, Theater

In 2006, Geno’s Steaks gained national attention with its controversial sign that read, “This is America: When Ordering ‘Speak English.’” Some Philadelphians and tourists hailed the sign as discriminatory, but former owner, Joey Vento defended it. Ultimately, the Commission on Human Rights deemed the sign as being acceptable.

This controversy has been translated into a play from InterAct Theatre Company and debuted at the Adrienne theatre earlier this month. Written by A. Zell Williams and directed by Matt Pfeiffer, the show will be having its last few performances every day till Sun, April 27. Tickets purchased interacttheatre.org

Saturday

19

April 2014

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COMMENTS

Franklin Flea is back with pop-up Franklin Stove

Written by , Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Food

Franklin Flea made its return this past Saturday and has debuted its special pop-up food booth. The booth has already featured Eli Kulp’s High Street on Market and will host a different restaurant every week to sell street-type food to go along with the other food trucks and vendors. Oyster House is scheduled to appear on Saturday and Cheu Noodle Bar on May 3.

Franklin Flea is a curated collection of more than 50 local vendors that sells antiques, furniture, collectibles, vintage clothing and handmade sundries. For its spring schedule, the market will be open every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through May 24 inside the Strawbridge’s building on 801 Market St.

Tuesday

18

March 2014

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COMMENTS

Hot Diggity creates hot dog with grasshopper topping

Written by , Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Food

Those feeling adventurous enough to try grasshoppers on their hot dog should stop by Hot Diggity to try their Hot Dog of the Month, “El Perro Feliz.” Created by a team-up of Hot Diggity and Mexican restaurant Taqueria Feliz’s Chef Lucio Palazzo, this hot dog is topped off with black beans, avocado, onions, serrano chiles, a lime wedge and some of those crispy and spicy chapulines, or grasshoppers.

Hot Diggity has been known for their wild fusions of hot dogs and unconventional ingredients.

If you want to see what they’re all about, visit them at 630 South St. for hot dogs, fries and their current side dish special, buffalo bleu wings.

Tuesday

18

March 2014

0

COMMENTS

PYT expands locations

Written by , Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Food

Northern Liberties’ inventive burger joint and bar, PYT, has been announced it will be opening locations in New York City and Washington D.C. According to Zagat, the restaurant signed a deal with Fransmart, a franchise consulting firm, to expand outside of Philadelphia. Fransmart has been in charge of chains like Elevation Burger and CaliBurger. In addition to the two cities, there are more locations planned for Philadelphia. Dan Rowe of Fransmart has said that people from Boston, Portland, Ore., and Florida have already showed interest in branching out there.

PYT gained national attention themselves with their wacky burger creations through their recent spotlight on Good Morning America. Such creations have included the deep-fried Twinkie burger, deep-fried Eliio’s burger and burgers replacing the buns with their “bacon buns.”

Sunday

16

March 2014

0

COMMENTS

PYT Goes National

Written by , Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Food

Northern Liberties’ inventive burger joint and bar, PYT​,​ has been announced ​it will be opening locations in New York and Washington D.C.. According to Zagat, the restaurant signed a deal with Fransmart, a franchise consulting firm, to expand outside of Philadelphia. Fransmart has been in charge of chains like Elevation Burger and CaliBurger. In addition to NY and DC, there are more locations planned for Philadelphia and Dan Rowe of Fransmart has stated that people from Boston, Portland and Florida have already showed interest in branching out there.

PYT gained national attention themselves with their wacky burger creations through their recent spotlight on Good Morning America. Such creations have included the deep-fried Twinkie burger, deep-fried Eliio’s burger and burgers replacing the buns with their so-called Bacon Buns.

Sunday

16

March 2014

0

COMMENTS

Hot Diggity’s Hot Dog of the Month

Written by , Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Food

If you’re feeling adventurous enough to try chapulines​ – g​rasshoppers commonly eaten in certain areas of Mexico​ – ​on your hot dog then stop by Hot Diggity to try their Hot Dog of the Month, “El Perro Feliz”. Created through a team-up of Hot Diggity and Mexican restaurant Taqueria Feliz’s Chef Lucio Palazzo, this hot dog is topped off with black beans, avocado, onions, serrano chiles, a lime wedge​ ​and some of those crispy and spicy chapulines.

Hot Diggity has been known for their wild fusions of hot dogs and unconventional ingredients​.​ ​I​f you want to see what they’re all about, visit them at 630 South Street for hot dogs, fries and their current side dish special, buffalo bleu wings.

Sunday

16

March 2014

0

COMMENTS

Annual Subaru Cherry Blossom returns

Written by , Posted in Art, Arts & Entertainment, Food

The Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival will return to Philly on Wednesday,​ running from​ April 2​-13.​ The​ ​festival will welcome spring with karaoke, sushi making classes, film showcases,​ ​discounted dinners and many more events all celebrating Japanese culture. The​ ​festival was started as an initiative to plant 1,000 cherry trees in Fairmount Park,​ ​which was accomplished in 2007. Since then, the initiative has expanded to include​ ​​​other regions in the area in the tree-planting project and over 50 events during the 4​-​​week festival.

Thursday

6

March 2014

0

COMMENTS

Chestnut Hill Restaurant Month runs through March

Written by , Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Food

March is Restaurant Month in Chestnut Hill, so customers who haven’t had enough of the food deals from the past Center City District and East Passyunk Ave restaurant weeks have an entire month to enjoy what the places in Chestnut Hill have to offer. From now until March 31, Sundays-Thursdays, restaurants such as Chestnut Grill & Sidewalk Café and Mica will be participating in $15 lunch and $25 dinner specials.