Philly Food and Whisky News for May 18, 2013

Third Annual Philadelphia Vendy Awards Announce the Judges and a New Category

“Messy Yet Tasty” Category Sponsored by The Tide Stain Eraser®

Philadelphia, PA – May 16, 2013 – A diverse panel of judges have been chosen to determine the winners of the coveted 2013 Vendy Cup. Along side the esteemed judging panel, attendees will pick the winners of the Best Dessert, Messy Yet Tasty and People’s Choice awards at the Third Annual Philadelphia Vendy Awards. Taking place Saturday, June 8th at Penn Treaty Park, the competition begins at 2:00 p.m. and runs through 6:00 p.m. where the new, winning Vendy Cup truck will take its place as rightful owner of ‘The Cup’ and take their place in Philadelphia street food history. Tickets are available here. Ticket price includes day-of judging rights, all you can eat from each participating truck (inclusive of beer lovingly provided by Brooklyn Brewery) and an unforgettable day in Philadelphia food history.

This year, the new “Messy Yet Tasty Award,” category is appropriately being supported by the Tide Stain Eraser® – a product that has been expertly removing splats, splatters and soils for years. Tide® is asking Philadelphia’s passionate street vendor patrons for help in finding the best messy food truck fare. Nominations for “Messy Yet Tasty” and best sidewalk chef can be made here.

Meet the Judges:

• Paul Kimport – chef/co-owner of Johnny Brenda’s and co-owner of Standard Tap
• Emilio Mignucci – third generation owner of Philadelphia’s iconic Di Bruno Bros
• Lauren Purcell – Editor-in-Chief, Every Day with Rachael Ray
• Andrew Gerson – Philly native and Executive Chef for Brooklyn Brewery

Meet the Emcee:

Beth Beverly, both a champion and leader of a new breed of preservers called “rogue taxidermists,” is a wildly popular rogue taxidermist with her shop, Diamond Tooth Taxidermy based in Philadelphia. Upon winning several national contests and being featured in press ranging from Philadelphia Weekly to The New York Times, she was also one of the stars of Immortalized, AMC’s new taxidermy competition reality show, making her a sought-after talent throughout the country.

The Vendy Awards are an annual event organized by The Street Vendor Project at the Urban Justice Center, a membership-based organization of more than 1,300 vendors. SVP’s famed Vendy Awards have determined New York City’s top street chef for eight years, becoming one of the most beloved and widely anticipated food events in New York, Los Angeles, New Orleans and Philadelphia. In Philadelphia, the Vendy Awards will serve as a fundraiser for The Food Trust, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit organization that strives to make healthy food available to all.

Follow the Vendy Awards on Twitter for the latest news and announcements @vendysphilly and like them on Facebook at Vendy Awards.

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Click the pic to visit the World Whisky Day Facebook page.

Celebrate #WorldWhiskyDay!

According to the interwebz, today is World Whisky Day. In my mind, every day is World Whisky Day, and I don’t need a website to tell me that today is a good day to drink whisky. Then again, if World Whisky Day is the excuse that everyone needs to get together and share some drams, then all I can say is “Slainte! Slainte! SLAINTE!”.

For those of you that aren’t familiar with the internet phenomenon that is World Whisky Day, here is a bit of information that I found on the organizer’s website:

The inaugural World Whisky Day was held in 2012 and saw over 20,000 people attend over 200 events all over the world.

In 2012 #WorldWhiskyDay was a global trending topic on Twitter and WWD was also on the front page of the BBC News Website.

World Whisky Day has been welcomed by the Scottish Parliament and is endorsed by VisitScotland, Scotch Whisky Experience and Heritage Centre and Scotland Food & Drink.

World Whisky Day was created by Blair Bowman a Senior Honours student at the University of Aberdeen. Blair’s passion for whisky started when he co-founded a whisky society in 2008. Since then he has built up a strong network within the whisky industry and gained industry qualifications.

Now that you know a bit more about this event, just one question remains. How will you be celebrating #WorldWhiskyDay? Let us know in the comments below!

Philly Craft Beer and Food News for April 26, 2013

Philly Beer Week is Almost Here! Get Opening Tap Tickets, Hotel Rooms and New Apps!

PHILADELPHIA, PA – It’s almost time for Philly Beer Week (PBW) 2013, the nation’s largest celebration of beer held Friday, May 31 through Sunday, June 9.  The countdown has begun to the official kick-off event, Opening Tap and tickets are now available online.  Philly Beer Week has also announced hotel packages and the new 2013 PBW apps are available  for iPhone and Android devices.

“First-time attendees and PBW veterans alike are encouraged to attend Opening Tap, to get a feel for what PBW is really all about,” says PBW Executive Director Don Russell.  “It’s a lively start to the party, featuring great local brewers and restaurants, and it sets the tone for 10 days worth of beer and beer drinking.”

Opening Tap

On Friday, May 31, Opening Tap ceremonies will commence at 7 p.m. with the traditional ‘first tap’ by Mayor Michael Nutter, held outside, on Independence Mall, adjacent to the Independence Visitor Center (1 North Independence Mall West.)   The ceremony is free and those waiting to enter the main affair will be in prime position towatch the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Brew-vitational awards as well as see Mayor Nutter slinging the PBW keg mallet (affectionately known as the Hammer of Glory, or HOG) to release PBW’s first drops of Brotherly Suds 4, the local collaborative beer of PBW 2013.

Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. for a strolling beer tasting of more than 30 regional breweries on two levels.  General admission costs $45 per person and will include a souvenir tasting glass.  VIP tickets costs $90 per person and will include some of the region’s most unique beers from its very best breweries, a tasty food buffet and other surprises.  Both tickets can be purchased online (click to buy).  The event sold out last year, and tickets will not be available at the door. 

Confirmed breweries include the following:

Appalachian, Box Car Brewing, The Brew Works, Dogfish Head, Dock Street, Evil Genius, Flying Fish, Free Will, Full Pint, Home Sweet Homebrew, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, Keystone Homebrew, Lancaster Brewing Company, Manayunk Brewery & Restaurant, Nodding Head, Penn Brewery, Philadelphia Brewing Company, Prism, River Horse, Round Guys Brewing, Samuel Adams, Shawnee Craft Brewing, Sly Fox, Spring House, Stoudts Brewing Company, Straub Brewery, Triumph , Troegs, Twin Lakes, Victory, Weyerbacher, Yards, and Yuengling. 

Beer drinkers will get a first taste of Brotherly Suds 4, an English summer ale with a zesty citrus hop.  The collaboration beer will be brewed this year at Yards by Tom Kehoe, Bill Covaleski of Victory, Gordon Grubb of Nodding Head, Mark Edelson of Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant and Gene Muller of Flying Fish.

Beer friendly food will be available for purchase on site from Max & Me Catering.  There will also be live music by The Flathead Gang.  Attendees must be at least 21 years of age, and no children will be admitted.  Those who will be acting as designated drivers can attend the Opening Tap for $15 per person, including complimentary soft drinks and a PBW DD t-shirt.

Book a Hotel

Guests who will be traveling into Philadelphia – or locals wishing to enjoy a PBW staycation – can access special deals and discounts through PBW’s website.  Rooms are available for guests at the Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing (click to book), the official hotel of PBW 2013, located just two blocks from the Philly Beer Week Garden at Headhouse Square and a short walk to Old City and South Street, plus convenient access to public transportation.  Rooms are also available with PBW rate discounts at theEmbassy Suites Philadelphia – Center City (click to book).

Download the Official PBW App

Once again, PBW teamed up with Xomo Digital, Inc. to build an all-new app for this year’s celebration.  New features include:  New Layout and graphics;  Event Listings searchable by brewery and participating breweries listed for each event;  Improved Favorites;  Social Media Links;  and iPhone 5 compatibility.  Apps are available for both iPhone and Android, and can be downloaded here (click to download).

Philly Beer Week 2013 will be held from Friday, May 31 until Sunday, June 9.  PBW is a 10-day celebration of “America’s Best Beer-Drinking City.”  Established in 2008, it’s the largest beer celebration of its kind in the United States, featuring hundreds of festivals, dinners, tours, pub crawls, tastings and meet-the-brewer nights throughout greater Philadelphia.  PBW highlights the region’s diverse beer scene – its world-class breweries, neighborhood taverns, trend-setting restaurants and rich beer culture and history.

For more information about Philly Beer Week, including the ever-expanding schedule of events both during PBW and throughout the year, a list of participants and other details, please visit www.phillybeerweek.org and follow them on Twitter and Instagram (@PhillyBeerWeek) (#PBW2013) and like them on Facebook.

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2013 Vendy Awards!

Beautiful, Historic Site to Host Third Annual Philadelphia Vendy Awards

Philadelphia, PA – April 22, 2013 – In recognition of Philly’s thriving food truck scene, concrete culinary experts will bring the best of their best to Penn Treaty Park for the third annual Philadelphia Vendy Awards on Saturday, June 8th. The event will begin at 2:00 p.m. through 6:00 p.m., when the Vendy Cup will be awarded.

Due to the popularity of the event, a limited number of early bird tickets for the special price of $45 will be offered online at http://phillyvendys2013.eventbrite.com?s=14039667 . Ticket price entitles one to day-of judging rights, all you can eat from each participating truck (inclusive of beer) and an unforgettable day in Philadelphia food history as the Vendy Cup is bestowed on the lucky champion.

“Philadelphia continues to be one of our stronger, competitive cities,” said Helena Tubis, Managing Director of the event. “From the faithful, daily food truck advocates to the growing pool of culinary talent, we’re excited to see who makes the nominations and to sample the tasty, creative items served up by the City of Brotherly Love.”

The Vendy Awards are an annual event organized by The Street Vendor Project at the Urban Justice Center, a membership-based organization of more than 1,300 vendors. SVP’s famed Vendy Awards have determined New York City’s top street chef for eight years, becoming one of the most beloved and widely anticipated food events in New York, Los Angeles, New Orleans and Philadelphia. In Philadelphia, the Vendy Awards will serve as a fundraiser for The Food Trust, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit organization that strives to make healthy food available to all.

“We’re thrilled to continue this celebration of street cuisine and vendors in Philadelphia,” said Sean Basinski, Director of the Street Vendor Project at the Urban Justice Center. “From authentic, straightforward Philly fare to the exotic and unusual, it’s a pleasure to showcase the spirit of Philadelphia, now in its third Vendy Awards.”

Follow the Vendy Awards on Twitter for the latest news and announcements and like them on Facebook at Vendy Awards.

ABOUT THE STREET VENDOR PROJECT AT THE URBAN JUSTICE CENTER: The Vendy Awards are an annual benefit event for the non-profit The Street Vendor Project at the Urban Justice Center. The Street Vendor Project is a membership-based project with more than 1,300 active vendor members who are working together to create a vendors’ movement for permanent change. The Street Vendor Project is part of the Urban Justice Center, a non-profit organization that provides legal representation and advocacy to various marginalized groups of New Yorkers.

Philly Food and Drink News For March 25, 2013

Drink, Learn and Linger at Village Whisky’s 1st Whisky Social

PHILADELPHIA, PA – On Thursday, April 18 beginning at 9:30 p.m., Chef Jose Garces’ sexy cocktail bar and brown liquor library, Village Whiskey (118 South 20^th Street, 215-665-1088), will host their first-ever Whiskey Social.  For $60 per person, including tax and gratuity, guests will enjoy an informative yet relaxed class on classic whiskey cocktails, followed by passed bites and a cocktail hour during which they may sample the drinks from the evening’s lesson.

“Whiskey is at the root of so many good, classic drinks,” says General Manager Paul Rodriguez, a whiskey enthusiast and connoisseur who will lead the social.  “We’re looking forward to a casual evening with our guests and the chance to get to know them a bit more over a few straight up, or rocks, cocktails and good food.”

Featured cocktails, including the Manhattan, Old Fashioned, Whiskey Sour and Sazerac, will be poured and served by Village Whiskey’s skilled bartenders, while guests are encouraged to ask questions and learn more about what distinguishes each cocktail and why specific whiskeys are used in each.  Guests will receive drink recipe books so they may take what they’ve learned and apply it to their home bar.

In addition, a sampling whiskey will also be passed along with a variety of snacks, such as Pickled Cherry Tomatoes and Beets, Deviled Eggs, Duck Fat Fries with Sly Fox Cheddar Cheese Sauce and a Variety of Sliders.  Guests will mix and mingle, getting to know each other as they learn more about the bar’s 80-plus whiskey selection.  The restaurant will be closed for this exclusive event, offering guests a rare chance to casually stroll throughout the space.  Tickets must be purchased in advance at villagewhiskey.com/social.

The Philadelphia Inquirer has called Village Whiskey “the ultimate height of low-down American decadence,” praising their “awesome parade of bottles” and the Village Burger, “my single favorite Philly burger,” according to food critic Craig LaBan.  Philadelphia Weekly gushed over their “cool and composed” service, “very good cocktails” and “rapture on a roll” burger, while Philadelphia magazine admired the “gorgeous bar,” “understatedly cool” vibe and “over the top” food.

Village Whiskey is open Sunday and Monday from 11:30 a.m. until 11 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. until midnight and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. until 1 a.m.  For more information, please visit www.villagewhiskey.com, follow them on Twitter (@VillageWhiskPHL) or call (215) 665-1088.

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A Bit of Cheese Talk With The Alemonger

About a week or so ago, G-LO agreed to answer some cheese related questions from our good friend The Alemonger. Click the above photo to read it for yourself. Proceed with caution! Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

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National Constitution Center’s “Cheers To Beer” Tasting Event

Don’t miss the final evening event for critically acclaimed American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition 

Philadelphia, PA  –  Toast the “Beer Act” of 1933, which legalized beer prior to Prohibition’s repeal, during the National Constitution Center’s suds-filled Cheers to Beer tasting event on Thursday, April 4, 2013 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Admission is $30 for museum members and $35 for non-members (ages 21+) and includes live music, heavy hors d’oeuvres, samples from local Philadelphia breweries, a commemorative souvenir tasting mug, and one of the final opportunities to tour American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition, before it closes on April 28. Reservations can be made by calling 215.409.6700 or at constitutioncenter.org. Guests are encouraged but not required to attend in their best Roaring ’20s attire!

Participating breweries/distributors include: Batch 19, Dock Street Brewing Company, Prism Brewing Company, River Horse Brewing Company, Sly Fox Brewery, Stoudt’s Brewing Company, Triumph Brewing Company, Weyerbacher Brewing Company, and Yards Brewing Company. Specialty whiskey cocktails made with Jim Beam Devil’s Cut and Canadian Club Dock No. 57 also will be served.

Guests will tap their feet to live jazz music by the acclaimed Blue Vipers of Brooklyn, whose upbeat repertoire consists of tunes from the ’20′s and ’30’s, paired with classic blues and original works. For a memorable keepsake, guests can strike a pose in front of a ’20s era backdrop and have their photo taken by Peter van Beever Photography.

Beverages will be paired with an all-American menu prepared by Brûlée Catering including boneless buffalo chicken bites, BBQ pulled pork sliders, macaroni & cheese bites, crab tots, and a flatbread station. Vegetarian options also will be offered.

The Cheers to Beer event is the final of three exciting parties held throughout the run of the American Spirits exhibition.

Throughout the evening, guests can watch as the era of flappers and suffragists, bootleggers and temperance lobbyists, and real-life legends like Al Capone and Carry Nation come vividly to life in the National Constitution Center’s world-premiere exhibition American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition. Spanning from the dawn of the temperance movement, through the Roaring ’20s, to the unprecedented repeal of a constitutional amendment, this first comprehensive exhibition about Prohibition explores America’s most colorful and complex constitutional hiccup. Featured artifacts include a Budweiser beer bottle and case from 1933, one of the first produced by Anheuser-Busch after Congress redefined “intoxicating liquors” to make beer legal.

American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition is created by the National Constitution Center and curated by Daniel Okrent, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition.  Following its debut at the Center, the exhibition will embark on a nationwide tour.

During regular museum hours, admission to American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition is $17.50 for adults, $16 for seniors and students, and $11 for children ages 4-12.  Group rates also are available.  Admission to the Center’s main exhibition, The Story of We the People, including the award-winning theatrical production Freedom Rising, is included.  For ticket information, call 215.409.6700 or visit www.constitutioncenter.org.

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Root for the Home Team at Iron Hill with the Release of “Phightin’ Phils Pils” and a Menu of Phillies-Inspired Hot Dogs for Opening Day

WILMINGTON, DE – On Opening Day, Friday, April 5, beginning at 12 noon, all nine Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant locations will celebrate the return of baseball with the release of Phightin’ Phils Pils and a menu of Phillies-Themed Hot Dogs as the Phillies take on the Kansas City Royals.  Each restaurant will be showing the game live on TV and all specials are available on a pay-as-you-go basis.

“Phightin’ Phils Pils has become a game-day tradition for us,” says Director of Brewing Operations Mark Edelson.  “We’re thrilled to bring back this bright, refreshing beer and to welcome our Philadelphia Phillies back for another exciting season.”

Phightin’ Phils Pils is a Northern German-style pilsner that is brewed with traditional German noble hops for magnificent hop aroma and flavor.  It is a perfect spring-and-summer beer that also pairs beautifully with any of their baseball-centric hot dogs.  Phillies dogs will include:

• The Chili Chooooooch Dog, topped with beef and bean chili, cheddar cheese and chopped onions.
• The Reuben Amaro Dog, topped with sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and thousand-island dressing.
• The J-Roll Dog, with smoked pork, creamy coleslaw and sweet mustard sauce.
• The Papelbon Dog, with smoked bacon-tomato jam, chopped red onion and cheddar cheese.
• The Galvis Dog, wrapped in bacon and topped with pico de gallo, avocado, jalapeno peppers and crema.
• Harry the K-Dog, with sauerkraut, chopped onion and spicy brown mustard (“outta here” good!).
• The Ruf Ruf Dog, with egg salad, crumbled bacon and roasted long hot peppers.
• The Hamels Dog, with coleslaw, chopped bacon and spicy mustard.
• The “Chase Utley, You are the Man” Dog, with avocado, tomato, red onion and bleu cheese sauce.
• The Charlie Dog, with chopped onion, tomato, relish, mustard and ketchup.
• The Bull Luzinski Dog, with barbecue onions, smoked bacon and cheddar cheese.

Founded by home brewers Kevin Finn and Mark Edelson and restaurateur Kevin Davies in Newark, DE in 1996, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant has blossomed from one restaurant and brewery to nine locations across the mid-Atlantic with a tenth location in Voorhees, NJ scheduled to open in 2013.  Each restaurant is dedicated to producing and serving top-quality hand-crafted beers and cuisine in a warm and hospitable setting, and all are open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.

Locations include:  Newark, DE (147 East Main Street, 302-266-9000);  Wilmington, DE (620 Justison Street, 302-472-2739);  Media, PA (30 East State Street, 610-627-9000);  West Chester, PA (3 West Gay Street, 610-738-9600);  North Wales, PA (1460 Bethlehem Pike, 267-708-2000);  Phoenixville, PA (130 East Bridge Street, 610-983-9333);  Lancaster, PA (781 Harrisburg Pike, 717-291-9800);  Maple Shade, NJ (124 East Kings Highway, 856-273-0300);  and Chestnut Hill, PA (8400 Germantown Avenue, 215-948-5600).

For more information about Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, or to make a reservation at any of their locations, please visit www.ironhillbrewery.com, follow them on Twitter (@ironhillbrewery) and like them on Facebook.

Event Review – Fair Food Philly’s Brewer’s Plate 2013

This past Sunday, The Wookie, our friend Mike (an honorary Booze Dancer), and I attended Fair Food Philly’s annual Brewer’s Plate event at the National Constitution Center. This would be The Wookie’s second time attending this event (click here to read his review of last year’s event), and a first time visit for Mike and I.

Before I get into my event review, here is a bit of information about the Brewer’s Plate taken directly from a Fair Food Philly press release:

Fair Food, a nonprofit organization uniting local farmers, business and consumers, presents The Brewers Plate at National Constitution Center Sunday, March 10, 2013 from 5:30-9:00 PM. The organization’s largest, most popular and well-established fundraiser is truly a unique event uniting more than 50 local culinary outlets with an expected thousand attendees.

Outlet and beer pairings in the General Admission area are as follows:

• Brauhaus Schmidt/Street Food Philly and Neshaminy
• City Tap House and Troegs
• Fair Food Farmstand with McKenzie
• Iron Hill and Iron Hill
• Kennett Restaurant and Yards
• Khyber Pub Pass and Sly Fox
• London Grill and Desiato Cider
• Varga Bar and Brooklyn Brewery
• SPTR and Philly Brewing Co.
• Southwark and Nodding Head
• The Belgian Café and Fegleys
• Tria and Victory
• White Dog Café and Dogfish
• Alla Spina and Stoudt’s
• Keatings and Cricket Hill
• Guerrilla Ultima BBQ and Dock Street
• Field House and River Horse
• Bard Ferdinand and Lancaster
• El Camino Real and Weyerbacher
• Cedar Point Bar and Kitchen and Boxcat
• McCrossens and Prism
• Triumph and Triumph

Each restaurant has a little over a week to get creative with local dish ideas. Many of the restaurants and breweries are keeping their serving items under wraps as a surprise for attendants, but some interestingly imaginative dish ideas include Alla Spina’s mortadella hot dogs with red cabbage and pickles paired with Stoudt’s Karnival Kolsch; Cedar Point’s grilled cheese stuffed with BBQ portabella and apple slaw and Boxcar’s Mango Ginger IPA; and White Dog Café’s house-made scrapple sliders with Dogfish’s Chicory Stoudt. Additionally, lucky VIPrs will sample Victory’s newest not yet on the market creation and Weckerly’s Ice Cream ‘Man Full of Trouble’ flavor (porter with chocolate covered shortbread) created specifically for the event.

Keeping in mind that the list above does NOT include the food and beer pairings that were going on in the VIP area, and the desserts and spirits that were being served in the Speakeasy area, there is only one way to describe my experience at this year’s Brewer’s Plate: overwhelming, but in a very very good way! There was so much food and drink available, and I tried so many different things in such a short period of time, that by 7PM (90 minutes into the event with 120 minutes to go), I was really wishing that I owned a pair of Sansabelt pants.

While I would love to talk about every Craft Beer and food thingy that I consumed during this event, the truth is that we were moving so fast that I didn’t have time to take notes (I was also trying to get some decent photos AND socialize a bit, so multitasking was becoming increasingly difficult as I ate and drank my way through the evening. I know, I know. Poor me! ). Whether it was one of the casked Ales from Forest & Main, the Eclat Hop Wallop Infused Chocolate Truffles, the Duck Confit-Foie Gras Banh Mi (try saying THAT three times fast after having a few beers) from London Grill, the always superb Capogiro gelato, or even the beer-cured salmon from Bar Ferdinand, I can honestly say that everything which I consumed throughout the course of this 3.5 hour eating and drinking extravaganza was excellent.

One of the most interesting parts of the evening occurred at 7:15 when we took part in a beer and cheese pairing session which was led by Aimee Olexy of Talula’s Table in Kennett Square and Talula’s Garden in Philadelphia. Once again, I can’t remember the names of all the cheeses and beers we consumed, but I do remember the first beer/cheese pairing which I thought was particularly interesting…

On the morning of the event, Aimee whipped up a batch of fresh ricotta (which was of course made from locally sourced and uber fresh milk) that she planned to serve at these tastings. The ricotta was layered atop some home made granola, and we were instructed to try it with a wee sample of Troegs JavaHead Stout. I was truly blown away by this combination because the creaminess of the ricotta, the crunchiness and mild sweetness of the granola, and the boldness of the Stout all played together so beautifully that I can totally imagine having something like this for dessert. All of the other beers and cheeses were also outstanding, but once again, I can’t remember any other details. My only complaint about this portion of the evening has more to do with my approach to all of the eating and drinking than with the beer/cheese tasting itself. When you plan to consume vast amounts of food and drink at an event like this, the key to survival is constant movement (and Sansabelt pants!). As I told The Wookie at the beginning of the beer/cheese pairing, I liken what I was feeling when I first sat down at the table to fresh mixed concrete, i.e. as long as the concrete mixer keeps moving you’re fine, but once you pour it, it will start to set. Again, my fault, not theirs.

In addition to Craft Beer and fantastic food, there were also a bit of high test libations on hand to sample in The Speakeasy and VIP areas. The Philadelphia area is home to some outstanding brewers, but there is also a bit of a distilling Renaissance going on as well. Philadelphia Distilling brought their Bluecoat Gin and Vieux Carre Absinthe, Art in the Age brought their Root, Snap, Rhubarb, and Sage, and Dad’s Hat brought their White Rye and Rye Whiskey. I never made it to the Art in the Age table, but I did get to try the Vieux Carre Absinthe and Dad’s Hat Rye Whiskey. Both were highly enjoyable and served as a fine intermezzo as we took a small break from all of the Craft Beer and fine food.

While the food and drink were wonderful, what really made this event truly special were the people. From the volunteers and security people, to the people working at the tables pouring our drinks and serving our food, to all of those in attendance, the National Constitution Center was overflowing with enthusiasm and good cheer! Brewer’s Plate 2013 was an evening that I will talk about often. I can’t wait to see what they (literally) cook and brew up for next year’s 10th Anniversary event!

Just two more things…

#1 – In between all of the eating and drinking, I tried my best to do a bit of socializing as well, because as I said just one paragraph ago, it’s the people that made this event truly special. During the event we ran into Mr. and Mrs. Miracle Max, Pete LaVerghetta and his wife,  Ryan Hudak of the In Search of Beer blog who was there with his wife Leanne, Sean Mellody of Mellody Brewing, Ethan (thank you for not sporting the mankini!) of the Brewniversal blog, Dorrie of the Food Muses blog, Michele of the Stouts and Stilettos blog, and the Official Unofficial Photographer of all things Philly Beer, Stephen Lyford. It was a pleasure to share a drink with all of you!

#2 – Below are some photos that I took throughout the event. Hope you enjoy them!

Eclat Hop Wallop Chocolate Truffles

Aimee Olexy of Talula’s Garden

Hoppin John Orchestra

Stout Float

Vieux Carre Absinthe by Philadelphia Distilling

Weyerbacher

Cheese and Beer Pairing

Spanish Cured Ham Tease courtesy of Bar Ferdinand

Triumph Brewing

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Many thanks to the good people at Fair Food Philly for inviting us to this outstanding event!

Reluctant Restaurant Review – The Industry, South Philly

Earlier this week, Mrs. G-LO made an administrative decision and informed me that the boys would be spending Saturday night at my In-Laws. This decision led to a scheduled date night which meant that there were more decisions to be made…

1. Where will we eat?
2. Will anyone join us?
3. Should we try to squeeze in a movie?

Since this is a reluctant restaurant review (I’ll explain the reluctant part shortly) of The Industry, you already know the answer to the first question. As far as the second question, I tried to pull together the Crafty Day crew, but sadly, they weren’t able to join us due to prior commitments (click here to read about our last Crafty Day crew dining out experience), so we decided that it would be a casual dinner for two. And as far as squeezing in a movie, we went to a 3:45 screening of Silver Linings Playbook, which proved to be the perfect film for this past Saturday night since it (a) takes place in and around the Philadelphia area, and (b) ends at the Ben Franklin House which is where Mrs. G-LO and I lived when we first got married.

So why is this a reluctant restaurant review? This is a reluctant restaurant review because I had no intention of writing a restaurant review when we first decided to head out to dinner, but thanks to Mrs. G-LO mentioning the blog to the waiter, here I am, writing a review while it’s all fresh in my mind. After Mrs. G-LO’s not so subtle mentioning of the blog, the waiter came over with a pen and paper, asking me to write down our blog’s name and web address. One of the owners (Dave Garry) even came over to say hello, so after all that, I feel obligated to write about our dining experience. Here goes…

Crafty Day 2012: Food, Drink, Crafts, and Friends!

The last time the holiday gathering that we call Crafty Day was written about on this blog was way back in December of 2010. That is not to say that we didn’t celebrate Crafty Day in 2011, I just never got around to writing about it.

In a nutshell, our good friends Patty and Rob invite us to their home for an afternoon and evening filled with food, drink, crafts, and most important of all, quality time spent with some of our oldest and dearest friends. Since Patty and Rob are kind enough to host and let us make a mess of their lovely home, it is my job to always bring a wide assortment of food for lunch. My annual trip to the Reading Terminal Market and our local Italian grocery store (Croce’s in Cherry Hill, NJ) to gather provisions for Crafty Day is a shopping excursion that I always look forward to.

Celebrating Thanksgiving With Charlie Brown and the Peanuts Gang!

Just thought I would share the great Charlie Brown Thanksgiving special that I remember watching every year when I was a boy. It just never gets old!

May your day be filled with family, friends, great food, and of course, wonderful beverages! Happy Thanksgiving!

Beer and Event Review – Ommegang Scythe and Sickle Event at Devil’s Den, South Philly

On September 5th, we received the following invitation from Jennie Hatton of Profile PR in Philadelphia:

Brewery Ommegang invites you and a guest

to be one-of-the-first to sample its newest beer

Scythe & Sickle Harvest Ale.

Please join Ommegang representative Megan Maguire

on Wednesday, September 19 from 5 to 7 p.m.

at Devil’s Den located at 1148 South 11^th Street (corner of 11^th and Ellsworth streets.)

Devil’s Den will be preparing beer friendly dishes

for you to enjoy with the Scythe & Sickle

as well as other Limited Edition beers including

Seduction, Belgian Independence Day Tripel, Gnomegang and more.

Please R.S.V.P. by Monday, September 17

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As is the case with many of the invites that we receive, we each had a family conflict that kept us from attending what sounded like a wonderful (and free!) event. This time around, we couldn’t attend because of “Back to School Night” at the local elementary school.

Monday Morning Craft Beer and Whiskey News!

Laphroaig Live 2012!

“There’s no smoke without Laphroaig”

Join us in Germany for this year’s Laphroaig Live, as we explore the impact that smoking has on Laphroaig; be it beer, Islay peat or German sausage meat…

Show date: Thursday 27th September

Show time: 21:00 CET (GMT +1)

Laphroaig Live 2012 will be broadcast live from Germany, during this year’s Oktoberfest – the World’s largest fair! This celebration of Bavarian beer dates back to 1810, making it just 5 years older than Laphroaig itself.

Despite the very different end results, those familiar with the whisky making process will know that prior to distillation, whisky is essentially beer. We’ll be exploring the similarities between them, and sampling some local beer that has been matured in a Laphroaig Quarter Cask.

A traditional accompaniment of German sausages will act as the perfect companion for our Laphroaig beer. These lucky sausages will also be given a Laphroaig infusion as we’ll be smoking them over wood chips taken from one of our barrels.

Known as the most richly flavoured of all scotch whiskies, Laphroaig’s smoky profile comes from the peat that we use to smoke our malt. We’ll be examining the influence that this special smoky peat has on some of our most popular expressions, the Laphroaig 10 year old, the beloved Laphroaig Quarter Cask and this year’s Cáirdeas.

In comparison with our Islay peated malts, we’ll also be tasting a Highland peated malt from our sister distillery, Ardmore, and an Irish peated malt, Connemara, from our sister distillery in Ireland. These three peated malts all have their own very different but distinct qualities and we’ll be exploring those with our whisky experts during the show.

As always, we will be joined by Laphroaig Distillery Manager, John Campbell. He will be accompanied by master blender Robert Hicks, the revered Bernhard Schäfer, whisky writer and Master of the Quaich and Pierre Thiebaut, founder of whisky fan site Connosr.com. A studio audience of Friends of Laphroaig will join the tens of thousands of Laphroaig fans Worldwide that tune in to our live show every year.

John Campbell, Robert Hicks, Bernhard Schäfer and Pierre Thiebaut join us live online at www.laphroaig.com/live to take part in this live tasting session on Thursday 27th September 2012 at 21:00 CET (UK – 9pm)

To find out more about Laphroaig, visit their website, worldwide Facebook page, USA Facebook page, or follow them on Twitter.

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Counting The Days Till Philly Beer Week 2013? Bridge The Gap With The Bathtub Beer Fest, A Fundraiser And Prohibition-Era Beer-Drinking Party

PHILADELPHIA, PA – On Thursday, November 15 from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m., top craft brewers will come together at the National Constitution Center (5^th and Arch Streets) for Bathtub Beer Fest, a Prohibition-era beer-drinking party and fundraiser for Philly Beer Week (PBW) 2013. Tickets are available online (click to purchase) for $40 per person ($45 per person after October 12), and include samples of both old-fashioned beers and modern favorites from 20 top craft breweries, plus free admission to the Center’s new exhibit, “American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition”(normally $17).

“Waiting for Philly Beer Week to roll around every year is exciting – but sometimes, we need a great beer event to tide us over,” says Executive Director Don Russell. “The Bathtub Beer Fest is it: a suds-filled celebration of beer and beer drinking with some of the best in the business bringing special and unusual brews that we’ll serve out of sixtels chilled in bathtubs full of ice, in a fun homage to Prohibition-era home brewing.”

The event will include beers from PBW brewery participants including: Boston Beer; Dock Street; Dogfish Head; Evil Genius; Fegley’s Brew Works; Fifth & Blake, featuring its pre-Prohibition-style Batch 19 Lager; Flying Fish; Free Will; Great Lakes, featuring their era-appropriate Eliot Ness amber lager; Harpoon; Neshaminy Creek; Nodding Head; Prism; Saranac; Shawnee Craft; Sly Fox; Victory; Weyerbacher; and Yards. Guests are encouraged to don Prohibition-era duds, including fedoras and flapper attire.

While sampling beers from top breweries, attendees will be able to observe an on-site “bathtub brew” that will utilize an open fermentation style of brewing, an homage to the way beer was made (illegally) during Prohibition. The beer will be available exclusively during PBW 2013.

Also on hand for the event: author Daniel Okrent, whose Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition (Scribner, May 2012) is the inspiration for the exhibit and was featured in Ken Burns’ comprehensive PBS documentary.

Philly Beer Week 2013 will be held from Friday, May 31 until Sunday, June 9. PBW is a 10-day celebration of “America’s Best Beer-Drinking City,” and kicks off on the first Friday in June annually. Established in 2008, it’s the largest beer celebration of its kind in the United States, featuring hundreds of festivals, dinners, tours, pub crawls, tastings and meet-the-brewer nights throughout greater Philadelphia. PBW highlights the region’s diverse beer scene – its world-class breweries, neighborhood taverns, trend-setting restaurants and rich beer culture and history.

For more information about Philly Beer Week, including the ever-expanding schedule of events both during PBW and throughout the year, a list of participants and other details, please visit www.phillybeerweek.org and follow them on Twitter (@PhillyBeerWeek). PBW tweets should include the hashtag #PBW. You can also like them on Facebook.

Summer Vacation 2012 – A Photo Tour of our Seven Glorious Days in the Great State of Maine!

Nubble Lighthouse in York.

During the last twelve months I have gone on three family vacations. The first of these vacations held out a promise of Craft Brewery tours (last summer’s trip to Maine), and the second one held out a promise of acquiring some hard to find Cigar City Craft Beers (last Fall’s trip to Orlando and Disney World). If you are a regular reader, then you already know that I never made it to any brewery tours in Maine, and that I never acquired those hard to find Cigar City beers in Orlando.