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.

Whisk(e)y and Philly Food News For The Week Ending 7/27/2012

Mark Reynier of Bruichladdich Speaks Out About The Bruichladdich Buyout

On July 16 we asked for your opinion about the proposed Bruichladdich buyout by Remy Cointreau. As of this writing, 80% of you went with “It’s not personal. It’s just business.” . The people have spoken and they have decided that the Bruichladdich buyout was a good business decision!

Now it’s Bruichladdich Managing Director Mark Reynier’s turn to speak out about the Remy Cointreau buyout…

The Best Laid Plans (an excerpt from the Bruichladdich blog)

The deal has been signed for Rémy to buy Bruichladdich for £58m including debt.

I am conscious there has had to be a dearth of information surrounding this news. Here’s my explanation of the recent turn of events.

Bruichladdich was the first to be bought out of industry ownership and reopened as a private, operating, single malt distillery. It cost £6.5m in December 2000.

Banks were not accustomed to an individual wanting to buy a distillery. Distilleries were, after all, the reserve of conglomerates and cartels. This hare-brained idea was turned down, out of hand, by every bank except one. And it took eleven months to get them signed up.

To have a chance to develop Bruichladdich along the lines I had in mind, time was essential. Private equity would be needed – and lots of it.

Finding equity investors was not so difficult, and knowing that the stocks of maturing Bruichladdich could be borrowed against, I knew how much equity investment it would take. At least I thought so…

Click here to continue reading Mr. Reynier’s blog post on the Bruichladdich blog website.

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The July Edition of WhiskyCast Virtual Tastings is Now Online

July’s episode of WhiskyCast Virtual Tastings marks the end of its first year, and several members of tasting panels from previous episodes returned to help mark the occasion. Shelly Brisbin, Scott Rogers, Tim Davis, and Sean Fousheé tasted Suntory’s Yamazaki 18-year-old single malt, the Bunnahabhain Toiteach from Islay, and a “Mystery Malt” revealed after the tasting.

To celebrate the anniversary and the start of Year #2, I’ll be giving away a special one-off 20″ X 24″ edition of one of the photos from the WhiskyCast Photo Gallery during August and September. To enter, you’ll need to listen to the August and September episodes for the secret word that appears in each episode. Once you’ve figured out the secret word, email it along with your name, address, and age to contests@whiskycast.com. The July drawing will be held on August 15, and the August drawing will be held on September 15.

If you’d like to be a member of one of our tasting panels, just email comments@whiskycast.com and put “Tasting Panel” in the subject line. There are only a few requirements: you’ll need to have Skype on your computer and a headset or external microphone, and you can’t be employed in the whisky industry.

You can either listen to the podcast online, or download it via iTunes.

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Meet The 2012 Philly Vendy Awards Emcee, Judges, and Finalists

Philadelphia, PA – July 23, 2012 – Nominees have been chosen and the emcee is on board. The battle will take place Saturday, July 28, 2012, 3:00-7:00 p.m. at The Lot @ 39th and Market. “The People” will designate a “People’s Choice’’, but winners of the coveted Vendy Cup and Best Dessert? That power is in the hands of five local food stars. In alphabetical order:

Collin Flatt – editor of Eater Philly, and the first and only editor of NBC’s now-defunct The Feast, and before that, Phoodie.info. He teaches classes at The Wine School of Philadelphia, is a beer consultant for bars, and an educator at The Beer School of Philadelphia.

Anna Goldfarb (Emcee) – A local author, humorist, and screenwriter, her first book, “Clearly, I Didn’t Think This Through” is a humor memoir about how terrible she is at being an adult. She writes the popular blog, Shmitten Kitten, and is a contributing writer to The Frisky and Hello Giggles.

Tony Luke Jr. – Twice hailed by Gourmet Magazine for quality and innovation, and covered by GQ, The New York Times and scores of other media, Tony Luke’s redefined the Philly Sandwich experience with specialty favorites. Under his helm, the business has expanded into eight premier locations, making it one of the biggest success stories of the Philadelphia dining renaissance of the last two decades.

Joy Manning – Former restaurant critic for Philadelphia Magazine, Manning is a food writer specializing in restaurant coverage, recipe development, and culinary culture. Her work has appeared in Details, Food & Wine, Relish, Cooking Light, The Philadelphia Inquirer and Serious Eats. She is the co-author of “Almost Meatless” and most recently, worked at Prevention magazine as nutrition editor.

Lari Robling – Former food critic for the Philadelphia Daily News, and author of the internationally acclaimed cookbook “Endangered Recipes”, Robling produces sound-rich audio food segments for WHYY radio, and created a series of podcasts on the history of French cuisine for the American Philosophical Society Museum.

Marcie Turney – One of Philadelphia’s most prominent entrepreneurs, Chef Turney has worked for nearly a decade with partner Valerie Safran to transform the 13th Street neighborhood into Midtown Village. Their businesses include restaurants Barbuzzo, Lolita and Jamonera; gourmet prepared food market Grocery, and lifestyle boutiques Open House and Verde, which is home to Turney’s signature line of chocolates, Marcie Blaine Artisanal Chocolates… 

Click the following link to read the complete press release:

Vendy 2012 Emcees Judges and Finalists

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

Whisk(e)y, Cocktail, and Philly Food News For The Week Ending 7/20/2012

Scotch Malt Whisky Society Unveils World’s 1st Interactive Whisky Magazine for iPad

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) has unveiled a fully interactive iPad version of its award-winning members’ magazine Unfiltered – the first of its kind on Apple’s global Newsstand platform.

As well as offering some previously unseen content for the Society’s 26,000-strong membership, Unfiltered on the iPad also opens the magazine up to non-members, with videos, interviews and features, 360-degree photography, interactive maps and hidden extras for the curious of spirit.

SMWS teamed up with incumbent customer publisher Connect Communications to develop the cutting edge publication, designed from the ground up to take full advantage of the iPad’s capabilities. The result is as beautiful as it is useable, showcasing the creative photography and industry-leading writing that have become Unfiltered’s stock in trade.

Commenting on the launch, Unfiltered editor Kai Ivalo said: “Our vision for Unfiltered on the iPad was to reflect the excitement, adventure and curiosity which comes with a love of great whisky. Like a good dram, it impresses from the first nosing, but also has hidden depths for those prepared to explore.”

Richard Croasdale of Connect Communications added: “We knew from the outset that we wanted to avoid a flat reproduction of the print magazine – our readers expect us to be more imaginative. So we’ve fundamentally rethought what Unfiltered can be and how readers can interact with it. It’s been an exciting journey and we’re confident that Unfiltered has once again set the benchmark for its peers.”

Unfiltered can be downloaded now through iTunes, or directly through Newsstand on the iPad. Search for ‘Unfiltered’, or click here to visit the iTunes website.

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Celebrate the Release of The Dark Knight Rises With a Gotham Chill Cocktail!

• 1 oz Campari®
• 1 oz Wild Turkey® 101 
• ¾ oz Ruby Port
• 5 drops of Orange Blossom Water
• 2 dashes of Orange Bitters

Stir all ingredients, except orange blossom water, in a mixing glass briefly. Add 5 drops orange blossom water over ice in rocks glass. Strain liquid in mixing glass into rocks glass. Garnish with ground cinnamon and an orange half-wheel.

Recipe and photo provided by Campari America.

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Second Annual Philadelphia Vendy Awards Announce Nominees

Vendors Will Compete For Three Awards: Vendy Cup, Dessert and People’s Choice

Philadelphia, PA – July 16, 2012 – Loyal Philly street vendor patrons have spoken, nominating 12 different vendors with menus ranging from fish tacos to vegan coconut chai ice cream. The battle is set for Saturday, July 28, 2012, 3:00-7:00 p.m. at The Lot @ 39th and Market.

Tickets for the Philadelphia Vendys, which is all-you-can-eat and includes beer, can be purchased at http://phillyvendys2012.eventbrite.com/ for $55 in advance and $60 day of event. Members of the press should email http://www.food-shelter.com/VENDY/ to request a press pass.

• SAVORY: The Smoke Truck, King of Falafel, Vernalicious, The Foo Truck, Yumtown, Tacos Don Memo and Lil Dan’s Gourmet and Delicias
• DESSERT: Lil baby’s ice cream, Lil Pop Shop, Sugar Philly and Sweet Box

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, 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.

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, Craft Beer, and Whisk(e)y News For The Week Ending 6/29/2012

Philly Vendy Awards Return For Battle Of Top Street Chef Title

Philadelphia, PA – June 28, 2012 – Coinciding with the vast expansion of the Philadelphia food truck scene, some of the most talented sidewalk culinary impresarios will battle Saturday, July 28, 2012 for the best-of title at the second annual Philadelphia Vendy Awards. The event takes place at The Lot @ 39th and Market, beginning at 3:00 through 7:00 p.m., when the winner’s trophy is awarded.

Loyal Philly street vendor patrons can nominate their choice for best sidewalk chef online at http://streetvendor.org/philly2012/nominations/. Tickets for the Philadelphia Vendys can be purchased at http://phillyvendys2012.eventbrite.com/. Tickets cost $55 in advance and $60 the day of event, which is all-you-can-eat and includes beer…

Click the following link to read the complete press release:

Philly Vendy Awards 2012 Press Release

To find out even more about the Philly Vendy Awards, visit their Facebook page, or follow them on Twitter.

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Compass Box Whisky Co. ‘World Record’ UK Tasting Tour

Starting in Inverness just after midnight, at 12.01am, John Glaser and Dominic Roskrow proceeded to host 8 different whisky tastings in 8 Whisky Shops across 8 cities between Inverness and 643 miles away in Brighton.

Travelling by car, the team reached their destination in Brighton bang on time at 11.30pm, 30 minutes within their 24 hour deadline. There were many highlights, but drinking Great King Street Highballs with more than 25 whisky fans in Edinburgh at 4.30am in the morning will live long in the memory!

Guinness were unfortunately unable to process the World Record attempt before it actually took place….but kindly replied three days afterwards (!) to confirm that it would have been a new world record category for them. So it’s the ‘World Record’ that wasn’t…Oh well, it was still an amazing day!

If you’d like more information about Compass Box Whisky, visit their website, Facebook page, and Twitter feed.

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3rd Annual Chesapeake Crab & Beer Festival – National Harbor, MD on 8/18/2012

National Harbor, MD - Trigger Agency announced today the return of The 3rd Annual Chesapeake Crab & Beer Festival on Saturday, August 18th in two fun-filled sessions from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at National Harbor Waterfront, Maryland. The Festival is an ALL-YOU-CARE-TO-TASTE extravaganza complete with thousands of crabs, lots of beer, arts & crafts, live music, family fun and so much more!  This is the WORLD’S LARGEST CRAB FEAST!…

Click the following link to read the complete press release:

Chesapeake Crab + Beer Festival Press Release

To find out even more about the Chesapeake Crab & Beer Festival, visit their website.

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 Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ Festival 2012 Heads to Cary, NC on 8/3 and 8/4/2012

Cary, NC – The Fifth Annual Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival, hosted by The Trigger Agency, is returning to Cary on Friday, August 3 and Saturday, August 4, 2012 at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre.  Enjoy a great day of beer sippin’, bourbon tastin’, music listenin’, cigar smokin’, and southern style barbeque eatin’.  Friday, the Whole Hog Pig Pickin’ will begin at 6:00pm and last until 10:00pm. On Saturday, an exclusive VIP only tasting will begin at Noon and last until 2:00pm.  General Admission will follow from 2:00pm – 6:00pm.  A souvenir glass is included with ticket purchase and offers guests unlimited tastings of the best beers and finest bourbons.  With over 60 beers, 40 bourbons and plenty of barbeque, everyone is sure to find something they love….

Click the following link for the complete press release:

Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ Festival Press Release

To find out even more about the Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ Festival, visit their website.