New Wine and Spirits- Do We Care?

The LCB today announced a complete overhaul/redesign of the current Wine and Spirits format. It's promising better dsigned stores, greater selection, and better educated employees able to make wine and spirit recommendations. There will also be free samples of beverages to go with wht you might be making. And it's supposed to be more consistent. Jilladelphia remembers fililng out this survey many months ago, and our main concern was price. How about we continue to guess at what wine might be good, but we lose a tax instituted as flood relief for a flood that occured 130 years ago??

Foxwoods Resiting Rules

...if it happens. We at Jilladelphia are big fans of the revenue gambling will bring the city. At the same time, and like most others, we're VERY against the waterfront sites. Therefore last week's news that Foxwoods is open to resiting the casino makes us very, very happy. The airport location is genius, given the millions of parking spaces, the captive audiences and the ease it can be reached with an expansion of the Broad Street line. Others (DAG? PlanPhilly? Ms. Saffron? - apologies) have floated another interesting idea, one which would repair another daily reminder of failed Philly planning - a small(er) casino at the 8th and Market site where Disney was once supposed to rise. Once table gaming is legal (and lord, let that be soon - WRITE YOUR CONGRESSMEN!), a smaller casino could be quite profitable there, and not an eyesore. There are a number of great places for the casinos to resituate, such as the Budd factory originallly under consideration for Trumpstreet. Anything not Penn's Landing is an improvement. So keep your fingers crossed and we'll keep you posted!

Le Bec Fin

Will close for renovations, continuing it's "dress down" trend into the dining room decor. It should be down for October/November, reopening in time for the holiday rush. But really, hasn't it lost it's fun now? It seems to us that it will be no different than any other high end restaurant in the city. There was something fun about having to dress up, having to choose from a prix fixe. Our verdict? Boring, Georges. Boring.

Zahav = More Tasting Madness

Each Thursday at Zahav you can choose from a chef's tasting or a vegetable tasting menu, for $65 per person ($100 with wine selections). Check out the details here:
www.zahavrestaurant.com

Cuba Libre - SUPER CHEAP!!

Check out a 15 course tasting menu at Cuba Libre for just $39 per person! Yep - 4 appetizers, 1 salad, 3 entrees, 3 side dishes and 3 desserts all for $39!! We can't BELIEVE it!! And you can get it Sunday through Friday, dinner only. This is insane!! Go. Now. Eat.

Bug OUT

This weekend kicks off the Academy of Natural Sciences BugFest. They're bringing in the rarest bugs from around the planet. Learn about 'em, thouch 'em, love 'em, and even eat 'em! There will be delicious bug recipes from all over the world! Aside from lectured and cooking demos, there will be bug races and tons of other fun things. Don't freak out - go and have a great time! Remember, you're bigger than they are!

Sat and Sun, 10:30 - 4:30. $10pp.

Beer Dinner at Valanni

Valanni will host a 5 course beer tasting dinner on August 19th. The menu will be a mix of Belgian and Mediterranean, but the beer is all Belgian. Starts at 6PM, goes till 10. Zagat.com provides a menu preview:
"The meal features ceviche coupled with Kasteel Triple, salad Lyonnais (poached egg over frisée, Belgian endive, lardons and crispy potatoes with a red-wine vinaigrette) paired with Brigand Golden Ale, tamarind-ginger glazed pork ribs matched to Kasteel Rouge, Bing cherry sorbet served with St. Louis Framboise and grilled white Mission figs and Rogue River blue cheese with port reduction accompanied by Gouden Carolus Grand Cru of the Emperor "

That'll be $55 per person - not a bad deal a'tall!

PW Concerts in the Park

Philadelphia Weekly kicks off it's annual concert series tomorrow night, Wednesday, in Rittenhouse Square at 7PM. Featured performer is Dr. Dogg. Check out www.philadelphiaweekly.com/concerts for more information!

Back Again!!

From beautiful and sunny Aruba! Lovely wedding, lovely weekend. Now to some business...

PARC IS

LOUD! REALLY, REALLY LOUD!! Oh, ok, sorry - our hearing is readjusting. But yes, Jilladelphia went to Parc on Thursday. It's pretty, it's HUGE, and it's, well, mediocre. The place was so packed we couldnt' get a drink at the bar. The food was (with the exception of a fabulously cheesy and creamy Macaroni "Gratin" - a standard Starr mac-n-cheese variation, as he's got one at each place) just ok. Steak frites failed to move us. Good oysters, but how can you mess up shellfish? We say go for lunch. Or go for a drink in a couple months when the initial crowd thins out. It is good, it is probably going to be as reliable as other Starr places. But if you're looking for gastro-flair, look elsewhere.