Tinsel & Tine: This Week Philly Eats

A bite size wrap of culinary highlights in and around Philadelphia!

I won't be watching the Oscars at home on my 10 year old TV this year, I'll be covering the Bryn Mawr Film Institute’s Third Annual Oscar Party Fundraiser! The theater will simulcast Hollywood’s biggest event of the year on the silver screen while guests enjoy a JMP Catered gourmet buffet (Making this a film and food event!), drinks, and silent auction.

Patrons are encouraged to dress in their red carpet best or wear costumes inspired by the nominated films. Wonder if I'll be posting any Swan eyes Monday morning?

Tickets are still available
Date: Sunday, February 27, 2011
Time: 7pm
Price: $65 / $55 (members)
Location: 824 W. Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010

Move over Giuliana DePandi, cause Tinsel & Tine has got the red carpet covered! (sans the stars).

City Tavern Recreates Martha Washington’s ‘Excellent Cake’

In honor of Presidents Day, City Tavern’s Walter Staib, the star of the PBS program "A Taste of History" is serving his recreation of first First Lady Martha Washington’s “excellent cake.” Staib pulled the recipe from the very pages of Washington’s hand-written cookbook, which resides with The Historical Society of Pennsylvania. The cake, which is made with period appropriate ingredients like Spanish oranges, rose water, currants and mace, will be available February 18-27, 2011.

Trolley Car BEER CLASSES

Thursday, February 24th 7pm-9pm

New Brews to Choose -The only thing better than enjoying an old favorite is discovering a new favorite...especially when it comes to beer! Come sample new brews released within the past year and add a new favorite brew to your growing beer list. Light appetizers are served and a more than 220+ beer selection is available for purchase to mix-&-match and take home. Click HERE for details & registration.

Visit Atlantic City during Restaurant Week and experience some of the finest dining in New Jersey.

WHEN: Sunday, February 27 through Saturday, March 5, 2011
WHAT: Participating Atlantic City restaurants will offer fixed price, three-course meals at prices far below the normal cost: * Lunch: $15.11 per person * Dinner: $33.11 per person * Prices DO NOT include taxes, beverages or gratuity. WHERE: Approximately 70 casino restaurants and independent restaurants throughout Atlantic County.

Eye on Chef Demetrios Haronis of FIN at the Tropicana: Chef Haronis, who was born and bred on the Jersey Shore, mans the helm at the restaurant. A graduate of the Academy of Culinary Arts, Mays Landing, NJ, Chef has worked at numerous restaurants along the south Jersey Shore from Cape May to Longport, and joined Tropicana in 1994 as a sous-chef. He has cooked his way up the ranks in nearly all the restaurants at the Tropicana to his new post as head chef of FIN. Items on the menu at FIN created by Chef Demetrios will change seasonally and range from contemporary to classic, with signature dishes such as "Chef D's" Dancing Shrimp, made with onion panko crusted shrimp served with a lobster crab cake; Crabsickles, jumbo lump crab on a crab leg; grilled tuna ribs; and homemade oyster cracker breadsticks.

I'll Eat You blog post Review of Philadelphia Chutney Company: a quick-serve Indian spot that opened up on Sansom Street between 16th and 17th, formerly home of the Remedy tea bar. As this is just a few blocks from my place of employment, I've been there several times now, and it's become quite popular in my office – even with my Indian co-worker who once resolutely insisted that there were no places to get good Indian food in Philadelphia.

Maybe because this is not your typical korma-and-tikka-masala joint: the main attraction at PCC is the dosa. The texture of this enormous pancake-like disc is somewhere between a crêpe and injera (the Ethiopian flatbread). Like a crêpe, it's thin and flecked with brown, but like injera, it has a bubbly texture, owing to the batter's fermentation (though unlike injera, it's not very chewy). Inside, you can get a wide variety of all-vegetarian fillings, then the whole thing is folded up into a tube that occupies most of the length of the cafeteria-style trays they're served on.

The bulk of the menu is comprised of Western combinations featuring things like goat cheese, roasted tomatoes, and various iterations of fake chicken. But for my money, you gotta stay authentic and go with one of the "masala" combinations. The simple spiced potato filling can be dressed up with various cheeses, and now is also available with a sprinkle of a dry rub-like spice mixture for a little extra kick...

So, think of me
with every fork full of goodness you devour this week!