Filed Under: politics, michelle obama, obesity, the white house

Rita's debuts chocolate chip ice at Manhattan location [QSR Web]
Rita’s Water Ice NYC [Facebook]

Filed Under: empire building, italian ices, philadelphia, rita's water ice

"Tandy Kakes were changed to “Kandy Kakes” to avoid confusion with the Tandy Candy Co. during the 1970s."

Thank you, Tastyake, for making us feel whole again! We don't know who this Tandy Candy Company is (or was, since we can't find them via a google search), but we are going back to calling them Tandy Kakes, just because we can.

If anyone else has any burning Krimpet or Koffee Kake questions, they will be answering them via Twitter: @TastyBakingCo.

Filed Under: sweet news, kandy kakes, tandy kakes, tastykakes

• Bar Ferdinand chef Michael Thomas has created a $30 Valentine’s Day brunch menu being served from 11 a.m until 3 p.m. Choices will include: Potato Galette with Osetra Caviar and Saffron Crème Fraiche; Dave’s Famous French Toast stuffed with Blueberry and Citrus Curd; Goat Cheese Crepes with Apple and Pear Compote, Toasted Walnuts and Local Organic Honey; and House Made Biscuits and Chorizo Gravy with a Fried Egg. A Cava “Mimosa” Cocktail is also included. There will be a $65 and $75 menu option during dinner service. Some of the special dishes will include: Acorn Squash and Pine Nut Soup; Endive Salad with Cabrales Cheese, Hazelnuts and Sherry Vinaigrette; Spanish Flatbread with Braised Pork, Clams and Frisee; Spicy Potato Cake with Osetra Caviar and Saffron Crème Fraiche; Serrano Ham Wrapped Filet Mignon with Truffle Smashed Potatoes, Foie Gras Butter and Sherry Gastrique; and for dessert a choice of Chocolate, Banana and Pistachio Baklava or Lemon Meringue Pie with Raspberry Coulis. There will also be live flamenco performances. Reservations are recommended and accepted from 5 until 10 p.m. [Bar Ferdinand]

• Bistrot La Minette, not normally open on Sundays, will open especially for Valentine's Day. They'll have the regular menu, plus specials from Friday through Sunday. [Bistrot La Minette]

• Blackfish will offer a five-course Valentine's Day menu. It's $55 from 3:00 - 5:00pm or $85 from $5:30 - 11:00pm on both Saturday, February 13 and Sunday February 14. View the menu here. [Blackfish]

• Café Spice is offering a prix-fixe three course dinner with a glass of wine for $90 per couple all weekend. On Friday the 12th and Saturday the 13th the a la carte menu will also be available. Offer available from Friday, February 12th through Sunday, February 14th. [Cafe Spice]

• There's a choice of a $55, $65 or $75 tasting menu at Chifa. Dishes will include: Hiramasa Ceviche with Ginger, Charred Pineapple, Orange and Mustard Emulsion; Pork Belly Buns with Hoisin Glaze, Pickled Daikon and Carrot, Togarashi Mayo; Lobster Noodle Bowl with Rocoto Cream, Bacon, Parmesan and Green Peas; and a Rack of Lamb with Spicy BBQ Sauce, Ginger Quinoa and Pickled Cucumber. Reservation times are available for all party sizes from 5 until 11 p.m. [Chifa]

• At Fork, chef Terence Feury will prepare a $70 three-course menu. Selections will include: House Smoked Salmon Carpaccio with American Sturgeon Caviar, Local Winter Radishes and Citrus Vinagrette; Crispy Lamb Confit with Glazed Purple Carrots, Roasted Garlic and Black Olive-Infused Oil; Whole Maine Lobster with Butternut Squash Ravioli, Rosemary Jus and Toasted Pumpkin Seeds; and Filet Mignon and Kobe Beef Short Rib with Cippolini Onions, Carrot Puree and Pistachios. A selection of desserts will also be offered. Reservations are recommended and being accepted from 5 until 10:30 p.m. [Fork]

• Le Bec-Fin is celebrating Valentine's Day all weekend long. A seven course winter tasting menu for $155 or a nine course grand degustation menu for $195 on Friday, February 12th & Saturday, February 13th. On Sunday, February 14th enjoy a five course tasting menu with choices for $85. [Le Bec-Fin]

• London Grill will offer a $22.22 brunch buffet including the “Make Your Own” Bloody-Mary Bar served from 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. For dinner, in addition to their a la carte menu, Chef Michael McNally will serve a $50 four-course menu, beginning with a passion-inspired cocktail. Drink specials will also be available at the bar. Reservations are recommended and accepted from 4:30 until 9:30 p.m. [London Grill]

• Matyson is offering a "his and hers" Valentine's Day Tasting Menu for $45 per person; there will also be a la carte options. See the prix fixe here. [Matyson]

• Meme is offering a four course $60 menu with featuring truffles, oysters, caviar, bananas, chocolate, figs, plus champagne on the house. [Meme]

• At Noble American Cookery, in addition to the a la carte menu, chef Brinn Sinnott has created a special $55 four-course menu including a glass of sparkling wine and a dessert course. Menu items include: Market Oysters with Green Apple and Celery Mignonette; and Slow Cooked Arctic Char with Passionfruit Nage, Carrots, Mushrooms and Arugula. Reservations are recommended and being accepted from 5 until 9 p.m. [Noble]

• Oyster House will serve $55 four-course menu in addition to the a la carte menu. Dishes will include: Roasted Oysters with Crème Fraiche and Caviar; Truffle Crusted Seared Scallop with Celery Root Puree; and Split Grilled Lobster with Herbed Butter. Dessert will also be served along with $6 Champagne Cocktails. Reservations are recommended and accepted for Friday (2/12) and Saturday (2/13) until 11 p.m., but will be closed Sunday (2/14). [Oyster House]

• Supper will host their annual Sweetheart’s Pajama Brunch featuring their full brunch menu from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Guests dining in their pajamas will receive a Free Mimosa and Complimentary Banana Beignets. For dinner, in addition to the a la carte menu, the restaurant will offer a $68 Lover’s Prix Fixe four-course menu. Dishes will include: Wellfleet Oyster with House-Made Barbecue Sauce, Horseradish and Lemon; Saffron-Scented Israeli Cous Cous with Roasted Cauliflower, Mint, Chilies and Sheep’s Milk Feta; Butter-Poached Maine Lobster with Sweet Potatoes Lyonnaise and Blood Orange Vinaigrette; Pan-Roasted New York Strip Loin with Pickled Beets, Parsnip Puree and Brussel Sprout Leaves; and for dessert, Dark Chocolate Pudding with Fresh Raspberries and Salted Butter Cookies. Reservations are recommended and accepted from 5 until 9 p.m. [Supper]

• Table 31 will offer a special Valentine’s weekend menu to be served Friday (2/12) through Sunday (2/14). Selections will include: Grilled Langostines Oreganato with Sautéed Radicchio and Lemon Dressing; Homemade Cavatelli with Pancetta and Sundried Tomato Butter; Whole Roasted Branzino with Brown Butter, Capers, Tomatoes, Lemon and Herbs; 14 oz. Veal Chop stuffed with Fontina Cheese and Broccoli Rabe, wrapped with Prosciutto; and Domestic Rack of Lamb with Cannellini Beans, Escarole, Pancella and a Lemon Thyme Jus. Dessert selections will be available and complimentary Roses will be given to guests on Valentine’s Day. Reservations are recommended and being accepted for Friday and Saturday from 5 until 11 p.m. and Sunday from 5 until 9:30 p.m. [Table 31]

• Zahav's Michael Solomonov has created a special $100 per couple Mesibah Menu to be served on Valentine’s Day. Some of the dishes will include: Hummus-Tehina with House-Baked Laffa; a Selection of Mezze; Duck Breast Al Ha’Esh with Rose Petals and Duck Confit; and for dessert, Chocolate Konafi with Salted Chocolate Caramel. Also included are two glasses of Israeli Sparkling Wine. Reservations are recommended and being accepted from 5 until 10 p.m. [Zahav]

Filed Under: user's guide, valentine's day

Filed Under: other sites, food trucks, foursquare, street eats, truckin', zagat

• Necco introduced a new formula for its conversation hearts this year, featuring more assertive flavors, but opinions on the change are mixed. [WBZ]

• The Situation from Jersey Shore will be at Buckhead Saloon this weekend and Snooki will be here for Mardi Gras. [Daily News] Earlier: MTV is desperately trying to rein in the Jersey Shore cast's club appearances, but with little luck. [NYP]

• All Starr restaurants stayed open during the weekend Snowpocalypse, but it wasn't a moneymaker. [Inquirer]

• Canadian McDonald's have added new menu items for the Olympics, including a s'mores pie and a chicken parmesan wrap. [CityPages]

• In an effort to solve budgetary woes, some states are looking to privatize liquor stores. [WSJ]

Filed Under: mediavore,

Watch our slideshow to see the real draw of the day for starstruck CIA students: the staggering amount of culinary wattage.

Filed Under: bocuse d'or, cia, daniel boloud, slideshow, thomas keller

The Food:
-a cheese shop with French, Spanish and Italian cheeses with free samples and Garces’ signature cheese complements from Amada, including garlic dulce de leche and fig and cherry marmalade.
-house-cured and imported charcuterie
-house-baked bread
-sandwiches
-a variety of imported single estate vinegars and olive oils from Spain, Italy and Greece
- Garces’ signature line of coffee
-“GTC at Home,” which offer people a chance to enjoy Chef Garces’ food in neatly packaged bags for convenient reheating.

There is also a menu of "European fare" available to eat in or to go, which may include pastas such as Pappardelle with lamb ragu, sun choke puree and piavecchio and Tuscan Fusilli alla Carbonara with guanciale, eggs, black pepper and pecorino; thin crust and deep dish pizzas (Chef Garces hails from Chicago); and daily changing plats du jour such as Coq au Vin, with pearl onions, mushrooms and potatoes on Mondays and Bouillabaisse with gambas, halibut, mussels, cockles and saffron ruille on Thursdays.

The Design: Jun Aizaki of Creme Design, who has done interiors for all of Garces' other restaurants, has created an interior inspired by "merchant ships and open-air markets" with a series of stalls selling their wares. The cafe also seats "75 diners at high-top, butcher block tables. A florist stall, wine shop, coffee counter, bakery and cheese and charcuterie seller will ring the u-shaped space much like an outdoor market in Europe, framing the tables with delectable displays of their wares that include hanging cured meats and cheeses, sprays of blossoms and cases of wine."

Location: 1111 Locust St.; (215) 574-1099

Hours: Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Previously: Cira Centre Restaurant a Go for Garces, Coffee Kiosk May Come Later

Filed Under: openings, garces trading company, jose garces, markets, plcb, plcb shenanigans, washington square west

"It's what my wife and I like to do when we're there," he explains. "We've always gone with friends, but we wanted to give other people the chance to experience it in a way they wouldn't have unless they had lived there or knew someone who lived there."

As the base of operations, they've rented a renovated farmhouse in Franciacorta that has a full restaurant kitchen. He'll teach several cooking classes throughout the week that will be based around whatever they find at the market that day, plus pasta-making lessons. Michaud says the kitchen also has a wood-burning rotisserie oven, which he'll put to good use. There will also be field trips to nearby Lake Garda, lunch with winemaker Mattia Vezzola from Bellavista Winery and visits to three restaurants that Michaud himself worked in when he lived in the area, two of which are Michelin-starred. Update: You can view the entire itinerary here.

The $4,995 price tag includes everything - room rental, meals, restaurant dinners, wine tastings, excursions, cooking classes and transportation to and from the airport - but the airfare. This is the first trip they've organized and if it's successful, they may do another in the fall.

If you want to sign up for the trip, email cibus.italy@gmail.com or call 267-639-5313.

Filed Under: foodievents, jeff michaud, osteria

Filed Under: quote of the day, alice waters, chez panisse, new york times

Conocchioli and Cretarola gave us a guided tour of the products - click through the slideshow to see detailed descriptions of how each is prepared.

Le Virtù, 1927 E. Passyunk Ave.; (215) 271-5626

Filed Under: sausage making, cured meats, east passyunk avenue, le virtu, outdoor dining, salumi, slideshow, south philadelphia, south philly

Backstory [Tony's Travel Blog/Travel Channel]

Filed Under: tony tony tony, bill murray, no reservations, x20, yonkers

So how does English plan to recover from his terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year? With more projects, of course! In addition to Boston's forthcoming Curly Cakes, he's planning a food court in New York's Plaza, a restaurant in Vegas, a line of children's food, a TV show pilot, and a line at Club Monaco. One project that's off the table: his long awaited (since 2007!) Boston burger bar.

Plenty Cooking in Todd English's Kitchen [Globe]

Filed Under: back of the house, todd english

• A new bill would allow for direct shipping of wines... in New Jersey. [Inquirer]

• Meanwhile, Washington State is considering privatizing liquor sales in an attempt to raise more funds for the state's budget. [AP]

• Consumers are responding favorably to ads touting the health food benefits of fast food chains. [NRN]

• The Chinese government is searching for 100 tons of tainted milk powder that's already on the market. [WSJ]

• Wal-Mart may launch a line of private label spices, which could be a big problem for McCormick. [WSJ]

• The FDA may change standard serving sizes to more accurately reflect how much Americans eat. [NYT]

• In an effort to combat the Northeast's crumbling dairy industry, some dairy farmers are banding together in co-ops. [NYT]

• Houston has recently developed a world-class food scene. [NYT]

• New Albany, Mississippi, William Faulker's hometown, is about to legalize the sale of beer for the first time in over fifty years. [NYT]

• The USDA will tighten requirements on companies that provide meat for school lunches. [USA Today]

Filed Under: mediavore,

• Misconduct Tavern is offering a $40 Super Bowl special - it includes an appetizer, an entree and your choice of six craft beers from a list that includes Magic Hat #9 and Victory Wild Devil.

• The Cantina at Distrito is serving $2 Tecates and $5 margaritas during the game.

• South Philly Bar and Grill will serve a free "New Orleans-style" buffet during halftime, $2.75 Yuengling lagers during the game and $5 Bloody Marys all day.

• Supper is offering take-out packages of bacon-wrapped hot dogs and wings. They are taking orders through Sunday at noon. There's Supper Dog Kit, which includes four house-made bacon-wrapped hot dogs, vacuum sealed and ready for the grill or deep fryer; four house-baked buns; one pint each of barbecued onions, sauerkraut and house-cured pickles; and a half pint of beer mustard, for $25. Or you can order smoked birch beer glazed chicken wings with black pepper and buttermilk dressing for $12 per pound.

• On Super Bowl Sunday all eight Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant locations will debut a new to-go special, $25 for Two Pizzas and a Growler of Beer. Orders will be taken until 10 pm, seven days a week.

• MIXX in Villanova has 11 HDTV's, small plates starting at $3, drink specials and half off select drafts.

Filed Under: foodball, bars, super bowl