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Bourbon Master Lifts Spirits at Loews Philadelphia’s Bank & Bourbon Restaurant
From left, Daniel Kulisek makes his point as Bank & Bourbon restaurant’s recently appointed Bourbon master. “If I cannot drink Bourbon and smoke cigars in Heaven than I shall not go.” – Mark Twain Story, photos by Sharon Kozden I’ll be straight up and honest. I’m not a hard liquor fan. My most daring drinky-drink is a margarita and without that sweet and salty cocktail, I prefer white wine. So before Covid19 chaos, and while on assignment to cover Loews Philadelphia Hotel’s Bank & Bourbon Restaurant’s media preview party of the appointment of their very own in-house Bourbon master, I knew I’d be in for an all-inclusive education. One doesn’t…
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DesignPhiladelphia Festival Celebrates 15 Years, Hosts Kickoff Party at Cherry Street Pier
The Ben Franklin Bridge’s steel-suspension design is a perfect backdrop for DesignPhilaldephia’s Kickoff Party. “Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design, in part because good designs fits our needs so well that the design is invisible.”- Don Norman Story, photos by Sharon Kozden My introduction to Philadelphia’s design scene occurred in fall at Cherry St. Pier, where DesignPhiladelphia kick-started its 15th annual 10-day long festival with a launch party that had the stunning Benjamin Franklin Bridge as backdrop. It was a fitting and iconic location choice. What, after all, screams both stellar design and Philadelphia more than the Ben bridge? What wasn’t fitting on that…
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2019 James Beard Media Awards Bites the Big Apple at NYC’s Chelsea Piers
Visit Philly’s presence as presenter tops the list! “Through food we express love. We bring comfort and hope. We forge new relationships and strengthen old bonds. Food reaffirms not only our humanity but the joy of being alive.” – Marcus Samuelsson Story, photos by Sharon Kozden I can’t cook for beans. Let me amend that: I choose not to cook because I haven’t yet arrived at a stage in my life where cooking takes precedence over other activities. However and albeit slowly, my evolving self is beginning to understand the bigger picture, to conceptualize the larger significance of the roles that food and cooking play in one’s lifetime. It’s as…
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Philly’s Landmark Americana Tap and Grill Delivers Good Grub
Façade of Landmark Americana Tap & Grill’s City Line locale in the heart of St. Joseph’s University campus. Story, photos by Sharon Kozden When life gives you lemons, add drinks, wings and ribs! – In part, me. Just sayin’ before you read on … with apologies to Clement C. Moore ‘Twas the week before Super Bowl LII, when all through Landmark Americana Tap & Grill’s City Line location, all the sports’ fans were stoked and rocking the house. The wings were outstanding, all chicken, little bone, and my ten were divided between sauces mild with spice bite and honey barbeque sweet. The wings were all nestled, snug in their sauce, while not overly so…
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Philly’s First Just Salad Joins Healthy Movement for a Leaner City
Story by Tiffany DuBois, photos by Eric Morales Fresh, crisp, delicious! Just Salad is not just a salad bar similar to Sweetgreen or any other vegetarian-friendly spot in Philadelphia. It is a fresh, vibrant, eco-friendly salad restaurant that just opened on 1729 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia PA 19103. It is their first location in Pennsylvania. They already have locations in New York City, Chicago, Kansas, Dubai and Hong Kong! Team Leader Michael Oliva is a transplant from the New York City Just Salad restaurant who exudes warmth and a genuine interest in knowing your opinion on the food. And it’s not just Michael that really cares about the customer’s opinion. Everyone…
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Shake Shack’s Chicken Creation is White Hot Meaty Goodness!
Story by Kelly Kusumoto, photos by Colleen Cahill Shake Shack unveiled its newest item to an already difficult-to-choose-from menu. The “Hot Chick’n” sandwich made its debut and ever since it has been taking over sales at the King of Prussia establishment. Store manager Charlotte was kind enough to take a few minutes from her hectic schedule to tell us a little more about it. She said there had been more orders for the new sandwich than for their regular chicken sandwich and that it is on par with sales for their famous ShackBurgers over the past week. While we were waiting for our food, we overheard patrons say they’d rather…
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Saint Benjamin Brewery Offers Craft Beer with a Side of History
Story, photos by Dana J. Prophet If you drive a bit past Temple University’s Main Campus, you’ll come to a brewery and tap room that’s within the Kensington section of the city. Saint Benjamin Brewery offers modern brewing techniques and also holds onto history that reaches back to the days of prohibition while presenting both distinctive and magical craft brews along with a menu of tantalizing food. The brewery is nestled within the middle of the street and it was also previously a historic carriage house and stables of the defunct Theo Finkenauer Brewery. Sadly, that brewery is now an empty lot. Fear not though because Saint Benjamin has all…
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Eighth Annual Audi Feastival Celebrates FringeArts 21st Birthday
Story, photos by Sharon Kozden “I think eating is one of the most delectable experiences of radiant, sweet, sour, hot splashes biting at your taste buds that you could ever have. Now imagine knowing how to maneuver and manage these flavors from a cook’s perspective. Pure power.” – Christopher Staab I’m remembering with gastronomic bliss the evening of September 28th, when Audi FEASTIVAL joined FringeArts for what arguably deserves its reputation as Philadelphia’s “Party of the Year.” For eight years running, an assembly of over 75 of Philadelphia’s renowned restaurants and bars has combined their award-winning fare samplings with FringeArts raise-the-bar, always innovative entertainment, artistic and cultural wonderment. FEASTIVAL first came to light, life and belly (in…
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Shadow + Flame Hosts Venetian Themed Prospero’s Ball at FringeArts’ La Peg
PROSPERO: “Spirits, which by mine art I have from their confines called to enact My present fancies.” – William Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act 4, Scene 1 Photos, story by Sharon Kozden Ball dropping isn’t always a bad thing. Maybe in the sports’ world it can be, but when it comes to entertainment, you can drop me into any ball or gala, I’m out for a good time. The evening of October 26th presented just such a time, when Shadow + Flame hosted a Venetian-themed (as well as exclusive and limited-invite!) masquerade event at FringeArts‘ La Peg Brasserie. As one deemed an exclusive guest, my initial thought was how to cobble together…
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On the Riviera: Seafood Dinner with James Beard Winner Chef Greg Vernick at Osteria
Photos, story by Tyra Gardner James Beard Award winner Chef Greg Vernick and Chef Jeff Michaud took over the kitchen at Osteria located at 640 N. Broad Street in Philadelphia and prepared seafood inspired by French and Italian cuisine. The amazing evening is part of a growing and glowing private chef series hosted by URBN Food & Beverage. Osteria has been open since 2007 and is one of the country’s most critically acclaimed Italian restaurants. Osteria customers at this event shared how the food here is “one of a kind and keeps them coming back for more”. The five course meal began with stuzzichini (appetizers), which included: Second courses were…
