Phoodie.info: The New Food And Drink Blog For Philadelphia » Stephen Starr

For Just $2.5 Million You Can Have Stephen Starr’s House (And Kitchen)

Jim Adair — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:20:56 +0000

And how red the kitchen is. That kitchen (and the $2.5 million asking price) also comes with a roof deck, three bedrooms, five bathrooms, a Zen garden, and 6,000 square feet at 242 South Van Pelt Street. Curbed Philly has more info on that kitchen (who designed it, etc.), but if you pony up the big bucks for this place, you can do whatever you want to it.

Save The Date: The Second Annual Feastival

Jim Adair — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 20:23:00 +0000

Triple Threat Detected On North Broad: Ready Your Bellies

BrianW — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 20:00:17 +0000

Keep an eye on North Broad, folks. Restauranteurs extraordinnaires Marc Vetri (Vetri, Osteria, Amis) and Stephen Starr (please don’t make us list them all) and catering whiz Joe Volpe (Cescaphe, the Atrium at the Curtis Center, opening-soon Tendenza) have all signed on to open new venues at 600 North Broad Street, just north of Spring Garden. Chatter has been coming down the line all week (here and here and here) about EB Realty Management Corp.‘s proposed $50M transformation of the former Wilkie Buick/Subaru Dealership and Showroom into a mixed-use development, anticipated to open next Fall. The complex sits between Broad & 15th Streets and between Green & Mount Vernon Streets. The three eateries will take over the single-story portion that fronts on Broad, and the residential portion of the development will go into the former showroom at the 15th/Mt. Vernon corner of the site, whose seven stories will be renovated into loft apartments.

Current plans for the new restaurants:
Starr: “[A] casual New England fish house with a wood grill and picnic-style seating” tentatively named Route 6; seating for around 150 in +/- 6,000 sqft.
Vetri: An Italian-themed gastropub “inspired by trips to Rome and visits to neighborhood bars and eateries” tentatively named Birreria 600; serving some 50-70 beers on tap (!); +/- 3,500 sqft.
Volpe: A catering/event space with a 8,000 sqft. commissary for up to 700 guests – so far unnamed.

EB Realty Management Corp. is responsible for the redevelopment of the building at 640 North Broad that houses Vetri’s Osteria on the ground floor, so that already successful business relationship certainly bodes well for this new venture. Additionally, Philadelphia Business Journal tells us that no additional zoning/planning approvals are required since the proposed use for the property is allowed under its current zoning restrictions. Assuming financing and the ever-so-cumbersome Pennsylvania liquor licensing procedures fall into place, this deal seems like a go. We’ll be watching this one closely.

And While We’re On The Subject Of Birthdays…Free Gelato At Stella!

BrianW — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 22:15:37 +0000

Stephen Starr’s Pizzeria Stella turns one year old tomorrow. Call it artisan-pizza-bandwagon-jumping if you will, we were just glad to hear last fall that ol’ StarrMan was taking over the ~~XandO~~ Cosi that formerly held that spot over at Headhouse Square. Stella (along with Xochitl and, recently, Bodhi Coffee) has upped the ante in that part of town, and we got nothin’ but congrats. Head over tomorrow for one of those toe-curlingly good Tartufo pies, and grab some birthday gelato while you’re at it. Hey – it’s free! Stella is giving complimentary house-made gelato, complete with birthday candle (awww..), to any guest with any food purchase.

Pizzeria Stella, 2nd & Lombard Streets, (215) 320-8000

Your Feastival Wrap-Up: Rendell Puts Possible Jinx On Phils In A Cavern Of Mini-Basil Ice Cream Cones And Empire Daiquiris

tips — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 19:34:15 +0000

Last night, while Restaurant Week raged on through Center City, the 2010 Live Arts & Philly Fringe Festival box office, located in a long-empty warehouse Northern Liberties, became the home of the 2010 Feastival. Organized by restaurateurs Audrey Claire Taichman, Michael Solomonov and Stephen Starr, the event included more than 50 participating restaurants and bars, auctions and live performances by multiple Fringe acts. It was a gathering of the have nots and have lots, of artists and the foodies who love them.

Michael Solomonov, Audrey Claire Taichman, and Stephen Starr get their just desserts

The event was organized to provide financial help to an arts community that’s seen more than its share of budget cuts and dwindling grants. Mayor Michael Nutter and Governor Ed Rendell were among the patrons who lent their support – Rendell even added an unannounced auction item of his own: Dinner for two and tickets to join the Governor for a World Series game. That is, if the Phillies make it to the World Series. There’s no refund if they don’t. The auction went for a pretty steep five-figure bet. Come October, if the Phils don’t make it to the game, we’ll remember this public jinx, and we’ll be coming for you, Eddie.

Speaking of the Phillies, their personal chef, Katie Cavuto Boyle of Healthy Bites Delivery, was on hand to pass out bruschetta that tasted too good to be healthy. Starr Restaurants demonstrated their local domination (and generosity) by appropriating the entire north wall. Buddakan added their own theatrics to the evening by serving Dragon Cookies, which, when eaten, result in billowy cold “smoke” falling out the mouths of diners.

Arancini, fried risotto balls covered in parm and breadcrumbs, from Pizzeria Stella

Other standout dishes of the night include sliced roasted lamb over a tuft of pulled lamb shoulder from Tweed; simple cheese ravioli in a bright red sauce from Ristorante Panorama; mini basil ice cream cones from Pizzeria Stella; and the cold pleasingly chewy tuna rice cracker from Michael Schulson‘s Sampan. Schulson himself was unable to attend the event, since he was manning the homefront for the Restaurant Week crowds.

Colin Shearn of Franklin Mortgage poured Empire Daiquiris, a drink that may or may not appear on the Franklin’s fall drink menu – though it should. This was not a beach bum’s frothy frozen daiquiri. The brass-colored drink calls for Cruzan white rum, Pimms No. 1, fresh lime juice, simple syrup and crème de pêche. Unencumbered by the Franklin’s signature big-block ice cubes, the booze packed a punch.

One of several acrobatic performers, dangling above the concrete floor.

Tickets were $200 ($300 for VIP access), and several of the auctions climbed into five-digit bids. The money will go a long way in helping to fund the Fringe, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

– Jen Oliver

Fishtown Phoodie Watch

Juliana — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:07:40 +0000

You’ll be able to find The Cornerstone Market‘s old digs in a new spot on Frankford and Columbia. Brownstoner reports that Fishtown Jewelers’ owners Tom Vaughn and his wife have purchased the market’s furnishings for a new bread and cheese shop. The store is said to open in about six months. No word on if the ghosts of Bulgarian feta past will haunt the new shop.

Previously: Bummer: Cornerstone Market Property Up For Lease

Stephen Starr’s Fishtown Bier Garten (which got a lot of buzz around here for a bit then kind of went dark) hopes to open in late October but infrastructure problems (oh, Fishtown) may delay the project, Philly Mag reports.

Previously: Phoodie Exclusive: The Who And The What Of Stephen Starr’s Fishtown Bier Garten; Stephen Starr’s Fishtown BierGarten Overwhelmingly Passes Neighborhood Test Of Zoning Meeting Endurance

Stop, Drop And Make Your Reservation for Starr’s Next Pop-Up With Kanella

Juliana — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:42:30 +0000

Most importantly: Starr’s first pop-up with Talula’s Table sold out in less than two days, so if you want in on the Kanella pop-up, there’s no time to waste. Call 215-592-7787 to make reservations. Now, everything else: Notoriously sexy Kanella chef Konstantinos Pitsillides will be cooking a Levantine dinner for the second pop-up. The Levant refers to land east of the Mediterranean, so think Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Israel and Cyprus, where Pitsillides is from. Highlights include grilled quail with chickpeas, figs and Spanish goat cheese ($23) and lavender mousse and mixed berries ($8). Check out the full menu at Foobooz.

Kanella in Washington Square, 210 West Washington Square, July 27-July 30, 215-592-7787

Starr Does It All, The Crowd Goes Wild

Juliana — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:05:39 +0000

Stephen Starr is at it again. (Or rather, he’s never stopped; satisfaction for the Starr beast is as foreign to him as a bidet is to a NASCAR fan.) One of his latest endeavors is his pop-up restaurant series, where he’ll be taking restaurants from out of town and transplanting them into Philly for a limited time. First up is Talula’s Table, located in Kennett Square. Talula’s Table is a gourmet market by day and a “farmtable” restaurant by night. They serve food that sounds like this: eggplant soup with purple haze, chicken, sausage, mustard and oozy cheese, creamy risotto, juicy beef, and cave-aged cheddar (full Philly menu here). The catch: They only serve one party (8-12 people) a night and you have to reserve the whole table one year in advance. And you have to be the first caller of the day in order to even make the reservation. So it’s no wonder the Table’s limited engagement in Philly sold out in less than two days. Don’t worry, the next pop-up restaurant should be announced soon.

Talula’s Table in Washington Square, 210 West Washington Square, June 29, June 30, July 1, 215-592-7787

And then, Starr’s other latest endeavor: The Philadelphia Museum of Art. The museum chose STARR Restaurants Catering Group to revamp its restaurants and cafes. The group’s first move is introducing a new menu at the Museum cafe on Aug. 1, inspired by the Late Renoir exhibit (through Sept. 6). Meanwhile, the Museum Restaurant will close for several weeks while the foodies over at STARR figure out a new way to stun our taste buds.

Stephen Starr All Over The Mann Center

Juliana — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 19:27:56 +0000

Thanks to Stephen Starr, you can now nibble on black truffle popcorn while you wait for Rufus Wainwright (or Passion Pit, or Yo Gabba Gabba, whatever) to come on. Or you can pop some Asian five-spice mixed nuts while you watch Planet Earth live at the Mann. (That is, if you’ve forgiven him. If not, bring some gummi bears of your own.) First Crescendo, now Stephen Starr Catering is taking over every concession stand in the Mann. Concession stands will offer snacks inspired by Starr’s restaurants in Center City. They’ll even offer pre-made picnic lunches, where you can choose between entrees like Seared Sesame Salmon and Fried Buttermilk Chicken and sides like Udon noodle salad with Asian vegetables and arugula, tomato and Vidalia onion salad.

Phoodie.info Predicts The Future: Forthcoming Claims To Be Made In Future Stephen Starr Press Releases

tips — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 20:25:51 +0000

We know, we know: It’s a little petty, but we’re still a little bit miffed about yesterday’s Stephen Starr’s press release claim that, essentially, Philly has never seen a real-deal mixology/high-end cocktail joint when hello, throw a rock around here and you’ll hit one. We went to the Phoodie.info staff counselor in a tizzy (“Again?,” she said) and she told us to work through it, that anger is an energy, and that we should “VISUALIZE SUCCESS.” So we put on a Swami cap and predicted these future claims that might be made about future Stephen Starr joints that may or may not ever exist at all (and indeed, most likely will not):

Regarding Patrick & Genovese, his cheesesteak joint set to open in Brewerytown in 2013:
“You know, there’s nowhere here where you can really experience the phenomenon that is thinly sliced beefsteak on a fresh roll.”

Regarding The Most Philadelphia Pretzel Establishment (TMPPE), set to open in the Italian Market circa summer 2012:
“Philly has never done twisted tubes of dough and salt right.”

On the subject of his forthcoming gastropub concept simply called Gastropub, with simultaneous openings in Fall 2014 in South Philly, Boca Raton FL and Monaco:
“We’ve discovered this thing called ‘beer,’ and we think it could really catch on.”

That was fun. We want more. Make your own completely-not-real Stephen Starr press release claims in the comments and… VISUALIZE SUCCESS!