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

Celebrate The End Of A Torturous Work Week At Bar Ferdinand

Jim Adair — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:40:46 +0000

Bar Ferdinand (1030 North 2nd Street) understands how hard you work. And sometimes you just want to be appreciated you know, have someone pat you on the back and say “nice job.” Well you won’t get exactly that at Bar Ferdinand on Friday’s but you’ll get something arguably better: a weekly changing selection of beers, wines, and spirits, paired with a tapa.

Merienda Fridays at BF last from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM and each week has its own theme. So while it might not be that pat on the back and the respect of your peers, sometimes a drink and some food just what you need.

Garces’ Amada To Debut New Weekend Brunch Menu

Jim Adair — Fri, 13 May 2011 03:43:35 +0000

Super chef (and Iron Chef) Jose Garces’ Amada will be debuting a new weekend brunch menu this coming weekend.

The new menu will include, “some special items that combine Spanish flavors with classic breakfast preparations,” according to Garces. Some of these items include Chorizo con Papas (crisped Kennebec potato batons tossed with chorizo sausage, pine nuts, parsley and fresh sherry-tomato puree, topped with a sunny-side-up egg), Asparagus con Trufas (grilled green asparagus in Mahon cream sauce, topped with a perfect poached egg, chopped black truffle, smoked slab bacon and a cheese crisp) and the especially delicious sounding Amada Omelette (a three-egg omelet with spinach, roasted tomato and Manchego cheese, topped with sliced jamon Serrano and served with crispy potato-pipperade hash and pickled guindilla chiles).

Available every Saturday and Sunday from 11:30AM until 2:30PM, brunch dishes will range in price from $11 to $24. Guests can also opt for a special La Mesa de Jose brunch tasting menu, featuring a variety of dishes, for $40 per person. A wine pairing ($20 for three-ounce pours and $35 for five-ounce pours) or beer pairing ($25) will also be available to supplement the tasting menu.

Amada, 217 Chestnut Street, (215) 625-2450

Eight-Course Tapas Menu Arrives At Isabellas

Mark — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 18:18:53 +0000

Isabella, Chef Michael Cappon‘s joint in Conshohocken, has prepared a tasting menu designed to give patrons a sampling of all that Isabella’s menu has to offer. Starting on April 25th, Isabella will offer an 8-course tapas tasting menu for only $27. Outside of this new tapas menu and their usual happy hour from 5-7PM during the week, Isabella now also offers drink and menu specials on Friday and Saturday nights from 10PM through midnight. Some of the late night specials include $3.50 Tapas, half-price draft beer, $4 for select wines and $5 martinis.

Isabella’s Tapas Tasting Menu:
- Isabella Salad, local mixed greens, valdeon cheese, marinated figs and toasted almond toss with a pedro ximenez vinaigrette.
- House Mozzarella, lavender honey and spiced marcona almonds.
- Tuna Niçoise, olive oil blanched sushi grade ahi tuna with olives, capers, and quail egg.
- Cochino Frito, a favorite at Isabella, chili-dusted crispy pork belly with a sweet pea puree and pickled onions.
Then, there will be an ‘Intermezzo’ break from the tapas with a mojito sorbet.
- Mussel Tapas, mussels in a roasted tomato marinade with a crisp potato and arugula salad.
- Spinach Ricotta Gnocchi – house made ricotta, brown butter, parmigiano-reggiano and nutmeg.
- Pinchos de Carne are chili and roasted garlic marinated beef skewers with a porcini mushroom crema and a charred onion.

And lastly, a dessert trio: espresso creme, chocolate mousse and pear ginger sorbet.

Isabella, 382 East Elm Street, Conshohocken, 484-532-7470

Wishing A Hearty Happy Anniversary To Jose Garces’ Amada Through A Food Coma Haze

BrianW — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 20:53:51 +0000

Has it only been five years? It hardly even seems possible that one dude has opened five crazy successful restaurants in one city in that amount of time (Amada, Tinto, Distrito, Chifa, Village Whiskey), not to mention a market & cafe spot (Garces Trading Co.), a cute-as-buttons roving food truck (Guapos Tacos), and the coming-soon JG Domestic at the Cira Center and Frohman’s Wursthaus to bump up the restaurant count to seven. Oh, and the man is an Iron Chef now, too. Yeah. Exactly.
For the entire month of October, Amada will be offering a $65 per person Five Years La Mesa de Jose Tasting Menu to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the opening of Chef Jose Garces’ flagship restaurant and tapas bar as well as Garces’ general rise to power and his taking of the title of Supreme [But Benevolent] Overlord Of The Food Universe.

The anniversary menu will include some of Amada’s classic dishes, selections from Garces’ first cookbook Latin Evolution, and even some of the crazy shit he made up during Iron Chef America battles. Behold, a few teasers:
Cheese Mixto – Manchego, Garrotxa, Cadi Urgelia
Amada’s Empenada – spinach & Manchego-stuffed plantain pastry with artichoke & piquillo escabeche
Pulpo Gallego – Spanish octopus with smoked paprika
Pernil Asado – crispy roasted pork with rosemary white beans & Seville orange
Ensalada de Jamon – micro arugula/spinach salad with Cabrales blue cheese croquette, spiced almonds, smoked bacon lardons, and sherry vinaigrette (one of the ICA dishes)
PLUS – Amada’s blow-your-mind white, red, and seasonal sangrias

Chef Garces has given you many food hangovers, Philadelphia, and you likely got laid after taking a date or two there, so save those nickels for a couple of weeks, or dust off that credit (hah!) card you hid in your dresser drawer last year and go show the man some birthday love.

Amada, 217 Chestnut Street, (215) 625-2450

Sustainable Seafood Dinner At Bar Ferdinand

DannyD — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 16:22:08 +0000

At 8pm on Sunday, April 25, NoLibs tapas hotspot Bar Ferdinand will be holding a special dinner featuring seafoods provided by River & Glen, a Warminster-based company that specializes in sustainable and artisan fish and meat. Chef David Kane’s menu is slated to include lots of gastronomical gems, including Mystic Oysters Three Ways; Bouchot Mussels with roasted grapes, tarragon and hazelnuts; Pan Seared Day Boat Scallops with foie gras stuffed morel mushrooms and sherry gastrique; and Great South Bay Wild Hand-Harvested Clams and Line-Caught Chatham Bay Cod. At $65 per person plus tax and gratuity (an extra $30 will get you a wine pairing), it’s not exactly “ultra-affordable,” but as we’ve all learned time and time again, when it comes to fresh seafood, you get what you pay for. They’re also offering a 20% discount to service industry professionals. Reservations are encouraged, but not required. This menu sounds like it might warrant splurging a bit… got to get those oysters in before the end of the “R” months.

Bar Ferdinand, 1030 North 3rd Street, 215-923-1313

Pay Attention To The Weather Outside: Close Your Eyes And Think Of Peru

tips — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:40:29 +0000

Philly Kitchen Share and Spinal Tapas — the duo of chefs and writers Tim McGinnis and Brian McManus — are teaming up in April for what looks to be a fun one: Spinal Tapas: Food, Music & Booze inspired by Peru will have two seatings, a feature guest appearances from Brad & Angelique Jennings of Humble & The Rabbit Catering.

Philly BBQ’s With The Best of Em’

BrendanW — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:34:51 +0000

Philly may not be known for it’s barbecue but it damn well should be. Lovers of pulled pork, spicy baked beans and ribs need not grumble their tummies, for there is some truly authentic and amazing BBQ right around the corner, and in one case, just a phone call away.

Bebe’s Barbecue has gotten it’s share of praise on Phoodie and now you don’t have venture into the blustery cold to get grips on some authentic southern barbecue. They’re offering delivery service Wednesday – Saturday, Noon-9pm.

Percy St. BBQ brings the BBQ pain (in a good way.) One of the many stand outs on the menu is the option to get just the burnt ends of the BBQ Brisket (when available). Whether or not that appeals to you, it’s still pretty cool.

Come January, chefs and food writers, Tim McGinnis and Brian McManus present the first in their Spinal Tapas culinary event series on Saturday, January 16th at The Philadelphia Kitchen Share with food, music and booze inspired by Texas-style barbecue. The menu includes, but is not limited to, barbacoa de cabrito tacos, apple-brined hickory smoked pulled pork barbecue and dry-rubbed 12 hour mesquite smoked brisket. A mouthful in every sense. Spinal Tapas: Food, Music and Booze inspired by Texas barbecue will have two seatings of 16 people, at 6pm and 9pm. The $40 tickets are all inclusive and available here.

There it is hoss; three distinct ways to enjoy real deal BBQ above the mason-dixon line. So loosen the ol’ belt and enjoy.

Specials: Monday Nights At Bar Ferdinand

tips — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:04:08 +0000

We highly recommend Bar Ferdinand on a Monday night. Why? Well if you’re on a budget (and who isn’t these days), Bar Ferdinand offers all bottles of wine at half price every Monday night. This is a great opportunity to sample some of those expensive wines you’ve had your eye on, sans guilt.

Our favorite way to take advantage of this special? Enjoy the 2007 Cruz de Piedra Garnacha Rosado, a $25 Spanish Rose (which usually retails $50) alongside the traditional Tortilla A La Espanola. You will leave ever so satisfied.

[Credit: Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC]

Bar Ferdinand, 1030 N 2nd St. (215) 923-1313

Little Latin Food For Little Loot

tips — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:53:53 +0000

Opening in September, Avenida Cocina Latina offers Latin feasts that have been perfected by the husband and wife combo of chefs Edgar and Kim Alvarez. Located in Mount Airy, the historic house previously known as the Cresheim Cottage has been renovated and infused with Spanish-Colonial decor appropriate to the flavorful cuisine that’ll be on offer here. A perfect family dining setting (all items on the menu are priced under $20), the unique entrees fit the mold of a romantic night out for the adventurous types as well. A couple items that sound enticing are the Clams with Chorizo and Mole-Glazed Spare Ribs. You’ll be able to accompany your meal with Mexican and Latin-American beers, or a selection of wines and tequilas to suit your preference. With all these unique qualities, Avenida is promising not to be another ho-hum sauce, meat, and cheese eatery.

You Wish You Had This Dish: Bar Ferdinand’s Gambas Y Cangrego

tips — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:13:35 +0000

You know, what with Jose Garces dominating so much of the tapas and tapas-fusion market in Philly these days, sometimes it’s easy to forget about Owen Kamihira‘s Bar Ferdinand, a less expensive outing than, say, Amada, but often, no less elegant or delicious. We popped in on a whim last week and, among other things, ordered up the Gambas Y Cangrego, a marinate of chilled jumbo shrimp, crab salad, spicy tomato puree and blood orange aioli that’ll run you somewhere in the neighborhood of ten bucks. And let us tell you: It was worth every penny, and we’ve been obsessing about it ever since. The lump crab and shrimp portions were generous and delicious, and the marinate was light as feather, but still packed a very distinct, very pert taste. This thing sang words like “spring” and “freshness” — along with the Cat Power version of “Sea of Love” — all the way down our throats. And we need to eat it again. As soon as possible. And as it happens, on Monday nights, Bar Ferd also happens to do half-price bottles of vino. Spring fever, indeed.

Bar Ferdinand, 1030 N 2nd St. (215) 923-1313