June 24-30, 2004

food

offthemenu

by Juliet Fletcher

Though day-to-day, restaurant storefronts vie with each other to draw in every customer, it's increasingly common for a new attitude to prevail: A few head chefs are better than one. For the good of all participants, area owners take the initiative to collectively present their wares, thereby forging a recognizable neighborhood identity. This weekend's your chance to visit Antique Row and its best restaurants and purveyors for the third annual Culinary Arts and Food Festival, a four-block party held between Ninth and Thirteenth streets on Pine Street. This year will feature some notable cookery demonstrations, presented by the Fretz Kitchen. Vendors will be offering some summertime favorites such as oysters on the half shell, homebrewed tea and lemonade by Shangri-La and hand-dipped ice cream by Bassetts. On the beverage side, the event will feature Yards beer and contributions from the much-loved Dirty Frank's. But the real local flavor comes from the owners of the area's well-known restaurants: from Greek spot Effie's to classy La Boheme and Caribou Cafe; from Mixto's Colombian dishes to newly-opened sushi joint Wasabi House: All will set up tables on the north side of Pine Street. (which, of course, will be closed to traffic). Other attractions will include tours of the area, tango and swing lessons presented by Society Hill Dance Academy, and strolling musicians, the Greater Kensington String Band. For those who prefer their food and drink in a performance setting, there'll be a Mad Hatter's Tea Party, taking tea and cake all afternoon. (Sun., June 27, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., free, Ninth to 13th streets on Pine Street. Call 215-731-1709 for information.)

In Short: This week, work up a thirst as you hit the Brazil-America Festival, hosted on the block of 7500 Castor Ave. Beside a multitude of local crafts and cultural events such as capoeira and carnival, plus speakers and musicians celebrating the connection between the state of Bahia (in the northeast of Brazil) and the U.S., there'll be lots and lots of Brazilian dishes and drinks for sale and sample. (Sun., June 27, 7500 Castor Ave., call 215-722-4016 for information on time and price.)

And finally, this is your first and only warning: the All-You-Can-Eat Ice Cream festival descends on Penn's Landing next weekend, just in time for the Fourth. If you want to make the most of the day, get your tolerance up by practicing now. (July 2-4, noon-5 p.m., Festival Pier at Penn's Landing, Delaware Avenue and Spring Garden Street. Call 215-922-2FUN for information.)