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Culinary Mysteries Solved

Q: I'm looking for interesting but inexpensive chef's tasting menus. Any suggestions?

A: First off, you should make Sunday a fun day with tasting menus at Little Fish (600 Catharine St., 215-413-3464) and Pumpkin (1713 South St., 215-545-4448). Those specials run $28 and $35 per head, respectively, for five courses; reservations are suggested for both BYOs. Another quint-essential treat: Blake Joffe of Bar Ferdinand (Liberties Walk, 1030 N. Second St., 215-923-1313) offers a five-course, $35-a-person tasting menu on Thursdays. Chef Thien Ngo of Fork has been running a first-come, first-served $40 four-course prix fixe at Fork:etc. on Wednesdays (308 Market St., 215-625-9425) for a few years now. You get wine along with dinner; recent menus have included coffee-smoked duck and crispy sweet rice balls with Chinese sausage. Marigold Kitchen (501 S. 45th St., 215-222-3699) is still offering three courses off their summer menu on Sundays for $30; try the rockfish with butter beans, tomato confit and scallions for your main. Finally, for Jerseyites and/or those brave enough to take on the Ben Franklin during rush hour: The Tortilla Press BYO (703 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, N.J., 856-869-3345) does a "Twilight Menu" from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. You get a soup or salad, an entrée (achiote pork tacos!) and dessert for just $16.50.