What's Cooking

Get Out!

by Erin Szrankowski

	print	email	reply	rss feed

Published: Sep 23, 2009

(CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VERSION)

[ the week in eats ]

Unbreaded.com's Sandwich Smash 2009 invites Philly's star chefs to celebrate all that's good in between two slices of bread. Proceeds from the local sandwich blog's event will benefit Philabundance, the Delaware Valley's largest food bank; the fundraiser will also serve as the launch of Sandwiches Fight Hunger, a Philabundance program hosting peanut-butter-and-jelly drives for low-income families in the area. Chefs from Zahav (Michael Solomonov), Paesano's (Peter McAndrews), Parc (Arthur Cavaliere), Rick's Steaks (Rick Olivieri) and Bebe's Barbecue (Mark Coates) will prepare their signature sandwiches in live demos; audience members will get to try each, plus snacks, Capogiro gelato and beer courtesy of Anheuser-Busch. Tickets can be purchased online. Park Hyatt Philadelphia at The Bellevue, 200 S. Broad St., sandwichsmash.com.

 

Abruzzo meets South Philly at this wine dinner hosted by Le Virtu. Serving a five-course dinner complete with cheeses from the region, exec chef Luciana Spurio will shine a light on authentic dishes from the Abruzzo region of Italy and pair them with award-winning Illuminati wines. (This is serious vino — their Zanna Montepulciano Reserva was recently served at the G8 Summit.) Spurio plans on serving dishes like chitarra pasta in a butcher's ragu of pork, chicken and lamb with meatballs; roast pork seasoned with garlic and hot pepper; and a traditional Abruzzese sponge and chocolate cream cake. Winemaker Anna Illuminati will be in attendance to discuss her family's wines. Le Virt, 1927 E. Passyunk Ave., 215-271-5626, levirtu.com.

The Wachovia Center is a pretty massive venue for a food event, but it sounds like they'll need the room for Appetite for Awareness. The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness is putting more than 25 local chefs (with the help of local medical professionals) to the test to see who can come up with the best gluten-free recipe. (A bar will serve wine and gluten-free beers.) Competing restaurants include Bindi, Café Estelle, Chifa, Little Fish, Melograno, Osteria, Xochitl and more. More than 50 vendors will also showcase goods useful for everyday gluten-free cooking. Wachovia Center, 3601 S. Broad St., 215-325-1306, ext. 400, celiaccentral.org/events.

This Libation Laboratories workshop will school attendees on the burgeoning field of artisan cocktail-making. Michael Callahan, beverage consultant and head bartender at San Francisco's Gitane, will lead the creative crusade, breaking down the latest high-end liquors (including organic selections); the role classic cocktails play in drink lists; and how to keep costs down while playing with pricey ingredients. Capacity is limited; ticket price includes cocktail tastings and hors d'oeuvres. Interested parties can e-mail info@libationlaboratories.com to reserve a spot. Beautiful Blooms Boutique, 1021 N. Third St., libationlaboratories.com.

Trunk Show
The M-y Awards
Feeding Frenzy