What's Cooking

Get Out!

by Erin Szrankowski

[ the week in eats ]

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Just like picking a pumpkin, picking a pumpkin beer is difficult. And The Institute's upcoming bash won't make things much easier, as the bar is offering an army of drinking options — think Wolaver's Organic Pumpkin, Lakefront Pumpkin Lager, Brooklyn Post Road, Elysian Night Owl, Dock Street's The Great Pumpkin and more — to usher in sweater season. Institute staffers will hand out scorecards during the event so you can tally how many beers you've killed — polish off four or more and you'll receive a free pumpkin pie baked by co-owner Charlie Collazo himself. If that isn't enough gourdy goodness for you, the kitchen will also be cranking out dishes like pumpkin custard French toast, spicy pumpkin plantain soup, pumpkin pasta and pumpkin layer cake. The Institute, 549 N. 12th St., 267-972-5016, institutebar.com.

You may not think about chemical processes when you drink your vino, but behind that red, white or even boxed wine is the process that makes it so: fermentation, where yeast, sugar and grape juice combine, magically creating the beverage we heart. In celebration of the Chemical Heritage Foundation Museum's one-year anniversary, Tria partner Michael McCaulley will deliver three free First Friday talks (5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.) about what exactly goes into the wine-making process. Attendees can sample Spanish sparkling wine for some hands-on learning, and there will be mini cakes, decked out with symbols from the periodic table, from Jennifer McCaffery of JPM Catering. Chemical Heritage Foundation, 315 Chestnut St., 215-925-2222.

The fourth annual Midtown Village Fall Festival brings out neighborhood revelers with free-flowing food and drink. Local shops will open their doors to passersby, and APO Bar + Lounge, Vintage Wine Bar & Bistro and Fergie's will offer up their finest alcoholic refreshments. McGillin's Olde Ale House and Time will each celebrate its own version of Oktoberfest, with outdoor merriment and Teutonic food and drink specials. For food, Lolita and Bindi will present dishes for the tastin'. Don't forget the sake bombs (and sumo wrasslin') at RAW or the exercise course (work off the bloat) courtesy of Fusion Fitness. 13th and Sansom streets, 215-733-0633, midtownvillage.org.

Supper chef/owner Mitch Prensky's theme for his October Sunday Supper is the harvest, so ingredients for this three-course dinner will come straight from Headhouse Square Farmers Market. A few of the proposed eats: sweet potato velouté and cheddar gougeres, roasted chicken breast with greens and an oatmeal-espresso stout cake. An extra $10 will get you a seasonally appropriate beer pairing, which'll include brews like Flying Fish Oktoberfish, Yards' Poor Richard's Tavern Spruce and Troegs' Java Head Oatmeal-Espresso Stout. A portion of the evening's proceeds will benefit The Food Trust. Supper, 926 South St., 215-592-8180, supperphilly.com.

Model turned chef/author Maria Liberati will visit the Horsham library to show off her brand of unfussy Italian food. She’ll demonstrate a few of her recipes from The Basic Art of Italian Cooking, like a zucchini cake appetizer, layered potatoes and prosciutto and risotto salad. Attendees will receive samples from the dinner, plus salad and coffee; Horsham’s Buona Via Ristorante will serve dessert. After the demo, Liberati will meet and greet and sign copies of her book. Horsham Township Library, 435 Babylon Road, Horsham, 215-674-9590.