What's Cooking

The Week in Eats

by Eric Henney

Neal Santos

[ the week in eats ]

Tue., July 13, 6:30 p.m., $125

This is the inaugural installment of R2L's new dinner series inspired by some of the world's most prominent wine regions. Chef Daniel Stern will come up with a four-course menu that pairs with the traditional yet progressive characteristics of the Spanish wines he's highlighting. The meal is open only to 22 diners; reservations required. R2L, The Residences at Two Liberty Place, 50 S. 16th St., 215-564-5337, r2lrestaurant.com.

Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll

Thu., July 8, 5:30-8:30 p.m., pay as you go

The University City District unveiled a tasty way to render lame dollar stores obsolete last month with its Dollar Stroll. It was a huge hit, and tonight it's coming back for round two. Fifteen participating merchants along Baltimore Avenue are offering $1 specials; check out injera snacks at Dahlak, coffee at Gold Standard, bite-size vegan sandwiches at Green Line and slices of pizza at Dock Street. Baltimore Avenue between 43th and 50th streets, universitycity.org.

The Belgian Beer Phenomena

Fri., July 9, 7:30-9:30 p.m., $35.97-$45.95

Fun facts: The tri-state area has more Belgian-inspired breweries than anywhere else in the country, and there's more lambic consumed in Philly than in Brussels. And for one class only, the Philly Beer School is going to take you through how the best of these local brews are made. The class will be led by instructors Collin Flatt and Dean Browne, the latter a Philadelphia Brewing Co. brewer. Santé! The Philly Beer School, 2008 Fairmount Ave., vinology.com/beer.php.

Fairmount Bastille Day Festival

Thu.-Sun., July 8-11

There are quite a few Bastille Day celebrations in Philly, but Fairmount's four-day fest is tops. There's a bar crawl, myriad tasting dinners (Belgian Café, London Grill) and after-parties like the one at Rembrandt's (where they'll serve Marie Antoinette-inspired cocktails). On July 10, at Eastern State Penitentiary, you can "storm the Bastille" with water guns as Antoinette (aka London Grill owner Terry Berch McNally) tosses more than 2,000 Butterscotch Krimpets from the towers. Let them eat TastyKake! Visit fairmountbastilleday.com for more.

Grilled Cheese and Beer Tasting at World Café Live

Tue., July 13, 8 p.m., $35

Try four grilled cheese sandwiches, each built with locally sourced and/or fine imported ingredients and paired with a different beer — then finish it all off with a wicked beer dessert. (In the past, they've served Old Bay cheddar on brioche with a mini crabcake and a Yards Saison, plus sweets like Dark Horse Raspberry Ale sea salt chocolate mousse.) World Café has grilled cheese/beer dinners planned for August and September, too. World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.