What's Cooking

The Week In Eats

by Rachel Burgos

[ the week in eats ]

Fair Food Farmstand has teamed up with Tenaya Darlington (aka Madame Fromage) and the Foodery for an evening of cheesy delight. A tasting will include cheeses like Calkins Creamery's Noble Road, a rich raw-milk brie; and Amazing Acres' Banon, a goat cheese with a citrus flavor subdued by brandy-soaked leaves. The Foodery will provide beer pairings. Purchase tix at the farm stand. Fair Food Farmstand, Reading Terminal Market, 12th and Arch streets, 215-386-5211, ext. 120, fairfoodphilly.org.

"Tripel Three Ways" at Nodding Head
Sat., Dec. 11, 3-6 p.m., pay as you go

For this tasting event, held on the second Saturday of every month, Nodding Head brewers Gordon Grubb and Michael Fava feature three thematic one-off beers. This Saturday, they'll explore the Belgian tripel with a trio of special brews. There will be the house Tripel, a light ale with hints of spice and fruit; the dry-hopped Egress Quatro; and the barrel-aged Phreddie, which has a white wine-like finish. Nodding Head, 1516 Sansom St., 215-569-9525, noddinghead.com.

Mad Elf, Happy You at Grey Lodge Pub
Fri., Dec.10, 6-9 p.m., pay as you go

It's that time of year again — Troegs Mad Elf is on tap! Grey Lodge will pour both the 2009 and 2010 versions of the Christmas ale, along with Dreamweaver and Troegs Scratch in case you'd like to switch it up. (Why would you?) "Jolly Ol' Saint" Nick Johnson, a Troegs rep, will be there selling Mad Elf swag, ushering in Christmas early, in beer form. Grey Lodge Pub, 6235 Frankford Ave., 215-856-3591, greylodge.com.

Italian Wine Dinner at Granite Hill Restaurant
Fri., Dec. 10, 6 p.m., $65 per person

Stephen Starr's Granite Hill, located in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, puts the focus on Italy with this five-course wine dinner. Enjoy dishes like crab cakes paired with a 2009 Beni de Batasiolo Gavi, and Scottish salmon paired with a 2008 Langhe Nebbiolo. PMA members get 10 percent off; call or visit opentable.com/granite-hill for reservations. Granite Hill, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Ben Franklin Parkway, 215-684-7990, philamuseum.org.