Since our current season lacks the outrageous abundance of local produce that rains down in summer and early fall, creativity is required to conceive a worthy cold-weather salad plate.

Apocrypha aside, a modern sangrita mixture of tomato and citrus juices spiked with chili powder or hot sauce is now a standard accompaniment to a caballito of booze at Philly's better tequila destinations.

Though not strictly a cookbook (Walker calls it a "culinary seduction guide"), dozens of simple recipes dot the chapters; dishes like "Tap That Ass-paragus Soup" and "Eggs Whorentine" were culled from more than 400 on his blog.

As with other Starr projects, aesthetics drive the Ranstead Room's environment as much as the drinks.

The PLCB Cucumber Crush can be assembled with just two stops — one to a liquor store nd another to a market.

Felicia D'Ambrosio hand-picks what food trends should and/or will come to the fore in Philly in 2010.

Carpano Antica Formula is performing a trick its cheaper counterparts have not been able to accomplish in nearly a century: making vermouth cool again.

Shafia's non-preachy tone and sparkling enthusiasm make the book an inspiring read, and even the converted can learn a thing or two.

A homegrown sensibility informs SA VA's inventory, 65 percent of which is made in-house. Collections, all in women's sizes 2 to 16, are sorted by events.

It's "like having your brain smashed out by a slice of lemon wrapped round a large gold brick."