Phiz Fest Brings Back the ‘Bubble Yum’ to Philadelphia
If your week isn’t going exactly as you had hoped it would, there’s still time to turn things around. Tomorrow night, Nov. 18, is Phiz Fest 2010, a high-minded celebration of, well, one of the most popular celebratory libations.
Of course, the whole point of the fizz-tastic event is to not only take the mystery out of this oft-neglected elixir but also prove that authentic French champagnes and sparkling wines are noble substitutes for more widely consumed wines and spirits any day—not just romantic moments or special occasions—and can be paired with any style cuisine. Even if you’re an aficionado, this is a great opportunity to taste some excellent bottles and nibble on an assortment of appetizers, cheeses and other fare from area restaurants and food purveyors.
Noshes will be provided by: Zento Contemporary Japanese, Eliza’s Bakery, Peace A Pizza, Cabot Creamery, D’Angelo’s Ristorante Italiano & Lounge, the Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College, Maru Global, JNA Institute of Culinary Arts, Philadelphia Bar and Restaurant, Automatic Brewers & Coffee Devices, Cantina dos Segundos, Maggiano’s Little Italy, The Khyber and Cookies by Design.
Guests can also glean a lot of information about this effervescent beverage on the event’s website, phizfest.com, which covers champagne method, California sparkling wine, Spanish cava and Italian prosecco.
6-8:30 p.m. $59/person. Hyatt at the Bellevue, Grand Ballroom, 200 S. Broad St., Philadelphia. Proceeds benefit Thomas Jefferson University Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Call (610) 649-6330, e-mail info@eventnavigators.com, or visit phizfest.com and eventnavigators.com.
It Just Isn’t Thanksgiving Without Pie
If you have not figured out what to do about dessert for Thanksgiving—i.e., if you have a full-time job and no spare moment to pull together a fully loaded Thanksgiving meal plus throw down a few pies—The Bakery House in Bryn Mawr has an assortment of fruit pies to impress your guests. There isn’t a website, but if you stop in, you can see (and drool over) many of the options, then place your order on the spot. The Double Crusted Apple Pie is legendary, but I love the Cranberry Pecan and Pear Cranberry Pecan pies even more. You’ll drop at least $24, but these lovely creations are well worth it. Just don’t waste too much time thinking about it; orders are due by close Nov. 18. You can also grab pumpkin bread or a luscious Pumpkin Roll—that means sweet, pillowy, creamy filling!—and even cranberry sauce or applesauce. I say that’s a pretty solid shortcut. 604 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, (610) 525-4139.
Another tasty resource for pies is also a healthy one: MyHouse Cookies. Though the bakery is in Wynnewood, it’s not a retail location. So the best way to order is either online or by going to one of the markets they sell to—all are listed at myhousecookies.com. The specialty is a locally inspired Whole Wheat Apple Crumb Pie, made with 100-percent whole wheat grown and ground for us by Pete’s Produce in West Chester. But, the options don’t stop there: Classic Apple, Apple Caramel Walnut, Apple Pear Cranberry and Pumpkin are also available. I like the option of 6- and 10-inch sizes, and the minimal amount of sugar, lots of spice and the flaky, buttery, just-sweet-enough crust. And, of course, if you’ve got lots of kids coming to dinner, who generally prefer cookies to pie, this is a one-stop-shopping experience that will require little effort. Like the slogan says, “Let cool and order online.”
