Cedar’s Cafe has recently opened in Frazer (Malvern), in the Westgate Plaza (with Jimmy’s BBQ and Staples). They feature Mediterranean cuisine — lots of Hummus, Falafel, Kabobs and Shawarma. Tasty!

309 Lancaster Avenue, Malvern, PA 19355
Phone: 610-644-5551
http://cedarscafepa.com

Recently, PA State Senator John Rafferty has become the latest to challenge Pennsylvania’s strange and arcane beer sales laws in attempt to allow six-pack sales at beer distributors, grocery and convenience stores (read more about that here). In addition, it’s been just about a year since Wegman’s made a splash in the PA scene when it was announced they would be selling beer. Beer in the supermarket? In Pennsylvania? Amazing! The catch, of course, is that they got a “pizza place” license to sell up to 12 beers (or the equivalent) for takeout. Sales are only allowed in the food court area, not the main checkout aisle. Still, the fact that you can grab a sixer on a trip to the grocery store is certainly a big plus for PA residents (and a Wegman’s should open in Malvern in 2010).

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Michael Klein reports that longtime Bryn Mawr BYOB Cafe Fresko has closed, and that it will soon be replaced by a second outpost of Fishtown Indian restaurant Ekta.

This is especially interesting due to the fact that Ekta is owned by former employees of Tiffin, who are also opening soon in Bryn Mawr.

Next weekend boasts two big foodie events on the Main Line — it’s a shame they overlap!

As we mentioned previously, Friday night Feb 5th is Foodapalooza II in Haverford. Tickets are $12 in advance / $15 at the door.

In addition, the first ever Taste Local Festival will take place at the Desmond in Malvern on Friday night and all day Saturday. The main event takes place Saturday afternoon from 12-3:30 and will include a sampling of local food, wine and beer (featuring over fifteen breweries and wineries), plus several “Savor Sessions” where you get to learn and taste unique food and drink pairings. In addition, there are pairing dinners both nights, a chili competition and more. Tickets start at $35.

Main Line Dine will be represented at both events, so we hope to see you out next weekend!

More info:
- Foodapalooza
- Taste Local

The Paoli branch of Fellini Cafe has closed for good. Hopefully we’ll see another restaurant fill that spot!

Update:According to Michael Klein, records in bankruptcy court show that Fellini filed for Chapter 7 protection. Basically, it means that if approved, the corporate assets are sold and it’s done.

Thanks to readers Dave and Kander for the tips.

NOTE (2/5/10): Foodapalooza II has been postponed until March 5th due to the impending blizzard.

First Friday Main Line is hosting the 2nd annual Foodapalooza event, which includes sampling of great foods from a variety of local restaurants and a chef’s competition judged by local food experts.

Come enjoy a taste from these great restaurants:
A La Maison, Auspicious, Cafe San Pietro/Positano, Khajuraho, McCloskey’s, Panera, Primavera Pizza Kitchen, Trader Joe’s, Verdad , Whole Foods Market and many more.

Also, there will be a wine tasting by Majestic Wine and Spirits and more.

Date: Friday, March 5, 2010
Time: 6pm to 8pm
Location: Haverford Estates, 731 Old Buck Lane, Haverford, PA

Tickets: $15 at the door or buy online $ 12, just choose Foodapalooza 2 as the Donation Type.

Several area restaurants have come together to raise money for “Restaurants for Haiti Earthquake Relief.” Each of these restaurants (listed below) have donated a $100 gift certificate to be auctioned on eBay. Proceeds from the auctions will be donated to the Red Cross for Haiti Relief and Development.

The auction runs through Tuesday, January 26th at 4pm.

Auctions for each restaurant can be viewed here. Bidding starts at $9.99.

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Many years ago, before the Wawa was razed and rebuilt, there was a Seafood USA store in a strip mall in the center of Paoli. When it closed (and the mall was torn down), there was no seafood store between Wayne’s Seafood USA and the Hill’s in Exton. Recently, however, Gadaleto’s opened in Frazer, bringing high-quality seafood to the Western Main Line for the first time in quite a while.

Now, Seafood USA is back in Paoli — they will be opening in the building just east of Fellini Café. No word yet on the open date.

For many years, our family has celebrated Christmas Eve with the traditional Southern Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes (Festa Dei Sette Pesci), also known as The Vigil (La Vigilia). The origins of this celebration are Roman Catholic — on Christmas Eve in particular, it is a commemoration of the wait for the midnight birth of the baby Jesus (Vigilia di Natale), and stems from the Catholic tradition of abstinence, in this case, refraining from the consumption of meat or milk products, on Fridays and specific holy days — but, as with many Americanized traditions, it is now celebrated by people of all backgrounds and faiths.

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Sometimes cultural epicenters sprout up in unlikely places. Take Wooster Street in New Haven, Connecticut, for example — absent any previous knowledge, one wouldn’t expect to find arguably the best pizza in the world here, but one does. Similarly, Newtown Square, PA happens to have a mile-long stretch of Rt 3 in that houses three of the best Italian-style roast pork sandwiches anywhere. Because Philadelphia is famous for these sandwiches (much like NYC is famous for pizza), it is not all that surprising to find a good pork sandwich in the suburbs — but 3 great ones in one mile? It’s odd for sure, but we aren’t complaining.

All three are slightly different, but excellent in their own way, and we haven’t been disappointed with any of them. Here’s a little more info on each:

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