It seems like everywhere you turn these days, someone’s having a restaurant week. Chester County had one earlier this year. Philadelphia has them several times a year, including two consecutive weeks in September (12-24, not including Saturday, of course), and the reboot of Main Line Restaurant Week is slated for the week of September 27th.

The reason I won’t be participating in any of these Restaurant Weeks, or any others for that matter, is simple: They aren’t a good deal. It’s three courses for $30, you think – how could it not be a good deal? Well, consider the following:

You don’t need that much food. Do you order an appetizer, entree and dessert for yourself when you go out to eat? I’m a big guy with a big appetite, but I still don’t do that. When going out as a couple, sharing an appetizer and dessert along with an entree is PLENTY of food — in fact, even that, when paired with a few slices of bread, can be too much. When it comes to RW, I resist the temptation to look at a menu to see how much I’d be saving if I bought three courses at their regular price, because I’d never do that. Instead, I compare the “deal” to what I’d order if it wasn’t RW, and quite often it costs less, or only a few bucks more.

Let’s review Nectar, for example, a popular local restaurant and surely one that will be packed during Restaurant Week. If you order the three most expensive things on the RW menu from their regular menu — Tuna Tartar, Grilled Salmon and the Nectar Valrhona Torte — it’d cost $48pp (vs. $40 during RW). So yes, you’d save money versus buying those things on a regular night. (If you order the Moo Sho Chicken — which, interestingly, is Moo Shoo Duck on the regular menu — or the vegetarian dish, on the other hand, you’d be lucky to get to the $40pp cost of the RW menu.) But this doesn’t change the fact that it is more food than I’d normally order… unless, of course, the portions are considerably smaller than on a normal night, which, though I can’t say for sure is done by any restaurant in particular, is a common, somewhat underhanded tactic often used with these promotions.

The other major problem with Nectar’s offer (and with most offers) is that it is a limited menu. I wouldn’t order any of the RW options were I to eat there tonight. This doesn’t mean they don’t sound tasty — other items on the menu are simply more appealing. Here’s what I would get: we’d start with the chicken curry dumplings for our shared appetizer ($7.5), pick the short ribs ($27) and tea-smoked venison ($34) as entrees, and finish off by sharing their signature donut dessert ($9). This would cost us a grand total of $77. If you’re not keeping score, that’s $3 less than we’d pay for the RW menu, AND we got to pick the most appealing items (to us) from the full menu!

This reminds me of the last time I patronized a local establishment during Restaurant Week. It was my dad’s birthday, and it also happened to be Restaurant Week, so we put a group together and headed down to El Vez in Center City. It didn’t take us long to realize that the restaurant week special menu contained the most boring, straightforward choices they offered, and that if we really wanted to enjoy our experience, we were going to have to ditch the $30 deal. It was a special occasion, so we went for it: We shared a bunch of appetizers, each got entrees and shared a dessert or two. Some people spent more, some spent less. At the end of the meal, despite having gone way off our original script, we had spent only $32pp on food — a mere $2 over the restaurant week “deal”.

This isn’t to say it’s impossible to find a good deal during Restaurant Week. They surely do exist — but they are also more the exception than the rule, and it will certainly take extra effort to find them. Combine this with the fact that the RW buzz will make reservations harder to get, and likely make the restaurants more crowded than usual (which can lead to spotty service), and this Restaurant Week concept doesn’t seem so appealing.

Maybe you like Restaurant Week — maybe it’s a way for you to try new places, or get a chance to visit a place you otherwise couldn’t afford. I certainly hold nothing against those who enjoy it. Just do me a favor and make sure the “deal” that you are supposedly getting is actually a deal, and not just a way to rook you into spending your hard-earned cash on smaller portions and already overpriced drinks.

Do you LOVE or HATE restaurant week? Tell us why below.

P.S. If you’re a RW hater too, you might be interested in Avalon’s “Non-Restaurant Week” promotion.

Philly Beer Week is back June 4th- June 13th, and the suburbs are taking full part. Here’s our best shot at putting together an event list for the Main Line extended area… for more events in Philadelphia and other suburbs like Kennett, Downingtown and Phoenixville, visit http://www.phillybeerweek.org.

Pay as you go unless otherwise noted.

Saturday June 5th

12% Imports and their Brewers and Pig Roast
Teresa’s Next Door, Wayne
Noon – 3:00 PM

Monday June 7th

Suburban Kickoff
Brewers & reps from Stillwater, Cigar City, St. Somewhere, Voodoo, Boulder, Dark Horse, Ballast Point and 12% imports.
TJ’s Everyday, Paoli
4:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Tuesday June 8th:

Meet the Brewer of Bavik and Petrus
Oak Aged Pale Ale on Draught Here!
Teresa’s Next Door, Wayne
6:30 PM – 8:3o PM

Local Casks for Local Firefghters
Six local firkins with proceeds benefiting Paoli Fire Co.
TJ’s Everyday, Paoli
6:00 PM-9:00 PM

Home Brewers IPA Night
Local Home Brewers competition for the coveted Oakmont Cup. Brewers brew a special IPA for this Beer Week event. Beer-friendly Menu, patrons participate.
Oakmont National Pub, Havertown
6:30 PM – 9:00 PM

Weds June 9

Bear Republic Pint Night
Pint Night with Bear Republic: Crazy Ivan, Cask Conditioned Racer 5, Hop Rod Rye, Red Rocket Ale, Racer 5.
The Drafting Room Taproom and Grille, Exton
6:00 PM – 12:00 PM

Thursday June 10th

Sierra Nevada Tasty Thursday
We will be featuring the first half of the one-off brew made at Sierra Nevada by the Philly Beer Week Beer Campers. This top secret conglomeration from Philly publicans, craft distributors and some of our favorite beer writers will be sure to surprise you. We will have more details when we are allowed to talk about it! Get Excited!
Teresa’s Next Door, Wayne
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Great Lakes Meet & Greet
Meet and greet with Great Lakes owner Pat Conway.
TJ’s Everyday, Paoli
6:00 PM-8:00 PM

Friday June 11th

3rd Annual Visit from Bobo of Chimay
He will be here Friday evening to talk and tell stories about Belgium, monasteries and of course the Trappist Ales of the Scourmont Abbey. How could you possibly want to miss having a beer with this man? Especially you ladies…
Teresa’s Next Door, Wayne
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Saturday June 12th

Main Line Food and Jazz Fest 2010
Teresa’s will be featuring an indoor, air conditioned Troegs Beer Garden during the Main Line Food & Jazz Festival. At least two firkins and four taps!
N. Wayne Ave, Wayne
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Stone/Brewdog Collaboration
Stone & Brewdog owners, brewers and reps take over TJ’s taps for the night.
TJ’s Everyday, Paoli
4:00 PM-7:00 PM

Spaten/Franziskaner
Spaten/Franziskaner Beer Party with Fran.
TJ’s Everyday, Paoli
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Sunday June 13th

Victory Fists of Feury Beer Release Party
Hors d’oeuvres and beer dinner celebrating the release of “Fists of Feury” a collaborative effort between Victory and chefs Terence and Patrick Feury
Nectar, Berwyn
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Price: $55.00

Yards Beer Dinner with Franklin Winslow the Brewer
Yards sampling and meet the brewer (Franklin Winslow) night. Beer friendly menu. Beer education offered by Peter Cherpack from Beerappreciation.com. Yards-infused menu.
Oakmont National Pub, Havertown
6:30 PM – 9:00 PM

Did we miss any events? Post ‘em in the comments section!

Farm Meets Table: Making Local Food Connections
FREE Event!
Monday, April 12, 2010
5:00PM-7:00PM
Restaurant Alba
7 West King Street, Malvern

Hosted by PASA Southeast Regional Office & Chef Sean Weinberg
RSVP by 4/8 here

This event brings together local farmers looking to sell directly to restaurant chefs. Owner/Chef Sean Weinberg has made a deep commitment to feature fresh, regionally produced foods at Restaurant Alba, and he will be sharing his expertise on buying locally in a brief “How to Buy from Farmers” presentation for chefs. In addition, a “How to Sell to Chefs” segment will be led by Mark Dornstreich of Branch Creek Farm for growers new to direct sales.

For Local Growers
We ask that only growers with the desire and capability to sell their locally grown items on a commercial scale attend this event. Please note that all local growers will be screened to determine eligibility prior to the event. Don’t meet the requirements, but interested in selling locally? We encourage you to locate farmers markets in your area by visiting buylocalpa.org/southeast.

For Local Buyers
Savvy restaurants are choosing to buy locally for a reason- local foods offer premium taste, maximum freshness and keep dollars in our local economy. Not to mention, many customers think buying local foods is important and beneficial to the well being of their families and communities. We ask that only local buyers committed to buying locally produced foods attend this event.

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

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.

DRIVE OUT HUNGER – Classic Car Show & Food Drive
Date: Saturday, August 22, 2009 (rain or shine)
Time: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM ET
Location: QVC Studio Park parking lot (1200 Wilson Dr., West Chester PA 19380)
Cost: The event is free! Please bring non-perishable food items.*

Come out and join us at QVC Studio Park for classic cars, music, food, fun and more! Please bring a non-perishable food item to help us Drive Out Hunger.

Want to enter your classic car? Please visit the Top Dead Center Motor Club’s website at www.tdcmotorclub.com.

Current Priority Items:

Other recommended items:

Canned/Shelf Stable Tuna
Canned Beef Stew
Canned Chili
Canned Pasta, Beef Ravioli
100% Fruit & Vegetable Juice (cans or plastic bottles only)
Creamy Peanut Butter (plastic containers only)
Jelly (plastic containers only)

Macaroni & Cheese
Canned Pork & Beans/Baked Beans
Canned Green Beans
Canned Corn
Breakfast Cereal or Hot Cereal
Canned Fruit Cocktail
Boxed Sugar

Months later, when I stumbled upon the website for the 2009 Brandywine Valley Wine Trail annual July 4th “Big Bang” BBQ event, my thoughts drifted back to that article and my jealousy of its authors. Though I don’t have a job that will pay for me to travel in search of fine food and wines — I thought — my role at MLD (to call it a job would insinuate income) certainly affords me the opportunity to create my own mini-trek right here in Chester County. So, I recruited a few friends, called Frank at Secrets Limo to set up transportation, and planned what I hoped would be an exciting and envy-inducing day.

Would we find lush vineyards in our own backyard?

The Brandywine Valley Wine Trail, for those unfamiliar, is a group of small Chester County wineries located within a 50 mile radius, mostly clustered around Chadds Ford (where Chadds Ford Winery, the state’s largest, is located), and spanning up towards Gap to the northwest. The trail currently consists of seven wineries, with an eighth, Patone Cellars, opening in the fall of ’10, and another, Va La Vineyards, no longer officially on the trail, but still quite accessible within the region. For the most part, the climate in this part of the country affords winemakers good conditions for fruity, light wines intended to be consumed at a very young age. Even the grapes that traditionally make up some of the most robust, complex wines (Cabernet Franc & Sauvignon, for example), are light and fruity here. Though this might seem unappealing to Napa or Bordeaux lovers, fun, drinkable wines are plentiful.

Visiting all seven wineries on one afternoon seemed a bit presumptuous, so we eliminated a couple (Chadds Ford, being the Beringer of PA, and Paradocx, who did not have events on Friday), and mapped out a seemingly feasible circle of 4-5 to conquer. Our limo arrived promptly, and we began our journey towards Stargazers Vineyards. Unknowingly to us, the trip’s first leg would best represent colonial Chester County; our driver Dan was forced to maneuver a seemingly endless collection of narrow, windy roads that were clearly not built for the modern automobile (let alone a limo). Even so, the bucolic scenery and hair-raising curves heightened our sense of adventure and encouraged our growing thirst.

Announcement board outside Stargazers

Inside the airy, bright Stargazers tasting room, we were greeted immediately by owner Alice Weygandt, who took us through a tasting of 5 wines (our choice from 9, $5). Weygandt, along with her husband John, started the vineyard in the late 70s, primarily as growers who sold grapes to other winemakers (most notably Chadds Ford). In the mid 90s, they decided to start crafting their own wine. Sustainability is a key ingredient at Stargazers — they use nearly all solar power and natural fertilizers — and nowhere is this more evident than with the “Solar Celebration” Chardonnay, a “100% sun, 0% oak” wine that tastes extremely crisp and citrusy, unlike most American Chards (that are commonly aged in oak barrels). On the red side, a rare German varietal, Dornfelder, was described by Alice as a “red for white drinkers”. I like to call these “gateway reds” — light, fruity wines (similar to Beaujolais) that are easy drinking and perfect for summer patio sessions. The Cabernet Franc was also delightful — fruity, with hints of strawberry up front, but also very earthy and the best example of the local “terroir” that we encountered. It was much lighter than one might typically expect from a Cab Franc, but still complex and flavorful.

Not to forget the other half of our mission, we took some time to sample Moonlight Catering’s baby back ribs with a pineapple rum bbq sauce. We weren’t in Texas, but the sweet and spicy combination of seasonings on Chef Richard’s ribs was delicious (though I found the ribs to be a tad tougher than personal preference) and gave us the energy to continue our tour.

View of the Stargazers Vineyard

We piled back into the limo, this time with a bottle of Dornfelder in hand, and headed for the trail’s newest winery, Black Walnut. The Walnut is so new, it turns out, that their 200 year old barn is not entirely renovated, so, although it looks like it will be an excellent space, we were relegated to the back lawn.

Just 8 years ago, 4 friends got together to make wine one weekend, in the shade of some Black Walnut trees. 5 years later, it had become an annual tradition, and progressed from a hobby to something to take more seriously. After 3 years of renovation, their old Chester County barn is nearing completion, and a grand opening is planned later this summer. Like many wines, Black Walnut may benefit from a few years of aging; though their space shows great potential, and the owners are extremely friendly, the event felt like an unfinished product in many ways. We weren’t allowed near the building, the food vendor wasn’t set up (though it was already mid-afternoon – our quest for good BBQ would not be fulfilled at this location), the wine glasses were disposable plastic, and the facilities were of the portable variety. In fairness, however, this winery isn’t officially open yet, and the owners all still have full-time jobs. In time, this could become a must-stop on the trail.

The Black Walnut tasting, like Stargazers, included a choice of 5 out of 9 white and red options, this time for $6. It seemed that there was a disproportionate amount of sweet wines on offer here, however that style does tend to work well with local grapes. From the white selections, I liked the off-dry Pinot Gris, which contains a small amount of residual sugar, nicely cutting the acidic flavor of the grape. On the red side, another slightly sweet wine — the Bank Barn Red, a light, drinkable Cab Franc blend — like the Stargazers Dornfelder, would make for a nice summer session companion. I was less enamored with the 2007 Amethyst, a Bordeaux blend that was rather thin. The 2006 version, which was not officially part of the tasting but available with a little schmoozing, was far more interesting, however, with a complex, earthy finish. Did more time in the bottle help this, or was the harvest just better that year?

Though we had some unanswered questions, we were running behind schedule and wanted to fit in at least one more winery before the day was done. We signaled for Dan and headed south towards the next location. As we rolled up the driveway to Kreutz Creek Vineyards, we were greeted by several acres of healthy-looking vines, staring eyes of more than a few customers (we did roll up in a stretch limo), and the smooth jazz sounds of “Swing Set”. Surveying the scene — the dirt driveway, the vines, the cellar tasting room — it felt like a winery. Perfect! We were greeted by several enthusiastic KC employees in the tasting room. “We thought at least 20 people were going to jump out of that limo!”, one said. Sorry, just the few of us.

A barrel in the Kreutz Creek Cellar

The tasting at Kreutz Creek was the most expensive on the day – $7, but also probably the best value. The fee included a complimentary logo glass (which, of course, we forgot) that entitles the owner to free tastings in the future (doh!) and tastings of every wine the winery was offering that day – 12 in all! For the second time, we encountered Vidal Blanc, a popular grape in the northeast US (due to its ability to produce sugar in cold climates) but rare otherwise. Here it boasts citrusy, acidic flavors that are cut with just the right amount of sweetness. I enjoyed most of the Kreutz Creek reds, but found the “Proprietor’s Red”, a blend of the Charbourcin and Kordeaux (a Bordeaux Blend), to be the most interesting. The Chambourcin alone was jam-packed with berries, tasty but perhaps a bit overwhelming. When mixed with the drier Kordeaux, however, the sweetness was cut down to make for a very unique, drinkable wine. I’ve never been a port drinker, but must also note that the Ruby “K” Port, served with a chunk of dark chocolate, was quite tasty.

The food spread at Kreutz was less impressive, but serviceable. We indulged in a pedestrian cheese plate during our tasting, then grabbed some pulled pork, baked beans and mac & cheese out of the tasting room crock pots to enjoy on the patio.

Some Kreutz Creek vines

We’d hoped to visit more than 3 wineries that afternoon, but by this point we’d run out of time — it was 6pm and the event was coming to a close. All in all, it had been a great day; we found some enjoyable wines and had a blast. As for the food, well, when I reread the Texas article, I discovered that they didn’t look for barbecue at the wineries themselves — they went to barbecue joints for that, in between wine stops. Why didn’t we think of that?

The good news for everyone who missed this event, of course, is that you didn’t miss much from the food standpoint, and that you can certainly put together a wine tasting trip any other weekend this summer with good result, or perhaps even better result if you bring gourmet food (or stop somewhere else between tastings). Though you won’t find the great wines of California or Europe here, you will find accessible, fun wines and friendly people pouring them for you, all in your own backyard!

We’d like to thank Frank, Jill and Dan from Secrets Limo for sponsoring this trip. They were very professional, responsive and helpful throughout the process. If you’d like to put a similar tour together, I highly suggest finding a designated driver or hiring a company like Secrets to take you around. Though the tastings are certainly not aimed at getting people drunk, it is nice to not have to worry about how that one extra glass is going to affect your drive home on narrow, windy ChesCo roads.

Links of interest:

• Brandywine Valley Wine Trail (Harvest events this Fall)
• The Ryder Boys’ Texas Wine & BBQ Tour
• Secrets Limo

We’ll be attending, as well as posting pics and recap shortly.

• The annual Main Line Jazz and Food Festival is Saturday on North Wayne Ave. from 4-10pm. Unlike recent years, the food booths are being replaced with additional outdoor seating from the restaurants that line the street. Expect fewer (if any) kids activities and a larger focus on the music. http://www.mainlinejazz.com/
• A bit further afield is the Great Tastes of Pennsylvania Wine and Food Festival at the Split Rock Resort in Lake Harmony, PA. The two-day festival will feature top PA wines, music, food and more. http://www.splitrockresort.com/wine-festival.php

A culinary competition at Haverford Estates, 731 Old Buck Road in Haverford, located in the rear of the Main Line Arts Center.

More here: http://www.firstfridaymainline.com/