A sign has popped up in the former Wayne Beef & Ale / Pop-Pops location (at the corner of Conestoga Rd. & West Wayne Ave.) stating that The Mediterranean Grill is coming soon. No word as to whether this is associated with any of the similarly-named places in the area.

Tired Hands Brewing Co., the latest project from Jean Broillet, a former brewer at Iron Hill West Chester, is currently under construction (with hope for an opening in 2011) at 16 Ardmore Ave. in Ardmore, just south of Ardmore Computer.

Broillet describes it in his own words:

“Tired Hands Brewing Company will operate on a six barrel brewhouse and will focus intensely on two very broad styles of beers that hold a special place in my heart: Belgian/French farmhouse ales and American hop-forward ales. We will be a “Brewcafé” (yes, I know a strange term, but one that best fits my vision), bake our own bread on site, and serve food (cheese, charcuterie, and other simple & satisfying foods) all sourced from within 100 miles of our brewery.”

Follow the progress at the Tired Hands website.

On 6/28/11, PA Governor Tom Corbett signed House Bill No. 148 (a.k.a. Act 11 of 2011) into law, with a few notable pieces:

• Happy Hour Definition: The law now allows Happy Hour (or similar discount periods) for up to 4 hours at a time, up from 1-2 hours. The weekly limit of 14 remains, but this gives establishments more flexibility to focus on peak hours.
• Take-out Beer Sales: To-go beer can now be sold in open containers, assuming the municipality does not restrict open containers in public places (which apparently includes Tredyffrin?!)
• Beer Brand Registration: This one is a bit less consumer-facing, but it is now cheaper and easier to register beer brands in the state (remember those embarrassing raids of Philly bars in 2010?), opening the door for more small “nano” breweries to sprout up across the state. More beer for us!

Here is some of the language from the actual bil:

Happy Hour Discounts. A new definition has been added to the Liquor Code, and the period of time that a licensee may hold a happy hour has been expanded. “Happy Hour” is now defined as the period of time during which a licensee discounts alcoholic beverages. Currently, a retail licensee is limited to one (1) two (2)-hour consecutive period per business day when it can discount one, some, or all of its alcohol. Effective on July 28, 2011, a retail licensee can hold happy hours up to four (4) hours per day and up to fourteen (14) hours per week. Thus, while the maximum period remains fourteen (14) hours per week, licensees will be able to adjust the length of their daily happy hours to take advantage of slow/busy days, as long as the maximum limits are not exceeded. The hours need not be consecutive, but the prohibition against giving discounts between midnight and closing remains intact, as well as the other discounting provisions in section 13.102 of the Board¡¦s Regulations, including the daily drink special. A notice of all happy hours must now be posted on the licensed premises seven (7) days prior to each happy hour.

Beer Sales by Retail Licensees. Effective immediately, hotel, restaurant, or public service (railroad/pullman/steamship company) liquor licensees and malt beverage eating place licensees may now sell beer-to-go in either open or closed containers, as long as the municipality in which they are located does not have an ordinance restricting open containers in public places. The maximum limit of one hundred ninety-two (192) fluid ounces in a single sale to one person remains, as does the prohibition regarding clubs selling beer-to-go.

[Beer Brands] Effective immediately, if a beer manufacturer fails to register a brand in Pennsylvania before importing it into Pennsylvania, the beer will no longer be confiscated but will be left on the licensed premises until the manufacturer registers the brand or the licensee holding the illegal beer can return it to the manufacturer and be fully reimbursed. Effective on August 27, 2011, additional changes will occur to brand registration. It will be made clear that the annual filing fee for registration of a brand is seventy-five dollars ($75.00). However, up to twenty (20) different brands may be registered for a single annual fee of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) if the manufacturer produces one hundred (100) barrels or less of each brand per year. Beer that is not ready for sale will be registered at the time it is offered for sale. A new law effective on August 27, 2011 will require the Board to hire a malt beverage compliance officer whose duties include reviewing label registrations and investigating reports of unregistered brands. If the compliance officer determines that a licensee is selling unregistered beer, he/she is required to give the manufacturer notice that is has ten (10) days to register the beer with the Board. During that ten (10) day period, the unregistered beer will remain on the licensee’s premises, unsold. If the manufacturer fails to register the beer during the period, it will be required to remove the unregistered beer from the licensee¡¦s premises and reimburse the licensee for those unsalable products.

Another new law effective on August 27, 2011 will require the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, upon becoming aware of a potential violation of the beer registration laws, to give written notice to each licensee who might be in violation. If the beer is registered within ten (10) days of receipt of this notice, no further action will be taken against the licensee. If the beer is not registered within the ten (10) days, the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement will proceed with the citation process.

Hat Tip to The Beer Yard for most of this info.

Starting June 30th, the East Goshen Farmers Market will take place every Thursday from 3-7pm in the Veteran’s Pavilion. The market will feature:

• Locally grown produce
• Antibiotic and hormone-free meats & poultry
• Free-range eggs
• Local cheeses
• Baked goods and artisinal breads
• Local honey and maple syrup
• Coffee & lemonade
• Hand-crafted soups
• … and more.

In addition, each week will feature a “ready to eat” vendor (Jimmy’s BBQ on 6/30) serving food to eat in the park, alongside kids activities and local music.

This August, Win Restaurant Group’s recently closed Parker’s Prime will give way to Sang Kee Noodle Bowl at 4755 West Chester Pike in Newtown Square / Edgemont (formerly Roux 3). Though SKNB will be owned and operated by Win and Sutida Somboonsong, Michael Chow, who opened the first Sang Kee in 1980, will consult on menu development and training of the staff, and all dishes will be carefully prepared to Chow’s strict standards.

Though the name is slightly different (bowl, not house), the Peking Duck that made Sang Kee famous is on the menu. (HT philly.com)

Sang Kee Noodle Bowl
4755 West Chester Pike
Newtown Square, PA
Tel. 610.353.5353

Hours:
Monday – Thursday 11:30 am – 9:30 pm
Friday – Saturday 11:30 am – 10:30 pm
Sunday 12:00 am – 9:00 pm

The space that most recently held Brothers Spano in Garrett Hill (as well as the old Brick Bar) is now The Kebob Factory, a Persian / Indian restaurant from the owners of Khajuraho in Ardmore.

The menu features a wide variety of Kebobs (Kababs?) as well as some Indian curry dishes. There is also a full bar.

The Kebob Factory
157 Garrett Ave
Rosemont, PA 19010
(610) 519 – 0500

http://www.thekebobfactory.com

As reported in April, Clark Gilbert and Gemelli have packed up in Narberth, looking towards a summer opening in Manayunk. In the meantime, former Sola boss John Wolferth has been preparing Aperto, which will open on June 4th in the same space. The moderately-priced menu features items such as Seared Salmon with Ginger-Carrot Miso, Fingerling Potato & Wilted Greens ($22) and Braised Veal Cheeks with Mushroom Ragu, Cauliflower Puree &  Ricotta Gnocci ($24)

In  addition, Aperto’s website promises to soon offer wine pairing suggestions based on current PLCB Chairman’s Selections and other commonly available shelf wines. (What a great idea — almost makes up for the awful flash-based design!)

Aperto
232 Woodbine Ave
Narberth, PA
610-660-0160
http://www.apertobyob.com

After two years on Bala Ave., Avril has closed up shop. I can’t say I’m all that surprised — thought the space showed a lot of promise when we attended the grand opening, when I popped in recently I could tell that the life had been sucked out of the place. Best of luck to owners April Lisante & Christian Gatti.

According to Philly.com, a “seafood restaurant with a South Philly pedigree” will soon fill the space.

Ella’s American Bistro opened in Devon Square shopping center (the one with ACME) in December 2011.

Details are just starting to emerge about this restaurant. It is owned by the Devon Hill BMW Family, who also runs two boutiques – Devon Hill Boutique (at Devon Hill BMW) and Blue Horse Boutique in Wayne.

Executive chef is Matt Schuler, who was most recently the chef/instructor for Bryn Mawr’s Viking Range Culinary Arts Center. Schuler’s menu will feature casual bistro fare ($10-30) with a commitment to farm-to-table ideals such as locally-sourced, organically-grown, seasonal ingredients. According to Philly.com, the menu will feature items such as a grilled New York strip, heirloom bean chili, grilled pizza, Iron Stone Farms sirloin burger, linguine, buttermilk fried chicken, BBQ Berkshire pork chop, crispy skin red snapper, and lobster mac & cheese. Lunch and brunch will also be served.

A full bar will also be included — in keeping with the sustainable theme, it is made out of an organically milled sycamore tree.

At a recent event at Blue Horse Boutique, a few dishes that will be available at Ella’s were served, including: Southern Pecan Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches, Artichoke Bruschetta, Chocolate Dipped Chocolate Chip Cookies & Oatmeal Raisin Cookies.

More info to come — feel free to post below if you have more details.

Website | Facebook (both still under construction)

George Perrier’s bakery & cafe The Art of Bread will open on June 8, 2011. It is located at 920 Montgomery Ave. in Narberth, across from Staples.

Cedric Barberet — Le Bec-Fin’s executive pastry chef — will handle the bulk of the baking, with selections of bread, croissants, brioches and other pastries prepared twice daily to maintain optimum freshness. (The bakery will also serve Perrier’s restaurants and commercial clients.) The cafe will serve light fare such as salads, tartines, pressed sandwiches and quiche, as well as illy coffee, pastries & cakes. Also available will be chocolates, birthday & special occasion cakes and a line of prepared foods.

The Art of Bread
920 Montgomery Ave.
Narberth, PA
610-660-8222
http://www.artofbreadbygp.com/

7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday
7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday