Winter warmers, which is what us beer geeks call these winter ales, tend to be richer in flavor, higher in alcohol and generally bigger than beers we drink any other season. Weyerbacher, an Easton, PA brewer who has made a name for themselves with big, Belgian-style ales, has, somewhat surprisingly, gone in a different direction here. (I expected at least 8% abv in a Weyerbacher winter warmer, but this is only 5.6%) Instead of the big, over the top beer, they’ve come up with a roasty, malty, wonderfully smooth brew that can be enjoyed one at a time or in a session. The truth is that this is a somewhat simple beer. It’s not going to change your life. It is, however, darn delicious, which is why it is my “must buy” winter ale every season.

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This month, Local Cookbooks takes on Gravy Wars: South Philly Foods, Feuds & Attytudes by Lorraine Ranalli, which is a fascinating look at the South Philly gravy (aka tomato sauce) culture, describing in hilarious detail the endless debates that Lorraine’s family had (still has!) over the proper way to make gravy, and whose is best. The book, which includes at least 9 gravy recipes (with multiple variations), plus a plethora of other South Philly faves from scaloppini to pizza to biscotti, is certainly a must-have for anyone raised Italian in this area, and an entertaining read for the rest of us.

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Wow… lots of restaurant news as the year comes to an end. Here’s a quick recap:

• Ella’s American Bistro has opened in Devon Square (Acme Shopping Center in Strafford)
• McKenzie’s Brew Pub is now open in Berwyn (where Charlie Brown’s used to be, near Barnes & Noble)
• Jake’s Wayback Burgers is open in Strafford (near the Farmers Market), and 5 Guys Wayne (in the old Acme shopping center) should be opening shortly
• So Fun! Frozen Yogurt has also opened next to 5 Guys in Wayne
• The bar at Restaurant Alba is now fully operational
• Pattymac’s in Berwyn is now EmJ’s (under new ownership), and is also serving dinner on Thu and Fri.
• Saxby’s in Paoli is closing this week.
• Flavor in Wayne closed this fall.

Yeah, we know, another holiday gift guide… but hey, maybe you’ll find an idea here that you haven’t seen before!

Food Gifts
Great for a hostess gift, or just for the person who never stops thinking about their next meal:

• A Taste of Olive offers wonderful oils and vinegars, plus other great little gourmet gift ideas.
• Sweet tooth? Laura’s Biscotti is a great local treat.
• Fresh, local cheese from Chester County farms.
• Gift Baskets from Talula’s Table (pictured)

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“This smells like Christmas!” exclaimed a friend of mine who was trying this beer for the first time. Anchor Christmas Ale, from the Anchor Brewery in San Francisco (most famous for their Steam beer), is always the first beer I look for when the Christmas ales hit the shelves. Though the formula changes from year to year (and always remains a secret), it is consistently delicious and a great representation of what Christmas beers are about.

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In 2010, we were lucky enough to take a dream vacation to a villa in Tuscany – a week of eating, drinking and exploring the small towns and beautiful countryside of Italy’s most famous* vacation destination. It was as great as it sounds, and of course grows in stature in my memory every day since.

Unsurprisingly, we drank a lot of wine during the trip, almost all of it Tuscan. Vino Nobile di Montepulciano was the particular wine we consumed the most often, for several reasons:

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This April, restaurateurs Rob Wassermann (of Philly’s Rouge) and Michael Schulson (of Philly’s Sampan) will be opening St James Place in Ardmore (on the road of the same name), an American grill offering “familiar but sophisticated fare”.

The restaurant is part of a larger renovation that will remake the courtyard near St James Place, which will include a new traffic pattern, and allow for valet parking and outdoor dining.

The menu will include steaks, burgers, fried chicken, roasted chicken, salmon, and other American favorites. Entrées will top out around $26, appetizers at $12.

For more info, check out this story from the Main Line Times.

Farmers Market season is over, but fans of the East Goshen market can now participate in the “Winter Market”, to be held twice a month – on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays from 3-5pm – at the East Goshen Township Building (1580 Paoli Pike).

Each week (well, the weeks of the market), an email will go out Monday with the participating vendors that week. Customers can order directly from the vendors and pick up their orders anytime from 3-5pm.

Officially, the market is only for those who have pre-ordered, but I did overhear some vendors talking about how they would be bringing a limited selection of other merchandise for any “walk ins” as well.

To sign up for the email list, email marketcoordinator@eastgoshenfarmersmarket.org. Or, follow them on Facebook (newsletters are posted).

Local Cookbooks is a feature at MLD where we share a recipe from a cookbook with local ties. Have a cookbook we should consider? Let us know.

This month we’re featuring Corked & Forked by Keith Wallace, released in August 2011. Yes, that’s two recipes in a row from this cookbook, but 1) we really like it, and 2) it’s very appropriate for the season, so we couldn’t resist. For a little more on the book, check out our last post. We promise a different book next month (…though this certainly won’t be the last we see of C&F).

While the pork chop recipe we featured was decidedly simple, this month we’re moving into more advanced territory. This recipe is a play on the traditional Turducken (where a chicken and duck are stuffed inside a turkey); it features a turkey breast for the meat, and uses the essence of both chicken and duck, without the absurd stuffing process. This playful, yet quite usable approach is a great representation of Corked & Forked’s fun approach to cooking.

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Pescatore BYOB, the latest project from Thomas Anastasi of the Italian Market’s Anastasi Seafood, is now open (since August – apparently we’re a little slow around here) in Bala, in the former Avril space.

Pescatore focuses on Italian Cuisine “with a rustic, Mediterranean flair.” The menu features (unsurprisingly) an ever-changing array of seafood based on what is freshly caught, as well as a nice variety of homemade pastas and (surprisingly, for a place unironically named Pescatore – which means fisherman in Italian) a wide variety of non-fish dishes that are mostly standard Italian fare made from chicken or veal.

For more, check out their website or Facebook page. Have you been? Leave a comment below.

Pescatore
134 Bala Ave.
Bala Cynwyd, PA
610.660.9400
http://pescatorebyob.com

Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 5:00pm to 10:00pm., Sunday from 5:00pm to 9:00pm