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October 2014

Holiday Chopping: A Pictorial Preview

‘Tis the season? Not quite, but here at COOK we’re already planning ahead for the upcoming holiday season. We’ve cleared space in our retail pantry and on our bookshelves for new (and returning) items.

In the coming weeks, we will be Insta-tweet-book-ing photos from a recent photo shoot to highlight the unique, epicurean gifts available for purchase at COOK. Until then, here’s a sneak peek! All items are currently available, and, as a reminder, we’re open Tuesday through Sunday noon until 5pm (unless our doors are closed for a class–check our schedule here).

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Welcome to the Neigh-BEER-hood, 2nd Story Brewing Company!

(2nd Story Brewing Company (from left):  General Manager Ken Merriman,
Owner Debbie Grady, Executive Chef Rebecca Krebs and Head Brewer John Wible)

Today Eater posted a story about Brooklyn Brewery brewmaster Garrett Oliver’s response to ramen messiah David Chang’s recent GQ story detailing Chang’s preference for shitty beer (Bud Light?!? Come on, dude!). And despite my love for Miller High Life (sorry but it’s true!) I thought I’d give our city’s growing and beautiful craft beer scene a shout out.

On Tuesday, October 21Brewer John Wible will debut a new collection of classically inspired and approachable ales and lagers at 2nd Story Brewing Co. (117 Chestnut Street), a craft brewery and restaurant serving farm-to-table pub cuisine in a casually rustic environment.  Owner Debbie Grady, along with General Manager Ken Merriman and Executive Chef Rebecca Krebs, will work closely with local producers and purveyors to bring in regional, seasonal ingredients.  Together, the 2nd Story team will operate a new craft-centric brewpub where residents and visitors alike can relax, grab a delicious bite and sip a fresh-hopped beer in the city’s historic Old City neighborhood.

The 2nd Story team is comprised of an eclectic mix of personalities with varying backgrounds, all sharing a tremendous enthusiasm for great craft beer and locally-sourced food:  Grady, a working farmer who grew up in Pasadena, California and owns Tilted Barn Farm in Pottstown, PA, will lead the project;  Merriman, a skilled manager and restaurateur who owns District Riverton Bistro in Riverton, NJ – and previously served as general manager and partner at Center City’s enduring Irish bar Tir na Nog — will oversee the overall operations of the restaurant and brewery, while adding his worldly insight having grown up in Dublin, Ireland;  Krebs, former Executive Chef at Salt Air in Rehoboth Beach, DE, will bring 10 years of culinary experience, specifically focusing on local ingredients and seasonal flavors;  and Wible, a former IT professional turned award-winning home brewer, will turn 2nd Story into his personal beer laboratory, exploring both classic and contemporary styles with a strong focus on simple, fresh beers that are interesting yet easy to drink.

Sitting in the space once occupied by Triumph Brewing Company, the restaurant and brewery has been re-imagined by the 2nd Story team, peeling back the building’s original, historic roots with beautiful exposed brick walls, wood floors and steel beams.  The space will feature two floors of seating, each with a bar area and five different dining areas with ample room for more than 200 guests.  The brewpub will offer a tempting menu of ingredient-driven American fare, a full bar with cocktails, wine and bottled beers as well as the selection of fine beers produced on site.  Both the kitchen and the brewery will use only the freshest ingredients, sourcing custom-grown hops from Grady’s Tilted Barn Farm.

The heartbeat of 2nd Story will pulse loudly on the second floor, where guests can rest comfortably at the copper-topped bar while watching Wible brew a fresh batch of lager from the brewery’s 15-bbl brewing system.  His extensive draft list will feature four distinctive house beers and five rotating taps, with one cask engine, and seasonal favorites such as Great Harvest Pumpkin Ale andColonial Porter on draught, as well as a thoughtful cocktail menu and dedicated list of favorite domestic bottles and even ciders for the non-craft beer lovers.  In addition, there will be an upstairs fireplace and beer garden, accented with salvaged oak and nostalgic photos of iconic Philadelphia breweries.

“Our region is so rich in history and resources, and we can’t wait to put them to use at 2nd Story,” says Grady.  Adds Wible, “This will be the kind of place guests can visit again and again, for a quick pint and engaging conversation among friends.”

For more information, please visit their website at 2nd Story Brewing, follow the brewery on Twitter (@2ndStoryBrewing) and Brewer John Wible (@BrewerWible), Instagram (2ndstorybrewing) and “like” them on Facebook.

Cheers, 2nd Story! Welcome to the neigh-BEER-hood!

 

 

 

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Cheers to five years! An Audi FEASTIVAL Video Recap

Fridays. A day often observed with early closings and happy hours. Sprinkle in some movie openings and voila–weekend. While we ourselves are not closing early, we ARE looking forward to tonight’s “happy hour”–a wine class with local wine writer and consultant Brian Freedman. Unfortunately (except for 16 lucky people) tonight’s class is sold out but we CAN share a movie with you.

The folks at Branded Productions have put together yet another fantastic video recap of this year’s Audi FEASTIVAL. This year was a benchmark year, celebrating five years of FEASTIVAL-ing. Back in the days of branding the event in 2010, I had no idea what it would grow to be.

So, sit back, push play and enjoy. See you next FEASTIVAL!

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October High-Top Seating Now Available!

Above: Vetri Ristorante GM Bobby Domenick pours wine for COOK guests seated at our high-tops during a dinner last year.

Sixteen seats. As an intimate demonstration space, that is the typical maximum capacity for our classes and dinners at COOK. We love the environment that creates — it gives our guests the chance to develop a close relationship with the chefs who join us every night to share their delicious expertise with us. But every so often, we’re able to add to the group — and, as a result, amp up the dinner party!

Chef and class style permitting, we sometimes get the opportunity to open up our high-top table seating to COOK guests. Situated in front of the windows along 20th Street, these slightly elevated tables (think stadium seating) are just a few feet from the demo counter. You’re still right up in all the action, with access to the full food and drink experience. And the best part? Each seat is $25 less than the listed class price. We typically add high-tops to the most popular, fast-selling classes to try our best to accommodate demand — meaning these are some hot seats indeed! Check after the jump to find out which October classes will feature discounted high-top seating. Click the class name to get your tix!

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