Menu
Menu

Category Archives: Audrey’s World

Take me to the River: The 2014 Audi Feastival (in photos)

Last Thursday marked the fifth annual FEASTIVAL: the amazing benefit for FringeArts. For five years now, this premier arts festival has joined forces with Philadelphia’s world-class restaurants to present an event described as a “completely delicious and amazing” evening and named “one of the best events in the last decade”. FEASTIVAL celebrates both our artistic and culinary scenes – two great economic engines that push Philadelphia forward. The evening has been hailed as “the cultural event of the year,” “the best party in Philadelphia,” “a party from a different world” and this year was even better!

For the 2014 “helping”, FEASTIVAL moved a few blocks south along the Delaware River transforming Penn’s Landing (Delaware River Waterfront between Chestnut and Market Streets) into a magical, exclusive and chic party for the hottest movers and shakers in Philadelphia’s business, culinary and social scenes. FEASTIVAL continues to unite Philadelphia’s most distinguished chefs and restaurants with featured live performances from some of the world’s most acclaimed artists. Below are some of our (proud sponsor COOK) favorite photos from the night. Hungry for more? Here is the official 2014 Audi FEASTIVAL photo gallery with tons of cool pics with more on the way (so check back periodically).

Continue reading ...

Audrey Claire on the COOK Masters Program

Earlier this week, COOK announced the launch of its COOK Masters Program, an intensive series that will provide intensive training to deserving culinary students and amateur chefs looking to launch a real-deal culinary career. We caught up with program mastermind Audrey Claire Taichman, who’s always a great interview, to get some more info on this new-to-Philly concept. To read more about the COOK Masters Program, click here!

Continue reading ...

An Evening with Danny Meyer and Carmen Quagliata

Last Thursday, COOK was honored to host its second Visiting Chef Series class, this time with Danny Meyer, CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group, and Executive Chef Carmen Quagliata of Union Square Cafe. The evening was everything we hoped it to be (and more!) and before we say anything else, we want to personally thank Danny and Carmen for coming down to Philadelphia, for an incredible meal, for sharing words of wisdom gained from an extraordinary career, and for an evening that all in attendance will never forget.

Continue reading ...

The 2012 Audi FEASTIVAL in pictures

The COOK crew is still catching its collective breath a full 48 hours after the curtain dropped on this year’s Audi FEASTIVAL. The crown jewel of the city’s culinary event calendar, FEASTIVAL, now in its third year, raised a tremendous amount of support for the city’s Live Arts and Philly Fringe, a mission represented by the multiple arts patrons in the crowd of 950-plus and the talented performers who transformed Delaware Avenue’s Pier 9 into an absolute funhouse. Audrey Claire Taichman, who curates the event with Stephen Starr and Michael Solomonov, recently revealed that 2010’s inaugural FEASTIVAL was the inspiration for COOK itself. It’s not difficult to see why, considering the support, respect and camaraderie displayed by this year’s attendees.

Continue reading ...

Audrey Claire Taichman reflects on Year One

Today, September 6, marks the one-year anniversary of COOK opening in Philadelphia. We recently sat down with Audrey Claire Taichman, who owns and operates the space along with her restaurants Audrey Claire and Twenty Manning Grill, to get her thoughts on her unique collaborative kitchen’s introduction into the local food scene, the relationships she’s formed with chefs and guests alike and her exciting plans for COOK’s future.

Continue reading ...

FEASTIVAL’s Ultimate Foodie Auction Item

We all know that Philadelphia is home to some of the best restaurants in the nation. So, it should come as no surprise then when we tell you that our city’s chefs are some of the classiest folks you’ll ever meet. As part of the 2011 FEASTIVAL auction, guests bid on an exclusive cocktail party with some of Philly’s hottest chefs. These guys held nothing back as they created an unforgettable cocktail party.

Continue reading ...

Le Bec Fin 2.0

When Georges Perrier opened the doors on Walnut Street’s haute cuisine mecca, Le Bec Fin forty years ago, he single-handedly started a restaurant revolution in this city that is still going strong today. Next week, when new owners Nicolas and Fazilet Fanucci re-open the doors of the dining institution to the public, chances are, Le Bec Fin 2.0 will once again change face of dining in Philadelphia.

COOK had the distinct pleasure of being invited to the see the renovated space during the final stages of construction last week. We took a few less-than-Leibowitz-esque pics on our phones but it gives you a sense of the major team effort going on to get the new Le Bec Fin ready for its close-up.

Continue reading ...

The Bibou Family Comes to COOK

It’s hard to get a seat at Bibou and it’s no wonder why. The intimate 32-seat, Bella Vista gem, owned by Chef Pierre Calmels and wife, Charlotte, serves arguably some of the most delicious, inventive and traditional French cuisine in the city.

COOK got up close and personal with the Calmels family on their only night off (Monday, October 3) and got a special peak into the magic they create at Bibou six nights a week.

Continue reading ...

Vietnamese Cooking with Kiong Banh

I was first introduced to Kiong Banh by Marc Vetri about 12 years ago and that introduction changed my life. I have to thank Marc for that. At the time, I was looking for a chef for Twenty Manning (now Twenty Manning Grill) and Marc said he knew “just the perfect guy”. Kiong and I met for coffee one morning and though he said very little, I knew he was my guy from the way Marc spoke about him and by the respect he showed him.  In an industry that has so many stresses, I was so lucky over that cup of coffee to have found such a good man to become my partner over these years. He has taught me so much.

Continue reading ...

Daniel Stern Shows his Stuff (and we are once again totally impressed!)

I met Daniel Stern many, many years ago when he was the Executive Chef at Le Bec-Fin. His cuisine was then, as it is now, divine. He was quiet and seemed quite the opposite of what you would expect in such a position. He was gracious and reserved. I remember joining Georges at Le Bar Lyonnais (now TRYST) for champagne to ring in the New Year. The bar was packed, the vibe was crazy and in the corner was Daniel. Quiet with a little smile. When the new year struck, he kissed a pretty woman, and I think looking back, it may have been the first time he and this woman were “out in public” together. She is now his wife, Jennifer Urdang Stern. Jennifer came to adoringly watch her husband teach his mastery at COOK last week. He still is that quiet gentle guy.

Continue reading ...
MENU