Philly Chit Chat

The American Liver Foundation’s 7th annual Flavors of Philadelphia was the hottest ticket in town, on Tuesday, April 5, 2011, as the city hails the culinary soirée of the year. Each of the chefs prepares their outstanding, gourmet three-course meal for their very own table of twelve lucky guests. The selection of the guests is done by lottery when the guests check in they are given a number. Right before dinner starts the lottery is drawn and that is how the guests find out where they are eating that evening. She also represents its sister restaurant Panorama in Old City too.
The event was held for the first time at the Loews. The space was much more intimate, but not crowded. Before when the dining experience was held at the Crystal Tea Room it felt as if each restaurant was on it’s own, where on Tuesday night you may have been eating with Chef David Wiederholt of The Capital Grille, but still enjoyed the charm of Chef Eric Paraskevas of Terra a few tables over.
Not only were you assigned to eat at a notable chef’s table, but the table you broke bread at shined on it’s own.
Sous Chef Michael DeLone,Maria Conicelli and Chef Brian Wilson of Le Castagne

Ristorante Panorama has started Friday Night Flights which will benefit various charities going forward. This month the flights benefit Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. It includes cheese, hors d’oeuvres and a wine tasting discussion with sommelier William Eccleston and guest representatives from each week’s region or importer. Tickets are $25 per person in advance/$35 at the door and can be purchased at www.panoramaristorante.com.
Co-Chairs Anthony Masapollo, Le Castagne and Sophia Stogiannis, Water Works Restaurants.
David Hall of the Loews is co-chairing the Living Beyond Breast Cancer 20th Anniversary event on November 12th . Other co-chairs are Jen and Al Simmons, Maureen and Nathan Doron, (Maureen owns the Mainline store Skirt), and Karen and Ed Garnier.
Participating restaurants included:

Sole Food (above)

Chef Thomas Krieble

Blackfish

Chef Chip Roman

La Famiglia Ristorante

Chef GianLuca Forasticre
Le Castagne

Chef Brian Wilson

Panorama

Chef Rosario Romano

Penne

Chef Roberta Adamo

Tavern 17

Chef Benjamin Young
terra Eric Paraskevas

The Capital Grille

Chef David Wiederholt
Union Trust Steakhouse

Chef Quincey Logan

Water Works

Chef Darryl HarmonCori Moscow, Gloss PR and first client Anthony Masapollo, Le Castagne
In 2004, Anthony called Corie and said you are starting a PR firm, and I’m going to be your first client. That was easy to do as Cori had fallen in love with the pasta and could genuinely tout it as the best in the City. She also represents it’s sister restaurant too – Ristorante Panorama

Mike Jerrick of Fox’s Good Day with Luca Sena of Ristorante PanoramaLook for the Jewish National Fund Poker Tournament at Del Frisco’s on May 4 with event chairs David Dinenberg and Marc Rayfield
Sophia Stogiannis, Water Works Restaurants – The March of Dimes will host its 2011 Signature Chefs Auction Volunteer Reception on Wednesday, April 13 at 5:30 p.m. at the Water Works Restaurant.
Penne Chef Roberta Adamo with the executive chefs lined up to be introduced to the room
Honorary Chef Food Georges Perrier- Le Bec-Fin with Patti Klein
were sitting at Chip Roman’s table representing Blackfish. Above Chip is with his wife Amanda. Chip recently opened Mica in Chestnut Hill too (I ate there it’s delicious). Kevin Sbraga, season seven winner of Bravo’s Top Chef, shares some history with Chip Roman, both got their start working for Philly’s own Georges Perrier – Sbraga at Le Mas Perrier in Wayne and Roman at Le Bec Fin. And on Monday, May 2, the two chefs will team up to create one tip-top meal. The collaborative six-course dinner for $85 will be held at Blackfish, located at 119 Fayette Street in Conshohocken, PA. Blackfish was recently named Philadelphia’s top restaurant by Philadelphia Magazine. For reservations call 610.397.0888. Blackfish gorgeous table done by Phyllis Jablonowski or Eventricity. She’s also involved in creating some of the great lounges for the Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival on Sat 5/21
Quincy Logan of Union Trust
Cheryl Coursley, Laura Egan and Richard Liu. Mike and I met at Rich’s graduate college graduation party 16 years ago. Thanks Rich, he was the best gift bag I ever picked up from a party.

The Gift of Life Family House is now ready to accept families critically needed support programs and temporary lodging for organ transplant patients and their families.Located at 401 Callowhill Street Philadelphia, PA http://www.giftoflifefamilyhouse.org Each day, the Family House will aim to provide dinner up to 30 families, with the addition
of brunch on the weekends. Offering meals and support services for families of area
transplant patients is an essential part of the Family House’s goal to assist these
caregivers.
Howard Nathan, CEO/President of Gift for Life welcomes the guests
Lisa Stein tells her daughter’s story about needing a liver transplant, and the difficulties of driving back and forth from the shore during one of the most stressful periods that could occur in peoples lives. Erica did finally receive a transplant and is doing well today.
Chef/Owner Marc Vetri (Vetri, Osteria, Amis) urges other restaurants to follow his lead in preparing meals for the House. If everyone just took the first Monday, Tuesday etc we could fill the schedule with a different restaurant or group of people preparing dinners for people who’s family is in crisis and are staying at the House.
Randi Sirkin (Starr), Randy Baglin (Starr), Jennifer and Mitch Prensky (Supper)
Feastivities was the caterer for the nights events and put out spectacular food.
Footloose and fancy free Laura Burkhardt, Janice Waitkus and Kristina Jenkins, Where Magazine Editor
Without sponsors so many great things in the City would go undone, thanks.
Nicole Cashman just returned from a week on the island of St. Maartens and looks relaxed and refreshed here with her friend Marc Summers.
Meryl Snow, Feastivities and Melissa Paul.
Andy Snow works his magic in the kitchen
creating the Mozarella Balloon Caresse Salad.

Lauren Cohen, Sterling Reitzel, Sara Cohen and Talia Giordano
Leslie Rosen, Leslie Rosen Catering, Brian Kappra, Renee Freeman, Freeman Interiors, Jan Weinstock, and Don Freeman. April is National Donate Life Month, and in 2011, Donors Are Heroes is celebrating their 9th Annual event “THE Party!” Friday, April 8th at the Four Seasons. There are still tickets available: http://donorsareheroestheparty.com/index.htmRestaurants looking to help can volunteer with groups of 5-10 staff to
prepare (on or off site), serve and clean up a meal for 50-60 people. Additionally, the Family House provides a “Home Cook Heroes” kit, with all the containers needed for restaurants to donate delicious meals to our families.

Yesterday I trekked up to Invincible Pictures in Fishtown to shoot the behind the scenes of a commercial for FlixFling. FlixFling allows you to watch their movies on your iPhone (through their app), Android (app), iPad (app), computer, FACEBOOK!, or TV (if you have an internet enabled TV like Google TV, or Apple TV or a Roku box for a regular TV). It streams movies on pretty much any device you want to watch them. Invincible Pictures is one of two large scale production studios in our area. Above Brad Heffler and Tom Ashley, who operate the Invincible Pictures. “We offer filmmakers a one-stop shop, from production support, studio access, equipment rentals, post services and distribution. We can help filmmakers maximize their budgets and enhance production value while giving them the peace of mind that their film will have solid distribution options available. We also help filmmakers navigate through the various PA tax incentives. Filmmakers who use our production services are never obligated to use our distribution services”
In the studio I found Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling, formerly of the Howard Stern show, and Angel Porrino, from E!’s “Holly’s World”.
Happy Birthday Brad. No doubt with the success of this studio has some of his wishes come true.
I love their “green room”
Craft Service Table. A full lunch was served. We had pulled pork and bean salad, delicious.
Outside Studio A where the commercial is being filmed. Tune into my celebrity segment on NBC Philadelphia’s -Nonstop Ch 248, over the air 10.2 on Thursday at 9:30PM for the rest of the scoop on this behind the scenes at Invincible Pictures. I think you’ll like it. Lots of fun tidbits.

Philly FLASH MOB, er I MEAN DANCE MOB AT 30th Street Station
I heard there was going to be a Flash Dance Mob at 30th Street Station in conjunction with The Philadelphia International Festival of Arts, who is kickin it with PR. I quickly ran down there to catch the action with my video camera.
But once there I thought let me shoot it with my still camera cause one of the things I wanted to capture was everyday people catching the flash dance. I love their expressions and reactions.
First I looked around to try and figure who might be participating in such a thing, it’s not as easy as picking out who was going to participate in the huge public pillow fight at Washington Square on Saturday.
the station was busy on this 79F degree, where was everyone going? Hope they’ll be back on Thursday for the kick off of the PIFA. BUT don’t miss the 4/30 street fair.
There’s a great schedule for events kids will love
hmmm
this was suspicious
it beginsa few more people join along, by the end their were over a dozen dancersand many more spectators

a little confused
dance, dance, dance, dance
bystanders
another photographer was on the scene so look for his photos too
There are a lot of dance events during the 3 weeks of of PIFA, check out the schedule here

I ran into a reader who recognized she reada me Stacy Sulima about the event and works nearby. She loved it and hopefully will catch a few events during the month of April.

March 25, 2011 at the Hyatt Penns Landing was the Inaugural Lime Light Gala of the The HEADstrong Foundation for blood cancer is committed to finding a cure for all blood cancers. The foundation is dedicated to its founder Nicholas Colleluori. The foundation strives on Nick’s quote, “Making use of the time you have and don’t stress the little things. Have a smile and enjoy what you can get out of life.”celebrating the life of Nicholas “Head” Colleluori, as well as other who have been affected by blood cancers. (Leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma are all types of blood cancer). Nicholas Colleluori #27 graduated from Ridley High School in June 2004 as a three-sport athlete and joined the Hofstra lacrosse team the next fall. With hard work and determination, Nick earned a role on the team in the spring of his freshman year. He was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in September, which started a brutal 14-month battle with cancer, which he lost on November 28, 2006.
PR Maven Stylist Sarah Doheny and John Soden giving us some style at the gala. Sarah was instrumental in assisting the family with personal details in executing the gala, including bringing Tony Luke on board with a very generous donation.
The MC for the evening NBC10 sports anchor/reporter John Clark. Ed and Fran Zimmerman, Mike and Linda Missanelli and Bill and Fay Jones
Tom Collins and Georgine Brown
Mariana Viss, is an associate in the Litigation Department and a member of the Consumer Financial Services Group at Ballard Spahr and Jeff Goldberg

Before this gala was conceived, the first HEADstrong Foundation campaign was created by Nick himself which was selling green shoe laces to support research for the blood cancer disease, which also recently claimed the life of the first female VP nominated Geraldine Ferraro.
The also hosted the annual Nick Colleluori lacross competitions. The first one in October 2007 and was successful in generating over $75,000 towards blood cancer research. In October 2008, with the help from the teams and the community, the tournament was able to raise over $150,000 for research and begin a family assistance program.
Brenda Kyle and Sherri Jones
Tony Luke and one of the winners of the charity auction of Tony cooking 20 cheese steaks in the winners house as well as copies of his movie The Nail and a whole lotta other fun stuff.
Marc Seelagy and Dawn McCloud
WMMR’s Casey Boy, Jessy Kyle, Philadelphia based soul/pop/jazz singer, songwriter (& a survivor of blood cancer.) and Janine Jordan, Associate Director at Penn Medicine Office of Development and Alumni Relations .
Pat Colleluori (brother), Cheryl Colleluori (mom), and Harry Giordano, City of Hope
next week is their big fundraiser the popular Let Them Eat Cake;
Alex Gort and Ashley Schaffer of Cashman & Assoc.
Check out the interview with Michael Colleluori & Cheryl Colleluori on NBC10’s The Ten Show
Jason Kilpatrick and Sarah Bergan
An honoree of the night was Dr. Stephen J. Shuster of the Abramsom Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania.

All in all it was a very successful evening and everyone looks forward to another successful gala next year. To read more about the organization and Nick’s story click here> The HEADstrong Foundation

Here’s The Situation at Parx Casino the other night
Guido’s and Guidette’s were in full force welcoming their Jersey Shore king to Parx Casino and Club 360 for a Jersey Shore throw-down
Arriving a tad late as The Sitch was probably getting his GTL on after his state store visit, no he wasn’t picking up a bottle of his own Devotion, just getting graphs on at a local state store.
Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino attended the Devotion Vodka launch party at Parx Casino in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, the Jersey Shore star happily posed for pictures on the red carpet before heading inside to party it up. Here he is with Devotion representative Drew Adelman
It’s a family affair: Brother Mark Sorrentino, Mike Sorrentino and Frankie Sorrentino and sister Melissa Sorrentino with the cool Christian Louboutins.
Parx Casino’s Vatche Manoukian surrounded by a few Parkettes
Maria Laina – Parx 360/Three Sixty’s Hot Hawt House DJ with the Situation and
doing her magic on the stage. When you go to Parx 360 club, you can dance or you can dance with Maria who’s on stage. She’s the sexy hostess cheerleader with the mike helping everyone get their groove on. The Situation checks out the situation. He was a really nice guy calling up a few fans to party with him on the VIP stage, he was very accommodating when I needed him to pose with a few people, and moving freely in the VIP area, which was packed by the time I left at 1:45PM. Well I didn’t really leave I went to my favorite gaming machine and quickly made my donation. (The women next to me won about $20000 pennies. I was playing the SATC machine. I just love picking out Charlotte’s shoes.
Is this the way Jersey Shore fans say hello? He’s not really reaching into the beer cooler, Mike Sorrentino has an Elvis habit. Elvis, I hear, used to wear scarves and as his concert went on he would discard them into the audience. Sorrentino does the same thing now but with jewelery (luxerylaces.com). He walked up and down the VIP stage and tossed a few into the audience. I don’t blame that guy for rummaging through the ice, cause the pieces all run for $100.
Parx’s Public Relations Director, Carrie Nork Minelli , The Sitch and Diana Martinelli.
Not afraid to show their devotion Many fans told me they liked his swagger, the way he tells it like it is and dedication to living the good life.

Parx’s 360 club is always hopping through out the week. Parx’s casino is looking towards the future and expanding the casino as well as opening more restaurants and clubs. I noticed the landscaping outside had been upgraded, it looked good before now it’s great. Inside, the place was packed, even til 2AM when I left.
The Situation Posse. Look for The Situation clothing, hopefully it will include colors, but that doesn’t seem to be the situation here.
More Devoted fans, a lot of guys look up to him as their role model on how to live their lives and get a little snookie.
For those who didn’t get to take home a Situation there was always a photo to be had.
Dino Minnelli Sales at Southern Wine & Spirits and associates
The Situation looking to get in a situation?
Sporting his Luxury Laces cross jewelery hoping The Situation will flash his six pack, but maybe he’s taken a note from Marky Mark and decided less skin might be better for his career. He doesn’t want to be type cast as he makes his transition into movies.
Darlene Monzo, VP of Marketing, Parx Casino and Jim Gabriele

As I was leaving I saw Kristen bring up a late night snack for Mike and his friends, lemon bars, cheese cake and pound cake yum. Now that’s a situation I would have liked to have been in. See you in Italy Jersey Shore. Look for Mike Sorrentino to be around longer than his rumored 15 minutes, when not in character he’s a nice guy and much better looking than on TV and without those glasses (see first photo).

Acclaimed drummer, Jimmy Fallon’s house band, DJ, producer and member of the The Roots – Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson hosted a cook-off and private dinner at Time Restaurant, Bar and Absinthe Lounge (1315 Sansom St., BTW 13th & Broad, Philadelphia) last night, Sunday, April 3rd in his hometown of Philadelphia, PA. This dinner is the first in a series of new food ventures ?uestlove is launching. Additional announcements will follow in the upcoming weeks.Sunday’s cook-off event treated 25 special guests to a five course, family style dinner prepared by nine hand-selected chefs. The chefs competed against each other with one hour to shop for ingredients at South Street’s Whole Foods Market, then just three hours to prep and serve their dishes. In addition to their creative family style meals, chefs will also have to include the signature dish of the evening; ?uestlove’s drumsticks (I’m craving chicken now, friend chicken please. Why are the KFC’s disappearing?) The winner of the cook-off will have the honor of cooking for The Roots backstage at their 4th annual Roots Picnic on Saturday, June 4th at Festival Pier in Philadelphia.
Chefs competing at the cook off:· Kenny Bush – Philadelphia, PA· Nick Wilson – Fitchburg, MA· Scott Shroeder – Philadelphia, PA· Elita B – New York City, NY· Clara Park – Philadelphia, PA
· Jennifer Zavala – Philadelphia, PA (Above) · Anthony Leo – Philadelphia, PA · Brian Tucker – Philadelphia, PA · Eric Paraskevas – State College, PA (below center)
Thanks for letting me come in for a couple minutes to shoot the fun and excitement. This kitchen was small, and you can imagine the tension especially after Eric asked me what time it was and the chefs realized they had one hour left. Excuse me while I go in the kitchen & look for some chicken.
When did Phillies hats start coming in different colors. So confusing.
Elita B from New York City, NY in tong action
The table settings were beautiful and I did a quick check to see who would be attending by photographing the place cards. Let’s see there’s Patricia Washington, and Homer Jackson, Richard Nichols, Mercedes Martinez, and Junior, Drew Lazor, Patricia Washington, Chris Pow, Dan Gross, also spotted Danya Henninger taking shots for Zaget so look for them, and now for the judges Jazzy Jeff zilch canceled at the last minute, no problem we still have stellar judges like Audrey Taichman, Drew Lazor, Marcos Espinoza (or as he likes to be called Fidel Gastro <Sasha Gray and ?uestlove. By the way I ran into Jackie Baik entering Time, who you might remember from last weeks Shuck Off at the Oyster House on Samson, she tells me that she’s decided to stay in Philly and work on the exciting Cook project with Audrey Taichman. So excited, she’s very sweet.This is what you call GOOD BRANDING Hair Pick & Drum Sticks = Acclaimed drummer, DJ, producer and member of the The Roots – Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson

Donn T and @questlove ; Donn T is ?uestlove’s singing sister and will be at the Trocadero this Friday, so go check her out.

Never-mind I just checked it’s Sold outPATRICK STUMP Donn T / Nikki Jean doors 7:00pm / show 8:00pm / all ages SOLD OUT

guest, Questlove, actress Sasha Grey, guest
A few of the guests that I didn’t mention above Alicia and Kelsey. They’re Phila Eagles Cheerleaders, they don’t give out their last names, I think it’s a policy.
Amanda Dardis, Associate Art Director, UX at Comcast Interactive Media and Dan Olsovsky, some peeps call him Dan O, but not because of Hawaii Five-O, am I dating myself again?
Top Cheftestant Jennifer Carroll and Fidel Gastro. (I eat Jen Carroll’s fried chicken at least once a month.) My agency in NYC, where I send my “celeb, notable shots for magazine and blog publication, wrote me after I submitted the pixs, where is a Jennifer Carroll solo shot. Silly me I just think of Jen as my good friend, I forgot that she is a “celebrity chef” HughE #Fail. I remember when I first met her I would just drop by 10 Arts and get shots to send to WENN, but

All the shots that do not have the PhillyChitChat.com watermarked were borrowed from Twitter. If Twitter or it’s owners would like them removed I would be happy to oblige. Did you know that WENN has an agreement with Plixi pixs on Twitter. That means if you are a celebrity, Plixi, like Twitter owns your photo and has licensed it to WENN to sell. That is crazy and smart. I use Plixi in hopes of getting discovered someday and making it in some glossy mag, even the National Enquirer. Have they ever seen my dental exam photos?
Enjoying the good food last night @nikkijean, Montez and @215tayyib Impresario, change agent, artist conduit, Ambassador of the City of Brotherly Love, publisher at two.one.five magazine & @215mag, Insider @Philly360 http://littlegiantcreative.com/
The end. That’s it, I don’t know the results, but I do know that Drew Lazor tweeted near midnight…@drewlazor Wait…it was 54 total dishes in the @cook4quest competition, not 48. #notallasiansaregoodatmath- and that’s a lot of food dudes. (Click on Home above on left after 9AM and check out the Situation entry for Monday, who was at Parx’s Casino. He’s got some crazy devoted fans.) Oh Wait Update: Kenny Bush, sous chef at Bistro La Minette (623 S. 6th)

Fairmount Park in Philadelphia has posted the days and times of event closures on MLK Drive, Kelly Drive and Ben Franklin Parkway and for the first time alternate routes to use when the drives are closed. Every Weekend MLK King Drive is closed for recreational use between 6AM to 5PM. Click on each document to make them bigger.

2011 Ben Franklin Parkway Event Closures

2011 Martin Luther King Drive Event Closures
2011 Kelly Drive Event Closures
Here’s the link to the Fairmount Park site with this information.