Noir Philadelphia Announces New Owners, Exciting Renovations, New Dishes and Expanded Service

Noir Philadelphia Announces New Owners, Exciting Renovations, New Dishes and Expanded Service

Chef Marco DeCotiis and Donnamarie Motto have something special to raise a glass to this Valentine’s Day.  The foodie couple celebrate their 14th anniversary with the announcement that they are the new sole owners of Noir Philadelphia at 1909 East Passyunk Avenue. DeCotiis and Motto also officially announce  daily lunch service, service on Monday nights, renovations in the dining room and bar, and new menu items. This food coupling started over a shared passion for food – and continues as the two bring their crowd-pleasing Montreal-inspired Italian dishes to Philadelphia’s new restaurant row.

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Snow Day Philadelphia Specials Sassafras: Four New Reasons to Day Drink #OpeninPHL

Sassafras Valentine's Day, Snow Day Philadelphia, #openinphl

The fine gents at Sassafras Bar (48 S. 2nd Street, Old City) are giving you four extra reasons to day-drink during tomorrow’s winter storm.  Sassafras will be open in Philly during the storm!

Stop by starting at 11:30am to preview four new hand-crafted cocktails created by lead mixologist Neill Laughlin.  Mascot John Deer will be dressed in his Valentine’s finest to preside over the shenanigans!   Cocktails will continue to pour for Valentine’s Weekend on Friday and Saturday.

Snow Day and Valentine’s Specials:

  • Lavender Champagne -- Dried lavender will be transformed into a simple syrup, mixed with champagne, and served with a sprig of lavender.  $6.00 Thursday, Friday, Saturday
  • Chocolate Orange Dream Cocktail -- Stoli Orange and Godiva Dark Chocolate are topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. &nbsp;$7.00 Snow Day Special on Thursday, $9.00 Friday and Saturday</span><br></span>
  • Rainbow of Love Cocktail – Dry Gin, Cointreau, chilled pineapple, orange juice and grapefruit are topped off with champagne and a strawberry. $7.00 Snow Day Special on Thursday, $9.00 Friday and Saturday
  • Winter Love – Malibu Coconut Rum, White Crème de Cacao and Kahlua are topped with warmed whipped cream and chocolate shavings. $7.00 Snow Day Special on Thursday, $9.00 Friday and Saturday

In addition to the above special cocktails, Sassafras will be serving up Sassafras signature Smoking Bishops (featuring slow cooked burgundy wine with nutmeg, grapefruit studded closes, cinnamon, vanilla bean, anise, whole spice, oranges and a few secret ingredients) and items from the newly launched lunch menu. Comfort food classics popular on recent snow days have included:

  • Grilled cheese and tomato soup combo (Homemade creamy tomato soup paired with a sharp cheddar, grilled  onion and apricot jam on toasted kaiser bun)
  • Beer battered fish and chips with house-made tartar and malt vinegar
  • Burgers (sirloin, ostrich, bison, veggie) with lettuce, tomato and onion (add on Gruyere&nbsp;cheese, cheddar cheese, bacon and caramelized onions)

For more information, visit www.sassafrasbar.com or call (215) 925-2317.  For additional updates, please like Sassafras atwww.facebook.com/sassafrasbar.  

SliCE Philadelphia Says Be Mine with Heart-Shaped Pizza and Surprise Jewelry Delivery Contest

SliCE Philadelphia Says Be Mine with Heart-Shaped Pizza and Surprise Jewelry Delivery Contest

This Valentine’s Day, love is in the pizza!  Say “be mine” with a specially delivered heart-shaped pizza-gram from SliCE.  Customize your pie with his/her favorite toppings or select one of SliCE’s signature pie combinations.  As a bonus, SliCE will surprise one lucky pizza-gram delivery recipient with a Sterling Silver Hershey Kiss Necklace from Sermania Jewelry. The jewelry contest is valid for delivery only. The winner will be drawn at random based on delivery orders on Friday, February 14, 2014. Heart-shaped pies are the same price as a traditional pies, and they can delivered from all three SliCE locations.

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City of Hope Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Let Them Eat Cake Wedding Cake Competition

City of Hope Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Let Them Eat Cake Wedding Cake Competition

City of Hope Philadelphia celebrates ten years of fondant fun with Let Them Eat Cake: Fantasy Weddings on Monday, April 7, 2014 at 6:00pm at the DoubleTree Hilton (237 Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA). Brides-to-be, dessert fanatics and fondant foodies will sample creations from 40 professional pastry chefs and student bakers from around the tri-state region.  Guests will enjoy a new Sweetheart Tablescape competition, Korbel champagne, live music from Back 2 Life by Brandywine Valley Talent, and the opportunity to meet celebrity chefs Marc and Benny (City Cakes NY) and John Moeller (former White House chef). Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at bit.ly/cohcake14 or by calling 215-985-0869. All proceeds benefit City of Hope to help cut out cancer, HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening illnesses.  

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East Passyunk Hosts Top Chef Finale Tweeting Party for Chef Nicholas Elmi from Laurel

Photo courtesy of Bravo&nbsp;

Photo courtesy of Bravo 

Show your ‘Passyunk Pride’ during tonight’s season finale of Top Chef Season 11 featuring Chef Nicholas Elmi from newly opened Laurel (1617 EPA). From 9:00pm to 11:30pm (showtime 10:00pm), East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District (EPABID) will host a Twitter party. Stay in during the cold and ice, and join the fun by including @epassyunkave and #passyunk4elmi in your tweets. One Tweeter will win two tickets to sample Laurel’s delicious cuisine during Chef Elmi’s debut at Flavors of the Avenue on Saturday, April 26, 2014. Chef Elmi will be joined by over 20 of his East Passyunk’s colleagues by serving up signature dishes at  South Philadelphia’s largest outdoor food and drink festival. Make sure to save the date for this event that sold out in 2013. Stay tuned for big surprises coming for 2014. Two alternative winners will receive a free limited edition, locally made East Passyunk tote bag. 

Whether you're on Twitter or not, make sure to tune into Bravo at 10:00pm to watch live as we surely won't be able to contain the spoilers on this one! 

Flavors of the Avenue Announced for Saturday April 26, 2014

Flavors of the Avenue Announced for Saturday April 26, 2014

Want even more from our nationally-loved East Passyunk stars? Visit and interact with our newly launched Pinterest board featuring Chef Elmi, the Super Bowl Gecko, Alicia DiMichele (Addiction Boutique) from this season of VH1 Mob Wives and more.

For more about Chef Elmi and Laurel follow @nicholaselmi @laurelepx on Twitter and visit www.restaurantlaurel.com. For More info about Flavors of the Avenue, visit www.visiteastpassyunk.com or call 215-336-1455.

Chhaya Cafe Introduces New Winter Menu Items

Chhaya Cafe Introduces New Winter Menu Items

Chhaya Café, 1823 East Passyunk Avenue, warms up during dipping temperatures with the return of richer, heavier and heartier brunch flavors. Chef and owner V Beuria serves up a winter menu with sweet and savory selections that embody the concept of comfort food. On the beverage side, Chhaya is warming up this winter with Mulled Apple Cider, Café Miel, Belgium Hot Chocolate and White Chocolate Mocha.  

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East Passyunk Restaurant Week Returns to 24 Award-Winning Restaurants with Three Course Meals for $15 to $35

East Passyunk Restaurant Week Returns to 24 Award-Winning Restaurants with Three Course Meals for $15 to $35

East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District (EPABID) announces the return of East Passyunk Restaurant Week on Sunday, February 23 through Saturday, March 1, 2014.  Twenty-four award-winning restaurants along Philadelphia’s “Best Dining Neighborhood of 2013” will serve up three course, value-priced brunch, lunch and dinner menus for $15, $25 and $35 each. From low key BYOBs to elegant candlelight dining to Italian “red gravy” joints to Mexican street food, East Passyunk Restaurant Week boasts a diversity of dining experiences and cuisines that offer something for everyone.  East Passyunk top chefs will offer special off-menu surprises in addition to their standard signature dishes. Select restaurants will further personalize the experience with drink pairings, add-on specials, dessert debuts, extended hours and day of operation, and other rewards to delight foodies from around the region – and the country.  Specific menus and restaurant availability will officially start to roll out live starting on January 29th at www.eastpassyunkrestaurantweek.com.  Reservations are being accepted starting this week at most restaurants. Mark your calendars and remember to come hungry!

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Eviama Life Hosts Year-End Boutique Sale and New Year's Group Cleanse

Eviama Life Hosts Year-End Boutique Sale and New Year's Group Cleanse

Eviama Life Green Spa & Boutique, located in the heart of Midtown Village at 109 S. 13th Street, 2nd Floor, will host its largest boutique sale of the year on Thursday, December 26 through Tuesday, December 31, 2013. After the sale, it's time to get ready for a new year and new you with the first-ever Eviama Group Cleanse, running Sunday, January 5th through Sunday, February 2, 2014. The 28-day cleanse program combines healthy meals with carefully chosen supplements to kick-start your 2014 healthy resolutions. 

Savings at the region's premiere green spa and boutique will include:

  • 15% off: Dr.Hauschka SkinCare, BodyCare, Decoratives, Weleda Products and Oshadhi Essential Oils
  • 35% off: Jewelry, Candles, Statuary
  • 40% off: Vintage Kimono, Tops, Belts and Clothing
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Serrano Restaurant Hosts Special Five Course Beer Dinner

Serrano Restaurant Hosts Special Five Course Beer Dinner

Serrano Restaurant, 20 S. Second Street in Old City District, will host the dinner that beer lover’s dreams are made of on Wednesday, December 18, 2013, starting at 6:30pm. Executive Chef Gina Rodriguez and Eulogy’s Christopher Topham have created five courses that are as eclectic as they are adventurous.  Seating is limited for this special one night only partnership that also serves as a memorable farewell to Topham before he moves to Denver, Colorado. Reservations are required. Tickets are $60 per person (plus tax and gratuity) and available by calling 215-928-0770.

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East Passyunk's Holiday Second Saturday Features Santa, Strolling Music, Food, Sales and Fun

East Passyunk's Holiday Second Saturday Features Santa, Strolling Music, Food, Sales and Fun

East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District (EPABID) hosts the largest and most festive Second Saturday of the year on Saturday, December 14, 2013, starting at 9:00am and running into the evening. Holiday Second Saturday highlights will include the finale of the shopping spree contest, pet photos with Santa, music by the Joe King Trio, Holiday Crafty Balboa, Nice Things Handmade ornament show, Traveling Wares Holiday shopping, free food and drink samples, and tons of holiday sales.  For the most up-to-date information about Holiday Second Saturday, follow @epassyunkave on Twitter or RSVP to the event invite on the East Passyunk Avenue Facebook page. Holiday Second Saturday is part of the on-going “Deck the Ave” campaign on East Passyunk. For more information on the larger campaign, visit www.visiteastpassyunk.com/events

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