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New chef, same concept
Taproom on 19th, 2400 S. 19th St., will debut the menu of new chef Elijah Milligan on June 11, as he moves in the spot previously held by Jennifer Choplin. Milligan had previously held the same position at Stateside, 1536 E. Passyunk Ave., before moving a couple blocks south on the avenue to join the team at Laurel, 1617 E. Passyunk Ave.
“We are excited to see the food and creativity that he will bring to the Taproom,” co-owner Michael Strauss said.
He confirmed that “upscale, comfort, stoner food” concept will remain and further noted, “we are still a corner bar, focusing on food for our neighbors.”
Taco Tuesdays, featuring a rotating selection of three $2 taco options, is set to continue, as is Burger Mondays with half off LaFrieda blend burgers. Taproom on 19th has a fun Twitter (@Taproomon19th) that is well worth a follow, especially for those in the neighborhood. The Girard Estate eatery constantly posts updates on its excellent draft list, as well as pictures of all the special menu offerings of the day.
SOSNA newcomer
Café Ynez, a self described “Mexico City diner,” is just about seven weeks into its run on 2205 Washington Ave., at the southern end of the Graduate Hospital neighborhood. The casual spot, from the ownership team behind South Street West anchors Jet Wine Bar and Rex 1516, offers a menu full of Spanish options that diners are sure to expect but in an atmosphere they might not. To imagine the vibe, think Panera or Cosi but with Mexican.
Running the kitchen is JC Piña, who moved over from Jet to helm the new venture and made previous stops working with some culinary heavyweights in Jose Garces and chef Masaharu Morimoto at Tinto and Morimoto respectively. The menu is small, but general manager Qamara Edwards mentioned they offer several daily specials to compliment the mainstays and plan to expand it as the restaurant comes into its own. Most offerings fit in the $5 to $10 range, with only the whole rotisserie chicken ($15), which comes with three sides, priced higher. On the beverage side of things, Café Ynez is BYOB and serves up local product Rival Bros. Coffee.
Brunch is served daily until 3 p.m., and is the exclusive offering on weekends. Good news is this provides ample chances to grab its breakfast burrito, which has been the most popular dish so far. Diners also seem to enjoy the Mexican essential chips and guacamole, as one diner, unprovoked, made sure to announce just how darn good they are to all in the restaurant.
Wrist-worthy fashion
Born of a Kickstarter campaign sporting upwards of $73,000 pledged, Analog Watch Co. has set up shop on the corner of Moore and South Camac streets off East Passyunk Avenue. The creation of founder and designer Lorenzo Buffa, the watches are the first to offer a soft and flexible wooden strap as well as a solid wooden body. So striking are the design and concept, Analog Watch Co. shattered its initial goal of $10,000 and landed at the above total in only 30 days.
Sleek, simple and light as a feather, this first selection of watches functions almost as a minimalist work of art. Playing to the strength in its design, namely the watch’s unique materials, bells and whistles are for now left out. On its website, the very first line describing the company reads, “a passion for nature.” It is a sentiment certainly echoed by the design but also by the 80 percent biodegradability of the product and the policy to plant a tree for every watch sold.
The aptly named Carpenter Watch is their first offering and is available in various wood combinations, each for $150. These include Makore and Red Sanders, Teak and Bamboo, Silverheart and Maple, as well as a leather and Blackwood design that offers a bit more durability. In addition to being available in the South Philly location and on its website, Analog is being featured in the store of the Museum of Modern Art as part of a special selection of Kickstarter-backed products. In addition to the Carpenter Watches, a line of wallets made of a wooden veneer and leather was recently released as well. Buffa also mentioned that additional collections of watches at higher and lower price points are on their way down the pipeline.
Contact the South Philly Review at editor@southphillyreview.com.
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