April 19–26, 2001

food

Under the Table

by Marc Kravitz

So why is Avenue B executive chef Patrick Feury leaving after only six months on the job? "Most of my friends in the culinary industry, and in my personal life, are all in New York City," said Feury, who previously worked at Le Cirque 2000 and lived in Manhattan for the last 11 years. "Even the products from my purveyors are in New York City." Feury said the experience of working with AveB co-owners Neil Stein and Gabe Marabella has been terrific, and that the restaurant will continue to do great even after he leaves. As for Feury’s future plans, "I’m helping a friend open a restaurant, and then I want to open my own place." Marabella acknowledges Feury’s homesickness. "I think he and his wife really wanted to get back to the city," said Marabella. But he also mentioned that Feury might have found the task more daunting than anticipated. "It was a challenge for him with this being the first restaurant he has opened." Marabella said he and Stein will search the country — "We have three excellent sous chefs, but none are interested in the position" — for a replacement.

The vacant storefront on 19th Street just south of Rittenhouse Square that formerly housed Fairmount Bagel Institute finally has a new tenant. Evan Brodie, co-owner of Rindelaub’s Bakery, is opening a home-style diner of the Morning Glory ilk called Park South, due to kick off in about eight weeks. Brodie, who took over the lease in November, says he’s looking for a mix of Rittenhouse residents and an urban-artsy crowd. "It’s going to be a real neighborhood kind of place," said Brodie, who will work the kitchen along with Terry Butler, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. "Everything will be made from scratch.… We’ll have some trendy items on the menu, but you won’t find a lot of long, fancy descriptions, like reduction sauces and demi glazes." Brodie says that Butler — currently running the kitchen at Brodie’s recently opened 401 Diner in Conshohocken — taught him everything he knows in the kitchen. The current plan is for Park South to serve breakfast through dinner, and to become a 24-hour-diner in about one year.

150 of Philly’s finest dining establishments will take part in the 16th annual SCANTASTIC, Friday, April 20 at Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park. The paramount restaurant-tasting event of the year benefits SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now), a Philadelphia organization specializing in the treatment and prevention of child abuse and neglect. "It’s a wonderful organization," said co-chair Claire DiLullo, of Toto and Moonstruck. "SCANTASTIC gives the restaurants a chance to give back to the community." Tickets are $125 per person and may be purchased by calling 610-896-7588 or 215-590-1504, ext. 117.

Marc Kravitz is the author of $18 and UNDER: The Guide to Reasonable Dining and Entertainment in Philadelphia, available at all bookstores.