When we dropped by Michael O’Halloran’s Kong (702-704 N. Second St.) back in August, we got to check out his mother-in-law Ping (above) cranking out dumplings with the quickness. Tonight they’ll celebrate their house specialty with a dumpling shindig of sorts. The NoLibs eatery is offering 10 different varieties of dumplings — three pieces a plate, just 50 cents apiece. Check out the wrapped-in-dough lineup after the jump.

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If whimsical cocktail lore is to be believed, Nov. 19, marks the 100-year anniversary of the Cuban daiquiri — rum, sugar, lime, water — making its first appearance on American soil. Story goes that Navy Admiral Lucius Johnson caught wind of the drink and introduced to his boys at the Army Navy Club one century ago today in our nation’s capital. To celebrate the occasion (why do cocktails always have such awesomely erudite backstories?), The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co. (112 S. 18th St.) is offering $8 renditions of the classic today from 5 p.m. till last call. For a dollar more, they’ll strawberry-ify it for you. Since all Franklin tipples are usually $12 across the board, this is a deal, so drink one or six in a salute to the good Admiral.

French Laundry/Ad Hoc/per se superchef Thomas Keller, who you might’ve caught on last night’s Top Chef, will appear at the Williams-Sonoma in King of Prussia tomorrow at noon to sign his new book, Ad Hoc at Home. Here’s Erin Mae Szrankowski with details in her latest What’s Cooking column:

Renowned chef/restaurateur/multiple James Beard Award-winner Thomas Keller will visit King of Prussia’s Williams-Sonoma for a signing of Ad Hoc at Home (Artisan). Named after his casual Napa Valley restaurant that specializes in family-style comfort food, the cookbook provides recipes for dishes like their infamous fried chicken. Buy a copy of Keller’s cookbook at Williams-Sonoma to get the superchef’s signature. Williams-Sonoma, 160 N. Gulph Road, King of Prussia, 610-265-5970, williams-sonoma.com.

Photo | Monica Simpson

There is no alcoholic beverage that I enjoy more than champagne. But let’s get real, I usually just drink it — I know very little about the stuff other than the fact that it’s carbonated, and if it’s not from the region of Champagne, France, you have to call it “sparkling wine.” But last week’s Phiz Fest, at the Grand Ballroom at the Park Hyatt at the Bellevue, was just as much for the champagne connoisseur as it was for the novice — both received an education in pairing possibilities.

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Photos | Lauren Seibert

They called out to ye faithful, and all ye faithful answered. Saturday night, at the second session of this weekend’s Winter Beer Fest, I watched the huge Naval Yard warehouse space slowly but surely fill up — and then flood and spill over — with the most faithful of beer-goers. Let me assure you, shelling out about $50 for a four-hour session of limitless holiday beer sampling is absolutely worth it, especially when many of these beers aren’t even out yet, or are limited-edition, or are 8.5 percent ABV and up.

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This Saturday from 5 to 8, Greensgrow Farms will throw its second annual Whole Hog event at Philadelphia Brewing Co. (2423-39 Amber St.). Meal out on Cuban-style roast pork, grilled salmon, hot cider, and vegan/veg options, all washed down with plenty of PBC’s brand-new Harvest from the Hood, a wet-hopped ale brewed using hops sourced right from Greensgrow.

Tix are available for a suggested donation of $50, and proceeds will go directly toward building a community kitchen at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church at Trenton and Cumberland. The plan is to create a space that’ll serve the community by bolstering small food businesses (a la Philly Kitchen Share) and providing a space for classes/workshops, as well as a home base for Greensgrow’s forthcoming low-income CSA program.

After the jump, Erin Mae Szrankowski touches base with Food Network personality Guy Fieri to talk about his Guy Fieri Road Show appearance at the Merriam Theater this Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m.

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Last Tuesday, we told you about Gravy Wars author Lorraine Ranalli’s plan to battle New York-based New Jersey-based writer/chef Johnny DeCarlo in an Italian Market gravy-off. (Y’all shared some choice words in the comments.) Now comes word that the tasting challenge did not have a clear winner. From Ranalli’s blog:

Discerning taste buds enjoyed both pots of gravy and meatballs as evidenced by their quick disappearing act. In the end, it’s fair to say that the ”war” was a draw. Both Johnny DeCarlo and Lorraine Ranalli are entitled to declare victory.

We’re still not used to this “New York and Philly being nice to each other” thing. Teach us how?

Tomorrow marks one year of ownership for Vanessa and Rob Mullen, who took over Chestnut Hill’s Campbell’s Place (8337 Germantown Ave.) from longtime owner Mary Campbell in 2008. They’re celebrating all day Saturday with guest bartenders, drink specials, a free-food drawing and live music from local performer Roger Learnard. Rob, who’s worked as a touring chef for a number of bands (most recently U2 on their summer 2009 tour) will be cooking up eats like arctic char with crab risotto lobster sauce, chicken pot pie, PEI mussels in Hoegaarden broth, applewood-smoked bacon and blue cheese.

… Meal Ticket reader Bobby, who responded to our request for a single sentence convincing us why they deserved to win with the following:

I have 5 daughters!

Here’s to you, Bobby — a real American hero. Enjoy the event!