Read all about the mean behind this “breast-aurant” here.
Photo from Tamara Beckwith from The New York Post

Martini Mondays
“Choose Your Infusion Martinis” $5
A unique twist on the modern bar. Choose one of our house-infused vodkas or gins and one of our fresh juice mixers and create your own martinis. This new and exciting take on a martini bar is truly something special. All martinis $5 from 5-8pm.

4 for $4 Tuesdays
Enjoy a flight of four local draught brews $4
Simon Pearce proudly supports local artisans and craftsmen, including the masters of hops and barley: the brewmasters. On Tuesdays, enjoy tastings of each of our draught craft brews in the form of a flight from 5-9pm.

Wine Lover’s Wednesdays
1/2 Price Glass Wines and Select Bottle Wines
Choose any wine from our fantastic By The Glass list for 1/2 price. We’ll also be featuring 1/2 price select bottle wines chosen by our Sommelier.

Thursday: “The Lab”
Margarita, Mojito, and Martini Specials $6-$10
At Simon Pearce, we have created a list of some of the world’s greatest tequilas, rums, and vodkas and have now made them available to you to create your own margarita, mojito, or martini using our infused vodkas, rums, and tequilas and our fresh fruit mixers.

Friday: Create Your Own Wine Flight
Take advantage of our spectacular By The Glass list. Every Friday from 5-7pm, you can choose any three of your favorite wines from our glass list and create your own wine flight for $10.

Saturday: Local and Micro Brew
Draught Local Brew Pints $4 / Bottle Micro-Brew $3 from 5-8pm.

Sunday: No Corkage Fee
Bring a favorite bottle from your cellar and we’ll waive the corkage fee.

Yards Brewing Company and Simon Pearce present the first in a series of Beer Dinners on the Brandywine, Thursday, March 18th from 5-9pm.

In 1988, two cash-strapped collegiate wrestlers realized they could sustain their thirst for quality beer without spending their modest savings at the local liquor store by brewing beer themselves. So began the friendship of Tom Kehoe and Jon Bovit.

They emptied their savings to start Yards Brewing Company in 1994 and began making beer in a small, garage-sized brewery in the Manayunk section of Philadelphia — crafting cask-conditioned ales on a tiny, homemade, three-barrel brewing system. Their lineup included such cult favorites as the Entire Porter and the Old Bart. Upon unveiling their Extra Special Ale at the Philadelphia Craft Beer Festival in April of 1995, beer drinkers in Philadelphia were flabbergasted. A star was born.

Join us for our first ever Beer Dinner and meet the Brewmaster on Thursday, March 18th from 5-9pm and taste some of Yards’ outstanding brews paired with an exquisite menu by Chef Karen Nicolas. In addition, Yards will also be tapping a Firkin of something special at the bar.

Menu

Fried Salt Cod

Broccolini, Fennel, Paprika and Lemon Yogurt

Philadelphia Pale Ale, American Pale Ale, 4.30% ABV

Beer Braised Seafood “Cassoulet”

Monkfish, Baby Shrimp, Mussels and Pork Belly

Extra Special Ale, Extra Special / Strong Bitter, 6.30% ABV

Grilled Flank Steak

Glazed Vegetables, Fried Liver and Mustard Spaetzle

Brawler Pugilist Style Ale, English Dark Mild Ale, 4.20% ABV

Caramel Meringue with Salted Peanut Caramel and Blackberry Ice Cream

Old Bartholomew Barley Wine, English Barley Wine, 9.0% ABV

$65 per person, tax and gratuity not included

HOURS

LUNCH WITH EASTER BUNNY- Saturday, March 27-Spence Café 12:00PM-$10.50 per person (Ages 2 and up.)

Sign up today with West Chester Recreation.

WC Railroad Presents- The Easter Bunny Express!

It begins in just 3 weeks on 3/27 & 3/28 at 12PM and 2PM! Hop on out and take a ride with Peter Cottontail! Greg Wright playing all your favorite Easter songs. Order your tickets online today! http://www.westchesterRR.com

Good Italian food. That’s what I’m talking about. Not a chain or franchise place. But a good, local family-oriented restaurant that takes pride and passion in the food it serves. They do exist but you need to do a little digging and ask lots of people for suggestions.

Then you just jump in and give them a whirl. Sure I have some favorites from South Philly to Delaware and Montgomery counties. And now I’ve another one I truly enjoyed.
Trattoria San Nicola. There are two locations — 668 Lancaster Avenue, Berwyn and 4 Manor Road, Paoli. Recently, I visited the Paoli location. The building is nestled just off of Route 30 and is warm and inviting.

The restaurant is owned and operated by husband and wife team Vito and Cristina Giannandrea. Vito was nice enough to answer some questions about his restaurant.

CC: What makes you want to make your restaurants so different? You obviously are passionate about the culinary arts as well as art? And what has been the response?

Vito: Our family’s heart is invested in our restaurants. We strive to make it the best possible experience that we can. Cristina, my wife, is involved in many aspects of running the restaurants, including the marketing and art-related events. She’s an artist as well, and the restaurant is a platform. Cuts in local arts funding have driven and inspired Cristina to use the restaurant to promote the arts in the area. The response has been extremely positive. We hold several art-related events throughout the year. For example, every August we host Opera evenings which feature local aspiring singers. It energizes the artists, who have the opportunity to present their talents to new audiences, and many guests came for multiple evenings. We’ll be holding the Opera evenings again this August.

CC: What is it that you want to bring to your work as a restaurant owner?

Vito: It’s really important to me that there is consistency, quality, service, and ethics.

CC: If you had to tell a customer one thing, what would it be?

Vito: I would thank them for their patronage; we have many guests that have been loyal to us for years. I would also say that we really strive to provide the best quality and value.

CC: What have you done to deal with a economy that took a downturn over the last 18 months?

Vito: We try even harder to stand out from the competition and do special things for our regular guests.

CC: Do you still have the same passion now as when you started? What is it that keeps you driven?

Vito: Yes, I still have the same passion. One thing that keeps me going is to hear the positive feedback from guests, to know that they’ve enjoyed my food and the San Nicola experience. My ambition for success also drives me.

CC: Does it bother you that some people will go to chain and franchise eateries (without trashing them obviously)?

Vito: No, it’s only fair that people patronize other businesses.

CC: You have a family, how do they handle the commitment of owning a restaurant with the long hours, etc.?

Vito: Everyone in the family understands that it’s our livelihood and we’re committed to seeing our restaurants succeed.

CC: Do you have a favorite dish to prepare?

Vito: Definitely the Lasagna de Crespelle alla Bolognese. It’s a favorite that guests order often. People love this version of lasagna, because it’s made with crepes instead of noodles, making it much lighter.

CC: Where do you go or how do you come up with new offerings?

Vito: As often as possible, we travel back to Italy – to my hometown of Bari and around to other regions. It’s always an opportunity to taste new dishes and discover new preparations. I also read a lot of cookbooks, watch cooking shows and experiment.

Update:

PAOLI, Pa. – (March 2, 2010) – Trattoria San Nicola, one of the Main Line’s premier Italian restaurants, will host its final regional wine dinner at the Berwyn location on Thursday, March 11 at 6:30 p.m. After 15 years of immaculate service, delectable food and fond memories, San Nicola will close its doors at the Berwyn location at 668 Lancaster Ave. Owners Cristina and Vito Giannandrea will continue serving up their fine Italian cuisine and relaxed ambience at their second location in Paoli on Route 30. The Giannandreas thought the wine dinner would make an opportune event to give thanks to the community for their years of patronage.

“This is a celebratory occasion, to let our customers know how much we appreciate them and to let everyone know this is not goodbye. We have such a great following in Berwyn, but we were unable to agree on terms of a new lease at the Berwyn location. So for now, we will concentrate our efforts on our newer, larger location”, said Chef Vito. “We are planning a few other closing activities at the Berwyn restaurant, including a ‘Thank You Week’ set for early spring.”

As much as it is known throughout the community for its authentic Italian flair, San Nicola is also recognized for its generous involvement in the Arts. Since its doors first opened in 1995, the restaurant has hosted many special events at the Berwyn location, including several regional wine dinners each year. The wine dinners, originally designed to explore the distinctive cuisine found in each of Italy’s 20 regions, have proven to be extremely popular and have developed a loyal following.

Guests attending the “Farewell Regional Wine Dinner” can celebrate favorite dishes from past wine dinners, which will be paired with new and exciting wines from regions all over Italy. The menu for the evening includes sautéed eggplant, tomato and buffalo mozzarella napoleon with basil caviar; Black Ink Linguini with shrimp, mussels and crabmeat in a spicy pomodoro sauce; and Beef Short Ribs braised in a Barolo wine sauce served atop garlic mashed potatoes.

The five-course meal, paired with wine, is available for $65 per person, exclusive of tax and gratuity. Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made by calling 610-296-3141. Complete menus and other information about Trattoria San Nicola can be found at www.sannicola.net.

The the full story at nbcphiladelphia.com

The Taste of Home Cooking School, the top culinary demonstration in the country, will be sponsored by the Daily Local News and presented live at Franklin Commons in Phoenixville on Thursday, March 11, from 7 to 9 p.m.

In today’s downsized economy, consumers are turning to home cooking in large numbers. Food provides a feel-good atmosphere. When coupled with family participation, meal preparation becomes a fun activity. Taste of Home Cooking School has a springtime garden of recipes that will bring family and friends together for rewarding mealtime gatherings.

Its culinary team knows consumers are looking for simpler, greener and cleaner recipes. Simpler means using only a few ingredients. Greener denotes local and sustainable, using fresh seasonal produce. Cleaner means more natural and providing health benefits.

The “Taste of Home Cooking School Brand Name Cookbook,” published specifically for the Cooking Schools, will include these current trends as well as timeless favorites. This $5.99 value will be presented to every guest who attends the show.

The latest cookbook from Taste of Home, “Comfort Food Diet Cookbook,” can be pre-ordered for $17.95 when guests purchase their tickets and will be available for pickup at the event. Additional copies will be available for sale the day of the show.

The book is filled with more than 430 recipes and tips, plus a simple-to-follow, budget-friendly diet plan. The book also offers access to online weight-loss tools.

You may not be able to travel as far or often these days, but Taste of Home offers a springtime food adventure, helping you experience new and exotic tastes. Imagine yourself at a French bistro. You culminate your dining experience with a fruit clafouti. Clafouti, pronounced kla-foo-tee, is a country-French dessert made by topping a layer of fresh fruit with batter. It is served hot and sometimes topped with cream.

Culinary specialist Karen Schwarck will be creating a mushroom variation of this dish that pairs well with a salad to become a light, satisfying springtime meal. Expand your cooking techniques as you watch her prepare a monter au beurre and learn how it differs from a beurre blanc sauce.

The program will showcase 10 recipes, new food products, kitchen shortcuts and plating techniques. Sprinkled in between recipes will be opportunities for lucky winners to receive special door prizes.

There are still a variety of sponsorship opportunities available for local businesses that might want to promote their products or services at the show. Vendor tables are still available for the trade show which will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. For information, call Arlene McGranaghan at 610-430-1184.

Volunteer are also needed for food preparation in the morning and to assist the culinary specialist during the show.

Tickets may be ordered at www.dailylocal.com/tasteofhome or by completing the form in the newspaper. Tickets are $12 each plus a shipping and handling fee of $1.50 for mail-order tickets. Seating is limited.

There will be a free wine tasting from Gallo Family Vineyards and food available for purchase from Franklin Bistro.

All guests will receive a reusable shopping back filled with gifts from show sponsors, including the “Taste of Home Cooking School Brand Name Cookbook” and a free one-year subscription to either Taste of Home Healthy Cooking or Simple & Delicious magazines.

Franklin Commons is located at 400 Franklin St., Phoenixville, at the corner of Grant and Franklin streets, just off Route 113.

(Photo Michael Hollenbeck/The Saginaw News)

Bella Photography is a professional photography studio located in Downingtown, Pa that has served the tri-state area for over 7 years. In this short time, Bella Photography has received multiple awards including:

- Multiple awards in Print Competition from the Professional Photographers Association of Pa

- Photographer of the Year for 2008 Project Wedding

- Photographer of the Year for 2009 with Onewed.com