80 recipes were received and seven were selected as finalists.

What does the winning recipe get?

* Sunday night dinner in Avalon’s private dining room for 15 people
* Addition of your name & dish to the Avalon menu

Congrats to everyone who submitted a recipe.  You all receive  a $15 gift certificate for a Sunday night dinner at Avalon Restaurant (one per family).

And now for the finalists.  Each of these recipes will be recreated in the Avalon kitchen and tasted by judges to see which one will be on the menu!

Congrats to the following finalists:

• Dana Kaplan with her Risotto al Proseco e Parmigiano
• Jane Nocito with her Father n Laws recipe for Pork Shoulder with Fennel in a lemon Caper Sauce
• Jen Galfano with Her Families no fail fast yummy Penne pasta with artichokes, fire roasted tomatoes, black olives and feta
• Amy Diehl Carmie’s Chicken Milanese with Lemon Arugula and Rosa Sauce
• Lynn Laino Chicken Thighs Oso Bucco with Risotto Style Barley
• Kathleen Smith and her Crespella di Prosciutto Cotto ae Mozzarella
• Kim Dec with her Orecchiette Pasta with Ground Sausage, Plum Tomatoes and Baby Spinach

Stay tune for the winner!

Avalon Restaurant
312 South High Street
West Chester, Pa. 19382
www.avalonrestaurant.net
610.436.4100

Each dish went down easily alongside a few glasses of wine from the impressive wine list and were served with the same “your part of our family” attitude that you can find at Pietro’s Prime (also in West Chester.) How can you not enjoy great wine, authentic Italian classics and personalized service in a beautiful space?

Owners of the successful Pietro’s Prime steakhouse and martini bar in West Chester, Sean and Marisa Powell, have done it again with their recent opening of Nonna’s Italian restaurant in downtown West Chester. While I used my bread to wipe our plates clean I had a chance to sit down with Marisa to discuss her new venture.

WC Dish: You grew up in the food and service industry, so was it a natural choice to eventually own and run your own restaurants?

Marisa: I worked at a TGI Friday’s while I was attending Towson University, and I absolutely loved it! Then, when I met Sean, my husband, we always talked about opening up a restaurant in West Chester, and here we are with 2!

WC Dish: Tell us how you have maintained such success with your first restaurant Pietro’s in the midst of a recession?

Marisa: We really focus on food and the dining experience. I try to treat everyone like I would want to be treated, from the employees to the guests. I think even with the economy the way it is people want GOOD food and are willing to pay a little more to get it.

WC Dish: It takes someone that understands what customers want, to take on the risk of a second restaurant during the recession. Tell us about your decision to open Nonna’s.

Marisa: We had looked at the space about a year prior to us taking it over and the price was a lot higher. We figured West Chester didn’t need another college bar and if we could do it, why not? It’s easier to have them so close to be able to go back and forth, which I sometimes do 3 or 4 times a day!

WC Dish: What makes Nonna’s different from other Italian restaurants in Chester Co?

Marisa: I would say that the atmosphere is the main difference. The restaurant is laid out very nicely in that there are 5 different dining rooms, which allow people to be comfortable and have different choices when it comes to their dining experience.

WC Dish: You and your husband are one of my favorite couples in West Chester…how do you manage to keep up with 2 restaurants, the staff, chef, customers AND still make time for each other?

Marisa: It’s tough, but as long as we communicate it seems to work. We try to treat everyone like family, that’s what my Dad always did; so, it makes being at work fun!

WC Dish: Your husband runs the kitchen at Peitro’s, right? Can you tell us a little bit about your head chef at Nonna’s?

Marisa: Sean does run Pietro’s and is doing an awesome job! Big shoes to fill when we opened Nonna’s! We have Laszlo Bevardi and a very talented kitchen staff at Nonna’s that is working out very nicely. Some of them worked for Alberto’s Trattoria, which was the restaurant that was in that location for a number of years. Also big shoes to fill! My mom, Nina Giunta, also helps out in the kitchen whenever she can. She makes the tiramisu, strawberry shortcake and scrippelle (a traditional Italian Soup) as of now!

WC Dish: What can customers expect from their dining experience at Nonna’s?

Marisa: They can expect to enjoy an affordable authentic Italian dinner in a warm comfortable atmosphere.

WC Dish: You can tell I’m in love with the rabbit ragout, but what are your favorite dishes on the menu and why?

Marisa: Some of my favorite dishes are: the scrippelle soup, because my Nonna (my mom’s mom) only made this on special occasions and now I can have it every day! The garganelli chicken carbonara is always good, and I never can go long without the classic, linguini and clams!

WC Dish: What can we look forward to from Nonna’s in the future?

Marisa: We will be adding catering and a more extensive bar menu very soon.

Hours:

Sun-Tues 4-9pm
Wed-Thurs 4-10pm
Fri-Sat 4-11pm

BYOB Sun-Thurs $5 corkage fee

Nonna’s

116 E. Gay St.
West Chester, PA 19380
610-430-0203
http://www.nonnaswc.com
info@nonnaswc.com

Photos by Scott McCutchen

It’s raining, it’s pouring, the old man is cooking a great hot meal at your ISC to keep you warm in this ridicules weather!
Having a great meal and getting out of the house is a good prescription to cure these bad weather blues, AND you don’t have to do dishes!
Stop by your ISC tonight and say the word “Flabbergasted” and the first drink is on us!

News & Notes

Men’s Night, as usual, is completely sold out.
The menu is the same except the entree is “Chicken Pavarotti”
Hearty sauce with herbs and vegetables and, of course, Chicken.

Saint Agnes Benefit Brunch Starts March 21st

We will be starting our Sunday Brunch next week 3/21/2010 serving from 10Am – 2PM
This will be EVERY Sunday from now on!

March Madness

This Thursday and until the tournament is over we will be opening the bar at 12 Noon on the days that there is a game.

Ladies’ Night

The next Ladies’ Night will be April 5th
Make your Reservations now

The restaurant is open to the public, tell a friend!

Grazie,
From your ISC Staff

Hidden Pot O’ Gold in WC

For the past 30 years, West Chester has been home to Pennsylvania’s largest Irish retailer and it’s quite possible you never knew it. Tom and Adelene McDaniel started the Abbey Green Irish Shop with a $3,000 inventory they brought back from Ireland and displayed in the lobby of their motel, located on Route 202 S right outside of West Chester. The McDaniel’s converted the motel into a gift shop with room upon room of imported Irish crystal, Bellek china, wool clothing, traditional breakfast items, music and even Irish soda bread.

Gourmet Irish potatoes – For all your St. Patrick’s Day needs, including flags, mugs, buttons, sunglasses, CDs, gourmet Irish potatos, vests, hats and ties.

If you are in need of green wear for St. Patrick’s Day, you can find anything from Phillies shamrock shirts, flags, mugs, necklaces, hats and even leprechaun shoes. If that doesn’t do it for you, visit the Guinness Room where – you guessed it – you’ll find everything Guinness: bar packs, bar stools, pouring spoons and any type of clothing you can imagine with the traditional Irish brew logo.

If you’re hungry, check out the Irish Breakfast room with treats of all kinds for you to prepare at home. If you don’t feel like making it yourself, be sure to stop by the shop March 13-17 for the day-long Annual Irish Celebration. The McDaniels will be serving customers Irish coffee, bangers, rashers, black and white pudding, Irish soda bread and scones. As Tom said, “Jig, don’t jog to the Irish Abbey Gift shop for all of your St. Patty’s Day gear.”

Abbey Green Irish Shop

St. Patrick’s Day Festivities

Chester County boasts incredible adult-sized St. Patrick’s Day options, including live music, authentic Irish entertainment and some of the best beer – sans green food coloring – around.

The Pubs

McKenzie Brew House

McKenzie’s has an entire weekend of festivities planned for this popular Celtic holiday. The major happening of the weekend for the Brew House is, of course, a brew. In celebration of St. Pat’s, McKenzie’s will be unveiling their Reilly’s Irish Red Ale.

A troupe of Irish Dancers will be putting on 2 shows Saturday and Wednesday. A special Irish menu will be available Saturday through Wednesday to accompany the fine music and beer, McKenzie’s chefs have put together an authentic Irish menu that centers on lamb stew, shepherds pie and corned beef and cabbage and Irish Potato Ice Cream (locally made at Woodside Creamery.)

Kildare’s Irish Pub

Kildare’s has St. Pat’s Day activities covered. Start your celebrations early with the Kildare’s $20 VIP pass to get you a t-shirt, free 7 A.M. breakfast on the 17th with a pint and line-jumping abilities and no cover from the 13th-17th. On the 17th, start your day off with some “kegs and eggs,” listen to the Malarkey Brothers at Noon and stay for the Irish band Jameson from 9 P.M. to 1 A.M.

Ryan’s Pub

Saturday, the 13th, will be the day to celebrate at Ryan’s! Get your fill of Irish food and beer specials. Owner Pat Ryan welcomes everyone to “come on in and have a pint.”

Molly Maguire’s Irish Pub

On the 17th, Irish food and drink specials will be available all day! Doors open at 8 A.M. and live music starts at 10:30 A.M. with The Brigade, followed by tunes from Celtic Spirit from 3:30 to 8 P.M. Rock the evening out from 9 P.M. to 1:30 A.M. with Funzaluv. A $5 cover applies after 3 P.M. “Perfect pints are flowing all weekend and we have entertainment for the whole family,” said Wendy Schreiner, Molly Maguire’s manager. On the 17th, keep your eyes out for Irish dancers, bagpipers and a live leprechaun.

The Blarney Stone

The Blarney Stone is one of the older Irish pubs in Chester County, so you know their holiday celebration will not disappoint.

“We have truly emulated the feel of an authentic Irish pub from the warm atmosphere and the friendly and personable staff to a hearty pub menu, there is not a better place to be than the Blarney Stone; Slainte!” said Steven Schwenk, general manager.

The fun doesn’t stop there. The Blarney will have a heated tent adjacent to the bar to expand their capacity. Why do they need to make sure they have extra room, you ask? They need to accommodate the crowd for the main event, the McDade Irish Step Dancers. The dancers perform at 1pm and 5pm. Make sure you get there early for good seats; you do not want to miss this! For the rest of the day…and night, there will be a DJ on hand helping you dance the night away. Along with all of the entertainment there will be an expanded Irish menu and drink specials.

Iron Hill Brewery

Many know Iron Hill for their fine beers. Though it isn’t exactly a place most people would think to go on St. Patrick’s Day, perhaps this will change. On March 16th they will have a great Irish beer on tap, the Irish Dry Stout, and Iron Hill West Chester will be tapping their Irish Red Ale just in time for you to enjoy it with your Irish and wanna-be-Irish friends. Coupled with their first-rate beers, Iron Hill will be offering a first-rate Irish dinner on St. Pat’s.

Phoenixville Pub Crawl

Main Street Phoenixville has gathered its restaurants and bars together for a one-day Pub Crawl/Meet the Brewer event, Saturday, March 14th, from 1 to 5 P.M. People can visit the following participating Phoenixville venues to sample beers and meet the brewers:

• Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant — (130 E. Bridge Street.): “HEAVY MEDALS.” Iron Hill will offer all 6 of their 2008 Great American Beer Festival medal winning brews. Come by and taste the beers and meet the brewers who created them. Pay as you go.
• Sly Fox Brewhouse & Eatery — (519 Kimberton Road ): “Meet the Brewer,” with Sly Fox brew master Brian O’Reilly and Standard Tap owner and former brewer William Reed. The pair will be featuring their collaboration beer, Standard Ale, a 5.6-percent cask-conditioned brew. Pay as you go.
• Columbia Bar & Grille — (148 E. Bridge Street ): “Meet the Brewer,” featuring Lancaster Brewing Company’s, Bill Moore. Pay as you go.
• 101 Bridge — (101 Bridge Street ): “Meet the Brewer,” featuring Stoudt’s Brewing Company. Pay as you go.
• Molly Maguire’s Irish Restaurant — (195 Bridge Street): “Meet the Brewer,” featuring Guiness Brewery and Victory Brewing Company. Pay as you go. Guinness brew master, Fergal Murray from 1 to 3 P.M. Victory Brewing Company’s Bill Covaleski from 3 to 5 P.M.
• Pickering Creek Inn — (37 Bridge Street ): “Meet the Brewer,” with Weyerbacher Brewing Company’s Chris Lampe. Also featuring Southampton Brewery’s Spencer Neibuhr. Pay as you go.
• PJ Ryan’s — (231 Bridge Street ): “Meet the Brewer,” with Flying Fish Brewing Company’s Drew Perry. Troegs Brewing Company will also be featured. Pay as you go.
• Epicurean Restaurant & Bar — (902 Kimberton Road ): “Meet the Brewer,” featuring Yard’s Brewing Company and Dogfish Head Brewery. Pay as you go.

Farm Meets Table:

Making Local Food Connections

Please join us for this first ever Farm Meets Table event. This event brings together local farmers looking to sell directly to restaurant chefs. Owner/Chef Sean Weinberg has made a deep commitment to feature fresh, regionally produced foods at Restaurant Alba. He will be sharing his expertise on buying locally in a brief “How to Buy from Farmers” presentation. A “How to Sell to Chefs” segment will be led by Mark Dornstreich of Branch Creek Farm for growers new to direct sales.

For Our Local Growers

We ask that only growers with the desire and capability to sell their locally grown items on a commercial scale attend this event. Please note that all local growers will be screened to determine eligibility prior to the event. Don’t meet the requirements, but interested in selling locally? We encourage you to locate farmers markets in your area by visiting buylocalpa.org/southeast.

For Our Local Buyers

Savvy restaurants are choosing to buy locally for a reason- local foods offer premium taste, maximum freshness and keep dollars in our local economy. Not to mention, many customers think buying local foods is important and beneficial to the well being of their families and communities. We ask that only local buyers committed to buying locally produced foods attend this event.

When:

Monday, April 12, 2010

5:00PM-7:00PM

Hosted by PASA Southeast Regional Office & Chef Sean Weinberg

Where:

Questions about this event?

Contact:

Evan Elizabeth Miller
Chester County Coordinator
PA Buy Fresh Buy Local
PASA
evan@pasafarming.org

WHAT: Handmade Mugs, Victory Brewing Company Sampling, Live Local Music

WHEN: Saturday, March 13, 2010

7:00 – Pottery sales begin – arrive early to get your choice of mug!
(Cash or check only)

8:00 – Music begins

WHERE: Kennett Flash, 102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, PA 484-732-8295

Enjoy sampling Victory beers using handmade mugs available for purchase, and listening to live local music, Tickets $20 available through the Flash or $23 the day of. Included in ticket price is a local food reception featuring the cheeses of Highland Farm, Birchrun Hills Farm and Amazing Acres along with light fare from Harvest Market Natural Foods

The Kennett Flash is a BYOB venue, feel free to bring your own wine (or beer) (visit kennettflash.org for the BYO policy.)

A portion of the proceeds will benefit:

* The Chester County Buy Fresh Buy Local program which educates consumers about the importance of farming and locally grown food.
* The Chester County Food Bank (Formally the Gleaning Program)

For more information visit: http://www.downtoearthexhibit.org/mugs2010.html

Local Mug Makers:

Susan Bankert

Nell Hazinsky
Lyla Kaplan

Suzanne Kent

Pam Lau
Dan Ody
Jeanie Silver

Local Music Makers:

Hezekiah Jones
Chris Kapser
The Spinning Leaves
The Sisters Three

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