Dear Friend:

After the rush of the holidays, January is usually a quiet month. Not this year. We’ve been really busy. Besides all of the upcoming events – Valentine’s Day, Sticky Bun Day and Philadelphia Beer Week – there’s the construction of the second restaurant.

Everyone is asking about our new restaurant on Bethlehem Pike in Ft. Washington. We’ve finally come up with a name – Alison two. The name and logo are designed to be similar enough to show that they are part of the same family – but different enough that they have distinct personalities. We’re busy choosing china, decorating and picking kitchen appliances for Alison two. If you want to follow our progress, visit our blog. Be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Valentine’s Day – Romance your sweetheart with our prix fixe dinner featuring three courses and an amuse bouche. As always, we’ll offer lots of choices of appetizers, entrees and desserts. Dinner is $65 plus tax and tip per person. Everyone loved the wine pairings we offered on New Year’s Eve. So, for Valentine’s Day we’re offering a flight of three glasses of wine for an additional $30. Or, you can choose from our food-friendly wine list. No BYOB on Valentine’s Day. Reservations needed. Call 215/641-2660.

Beer Dinner – We’re celebrating Philadelphia Beer Week by hosting a special dinner with beer pairings. Tom Pittakas, our manager, will choose unusual small-batch beers to pair with a set menu. We’re still working on the date and details of this special, prix fixe dinner. It will be one evening between March 7-16. Beer lovers, click here if you want me to contact you when our plans are confirmed. Write “beer lover” in the subject line.

Beer Garden –I know you’ll find this hard to believe, but we’re thinking of turning the patio into a beer garden during Beer Week. I picture a giant party with kegs of beer and beer food (mussels, wurst, fries) under a tent on the patio. We’ll bring in giant heaters to keep things sizzling. We’re still in the brainstorming stages of this one too. Beer lovers, click here if you want me to contact you when our plans are confirmed. Write “beer lover” in the subject line.

Hershey Lodge – Join me at Hershey Lodge on February 22 and 23. On Friday, I’ll participate in a chocolate and sake tasting and then host a dinner called “Chocolate, Love and Peace on Earth” and the next day I’ll do a cooking demo in the Beanery. I remember going to Hershey Park as a kid and loving the kiss-shaped streetlights and the smell of chocolate everywhere. I’m looking forward to going back.

2008 Food & Beverage Conference – The following week, I’m off to speak at the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association and the Pennsylvania Tourism & Lodging Association’s 2008 Food & Beverage Conference. Several chefs and I will share our culinary experiences with high school culinary students, and then we’ll share the kitchen as we put together a gala banquet for the students and other participants.

Food as Roots  -- On Monday, March 31, I’ll be teaching a class in New York City for the Yivo Institute’s “Food as Roots” series. It’s right in my neighborhood on the Upper West Side so I can even walk there. It should be a lot of fun – cooking, tasting, eating.

National Sticky Bun Day – February 22 is one of the most important days of the year – National Sticky Bun Day. I don’t know why this holiday was created but I certainly know the best way to celebrate it. Dig into one of Amelia’s best-loved desserts with a steaming mug of hot chocolate, coffee, tea or ask Tom to come up with a beer or wine pairing. 

Wines/Beers –  We typically offer five white wines and five reds by the glass and bottle, as well as Prosecco, Champagne and small batch beers. Our list, which changes weekly, now includes a selection of splits (half bottles) as well as beers from breweries that use less than 100-gallon fermentation tanks. Insider’s tip: Tom usually keeps a few bottles of wine and beer tucked away. Ask him about his secret stash.

Speaking of coffee  -- Every good meal ends with a cup of coffee or tea. And, Tom introduced me to Hausbrandt, the authentic coffee of Italy. We’re serving piping hot mugs of their herbal teas, decaf, black and green teas. And making their coffee, cappuccino and espresso with our gorgeous new, red espresso machine.

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Stay Warm,

Alison