{"id":453196,"date":"2025-12-17T12:26:10","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T12:26:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/453196\/"},"modified":"2025-12-17T12:26:10","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T12:26:10","slug":"craig-labans-favorite-whiskies-for-gifting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/453196\/","title":{"rendered":"Craig LaBan’s favorite whiskies for gifting"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tough job, evaluating nearly three dozen whiskies for gift-giving. Craig LaBan and friends went there<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd14 Note that this is the last \u201cLet\u2019s Eat\u201d newsletter of 2025. I\u2019ll be back in your inbox Jan. 7.<\/p>\n

Also in this edition<\/b>:<\/p>\n

\u2014 Mike Klein<\/a><\/p>\n

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Craig LaBan and his whiskey-loving friends sniffed and sipped their way through 33 bottles from across the world \u2014 even one from Beyonc\u00e9. Here are 14 he\u2019d be happy to give and get<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udf77 Also: Here are the best wine shops in the region<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Fresh off their Michelin glory<\/a>, chef couple Amanda Shulman and Alex Kemp have opened the casual Pine Street Grill<\/b>. We took a first look<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Pine Street Grill is on a former site of a Dmitri\u2019s<\/b> restaurant. In tribute, the couple is serving a riff on Dmitri Chimes\u2019 popular shrimp pil pil appetizer<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Secondhand Ranch<\/b> has a secondhand\/vintage shop on one side, and a honky-tonk bar on the other, and it\u2019s all deep in the heart of Fishtown<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201cOur skin is alive,\u201d says Olga Sorzana, founder of Phoenixville\u2019s popular Baba\u2019s Brew<\/b>. She\u2019s infusing her kombucha into a line of skincare products<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Beatrice Forman says she went to Bucket Listers\u2019 Emo Christmas<\/b> bar in search of whimsy and holiday cheer \u2014 but \u201cI left $139 poorer and feeling like a poser.\u201d Bah, humbug<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\ud83c\udf85 There is no shortage of holiday bars<\/a>.<\/p>\n

On our plate this week: Tagliatelle at Alice<\/b>, plus a burrata-topped brunch dish at the Love<\/b> and our first bites of a PopUp bagel<\/b> before the hyped chain comes to town<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\ud83e\udd24 Want more of this weekly feature? Get caught up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Scoops<\/p>\n

Greg Vernick <\/b>has a fourth restaurant on the way, and he\u2019s headed to Frankford Avenue in bustling Kensington. Emilia<\/b> will feature the Italian stylings of longtime Vernick Food & Drink<\/b> chef de cuisine Meredith Medoway in an unfussy setting<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you had your ear<\/b> to the ground, you\u2019d know that the bar set to replace Roxborough\u2019s former Tavern on Ridge<\/b> will be called Hop Lil Bunny<\/b>. Prospective owner says it\u2019s just a hare early to discuss specifics. <\/p>\n

Restaurant report<\/p>\n

Casa Oui<\/b><\/a>. A French pastry chef and a Mexican restaurant manager fell in love, and the result is Queen Village\u2019s newest all-day caf\u00e9. You can get coffee and pastries in the daytime and cocktails and Mexican fare (like the aguachile shown above) at night<\/a>. <\/p>\n

La Maison Jaune<\/b><\/a>. Zahra Saeed\u2019s cozy, new French-style cafe near Fitler Square combines her two passions: delicious food and beautiful design. She plans to expand, which would send her line of pastries, including macarons de Nancy, financiers, and madeleines, all around the city<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Among the openings<\/b> on tap: Side Eye<\/b><\/a>, the neighborhood bar coming to the former Bistrot La Minette space at 623 S. Sixth St. in Queen Village, and Bikini Burger<\/b><\/a> at 44 Rittenhouse Place in Ardmore.<\/p>\n

Briefly noted<\/p>\n

Nine categories<\/b>, four nominees in each: It\u2019s the 2026 edition of the Tasties, the Philly restaurant awards handed out by the \u201cDelicious City\u201d podcast. The gala will be Feb. 1 at Live Casino, and the nominees are here<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Manny\u2019s Restaurant\u2019s<\/b><\/a> <\/b>eight-year run in Holland\u2019s Gateway Center will end Jan. 4 as the partners focus on their smaller deli at Willow Grove Pointe Shopping Center in Horsham.<\/p>\n

Zsa\u2019s Ice Cream<\/b><\/a> marks its finale Sunday after 14 years in Mount Airy. A year ago, Danielle Jowdy announced the shop\u2019s \u201cgrand closing\u201d<\/a> as she sought to find a buyer. Final hours will be 3 to 9 p.m. through Friday, and noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. <\/p>\n

Hunger-relief group Sharing Excess<\/b><\/a> estimates that one truckload of food costs $1,290 to deliver and can feed 80 families for a month. For each $1,290 sponsorship, Sharing Express gives the donor a branded toy truck (like those Hess trucks). Details are here<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u2753Pop quiz<\/p>\n

The Pennsylvania Farm Show will have a special feature when it starts in early January. What is it?<\/p>\n

A) red, white, and blue milkshakes<\/p>\n

B) a butter sculpture shaped like Saquon Barkley<\/p>\n

C) cow-tipping contests<\/p>\n

D) mushroom cheesesteaks<\/p>\n

Find out if you know the answer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ask Mike anything<\/p>\n

Is 333 Belrose<\/b> in Radnor ever coming back? \u2014 Marty P.<\/p>\n

Opened in 1999, this bar and grill tucked off King of Prussia Road has been closed since June as owners majorly remodel not only the interior but the menu. Reopening is targeted for mid-January. I\u2019ll have more info on this and dozens of other openings in my \u201cwhat\u2019s coming in 2026\u2033 feature just after New Year\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcee Have a question about food in Philly? Email your questions to me at mklein@inquirer.com<\/a> for a chance to be featured in my newsletter.<\/p>\n

By submitting your written, visual, and\/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer\u2019s Terms of Use<\/a>, including the grant of rights in Section 10.<\/p>\n