• Pumpkin, the American BYO at 1713 South St., has brought in Chris Kearse as chef de cuisine under co-owner/chef Ian Moroney. Since Kearse worked with Matt Levin at Lacroix at the Rittenhouse, he's added modern/refined plating to Pumpkin's local/rustic menu, including foams, powders, and jellies. "But not too modern," says co-owner Hillary Bor. Among new dishes: house-made bacalao with white bean, chorizo, and porcini mushrooms.
  • DVR alert: Sunday, Dec. 19 at 10 p.m., when the Cooking Channel's Unique Eats features Jose Garces and the Whiskey King burger at Village Whiskey as part of a "Burger" episode. The channel also onpasses the VW recipe for the pickled beets; click here.