Table Talk | Love of cooking keeps family in the dining trade
Peter Tat says he and his family got into the restaurant business for a simple reason: "We just love to cook."
Peter Tat says he and his family got into the restaurant business for a simple reason: "We just love to cook."
He and his relatives, who emigrated from Vietnam in 1979, had been working in hotels and living in South Jersey. (Tat, for example, was a manager at the former Shula's in Center City.)
This summer, they opened Taste of Saigon, a white-tablecloth BYOB, in Sewell's New Market shopping center (279-A Egg Harbor Rd., 856-256-7700). It's open Tuesdays through Fridays for lunch, Tuesdays through Sundays for dinner.
Along with the familiar Viet dishes (bun, pho) are a few Thai choices; top price is $12.95. Specialties are Saigon-style filet mignon (a stir-fry combining caramelized onions and served over lettuce) and French-style shrimp (sauteed in white wine, tomato paste and caramelized onions).
Remember Manayunk?
Two longtime Manayunkers have new projects on the way.
Bruce Cooper, who on Oct. 19 will mark his 20th anniversary at Jake's (4365 Main St.), is planning a wine bistro - no name yet - next door. He plans to showcase 30 wines by the glass plus beers, with tapas-style small plates, salads, sandwiches, seasonal pizzas, and baked entrees served en cocotte in Staub cast-iron cookware. He also will offer cheeses, including composed warm cheese plates.
More immediately, Derek Davis - who cofounded Sonoma in 1992 (it's now called Derek's) - is about two weeks from opening an old-time butcher shop in Ardmore. Main Line Prime in Ardmore Plaza (18 Greenfield Ave.) will sell dry-aged beef, plus Jamison Farms lamb, pork, veal, chicken, fish and shellfish, and some specialty foods. Davis is no stranger to beef; for about 10 years, until January 2004, Davis also operated Kansas City Prime, one of the city's few independent, high-end steakhouses. Main Line Prime's beef will be from Charolais cattle, sourced by Bernard Loke of wholesale butcher Ashley Foods, which sourced KCP's beef.
Briefly noted
New Indian restaurant, in the Swedesford Plaza just off Route 202 near Valley Forge Road:
Chinnar
(416 W. Swedesford Rd., Berwyn, 610-251-2526), replacing Zuzu. Chinnar is a white tablecloth BYOB, whose calling card is an $8.95 daily lunch buffet (a la carte dishes are available, too). It's also open nightly for dinner. Owner Sudhir "Sonny" Sharma was at Khajuraho in Ardmore at its opening, after which he ran the nearby restaurant Jaipur.
La Cava (60 E. Butler Ave., Ambler) has expanded hours; lunch is Tuesdays through Fridays, and dinner is now seven nights.
Blue Dolphin (240 N. Gulph Rd., King of Prussia) has closed. It will be replaced Oct. 28 by Hooters, moving its KoP operation from 435 Dekalb Pike. Blue Dolphin's owners and staff have consolidated at their other place, Hunan Village, in the Abington Shopping Center.
It's unclear whether the Shore Japanese favorite Kuishimbo in Stone Harbor will return next year. Chef-owner Daniel Takayama, who is teaching chemistry these days, says he's entertaining an offer for the space.