Eat Beat

by Kirsten Henri

Southern cooking alert: Geechee Girl Rice Cafe will host a special prix-fixe dinner featuring the recipes of the late esteemed Southern chef, culinary icon and cookbook author Edna Lewis. Owner Valerie Erwin is opening the cafe, normally closed on Tuesdays, for this event in honor of Juneteenth, the African-American celebration of the end of slavery. The menu includes lovelies such as mini biscuits with chipped country ham and pear chutney, skillet-roasted chicken with Jerusalem artichokes, and rhubarb pie. While you’re tucking into all that home cooking, you’ll be eating for a good cause—15 percent of all proceeds will be donated to Face to Face, an outreach program for community families that’s run by St. Vincent’s Catholic church in Germantown. >> Tues., June 19, 6:30pm. $50, reservations required. Geechee Girl Rice Cafe, 6825 Germantown Ave. 215.843.8113. www.geecheegirlricecafe.com

Learn It!

Looking to put some punch in your paella and sass in your sangria? Who better to teach you the finer points of Spanish cuisine than chef Jose Garces of hot spots Amada and Tinto? He and his chef de cuisine Chad Williams will be teaching three cooking classes at Amada over the next three months, each focusing on a different fundamental of Spanish cuisine. First up on July 9 is “The Art of Paella and the Making of Seasonal Sangrias,” followed on Aug. 13 by “The Ultimate Roasted Suckling Pig and Fabulous Accompanying Side Dishes” and finishing up on Sept. 10 with “An In-Depth Look at Spanish Charcuterie and Artisanal Cheeses.” In an interesting feat of multitasking (or a genius promotion to get butts in seats), the classes will take place at Amada’s chef’s counter during dinner service. Which means they’re limited to 12 students, so you’d better make reservations stat. >> $65. Amada, 217 Chestnut St. 215.625.2450. www.amadarestaurant.com

Drink It Island-Style!

During Philadelphia summers you might find yourself wondering if you live on a tropical isle—a sweaty, stinky, humid tropical isle with no beaches. We may not have the clear blue seas, but we do have the goofy tropical drinks. Why not beat the heat by sucking down a Singapore Sling? London Grill has a tweaked version on its new cocktail menu. Among its ingredients are Bluecoat gin, cherry kirsch, fresh juices and bitters. Or you could visit ground zero of goofy tropical drinks, Bar Saigon at Vietnam, for scorpions, zombies and mai tais. Drink enough of them and you might find yourself lying face-down on a beac­h—an asphalt beach. >> London Grill, 2301 Fairmount Ave. 215.978.4545. www.londongrill.com; Bar Saigon at Vietnam, 221 N. 11th St. 215.592.1163. www.eatatvietnam.com