Eat Beat

FOOD

By Kirsten Henri

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted Jun. 27, 2007

Visit It!

Did you know the shambles at Headhouse Square--that weird, empty structure in the middle of Second Street--was a market in the 1700s? It becomes one again on Sunday, when the Food Trust launches the Headhouse Farmer's Market. With 25 vendors to start, it'll officially be the largest in Philadelphia. If you've ever been to the Greenmarket in Manhattan's Union Square, you probably noticed it's chock-full of Pennsylvania farmers, many of whom bypass Philly's smaller markets in favor of the bustling big dog up north. Headhouse Market's manager Nicky Uy hopes to lure them back. "Opening a big market here shows there's big demand," she explains. A few highlights: farmstead cheeses from Chester County's Birchrun Hills Farm, locally grown houseplants and cut flowers from Kutztown's die Blumme, and up to 100 varieties of Asian vegetables from Queen's Farm in West Chester. >> Every Sun., 10am-2pm. Through Nov. 22. Headhouse Square, Second and Lombard sts. 215.568.0830. www.headhousemarket.org

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Drink It!

Adding fruit to beer requires a delicate touch. Too much and you'll find yourself drinking the ale equivalent of white zinfandel. But when it's done right, it can be a perfect warm-weather quaff. Example: the blueberry-rific Sea Dog "Blue Paw" wheat ale on draft at 1601 in South Philly. It has the intoxicating, summery fragrance of a bushel of wild blueberries, plus all of the bright, refreshing qualities of a good wheat beer. And while it's common to find a tart lemon wedge floating in a wheat beer, in this one you'll find a handful of sweet blueberries instead. >> 1601 Cafe, 1601 S. 10th St. 215.218.3840. www.1601cafe.com

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Eat It!

The day after my blueberry beer encounter (see above), I found myself at E's Passyunk coffee shop in search of an egg sandwich, which they didn't have. So I was forced--forced!--to order one of owner Andrew Michaels' homemade blueberry buttermilk muffins instead. It was quite out of this world. I can't remember the last time I had a muffin that didn't taste like a stale hockey puck. It was marvelous: moist, lush and full of juicy berries. >> E's Passyunk, 1500 E. Passyunk Ave. 215.755.2790

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Celebrate It!

Now I understand why I've been tripping over blueberries all week. July is National Blueberries Month, or so says the North American Blueberry Council. Hence the vast conspiracy of blueberry publicists dogging my every move. But July is not just for berries. According to the Viking Corporation, it's also National Grilling Month. But hang on. The National Horseradish Information Council insists it's National Horseradish Month. And the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council has declared it National Hot Dog Month. Boys, stop squabbling and eat up!