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Back in the Eighties, a little known
Austrian-American chef opened a
restaurant on the Sunset Strip in Los
Angeles, serving a concept called
"California cuisine," which, to many
food snobs at the time, seemed an
oxymoron. Yet, Wolfgang Puck was on to
something - and almost overnight, Spago
became an international hit, feeding a
steady supply of Hollywood stars and
celebrities from a menu featuring fusion
food like pineapple pizza. One drunken
night, we dined there with a recording
industry heavy who proceeded to get
plowed and insisted upon sending a
bottle of Champagne to George Michael
who was dining at a neighboring table
(with a male! a boyfriend! Quel scandale!)
- and all this before she attempted to
steal the silver, at which point a hasty
exit was made from the premises.
Well, those madcap nights and drunken
days are back again, thanks to the
opening of Bistro Academie at the
recently-restored Ballroom at the
Academy of Music in the heart of the
Avenue of the Arts at Broad and Locust
Streets in Philadelphia. As a part of
the Philadelphia International Festival
of the Arts (PIFA), Wolfgang Puck
Catering will offer a Parisian-inspired
seasonal buffet, serving dinner on
Friday and Saturday evenings, as well as
Sunday brunch from the 7th of April
through the duration of the Festival.
Opened in 1857, the Academy of Music is
the oldest grand opera house in the
United States, still used for its
original purpose - and the Ballroom,
with a capacity of 350, was inspired by
the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.
As well as Sunday brunch and weekend
dinners, Wolfgang Puck Catering will be
serving French-inspired food such as
crepes, croissants and other gateaux in
the Kimmel Center Commonwealth Plaza.
Just don't try to steal the silver.
Details:
Bistro Academie
Beginning April 7 through May 1
Friday & Saturday Dinner
5:30pm - 8:30pm
$38.00
Sunday Brunch
11:30am - 2:30pm
$24.00
For reservations: call 215 670 2388 or
email PIFA@wolfgangpuck.com.
Fifth in a series of features about
the Philadelphia International Festival
of the Arts (PIFA), continuing through
May 1 with the support of PIFA.
Follow PIFA at
http://www.twitter.com/PIFAPhilly
“Like” PIFA at
http://www.facebook.com/PIFA.Philly
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