Holiday Bucket List: Eat A Mimosa

The holiday season is always one of the toughest to grapple with. From buying and giving to returning and regifting, things tend to get a little confusing. Months of jingles on the radio is sure to turn even the sanest of us on our heads. Sitting on an old man's lap is condoned...up is down, down is up. It's not crazy. It's the spirit of the holiday season, and Davio's has joined in the fun,  offering a tasty twist on a favorite cocktail.

The Mimosa Dessert offered looks absolutely amazing. True to form, they're willing to share the recipe (below), but its much easier to let the kitchen prepare one for you instead. The Mimosa is made up of a prosecco sorbet, orange segments, champagne grapes, and candied brioche. It's finished with a scoop of vanilla custard and orange foam and sells for $11.

The dining room at Davio's looks wonderful year round, but during the holidays it really is beautiful. So stop in, pull up to the bar, admire the holiday handiwork, and order up one of the festive treats that Davio's is offering.

Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse 111 S. 17th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103

Mimosa

Orange Soda

1 1Ž2 oz  Fresh Lemon Juice

1 3Ž4 C Fresh Orange Juice

3 1Ž4 oz  Granulated Sugar

4 tspPowdered Gelatin

In a saucepan bring juices to a boil, dissolving sugar. Remove from heat and stir in gelatin.

Stir to combine, strain and refrigerate.  Pour mixture into soda siphon and charge.

Vanilla Custard

3 T Powdered Gelatin

5 C Crème Anglaise, Warm

7 oz Crème Fraîche or Sour Cream

Add Gelatin to warm Crème Anglaise, stir to combine and chill. 

Add crème Fraîche, stir to combine and refrigerate.

Prosecco Sorbet

10 oz Prosecco(Champagne)

7 oz Simple Syrup

14 oz Water

Pour contents into a 2-quart ice cream machine and turn until frozen.

Other ingredients:

One loaf of brioche

Simple syrup

Orange Segments

Champagne Grapes

Dice brioche, toss in small amount of simple syrup and lightly toast in oven.

Assembly:

In any glassware you choose, arrange orange segments and champagne grapes, then several pieces of candied brioche. Add a scoop of vanilla custard, some more oranges and grapes.  Follow with a scoop of Prosecco sorbet and finish with orange soda foam.

*Adapted from Art Culinaire Magazine

Inspiration vs. Motivation

Inspiration comes in many forms but ultimately, I believe it comes from within. A fleeting moment of greatness that you can recognize and grab ahold of, riding it until its wheels fall off, or until you find the next shooting glimpse of inspiration to keep you going.

Motivation on the other hand, comes from people like Tyler Morrison. Morrison is a local realtor who launched a "site" just days ago and would like to know if I'd be interested in working along side of him for KNOW PHILLY. A new website that will inform residents and tourists alike in the Philadelphia Region.

To this I say, suck it dude. 




Google his site, you find me. Google me, you find me. And while I've totally been slacking, that's over.

Bring it.

Occupy Philly: Stone Soup, Protest Style

The main ingredient in protesting is the protestor. Next in the recipe is the message. Occupy Philly has many protestors bringing with them many messages, each with a level of validity all its own.

Some may not agree with every perspective, but all who occupy Philadelphia’s City Hall agree, that something needs to be done, about the status quo. Each message brings a little more spice to the mix, a little more flavor to the pot and a little more diversity to the cause. A cause, in itself, filled with diversity.

Occupy has nearly two dozen different grievances against the status quo and as the days go by, the “unofficial officials” are learning the ropes and possibly, the recipe for success.

Each day, Occupy Philly holds two sessions of its General Assembly: day and evening. And during each of those meetings, those who have joined the movement, on a full-time, part-time or just passing through with a cause basis, meet to discuss and decide upon the process of how decisions for the group will be made and the stances that will be taken. With each meeting, those who partake help to form the depth and breadth of the Occupy Movement’s voice.

Many working with Occupy Philly are holding classes to educate about the cause, the cure and the process of how to make this movement a positive and peaceful force. This information is available at the "Training Space" located at Dilworth Plaza.

Calendars of main events are also being posted on the Occupy Phillyweb page, and social media sites by the Tech Team. General assembly meetings are held twice a day, at noon, and again around 7-8pm.

The more ingredients, the more plentiful the pot and the stronger the flavor becomes. Those looking to add to the stew should head to one of the meetings and decide for themselves if this is a cause that they can believe in.  

Occupy Philly, My First Look

In Philadelphia, the sounds of honking car horns are usually accompanied by a four letter words and obscene gestures. But on this particular day, while standing outside of City Hall, the usual sounds of Philly commuters had a different tone.

Angry drivers weren’t blaring horns to yell at cabbies or out-of-towners who have trouble passing busses. There were no middle fingers raised in anger(at least not while I was watching).

Instead drivers passed by City Hall beeping, and smiling; their fists were raised in a gesture of solidarity.

It was chilling to witness. 

Very few things can bring Philadelphians together: the mummers parade or a winning sports team, but that’s about it. Until this past week when Philadelphia residents joined in a growing movement of occupation, 118 across the country, at last count, I was told by one of the movement’s “unofficial, officials.”

Occupy Philly has taken hold and for those camped out in City Hall, this movement is as real as it gets. The occupiers really are living in tents, they really are getting donations, and they really have some valid arguments.

Official statements released by the members of New York City’s Occupy movement state clearly, the views and stances taken by the group. The most predominant of which is that “corporations, which place profit over people, self-interest over justice, and oppression over equality, run our governments.”

The Occupy movement also takes issue with the illegal foreclosure process, taxpayer bailouts, inequality and discrimination, the torture of animals, and the poisoning and monopolization of our food supply, the list goes on and on, naming nearly two dozen grievances in all.

Occupy Philly has allowed free speech, in a peaceful setting for residents to voice all kinds of grievances and beliefs. Its given a platform for people to speak on any subject, including the popular 99% stance, to the adoption of Marxism, to the career of Andy Reid, and his future here in Philadelphia.

While the possibility for the spirit of the movement to be muddled and lost amongst the rabble is a possibility, “unofficial, officials” have stated how they haven’t come up against any issues as of yet.

The movement is still in its earliest stages and with a successful weekend under its belt, Occupy Philly organizers plan to stay put as long as it takes. Donations have been coming in, and those who are occupying don’t seem to be going anywhere too soon, but a rainy Wednesday in this week’s forecast will gauge the short-term dedication of the movement’s participants.

While the feelings of dedication and good will permeate the growing, tented community, general organization is still in its infancy. On the other hand, the views expressed by the people occupying Dilworth Plaza are ripe for the picking.

As I continue to cover the events here in Philadelphia, and post my first piece on Occupy Philly, one question stands out in my mind:

Will the Occupy movement come out of its infant stages with the solidarity and organization that could attract the kind of attention that it needs, from lawyers, legislators, and unions, to be a real force in changing the status quo? 

View the slideshow for a look at the movement and messages from #OccupyPhilly

Slideshow photos by Know it All Philly, 2011

Cycling Takes on Policy with Full Frontal Assault

Less than two weeks from today, on September 4, thousands of local cyclists will come together for the third annual Philly Naked Bike Ride.

Its first year, the Ride drew disbelief and confusion as it seemed to many to be more obscure than anything with riders encouraged to BYO message. Riders took stands on environmental issues, gay rights and of course the importance of sharing the road, but a cohesive statement was tough to identify.

Click Here to Read the Full Story on KNow it All Philly News.

Compete to Fix Philly's Districts

A computer program called Fix Philly Districts has been made public to our area, giving everyone the tools and information needed to create their own rendition of the city's boundaries.

Azavea, the company behind the program in collaboration with Newsworks, Penn Project for Civic Engagement, Philly.com and The Daily News are calling for participants in a contest to “Fix Philly Districts.”

The contest ends on August 28 and winners will be announced in early September. There are prizes for the winner, provided by the program's sponsors and all of that information is available on the website, fixphillydistricts.com.

Click here to read the full article and give it a go - it's like Photoshopping Philly.

Skillshare Launches in Philadelphia

Before education was moved to the heights and formality of the Ivory Tower, mentors passed their trades onto apprentices and families continued traditions passing down crafts from father to son. It’s this method of organic teaching that has become antiquated over the centuries. But with the help of the Internet, a newly launched company is bringing back an age-old tradition.

Skillshare is an online marketplace for off-line classes connecting those with something to teach with those looking to learn. Skillshare is out to launch a “Learning Revolution,” which is a big part of the company’s educational view. They believe that learning can happen anywhere and should not just revolve around formal training, like in universities.

Now they’re looking to attract teachers and students in the Philadelphia area. Right now, Philadelphia has nearly 200 signups and once Skillshare reaches 500, Philly’s classes will be available.

Signup on line or learn more at the Skillshare launch event at Field House on Tuesday, August 9, from 7pm = 9pm.

Click Here to Read More on Know it All Philly News.