West Chester Dish

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Few cities can boast the culinary talent that hails from Philadelphia, and on Tuesday, October 21 at 7 p.m, guests will have a special opportunity to enjoy a six-course menu prepared by chefs Jose Garces and Marc Vetri. This collaborative dinner will be a celebration of the launches of their respective first cookbooks, Latin Evolution (Lake Isle Press, September 2008) and Il Viaggio Di Vetri: A Culinary Journey (Ten Speed Press, October 2008).

This spectacular meal will cost $370 per couple or $200 per person including signed copies of both cookbooks (plus tax and gratuity), and begins with three courses at Chef Garces’ Amada (217-219 Chestnut Street, 215-625-2450). A private trolley with both chefs aboard will transport diners to Chef Vetri’s Osteria (640 North Broad Street, 215-763-0920) for three additional courses. Wine pairings will be served with each course.

“I’m incredibly proud to share this great evening with someone as gifted as Marc Vetri. He is a friend and a colleague, and the nearly simultaneous release of our cookbooks is a wonderful moment for us both,” says Chef Garces.

Adds Chef Vetri, “I’m delighted to combine forces for this culinary journey across our city. We hope that our guests, like us, will remember this meal for years to come. Working together this way in the city we love makes our achievements – both our books and our restaurants – that much sweeter.”

Chef Jose Garces has emerged as an enormous talent among young Latin chefs. He is owner and executive chef of Philadelphia’s Amada, Tinto and Distrito and executive chef of Chicago’s Mercat a la Planxa. For more information on Chef Jose Garces or to make a reservation at any of his award-winning restaurants, please visit www.grg-mgmt.com.

Latin Evolution contains a wide variety of recipes spanning the globe, from the Basque region of Spain to the coast of Peru to the heart of Mexico City. Some dishes are inspired by Chef Garces’ childhood, some developed and featured at his restaurants. Others are based on his far-reaching culinary imagination. To invigorate traditional recipes, he makes use of new ingredients and techniques, often producing surprising combinations. Behind these recipes are unexpected shapes, textures, colors and, of course, flavors.

Chef Marc Vetri is known nationally as one of America’s most talented Italian chefs. He is the executive chef and owner of Philadelphia’s Vetri and Osteria. For more information on Chef Vetri or to make a reservation at either of his acclaimed restaurants, please visit www.vetriristorante.com.

Il Viaggio Di Vetri: A Culinary Journey contains more than 125 of Chef Vetri’s most-requested dishes and more than 75 gorgeous photographs. The book also tells the story of Chef Vetri’s culinary journey from Philadelphia to California to Italy to New York and, finally, back to Philadelphia to share his signature Italian cuisine with the people of his hometown.

Tickets for this spectacular dinner event are available by calling Brooke Everett at Amada at (215) 625-2506, ext. 109. Seating is limited to 50 guests. Reservations are required.