Wine Bar

In embarking on various business ventures over the years made possible by his family's successful Italian restaurant, Luca Sena often lay awake at night worrying whether his business moves were smart ones. But on the eve of the recent unveiling of the family's newest venture, he had no misgivings as he lay in a four-poster bed in an altogether elegantly appointed room. No, he was calm as he gazed, alternately, at flames from a gas-lit fireplace below a marble mantelpiece and the lights of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge outside tall, arched windows.

Here is an excerpt from Craig LaBan's online chat. Craig LaBan: I'm thrilled to see the Rittenhouse Farmer's Market still ticking along each Saturday into winter, with hot cider and the Renaissance Sausage cart to keep us warm, as well as a new-ish Jersey seafood stand with everything from fluke to scallops from Barnegat - all of it fresh and local, not frozen. They'd sold out by 1 p.m. when we arrived. We were in plenty of time, though, to plunder the Rineer Family Farms - one of the best all-purpose stands around: grass-fed rump roast; eggs with yolks as bright as the sun. But most interesting, Rineer has also recently been selling freshly ground white cornmeal (great for crusting fish)

New and just off City Avenue: Avril (134 Bala Ave., Bala Cynwyd, 610-667-2626), a cozy BYO bistro from chef Christian Gatti and his wife, April Lisante - hence the name. Gatti's Mediterranean menu starts in southeast France and heads into Italy. It will go farther inland as the weather cools off. Lisante, who spent a decade as a reporter, food writer, and editor at the Philadelphia Daily News, met Gatti in 2003 when she interviewed him for a feature about hot, young chefs.

Paris Wine Bar 2301 Fairmount Ave. 215-978-4545 www.londongrill.com Tria Cafe * Rittenhouse Square 18th and Sansom streets 215-972-8742 http://triacafe.com * Washington Square West 12th and Spruce streets 215-629-9200 Tria Wine Room 3131 Walnut St. 215-222-2422

As youngsters working behind the scenes at the Dilworthtown Inn, Anthony Mastroianni and Stephen Delaney often talked of the dream restaurant they might someday open together. A wine bar, perhaps, with a dedication to good food. Something on their home turf of the far-western suburbs. It took more than a decade to come to fruition, not to mention a few jobs in between and a cross-country move for the chef, but their planned collaboration has finally become a reality at Cosimo in Malvern.

Between trips to the Middle East, archaeologist Jill Weber makes her home in Philadelphia, where she's affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania. Dig this: She's turned her passion for international food and drink into a Center City spot, Jet Wine Bar (1525 South St.). Due to open this week, Jet has a sleek bar on the ground floor and a lounge with tables in the lower level. Chef Matt Zagorski, last at Rouge on Rittenhouse Square, has put together a menu of meats, cheeses, and sandwiches designed to pair with the beverages.

S TEPHENIE KENDRICK , wife of Phillies pitcher Kyle Kendrick , told her Facebook friends yesterday that she is pregnant. "Kyle and I are so HAPPY to announce that we are expecting:-)!!!! We are due September 8th and couldn't be happier! I feel great can't believe 3 months flew by already 6 more to go!!!," wrote the former Stephenie LaGrossa. She's a co-owner of Old City restaurant Gigi (319 Market) and was a castmate on "Survivor. " It's the first child for the couple, who married in November.

Deborah Madison - gardener, author, restaurateur and chef - is famous for her love of vegetables and deep knowledge of vegetarian cooking. But ask her about veggie burgers, and you get a surprising blast. "I hate the word 'veggie.' I don't even like the word 'burger,' " she says, "and I'm not really into veggie burgers. " Like it or not, the veggie burger is everywhere these days, from fast-food chains to hipster hangouts and places in between, including the frozen-food case in the supermarket.

Faux Pho . . . 3 Netta's Chicken and Rice . . . 2 Peach and Yellow Tomato Pie . . . 2 Village Whiskey Veggie Burger . . . 4 Vintage Wine Bar Veggie Burger . . . 4

Tuesday blues plate Coquette Bistro knocked oysters down to a buck. London Grill has $3 mini burgers. Which brings us to Chick's Cafe & Wine Bar, where they've started featuring "Recession Proof $5 Paninis" to bring in trade on slow Tuesdays. The paninis are basically fancy grilled cheese sandwiches, toasted to a delicate, buttery crisp on Metropolitan's thin Pullman bread - our favorite of the ones we tried was a diced dried fig, dulce gorgonzola and caramelized onion (with a dash of balsamic)