It’s been a busy year for Chef Jose Garces, and he isn’t slowing down in 2021.
The restaurateur behind some of the city’s hottest eateries including Tinto, The Olde Bar and Amada has spent most of the food and beverage industry downtime figuring out ways to maneuver the pandemic.
For one, after the second shutdown with indoor dining, Garces introduced the Garces Trading Company that made its debut in December. The brand-new, advanced ghost kitchen, restaurant hub and online marketplace offers Philadelphians some of their favorites from Amada, The Olde Bar and Village Whiskey all in one complete order for either take-out or delivery. But, there are also other take-home specialties being featured that are not offered anywhere else. The new concept is also offering a selection of family meals to go, online catering options priced and designed for your current household (two or more), and an assortment of Garces pastries and baked goods that were only available before in the various restaurants. Plus, those who order can also sink their teeth into dishes from Volver and J. G. Domestic with other options from some of Garces’ other spots to be added in the near future as well.
“We wanted a solution for our guests that was thoughtful and sustainable. We saw heaters as a limited time option, as at some point it’ll be too cold to sit outside. Creating unique dining experiences that make being at home, or any location post-COVID, more fun and enjoyable. While we do have a delivery partner to supplement busy times, we are able to service guests who may not feel comfortable coming to the city and create employment opportunities,” said Garces in a statement at the time of his Trading Company launch.
Piggybacking off of the idea to take the fun home with you, Garces has also invested his time into making hybrid experiences for foodies to join in beside him. His first venture into that project launches this week, on Jan. 6 at 6 p.m. Garces recently launched his new personal brand, Chef Jose Garces, which consists of several different components including “Latin Live,” a new series of virtual cooking classes focused on Latin-centric recipes that you similarly would see in some of his own restaurants.
This new class, which comes out to be $45 per person, will let participants cook alongside the chef in real-time. The grocery list is provided for attendees to purchase all ingredients ahead of time to cook along, and this week’s menu consists of Pozole Verde con Cangrejo (hominy soup with crab and clams), chilango chopped salad and a quesadilla with queso mixto.
Latin Live events are slated to premier each month in 2021 and into 2022 with the second Latin Live Virtual event to be held on Feb. 3. That particular event will feature Jose’s recipe for Parihuela (traditional Peruvian seafood chowder).
Lastly, Philadelphians have another way to take home a bit of the Garces touch with a few specialty options that diners can choose from when ordering from Garces, including specialty “party” packs. Options range from a Holiday Cocktail Party kit which boasts a selection small plates from Garces restaurants for the perfect cocktail hour; the Burger Brawl from Village Whiskey that lets customers build their own gourmet burger; the Date Night option from Amada boasting an assortment of their most popular tapas; the Seafood Fest from The Olde Bar offering some of their most coveted dishes from the seas, and much more.
For more information, and to purchase tickets, visit chefgarces.com
