City Tavern

City Tavern

City Tavern front entrance
Restaurant information
Slogan A Triumph of Tradition
Established 1773
Current owner(s) Walter Staib
Head chef Executive Chef Jason Wilkinson
Food type Colonial Cuisine
Street address 138 South 2nd Street at Walnut Street
City Philadelphia
State Pennsylvania
Postal code/ZIP 19106
Country United States
Reservations yes
Website www.citytavern.com

The City Tavern is a replica of a historic 18th-century building located at 138 South 2nd Street, at the intersection of Second and Walnut Streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, part of Independence National Historical Park. Owner Chef Walter Staib and Executive Chef Jason Wilkinson cook a variety of entrees using authentic 18th-century recipes, served in seven period dining rooms, three wine cellar rooms and an outdoor garden.[1][2][3]

History

Called the "most genteel tavern in America" by John Adams, the original tavern was the favorite meeting place of many of the Founding Fathers and of many members of the First Continental Congress.[4][5] The land on which City Tavern was built was conveyed in 1772 by Samuel Powell to a group of seven wealthy citizens. The tavern was built by subscription in 1773 at a cost of more than £3,000.[6] On May 20, 1774, over two-hundred men gathered in the long gallery of the City Tavern to respond to the request for assistance from Bostonians following the passage of the Boston Port Bill.[7]

Many important things happened at City Tavern in the first few decades of the new nation. The first Fourth of July Celebration was held at City Tavern in 1777 to celebrate the anniversary of America's Independence from Britain.[8] General George Washington first met the Marquis de Lafayette at City Tavern in 1777.[9][10] The building was partially destroyed by fire on March 22, 1834 and the structure was demolished in 1854.[11][12]

The entire building was reconstructed in the 1970s and re-opened in 1976 for the United States Bicentennial as a functioning tavern and restaurant.

Recent times

City Tavern is now operated by Chef Walter Staib, an internationally acclaimed chef and TV host of the Emmy Award winning A Taste of History and World Cuisine of the Black Forest. On October 1, 2013, the tavern was temporarily ordered to close by the National Park Service as a result of the United States federal government shutdown of 2013.[13][14][15]

In popular culture

City Tavern was featured in the novel The Riddle of Penncroft Farm by Dorothea Jensen. In it, it was the place where Will spied on the British during their occupation of Philadelphia in 1777 while pretending to be an apprentice of Little Smith. "Little" Daniel Smith was, in real life, the name of its proprietor.

City Tavern has also been featured in an episode of the television series 60 Minutes[16] and in the newspaper USA Today.[17]

City Tavern is rated among the top 10 restaurants in Philadelphia by TripAdvisor Reviewers,[18] and has an ongoing Award of Excellence.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.citytavern.com/history.html
  2. ↑ Staib, Walter. City Tavern Cookbook: 200 Years of Classic Recipes from America's First Gourmet Restaurant, pp. 6-17, Running Press, Philadelphia, London, 1999. ISBN 0-7624-0529-5.
  3. ↑ Staib, Walter. City Tavern Baking & Dessert Cookbook: 200 Years of Authentic American Recipes, pp. 9-25, Running Press, Philadelphia, London, 2003. ISBN 0-7624-1554-1.
  4. ↑ Staib, Walter. City Tavern Cookbook: 200 Years of Classic Recipes from America's First Gourmet Restaurant, p. 5, Running Press, Philadelphia, London, 1999. ISBN 0-7624-0529-5.
  5. ↑ Staib, Walter. City Tavern Baking & Dessert Cookbook: 200 Years of Authentic American Recipes, pp. 9, 14, Running Press, Philadelphia, London, 2003. ISBN 0-7624-1554-1.
  6. ↑ Thompson, Peter (1999). Rum Punch & Revolution: Taverngoing & Public Life in Eighteenth-Century Philadelphia. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 146.
  7. ↑ Thompson, Peter (1999). Rum Punch & Revolution: Taverngoing & Public Life in Eighteenth Century Philadelphia. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. pp. 169–170.
  8. ↑ "This is Where the Founding Fathers Partied on the First Fourth of July | The Savory". Retrieved 2015-09-02.
  9. ↑ "City Tavern: A Feast of Elegance". www.ushistory.org. Retrieved 2015-09-02.
  10. ↑ "Marquis de Lafayette". George Washington's Mount Vernon. Retrieved 2015-09-02.
  11. ↑ Staib, Walter. City Tavern Cookbook: 200 Years of Classic Recipes from America's First Gourmet Restaurant, pp. 5, 15, Running Press, Philadelphia, London, 1999. ISBN 0-7624-0529-5.
  12. ↑ Staib, Walter. City Tavern Baking & Dessert Cookbook: 200 Years of Authentic American Recipes, pp. 8, 15, Running Press, Philadelphia, London, 2003. ISBN 0-7624-1554-1.
  13. ↑ Lattanzio, Vince. "Founding Fathers' Tavern Closed by Government Shutdown", NBCPhiladelphia.com, October 3, 2013.
  14. ↑ Staib, Walter. City Tavern Cookbook: 200 Years of Classic Recipes from America's First Gourmet Restaurant, pp. 5, 15, Running Press, Philadelphia, London, 1999. ISBN 0-7624-0529-5.
  15. ↑ Staib, Walter. City Tavern Baking & Dessert Cookbook: 200 Years of Authentic American Recipes, pp. 8, 15, Running Press, Philadelphia, London, 2003. ISBN 0-7624-1554-1.
  16. ↑ "'60 Minutes' episode will focus on founding fathers, Philadelphia - Philadelphia Business Journal". Retrieved 2015-09-02.
  17. ↑ "Great American Bites: A taste of history at Philly's City Tavern". Retrieved 2015-09-02.
  18. ↑ "City Tavern, Philadelphia - City Center East - Menu, Prices & Restaurant Reviews - TripAdvisor". www.tripadvisor.com. Retrieved 2015-09-02.

External links

Coordinates: 39°56′50″N 75°08′40″W / 39.947128°N 75.144558°W / 39.947128; -75.144558

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/6/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.