TAVERN 17 Receives First Place Award in Philly Cooks Competition for "Best Sweet Dish" Category!
Philadelphia Magazine, February 2008

PHILADELPHIA - February 20, 2008 - Tavern 17's dessert creation for Philly Cooks Competition brought home the award for Best Sweet Dish category! The annual competition featured 50 Philadelphia restaurants under one roof with one item carefully selected by each restaurant's chef to be sampled at each restaurant booth. Before the general sampling , each menu item was presented to a panel of judges who traveled from as far away as two hours to attend this event.

The competition and awards were based on Best Sweet Dish, Best Savory Dish, Best Display and the ultimate award, Best Dish of the Year.

The dessert described as a "Chocolate Cheesecake on a Cinnamon Shortbread Crust with Coffee-Walnut Crunch and Blackberry Cayenne Pepper Sauce" received accolades from all that sampled it. "I work at perfecting this dessert for weeks" said Chef Mark Blevins, "until I finally had the right sweetness in the chessecake, bitterness from the fresh blackberries and spice from the cayenne paper to meld all ingredients together."

"We had so many people who praised the cheesecake and came back again for a second sampling" said Tavern 17's General Manager , Brian Donaghue. "I can't wait to start serving this in the Tavern this weekend."

Philly Cooks is an annual event and proceeds from the 2008 Philly Cooks Competition benefited MANNA, an organization that delivers nourishment to people at risk from life-threatening illness.

About Chef Blevins
Chef Blevins brings more than nine years of experience in the restaurant industry to Tavern 17. Prior to joining the restaurant, he served as executive sous chef at the Bent Creek Country Club, Lancaster , Pa. and as a chef de cuisine at the General Sutter Inn, Lititz , Pa. His creativity has lead to the menu success of Tavern 17 since joining the team upon opening in mid 2007.

About Tavern 17

Tavern 17 puts a modern spin on the classic tavern. Serving artisan flights and bites in a contemporary tavern setting, the restaurant is a great place for Philadelphians to meet, share and unwind. Tavern 17 is located at 220 South 17th St. in Philadelphia , between Walnut and Locust Streets, adjacent to the Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel. For more information, visit www.tavern17restaurant.com.