Noble to open in ’09
Noble American Cookery, 2025 Sansom St. , will be opened in early 2009 by the entrepreneurial trio of Bruno Pouget (founder of Caribou Cafe), Todd Rodgers and chef Steven Cameron, of the popular Blue in Long Beach Island, N.J.
The concept for Noble will be, according to Pouget, “a fresh, inventive fare in a dramatic, rustic-yet-modern space, complete with reclaimed wide-plank hickory floors, modern furnishings and a chef’s rooftop herb garden.”
Pouget said the partners purchased the building that will house Noble back in 2005 because they wanted to invest in the neighborhood and help develop the area as a “dining destination.”
“Back in the ’70s, this area was known as Rittenhouse Village, and it was a great place to go out for a meal,” Pouget said. “Alongside neighbors such as Tinto, Melograno, Tria and Capogiro, we’d like to be a part of bringing that reputation back to this area.”
Cameron, 33, has already won acclaim for his culinary achievements as the chef of Blue, including a prestigious semifinalist nod from the James Beard Foundation for “Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic” in 2008 and a glowing August 2007 review in The New York Times, which called his cuisine “far-reaching, inspired and ambitious.”
“I’m a little obsessed with finding extraordinary regional products and preparing them simply and perfectly,” he said. “I’ve developed close relationships with local farmers and fishermen, so I have access to some very special ingredients. And I pay close attention to what the Environmental Defense Fund says about ingredients’ availability, so my guests can be confident that what they’re eating is truly a ‘green’ meal.”
Rodgers said that the building has been “painstakingly restored” to create a “charmingly rustic character” for Noble. Some of the design highlights include a 20-foot bar and floor-to-ceiling front windows that can be opened to allow sidewalk seating in the downstairs area, Philadelphia’s first outdoor café with alfresco bar seating facing into the restaurant space and, inside, modern banquettes and a stylish, inviting main dining room that can seat up to 70 guests beneath three sweeping skylights and a seasonal rooftop herb garden for Cameron’s culinary masterpieces.
For information, visit www.noblecookery.com.
Fleming’s captures Marlton
There’s no argument that South Jersey continues to develop as a dining destination, much like Philadelphia.
In Marlton, there’s yet one more restaurant to attract diners on both sides of the bridge with the opening of Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, 500 Route 73 North, just north of the Route 73-Route 70 circle.
“Fleming’s was founded on the premise that a steakhouse can be sophisticated yet comfortable and not overpriced,” said the restaurant group’s president, Skip Fox.
Highlights of the menu include prime meats and chops, fresh fish and poultry, generous salads and side orders. Additionally, Fleming’s has a sophisticated and unique selection of more than 100 wines served by the glass, known as Fleming’s 100, and a Reserve List of over 80 wines of limited availability sold exclusively by the bottle, a signature of the restaurants nationwide.
“Our wine program is at the core of our dining experience,” said operating partner Bryan Gauthier. “It is our point of distinction from other steakhouses. Coupled with our tremendous food, service and value, it is the key to creating a memorable experience for each of our guests.”
Fleming’s ambiance is a combination of traditional steakhouse with a contemporary dynamic — the open dining room, bordered by an exhibition kitchen and expansive bar, creates an energized atmosphere for 210 diners and a private dining room can accommodate up to 80.
The first Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar was launched in Newport Beach, Calif., in 1998 by restaurant veterans Paul Fleming and Bill Allen. The new Marlton property is the 60th Fleming’s nationwide.
For information, call (856) 988-1351 or visit www.flemingssteakhouse.com.
T. Burke’s opens in Valley Forge
Located just outside of Philadelphia, T. Burke’s lounge, at the Dolce Valley Forge hotel, 301 W. DeKalb Pike (a mile north of King of Prussia Mall), Valley Forge, has recently opened as part of a $20-million renovation of the property.
T. Burke’s new executive chef, Jeffrey Powers, has served in several well-known dining destinations, including as chef de cuisine of Blackfish in Conshohocken, sous-chef at Le Bec-Fin and poissonier at Striped Bass, both in Center City.
Powers has devised an appealing French bistro-style menu, incorporating his own signature technique of turning simple French comfort foods into culinary masterpieces with his use of new ingredients.
Some highlights of the menu are skewered tempura shrimp with sweet and sour sauce, duck and pork terrine with pistachios and dried cherries, fish and chips with beer-battered Atlantic cod and tenderloin of beef sandwich served with fresh Gouda.
The restaurant’s ambiance offers a relaxing and inviting environment with plush seating, espresso wood, brushed stainless surfaces, granite finishes and rich wall coverings. The lounge offers billiards, darts, table-shuffleboard and six flat-screen TVs.
T. Burke’s is open from 4-7 p.m. on weekdays and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and features a happy hour from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For information, visit www.valleyforge.dolce.com.