Philadelphia, PA - Hard Rock Cafe Philadelphia has been named one of Hard Rock International’s first Test Kitchen locations. The Philadelphia cafe is one of just 12 restaurants selected to showcase Hard Rock’s commitment to fresh ingredients, hand-crafted, regionally-inspired menu items and responsibly-sourced ingredients at each cafe. Hard Rock Cafe Philadelphia was selected out of 175 Hard Rock locations around the world, based on the regions’ unique culinary offerings, local flavors and flare.
Hard Rock’s Test Kitchen highlights a handpicked group of cafes acting as the front-line for Hard Rock Cafe’s menu evolution. The Test Kitchen program reinforces the brand’s commitment to featuring authentic American cuisine on Hard Rock Cafe menus around the world. In addition, Test Kitchen cafe menus will highlight local enhancements, focusing on new hand-crafted items inspired by each cafe’s geographical region.
“A big congratulations to Hard Rock Cafe Philadelphia on their selection into the Test Kitchen program. With this initiative, the Philadelphia cafe will certainly expand the quality Hard Rock dining experience,” said Darryl Mickler, Senior Director of Global Research and Development at Hard Rock International. “The new program rollout is designed to incubate new menu innovations for our cafes worldwide and further enables us to explore new locally-inspired and responsibly-sourced offerings.”
Hard Rock Cafe Philadelphia’s Test Kitchen will launch July 25, 2017 and will feature locally-inspired dishes, including:
- ITALIAN HOAGIE LOCAL LEGENDARY® BURGER– Topped with the perfect classic Philadelphia-style hoagie blend of salami, ham and Bologna, melted provolone cheese, banana peppers, fresh crisp shredded lettuce, vine-ripened tomato, red onion and Italian dressing
- PHILLY CHEESESTEAK –Shaved rib eye, topped Philadelphia style with CheezWhiz® and caramelized onions on a freshly baked hoagie roll
- FRESH GRILLED SALMON – The True North Atlantic Salmon is responsibly sourced 8-oz. salmon fillet, grilled then drizzled with sweet and tangy, house-made barbecue sauce and finished with herb garlic butter. Served with Yukon Gold mashed potatoes and farm fresh, seasonal vegetables
- FRESH CATCH OF THE DAY – Sourced from Samuel & Son Seafood Co., the local fresh catch is served with a seasonal side and farm fresh vegetables. Offerings include the Viking Dry Sea Scallops and Fluke, also known as flounder or summer flounder
Through the Test Kitchen program, Hard Rock will identify vendors that source in a responsible and sustainable way and ensure that environmental and social impacts are taken into consideration during the sourcing process. Hard Rock Cafe supports local vendors in each market, including Fresh Catch of The Day and Fresh Grilled Salmon from Philadelphia-based Samuel & Son Seafood Co. The local seafood purveyor’s philosophy is to source sustainable seafood, work in a clean and friendly environment, and to teach staff to treat the products with the reverence and respect they deserve. The dry scallops, now available at Hard Rock Cafe Philadelphia, are sourced from Viking Village based in Barnegat Light, NJ- caught directly from the Atlantic Coast. The True North Atlantic Salmon is sourced from True North Seafood, which harvests all their salmon “daily to order” and is committed to salmon conservation. Another daily fresh catch, Fluke, is wild caught and available year-round and is managed by the National Marine Fisheries Service. Samuel & Son Seafood’s unique variety of produce and willingness to go the extra step for customers is why the nation’s top chefs and restaurants rely on them every day.
“Samuel and Son Seafood is proud to provide the legendary Hard Rock Philadelphia with the highest quality seafood available year-round, said Sam D’Angelo, Owner of Samuel and Son Seafood. “We are dedicated to sourcing our products from local watermen and ensuring the sustainability of our seafood throughout its journey from sea to the table.”
Other local businesses, including Philadelphia Distilling Company, have partnered with Hard Rock Cafe Philadelphia to supply locally-distilled spirits for its Philadelphia-inspired cocktail menu. Bluecoat Gin is handcrafted in Philadelphia, located blocks away from Independence Hall. It uses exclusive organic juniper berries, which transmit spicy, earthy notes and is also made with 100 percent certified organic botanicals using Angelica, Coriander, Juniper and a blend of sweet American Citrus peel – providing just the right tasting notes in cocktails Strawberry Freedom and Philly on the Rocks.
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Philly Food Tours Guide and Information 
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