Let’s face it; expectations are high. All that’s needed is an exceptional television, the perfect seat and a hearty sandwich to satisfy your appetite– which is precisely the goal of Shank’s Original a Zagat-rated sandwich shop located at 901 S. Columbus Blvd. that has perfected sandwich-making for nearly half a century.

Available from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. now through March 21^st, Shank’s will be offering a mini-tray option to appease the masses at a budget-friendly $29 plus tax, complete with free delivery for those customers who live within a 5-mile radius of the popular shop. The mini-tray serves up to five people, complete with 15 pieces of your choice, whether it’s a classic Philadelphia Cheesesteak or an unconventional Veggie Hoagie—the choice is yours.

To place your Superbowl order, call 215.218.4000.

But While Gemelli’s surroundings are decidedly chic, it’s the specialty drinks that are quickly becoming the toast of the town.

Take the Chocolate Manhattan. Rye whiskey infused with organic chocolate and sweetened with Crème de Griotte and brandied cherries.

The Bourbon Peach Cooler, with an infusion of fresh peaches and ginger beer.

The pear infused vodka with baking spices and citrus.

Or the Rosa Bellini, with rose-scented peach essence and sparkling wine.

By the way, Happy Hour is 5 to 7, every evening, everywhere in the restaurant, and Mondays are BYOB. Watch for featured $5 cocktails and select $1 wines. Cheers!

For more enticing concoctions, check out their drink menu.  Gemelli is located at 4161 Main Street in Manayunk. For reservations click here.

Have you had your chocolate cake today?

Now through March 4^th, Linvilla is featuring the world’s largest Christmas Tree Maze.   Over 1400 unsold Christmas trees have been collected from around the region to create this exciting new attraction that is fun for all ages. The maze takes anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to get through, depending on your internal navigation system.

The maze is perfect for a family outing or an afternoon with friends in addition to all the other entertaining activities happening at Linvilla this winter.

After the Christmas Tree Maze is over, the trees will be recycled. They’ll be chipped and used as fuel to heat the green house where the miniature golf course, Fore! the Planet, is located.

The cost of the maze is $5 or only $4 when you combine a round of mini golf. Check out more details and some pictures of the Christmas Tree Maze on Linvilla’s Facebook page.

Linvilla’s hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 8 pm Fridays and Saturdays. To learn more, call 610.876.7116 or visit Linvilla at 137 W. Knowlton Road in Media, PA www.linvilla.com.

With over 70 brews available for sampling, Big Ass Beerfest! offers a range of stouts, double IPAs, barleywines and more in efforts to satisfy the masses and showcase new alternatives like Evil Genius and Neshaminy Creek Brewing. For the duration of each session, guests can indulge in as many “big ass beers” as they choose, so long as they are 21-years-of-age.

Should you find yourself torn between sessions, please note that Session I has been switched to a new time, beginning at noon and ending at 3 p.m. Session II remains from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

For further information or to purchase tickets to the Big Ass Beerfest! visit www.bigassbeerfest.com.

Let the fun ensue.

Chatters were supposed to guess where the described and pictured dishes were from. The first one was the lobster dumplings at Nectar. We knew right away when we read ‘edamame puree’ in the description of the dish, where it was from. Then he had such nice things to say about Nectar. We just thought we’d share.

If you’re looking to do something a bit different in Philadelphia, then consider Chef Poon’s Wok N’ Walk Tour of Chinatown. The tour includes a walking tour of Philadelphia’s Chinatown and an amazing meal by award-winning Chef Poon himself. During the tour participants stop at a fortune cookie factory, a Chinese herbal medicine shop, a Chinese bakery, an Asian grocery store, a fish market, and more. After the tour, indulge in the four-course lunch or dinner cooked by Chef Poon and his staff. Personally, we think the tour is a great way to learn about the food, history, and culture of Philadelphia’s Chinatown in a way that’s interactive and delicious! Tickets are $60 a person. Tour takes place on select days throughout January, February, and March. For online reservations and tour calendar visit: http://www.josephpoon.com/

Wish you could recreate some tasty recipes in your own kitchen? Well the Center City District is compiling recipes of Restaurant Week chefs to make a complete cookbook, Center City Cooks, which will be available at centercityphila.org. Restaurant Week has also teamed up with Philly Homegrown to promote local grown food on Restaurant Week menus and in the cookbook.

Check out Open Table for a full list of participating restaurants. If you’re interested in going to a cooking demo, visit centercityphila.org to see which chefs will be whipping up some delectable goodies. Bon appetite!

On Friday, January 13th, Linvilla features, Cooking with Judy, as she shares her love for cooking and teaching while preparing ratatouille and shrimp pie along with other mouth-watering treats. The class begins at 6:30 p.m. and is FREE. Arrive early so you can get a seat at the front of the class!

Linvilla’s hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 8 pm Fridays and Saturdays. To learn more, call 610.876.7116 or visit Linvilla at 137 W. Knowlton Road in Media, PA. You can always check out the details at Linvilla.com.