| Regional Produce Market, Sysco may have to leave Phila. to grow
The Philadelphia Regional Produce Market has been trying for six years to get growing room. Bill Tubb, the local chief executive of Sysco Corp., the big restaurant-supply firm, says he can top that. His company has been working for nine years to get a larger site in Philadelphia, and is about ready to move to New Jersey if it cannot do so. Both enterprises have identified South Philadelphia sites that would work, and both are at the mercy of warring political and business forces. They employ a total of 1,600 people - 500 at Sysco and 1,100 at the produce market. If they were able to expand, they say they would hire several hundred more. "We want to stay in Philadelphia," Tubb said, because his employees and customers are used to the South Philadelphia location. In May, it appeared that a new facility would be under construction by now, but a threatened lawsuit from maritime interests could cause a lengthy delay.
Culinary artist
Chicago's loss has been Parsons' gain. Native son Taylor McCoskey has been putting the skills he learned at Chicago's Le Cordon Bleu culinary school and a four-star Italian restaurant to use at The Breakfast Nook and Bakery. For the past couple weeks, The Breakfast Nook has been open from 6 to 8 p.m. Fridays for dinner and McCoskey develops a three- to four-item menu of traditional Italian dishes. Owner Lee Ellis said the dinners have been so successful, the restaurant will start serving dinner Saturdays starting this week. "It's a nice additive. It's something special that we wanted to do for the town," Ellis said. "It's really paid off. A lot of people like it." McCoskey said he starts planning his meal early in the week and reads cookbooks for inspiration.
Schools beef up kosher food options
Heather Zucker ate mostly salad and spaghetti during her years in the University of Wisconsin-Madison dorms. Sometimes, her dinner was just a bowl of ice cream. Zucker wasn't being picky. She keeps kosher, and she said there were "slim pickins" for Jewish students in the dining halls. "It got old pretty fast," said Zucker, who graduated in 2005. That's about to change. UW-Madison is opening a kosher meat kitchen in a residence hall dining room starting this fall. Muslims who follow Islamic dietary laws, called halal, also will be accommodated. A growing number of schools are offering kosher dining options, but few have full kosher meat kitchens, said UW-Madison housing director Paul Evans. Other schools with the service include the University of Pennsylvania and Cornell University.
Events & More
The Frankfort Public Library will hold a mystery book discussion at 7 p.m. Wednesday led by Mary Koch. Explore the works of Minette Walters. The focus book will be "The Sculptress" other titles include "The Icehouse" and "The Scold's Bridle." Pick up the title of your choice now at the circulation desk. .
Going - Listings
Joliet Junior College: Fine Arts Department, 1215 Houbolt Road. "Blithe Spirit": 7 p.m. Aug. 20-21 open auditions offered. Director Marie Salvaggione will be casting two men and five women. Production dates are Oct. 12-21. "Hellcab": 7 to 10 p.m. Aug. 20-21. Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script, individually and in groups. Rehearsals begin Aug. 23. The show runs Oct. 26 to Nov. 18. Joliet Drama Guild: at Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre, 201 W. Jefferson St., Joliet. Call (815) 722-1001 or visit jolietdramaguild.org. Theatre-on-the-Hill: Bolingbrook Performing Arts stage, 375 W. Briarcliff, southwest corner of Bolingbrook's Town Center Building. For more information, call (630) 759-2970 or tothbolingbrook.com. MYSO auditions: 6 to 8:30 p.m.
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