Celebrity chef Jose Garces pairs with state liquor store in new venture

    Prominent restaurateur Jose Garces recently opened an upscale market and deli near Jefferson Hospital, featuring imported cheeses, meats, and gourmet oil.

    While some wine lovers in Pennsylvania complain that the state dictates what they can and cannot buy, the Liquor Control Board opened a boutique wine shop in Philadelphia with rare selections. The shop complements the latest restaurant by one of the city’s star chefs. [audio:100301PCWINE.mp3]

    Prominent restaurateur Jose Garces recently opened an upscale market and deli near Jefferson Hospital, featuring imported cheeses, meats, and gourmet oil.

    In the back is a glassed-in shop with about 200 varieties of wine, operated by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. Customers are able to buy wine, then drink it in the restaurant.

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    WINE1

    Garces doesn’t need to obtain a liquor license, but he was consulted on which wines to carry.

    Liquor Control Board wine buyer Cindy Carnieki says this new venture is bringing a wider selection of wines to consumers.

    Carnieki: These wines are not in restaurants, not in PLCB stores. We’re picking very exclusive wines for this. They are seeing wines they’ve never seen before.

    WINE2

    Carnieki says the wines are mostly from Germany, Italy, and France to match the imported meats and cheeses.

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