Wednesday November 14, 2007 - Barrel's Fine Food catered the "Football
Tailgate" Luncheon for Arkema Corporation accompanied by Dining
Out Magazine, the Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders and Pop's Water Ice.

Friday December 21, 2007
Barrel's Fine Food catered the Annual Holiday Party for
Buchanan Ingersoll and Rooney PC

Thursday December 13, 2007
Barrel's Fine Food catered the Toys for Tots
Luncheon for Arkema Corporation which included a visit by Ariana to
 donate toys on behalf of Barrel's.

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This was a write up that was done in the Summer 2007 issue of Dining Out
Magazine:

http://philadelphia.diningoutonline.com/restaurant/?rp=4355

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Check out the editorial on
Barrel's Fine Food as written by Philadelphia Row Home Magazine in June 2007

Downtown Cuisine, Uptown Clientele

Fifteen years ago, Tom Franco, along with his wife, Maria, armed with only five-thousand dollars and a dream, opened what has virtually become the only establishment south of City Hall that caters to patrons in the high rises of Center City, Philadelphia. Barrel's Fine Food, located at 1725 Wolf Street, has kept all the traditions of the quiet South Philly eatery and introduced them to a whole new world of people.  "Even though we're only two miles away, people working in Center City look at South Philadelphia as a whole different world," says Scott Fierman,Director of Corporate Relations for Barrel's. While Fierman has introduced the family-owned restaurant to corporate America, Tom Franco's daughters, Andrea and Natalie, handle many of the day-to-day operations of the business their parents started. "When people want to eat out but still want to get what they love at home, they come here," Andrea says of the restaurant.

All of the recipes at Barrel's Fine Food are the original recipes from Johnnie Barrel's, the bar started by Tom Franco's father on 18th and Sigel Streets in the 1950s. "The quality of food has not changed from 1959 until now," Fierman says. "These are recipes that have been passed down for generations." Barrel's savory pasta dishes, sandwiches, mussels, and chicken Caesar salads are award-winning and will certainly never go out of style. However, in keeping with the times, the restaurant has been completely renovated to include hardwood floors, a fireplace, and marble artwork on the walls. At the same time, family-photos and pictures of what once was cover the walls; giving Barrel's the magical quality that can only be found on a South Philly street corner. That street corner has even been transformed with the changes that have taken place. New awnings and windows have given neighborhood residents something to be proud of. "Community involvement is very important," Andrea says. "I'm able to get to know who the neighbors are and make this a very familiar and comfortable place for them to come to."

The Franco family sees Barrel's success as a testament to the loyal patrons who have been frequenting the establishment for the past decade and a half. During the fifteen years Barrel's has occupied the corner property of Bouvier and Wolf, it has been a staple to locals for dining, take-out, and delivery. Bringing that kind of popularity to another realm has been no easy task. "It is a beast among itself," Fierman says of corporate America. Evidently, and luckily for Barrel's, it is a very hungry beast. In 2006, the Franco family created www.barrelsfinefood.com, which was necessary to take Barrel's Fine Food beyond Market Street. Through it, Barrel's has established connections with many large corporations in the Philadelphia region and is associated with a web-based business used by
fairly large companies that provides accounting solutions and concierge type options. In terms of off-premise catering, both corporate and private, Barrel's deals with other South Philadelphia businesses to add their pastries, pretzels, and water ices to ensure clients' satisfaction.With Frank Sinatra coming through the speakers, gnocchis and meatballs steaming on the plates, and an atmosphere that reproduces your Noni's house for Sunday dinner, Barrel's Fine Food has the South Philly crowd well taken care of.  Traveling down new avenues, particularly those north of the Avenue of the Arts, Barrel's has been introducing a new word to the vocabulary of the power-lunch crowd-Mangia!

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Barrel's Fine Food is a member of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and
has received certification by the Supplier Network 

http://suppliernet.gpcc.com/searchdetails.asp?ID=574&company=&keyword=&naics
=1315&current=&p=&orderby=

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Through Barrel's partnership with Osmio (www.osmio.com), summer 2006, Barrel's Fine
Food has broken down the barrier that existed between South Philadelphia and
Corporate America in Center City

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The "Best of Philly" distinction is something that you never lose, and
Barrel's Fine Food, though known for its Italian Cuisine was voted Best
Cheesesteak - South Philadelphia - Philadelphia Magazine (August 1995).

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The South Philly Review "Best of South Philly" edition lists Barrel's Fine Food
best Caesar Salad & Delivery/Take-Out Joint - March 1997.