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http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20150105_Biden_celebrates_granddaugther_s_21st_in_Philly.html

Biden celebrates granddaughter's 21st in Philly


Molly Eichel, Daily News Staff Writer

Posted: Monday, January 5, 2015, 3:01 AM

WHERE DOES a vice president choose to toast his granddaughter's 21st birthday? Philly, of course.

Veep Joe Biden stopped by Dandelion (124 S. 18th St.) before the new year to celebrate what my spies tell me was his granddaughter's big day. I figure my source was referring to Naomi Biden, who is a student at the University of Pennsylvania.

Biden is a regular at the city's restaurants, but his favorite joint is Bella Vista's Saloon (750 S. 7th St.), where he regularly orders the angel-hair pasta with spicy tomato sauce. As a former Bella Vista denizen, I always knew when Biden was dining it up because there were quite a few more big SUVs and suited-up men in the 'hood than on previous occasions.

'Top Chef' gets engaged

Congrats to "Top Chef" contestant Jason Cichonski, who popped the question recently to his love of two years, Tara Kulesza.

Their meet-cute story is pretty heavy on the cute: The couple first met when mutual friend Ryan Dorsey, the co-owner of Old City's Recess Lounge, brought his girlfriend into Cichonski's Queen Village eatery Ela (627 S. 3rd St.) for a birthday surprise. Dorsey arranged for his lady's gal pals, including Kulesza, to surprise her, but they had to wait in the kitchen until the time came, allowing for Cichonski to meet (and fall for) the comely Kulesza. "We met in my kitchen, and I literally knew the moment she walked in I wanted to marry her," Bucks County-raised Cichonski told me.

Cichonski was a contestant on the 11th season of "Top Chef," during which he was regularly branded as "the hot one," yet still lost out to fellow Philly chef Nick Elmi, whose South Philly restaurant Laurel (1617 E. Passyunk Ave.) was recently named the best restaurant in the city by Philadelphia magazine. Along with Ela, Cichonski also is the chef and co-owner of Old City's Gaslight (120 Market St.).

Kulesza is a real-estate agent with Berkshire Hathaway, but recently received her master's in education from Cabrini College.

Roy-al

Former NBC10 reporter/anchor Aditi Roy is moving on up in the world at ABC. On Friday, Roy, who serves as the Southern California correspondent for the network, got her first story on long-running newsmagazine program "20/20," about a man who lives between two frat houses at the University of California, Berkeley.

'Model' casting

Want to be on "America's Next Top Model"? Producers will be looking for hotties of all heights tomorrow from noon to 3 p.m. at Drexel's The URBN Center Annex, 3401 Filbert St. (the building is directly behind the URBN Center, at 3501 Market St.).

Applicants of both genders should bring an application form (get it at cwphilly.com), a signed release and waiver form, a photocopied ID and three required photos to the local auditions.

North Philly's own Raelia Lewis was a contestant on the latest season of the long-running Tyra Banks competition show.

OUT AND ABOUT

* Millville, N.J.'s own Mike Trout dined at Buddakan Atlantic City (The Pier Shops at Caesars, 1 Atlantic Ocean) last weekend. The Los Angeles Angel sat down with a party of eight, I hear.

* Eagles long snapper Jon Dorenbos toasted it up at Tria (1137 Spruce St.) on Saturday night.

* In other Eagles news, linebacker Connor Barwin was spotted snapping pics with fans and watching the revelry of Two Street on New Year's Day . . .

* . . . and QB Mark Sanchez was seen before the holidays dining at Vernick (2031 Chestnut St.), with a beautiful young lady.

* Rapper Chill Moody, songstresses Good Girl, actor Luis Da Silva Jr. and Union players Sebastien LeToux and Sheanon Williams all hit up Mitchell & Ness' holiday party.

* 6ABC's Rick Williams got in the holiday spirit at the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center when he narrated " 'Twas the Night Before Christmas," accompanied by 90 members of the Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra.

Email: eichelm@phillynews.com

On Twitter: @PhillyGossipDN

Online: ph.ly/DNGossip