Executive Chef Joey Medellin is getting to know the Garden State while working at Cherry Hill's Capital Grille. A transplant from Texas, the young chef who has been here for seven months now, said, so far, "he likes it a lot in Jersey."

And what's not to like?

Especially with the first-ever PREIT South Jersey Restaurant Week just days away.

Last year, the Cherry Hill Mall, owned by the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT), kicked off that mall's first restaurant week. With nine restaurants on the property, it seemed like a great idea.

"It was a big hit last year," said Ashlyn Delson, public relations manager for PREIT.

So this year, the eateries at Moorestown Mall and Voorhees Town Center were added to the list of restaurants to choose from.

An innovative way to get people to experience all three shopping centers owned by PREIT, said Joseph F. Coradino, PREIT CEO, the South Jersey Restaurant Week — set for July 13 through 20 — features twice as many restaurants this year, including the much-anticipated Jose Garces restaurant Distrito, which opens just in time for the event.

During a preview event held in late June, Capital Grille, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill at the Moorestown Mall and Rodizio Grill: the Brazilian Steakhouse at the Voorhees Town Center were in the spotlight.

First, Chef Medellin at Capital Grille demonstrated how to make a pan-seared scallop and risotto dish.

First, he said, make sure your scallops are dry, "because if not, you're going to burn them."

Then, he started on the risotto, which is made with rice, corn, leeks and mascarpone cheese. Garnished with arugula and lemon-infused oil and topped with grated parmesan cheese, the dish — although not on the menu for Restaurant Week — was simple to make, yet elegant, Medellin said.

Next, the group hopped on trolleys, provided by Philadelphia Trolley Works, and headed to Firebirds where they tried bites of parmesan-encrusted Mahi with tomato basil en blanc sauce, tenderloin and shrimp skewers with Cajun barbecue sauce, pork porterhouse with a peach barbecue sauce, vegetable kabobs and cheesecake squares.

And finally, back on the trolleys, the group experienced a traditional Brazilian meal at Rodizio Grill where they sipped on limeades (lime juice, sugar and cream) and sampled top sirloin picanha, sweet and sour chicken and roasted glazed pineapples carved off skewers by gouchos at the restaurant at Voorhees Town Center.

For Restaurant Week, these eateries will offer fixed-priced meals where guests can choose from a set menu. At Capital Grille diners can get either lunch or dinner (lunch costs $20 per person and dinner costs $35.) At Firebirds, guests get a three-course meal (dinner only) for $30 per person. And at Rodizio Grill, get the full Rodizio experience, which includes the salad bar — not drinks or dessert — for $27.99.

"It's been great to have just come on board this year," said Firebirds Wood Fired Grill manager T.R. Mansfield.

Firebirds opened in December and is among a good number of restaurants that recently opened up this year at the Moorestown Mall including Osteria — by Marc Vetri and Distrito.

"We're all new to the area," Mansfield said. "So come out and try us."

For a complete list of restaurants and menus, visit www.preitsjrestaurantweek.com.

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Contact Features Editor Kristie Rearick at 856-686-3638 or krearick@southjerseymedia.com