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Notes from the Weekend: April 25
Notes from the Weekend is a Monday feature that sees the members of Team Meal Ticket compiling all the food/drink highlights uncovered during prime eatin' time, Friday to Sunday.
Notes from the Weekend: April 25
Notes from the Weekend is a Monday feature that sees the members of Team Meal Ticket compiling all the food/drink highlights uncovered during prime eatin' time, Friday to Sunday. Consider this a place for good deals, great dishes, wicked cocktails, recipe triumphs (and tragedies), bizarro conversations and more. We're eager to share our notes, but especially excited to read yours.We encourage you to leave notes from YOUR weekend in the comments. Have at it! (View past NFTW installments at citypaper.net/notes.)
Adam Erace: AE
Erin Finnerty: EF
Drew Lazor: DL
Adrian Pelliccia :AP
Laurel Rose Purdy: LRP
After tearing up two Irish breakfasts with DL Friday afternoon (see this week’s CP food section for why), had a first-time-in-a-MINUTE dinner at Southwark (701 S. Fourth St.). Highlights included the steamed clams, frank and beans, strawberry sorbet and mint choco chip ice cream sandwich. Also my first time trying house charcutier/sous chef Nick Macri's meats. Loved 'em all, particularly the seventh-circle-of-hell-hot 'nduja (remember when DL wrote about it?) and the veal liver terrine, pictured above on this pretty meat and cheese plate. Nibbled it in the bar with one of George Costa's elegant Aviations. —AE
You ever wake up one day and realize that you haven’t been to your go-to bar in several weeks? That’s what happened to me and the Sidecar (2201 Christian St.). What the hell is my problem?! Thank God we remedied that Friday night, posting up at the corner of the bar by the chalkboard (fave spot), wrecking a Reuben (fave sandwich) and catching up with our fave bar crew. Hi y’all. —DL
On Friday and Saturday nights at work, I always, always eat the same thing when I snag a minute to: one or two bananas, a Lara bar (usually of the chocolate peanut variety), peanuts with raisins and a bag of baby carrots. This happens every single weekend, without fail. —LRP
Kept it low-key on Friday by going to my old standby Saigon Pho Cafe (4248 Spruce St.). I decided to avoid getting too adventurous and ordered the always-delicious No. 27 — vermicelli, sprouts, shredded lettuce, chargrilled pork, fried spring rolls, and jalapeños. With the addition of too much hoisin and sriracha, it was the ideal greasy way to close out the week. —AP
OK, Cakepops: the ultra-cutesy bakesale craftivity of the moment. After hearing endless hype about Starbucks' overpriced two-bite version, I decided to see what they're all about, DIY STYLE. My charmingly rustic, asymmetrical batch, yielding about 45, was made for just under the total cost of four of Starbucks' version. Deal with those stats, Starbucks! —EF
Brunched at the girl's casa Saturday morning. That there in the pan is scrapple and sausage, crisped in brown butter and glazed with raw honey. —AE
Saturday, aka Lady M’s birthday, was packed with food wackiness. Started with a bit of brunch at The Dandelion (18th/Sansom) for more U.K. breakfast action, then Moroccan tacos ta-roccos at Mémé (2201 Spruce St.), then a Rhino Tooth and an Astronaut's Haircut at Oyster House (1516 Sansom St.), and then we ran into the good dude Scott Case "guest-mongering" behind the cheese counter at the Rittenhouse Di Bruno's (1730 Chestnut St.). We copped tres quesos — the ultra-creamy, kinda-funky “Anton’s Red Love,” a solid English blue and some ricotta salata to go along with a snap pea/radish salad for Easter (recipe here — make it!). —DL
On Saturday morning, in order to effectively negate my early-morning visit to the gym, we wandered into a bustling Little Pete's (2401 Pennsylvania Ave. — FYI, use the back entrance on Fairmount) for my usual greasy-spoon breakfast: cheese omelette, well-done home fries and rye toast. —EF
Saturday was a big library day, and after chowing down a lackluster bowl of Cheerios and almond milk (sorry, vegan roommate), I locked myself down for some hardcore work time. I took a break to pick up a salad (spring mix with chickpeas, walnuts, beets, chicken, cucumbers, broccoli, onions, balsamic vinaigrette and black pepper) from Houston Market (3417 Spruce St.), one of the dining halls at Penn. As graduation gets closer and closer, eating in dining halls somehow becomes more of a nostalgic, emotional experience each time. —AP
I found my new favorite brunch spot Saturday afternoon, sitting at the chef's counter at Amis (412 S. 13th St.) with two friends. I can't believe how long it took me to get there for not-dinner or not-industry night. This was classy, with Prosecco and a carafe of fresh-squeezed blood orange juice to wash down the 17 (18? 19?) plates we had in front of us. Loved the marinated cucumbers with ricotta and chilies; warm mixed green salad with pancetta and soft scrambled egg; herby polenta; and cockles with scallion and egg. The ravioli all'uovo looked so sick. Maybe someday semolina will be gluten-free. —LRP
After picking up a sick teak patio set for the yard at Carson's Wood in Manayunk (go here!), picked up dinner round the Passyunk way at Plenty (1710 E. Passyunk Ave.). Tim McGinnis, your tasso sandwich is so, so sick. Big, chewy oatmeal-cranberry and chocolate chip cookies for dessert. —AE
The crown jewel of my food-addled Saturday: M’s birthday dinner at Bistrot La Minette (623 S. Sixth St.), probably the most special meal I’ve had so far in 2011. I got to know the extended BLM family well while following them around at the Beard House in December, so it’s always fun to see them in their element, catering to a fully packed weekend-night house. Punctuated by Peter Woolsey dropping occasional plates on our table and screaming "BAAAAAAM!" very loudly (he is a true professional), everything about this evening was tremendous. Wine, sardines, escargot, springy lamb stew, fluke, tarte au citron, cognac, a lot more. The two couples to my right made quick friends by the end of the first course, which I thought was sweet and indicative of Bistrot's charms. One half of Bob and Heather, the couple next to my left, told me they followed me on Twitter. (I promptly apologized.) If you are celebrating something, or if you simply love very good food and very good service, it’s very, very difficult to go wrong at BLM. —DL
Cooked a solid dinner for one on Saturday: spicy tempeh burritos with fennel and red cabbage slaw. A tasty, mostly vegan meal, save for the addition of several dollops of sour cream. (Pictured; peep the excellent washed-out picture quality. Waa waa.) —EF
My cousin and her husband brought their new baby down from New York to visit my parents this weekend, so I scooted home to NoLibs to catch up with the extended clan. My aunt and uncle also decided to make a surprise appearance, and they came bearing ribs. After slow-roasting in the oven for hours, the meat was falling off the bone and ready to go. We also feasted on yellow rice (best when drowned in BBQ sauce) and a surprisingly light potato salad — all three worked genius-ly together, and there's no better way to ring in warm weather than by eating something ridiculously messy. —AP
I had my very last Full English/Irish breakfast (I’ve eaten seven in the past week, Jesus take the wheel!) early Sunday morning at the British Chip Shop in Haddonfield (146 Kings Highway East). Don't worry, I got the black and white puddings on the side. Sat in a window seat and shoveled everything down with black coffee and Irn Bru, the peculiar Scottish soft drink (tastes to me like a hybrid of orange soda and cream soda) touted as a hangover cure. Very fit Haddonfield joggers kept plodding by and silently judging me. What, you eat too jerks. —DL
Had a quick rendezvous with a friend at One Shot Coffee (217 W. George St.) on Sunday morning, where she had the breakfast tacos with chorizo and I had steel-cut oats with almonds and raisins. I drank an iced tea. I think it was the first time I have EVER ordered and paid for an iced tea in my life. —LRP
Sunday was Easter, you guys! Also, the most aggressively relaxing day ever. Brunched at Honey's (800 N. Fourth St.) and snagged a couple of seats at the counter before the lengthy brunch wait really began and enjoyed another weekend standard: enfrijoladas, plus a latke. —EF
After the Chip Shop, we shipped it down to Maryland for another episode of A Very Filipino Easter Celebration. My extended family’s new “sharing time” tradition (where you have to open up and tell everyone about your life) would be impossible to muck through without the life-affirming consumption of lumpia, pancit, my mom’s lecheplan and various other non-Filipino items, like Royal Farms fried chicken. (Shout in the comments if you know about Royal Farms, aka RoFo!) The salad we made was promptly executed. —DL
Easter Sunday is best celebrated with baked goods. In honor of the holiday, my wonderfully talented baby sister put her cake-ing skills to good use by constructing a Peep Cake (photo forthcoming). I did very little to help in this process, and instead focused on "brulee-ing" Peeps with her kitchen torch. And now I know that a crunchy shell is the best possible addition to the already near-perfect Easter snack. As far as real meals were concerned, "leftover ribs" was the name of the game, as it probably will be for the remainder of the month. I got to take some home with me, which is a good guarantee that I will remain well fed through reading days. —AP
Sunday was a whirlwind. Fortified myself for a multi-family, multi-destination Easter feast with what else: French toast. Made this short stack with Ric's sweet potato-walnut bread soaked in vanilla bean-freckled custard. On top: pistachios, candied violets and diced North-South lamb tasso glazed in maple syrup. (Tasso twice in one weekend?! You bet.) Hauled it over Clayton, New Jersey, around noon for brunch No. 2: eggs, tater tots, mimosas, more French toast and lots of Easter bread with mom's side of the fam. Back in the city by 3, where I prepared my Easter dinner contribution (a salad involving shaved raw asparagus, roasted ramps and pineapple) right quick before heading to Bucks County for Easter supper with the in-laws. MiL hooked up, among other things, mustard-rubbed lamb chops, fam-favorite pineapple bread stuffing and a garlicky show-stopper of roasted animal loin so massive I'm pretty sure it came from a wooly mammoth and not a pig as she claimed. —AE
Resurrected my appetite (yukyuk) for an early dinner at Memphis Taproom (2331 E. Cumberland St.) on Sunday afternoon. The smoked coconut on the club is so baconny, I can't eat it without a twinge of guilt and a dusting of paranoia. The rest of the evening consisted of Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and much snackers’ guilt, induced by popcorn, Oreos and ice cream. Ben & Jerry's Peanut Brittle — add this to your list of things to try, thank me later. —EF
Sunday night required a lot of wine — it was a really long weekend at work. Met up with the beau and some good friends at Bar Ferdinand (1030 N. Second St.) for a few hours of super indulgence. Dan and I shared a bottle of refreshing Hondarribi Zuri, among other Spanish wines and sherries. I ordered the pulpo — if I haven't said it before, Ferd has the most tender octopus in the city — over arugula and fennel, and the kitchen whipped me up some wild mushrooms a la plancha. Also, the calamari cooked in squid ink, savory duck hearts and a very rustic paella. —LRP
Drew, lemme come over for Filipino holidays! I want to eat all of that food. Plus, your fam will love me, I give great parent.
Spent my weekend up in Worcester, MA where they call it Eastah, yet still make fun of me for drinking wooder. If you're ever up there, check out the Galway Bay for boozing up near Webster (Webstah) Square (Squa-yah) and Eller's for eggs benedict with cornbeef hash instead of ham (holy shit, why have I not seen this in Philly yet?! Other commenters, please tell me if you have seen it. And Meal Ticket, I would thoroughly enjoy a guide to brunch places that do eggs benedict but replace the ham with something I like better). Their bloody mary's were gross but I was pretty tipsy during the subsequent egg-coloring marathon (two hours, 48 eggs between the two of us) so it did its job. Easter dinner was pretty traditional with tender lamb being the absolute stand out. My Southwest flight back outta Logan was delayed for two hours so I got real drunk (wicked pissah hammah-ed) at the Boston Beer Works near my gate. Highly reccommended for those who are also getting dicked over by Southwest.— molls to the wall- The BBW in Logan is so key when you're waiting a long ass time for a flight. Food sucks, beer is reasonable. Not bad for an airport. — LouPerseghin
- Friday night started with a trip to Green Aisle grocery for some Chicken Tika Marsala for dinner. Headed out to happy hour at Mixto, where their Sweet Tea mojito turned itself into my favorite non-whiskey drink acceptable in all company. Headed to Tavern on Camac for a beer, then off to the more laid back Pub and Kitchen for an Old Fashioned and a few beers.
Saturday was super laid back, with some coffee at Beauty Shop Cafe and a laid back afternoon. Flatbread pizza and some great beers at Earth Bread + Brewery with friends was the choice for the evening, which ended perfectly with a satisfied driven home from Germantown.
Sunday morning hit up brunch at Meme for their omelet and bacon. And beer. Skip to an iced coffee from the Coffee Bar and a sit in Rittenhouse coupled, followed by the super smooth and vanilla-y Mothra cocktail at Jet Wine Bar. Finished off the day with a South Square burger and a few drinks at the standby, Grace Tavern.
And yeah, my Dad gets Royal Farms chicken like once a week. Deep fried crusted gold.— LouPerseghin - Thank God another Marylander chimed in re: Royal Farms fried chicken! Y'all don't know what you're missing... — Drew Lazor
- This looks like the best weekend ever. I settled for a Friday night happy hour @Snockey's. 5 dozen oysters later I was calling it a night. Sat breakfast and lunch from Almanac, which btw is very underrated. My girl really knows her fresh ingredients! If you haven't been def stop in for a sandwich, out of this world and just the right amount...— rockysquirrel
- Drew,
Did anyone from mealticket make a trip to the Beer garden opening at Memphis on Saturday? I'm curious as to what you guys thought. I was there and while the dogs were good, I was a little bummed that they only sold cans of beer from the food truck rather than have waitresses selling draft beers from inside. the least they could do is have a separate person/window for drinks so people don't have to wait in the long line with the people who are getting hotdogs.
— Azzurri - One Saturday note I accidentally glossed over! Stopped into say what's up to Evan at Elixr Coffee somewhere in there. Their Iced Americanos fortify me quite nicely.— Drew Lazor
- Who is that cheese monger? What a fox...— AKJackie
- When Persico goes out of town, I seem to eat less, but all of it is consumed standing over the sink, or off a paper towel.
Demolished a seitan cheesesteak at Monk's on Friday night after a hellacious office-to-restaurant double.
No shad at Shad Fest on Saturday, but a veggie burrito from the Tacos Don Memo truck made a seriously serious breakfast, accompanied by a FREE apple from Greensgrow Farms. Good apple, too.
Went totally suburban ordering sushi and Chinese from Margaret Kuo's Peking in the Granite Run Mall -- I picked the location for the great grub and extra-handy parking lot. #sprawl
Sunday was lots of cooking: gave myself a blister breaking down butternut squash and burned myself good with a 425-degree jelly roll pan, but the squash, kale and sunflower seed salad and barley salad with raw corn, red peppers, ricotta salata and snap peas were hits with the Easter crowd. We also had the typical American staples (which gross me out): pink hams, three-bean salad, something called Pineapple Bake and 10 lbs. of potato salad. Ate at least 1,500 calories in Peeps, Cadbury Mini Eggs and Trader Joe's Gummy Bunny Tummies. They're like Gushers, but better.— felicia.dambrosio - I have nothing of note to share other than Friday I made my mom's Caesar dressing with approximately 15 cloves of garlic, and that the fried clam strips at Cape May's The Ugly Mug were delicious. Especially with a gigantic gin and tonic. Must ask boyfriend about Royal Farms fried chicken.— JulieC
- RoFo Fried Chicken is the best, hands down. For Ryan's bday this year, my parents gave him a $40 gift card to Royal Farms 'cause he loves it so. It was by far his favorite gift. He is not a Marylander but has learned over the years that all good things come from MD.— kibby
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