|
|
|
Notes from the Weekend: August 1
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: August 1
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
Drew Lazor: DL
Jessica Leung: JL
Esther Martin: EM
Nicole Rossi: NR
Couple quick beers at Varga Bar (941 Spruce St.) led right into a great early table at Talula's Garden (210 W. Washington Square). Chef Mike Santoro's food got a lil' shafted recently for being "fussily precious," but two fave dishes this night — beautifully braised rabbit scattered with favas and pecorino over house handkerchief pasta, and pieces of tender (but not too much so) spiced lamb shoulder draped over top a bowl of insane Anson Mills polenta — were straight-shootin' and delicious. Was also really feeling the super-puckery gooseberry almond crumble with lemon verbena ice cream to finish. Slow-braised rabbit might not scream summer so much, but those little cherry tomato-looking suckers definitely do. —DL
Friday night I got busy in the kitchen and returned to an oldie-but-goody recipe that I hadn't cooked up in quite some time — batter-fried eggplant and fresh string beans drizzled in honey and sprinkled with feta. I don't exactly remember where I found this recipe, but I've made it my own, and being the honey lover that I am, I find it to be the most delicious way to eat eggplant. —NR
A little while back I told y'all about Polock Johnny's, the Bmore institution that makes some incredible smoked sausages and "Works Sauce," aka THE BEST wiener topping. Turns out you can actually mail-order the stuff — thanks to Friend of Meal Ticket @knarphie, got my hands on a half-gallon of Works (tangy and tomato-based, with peppers and onions and whatnot diced in) and two pounds of "5-Inch Polish," the mere utterance of which makes some people uncomfortable (relax prudes, it's a sausage). Grilled my Bmore bounty up along with some corn, heirloom tomatoes and butter we whipped up with Farm 51 scallions. —DL
Keeping with my veggie craving, Saturday I whipped up a simple bowl of chickpea salad that was mighty refreshing on this hot afternoon. I've been on a chickpea kick all summer — here, I mixed them up with black olives, marinated roasted red peppers, garlic, olive oil, white wine vinegar and some spices. So easy and so, so tasty. —NR
Alas, poor Renaissance Sausage Truck. I knew them well. Fellows of infinite yum, of most excellent quality; they hath fed my belly a number of times, and now, how depressed in my appetite I am! My mouth drips at it. Here was the sausage that I ate with abandon I know not how oft. Where be your bun now? Your cheese? Your egg? Your moments of delight, that were wont to set my mouth awater? Not one now, to enjoy your sandwich? Quite sandwich-less? —EM
Sunday morning at the Shore, scooped a doughy dozen from Margate institution, Hot Bagels (7807 Ventnor Ave.). From plain and everything to banana walnut and spinach, this bagelry bakes the baddest breakfast on the island, luring locals and shoobies alike. Even the sweaty yogis from the Bikram studio next door can't resist a marble or cinnamon-raisin slathered with house-whipped cream cheese. —AE
Before completing a week's worth of errands, I scooted over to Parc (227 S.18th St.) just in time for a nice Sunday brunch outside. While snacking on the basket of bread and indulging in the salty butter, I ordered my fave, Croque Madam. After traveling to Paris, many foods and treats have been ruined for me here in the States (croissant, espresso), but thankfully not the Madam (nor the Monsieur, for that matter). I looove Parc's. I also had a few glasses of Champagne, which no doubt made my week's worth of errands feel like two. —NR
Vetoing my request to venture to Koo Zee Doo (614 N. Second St.) because it was too far, BF suggested going for a walk in the Italian Market and then grubbing on some old-school Italian. All the mom-and-pop establishments were jammed on Sunday, but we were finally able to grab a seat at Ralph’s (760 S. Ninth St). We got some underseasoned meatballs, overcooked chicken cacciatore and cold bread — the ravioli were not too bad, though. To wash down dinner, we decided to get away from the busy crowds and duck into The Dive (947 E. Passyunk Ave.). Clearly not the most romantic, but it certainly did the trick for cheap drinks, free pizza and down-to-earth bartenders. —JL
I drove to Collingswood on Sunday evening to meet up with a buddy and I got super-lost even though I'd been to his crib before. I'm one of those nerds who gets lost every single time I head anywhere in Jerz, with the exception of Sagami and the movie theater. Wegman's? Ass-backwards every time. I'm an idiot. Anyway we hit up The Pourhouse (124 Haddon Ave.) in nearby, not-dry Westmont for a coupla beers and some bites — dope smoked porter wings and some real good pulled pork tacos with vinegar slaw. The rainstorm knocked out their POS so we got a round of Brooklyn Lagers for free. Cheers to inclement weather! —DL
Sunday gravy for dinner at the cousins' beach house. Three pounds of fusilli, hot and sweet sausage, tender meatballs and cooked-in-the-sauce pork ribs didn't stand a chance. —AE
Took further advantage of all the great produce we copped from Farm 51 later Sunday night — cooked up some pasta with beets, beet greens (underrated!), toasted almonds and balsamic onions/garlic, plus braised rainbow chard with carrots and a little bit of honey. My dudes do a farmstand every Thursday from 4:30 to 7, go buy all the good stuff they're growing! —DL
My boy Chris went to the Vermont Cheesemaker's Festival last weekend, and brought me back a gift basket filled with delicious goat's cheeses, burrata, chocolates, maple syrup, and goat's milk caramel. On Friday night I shared two bottles of vinho verde with one of my very favorite girls and roasted us some baby summer squash, vidalia onion, and heirloom baby carrots with rosemary, finished with a healthy amount of that gooey delicious burrata.
I made it again for myself the next day for breakfast.
Sunday, wandered aimlessly through Headhouse Farmer's Market, leaving with a bounty of apricots, blueberries, rainbow baby carrots, purple beans, SO MANY heirloom tomatoes, and some free West Indian burr gherkins. Got home, I finished the burrata. It was the weekend of burrata. Mixed it up with some of last week's ripe peaches, one green zebra tomato, and one black (I think?) tomato.
I can't even deal with how much I love summer.
— laurelro- Drew, those beets look GOOD! Went to the Kimberton Fair on Friday and drank gallons of amazing birch beer. I've never tasted anything so delicious. I forget the name of the birch beer brand- it was in a barrel? Meal Ticket- help! Where can I get more of that birch beer?! After obsessing about soda,I pet sheep, rode the Zipper and then ate a hot dog lovingly prepared by firemen. Oh also, cinnamon rolls, apple dumplings and sausage with peppers and onions. I went to Kennett for dinner on Saturday and Farmicia for brunch on Sunday and while they were both delicious, they paled in comparison to the awesomeness of the Kimberton Fair. There is nothing in the world better than a carnival.— kibby
- Kibby, I'm not sure of which brand you're referencing; my favorite brand is Sprecher but it sounds like yours might be way more local. Regardless I found this awesome root beer review blog while trying to Google it haha http://rootbeerbarrel.com/ — Drew Lazor
- Kibby (I posted this below before I figured out how to respond) -
I used to go to the Kimberton Fair all the time in high school. The Zipper was the first scary ride I ever experienced and I can assure you I almost died. From the sounds of it the food has improved much in the last 7-9 years....— Esther Martin - Those beets look tasty. And Drew, as soon as you posted about Polack Johnny's I should have KNOWN that it was my buddy Frank you were talking about. Are they hot dogs or actual sausages? I love sausage but hot dogs make me shudder.
Nothing much this weekend except my friend Mike gave me some heirloom tomatoes and a bulb of garlic from his garden, so I made the simplest, most delicious bruschetta ever. Even the garlic was more garlicky than the stuff you buy at the store.— JulieC - Oh nice since you know Frank you also now have the Polock Johnny's hookup!
Fun fact: Our commenting system flagged you for writing "Polack"— Drew Lazor - Kibby -
I used to go to the Kimberton Fair all the time in high school. The Zipper was the first scary ride I ever experienced and I can assure you I almost died. From the sounds of it the food has improved much in the last 7-9 years....— Esther Martin - I got one of the milkshakes from PYT for the first time. An older couple sitting outside on the couch said they come there nearly every weekend just for the "Cookie Monster." They basically sold me. I'd have to say, one of the best milkshakes I've ever had.— Gracey
- Hit up Banana Leaf for the first time. I went safe with the Mee Siam and the shrimp puff (both delicious). My friend, who is Chinese, said she wanted a pork dish and asked for a recommendation. The waitress took one look at her and said, in Chinese, "How Chinese are you?" My friend laughed and said, "Very." The waitress hooked her up with a fatty pork dish that was insanely good but I would never have thought to order. Note to self: Make more Asian friends for better, more adventurous food recs from servers.— molls to the wall
- I find white-person dietary profiling by Asian servers to be fascinating. It happened to David Snyder when he reviewed Pho Saigon in South Philly, and they were totally open/honest about it too:
http://archives.citypaper.net/articles/2010/01/14/soup-opera— Drew Lazor - EM is hilarious. I never even got to go to the Renaissance Truck. One of those things I kept saying I needed to do.
Anyway, Friday I brought home leftover pizza from Colosseo's that the boss's boss had ordered (sausage & black olives) and boyfriend and I plopped ricotta and Sriracha on it to make it extra rich.
Saturday, sat down with some bacon & egg quiche (buttery ad good, but I should have chosen the healthier spinach & mushroom) and Vietnamese iced coffee at Artisan Boulanger. Later, the best friend and I celebrated moving out of our sublet at the Jamaican Jerk Hut (overpriced, eh?). Regardless, we had a really good time. Picked up some Lagunitas Lucky 13 at the Latimer Deli beforehand and drank that with our oxtail stew and jerk chicken.
On Sunday my parents came through and we hit up their favorite Wing Phat Plaza. Tried out Nam Phuong this time and had the broken rice & porkchop deal. I liked it but I should have stayed faithful to the vermicelli.— jreyes
- barstool scientist
- Booze
- Brew Revue
- Chef Salad
- Closings
- Coffee
- Contests
- Dealage
- Dirty Dishes
- Don't Front
- Eat This Immediately
- Field Trip
- Food and Art
- Food and Holidays
- Food and Movies
- Food and Music
- Food and Politics
- Food and Sports
- Food and Web
- Food Blogs
- Food Books
- Food Events
- Food News
- Food TV
- Gifted
- Happy Hour Hopper
- How-To
- In Print
- Interview
- Meal Ticket
- Menu Time
- Not So Quickfire
- Notes from the Weekend
- On Wheels
- Openings
- Patio Drinking
- Philly Beer Week 2010
- Photos
- Private Chef POV
- Product Placement
- Recipes
- Snack Time
- Stiff Drank
- SUPPER
- Tea
- Testing
- Ticket Stubs
- Top Chef
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Video
- Weekly Candy
- Weird Regional Foods
- We're Here to Help
- Where'd We Eat?
- Drew Lazor's Ill-Advised Rant Factory
- Pregame
- Ill-Advised Ranting
- The Week Without Meat
- Philly Beer Week 2009
- Real Big
- Where'd I Eat Last Night?
- Top Chef Masters
- The Good Word
- Next Iron Chef
- Arterial Terrorism
- Food and Radio
