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Notes from the Weekend: August 15
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 15
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
My coworker Holly Otterbein's last day at the paper was this past Friday — she's moving over to work for the Daily News' It's Our Money (*shakes fist angrily*) — so we had a negligibly boozy bye-bye lunch for her at Han Dynasty (108 Chestnut St.). It didn't count as illegal day drinking because our boss, EIC Theresa Everline, actually supplied the booze. I tried a very nice little somethin' Han Chiang hopes to put on the menu — flounder in bean sauce (same stuff that tops his whole fish) with pickled vegetables — and Holly got even more booze as going-away gifts. That's her brandishing some of her haul with always-impeccably-coiffed CP agenda editor Josh Middleton. —DL
Busy day at the office pulling together carpet and paint sample options for a client resulted in a not-so-balanced lunch among cutting mats and T-squares in the library. A banana-nut muffin and a chai latte from Cafe Twelve (212 S. 12th St.) got the job done, and held me over for a few hours until din-din. —NR
A Friday off means only one thing: ladies' night! Unfortunately I already had an evening date with mucho laundry, so ladies' night turned into lunch. Went to Tria (123 S. 18th St.) with a friend and nibbled on some eggplant caponata and a Claudio mozz/crispy prosciutto/tomato/arugula/garlic vin sandwich. We decided to stretch out our date with some coffee, dessert and people-watching at Miel (204 S. 17th St.), where I had cheesecake with fresh fruit and iced coffee. Miel is my new rendezvous spot. —JL
Friday copped a quick bowl of bun bo Hue at My Tho, the Vietnamese crawfish joint in Wing Phat Plaza (1100 Washington Ave.). Details coming to City Paper next week. After, shot up to Talula's Garden (210 W. Washington Square), where chef Mike Santoro's departure doesn't appear to have had any thinning affect on the crowd. It was a gorgeous night and the outdoor area was packed with people in pastel prints, so I slunk inside to the softly lit bar for chocolate cremeaux furnished with tiny torched marshmallows and salty bacon bits. —AE
Lots of coffee shop stops Friday. Did some bee talking and green tea sipping with local keeper Don Shump and his fam upstairs at Starbucks (347 South St.). It was finally time for dinner on the walk home as I passed by Hot Diggity! (630 South St.), so I scooped up a vegetarian Saigon — shredded carrots, jalapenos and cilantro drizzled with sweet-chili vinaigrette — and a side of fries with chipotle mayo. I'm the poster child for healthiness. —NR
Friday night I really wanted a burger. I reached out to Twitter and got several votes for Pub & Kitchen (1946 Lombard St.). Drink of choice was Allagash White to go along with the infamous Churchill Burger. Of course I got cheddar and bacon, because duh. I swear to you, it was the greatest burger I've ever had. It was tender and juicy and the cheese tasted like cheddar and … sorry I got distracted. Boyfriend ordered the regular burger, which he also said was the best ("I'm terrified about this not being the last thing I ever eat"). I know once he tries the Churchill he’ll change his mind. Dessert was kinda underwhelming, but who cares? I want to marry that burger, divorce it, and marry it again in Jamaica. —EM
I was stressed out on Friday evening over planning a menu for a dinner get-together Saturday night, so I did what any responsible adult who's volunteered to entertain friends does — I procrastinated the F outta that shit and went to South Philly Tap Room (1509 Mifflin St.), where I ate guisado de pancita (Mexican tripe stew, a real fin de semana jam) and a Scott Dog and pretended like I didn't have a lot of stuff to think about and accomplish. Then I went home and procrastinated some more and stayed up until 5 a.m. making a stupid cream of lettuce soup I would later ruin mere seconds before serving. It's a long story and it'll be in CP August 25. —DL
Saturday: This weekend was the weekend of excellent burgers. Saturday I went to Grace Tavern (2229 Grays Ferry Ave.). Started with their blackened green beans — better than fries, my friends. I was concerned about my choice of burger. Try something different and do the Kennett Square (sautéed mushrooms and cheddar), or pull a bacon/cheddar repeat and get the Kelly's? Totally pulled a repeat. The burger was great. It wasn’t as buttery and melt-in-your-mouthy as the Churchill, but it was excellent. Kelly did beat the Churchill in one way: more bacon. Lots more bacon. —EM
Engaged in my favorite fatty shore hobby on Saturday: going out for ice cream. Feasted on this fluffy waffle with Richman's black raspberry ice cream, hot fudge, warm marshmallow sauce, whipped cream and a cherry from Fleck's (1600 Bayshore Road) in Villas, just outside Cape May. —AE
OK so a little more on that dinner party — don't wanna give too much away but let's just say that I cooked it entirely out of a tremendously confusing and archaic cookbook that is very, very difficult for amateur dumbasses such as myself to comprehend (see photo). And let's just say that the results were not ideal (see photo again). Shot by Neal "Spam Musubi" Santos. —DL
Sunday morning we breakfasted at Melrose Diner (1501 Snyder Ave.). They made up for the terrible fried chicken of last week by serving up perfect tasty diner-style pancakes. Globs of butter, a little maple syrup and four slices of bacon and my arteries were good to go. —EM
Before the rain, I car pooled my way over to Trevose for a friend's bridal shower and was impressed with the homemade spread that was prepared. I sampled — brace yourself as my top-notch healthful reputation continues to shine — pepperoni stromboli (told ya), jalapeno poppers, buffalo chicken dip, veggie lasagna, pulled pork sliders, mini Oreo cheesecakes, baklava and mint brownies. And of course I washed it all down with several Mimosas. That, my friends, is how to attend a shower. —NR
Woke up mildly hung over on Sunday, put on a water-resistant top layer and headed to my favoritest bar The Sidecar (2201 Christian St.) for brunch. It'd been a minute. Killed a chorizo-and-egg burrito and got a little sneak peek of the second floor of Adam Ritter's bar, which should be opening in about a month and a half. Once this 45-seat upper level debuts, Ritter says, he plans on opening The Sidecar every day starting at 10:30 a.m., offering a modified brunch menu even on weekdays. That is some huevo-related news I can get behind. —DL
Didn’t feel like doing anything Sunday except order takeout and watch a movie because the weather was horrible. Moving from one house to another (in the pouring rain) was bad enough, but the BF insisted on going out for some food. With a single umbrella, we made our way to Plaza Garibaldi (935 Washington Ave.) for sincronizadas (ham- and cheese-stuffed tortillas), enchiladas suizas (chicken enchiladas in a creamy green sauce) and flautas de pollo (hard-shelled tortillas filled with chicken, cheese and pico de gallo). Honestly I'm more of a Taqueria Veracruzana (908 Washington Ave.) fan. Of course the rain cleared up after we finished eating and though I was still a mess from earlier, I decided to treat myself to some custard at Rita's (1356 E. Passyunk Ave.). —JL
Sunday night I went back to Grace Tavern (2229 Grays Ferry Ave.) again, this time with Andrew and our friend. Got the same thing, 'cause I'm boring. Yes, I had bacon cheddar cheeseburgers three nights in a row. Afterward, we went up to Phileo Yogurt (416 South St.). I layered the bottom of my cup with brownie bits (this is key; it helps you get more toppings on your yogurt without it falling), then squeezed on a layer of chocolate, a layer of dulce de leche, then chocolate again, then cheesecake 'cause I wanted to see what it tasted like. Topped with mini chocolate chips and more brownie bits. —EM
I got Chinese takeout from Golden Empress Garden (610 S. Fifth St.) for Sunday dinner because I was too culinarily defeated to cook anything. I plan on having the leftovers for dinner tonight too because I'm still slightly defeated-ish. —DL
I got the grilled halloumi salad at SPTR Friday night for dinner. I love that salad and if you have never had it, try it soon.
Saturday was crazy running around all day so I didn't eat until the cheese plate that was made pre-Escoffier madness. I think my favorite dish was the peach melba, followed closely by the side of potato croquettes.
I splurged at Sidecar brunch Sunday morning (ok, afternoon) by ordering alarge side of cheesy grits with my crab-tomato compote omelet. The brunch food is always awesome at Sidecar, but I think I am most in love with the adorable cookie that accompanies the coffee. It arrives resting comfortably on the saucer waiting to be dunked or devoured in a single bite.
I don't like takeout Chinese food but a serious craving for an eggroll changed that Sunday night. I didn't love my spicy tofu dish, but I will def give them another shot in the future and order the recommended entree of shrimp with seasonal greens.— MLF- Mwahaha, Holly is ours now.
Friday I grabbed a late lunch at El Fuego, always with the half chorizo/half chicken now (good suggestion DL) and then pre-dinner drinks with my cousin at the Farmer's Cabinet. Best thing was that lambic-inspired Cockaigne, but the mug of rum punch we had was pretty fun too. (Also, doesn't Holly look just like Phoebe Esmon??)
I also had a goodbye meal at Han Dynasty Friday, but it was dinner, instead. The best friend is shipping off to New Zealand so my cousin and I got some Delerium Tremens and his favorite Lagunitas Lucky 13 at the Latimer Deli, then headed over. We ordered outside of our normal routine (dry pepper chicken is our Sure Thing), tried the cold sesame noodles, double cooked pork, cumin lamb & salt & pepper shrimp. Oh and green beans to be healthy. Of course everything was awesome.
Ended the night in Good Dog with Bavarian Barbarians and later, some Filipino rum my cousin brought -- Tanduay, you get it in the gas station store for like $1.50 and it makes me so nostalgic for high school.
Saturday I took the cousin to Sarcone's where we shared some potato salad and the Junkyard Special, which I've been wanting to try ever since I saw it on the Best Thing I Ever Ate.
— jreyes - DL you would be impressed with this weekends Baltimore eats...
Friday saw us head to Mama's on a Half for some fresh shucked oysters, fresh squeezed orange crushes and fried calamari (served with a sweet and sour sauce, which might just be better than the traditional marinara usually served with that). This all lead to Square debauchery (shocking I know) loaded with Natty Bohs, and a late night stop at the newly opened Dog Bar where we picked up some gourmet hot dogs (yes we can go there on your next visit LOL).
Saturday we decided it was necessary to venture to the other side of the pond and hit up Abby Burger Bistro in Fed. Meat of the month...Kangaroo. I felt like I had enough spring in my step and avoided that one, but did feel the need to scissor kick my way through a Bison burger, couple that with sweet potato fries and Ommegang's Abby Ale and it was a good start to the evening.
Sunday was our Kickball Team's party, so naturally we headed to Coveside and picked up a bushel o' Blues (which lasted all of 40min once finished LOL) and grilled steaks (McCormick's Peppercorn Marinade and Mesquite Marinades are excellent if let to set in for a few hours) and had a pot luck which ultimately filled our fridge to the bulging point. Should be a nice week of leftovers, oh wait and then I come up that way for a Philly food weekend.— MCostello13 - This weekend was pretty busy, although it didn't feel like it.
Friday had a beer at Bar then headed over to what would be a great dinner at Barbuzzo with my cousin and her boyfriend. Started with the cured meat board to share, which was delicious and the perfect amount for our group. The Asparago pizza was pretty stellar, especially with the egg! Finished with the budino of course, and rolld out into the street in a state of bliss.
Saturday didn't do a whole lot during the day aside from finishing Game of Thrones. I make no apologies. Went to Drew's house for dinner, which I won't say much about for the sake of surprise. I will say that it was delicious and leaving there I couldn't imagine a time in life when I would be hungry again.
Sunday went to Headhouse and spent the rest of the afternoon making marinara, pizza dough and then dinner from the veggies. A pretty relaxing day in the kitchen, minus the busted pipe under the sink.— LouPerseghin
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