|
|
|
Notes from the Weekend: June 6
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: June 6
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.)
AE: Adam Erace
DL: Drew Lazor
I drank a wholeeeee bunch of Natty Bo alcohol in my native land of BALTIMORE MARYLAND! this entire weekend. The occasion: surprise bachelor party trip for Friend of Meal Ticket LP. Got started in Philly at Khyber Pass Pub (56 S. Second St.) with a couple beers and a sickkkk soft-shell crab po'boy (I got the small; the large, for what it's worth, has three softies on it), then piled into a rented Highlander (there can be only one) and jetted to Charm City. Glugged some home brews and Harpoons in the hotel and then started the evening at Max's Taphouse (737 S. Broadway) in Fells Point. Everything post-Max's: bit of a blur. —DL
Took advantage of the balmy-but-breezy weather Friday night and had a cookout with C, bro and bros-in-law. Fired up the Weber, which made quick work of burger patties procured from local beef CSA Philly Cow Share (more on them here) and angelic snowflake rolls that good and toasty over the charcoal. We layered the burgers with smoked mozzarella, tomato, raw Vidalias and homemade quick pickles I'll tell you how to make later this week. Dessert: easy kaffir-scented strawberry-yogurt popsicles made in cheapy eight-pop molds purchased at Acme (1400 E. Passyunk Ave.) for $2. They were almost as big a hit as the fat, fantastic cookies Andrew brought over from Famous 4th Street Delicatessen (700 S. Fourth St.). —AE
After I woke up, moaned like a child, reevaluated my life and played some Mortal Kombat Saturday morning, Friend of Meal Ticket MC to dragged my hungover ass a few blocks to Matthew's (3131 Eastern Ave.), the most famous pizza joint in Baltimore. There's no use attempting to label these pies because they defy classification. Simply, they are Matthew's style — 10 inches, crunchy, buttery, thick-but-not-heavy pan crust, handed over in between two paper plates (screw a box) if you're taking them to go. I got their signature, so-very-MD pie — crab meat, mozz, parm, onions, Old Bay. Unfuckwitable. —DL
Didn't take everyone too long to get hungry again Saturday afternoon, so we set out for some crabs, three hardshell-novice Yankees in tow. (LP's from MD too.) This extremely helpful sidewalk diagram (complete with arrows pointing into the doorway) helped us land at Nobles (1024 S. Charles St.) in Federal Hill, where they do crabs for $2 a pop on weekends. All those Northerners got the hang of picking really fast and no one whined that their hands were getting poked and dirty from the shells. If you grew up eating crabs, you know the type — "Ughhhh, waaah, this is sooo much work for not that much meat." THAT'S NOT THE POINT DUDE. GET OUT OF MY WATERSHED. —DL
Sipped a sick-refreshing cucumber/mint/ginger lemonade from Made in the Shade Lemonade while strolling the adorable Lansdowne Farmers' Market (30 N. Lansdowne Ave.) on Saturday morning. (A parasol and typhoid would have really completed the look.) Then hopped across the street for a coffee and tall wedge of quiche at Regency Cafe (29 N. Lansdowne Ave.) before heading home and readying ourselves for the nuptials of friends/colleagues P and J. —AE
On the docket for Saturday night: An Orioles game at one of the best stadiums in the majors, Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Was fun to watch the generally mediocre Birds beat the also-generally-mediocre Blue Jays (sweet grand salami, Mark Reynolds!), with a long-overdue sausage from Polock Johnny's being equally important. In case you're wondering what the sauce is — that's "The Works," baby! Also I crushed mad tallboys and got an old lady to take my pic with the Natty Bo man. —DL
P and J's reception was at Lucien's Manor in Le Jerz (81 W. White Horse Pike); I was so hungry, I devoured the table favor, a white chocolate-shelled truffle in the shape of tiny wedding cake, before salad was even served. Wedding was over earlyish, leaving us enough time to visit froyo fave Yogorino (233 S. 20th St.) for towering ivory twists topped with strawberries, caramel krispies and torrone sauce (foreground) and caramel, coconut and chocolate rocks (background). —AE
After the game let out we ended up at Alewife (21 N. Eutaw St.), where we drank a whole hell of a lot of stuff and and were treated so nicely by the sweetheart staff. One of the non-groom dudes in the party was actually celebrating his birthday once the clock struck midnight, so naturally that means somehow he ended up drinking massive amounts of absinthe out of a snifter straight-up. Shrug. It was fun. —DL
On Sunday, brunched with mom and dad at the very-'rents-friendly Catahoula (775 S. Front St.) — cornmeal pancakes zomg — while the girl hosted her out-of-town friends at the house. Upon my return, I copped a square of their Stogie Joe's (1801 E. Passyunk Ave.) pie; amazing as always, even after sitting our two hours. —AE
Sunday: Recovery Day. Farfalle with a quick homemade marinara, side salad, and NO ALCOHOL. OK fine I had one Festina Peche. And a few sips of Duvel. SHUT UP I HAVE A HEADACHE LEAVE ME ALONE. —DL
Drew, the boyfriend was just telling me about Polock Johnny's last weekend when we had to make an unexpected drive to Johns Hopkins (he also made sure to make me aware of how awesome the hospital was. I agreed, twas FANCY). We were going to stop somewhere to get Royal Farms fried chicken on the way home, but because of the time constraints we ended up at the pit of despair known as the Maryland House rest stop. Roy Rogers' chicken can eat me.
This weekend was absolutely insane. I moved back to Manayunk on Friday (goodbye Mr. Lee's and Desi Chaat!)-after unpacking for an ungodly amount of time the boy and I went to Lennie's on Ridge Ave for sandwiches. I've already discussed how amazing their home plate special is (spicy roast beef, pepper jack, cajun mayo, tomato, onion) but I may have eaten the best meatball sub in my life that day. There were softball size, insanely moist and flavorful, and covered with just the right amount of marinara and mozz.
Saturday we also dedicated to unpacking and then cleaning the house for my guy's annual Bike Race Breakfast Party: Scrapple Never Sleeps. We entertained some friends that night who kindly brought a case of mixed Phila Brewing company and Wild Blue Blueberry Lager. I marinated salmon in dijon, olive oil, garlic, and a bit of sriracha and we cooked that on the grill with zucchini and Magglio's spicy Italian sausage.
Sunday: Bike Race. Madness. The boyfriend woke up the house at 7:00 blaring the NFL films soundtrack, and we got to work making breakfast for the 30 or so people coming over. I bought a ton of bagels and made veggie cream cheese, and made a sausage and egg casserole, and he grilled up scrapple, pork roll, sausage, and bacon. Meat fest galore. This was accompanied by pitcher after pitcher of mimosa.— JulieC- Polock Johnny's and RoFo fried chicken?! Is your boyfriend single? — Drew Lazor
- He will be if I don't get some fried chicken soon. — JulieC
- Friday, after some reporting, The Sidecar was around the corner, so I sat outside and had some Hop Devil on cask (as well as some Baltimore beer rec'd by my server...I forget the name) and the chicken tenders! I've been wanting to try them for a while and they lived up to the hype.
Saturday, my parents came and I brought them to Parc cos they're suckers for Parisian things. Had the new salmon rillettes and a Sidecar, dad had the onion soup and charcuterie (which is surprisingly a lot of food huh) and mom, the leek and goat cheese quiche. It was so packed even at a random hour - 3:30.
Then I took my parents to Nanzhou Hand Drawn Noodles where we each got a big-ass bowl of soup (but made the mistake of not asking for the shaved noodles) and sat across some people eating pig's feet. Hmm next time.
Sunday hit the London Grill for brunch with a friend pre-PMA. Both had the lemon ricotta pancakes, which were awesome, I wanna make 'em, but my sausage was a bit undercooked. But ehh. And then, finally, ate a nice homecooked meal of baked ziti along with (pretty) cans of Yuengling.— jreyes - jreyes: Back to back meals...classic Filipino move!!! — Drew Lazor
- Used my employee status as an excuse to be at Monk's at 11:30 am Friday morning to taste Tilquin Gueuze, a brand-new blend of straight lambics from Boon, Cantillon and Girardin. It was worth the wait; all cash went to Alex's Lemonade Stand.
Proceeded thence to Parc for lunch with my friend Joel, whose life-mantra "Party 'til the money runs out" served as our raison d'etre of the day.
Next up was Jose Pistolas, to hang out in the extra-air-conditioned upstairs, drinking Berliner Weisse and shots of Jameson. Only about 5pm at this point.
Did the Physical Challenge bike ride down Chestnut St. to Opening Tap, to drink many local beers (Brotherly Suds collab with DeProef a highlight) and get very very hungry.
Khyber was too crowded to eat, so we went to Zahav instead with NY friends (who incidentally, work for Food Network). There we drunkenly housed grilled duck hearts, hangar steak over baba, tons of crispy halloumi, a new charcoal-grilled branzino and other comestibles. It was delicious, I was intoxicated, and that was a whole weekend in just one Friday.— felicia.dambrosio - Friday: Lunch at Parc. Steak tartare and a beet salad. V. good but remind me not to go on a gorgeous day and try to sit outside during peak lunchtime. Multiple dogs, babies, strollers, you name it... shit show obstacle course. Our poor server.
Pre-Beer Week dinner at Han Dynasty to prep us for the weekend. Dan dan noodles, crispy cucumbers (!) and dumplings. Then off to opening tap for beers, beers and more beers. Off to the Khyber for the after-party. Bacon fat popcorn? Yes please.
Saturday: Burger Brawl over at Meredith Elementary. 17 (?) or so burgers from the best of the best in Philly. I was dying after 5. Butcher and Singer got my vote for best burger... what can I say... I'm fiercely loyal but other standouts were 10 arts, P&K, Paesano's and Adsum. Afterwards stopped by the Greek Festival at St. George's for a deelish gyro.
Sunday: Took a break today to rest up for the rest of beer week. Made some farfalle with the $1/pound Esposito's 100 foot sausage we bought at the Italian market festival. Best dollar I ever spent.
— AKJackie
- 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
