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Notes from the Weekend: May 23
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: May 23
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 work on Friday, I sped over to NoLibs to pick up a left-behind debit card at Dos Segundos, then seized the opportunity to pick up a pizza from Rustica (903 N. Second St.). I was in a serious mood and opted for a serious small red pie with whole cloves of soft, robust roasted garlic. —EF
On Friday, started the weekend off with dinner at Tampopo (267 S. 44th St.) — I got a spicy tuna bi bim bop, always light and delicious. I accompanied it with a shared six-pack of Philadelphia Pale Ale that my dining companion and I picked up from Best House Pizzeria (4301 Baltimore Ave.). —AP
Caught an unorthodox snack at Adsum (700 S. Fifth St.) Friday night — blowfish tails (right), which Matt Levin battered and fried and served with giant caper berries. Though they do come from the puffy fish most notorious for its poisonous qualities, they’re not technically "tails" — the little buffalo wing-like guys are actually the meaty cylinder of flesh surrounding the blowfish’s backbone, aka the only bone a blowfish has got. Very good, slightly weird. –DL
To honor my resolution to cook at home more often, my love and I decided to turn Friday night into our most favorite night of all nights: TACO NIGHT. We got some blue corn shells, spiced up some beef with lots of cumin and Dan made the most excellent pico de gallo. I ate three (maybe four) tacos. He had 10. Seriously. Washed it down with a bottle of Vinho Verde, and I think we were in bed by midnight. —LRP
Continuing with the atypical seafooding of Friday evening, had a great meal at the freshly LaBanned Monsù (901 Christian St.), a dinner that featured stuffed sardines, calves’ tongue over fried scamorza, braised goat and this crispy whole orata, whose carcass contained enough sliced garlic to beat back the bad guys in Priest for a few sequels. Shoutout to our server, Maher — he is the dude and gave us sambuca. Love that guy. —DL
I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before, but my most favorite gluten-free cereal is made for children, and has a gorilla on the box. So yeah, Saturday morning began with a heaping bowl of the famous Envirokids Gorilla Munch, topped with sliced bananas. Of course I had to put banana in the monkey cereal. —LRP
Saturday morning, had a somewhat healthy brunch at Ants Pants (2212 South St.), where we snagged a couple of seats along the front window — the dill scrambled eggs, served with two slabs of feta, tomato slices and wilted spinach was tasty and light. Afterward, enjoyed the sunshine on the sidewalk with a friend and a delicious cup of java from Shot Tower (542 Christian St.). —EF
Saturday kicked off with brunch at National Mechanics (22 S. Third St.) with a big ol' group of friends. People are starting to get really into these post-grad "goodbye get-togethers," but I find it easier/healthier to treat them as standard weekend meals in which I repress a lot of different emotions. I got a massive western omelette (I'd guess there were approximately 15 eggs involved), and hit up the awesome make-your-own Bloody Mary bar to help cope with impending nostalgia. —AP
Saturday: Successfully evaded the brunt of the Rittenhouse Row Festival crowd (MADRAS SHORTS EVERYWHERE I LOOK, GODS OF DENIM SAVE ME) and brought my visiting parents and little sister to Oyster House (1516 Sansom St.), their most favorite Philly restaurant. Wrecked two dozen oysters and a whole lotta other stuff (fried clam roll was on point!); my lunch, the fregola-ed softshell entrée, was so good it deserved its own And 1 Mixtape-style hype man (Oh BAYBEEEE!).—DL
I regretfully declined a ballin' lunch at Han Dynasty (108 Chestnut St.) on Saturday afternoon due to the abundance of groceries in my kitchen. Instead, I fueled myself with some tofu and red bean chili and a raw kale salad with grape tomatoes and some of that delicious San-J (tamari sesame) dressing I got in the mail recently. —LRP
On Saturday night, dropped into National Mechanics (22 S. Third St.) and had a quick beer in the company of Meal Ticket's own Felicia D. They had the ultra-summery RJ Rockers' Son of Peach wheat brew on tap, thanks for the reco, Flea! —EF
Put together my new Weber Performance grill on Saturday morning, a ridiculous birthday gift from the girl. (She has good taste, no?) Took about an hour to assemble, which is actually pretty good for my uncoordinated, tool-challenged self; rewarded my hard labor with a cone of strawberries and cream/Nutella combo from Capoyunk (1625 E. Passyunk Ave.) around the corner from the crib. —AE
I made dinner with my roommate Noah on Saturday night, and we split responsibilities. He covered the salad and threw together a really tasty mustard vinaigrette that punched up a bunch of baby spinach and braised portabello mushrooms. I grilled some chicken that I had marinating in a slurry of Greek yogurt, lemon, and rosemary (real talk, there is nothing that keeps chicken moist like a good soak in some yogurt). I also cut up some polenta and decided to dust the slices with some Cajun seasoning before throwing them in the oven. —AP
Hit up the Headhouse farmers market on Sunday. Scooped snow peas from Tom Culton, collards and mustard greens from Weaver's Way, a pink-tipped potted Japanese willow for the stoop and a pint of grade-B maple syrup from Spring Hills Farm. A shitty season caused Spring Hills to miss Headhouse last year, and all year my pancakes were sad with our their light-bodied yet full-flavored, almost boozy B. —AE
Per usual, I laid around for most of Sunday. Revisited Friday's pizza for lunch with a quick high-temp oven rebake, but toned it down and scrapped a few of the garlic cloves, preferring the leftover essence to their actual bite. Also threw together a free-form vegan potato salad: red potatoes, veganaise, apple cider vinegar, cilantro and diced green peps. Threw it all into a wrap with some shredded red cabbage for a quick, healthy-ish dinner. —EF
Sunday turned into the day of random snacking, as my brunch plans fell through and I was left alone, wandering the streets of Old City to forage for nourishment before work. In my bag, one banana and one peach. I then picked up this acai bar, a Lara bar (chocolate peanut butter, as usual), and a pint cup filled with perfect thyme roasted golden beets from Fork, etc. (308 Market St.). —LRP
I was left to my own devices for pretty much all of Sunday’s daylight hours, which meant I 1) slept in waaaay too late and 2) I ate pho! After I checked out the brand-new Strange Brew, I dropped by my go-to Pho 75 (1100 Washington Ave.) for a solo bowl. I hate to say it but this one just wasn’t on point like it usually is. I’ll be back to slurp though, 75. I’ll be back. —DL
Sunday's late lunch was another "goodbye get together," this time at Mad 4 Mex (3401 Walnut St.). I got a tofu burrito that was filling enough to carry me through late in the evening, when I found myself peckish and decided to nosh on ... leftovers! Hoo-rah, post-grad life! —AP
We almost did the usual late-night neighborhood bar dinner on Sunday, but decided to keep it low key, again. As much as I wanted a steak, or the clams from N. 3rd, or a glass of wine, I shut up and let the boyfriend make me some delicious fried rice with ginger, bacon, onion, and carrot, and then, I was happy. —LRP
After 75 but before dinner, copped pizza from Lazaro’s (1743 South St.) — if within a three- to eight-block radius, I have lots of trouble talking myself out of stopping in for igmongous slices. Eventually made it home to whip up some Hung Vuong-sourced littlenecks steamed in a Victory Headwaters Pale Ale broth, which was not the smartest choice in retrospect — lil’ too hoppy, but nothing a couple pinches of sugar couldn’t fix. Since I was already in a hoppy place anyway, hit up this Fegley’s Brew Works Hop’solutely triple IPA and was real happy about it. —DL
Weekend started early with too many drinks and tons of pierogi at Tatooed Mom's #whyilovephilly party. Friday was a movie at the ritz and takeout from Golden Empress at a friend's. Savory Beef with Broccoli, Duck with mixed veg (both veg) and cold seaweed salad satisfied our need for salt, grease and flavor.
Saturday was spent among awesome nerds at GameLoop PHL and eating some (probably fried) things I don't remember at the after party at National Mechanics.
Sunday meant recovery brunch of a (frankly disappointing) veg bacon breakfast burrito at A Full Plate (no salsa, really?) and bites of my man's riblet sandwich before heading to Greensgrow and a party with sandwiches and delicious salad from Cafe Estelle. I'm full, fat and tired!— PSomething- I hit up jose pistolas for some beers on Friday, which also included some of their awesome nachos and their pig wings. I don't know what part of the pig said wings come from (rib? shoulder area?), but the dark meat slides off the bone similar to how a half-melted ice cream popcicle slides off the stick on summer day in Philly. the meat is slathered in the most delicious, sweet and spicy sauce.
London Grill gets more attention, but Rembrandt's up the street pumps out superior food, in my humble opinion (London is delicious too, no doubt). Saturday night I continued a meat filled weekend and got the steak frites at Rembrandts. Cooked perfectly and topped with an egg, carmelized onions and stout glaze. The mission double IPA they had on tap was terrific.
A comment on Pho 75. The quality of the Pho (specifically the broth) declines as the day wears on. Early in the day, you get the broth from the top of the pot that is very clear and has the most crisp and complex flavor. Later in the day you get the bottom of the pot, and the broth (and flavor) is clouded with meat and seared bone particles.— rascal b. schuylkillian - Not sure what time you ate your Pho, DL, but I've found as the day wears on, the quality of the Pho at 75 declines. Early in the day (noon and earlier) you get the broth from the top of the pot that is clear, crisp and complex in flavor. Later in the day you get broth from the bottom of the pot and that is clouded by meat and seared bone particle (and flavor).
As for what I ate this weekend, the most memorable was the pig wings from jose pistolas. I don't know where the meat comes from (ribs, shoulder?), but that tasty dark meat bathed in a sweet and tangy sauce slides off the bone like a half-melted ice cream popcicle sliding off the stick on a summer day in Philly.— rascal b. schuylkillian - What? No more late night happy hour at Fish? A sad disappointment on Saturday night that I sincerely hope does not have to do with their new business endeavors and/or NY Times article. A not-so-sloppy second was Amis, perfect for a drink and snack at the bar after their evening rush even though our fave bartender wasn't there. Straciatella with fava beans...swiss chard ravioli with spring onions...please spring never end. Speaking of spring, Headhouse provided some lovely ingredients for a Sunday dinner. Le menu: dry rub baby back ribs, rosemary water corn on cob (yes, a delicious suggestion from dinner guest), charred asparagus, and the farmers market-inspired finish, strawberry rhubarb basil panna cotta. FYI, panna cotta is seriously easy to make, who knew?— gourmandjk
- My buddy was telling me about Pho 75 on Saturday-I've only ever had it from Vietnam Cafe. He also explained by way of his Vietnamese girlfriend that it should be enunciated as a question..."Pho?" I may have to ask the guys at Fuh Wah about that in case he's putting me on.
Friday the boy and I stopped at Dock Street since I refuse to buy groceries a week before I move. He had the fish and chips with trio fries, I had the chicken sandwich. The chicken was too dry but I dug the accompanying pesto mayo and Fontina cheese.
Saturday after the second to last greasy breakfast at Mr. Lee's we attended a Rapture de Jorts party. It means what you think it means; everyone was required to wear jean shorts. I would have been angry at the thought of meeting zombie Jesus in jorts, but someone had brought an insane amount of different sausages from Reading Terminal for the grill. It's hard to be angry while eating buffalo chicken sausage. At 6:00 the host climbed on his roof and threw cardboard thunderbolts at us as all the boys chanted "Kali ma! in between champagne funnels. Classic.
Sunday was a barbecue at my sister's-her and my mom bought some crazy good manchego cheese, membrillo paste, and candied walnuts. I made a roasted potato salad with capers, red onion, and a chive dijon vinaigrette, and then we grilled up burgers, sausage, and ribs. Meat 'splosion.— JulieC - Desperately in need of bi bim bap Friday night but it was late and Tampopo was closed, so roommate and I hit up the deserted Pastoral Korean Restaurant. Finally got to try bi bim bap out of that super hot stone bowl, but I wished there was more meaaaat. The simple dumpling soup was great.
As Rittenhouse Row Festival virgins, friends and I had to go this weekend. Haddock fingers at the Dandelion stand (tasty but in retrospect, soooo fried) and Thai pork sausage flatbread wrap (banh-mi-esque) at the Lacroix stand. Friends had the chicken/ramp/tomato flatbread and the lamb/tzaziki and for once, I thought the sausage wasn't up to par with the others. Awesome all around though.
Mmm leftovers for dinner with Troegs. Sunday the boyfriend and I brunched at IKEA, I ate chicken tenders like a seven year old (no regrets) and the boyfriend got the standard meatballs. Froyo to finish the trip! Then boyfriend made some completely Hung Vuong-sourced banh mi. Quick picked the daikon and everything. We marveled at the cheapness of the pate, pork roll, etc.— jreyes - Barbuzzo was heaven on Sunday. Both the Asparago pizza and Fidua, My Way were so good. Need I sing the praises of the budino? I think that's been a million times before. All washed down with the blanco sangria, but next time I'll have to get the basil lemonade. I had a major food baby for the rest of the night.— molls to the wall
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