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Notes from the Weekend: September 24
Weddings, casinos, clubs and hangover-slaying brunches all this week on Notes from the Weekend
Notes from the Weekend: September 24
Notes from the Weekend is a feature that sees the members of Team Meal Ticket compiling all the food/drink highlights uncovered during prime eatin' time, Friday to Sunday. We'd love to hear all about YOUR weekend eating adventures in the comments. Go for it! (View past NFTW installments at citypaper.net/notes.)
Caroline Russock: CR
Emily Kovach: EK
Friday night found me at my pals Ted and Carrie's apartment on 20th and Catherine in Center City. Ever the consummate hosts, they poured little drinks (gin and Izzie soda - the lazy thinking man's cocktail) and whipped up a pizza topped with onions, yellow peppers, arugula, pepperoni and cheese. I had a wedding to attend the following night, which I suspected might be a doozy (spoiler alert: it was), so headed home at a reasonable hour. Ryan and I split a bottle of Zoe American ale from the Maine Beer Company. This smooth 7.2%ABV beaut had hints of Lorna Doone and Raisin Bran, but enough hops to prop it all up. The complexity surely comes from the fact that it is brewed with eight different types of malt - eight! Also, Main Beer Company might be the most conscientious, responsible company around. They use 100% wind generated electricity, and donate a percentage of their sales to environmental causes and groups. Proceeds from the sales of Zoe are going to a whale research company because the brewer's 5 year old daughter, little Zoe herself, loves whales. Such sweetness!—EK
Before heading down to Atlantic City for a weekend of health and fitness that didn't end up being all that healthy or fit, I grabbed a bulgoki cheesesteak from the Koja truck by Penn to steel myself for what was sure to be a late night. After taking the train down and checking into my weekend digs in the Centurion Tower of Caesar's, I met up for a dinner at Altantic Grill. Two packed seafood plateaus landed on the table I realize that this was not my usual food press junket. Why was no one eating the oysters?!?! The night ended with a few too many Skinny Girl cocktails at Dusk nightclub.—CR
A hasty trip to the farmer's market yielded a bangin' homemade breakfast prepared by Ryan, who is one of those rad modern dudes who is entirely savvy and comfortable in the kitchen. Scrambled eggs with asiago were partnered with some gently sauteed greens, onions and purple potatoes. He cut us generous slices of white bread studded with plump cloves of roasted garlic from Slowrise Bakery. After just a few minutes in the toaster, this stuff made the whole house smell heavenly, like a south Philly gravy joint.—EK
That afternoon, after a stressful cab ride to Old City (isn't the anxiety of getting to a wedding on time just the worst?), we witnessed the holy matrimony of two adorable friends, Andy and Helene. They were so cute and nervous and she did the best happy dance before they got to kiss. Half a dozen trips to the open bar later, and it was finally time to rock the buffet. Credit is due to the Omni hotel for preparing pretty decent meal, including mashed potatoes made from the groom's own recipe. Apparently, he served them to the bride the night he proposed. To someone equally excited about food and romance, this really made my heart flutter. Or was that the thrill of the first steak I've eaten in 15 years? Yes - as a recently fallen vegetarian, I couldn't pass up a few slices from the carving station. Juicy, rare and drowning in jus; I think I earned another stripe on my omnivore belt. Wild dancing, a parade of Kenzingers, and late night heart to hearts with near strangers flew by like a movie montage. Cut to: a woozy cab ride home through the guts of Philadelphia, feeling in love with everything.—EK
After sampling my way through a slew of bizarre energy drinks at the expo, I decided to see what some of the other restaurants at Caesar's had to offer. Lettuce wraps at the Kwi Noodle Bar we're not the P.F. Chang's calibre that I was in search of but the chile sauce and mango daiquiri improved everything vastly. I also felt it was my obligation to see what was on the menu at Mia, Chris Scarduzio's joint at Caesars. I plate of lobster bolognese left me, well, confused. At first bite, the richness of the sauce killed any sweetness in the lobster but it was one of those curious situations where it kind of worked. Kind of.—CR
If there is one place to go to slay the hangover dragon, it's brunch at the South Philly Tap Room. The traditional beverage trifecta (water, bloody mary, coffee) immediately started to ease the pain, as did a shared plate of piping hot ricotta donuts with beer caramel dipping sauce. These fuckers are shockingly good, and put everyone at the table in much finer spirits. A vegan hoagie with tempeh, veggies and what appeared to be half a jar of vegan mayo - one of my favorite menu items at the SPTR - did revive me but also made me want to crawl back into bed. But there was no time for napping, as we were off to watch the Phillies lose to the Braves. Based almost solely on their stupid, racist team name, logo and chant, I loathe the Braves. So this loss stung, but it was a beautiful day at the ballpark, and by the bike ride home, I felt almost all the way human again. Sunday evening was spent doing all those great Sunday evening things: homework, snuggling with the dog, and catching up on the Daily Show on demand. Cheese and crackers was about all I had energy for in terms of dinner, but after all the stuffs I consumed over the last few days, that was a-okay with me. —EK
I was trying to slay my own hungover dragon in the comfort of my room at Caesar's Palace. And there's something magical about when the food comes to you instead the opposite way around. I quick call to room service and a carbo-loaded cart arrived carrying a turkey club, mac 'n cheese, a wild pile of fries, OJ and more tiny condiments than I could wrap my head around.CR
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