Meal Ticket

Out to lunch with Felicia D.

POSTED: Wednesday, July 14, 2010, 5:00 PM

Filed Under: Interview | Meal Ticket

Aw hey look! Midtown Lunch Philly's "Philly Lunch'er" profile series features our dear friend Felicia D, formerly of Meal Ticket and now of Yelp. Check out the interview to learn about all her choice South Philly spots,plus her familial food proclivities:

Favorite Kind of Food: Grandma food. My mom-mom, your Nana, that guys Tete if a matriarch made it, thats what I want.

You should also read her MT exit interview just for good measure, and sign up for her Weekly Yelp newsletter, too.

Chris Painter talks Il Pittore :: Meal Ticket :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-07-15 15:46:18

[...] the defunct Chestnut Street Starr spot where Painter wowed plenty with his handmade pastas. (Friend of Meal Ticket Felicia D still talks about them to this day.) “Angelina was a different time,” says Painter. [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 5:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Ticket Stubs: Meal Ticket Weekly Recap, July 5-10

POSTED: Monday, July 12, 2010, 4:34 PM

Filed Under: Meal Ticket | Ticket Stubs

Last pass on this one ... the upside is that you get an extra day this time! That is too an upside! Wait, where are you going? Monday, July 5 We weren't working ... National Nap While Wearing Sunglasses Day, remember? Tuesday, July 6 The summer specials at Sycamore in Lansdowne are nutso ... 'shroom toast, truffled duck eggs! A Famous Dave's franchise is opening where Goodburger was. Zavino, The Franklin, Ants Pants, Zama and Capogiro all show up in Notes from the Weekend. Wednesday, July 7 Meet Meal Ticket's new interns, Rachel Burgos and Anthony Sica! We're loving Dino's in Margate City, but what other sandwich spots down the shore are worth hitting up? Thursday, July 8 Machismo Burrito Bar expands into Andorra, and are coming to Center City soon. Gianna's is getting a proper replacement an all-vegan pizzeria/sandwich shop called Blackbird. Friday, July 9 Never forget the J&J Trestle Inn. Chhaya Cafe is poised to bring funky waffles to East Passyunk Avenue. Nook Bakery and Coffee Bar should be opening soon on 20th Street. Saturday, July 10 Baby food? You really made them make baby food?! Top Chef D.C. Episode 4 recap shares more thoughts, plus an infantilized Tom Colicchio ... Pics/menu for Adsum, opening this Wednesday. Matt Levin's food is looking good ...

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 4:34 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Meal Ticket Roll Call: Meet your new interns, Rachel Burgos and Anthony Sica

POSTED: Wednesday, July 7, 2010, 5:45 PM

Filed Under: Meal Ticket

We're quite excited to be working with two new intrepid interns here on Meal Ticket Rachel Burgos, who filed last week's dispatch about Wawa Hoagie Day, and Anthony Sica, who ran down the Talula's Table pop-up at Washington Square. Meet Rachel and Anthony after the jump, and look for much more from them here on Meal Ticket throughout the summer.

Rachel Burgos hails from North Jersey, but has been in Philadelphia since her stint at Temple University. She writes a blog called I can't believe I ate the whole thing depicting her adventures in eating. She has never purposely skipped a meal nor denied trying a new dish. If something has cilantro in it, she will probably love it. Growing up in a Puerto Rican/Italian/Polish household made for an exciting and varied interest in food from an early age, and she can make some mean rice and beans. She loves nothing more than cooking for and eating with friends and family. [rachel.burgos@citypaper.net] Choice Drinks: P.OP.E., Silk City Choice Eats: Alma De Cuba, Beau Monde, Cosmi's, Green Eggs Café, Moshi Moshi, Picanha, Primo Hoagies, Steve's Prince of Steaks

Anthony Sica is native South Philadelphian and vocal music student at Temple University. A fanatical Philadelphia foodie, he served as television correspondent for Foobooz during Jennifer Carroll's and Jose Garces' run to national fame on Top Chef and Next Iron Chef. He is also force on the local barbecue scene , as his team "Rhapsody in Blue Smoke" placed second in the 2009 Stephen Starr-Garry Maddox BBQ Challenge. When not singing or eating, he can be found on the Wildwood beach or taking noontime naps with his English Bulldog, Eliza. [anthony.sica@citypaper.net] Choice Drinks: APO, Cantina Los Caballitos, McGlinchey's, Misconduct Tavern, Stogie Joe's, The Institute Choice Eats: Blackfish, Bistrot La Minette, Distrito, Fuji, Indonesia, Lolita, Mack and Manco, Mémé, Studiokitchen

barry eichner

Posted 2010-07-07 13:13:08

happy eating! cant wait to see what you all have to say!!!

poncho

Posted 2010-07-07 15:54:08

It's nice to meet the new contributors!

Rachel:
I love the picture, it is the perfect amount of wawa product placement.

Anthony:
When do we get to see a picture of Eliza?????

Molly Eichel

Posted 2010-07-07 16:52:22

Anthony -- Are you a baritone? You look like a baritone.

Matt J H

Posted 2010-07-07 20:43:58

Congratulations, dude and dudette!

Been a fan of Rachel "Spanish Fly" Burgos for quite some time. Girl can eat me under the table.

HAHA WAIT

Anthony Sica

Posted 2010-07-07 22:44:20

@Poncho: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/dirk41/eliza1.jpg

@Molly: Yes, I am a baritone. I haven't been a tenor since 3rd grade.

CMF

Posted 2010-07-08 03:06:47

Burgos is the best.  I'm psyched for her stories from the culinary frontlines!

poncho

Posted 2010-07-08 11:29:08

Hey-ooooo

poncho

Posted 2010-07-08 11:29:32

OMGGGGGGG so cute!!!!!

Rick

Posted 2010-07-08 18:28:18

Rachel,look forward to reading your reviews.Big fan of your work.

Rick

Posted 2010-07-08 18:29:13

I TOTALLY AGREE!

Rachel Burgos

Posted 2010-07-10 18:36:38

Thanks guys, I can't wait to eat lots of cool food and tell you all about it! Anthony, do you karaoke? do you DUET karaoke?

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 5:45 PM Permalink | Post a comment

July 5: National Nap While Wearing Sunglasses Day

POSTED: Monday, July 5, 2010, 5:55 PM

Filed Under: Food and Holidays | Meal Ticket

As you might've gathered from the image above, we're super busy today and have decided to wait until tomorrow to resume normal obsessive posting. In the meantime, review our post highlights from the past week and read some of our most popular recent posts!

Tweets that mention July 5: National Nap While Wearing Sunglasses Day :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper -- Topsy.com

Posted 2010-07-05 13:31:41

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Rachel Kuptz and Meal Ticket. Meal Ticket said: Instead of posting today, we're gonna be doing this: http://bit.ly/cE37w7 You should do the same! [...]

PhillyChitChat

Posted 2010-07-07 12:20:42

Funny.

Ticket Stubs: Meal Ticket Weekly Recap, July 5-10 :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-07-12 11:34:57

[...] We weren’t working … National Nap While Wearing Sunglasses Day, remember? [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 5:55 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Ticket Stubs: Meal Ticket Weekly recap, June 28-July 2

POSTED: Sunday, July 4, 2010, 12:05 AM

Filed Under: Meal Ticket | Ticket Stubs

Monday, June 28 Take a peek at the garden chef's table at Fond. Mémé unveils some sweet deals for the summertime. We gave away two tix to the Down the Shore dinner Zahav. They're long-gone but you can still take our Jersey Shore food quiz! Octopus, SNAP, pork belly, soup and cookies, all in Notes from the Weekend. Tuesday, June 29 'Rita time! Happy Hour Hopper visits Xochitl. Wednesday, June 30 Speaking of Mémé their second annual all-star chef pork dinner is scheduled for July 20. Check out the details. Free Percy Street Barbecue? Tell us more ... Cups & Chairs Tea Café opens on Fifth Street. Thursday, July 1 Snoop Dogg, Twin Peaks, Requiem for a Dream and Broughton's rules boxing all somehow make their way into our latest Top Chef D.C. recap. Eeeeghhh. Friday, July 2 Rachel Burgos recaps the ridiculousness that was Wawa Hoagie Day. Frog Burger's staying open late on July 4. Eat and boo the Goo Goo Dolls simultaneously! Anthony Sica hits up Aimee Olexy's Talula's Table pop-up at Washington Square, leaving full and impressed.

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 12:05 AM Permalink | Post a comment

Ticket Stubs: Meal Ticket Weekly Recap, June 14-18

POSTED: Friday, June 18, 2010, 10:49 PM

Filed Under: Meal Ticket | Ticket Stubs

Monday, June 14 Think you can eat 33 tacos in 13 minutes? Prove it at Drinker's. Awwwz, Nabi the Foodery Cat has Facebook! We're friends. First Notes from the Weekend with a badass new camera. It hasn't had any effect on the crappy writing, unfortunately. Tuesday, June 15 What was Ava will now be called Olive. The dry pepper crab dish at Han Dynasty is something you should eat immediately. We hit up The Continental for Happy Hour Hopper. Wednesday, June 16 Somebody accuses the Belgian Cafe of underage injustice, and the Belgian Cafe responds. Think Citizens Bank Park needs a seventh-inning-stretch Tastykake race? Stephen Starr is teaming up with Aimee Olexy of Talula's Table for a very cool-sounding "pop-up restaurant." Nana Petrillo's, serving Capogiro gelato, is now open in The Piazza at Schmidts. Thursday, June 17 Philly's cupcake truck scene is suddenly a little more crowded. The Franklin is fixin' to debut a half-price cocktail menu for the summer. Top Chef D.C. just started, and that means the return of our horrible Top Chef recaps! Friday, June 18 Kanella starts Sunday dinner hours with meze-style plates. Mark your calendar for June 28: There's an intense bartender shindig at Oyster House. We kick it on a mountain with Michael Solomonov, David Katz and Peter Woolsey.

Tweets that mention Ticket Stubs: Meal Ticket Weekly Recap, June 14-18 :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper -- Topsy.com

Posted 2010-06-19 01:51:22

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Philly City Paper and Meal Ticket, You Post. You Post said: Ticket Stubs: Meal Ticket Weekly Recap, June 14-18 http://ow.ly/17NzTc [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 10:49 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Exit Interview: The one and only Felicia D'Ambrosio

POSTED: Monday, June 14, 2010, 10:19 PM

Filed Under: Interview | Meal Ticket

It is with great pride and great sadness that I announce that Felicia D'Ambrosio, who's been my cuilinary co-conspirator here on Meal Ticket since the day it began in October 2008, is leaving our little blog for an exciting full-time gig. (She's actually been gone for a bit, but was unable to officially discuss her new job until now.) Just a little about the lady before we get into what she's doing — a Temple grad and grizzled local bar/restaurant vet, Felicia interned for me at City Paper in 2007 and quickly proved herself to be a fun, funny, whip-smart and outright invaluable asset in the realm of food and drink — it's subject matter that very few people can handle adequately, let alone extremely adeptly, as Felicia does. When the opportunity arose to bring someone on board as a co-editor here on Meal Ticket, she was my first and only choice. I've been very lucky to work with her, both on Meal Ticket and through City Paper in print, for as long as I have, but the time has come for Lil' Flea take on something new. I was able to stop crying and hyperventilating long enough to catch up with Flea for a quick Q&A earlier today. More about her new job, plus me repeatedly begging her not to leave and other wistful blog-related minutiae, after the jump. First question: Are you really leaving? Noooo, don't go! Yeah, gotta do it. As much as I love Meal Ticketing, this is more of a full-time challenge. Sigh, fine. Tell us about your new gig. What will you be doing, and where will we be able to find you? I'm the new Community Manager for Yelp Philly, replacing Monica S, who is movin' on up in the company — destination: Oakland, Cali. I'll be on the site daily, writing reviews and the Weekly Yelp newsletter, as well as planning badass Elite and Open parties where the booze will flow like Lil' Wayne after a sixer of syrup. You can always hit me up on email — philadelphia@yelp.com — or leave me a message if you're a Yelper at fmd.yelp.com What has been your favorite part of working on Meal Ticket? How about least favorite? My favorite part of Meal Ticket was you, Drew! Seriously, can we get a round of applause for this guy? [Ed: Aww!] Moving on, it was amazing to wake up every day and get to write about only the stuff I was interested in, and interview people who are killing it in their fields. Writing and testing recipes (especially cocktail recipes) was tons of fun, too, and making videos with One-Take-Wonder Neal Santos. Basically, anything we did for MT equaled brain challenge-then-destruction with bourbon. Least favorite? Having a bad meal and then having people ask me about it. Since MT is a feature-focused news blog and we don't write reviews, I'd much rather keep mum about a bad meal than broadcast it. You'll notice on Yelp I tend to write mostly about things that I like. Any favorite posts? Too many to count of Drew's! I never watched Top Chef, so the recaps were especially amusing. Of mine? The entire Eat This Immediately category is close to my heart/stomach, especially J-Mac's pulled pork sandwich. The 2009 Philly Cooks! Yearbook Superlatives was fun to write and an absolute bitch to format; it still has weird paragraph breaks. Last but not least, my geographically brilliant guide to eating/drinking along the parade route when the Phils won the Series is my sleeper. What skills/abilities you applied to your position with CP/MT also apply to your new gig with Yelp? The top one is writing, of course, as well as a broad and deep knowledge of the local restaurant scene and the players both major and secret. The weird ability of a waitress to do 371 things at once helps; the Yelp job is a multi-faceted one and there's way too much to do to get bored or clock-watch. Mostly working for City Paper turned me from a directionless service industry drone into a person with motivation. I simply wouldn't be here without the opportunities City Paper offered. Natural optimism and a sense of humor doesn't hurt in any job — people can be pretty nasty in their comments and you can't take it personally. My favorite was the guy who decided anything I wrote was invalid because I misspelled "prosciutto." I think it's safe to stay that some local bar and restaurant owners aren't too keen on the Yelp concept. What is important for them to know about the site? Claim your page so you can be involved in your business listing — it only takes a few minutes, and then you can use all sorts of free tool, like photo slideshows and adding deals and special events to the top of your page, as well as making sure your hours, website and phone number are perfect Also, remember that readers don't focus on just the bad reviews the way owners tend to — there is a democratic consensus that is reached after a number of reviews are posted. You can check out what certified curmudgeon Anthony Bourdain said about Yelp last week when he was in NYC on his book tour. OK seriously, come back, I'm gonna cry again. Aw dudes, I already miss you too! Hit me up on email for reals!

danya

Posted 2010-06-14 17:37:08

Def miss your smart, breezy, feminine-without-being-wimpy posts already! Good luck with Yelp... maybe I'll have to start yelping now. Or not ;)

Tweets that mention Exit Interview: The one and only Felicia D'Ambrosio :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper -- Topsy.com

Posted 2010-06-14 18:15:41

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Adam Erace, Meal Ticket. Meal Ticket said: Exit interview with the very wonderful Felicia D'Ambrosio, who's left Meal Ticket for a new gig (sniff): http://bit.ly/a2nUAP [...]

Felicia D'Ambrosio

Posted 2010-06-14 18:26:32

Thanks, Danya!  I'd kill to get your skillz on Yelp!  

PS Drew -- it's yelpers not Yelpers.  My new editors are going to beat me up!

T-Mac

Posted 2010-06-14 19:27:48

Congrats Flea! I've always referred to you as a living, breathing food encyclopedia. Keep up the good work!

adam

Posted 2010-06-14 19:41:43

Congrats and godspeed Flea. Miss your salty prose already.

Marie DiFeliciantonio

Posted 2010-06-14 20:41:53

I second that. a lot.

liza

Posted 2010-06-15 09:51:03

great news! 
we were all wondering who would take monica's job...
can i have felicia's job???

Terry McNally

Posted 2010-06-15 09:56:10

:/  will now try to embrace Yelp  good luck!

Neal Santos

Posted 2010-06-15 10:11:37

FLEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. Don't forget to invite us to the swaggy-ass Yelp parties, yo! 

And I just had a Flea marathon on http://citypaper.net/multimedia/

Maybe i'll go through all my archival footage to make a bon voyage vid of you stuffing your face with phallic shaped things.

Posted 2010-06-15 10:42:06

Good luck!

Drew Lazor

Posted 2010-06-15 10:51:31

Maybe i'll go through all my archival footage to make a bon voyage vid of you stuffing your face with phallic shaped things.

Lulz

Foobooz » Yelp Philly Gets New Community Manager

Posted 2010-06-15 14:53:56

[...] Exit Interview: The one and only Felicia D'Ambrosio geopress_addEvent(window,"load", function() { geopress_makemap(163711,"Devil's [...]

Art

Posted 2010-06-15 15:03:06

Good luck Felicia. Yelp is a powerful phenomenon, I'm sure you'll use your power for good. 

And thanks for reviewing Quahog's Seafood Shack in Stone Harbor. It sealed the decision on where to go for lunch. It was great.

kitchenplay

Posted 2010-06-15 17:42:47

Congratulations!

Felicia D'Ambrosio

Posted 2010-06-16 10:06:49

Thanks again, all!  It was a sheer pleasure working on Meal Ticket and being engaged with the colorful characters of the Philly food world.  Keep in touch -- I'm always just a click away!

Speaking On Panels: I’m So Hood « ericsmithrocks

Posted 2010-07-20 13:52:21

[...] to me was Felicia D’Ambrosio, current community manager for Philadelphia’s Yelp, and a former writer for Citypaper’s MealTicket, a local food blog I absolutely [...]

Tonight: Felicia D pours at Sampan :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-08-09 17:09:52

[...] Friend of Meal Ticket Felicia D, aka community manager for Yelp in Philadelphia, is guest-bartending tonight at Sampan (124 S. 13th St.), whose open-air Graffiti Bar was the [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 10:19 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Ticket Stubs: Meal Ticket Weekly Recap, June 7-11

POSTED: Saturday, June 12, 2010, 12:00 AM

Filed Under: Meal Ticket | Ticket Stubs

Monday, June 7 A second Brown Betty Petite opens in the Shops at Liberty Place. Passyunk Avenue's Fond has cool plans for their backyard garden. Lots of beer appeared in Notes from the Weekend — a little potato pizza, too. Tuesday, June 8 Meritage starts its weekly vegan tasting menu. Green Line Cafe's Powelton Village location holds a grand reopening. We hate it when bars like the J&J Trestle Inn catch on fire. Wednesday, June 9 A few juicy tidbits on Barbuzzo, opening on 13th Street in July. Glenside rockabilly bar The Blue Comet reopens after two years in limbo. The very sexy Tweed opens for business, and we got all the sexy pictures. Thursday, June 10 Scott Swiderski, hanging up his chef's coat at Buddakan after 12 years, gets the exit interview treatment. Don't forget about chef Corbin Evans' New Orleans cooking class to benefit Gulf shrimpers — it's next Tuesday. Friday, June 11 The HeadHouse, location innnnn Headhouse, is now open for all y'all drinkers. Noble's gorgeous little rooftop garden is sprouting like crazy, and so are chef Brinn Sinnott's ideas for roof-to-table tastings. Max Brenner and Jim Burke team up for the ultimate cacao-based buddy action/comedy movie.

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 12:00 AM Permalink | Post a comment

Ticket Stubs: Meal Ticket Weekly Recap, May 31-June 4

POSTED: Monday, June 7, 2010, 4:10 PM

Filed Under: Meal Ticket | Ticket Stubs

Would like to blame Philly Beer Week for forgetting to do this on Friday. Monday, May 31 Drinking! Beer Week practice! Tuesday, June 1 - Flying Fish unveils the latest beer in its Exit series. - Mac's Tavern soft-opens in Old City. They have a door marked "Pirate." - Pizza uglier than us, sausages shaped like burgers and lots of other weird things in Notes from the Weekend. - Happy Hour Hopper drinks in MidAtlantic. Wednesday, June 2 - Steve Poses, fresh off opening the picnic stand Frog Burger, debuts Cleo's Portico inside the Franklin Institute. - Brown Betty opens up shop in the Shops at Liberty Place. - CP photog Neal Santos hams it up at 500 Degrees (this was before it caught on fire!). - This nine-chef boardwalk food-themed dinner at Zahav sounds ridic. - RIP to Sabina Rose O'Donnell. Thursday, June 3 - Adios to Apamate on South Street. - Whoa, we had a lot of in-print Philly Beer Week coverage. - Mike Stollenwerk's heading to Fishtown to open Fathom Seafood Bar. - The new Noche looks beautiful. Friday, June 4 - William Grant and Sons, makers of Glenfiddich, buy up Art in the Age and that peculiar Philly spirit ROOT. - Team Meal Ticket's on the hunt for awesome interns! Here are all the details.

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 4:10 PM Permalink | Post a comment

WANTED: A badass Meal Ticket intern

POSTED: Friday, June 4, 2010, 7:32 PM

Filed Under: Meal Ticket

Team Meal Ticket is in need of a smart, quick, dedicated 21+ food geek in possession of a digital camera, an obsessive attention to detail and a lust to know everything there is to know about the ever-expanding Philadelphia food scene. You will get a chance to create your own regular feature for this blog, as well as interview Philly's most interesting chefs, bartenders, restaurateurs, brewers and food artisans. The position is unpaid, but perks include swanky invites to press events, a chance to accumulate clips for your portfolio, occasional attaboys* from the editor and cold beer(s). Food industry experience is relevant, but not necessary. A background or degree in English, Communications or Journalism makes us smile. If you want to apply, send the following to drew.lazor@citypaper.net with the subject line "Meal Ticket Internship": - your rÃ©sumÃ© (in the body of the email) - clips, or links to previously published work (relevant to food/drink — no Michael BublÃ© CD reviews, please; if you don't have any, write some!) - one SHORT paragraph on why you are our dream intern (this'll serve as a cover letter) - one SHORT paragraph on your favorite restaurant in Philly - one SHORT paragraph on your favorite bar in Philly * Please note that attaboys may be delivered over GChat.

Tweets that mention WANTED: A badass Meal Ticket intern :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper -- Topsy.com

Posted 2010-06-04 15:05:58

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Philly City Paper, Meal Ticket. Meal Ticket said: Hey food dork! Do you want to intern with Team Meal Ticket? Read this: http://bit.ly/cJAWTc [...]

Neal Santos

Posted 2010-06-07 11:59:22

Work with video A PLUS!

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 7:32 PM Permalink | Post a comment

« PREVIOUS | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18

First Gigs: Jeff Ziga, Little Baby's Ice Cream
If you don't know Nutella is bad for you and your kids, then you are a total idiot and a bad parent.
An edible guide to Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival
Notes from the Weekend: May 13
Bar Crawl: What's new at Ortlieb's
Afternoon Snacks: Richard Blais's Ikea Burger, Waffle "tacos," Coffee nerdery, The U.N. wants you to eat more bugs
Extra! Extra! Lobster openings, chocolate closings and lots of free stuff
Spike TV's "Bar Rescue" turns Swanky Bubbles into Sheer
Real Talk: 50 Things They Never Told You About Being a Chef
Hell's Kitchen casting in Philly

About this blog

Founded in October 2008, Meal Ticket is a City Paper blog about food, drink and assorted other things that make you go mmm. We do recipes, interviews, restaurant news, commentary and much more. We don't do restaurant reviews here — those are handled in print, mostly by our critic (and Meal Ticket contributor) Adam Erace. Got a tip, question, thought or concern? Just want to say hello? Please shoot a note to caroline@citypaper.net.

Follow team Meal Ticket on Twitter:

@mealticket | @carolinerussock | @adamerace

Search this blog:

Topics:

Blog archives:

May
April
March

February
January