Product Placement

Delicious or Suspicious: McDonald's McCafe Smoothie

POSTED: Friday, September 3, 2010, 4:42 PM

Filed Under: Product Placement | Testing

Photo | Adam Erace

Drink me

I was driving in the Jerz when I first saw the billboard for McDonald's new McCafe Smoothies. My reaction was that of a lovesick Loony Toon, jaw dropping to the ground, tongue unraveling like a spool of Bubble Tape across the floor. Can you blame me? Look at how goddamn dewy those berries are! How the fruit fraps wear shades of deep pink and purple not seen since the Lost Boys banquet in Hook! Must ... drink ... now ... Before putting the McDonalds Smoothie to the Delicious or Suspicious test, I remembered that the last time Id eaten under the Golden Arches was probably two years ago, with a horrendous hangover being the likely cause. What is it about the flat, fatty cheeseburgers that bring me back to the land of the living, every single time? The secret, I suspect, is the poo. But I digress. There are many, many reasons you should not eat at McDonalds, but a good chunk of the American population does, because, like Britney Spears, it is both cheap and available. Mickey Ds Smoothies, which come in Strawberry-Banana and Wildberry flavors, are part of Ronalds wannabe-Starbucks McCafe line, as well as a corporate-wide push toward healthier (or at least what appear to be healthier) options. "Real Fruit Smoothies" is their full name, a qualifier of wholesomeness which begs the question: What kind of fruit is going in the apple pies? From behind the strategically obscured McCafe barista station at the Columbus and Reed Mickey Ds, I couldnt decipher just what the pleasant (foreal!) counter gal was putting into my Wildberry Smoothie. Fortunately, website reveals all: low-fat yogurt, ice, strawberry puree, water, sugar, blackberry puree, blueberry puree, concentrated pineapple juice, concentrated apple juice, plus "less than 1%" of cellulose powder, xanthan gum, colored with fruit and vegetable juice, natural (botanical source) and artificial flavors, pectin, citric acid.

Photo | Adam Erace

You're looking very purply today.

Delicious or Suspicious verdict: You know what? The gogo-purple puree tasted good a little like liquefied Gushers perhaps, but right frosty and refreshing. The berries arent local, and the cow responsible for the yogurt was probably treated about as well as Halle Berry during the David Justice years. But its McDonald's, not McMiracles, and at 210 calories for a small guy compare that to 550 in the McCafe Caramel Frappe, for example Id certainly rather put that in my body than a lot of other things in Ronalds house. (Thats what Grimace said!) Thus, I declare the McCafe Smoothie Delicious, but conditionally so. It's cheaper and more healthful to make smoothies at home, but should you find yourself cruising the great highways of the USA this summer and you're suddenly struck by the irresistible craving for blended fruit and yogurt, well, then be my guest. You could do a lot worse.

SamJ

Posted 2010-09-07 10:03:57

Was wondering about this myself. What's more, I think I've been suffering from a xanthan gum deficiency lately, so perhaps I will give it a try...

poncho

Posted 2010-09-04 17:34:31

Awesome write up - this almost makes me want to go to McDonald's.

I hope we see more "Delicious or Suspicious" on Meal Ticket, it's one of my favs!

Posted by Adam Erace @ 4:42 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Le Whif, the chocolate asthma inhaler

POSTED: Wednesday, September 1, 2010, 7:32 PM

Filed Under: Product Placement

Photo | Jason Turner

Friend of Meal Ticket Jason Turner checks in with this dispatch on Le Whif, which is basically a chocolate asthma inhaler. Yes seriously. J's report after the jump. Every day at 3 p.m., my coworkers and I receive an email from our in-house coffee shop about some sort of gentrified snack that will double as an excuse to step away from our desks mid-afternoon. Today, I asked myself this question: Have I ever wanted to eat some chocolate without getting a fat ass? The answer: Yes. That's why I opted to try "whiffable chocolate powder" instead. It sounds like a vague drug reference, but I'm actually referring to Le Whif, a small plastic tube that clicks open, and once inhaled, tastes like delicious chocolate-flavored dust settling onto your taste buds. It tastes exactly like chocolate, which I guess would be cool if it wasn't a glorified asthma inhaler filled with cocoa powder. As the website says, "Le Whif is a new delicious approach to eating by breathing," which is like saying, "all that chewing has been really tough on us for all these years, lets try something different." It's gimmicky, yes, but so is space ice cream, and from what I can remember, that was delicious and a great idea. Unfortunately, it just never took off because space ice cream is a really stupid idea, unless you're a hungry astronaut. Le Whif, however, is low in fat. which is good for people that want to pretend to be from the future and also want to be dissatisfied. Also, a French guy made it, so clearly it's a joke.

poncho

Posted 2010-09-01 14:38:59

This should be a weekly guest post!

kibby

Posted 2010-09-01 14:52:20

I'm going to consult my doctor as to whether or not I can use this to replace my regular asthma inhaler.  Or at least I'm going to write the inhaler company a strongly worded letter making them aware of the advancements in inhaler science that they have embarrassingly not kept up with.

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

Sweet: Summer in the City Honey

POSTED: Thursday, August 12, 2010, 5:26 PM

Filed Under: Food News | Product Placement

Plenty of students complete summer-long internships, but we've never heard of honey bees taking one on until now. Summer in the City Honey is a joint venture between West Philly's Milk & Honey Market (4435 Baltimore Ave.) and Two Gander Farms. In May, Trey Flemming, apiarist and proprietor of the 23-acre Berks County farmstead, brought seven hives to the city and placed them at various sites in West, North and South Philly (including Milk & Honey's roof). The swarms were able to gather nectar from a diversity of flora in this new urban landscape (including black locust, bush honeysuckle and wild clover), producing honey with flavors far different than if they'd spent the same amount of time in the countryside. The stuff is now on sale will soon be on sale at Milk & Honey at $1 an ounce, and a portion of proceeds will benefit the Philadelphia Orchard Project. UPDATE: Summer in the City Honey will become available at Milk & Honey over Labor Day Weekend.

Ticket Stubs: Meal Ticket Weekly Recap, August 9-13 :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-08-16 11:02:51

[...] for All opens in September in Mount Airy• IN PRINT: City Paper Food and Restaurants, August 12• Sweet: Summer in the City Honey Video Blog• Behind the Scenes with Kurt Vile• PSN Dodgeball Leagues• Tricking [...]

Tweets that mention Sweet: Summer in the City Honey :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper -- Topsy.com

Posted 2010-08-12 13:14:57

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by yooangel, Meal Ticket. Meal Ticket said: Honey made by city bees now available at @milkandhoneymkt: http://bit.ly/98nBJK [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 5:26 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Wear your Trestle pride on your chest

POSTED: Friday, July 9, 2010, 2:00 PM

Filed Under: Booze | Closings | Product Placement

crucialbrutal.com

The infamous/amazing dive J&J Trestle Inn (11th and Callowhill), which caught on fire in June, has been immortalized in T-shirt form by Crucial Brutal. Fifteen dollars (that price includes shipping!) seems very reasonable for such an iconic wardrobe addition, does it not? (h/t Adam)

barry eichner

Posted 2010-07-10 17:36:10

Now you're talkin'!  That's my hood.  I live 1 block away.  If you're ever visit our hood, check out Jose's Tacos Here's a story on the best freakin' burrito in Philly.   http://foodrulez.com/2010/06/25/joses-tacos-the-loft-districts-stella-mccartney/

Tweets that mention Wear your Trestle pride on your chest :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper -- Topsy.com

Posted 2010-07-10 20:34:24

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Marcus Chavken, Meal Ticket. Meal Ticket said: Check out this dope J&J Trestle tribute shirt from @crucialbrutal: http://bit.ly/9uqcVV [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 2:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Put Hawk Krall in your pocket

POSTED: Wednesday, July 7, 2010, 7:40 PM

Filed Under: Product Placement

vendr.tv

Hawk Krall, Drawing for Food co-founder and Philadelphia's chief hot dog expert/enthusiast, has designed this sweet wallet for VendrTV, Daniel Delaney's street food web show. The vinyl-and-thread toteable, which is plastered with Hawk-ified foods from past VendrTV episodes, is available for $25 on the show's site. Delaney says he's working with some food trucks to develop discounts/deals for wallet holders, along the lines of free drinks, sides, etc. if you flash yours; no word on if any Philly-based spots will participate just yet.

Tweets that mention Put Hawk Krall in your pocket :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper -- Topsy.com

Posted 2010-07-07 17:42:29

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Daniel Delaney, Meal Ticket. Meal Ticket said: Check out this cool @VendrTV wallet designed by Philly's own @hawkkrall: http://bit.ly/c7B66m [...]

Honest Tom’s gets the VendrTV treatment :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-07-21 14:05:56

[...] Delaney’s VendrTV. (Another Philly boy, Hawk Krall, recently worked with VendrTV, as well, designing their signature wallets.) The truck’s trippy vinyl wrap (courtesy of Shira Walinsky) looks good on video. Remember [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 7:40 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Lover of food, fabric, bicycles: MariaScati by Maria Farnese

POSTED: Tuesday, May 4, 2010, 6:15 PM

Filed Under: Chef Salad | Product Placement

Photo l Felicia D'Ambrosio

Though South Philly insiders know Mr. Martino's Trattoria (1646 Passyunk Ave.) has been open for going on 18 years now, the tiny restaurant's limited hours -- just Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights -- combined with the roll-down gates that protect the storefront's plate-glass windows seem to confuse potential guests. "A woman who has lived in this neighborhood for 30 years saw the gates up yesterday, and asked if I knew 'when that restaurant was opening'!" said Maria Farnese, who owns the trattoria with husband Marc. For the first time, the gates are up at Mr. Martino's, to best display Maria's latest project: a series of hand-made bags designed especially for cycling she calls MariaScati. "Philly has become the bike town! You used to be really odd if you rode your bike," she exclaimed. A fabric designer before she embarked on the life of a restaurateur/cook (Maria won't let anyone call her a chef), a need to create personalized gifts for a slew of nieces, as well as to utilize a stash of unusual fabrics, led to the first MariaScati bags. "I'm a bike rider, and I hate how everyone wears a backpack on a bike! It looks like you are going camping! And I never carry a handbag. I'm the most un-girly girl." Maria's long-strapped, envelope-style messenger pouches eschew unnecessary buckles or frills, but are made of high-quality, unique fabrics on an industrial sewing machine. "I'm having so much fun making bags, they are getting a little out of control," Maria said. "I have to start selling them or they are going to take over the sewing room. I never really want any publicity for Mr. Martino's, but I figured I could get these out there." MariaScati bags are on display in Mr. Martino's front window, and you can call the restaurant for more information at 215-755-0663.

kibby

Posted 2010-05-04 14:14:31

Oh my God, I just love everything about Mr. Martino's.  Everything!!!!

clint

Posted 2010-05-05 09:31:32

This place is amazing.

Hah, of course, Kibby and I would comment on this.

Posted by Felicia D'Ambrosio @ 6:15 PM Permalink | Post a comment

IN SEASON: A.T. Buzby strawberries

POSTED: Monday, May 3, 2010, 3:49 PM

Filed Under: Eat This Immediately | Field Trip | Product Placement

A.T. Buzby Farm

Fruit worth fighting over

The Headhouse Market opened on Sunday, May 2 with a bang of fresh produce, hand-made sausages and cheese, flowering plants and a heavy dose of farmer worship. Three Springs Fruit Farm rolled out crates of overwintered apples and gave away cool reusable bags to folks who signed up for the mailing list; Aimee Olexy herself presided over the onion jam and lamb sausage with golden raisins Talula's Table had on offer and that irascible Tom Culton of Culton Organics showed up with another funky headdress, as well as freshly-dug ramps that sold out immediately. However, none of these worthies drew the elbow-jabbing swarms that A.T. Buzby Farm commanded; and the reason is red: strawberries. The New Jersey family farm had boxes of the ruby fruits on sale for $5.50 each or $10 for two, and once you bit into the perfectly ripe flesh, it was truly spring. Red all the way through, these first juicy achenes of the season smack you in the tongue with sweet summer taste memories. In addition to boxes of the fruits, Buzby also had strawberry hanging baskets on offer for $22. Properly cared for, these plants will yield fruit all summer long. Get it before some yuppie takes out your knees for the last basket.

Posted by Felicia D'Ambrosio @ 3:49 PM Permalink | Post a comment

MAY 14: Green Aisle Grocery and Spinal Tapas collide

POSTED: Monday, April 19, 2010, 7:40 PM

Filed Under: Food Events | Product Placement

Blogalicious

Garlic scapes destined for corsia verde

So far Spinal Tapas McMasterminds Tim McGinnis and Brian McManus have tackled Philly Weekly's 50 Must-Eats cover story, the legendary barbecue of Texas and flavors emerging from Peru's culinary capital of Lima in three dinners created and served at Philly Kitchen Share (1514 South St.). Now the writing-cheffing duo has teamed up with fellow food scribe Adam Erace, who owns Passyunk Ave. food boutique Green Aisle Grocery (1618 E. Passyunk Ave.) with brother Andrew. On Fri., May 14, Erace will man the burners alongside McManus and McGinnis to turn out a multi-course feast featuring some of his favorite local products from Green Aisle. "Tim and Brian are incredibly talented chefs, and after eating at two of their Spinal Tapas events, teaming up with them for a Green Aisle dinner was a no-brainer," said Erace. "They cook with respect for ingredients and let real flavors do their thing." Expect Zahav hummus croquettes with cucumber and chive salad, beef carpaccio dressed with Green Meadows greens and CafÃ© Estelle lardons, corsia verde, Erace's signature garlic scape pesto over Severino gemelli and Anson Mills cornmeal-dusted Pennsylvania brook trout with mushrooms and fiddlehead ferns. A grown-up "Chipwich" of Capogiro gelato, local mint and Baker E's cookies all rolled in fair-trade cocoa nibs finishes you off. The $65 ticket includes food, wine and Erace's Tasker Collins cocktail, a refreshing mixture of gin, cardamom leaves and kaffir lime. There is only one 16-person seating, so if all this piques your interest, score your ticket now-ish at phillykitchenshare.com.

Posted by Felicia D'Ambrosio @ 7:40 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Clever, clever: Mini Garage Winery truffle oil

POSTED: Tuesday, April 13, 2010, 4:45 PM

Filed Under: Dirty Dishes | Product Placement

The Lovely Package

Oil cans

I hate on truffle oil unapologetically and often. Ingredient labels marked with the tells truffle "flavor" or "essence" means the product within is made from chemicals and contains nary a trace of the fragrant fungus. I might find it marginally acceptable if it showed up to dinner in this oil can package from Mini Garage Winery, though. Via The Lovely Package

adam

Posted 2010-04-13 13:06:06

this is awesome, must have for green aisle

danya

Posted 2010-04-13 14:13:46

Awesome. Please do get for Green Aisle, I'll buy a set.

rosario

Posted 2010-04-14 07:09:46

kudos to you for getting the word out that most so-called truffle oil is made from chemicals, not truffles.  the only way to be sure you're getting oil made with REAL truffles is if the label says "USDA 100% organic".  go to my website darosario.com to learn more.

Posted by Felicia D'Ambrosio @ 4:45 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Just in time for Phils games...the 80-oz. Beerbelly

POSTED: Tuesday, March 30, 2010, 7:00 PM

Filed Under: Dirty Dishes | Food and Sports | Product Placement

Photo courtesy Cooler Fun LLC

Such a seductive pose

Stadium beers are horrifyingly expensive, and baseball games are long, dry endeavors. Cooler Fun LLC feels your pain, and offers up their solution: The Beerbelly. Composed of a polyurethane bladder that fits inside a neoprene sling, the Beerbelly is designed to be filled with up to 80 oz. of your hot or cold beverage of choice and worn under clothing. Protruding from the whole thing is a hose (with valve flow control) that dispenses the illicit liquid.

Beerbelly's Web site assures us that this is indeed a real product, and their blog backs it up with pics of folks enjoying their strap-on guts at games, concerts and even in their offices.

At $34.95 for the basic model, we can see this paying for itself in just one overpriced-beer event!

For ladies who can't embrace the drunk-while-preggers look, there's also The Wine Rack, a sports bra that holds an entire bottle of vino. We'll let you click over to see the photos of that special invention.

Quincy

Posted 2010-03-30 15:10:15

simply outstanding.....

Jesse D

Posted 2010-03-30 17:14:51

There are better ways to get beer into the stadium.

Posted by Felicia D'Ambrosio @ 7:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

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Now Serving: Lil' Pop Shop
Notes from the Weekend: June 17
Rock Star cheese dinner at Di Bruno's
Happy National Martini Day!
Afternoon Snacks: Party Pizza, Empellon joins tumblr, Giant bibimbap (!), Snickerdoodle cobbler
Vetri opening in the Navy Yard, plus a nod to Le Bec
Dolcissimo! Pastry classes with Le Virtu's Angela Ranalli
Gone Fishin'
The Lite Choice Opens Flagship Store on 16th Street between Walnut & Locust
Free stuff for Father's Day

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.

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