Archive: January, 2011

Georges Perrier on Le Bec-Fin's second chance

POSTED: Wednesday, January 5, 2011, 12:55 AM

Filed Under: Chef Salad | Closings | Food News

Photo | Michael T. Regan

It's the day after Le Bec-Fin's holiday staff party and Georges Perrier sounds delighted â and not just because he had a damn fine time. Perrier informed his staff in days previous that he would not be closing his legendary French restaurant as planned. "Such an outpouring of letters from all over the world, many from Philadelphia, insisted that I could not close this restaurant,â says Perrier. Executive chef Nicholas Elmi said the same thing. "He wanted more," says Perrier of Elmi. "That was a thing I needed to hear â the future I was looking for." Now Elmi wields even more power in the kitchen, with Perrier taking a step back to work on other projects. "I cannot do this alone,â says the chef. "I need someone young like him to take this into the next dimension." A next anything is a big change from what was supposed to happen. In July of 2010, Perrier famously claimed that he was putting his restaurant (1523 Walnut St.) up for sale. It seemed odd to hear it then, nearly unbelievable. Many diners thought it wouldn't happen, that the tales of sale were just Perrier testing the waters, a grand opportunity to remind diners to use it or lose it. Even Eric Ripert of 10 Arts reportedly didn't think it to be true, either. Perrier fluffs it off. âAh, Ripert is a good friend of mine,â he says. âNo, I was selling. I didn't really want to do it, [but] I was prepared to walk away from it if someone met my price.â Nobody did. (He reportedly sought $3.6 million for the building and $600K for the business.) Perrier won't say how close to his asking price any suitors came âÂ only that several callers did make serious inquiries, but that their prices weren't right and Perrier wasn't prepared to undervalue his treasured space. So upward and onward to the future of LBF, which includes Elmi and new GM Sylvain Briens, who just started today. They're younger men who'll allow Perrier to relax a bit, not have to run to the market every day at 4:30 a.m. "I'll still be there,â says Perrier. "Do some sauces. Teach them what they need to know, to be better.â Perrier knows, too, that Elmi has his own ideas, and believes LBF will benefit from an infusion of new recipes, and applications. âI am not going to be around forever." Perrier has a few new things on his own plate. For those keeping score, Perrier stated in 2010 that he'd open two new spaces in the wake of LBF's sale. One, a bakery called the Art of Bread by Georges Perrier in Narberth, is ready to go and should be opening in the next two months. The other thing is also happening; he can't say where or what it is yet, as the paperwork's not yet signed, but he expects it to be a done by late 2011. Le Bec-Fin will get a facelift by spring/summer, too, as its downstairs Le Bar Lyonnais will soon become more "elegant, sexy and beautiful." The $40 anniversary menu commemorating LBF's 40 years in business will continue indefinitely â as will Perrier himself. "All I've heard for the last six months is 'Don't close, don't close don't close' â young customers and old," he says. "It's a good sign for me to know that people want this restaurant. Remember, I changed the restaurant world in Philadelphia. I did it. It's done. There's nothing to prove. Except that we can go forward. And I'm proud to do so."

Jawn Philly

Posted 2011-01-05 00:00:46

check out and review Le Bec-Fin on the jawn
http://www.thejawn.com/view/911/le-bec-fin

Congrats to Perrier and his staff

Posted by A.D. Amorosi @ 12:55 AM Permalink | Post a comment

Spaghetti Warehouse getting the 4 Corners/R5 Productions treatment? (UPDATED 05jan11)

POSTED: Tuesday, January 4, 2011, 10:08 PM

Filed Under: Food and Music | Openings

Right before New Year's Eve, I reported in Icepack that the just-closed Spaghetti Warehouse at 10th/Spring Garden would be turning into a live music venue courtesy of Avram Hornik of 4 Corners (Lucy's, Drinker's, Noche, etc.). Hornik tried buying the boarded-up Global Thrift on Front and Girard. once the legendary Jumbo Theater, in 2008 but was denied by neighborhood associations because they didn't want what they perceived as club noise. Now Hornik is the name on the orange placard pasted on the Spaghetti space â a name next to that of his old pal Sean Agnew of R5 Productions, who was going to help Hornik turn Jumbo into a World CafÃ© Live-style venue. Is R5 a partner in the venue in that it has partial ownership? Does that mean Agnew will stop booking the neighboring Starlight Ballroom/Club Polaris? Stay tuned. UPDATE [05jan11]: Last week, Icepack reported that Avram Hornik was taking over the former Spaghetti Warehouse for a live rock venue with some form of food. Yesterday, I got a call that a liquor-license application had gone up, with R5's Sean Agnew name appearing alongside Hornik's. That is incorrect, and I sincerely regret the error. The name on the placard is UNION TRANSFER LLC, associated with the address 1845 Walnut Street Suite 890, which is being used by a new entity out of Hornik's 4 Corners. I'm finding out now about the lawyer handling the deal to see who exactly that is. In the meantime, Agnew wrote me last night with the following: "There is nothing to comment on at this point because there is literally nothing to comment on," said Agnew, doing his best Gertrude Stein imitation. "There is no news." Not a denial, nor an admission. Somebody does want word to go out, though, that Agnew might have something to do with this, as my anonymous source was adamant. More in a bit ... UPDATE [06jan11]: Looks like R5's Agnew is definitely involved with this project after all.

Kevin

Posted 2011-01-05 14:43:19

So you guys gonna run a correction on this or what

Sara

Posted 2011-01-06 10:23:22

Got two words for ya, Amorosi: Fact. Check.

A.D.

Posted 2011-01-06 10:31:58

Yes I should have very well driven IMMEDIATELY to see for myself if the names were on the sticker BUT the correction was made last night AND I'll hopefully be speaking with the legal eagles behind this purchase today.

Matt

Posted 2011-01-06 11:04:13

You don't need to drive there to fact check but you'd think a simple cell phone picture would be provided. Hindsight I suppose.

A.D.

Posted 2011-01-06 16:24:34

There was always more to the story than what is or isn't on the orange sticker. Like the notion that both Agnew and Avram are both PLCB licensees on the location. As I stated from the first -  "stay tuned". Whether this a live venue or the pair's own version of a pizza parlor, something is a foot between them.

Jenn

Posted 2011-01-06 16:35:09

Is the issue of whose names are actually on the orange sticker that serious?

UPDATE: R5’s Sean Agnew is definitely involved with 4 Corners’ Spaghetti Warehouse takeover :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2011-01-06 16:45:09

[...] and his old pal, R5's Sean Agnew. While their names weren't on the posted license application (as was reported to me by a lousy source, which I later corrected) the name Union Transfer LLC was. Remember I said that Agnew neither denied nor admitted his [...]

Tweets that mention Spaghetti Warehouse getting the 4 Corners/R5 Productions treatment :: Meal Ticket :: Philadelphia City Paper -- Topsy.com

Posted 2011-01-04 17:35:24

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Michaelangelo Ilagan. Michaelangelo Ilagan said: RT @mealticket: Looks like the defunct Spaghetti Warehouse is transforming into an @R5Productions venue: http://ow.ly/3yjOf [...]

Jenn

Posted 2011-01-06 16:53:31

That question is put to those criticizing the author of this article.

poncho

Posted 2011-01-06 13:55:27

Way to not do your job and "report"

Posted by A.D. Amorosi @ 10:08 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Chestnut Hill Cichonski/Roman collabo up for March

POSTED: Tuesday, January 4, 2011, 9:56 PM

Filed Under: Chef Salad | Openings

Though the specifics are still very much shrouded, here's what we've been able to glean thus far about the brand-new partnership between Blackfish chef/owner Chip Roman (right) and former Lacroix chef de cuisine Jason Cichonski. Roman, in mid-January, will get the keys to the close-to-defunct Â¡Cuba! at 8609 Germantown Avenue in Chestnut Hill. Cichonski will be the opening chef at this still-unnamed New American spot â prix-fixe driven and liquor-licensed, it will ideally open in March â but it won't be a permanent perch for the 26-year-old. He says the menu will mostly reflect Roman's cooking style, since the plan is for Cichonski to open his own spot in Center City, in a partnership with Roman, in the near future. "I want to make sure [the menu] really reflects his cooking style moreso than mine ... so things will stay congruent when I go to open my spot back here in the city," says Cichonski. They haven't even gotten in the kitchen at the new spot yet (it'll officially close as Â¡Cuba! after this weekend), but once they do, Cichonski says the menu "will come pretty naturally."

Tweets that mention Chestnut Hill Cichonski/Roman collabo up for March :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper -- Topsy.com

Posted 2011-01-05 18:28:11

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Nick Normile, Meal Ticket. Meal Ticket said: The Chip Roman/Jason Cichonski collab in Chestnut Hill is up for March: http://ow.ly/3yjqT [...]

Adam Erace

Posted 2011-01-04 17:10:35

I love how Roman looks like a Crucible extra in this pic. Excited for his collab with Cichonski..

solaris grille closed

Posted 2011-01-14 16:03:40

[...] to the cuba space this spring goes well enough, maybe it will help attract quality competition.   Chestnut Hill Cichonski/Roman collabo up for March :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City ...           Reply With Quote              + Reply to Thread      « Previous Thread | Next [...]

The name of the Roman/Cichonski joint in Chestnut Hill :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2011-02-04 11:45:39

[...] In early January we discussed the partnership between chefs Chip Roman and Jason Cichonski and their plans to open a spot at 8609 Germantown Avenue in Chestnut Hill. Though the name Stone House had been floated for the space â prix-fixe-driven, liquor-licensed, up for a March opening â we now hear the project will be called Mica. Keep you posted.   The name of the Roman/Cichonski joint in Chestnut Hill [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 9:56 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Serafina moves back to spring

POSTED: Tuesday, January 4, 2011, 5:57 PM

Filed Under: Openings

Photo | Drew Lazor

While we were scoping out The Dandelion yesterday (see our pics here), we noticed that Serafina, the NYC transplant we first discussed in March 2010, has officially slated spring 2011 as its opening season at 18th and Sansom. The Italian restaurant/pizza joint, which does look like it's making some progress where the interior's concerned, was originally aiming to open in the fall of 2010. UPDATE: "Hopefully March!" a rep from Serafina says when asked if they've got a target opening month.

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 5:57 PM Permalink | Post a comment

EAT THIS IMMEDIATELY: For Pete's Sake's cream of potato soup

POSTED: Tuesday, January 4, 2011, 3:40 PM

Filed Under: Eat This Immediately

Photo | Adam Erace

I can't remember the first time I went to For Pete's Sake Pub (900 S. Front St.), but I do know it was a long time ago, way before gastropub was in the vocab of the everyday Philadelphian, way before it was legal for me to partake in the Queen Village saloon's tightly edited beer list (though I'm sure that didn't stop my fake I.D.-equipped youngin self from trying). And I do know I had their cream of potato soup, which many years later, is still on the menu, and still a personal fave. Dark, drawn-out winters nights like the ones upon us call for â no, command â soups like this. I had it just last week, the cup of creamy potato puree so smoking-hot, spuddy vapor rose from its scallion-strewn surface like ski-resort Jacuzzi, melting a garnish of shredded queso into an orange-yellow web in seconds flat. This liquid loaded baked potato could thaw the Grinch's heart. Eat it immediately, preferably with a pint of Allagash Interlude, a punchy, plummy Merlot- and Syrah-barrel-aged sour making a brief appearance at For Pete's.

Tweets that mention EAT THIS IMMEDIATELY: For Pete's Sake's cream of potato soup :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper -- Topsy.com

Posted 2011-01-04 14:53:50

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Meal Ticket. Meal Ticket said: Eat This Immediately, says @adamerace: cream of potato soup at @ForPetesSakePub http://ow.ly/3y5oq [...]

Posted by Adam Erace @ 3:40 PM Permalink | Post a comment

The Dandelion in pictures

POSTED: Monday, January 3, 2011, 11:13 PM

Filed Under: Menu Time | Openings | Photos

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

We hit you up with a sneak peek of Stephen Starr's The Dandelion (18th/Sansom) back in mid-December, but now we've got the full-on photo treatment of the massive English pub, which officially opened for business on New Year's Eve. While the photos do most of the talking, know that the space â it's huge, a combination of the former Stiletto shoe store on the corner, plus the adjacent restaurant space that was last Bar Amalfi â has turned out looking like a loose, quasi-kitschy rendition of the type of place Holmes and Watson might roll up on for a pint of bitter after a long day of deductive reasoning. The bar area on the ground floor has a proper British pub feel, while the adjacent room looks like Imelda Staunton's parlor. (Peep the be-motto'ed fireplace!) Upstairs, there's plenty more dining room, including what might be the best seat in the house, an ovular table on a window banquette overlooking 18th Street. There's also the plush "dog room," tricked out with canine imagery galore. The Dandelion is open for dinner only right now, with lunch coming soon. Peruse chef Robert Aikens' menu after the jump (we hear the traditional Sunday roasts, that can serve as many as four people, have been doing quite well so far).

click to enlarge

Foobooz » Tale of the Tape: The Dandelion

Posted 2011-01-05 09:58:45

[...] The Dandelion in Pictures [Meal Ticket] [...]

Drew Lazor

Posted 2011-01-03 21:52:29

I believe it was designed by Shawn Hausman, who's done a bunch of Starr restaurants (Parc, Butcher & Singer, Pizzeria Stella, El Rey, etc.).

PhillyChitChat

Posted 2011-01-03 20:48:21

It really is a quirky looking English pub. Who is the design firm?

Tweets that mention The Dandelion in pictures :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper -- Topsy.com

Posted 2011-01-03 19:10:33

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Laura Lane, Rebecca Timms, swabreen bakr, Steph Smith and others. Steph Smith said: The Dandelion is finally open! looks ahmazinggg http://citypaper.net/blogs/mealticket/2011/01/03/the-dandelion-in-pictures/ [...]

Serafina moves back to spring :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2011-01-04 12:58:25

[...] of 2010 of 2010 Meal Ticket• EAT THIS IMMEDIATELY: For Pete's Sake's cream of potato soup• The Dandelion in pictures• Notes from the Weekend: Jan. 3• Iannelli's expansion nearly complete• Which [...]

Stoop Philly Likes ……….. | StoopPhilly

Posted 2011-01-08 17:22:06

[...] (Foobooz) Look Up! Architectural exercises on Boathouse Row (PLAN PHILLY) Photoist (phillyist) The Dandelion in pictures (Meal ticket) Men’s Shops Make Their Mark In Philly Neighborhoods (visitphilly.com) RJMetrics moves to new [...]

Sneak peek at The Dandelion :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2011-01-10 17:39:32

[...] UPDATE [03jan10]: Here’s the full photo tour of The Dandelion’s now-completed interior. [...]

Notes from the Weekend: Jan. 10 :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2011-01-10 18:12:35

[...] hit up The Dandelion (18th/Sansom) for a drink after Pumpkin, but it was so crowded we couldn’t get bar seats, or [...]

Speaker’s Corner at The Dandelion :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2011-01-19 11:01:45

[...] only been open for a few weeks now, but Stephen Starr’s new English pub The Dandelion (122-124 S. 18th St.) is already branching out into unexpected territory. On Feb. 1 at 6 p.m., [...]

barryg

Posted 2011-01-19 00:57:32

I always thought Pub & Kitchen *was* the gastropub with Steven Starr prices (and clientele to boot).

22ndandphilly

Posted 2011-01-18 20:40:31

We recently visited.  Nice atmosphere and good food.  Consider it a Pub & Kitchen with Stephen Starr prices.  Read more below.

http://22ndandphilly.blogspot.com/2011/01/stephen-starr-goes-gastro-dandelion.html

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 11:13 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Notes from the Weekend: Jan. 3

POSTED: Monday, January 3, 2011, 9:47 PM

Filed Under: Notes from the Weekend

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 atÂ citypaper.net/notes.)

Adam Erace: AE Drew Lazor: DL

Photo | Drew Lazor

The most unique beer I've tried in awhile â Genziana from Italy's Birra del Borgo. It's an ale that counts gentian root among its flavor-radiating adjuncts (think the appealing pithy bitter bite of Moxie soda or Aperol), but it starts crisp/hoppy, almost like a West Coast IPA. Picked this up on a trip out of town, but there's got to be somewhere Philly that carries it. How about you, Fork & Barrel? âDL Popped into Fond (1617 E. Passyunk Ave.) Friday for a bowl of foie gras soup from their New Year's Eve menu. Lee Styer collects uneven ends from his nightly goose-liver app, then cooks them with double duck stock, cream and brandy before an immersion blender turns the mix frothy and brothy. If you missed it on Dec. 31, you'll have to wait a week, since Styer and squeeze Jessie Prawlucki are in Puerto Rico all week. The well-deserved vacay will be a partially working one, at least. "I'll be writing a new menu while I'm down there," he says. âAE

Photo | Drew Lazor

Wanted to keep it low-key for New Year's Eve, so girlie and I decided to try our luck at Tai Lake (134 N. 10th St.). It was packed to the exotic-seafood gills with folks, so we wandered about for a bit and landed at Joy Tsin Lau (1026 Race St.). I wasn't as crazy about some of our other dishes as I was about this sick pork/tofu/mustard green/salted egg soup. I'd go back just for this. âDL

Photo | Adam Erace

For 2011 Eve festivities, kept it low-key at home with fam, friends and Santucci's pizza! After the ball dropped, busted out a brunch spread of lox and bagels, ricotta pie, L&M Bakery's cream doughnuts â the best on earth, from Delran, N.J. â and Artisan pistachio/hazelnut croissants. So much food. Even the pup was pooped. âAE

Photo | Drew Lazor

Saturday: My family always gets together on Jan. 1 to welcome the new year, and that means â despite my "eat less!"-advocating mom's best efforts â gigantic trays filled with too much food. On the dessert tip were these Grimace-hued confections, both Filipino desserts done with ube (ooh-bay), or purple yam. I think I dug the flan-ish one on the right a bit better than the sticky rice-based one on the left. âDL

Photo | Adam Erace

Gracias/Feliz Navidad to fiancÃ©e's Latino neighbors, who knocked on the door Saturday morning with a Tanq bottle full of homemade Puerto Rican eggnog. Laced with cinnamon and nutmeg and less viscous than its gringo counterpart, this rummy ivory merry-maker got along great with my morning coffee. âAE

Photo | Adam Erace

I bypassed the parade for my (soon-to-be) mom-in-law's New Year's Day tradition of garlic-crusted pork tenderloin braised in sauerkraut doctored with apples, cinnamon and beer. Ma says according to German lore, this dish ensures good luck in the new year. (Can anyone confirm in the comments?)Â All I know is it was the best meal I've eaten all holiday season. âAE Saturday: First restaurant meal of 2011 at Supper (928 South St.), where we took big advantage of chef Mitch Prensky's all-vegetarian "Daily Harvest" menu, built around fresh produce from his Blue Elephant Farms. At $20, the vegetable quartet is a steal, and showcases some very interesting non-meaty cooking to boot â ours featured truffled bread pudding (awesome) with Brussels; a leek spring roll with beets and horseradish creme fraiche; roasted maitakes with purple yam, wasabi peas and miso dressing; and sautÃ©ed royal trumpet 'shrooms topped with a cheesy pecorino/goat ricotta combo. Vegetarians and veggie lovers alike, eat this immediately.Â âDL

Photo | Drew Lazor

Sunday: The unfortunate accidental shattering of our French press (we poured some Larry's out for you, homey) led us to finally bust out the Chemex coffeemaker so generously donated to the Drew Needs Coffee Fund (it's a non-prof) by Kelly of Living on the Vedge. (Thanks Kel!) Meal Ticket fave Bodhi Coffee (410 S. Second St.) came through in the clutch with a 100-count box of filters. I still have plenty of experimenting to do with ratios and grinds and pouring and all that stuff but I'm excited to learn. Any Chemex pointers for me? Please leave in the comments! âDL

Photo | Drew Lazor

Chill dinner on Sunday night â whipped up a so-very-easy batch of puttanesca using this no-frills NYT recipe. The story (one of them at least) goes that puttanesca â "whore pasta," loosely translated â was what Italian hookers would cook after a long day of ho-in' because its minimal key ingredients (capers, olives, anchovies) were stuff that any Italian, prostitute or not, has in the pantry. (Ladies of the night rarely have time to hit the farmer's market!) Regardless, I've started calling it "whoresghetti," please feel free to do the same. âDL

Photo | Adam Erace

Unhealthy two-part Sunday dinner consisted of Sonic Drive-In (2201 E. Butler St.) â finally popped my cherry lime soda â andÂ Grey Lodge (6235 Frankford Ave.). The former's mozz sticks, cheeseburger and watermelon Sprite was better than theÂ latter's French onion and buffalo chicken and pizza cheesesteaks. But Sonic doesn't haveÂ Russian River Consecration, 21st Amendment Fireside Chat, Dogfish 75 Min and Victory Simcoe. Stopped at Target between the two spots, where their Archer Farms brand cocoa-cappuccino brownies made it into the oven at home, putting the fudgy finish on a weeklong bender of chocolate-frosted bad decisions. âAE

danya

Posted 2011-01-04 09:18:08

As another lucky recipient of one of Kelly's extra Chemex pots, I've got a ton of experience. One extra coffee-snob step I just started is to wet down the paper filter with water before placing the grounds in. Rinse twice, drain the cold water, warm the bottom of the pot under hot water from the faucet, then begin brewing. Only takes an extra 120 seconds, I swear!

Michelle

Posted 2011-01-03 21:34:49

NYE was a perfectly low key night of OK Chinese food followed by glasses of Cava on the couch.

Dinner at Supper Saturday night was fantastic! The mini lobster rolls were buttery and delicious and that Veggie plate would change any veggie-haters mind.

Ben Kessler

Posted 2011-01-03 18:38:14

Hit up Tria yesterday while waiting for The Dandelion to open. Ate some fudgy La Peral with sticky-icky dates and a 10-year aged Montepulciano from Zaccagnini, one of my faves. Headed across the street to the D and was seriously blown away by the layout and decor. Nommed on their thrice cooked chips (dipped in beef stock, steamed, and twice fried) which were remnisent of what April Bloomfield serves at The Breslin in NYC. Tasty cocktails and noticed Starr hanging in a corner with some of the team, taking it all in.

Will return to the big D soon for some of those deviled eggs, rabbit, the burger and to test out that frothy "beer flip" cocktail.

Kelly

Posted 2011-01-03 20:29:12

No prob, here's what works for me:

I brew half a pot - 4 heaping scoops of coffee, medium grind setting. Then I pour in enough water to cover the coffee and let it "bloom" for a minute (or however many seconds equals patience in the morning). I pour the rest of the water over and fill it to the little glass eye on the front. Makes two cups.

Add a pinch of salt to your coffee if it ever tastes bitter.

gourmand jk

Posted 2011-01-03 20:05:58

Friday: Lavish Dibruno's spread at my girl's house including an awesome mole Abruzzo sausage and Prosecco cheese.

Saturday: My hangover cure--homemade Cioppino.  The lobster tails on sale at Whole Foods made it extra snazzy.

Sunday: Am I allowed to say that I found Beef Bourguignon to be a little bit of a let down?  It was definitely delicious, but considering the amount of labor involved in JC's (the foodie JC, holy to many) recipe, I expected to be totally blown away.  I'm half hoping I messed up something and next time it will be in its fully divine form.  Even still, we definitely licked plates clean.

Tweets that mention Notes from the Weekend: Jan. 3 :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper -- Topsy.com

Posted 2011-01-03 17:33:57

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Drew Lazor. Drew Lazor said: RT @mealticket: New NOTES FROM THE WEEKEND is live. Share your eating/drinking notes with us! http://ow.ly/3xEZs [...]

Posted 2011-01-03 17:26:13

Holy shit, is Meme delicious. I could eat a full meal of the bone marrow (no, seriously, you need to get it even if you're like, "Eeeew, wtf, bone marrow?") but then I wouldn't be able to eat the best-cooked tuna I've ever had (on top of eggplant, no less!). Boyfriend kept trying stealing my tuna so I had to fork-stab him. Repeatedly. 

New Year's Eve meal was a ridonculous mixture of chicken, ham, cornbread stuffing, mac 'n' cheese and green bean casserole, all beginning with a cheese plate of, I kid you not, 12 different cheeses. I thankfully avoided overeating so I could over drink.

Julie

Posted 2011-01-05 10:38:39

I made JC's beouf about a month ago with a friend. He was let down, but I thought it was pretty damned good. Sauce wise I wish there were more, but I thought the bacon and the caramelized pearl onions gave it a lot of depth. But DAMN. It was a lot of work. "Put the beef in the oven for four minutes. Take it out, add flour. Put back in for another 4 minutes. Take out, add stock and wine. Cook onions separately for FIFTY MINUTES." Persnickety woman. 

I have nothing good to add, seeing as I'm broke and can't go anywhere. I made stuffed mushrooms on NYE with a mushroom, onion, garlic, celery, and bacon filling. I soaked the caps in olive oil and Marsala wine and this will be my technique forever now.

New Year's Day the boyfriend and I went to Chik-Fil-A on the way back from visiting his folks in Baltimore. I rarely eat fast food but I am a sucker for their nuggets.

Julie

Posted 2011-01-05 10:40:00

That's awesome! It's like the show Chopped sans the judges acting like you murdered their dog if the food is sub par :)

Joan

Posted 2011-01-04 02:45:07

Hi Drew,

Swing by Bodhi; we can give you Chemex tips!

P.S. I love food. It runs my life.

Drew Lazor

Posted 2011-01-05 12:53:22

FOURTEEN POUNDS OF TATER TOTS? 

Bailey is the man.

Drew Lazor

Posted 2011-01-04 01:19:17

I'm happy you liked MÃ©mÃ©, ME! An undisputed favorite of mine for sure!

Steph

Posted 2011-01-04 09:59:00

On Sunday my boyfriend presented me with a mystery bag of ingredients to create a dinner from: chicken livers, dried onion soup mix, asparagus, pears, and prosciutto. I'm a big food nerd, so this was exciting for me. I turned that into sauteed chicken livers with mushroom-garlic-onion soup gravy, pear-cranberry compote and prosciutto wrapped roasted asparagus bundles. It all came out great, and I have a feeling I'll be getting another mystery bag soon!

poncho

Posted 2011-01-04 11:43:12

ME did you get the agnolotti or mussels? They are 2 of my favs!

poncho

Posted 2011-01-04 11:44:42

That sounds like so much fun!

Drew Lazor

Posted 2011-01-04 11:46:28

Joan, I'm so there. I think I'll be by on Friday.

Carolyn Huckabay

Posted 2011-01-04 12:36:16

FRIDAY: Potluck-style NYE party at our place, with sooo many goodies. Among them:
--pigs in blankets, meatballs, tabbouleh and homemade rosemary crackers from my favorite home-cook guests
--pumpkin-cinnamon-cream cheese-yum dip with apples
--eight billion cheeses on a salt block 
--a gigantic olive plate from Wegman's, my favorite place on earth
--sea salt caramels from, strangely, Crate and Barrel
--winebeerchampagnescotchwhiskeyMOONSHINE

SATURDAY: Did absolutely nothing until 6 pm (thanks, moonshine), then hit up Adsum for their $20.11 two-course prix-fixe. On our plates: crazy-good octopus app, nice Bibb salad, delicious fried chicken and unwieldy cheeseburger. In our cups: a dry Manhattan (boyf said "rye" but it's loud in there) and a Lady Grey, my new favorite bev of 2011. (Secret ingredient: Egg whites!) Tried to order a Drew Lazor-inspired Lazor Burn, but apparently the guy who created the drink doesn't work there anymore. Burn. 

SUNDAY: Hit the shopping mecca that is the Promenade in Marlton, N.J., for some serious L.L.Bean exchanging, followed by "healthy" Chipotle salads. NYE-leftovers dinner was olives, cheese, crackers and kale chips from Smitten Kitchen.

Felicia D'Ambrosio

Posted 2011-01-04 14:41:56

Accidentally purchased/fried lots and lots of habanero peppers when prepping for our 2 am NYE cheesesteak breakfast, filling our small apartment with stinging, choking fumes. Otherwise, the Cacia's rolls, caramelized onions and sirloin shaved to order by Cannuli's performed as expected under our drunken tongs. 

Friends with houses along the Mummers parade route opened their homes on Saturday.  Bailey, of Moda Botanica Florist, served up his signature baked-in-a-cast-iron cheesy grits, plus mascarpone French toast and 14 pounds of tater tots in an all-day brunch complete with Fish House Punch. 

Another friend went the pulled pork and roasted tomato soup route, throwing in a make-your-own grilled cheese station for a DIY element. Lots of Bloody Marys were consumed.

Sunday meant lounging in bed nearly until dinner with the parents. Step-monster roasted not one but two chickens for my birthday dinner with classic accompaniments of  mashed potatoes and greens.  Note: Wegman's is Mecca, but their cannolis are crappy. Don't be fooled.

Posted 2011-01-05 13:28:24

Agnolotti. I usually don't like pasta but GODDAMN, I will eat anything filled with butternut squash. Mussels next time. Definitely.

Ticket Stubs: Meal Ticket Weekly Recap, Jan. 3-7 :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2011-01-10 11:47:54

[...] Filipino purple yams, Puerto Rican egg nog, Chemex experimentation, the pasta dish we fondly refer t... [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 9:47 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Iannelli's expansion nearly complete

POSTED: Monday, January 3, 2011, 7:26 PM

Filed Under: Food News

Courtesy of Iannelli's

Nearly a year ago, we told you about the expansion plans afoot at the venerable Iannelli's Bakery in South Philly (1155 E. Passyunk Ave.). Owner Vince Iannelli checks in with news that the project is about "97 percent" there. The front of the space is now much more browsing-friendly (above). They've begun offering soups, panini, salads and meatball sandwiches on the weekends in addition to their usual Italian bakery goods; their espresso machine should be arriving any day now. Keep an eye on their website (iannellisbakery.net) for further menu developments.

Tweets that mention Iannelli's expansion nearly complete :: Meal Ticket :: Philadelphia City Paper -- Topsy.com

Posted 2011-01-03 15:08:35

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by andrew erace. andrew erace said: best tomato pie RT @mealticket Iannelli's Bakery expansion nearly complete: http://ow.ly/3xzZS [...]

EAT THIS IMMEDIATELY: Iannelli’s Vanilla Cupcake :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2011-01-19 12:02:03

[...] Give me Duncan Heinz and Betty Crocker. Give me Iannelli's (1155 E. Passyunk Ave.), the recently expanded bakery that, tardiness be damned, is getting its slice of the cupcake action. âGourmet Cupcakes,â [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 7:26 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Which restaurant features this amazing photograph?

POSTED: Monday, January 3, 2011, 5:48 PM

Filed Under: Where'd We Eat?

Drew Lazor

Posted 2011-01-03 13:03:25

Amanda, you got it! We popped by JTL for a New Year's Eve meal. That picture is so mesmerizing I couldn't even deal.

Amanda

Posted 2011-01-03 12:58:15

I do believe it's Joy Tsin Lau... I've spent many hours in that line waiting for dim sum seating.

Jen

Posted 2011-01-04 11:29:09

have you seen the lady in person? she sometimes peruses the restaurant... she is quite the sight

Shao

Posted 2011-01-08 02:39:05

I think she has a twin sister too.

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 5:48 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Jake's Sandwich Board taping for Food Network this week

POSTED: Monday, January 3, 2011, 5:03 PM

Filed Under: Food TV

Photo | Neal Santos

Jake's Sandwich Board at 12th and Sansom will be featured on an upcoming episode of Food Network's Outrageous Food, the new show hosted by recent Next Food Network Star contestant and area native Tom Pizzica. Jake's will be closed for business this Thursday as FN films â the show, which focuses on "over-the-top eats," will highlight the sandwicherie's 5-lb. Philly Challenge â but they'll be open to the public as the crew shoots B-roll this Saturday, Jan. 8, says co-owner Sean Stein.

Tweets that mention Jake's Sandwich Board taping for Food Network this week :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper -- Topsy.com

Posted 2011-01-03 12:44:49

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Rich Pawlak. Rich Pawlak said: Throwdown?? RT @mealticket: Jake's Sandwich Board (@gotpig) taping a @FoodNetwork show this week: http://ow.ly/3xtJZ [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 5:03 PM Permalink | Post a comment

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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 20
Bummer: Grub Street Philly shutting down
Hell's Kitchen casting in Philly
Frozen Drinks Alert: Water ice cocktails at Noir
Spike TV's "Bar Rescue" turns Swanky Bubbles into Sheer
Afternoon Snacks: Rachael & Guy do improv, Bacon hot dogs, Seasonal cocktails both posh and... less-so
Now Serving: Jerry's Bar

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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