Archive: October, 2010

Notes from the Weekend: Oct. 4

POSTED: Monday, October 4, 2010, 9:48 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. Were 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.)

Rachel Burgos: RB Adam Erace: AE Drew Lazor: DL Anthony Sica: AS

Photo | Drew Lazor

Stopped into City Tap House (3925 Walnut St.) with a buddy on the early side Friday night, where we split a really tasty pepperoni pizza and downed a few pints (Duvel Green, you are so good to me). Later we trekked downstairs to a tasting Katie Loeb was hosting for her brand-new cocktail list at Capogiro's UPenn location. More on that in this week's CP food section. DL

Photo | Adam Erace

Friday, snacked under the (drop ceiling panel) stars at the moments-old Watkins Drinkery (1712 S. 10th St.). Owner Jonn Klein really cleaned the, ahem, dust off this one-time neighborhood nuisance (eye our first look here) while maintaining the only-in-South-Philly touches. I had respectable fish and chips, plus an insane Scotch egg on special. The fatty's Faberge came encased in spicy sauce crumbles and dark breadcrumbs, its bull's-eye yolk inside set but still glossy and quivering ever so slightly. Dogfish Punkin' Ale to wash it down. AE Friday: I found myself with a handful of combine-able coupons to the giant chain restaurant with a pepper for a logo. I drank bathtub-size pink and blue margaritas until I didn't care that I was drinking pink and blue margaritas. I will not apologize for my new found affinity for the ridiculously thick bacon they put on their burgers, but someone should. That stuff is insane. AS

Photo | Rachel Burgos

Friday visited a friend working the bar at Catahoula (775 S. Front St.). The menu looked too enticing not to try, and between the fried oysters, hush puppies, pickled vegetables and oyster shooters (with Absolut pepper and Crystal hot sauce), it made me miss New Orleans hard. A pal and I shared a bread pudding Bananas Foster dessert that was heavenly. Oh, and heads up to cider fans they sell Strongbow for the cheapest I've ever seen in town, and not just during happy hour. RB It's nice to come home to a home-cooked meal, better to come home to pizza from Cacia's (1526 Ritner St.). On Friday night, I was about to go out to eat, but my self-control deactivates around carbs, so I devoured a pillow of plain white, chased, naturally, by a soft pretzel from Center City Pretzel Co. AE

Photos | Drew Lazor

Midtown Village Fall Fest in the daytime hours of Saturday. Stuck to a sick-good slaw-topped pulled pork sandwich from the Time booth, a few beers/cocktails (we poured one several out for the departed APO) and an amazing and generous serving of saag paneer and chana masala from the Bindi/Barbuzzo/Lolita booth, where chef Marcie Turney was doing her thing. She was cranking stuff out faster by herself than I've seen entire kitchen staffs rock before. Be shamed, slowpoke line cooks! DL

Photo | Rachel Burgos

Saturday I swung by The Institute (549 N. 12th St.) for their crazy-busy all-day pumpkin fest. Drank a Southern Tier Pumking and New Holland Ichabod Ale. I tried some pepper poppers with goat cheese pumpkin stuffing and a side of cranberry dipping sauce, but pussed out and couldn't eat the giant hot-as-f**k jalapenos (I started hiccuping!), so I ate the fried goodness around them. I also had a salad that supposedly had pumpkin-chipotle dressing on it (though I couldn't tell), a delightful dumpling with some sort of delicious pumpkin puree inside, as well as a bite of a friend's order of mac 'n' cheese, made with sauteed pumpkin, onions, and Velveeta. It was great. RB

Photo | Drew Lazor

Bar Ferdinand (Liberties Walk, 1030 N. Second St.), which was jam-packed, for an impromptu Saturday night bar dinner. (I always forget that Ferdy is a great eat-at-the-bar spot!) Highlights here were the unbelievable calamare in su tinto (little bits of chorizo mixed into the inky squid layer for good measure) and the clams steamed with morcilla. Winner, though, was Dave Kane's raw marinated flounder, topped with an inexplicably delicious combination of sweet, tart candied orange peel and briny, gritty sea beans. Awesome! DL

Photo | Adam Erace

Sky Cafe (1540 Ritner St.) take-out Saturday night! Order up: house salad doused in fiery peanut dressing, featherweight fried wontons and soul-nourishing Medan coconut soup. While checking out, I impulse-purchased a baggie of these house-made Indonesian potato chips. Sticky with sweet soy and crushed chili, they're my new favorite snack. AE Nana Petrillo's in The Piazza (1050 N. Hancock St.) has a great Capogiro gelato selection, good coffee and a sweet staff. Try this combo: Dogfish Head Punkin Ale gelato with classic stracciatella. DL

Photo | Adam Erace

Hit up Headhouse Sunday, where I scooped chestnuts from Tom Culton (who's going to be on Letterman this Friday, BTW, for a segment on giant vegetables), dandelion greens and bok choy from Weaver's Way, heirloom tomatoes from Happy Cat Organics and this ridiculous raspberry swirl loaf from Ric's Bread, which I spent most of the day slicing and eating while watching Red Zone, sticky purple fingerprints all over the remote. AE Made Sunday dinner out of the Zuni Cafe Cookbook, one of my favorites because the preparations are generally very simple, yet impressive. The Zuni chicken is what the book is known for (see DL's attempts at it here), but threw together the quail and sausage braised with grapes. Couldn't find quail so used cornish hens, but still great. This line from the recipe is why I love chef Judy Rodgers so much: "Add the grapes. They with seathe regally as they bubble up around the quail and sausage a moment to look forward to when making this dish." I love you, Judy. AS

Photo | Adam Erace

The reliably scrumptious SPTR (1509 Mifflin St.) for dinner on Sunday. Drowned Eagles sorrows in Stoudts Scarlet Lady on tap, followed by Scott Schroeder's perfect-every-time fried chicken platter paired with mint-sprinkled watermelon salad, a fresh foil for the rich Southern specialty, plus a side of sweet local zucchini coins splashed in a spicy marinara my grandmother would respect. I love this chalked message in the blackboard-paneled men's room. AE

Photos | Drew Lazor

You already know my Sunday dinner destination if you saw our last "Where'd We Eat?" post. Chicken Liver Caruso over spaghetti and cheesy garlic bread, both amazing. Though one of our servers mention that I'd be smart to order the livers Romano-style next time. Anyone had those? DL

gourmand jk

Posted 2010-10-05 16:23:59

All cooking endeavors were spent creatively using up the veggies in my CSA share:

-sweet potatoes: silver dollar-ed and roasted with cumin and cinnamon, eaten with quick grilled skirt steak and...

-collard greens: had 2 huge bunches that I braised with onions, stock, maple syrup and vinegar 

-baby (or say, toddler) eggplants: copied one of my Japanese student's recipes, sauteed then 5-min boiled in some Hon Tsuyu soup base that I picked up at Hung Vuong on 11th and Washington

-dinosaur kale: fairly boringly but always deliciously steamed with a touch of bacon fat (yes I save it in a container in my fridge), made for a great Sunday dinner with a roast Griggstown poussin and new potatoes

Posted 2010-10-04 17:12:46

A.S. -- Chili's represent! 

Anyways, Ant Pants' Eggs Benedict is scrumptious, even when it becomes all smushed because of take out.

rachelburgos

Posted 2010-10-05 11:41:30

I can back the occasional chain-restaurant meal, ease up haters! Taco bell, chipotle, and  waffle house are all fantastic. Wait,those might be considered "fast food"....

Oh Paesano's, stati-ooch sandwich, I will day dream about you until I can have you in my life once again.

Kibby, I was also at our cheers (aka POPE) on Saturday, shocker, right? For a brief moment they had Southern Tier Pumking on Draft. By brief moment I mean I had one glass. :(

Notes from the Weekend: Oct. 11 :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-10-11 16:47:10

[...] going to head to the Cheesecake Factory on Friday, but the wait was too long, so I took the lead of DL’s notes last week and headed to Villa di Roma (936 S. Ninth St.) for a late dinner. People talk about the chicken [...]

Kibby

Posted 2010-10-05 09:04:14

Friday, I went to Sugarhouse casino for the time and it was total sensory overload.  We went early before it got too busy and were able to flag down the cocktail girls for free beers at least three times.  Pretty great.  I also won big ($30) on a slot machine called KITTY GLITTER.  Come on people who hate Sugarhouse-- what's not to like??? Left with my winnings and went to Kraftwork for the first time.  It was good! I love the beer sampler option- it is a seriously great deal at only $8.  I asked our server to just give me some random beers of his choosing for my sampler and he returned with what he called "the sampler of his heart".  I cannot remember what the beers were, but they were all awesome! (good story). After that, went to the new store on Columbus- Beer Heaven- and picked up a few six-packs.  The selection was good and the couple running it is sweet and adorable.  Go there, please! 

Saturday, my bf returned home from a cruise and we went to our homebase, aka the POPE, to discuss how he cheated on me by kissing a dolphin (and has photographic evidence) over a couple bottles of J.K Scrumpy cider.  That stuff tastes just like slightly carbonated apple juice and is so, so delicious.  

Apparently, I only drank this weekend?

M tothe Dzay

Posted 2010-10-04 18:03:35

AS needs to apologize for dining at the "giant chain restaurant with a pepper for a logo" and thinking its ok to write about. Weak.

Drew Lazor

Posted 2010-10-04 21:13:10

Fun fact I learned about the "Stati-ooch" (turkey hoagie): It's slang for an Italian from Staten Island

Meredith

Posted 2010-10-06 13:09:10

Correction: your girlfriend had an egg white om., with spinach, mushrooms and cheese, 86 the sausage:)

Marc Steel

Posted 2010-10-06 13:12:40

I don't think I said that, I'll blame it on the recording secretary. 

Also, forgot to mention the newest 007 was at Lansdowne Road when we were there. I did not say hello to Daniel Craig though because I was afraid of being rendered unconscious via a dart shot from a cuff link.

Michelle

Posted 2010-10-04 23:56:45

The Fall festival was fun.  Did the usual eating, drinking and passing beers to festival workers in need of the sweet respite of a beverage. I was totally amazed at how delicious my saag paneer was from Bindi.  I enjoyed it so much that I chose it over conversing/catching up with a friend we ran into (good to see you Fran!). 
 
The cappuccino at Nana Petrillo's was perfect.  I recommend that place to anyone who finds themselves in the Northern Liberties area with a craving for sweets and caffeine.

The Eagles game was a disaster so I was more then happy to vacate the premises and head to an early dinner.  Villa was definitely food coma-inducing.  Why, oh why did I feel the need to consume both the cheesy garlic bread & fettuccine alfredo?  

After trying the nacho slice at Blackbird I am really excited to go back.  We also got a slice of the peanut butter bomb cake and let me tell you, if I hadn't bought it myself I would never believe its vegan-ness.

Oh, and Rubicon was awesome this week!

Brian Howard

Posted 2010-10-06 16:26:41

We hit the brand new candlelit, Euro-style gastropub Fork & Barrell out in East Falls and were pretty roundly impressed: They've got a bottle and draft list that rivals any I've seen in the city, including a killer selection of sour beers and rare bottles. Had the lamb burger, which was divine; the chicken and waffles were mouthwatering. 

They don't have a web site up yet, but the beer list at the owners' Tap & Table in Emmaus should give you an idea of what they're going for. Highly recommended.

juliana

Posted 2010-10-05 03:33:24

had the eggs benedict florentine at sabrina's (sorry drew, but it was my first time there!) for a super late brunch saturday (4pm, starving, but at least we didn't have to wait). the weather was perfect and so was the hollandaise. followed by a super late dinner of homemade steak-frites (http://aht.seriouseats.com/archives/2010/05/the-burger-lab-how-to-make-perfect-mcdonalds-style-french-fries.html ! they really were just like mcdonalds, which i am so down with). more cooking on sunday -- creamy tomato soup (with help from mark bittman), a baguette & pesto pork sausage from whole foods. decided that this weather means rich soup all the time.

poncho

Posted 2010-10-04 23:37:41

Whoa slow your roll, sometimes chain restaurants happen.

Posted 2010-10-04 18:59:40

On Sunday, I started my day at Gleaner's (double red eye) and then went to Cochon for brunch. I ended up not getting anything too crazy, just sunnyside up eggs and bacon and sausage. Nice and crispy bacon...sausage was AMAZING, extra-crispy and bursting at the ends with fat. Then I had Paesano's for lunch: Stati-ooch, hold the mayo, extra onions.

Marc Steel

Posted 2010-10-04 21:43:48

Friday at 2:15 p.m., we got to 30th Street Station on the tail end of Tropical Storm Nicole. Fearing delays in both ground and rail travel, I was pleasantly surprised at our swift journey from the Illadelph to New York. Checked into the Hotel Metro and before leaving, discovered the roof deck facing out at the Empire State Building with an outdoor bar stocked with three kegs still tapped and awaiting the end of the night.

Made our way to The Back Half for a feast weeks in the making. They had a whole roast pig waiting for us, but before that was grilled calamari that was out of this world and salad. The pig was presented to the guest of honor before serving, then brought back into the kitchen and delivered to the table completely butchered. We then tore into the most excellent pork anyone ever had in their lives (it came with collard greens, pork fat-cooked beans, an excellent gravy and AWESOME bread). Delicacies such as the ear and the cheek were consumed with sheer fucking awesome *Homer Simpson drool* gusto. We ate everything. We ate its face. We ate it all, man. It was definitely a brutal, intense meal not for the faint of heart in some ways, but absolutely delicious and something I'll never forget. The dessert of brownie and ice cream was sublime.

Then we went to the Marshall Stack, an awesome bar with great music and the best Who poster I've ever seen (and I've seen them all). Victory was on tap and some Troegs. Flash forward to shaking off a hangover and taking advantage of the hotel's continental breakfast with my girlfriend, actually very good. Then headed to lunch at Don Giovanni's Brick Oven Pizzeria. Had a so-so caprese salad and an excellent pizza with mozzarella, goat cheese and ricotta. I fucking loved it. After a special performance of American Idiot featuring Billie Joe Armstrong, went to a bar called Lansdowne Road. Excellent chili nachos and buffalo wings ... it took me a long time to get back on the train. Made it back to Philly at 9:40, watched some Team America, passed out, woke up, finished Team America, went to the triumphantly resurgent Teri's Deli in the Italian Market. I had a freshly made waffle and well-grilled sausage, just the breakfast I was looking for. My girlfriend had a sausage/egg white omelette that was perfectly cooked. Then to a friend's house for NFL Sunday, where we ordered Ms. Tootsie's: fried chicken wings, candied yams, collard greens, cheesy cheesy mac 'n' cheese, iced tea, cornbread, chocolate cake and coconut cake.

Definitely one of the best eating weekends in recent memory. Screw Flanders.

Drew Lazor

Posted 2010-10-06 02:02:23

I want to win big on Kitty Glitter!

Paul

Posted 2010-10-05 09:15:22

Friday night was Teenage Fanclub at the Troc, which was sparsely crowded. A shame as it was a great show, but I was a tad bit sleepy. Why you ask? Good Dog Burger. That burger is easily one of the best in the city. Had a few Lagunitas IPA's as well, so I don't think that helped. Saturday was a Mad Men themed cocktail party. Ate dinner at home, but enjoyed some Bulliet Bourbon, High Life and other finger foods care of our gracious and lovely West Philly host. Sunday was recooping from Mad Men and Eagles time. Enjoy a Gaetano's Cheese Steak, easily the only cheese steak to get in SoJo.

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 9:48 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Where'd we eat Sunday dinner?

POSTED: Monday, October 4, 2010, 7:50 PM

Filed Under: Where'd We Eat?

Photo | Drew Lazor

What lovely chandeliers!

Drew Lazor

Posted 2010-10-04 15:09:04

Jennie wins! Villa di Roma time. I got the chicken liver caruso and (of course) the cheesy garlic bread. Rulessssssss. Fought urge to nap for like 2,000 hours after eating.

Roland

Posted 2010-10-04 15:05:15

KZD?

Jennie

Posted 2010-10-04 15:07:28

Villa D!  Mussels in Red Gravy with Cheesy Garlic Bread is the best!

Drew Lazor

Posted 2010-10-04 15:08:19

Lil more old-school than Koo Zee Doo Roland.

michelle

Posted 2010-10-04 15:09:13

I had the cheesy garlic bread for the 1st time last night, it was so good!

Aaron

Posted 2010-10-04 19:20:19

Plaza Garibaldi?

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 7:50 PM Permalink | Post a comment

NOW OPEN: Blackbird

POSTED: Monday, October 4, 2010, 6:49 PM

Filed Under: Menu Time | Openings | Photos | Vegan | Vegetarian

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

Blackbird Pizzeria (507 S. Sixth St., 215-625-6660), the all-vegan operation from chef Mark Mebus and partner Ryan Moylan, opened quite quietly over the weekend, but that didn't stop a steady stream of vegheads from trickling in to check out what's been done to the long-running Gianna's space. It's been freshened up/reworked quite a bit, but Blackbird aims to feed the same modest price point crowd that their predecessors serviced with an approach all their own, of course. Mebus, who cooked here at Horizons before relocating to New York to put in work at a number of vegan joints, is starting with a lineup of signature pizzas, using Daiya cheese as well as meat alternatives like seitan sausage and barbecue baked tofu. (We grabbed of the "Nacho," with avocado, caramelized onions, jalapenos and cheddar Daiya.) For sandwiches, he'll offer his thin-sliced seitan cheesesteak, a marinated tofu Cubano and several other options. Full menus after the jump (they're still in soft-open mode, so not every item may be available just yet). One cool feature that will please no-impact types who also happen to love the 'za: If you take out your pie (delivery might be added down the road), you'll get it in a very rad, 100 percent recycled-material Green Box, the top of which breaks down to create plates. The bottom half then folds over and clicks together to create a conveniently sized leftover container for your fridge. (Peep the video demo.) Blackbird is open from 3 to 10 p.m. every day but Monday.


Click to enlarge

Michelle

Posted 2010-10-04 15:57:28

I can't wait to go back and try more!

Ticket Stubs: Meal Ticket Weekly Recap, Oct. 4-8 :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-10-11 13:27:38

[...] Blackbird, serving an all-vegan pizza and sandwich menu, opens in the old Gianna’s space. [...]

Kathy L.

Posted 2011-01-24 12:05:42

Everything I eat here is out of this world.  5 Stars!  seriously.

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 6:49 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Marabella Meatball Co. shooting for November

POSTED: Monday, October 4, 2010, 4:55 PM

Filed Under: Menu Time | Openings

Stopped by the Marabella Meatball Co. booth at this past weekend's Midtown Village Fall Festival and left with a peek at their menu, which you can check out after the jump. The quick-serve concept will be opening at 1211 Walnut Street by mid-November, offering sandwiches with beef, chicken, pork and even vegetarian meatball sandwiches, plus a build-you-own option (we like the sound of the pork ball/olive tapenade "smashed" 'wich, on a round bun with Piave cheese). There'll also be a "dinner for four" deal that'll include a pound of pasta, eight balls, sauce and bread.

Click to enlarge

Ticket Stubs: Meal Ticket Weekly Recap, Oct. 4-8 :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-10-11 10:57:29

[...] Marabella Meatball Co. will open on Walnut in November  check out the menu. [...]

Marabella Meatball Co. in pictures :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-12-08 12:54:09

[...] Co. officially opens tomorrow, Dec. 9, but we poked our heads in to a dry run yesterday evening. (We first mentioned it here in October.) Right at the corner of 12th and Walnut, it’s a modern, nicely appointed space well-equipped [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 4:55 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Nina's Trattoria aiming for this weekend

POSTED: Monday, October 4, 2010, 3:30 PM

Filed Under: Openings

phillydesign on TwitPic

Nina's Trattoria (910 S. Ninth St.), the Italian Market eatery that A.D. Amorosi told you all about in August, tested the waters this past weekend, offering a handful of lunch/brunch options to Ninth Street strollers Saturday and Sunday. (Thanks to Meal Ticket reader DH for the heads up/shot above.) When we stopped in Sunday evening, owner Nick Nastasi told us there were still a handful of loose ends to tie up before he officially opened the BYO to the public hopefully by this coming weekend. We'll keep you posted; in the meantime, get the full backstory via A.D.'s piece and check out Nina's menu on their website.

Charles Siglin

Posted 2010-10-22 10:03:38

We had dinner there last night before going to the Flyers game.  All I can say is that the meal was Excellent!!!.   The fish was the best that I have ever had.  Nick and his son are just Excellent hosts. It was a real pleasure to be treated as a real person.  They went out of their way to please you.  I will go back soon.  Thank you.

Foobooz » Quick Bites

Posted 2010-10-06 15:49:40

[...] Nina’s Trattoria softly opened this past weekend. The Italian Market BYOB will be fully open this Friday. [Meal Ticket] [...]

David

Posted 2010-10-09 20:19:35

We had lunch at Nina's today (Saturday Oct 9th) and it was wonderful. Right in the heart of the Italian Market area iwefound a restaurant of European quality and ambience. The decor is simple a fresh and Nick is an excellent host. He described a lunch menu to us that suited us well. We had soup and a pastas that were tasty and bright in flavor. It's situated right next to a herb and spice store ... a perfect pair!

dilip

Posted 2010-12-03 17:23:25

We have had 2 wonderful dining experiences at Nina's - from the welcoming, warm atmosphere to the delectable menu - we enjoyed asparagus patties, the stuffed peppers, the macaroni with eggplant and the pasta with arugula and shrimp. The grilled pork loin was perfectly done. Keep up the good work, Nick and Guido

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 3:30 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Katie Loeb's new cocktail list at Capogiro UPenn

POSTED: Monday, October 4, 2010, 2:00 PM

Filed Under: Booze | Menu Time


Photos \| Jeff Towne

Is it too early in the morning to start talking cocktails? Hell naw. This past Friday, we checked out a sneak peek of a gelato- and sorbetto-based cocktail list Katie Loeb, head bartender at Oyster House (1516 Sansom St.), has been working on since June for the bar at Capogiro's West Philly location at the Radian (3925 Walnut St.). The U-City shop, which opened in the spring of '09, is the first and only Capo location to have a liquor license, but the potential for a full-on gelato-centric drink list hadn't been realized until now. Loeb's list (grab Page 1 and Page 2, in PDF format) comprises classic tipples (the Ice on the Wings, pictured on the right, has all the components of an Aviation, save for lemon sorbetto in lieu of citrus juice), "Drink Your Dessert" treats (there's a liquid tiramisu that's straight ridiculous) and Tiki-inspired concoctions (Mai Tai, Planters Punch, etc.). The drink selection officially launched this weekend and is available nightly.

Skye

Posted 2010-10-06 09:12:50

The violet liqueur, lemon sorbetto, and gin concoction that I had was out of this world! Amazingly well-balanced.

Nate

Posted 2010-10-05 16:00:04

This is SO EXCITING! I've been waiting for an amazing cocktail list like this since the location opened! Congrats Capo and Katie!

candace

Posted 2010-10-04 13:09:32

Cheers to one of the best mix-masters in Philadelphia!

Notes from the Weekend: Oct. 4 :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-10-04 16:48:08

[...] Marabella Meatball Co. shooting for November• Nina's Trattoria aiming for this weekend• Katie Loeb's new cocktail list at Capogiro UPenn• Ticket Stubs: Meal Ticket Weekly Recap, Sept. 27-Oct. 1• Opening date set for The [...]

Sam J

Posted 2010-10-04 16:28:08

Cannot wait to try one of these!

Tonight: “An orgy of drunken deliciousness” at CapoPENN :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-10-14 17:13:07

[...] alcoholic dessert of our dreams. Too cold for gelato? A keg of B.A. is on tap, or try one of the all-new cocktails created by the lovely Katie Loeb.   Tonight: “An orgy of drunken deliciousness” at [...]

DRINKING ABOVE AND BELOW THE BORDER | Inside F&B

Posted 2010-11-16 14:22:09

[...] No ones apologizing for ordering a Piña Colada here, and who should have to these days with the resurgence of frozen and fruity drinks even in the US. (Take a look at Katie Loebs new cocktail menu made with gelati and sorbetti at Capogiro’s UPenn location in Philly (citypaper.net/blogs/mealticket/2010/10/04/katie-loebs-new-cocktail-list-at-capogiro-upenn) [...]

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

Ticket Stubs: Meal Ticket Weekly Recap, Sept. 27-Oct. 1

POSTED: Monday, October 4, 2010, 1:00 PM

Filed Under: Meal Ticket | Ticket Stubs

Monday, Sept. 27 West Philly's Baby Blues BBQ sets an opening date. In part one of Adam Erace's three-part battle with a 20-pound watermelon, our food critic makes (and shares the recipe for) aguas frescas. Zahav, Maryland blue crabs, Michael Symon, spaghetti squash, Paesano's and ramen all get looks in Notes from the Weekend. Chef Matt Levin launches a new fall menu at Adsum. Mt. Airy's InFusion hits the market. Tuesday, Sept. 28 It's Sichuan peppercorn-flavored sorbet time in part two of Adam Erace's 20-pound watermelon battle. The Food Trust's first night market, originally scheduled for Sept. 30, is rescheduled for Oct. 7. Rachel Burgos checks out the hard-shell crab deal at Oyster House. Wednesday, Sept. 29 Get a sneak peek of the upcoming American Blackboard by snagging tix to this Oct. 23 Spinal Tapas dinner. If you've got 10 bucks, you've got yourself a burger and a beer at Bridget Foy's. Stag Beetle: Love It. If you don't know what that means, you clearly have never eaten Yan Yan. Thursday, Sept. 30 APO Bar + Lounge calls it a day. The very deadly Krispy Kreme is back in the Philly market, and its first new location will be in Fox Chase. Philly's River Ward neighborhoods organize their own version of Restaurant Week. Friday, Oct. 1 A few things we picked up tagging along on the Jose Garces-led Philadelphia Pork Crawl. The uber-swank XIX launches a brand-new menu for autumn. In the final installment of Adam Erace's epic watermelon conflict, he makes paletas! One more Garces post for ya: The Iron Chef releases some details about dishes at his soon-to-open JG Domestic.

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 1:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Opening date set for The Bottle Shop

POSTED: Sunday, October 3, 2010, 2:00 PM

Filed Under: Booze | Openings

Michele Aquino and Gena Montabello's Bottle Shop, which we first mentioned back in January, will open Saturday, Oct. 16 at 11 a.m. (The craft beer mix-a-six stop, which was originally situated at 1941 E. Passyunk, is now nestled into 1837 E. Passyunk.) Details on opening-day events and specials forthcoming.

Foobooz » Quick Bites

Posted 2010-10-05 11:17:53

[...] The Bottle Shop on East Passyunk will be opening on Saturday, October 16th. [Meal Ticket] [...]

David G

Posted 2010-10-05 11:29:38

Like.

New places on Passyunk

Posted 2010-10-04 19:07:38

[...] this post in the city paper today.  Opening date set for The Bottle Shop :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper  The bottle shop is to open soon.           Reply With Quote              + Reply to [...]

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

JG Domestic dish details

POSTED: Friday, October 1, 2010, 10:14 PM

Filed Under: Chef Salad | Openings

The pork-loving Jose Garces has released a handful of menu details for his JG Domestic, opening in the next week or so in the Cira Centre (2929 Arch St.). As you might be able to tell by the name, the restaurant will serve as Garces' homage to American farmers, growers and producers. We'll have more soon for sure, but for now, whet your curious appetite with some details off Garces' and chef de cuisine Dave Conn's menu after the jump. - Heirloom Crimson Popcorn with cheddar and horseradish: red popcorn kernels from Californias Rancho Gordo, seasoned with sea salt, Jasper Hill Vermont cheddar cheese and fresh horseradish - Farm 51 Autumn Shirred Egg: eggs from a nearby urban farm in West Philadelphia with truffle-celery root cream, Bentons bacon, Washington State lobster mushrooms and Oregon black truffle - Strube Wagyu Skirt Steak: 100 percent wagyu lineage beef from Strube Ranch in Pittsburg, Texas, served with cider-glazed cipollini onions, fried shishito peppers, cider veal jus and Bayley Hazen blue cheese - Patterson Farms' maple syrup souffle with crème anglaise and Nocello ice cream - Atlantic Big Eye tuna: caught off the coast of Massachusetts, with California baby artichokes, Lola Rosa lettuce, marinated kumquats and creamy mustard vinaigrette - "Whole Animal": one dish crafted by using a farm-raised animal in its entirety, such as roasted suckling Pennsylvania lamb, roasted leg and shoulder, crispy confit ribs and braised belly Other quick details ... - The menu will range in price from $5 to $28. - There'll be a five-course chef's tasting menu available for $65 that'll include cheese cart service. - Twenty beers available (14 bottles, six drafts), plus 17 wines by the glass and 60 by the bottle. - JG Domestic cocktails ($12-$15) will include The Texas Eagle (a light take on the Bloody Mary); The City of New Orleans, a Sazerac; and The Hiawatha, a bourbon-based drink with allspice and pumpkin butter. (Since the restaurant's in the Cira, all the drinks are named after historic American railroad lines.)

Quick JG Domestic peek :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-10-06 10:28:59

[...] BS kindly drops us these shots from inside the very complete-looking JG Domestic, whose food we dicussed a bit last Friday. The shelving containing all the greenery is being referred to as a “living wall,” and [...]

JG Domestic in pictures :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-10-12 12:24:19

[...] shared a few prelim details on chef Dave Conn’s exclusively 50 states-sourced menu last week, and yesterday we also got an opportunity to peek at the beverage program  named to honor [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 10:14 PM Permalink | Post a comment

The 20-Pound Watermelon Dilemma: Part 3 of 3

POSTED: Friday, October 1, 2010, 8:04 PM

Filed Under: Recipes

Photo | Adam Erace

Bumming around the West coast of Mexico last winter, I passed through Todos Santos, a teeny-tiny Baja town with a booming art scene. There are more galleries here per capita than anywhere else in the country, all well and good, but the food was what I found most bewitching. Coincidentally, the annual arts festival was going on day I visited, which brought out droves of pushcarts selling all sorts of slammin warm-weather snacks, including the paletas (popsicles) you see above. Thats sandia (watermelon) in the foreground, piña (figure it out) in the background. My 20-pound watermelon provided the opportunity to recreate the fresh-fruit pops Ive been craving since then. (Here are Part 1 and Part 2 of this project.)

Watermelon-Ginger Paletas (makes four)

4 cups watermelon, chopped 1-inch piece fresh ginger, grated 1 lemon, juiced Agave to taste Big pinch salt

Photo | Adam Erace

Puree all ingredients in the blender, pour into popsicle molds and freeze 24 hours. Yes, its really that easy. If you dont have super-manly popsicle molds like me, the Dixie cup route is totally respectable, not to mention endorsed by Serious Eats.

Photo | Adam Erace

Posted by Adam Erace @ 8:04 PM Permalink | Post a comment

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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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