Archive: November, 2010

Notes from the Weekend: Nov. 22

POSTED: Monday, November 22, 2010, 9:39 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: AE

Friday, had a cousin from Jersey City visiting Philly. Snacked on cilantro-jalapeño hummus (amazing, and tastes like sofrito for you Latinos out there!) and baby pitas from Trader Joe's, washing it down with some JK Scrumpy's hard apple cider. RB

Photo | Drew Lazor

Also had friends from out of town visiting on Friday, so we hit up the perpetually slept-on Locust Rendezvous (1415 Locust St.) for pitchers, shots, patty melts and Spanish fries (above oof!), then an absolutely-bananas-madhouse Drinker's Pub (1903 Chestnut St.), where it pays to have a friend (hi Amy!), and then Snackbar (253 S. 20th St.), for a frenetic crammed-full French dance party complete with live timbale playing and blackout Europeans wearing heavy sweaters. Then we ended up buying about eight drunk go-go taquitos at 7-Eleven. DL

Photo | Adam Erace

Leftover pizza from Zavino (112 S. 13th St.) on Friday for dinner. Pictured @ right is the Diavolo pie, a demon dressed in spicy pepperoni, Claudio's mozz and marinara dusted in oregano and chili flakes. Despite the departure of opening chef Steve Gonzalez, the straightforward pies here are still as strong as they are thin. AE Saturday, went to The Sidecar (2201 Christian St.) and got the eggs and biscuits with chorizo gravy, plus a great side of cheesy grits. Spent the afternoon walking around Rittenhouse sightseeing and people-watching with a pumpkin spiced latte from Starbucks (I know, I know, but its soooo tasty). Saw a group of Ghostbusters in the park. Sang the theme song to them. RB

Photo | Adam Erace

Adding Cafe Estelle bacon chips and bacon grease to this lush vegan cauliflower bisque from Miss Rachel's Pantry probably bought me a one-way ticket to vegan detention, but it made for such a delicious Friday lunch. Dusted the surface with a little of my homegrown fennel pollen. AE

Photo | Drew Lazor

AE's Green Aisle Grocery (1618 E. Passyunk Ave.) justttt started carrying Momofuku Milk Bar cookies, so we copped a tin on Saturday afternoon. COMPOST COOKIE IS MY FAVORITE AND I MUST SAY THAT IN ALL CAPS BECAUSE THE COOKIE REALLY IS THAT GODDAMN GOOD. I suggest calling GAG and reserving yours as they come in because good people have been hurting other good people to get these. DL

Photo | Drew Lazor

A late dinner at my fave place Mémé (2201 Spruce St.) on Saturday night. Had the pleasure of grubbing on the agnolotti AE highlighted in his pasta piece last week, but my favorite plate of the evening was a roasted wild boar special chef David Katz put over a chickpea purée with roasted Brussels sprouts. The guy knows his pork. DL Saturday night saw the trippy-as-shit Trans-Siberian Orchestra at the Core States First Union Wachovia Wells Fargo Center, then headed to the Penrose Diner (2016 Penrose Ave.), where the cream chipped beef was piping hot and our waitress had futomaki tattooed on her arm. AE

Photo | Adam Erace

Shout-out to ma dukes, who added to my Le Creuset collection with this five-quart cadet-blue looker on Saturday. Thinking paella. AE Sunday I went to the new Tres Jalapenos (744 Christian St) for a late lunch and got tacos al pastor. They were so good. I will definitely be returning to try some of their other menu items. Check out our coverage here. RB

Photo | Adam Erace

Sunday brunch at South Philly Tap Room (1509 Mifflin St.). Chef Scott Schroeder (follow him on Twitter unless you're overly sensitive) knows his way around a cornmeal pancake. This golden, blueberry-studded short-stack achieved that elusive ratio of crispy perimeter to fluffy middle and paired well with a pint of Oregon's Anthem Cider. AE

Photo | Drew Lazor

Here's an easy cocktail you can make at home (I usually leave anything more complicated to the professionals): Equal parts Bulleit bourbon and locally produced Jin-Ja, and a coupla dashes of Angostura bitters. Anyone got a good name for it? DL

Photo | Drew Lazor

Sunday night, got down like my Filipino mom gets down and made a big-ass pot of sinigang na hipon, a tamarind-based sour soup with head-on prawns, kale, tomato, shallot and tofu cubes. You can really put whatever the hell you want in it; it's all about the broth, baby. Patient people make their own but this time I was impatient and used half a packet of Mama Sita's sinigang seasoning. MSG headache = worth it. DL

Neal

Posted 2010-11-22 17:35:09

Didn't go anywheres fancy, but happened to eat some banging drop cookies from the Joy of Cooking.

carolyn

Posted 2010-11-22 17:45:03

FRI: After-work drinks at the Khyber Pass Pub. Chose a Dark Horse Black Bier, which is about 2304893209 times better than what I got last time, Southern Tier's Creme Brulee Stout. I understand it was kind of my fault for ordering something called a Creme Brulee Stout, but it was crazy sweet and smelled like Dum-Dums. Ate Chickie's and Pete's crab fries and buffalo chicken strips at a Sixers game later on. Fatty over here!

SAT: Woke up late and ate a really disappointing brunch. I won't name the place because I generally have OK experiences there, but let's just say that when a menu says "queso fresco" and I get shredded grocery-store cheddar mixed with iceberg lettuce, that's pretty lame. Grilled cheese and tomato soup dinner at home, with Stoudt's Abbey Tripel, my new favorite non-Belgian trip.

SUN: Met friends for a KILLER brunch at Kraftwork. Bloody Mary and Sausage Biscuits with Gravy are both highly recommended. Plus there was room for all six of us, with no wait, at 11:30. Go Fishtown! Dinner at home again -- this time kale chips, Israeli couscous and an amazing Paula Deen baked acorn squash (with bourbon maple syrup, brown sugar and butter, natch). Tim Tams for dessert!

Felicia D'Ambrosio

Posted 2010-11-22 17:54:54

It was a knock-down, drag-out Food-O-Rama in casa Persabrosio this weekend. 

Friday night saw me exhausted from hovering over my roasted vegetable stock for hours, so the kind Mike P treated me to a respectable fried chicken sandwich at the always-packed Royal Tavern.  Very tasty at $9, but not a patch on Bakesale Betty's.

Saturday was spent trimming, blanching and Frenching 4 lbs of green beans, slicing 3 lbs of mushrooms and hovering again over the stove in pursuit of a no-cans Green Bean Casserole for Friendsgiving at Ada and Rick's lovely home. Nearly three gallons of wine punch was also mixed up, modified from Stephen Siebert's sangria recipe from Amada. 

Sunday was all about Yelp Elites taking over JG Domestic.  That ultra-professional crew plied us with lobster cappuccinos and Four Roses cocktails until we fell panting into their arms.  It was divine decadence!  That chanterelle-truffle flatbread?  I die.

rascal b. schuylkillian

Posted 2010-11-22 18:16:51

Got to keep the vous hush hush!!  Their spanish fries are "awesome baby, #1 in the city and a vous favorite".  I love the menu sidebar commentary.  But seriously, I am pretty sure that those waffle fries are so delicious because the fryer oil is aged to perfection!

I hit up some old standbys this weekend.  North Star for cheapo happy hour and a basket of the bangin jerk wings on Friday.  Saturday, after watching someone reenact a heinous arm-sawing in 127 hours, I hit up Vietnam Palace for some salt baked squid, papaya salad with jerky and the deluxe vermicelli platter.  I left kind of wishing I went to Xe Lua for some reason.  But satisfying none the less.

Posted 2010-11-22 17:04:15

My boyfriend took me to Hooters. In Atlantic City. For my birthday.  Because he didn't think to make a reservation anywhere else.

Hey, at least the wings were good.

Tweets that mention Notes from the Weekend: Nov. 22 :: Meal Ticket :: Philadelphia City Paper -- Topsy.com

Posted 2010-11-22 17:04:50

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Philly City Paper, Meal Ticket. Meal Ticket said: NOTES FROM THE WEEKEND is live y'all! Share your notes with us in the comments, we love to read what you ate/drank: http://ow.ly/3dTSG [...]

John E.

Posted 2010-11-22 22:40:12

Had some late night drinks at Varga (Oskar Blues) and then Black Sheep (Troegs Mad Elf!).  Saturday, after finding out Mercato was closed for a private party, wandered over to Barbuzzo and got seats at the kitchen table.  It's fascinating to see 4 sous chefs in action producing dishes out of a huge menu.  The margherita pizza was great, but the highlights were the ravioli and bundino dessert.  Sunday had post-half marathon brunch at Devil's Alley, an underrated brunch place.

Kibby

Posted 2010-11-23 08:46:02

Friday night- La Rosa pizza.  No matter how many times I get that potato pie it always surprises me how good it is.  One of my favorite things about La Rosa is the pricing.  I've never gotten a pizza that costs more than $11, but every time we order it's a different price despite always getting the same thing.  Friday's price was $9.60, which fed 3 hungry people and left ample amounts for lunch (or drunk eating at 2am, not judging).  It was a "budget tour" weekend, so we also drank some good old Canadian Club blended whiskey.  Mixed it with apple cider which covers a multitude of sins.  
Sunday we went to an epic Friendsgiving celebration that had more food and drinks than I could mention.  Totally perfect and everyone left in a serious food coma, which is the sign of ultimate Friendsgiving success.

danya

Posted 2010-11-23 10:20:05

Favorite quote of the weekend: "I'm a pescatarian, except I eat bacon." Props.

Julie

Posted 2010-11-23 11:12:04

Friday the boyfriend and I ate Persian mini cucumbers, mini multicolored heirloom tomatoes, feta, tzatziki sauce, and grilled chicken in pita (all from Trader Joe's), and got bombed off of box wine while watching Showgirls on Encore. Only box wine is an appropriate pairing with Elizabeth Berkley's epileptic dolphin sex shenanigans.

Saturday we braved the marathon rush and met up with friends at Reading Terminal. We started at Pearl's and got oysters, snapper soup, and fried clams. Bought Chai tea at Old City Coffee, got a black and white cookie from...somewhere (think of the cookie Elaine!), and the boy bought some ridiculous freshly sliced slab bacon from one of the meat vendors. Later we got cheese steaks and pizza fries from one of the sub par delivery places in West Philly.

Sunday was BACON DAY. The BEST day. That stuff was unreal, and a little over a pound cost less than $5. The rest of the day was spent watching football, and I made a cherry pie and a twist on Giada's baked fettuccine with asiago and thyme recipe. Meaning I add at least four cloves of garlic and some grilled chicken to make it a full on meal. And I made sure to sing the South Park creme fraiche song, seeing as the recipe called for it.

Julie

Posted 2010-11-23 11:13:04

The "smelled like Dum Dums" comment made me laugh louder than it should :)

Drew Lazor

Posted 2010-11-23 11:23:45

Only box wine is an appropriate pairing with Elizabeth Berkleys epileptic dolphin sex shenanigans.

That is the realest shit you, or anyone else, has ever wrote.

Drew Lazor

Posted 2010-11-23 11:25:44

Rascal, I can't help but speak excitedly about The Vous. It's one of the best places.

Kibby

Posted 2010-11-23 11:26:38

"You can fuck me when you love me"

Nomi Malone is a POET.

Michelle

Posted 2010-11-23 13:00:08

Friday I inhaled a plate of salt and pepper squid from Pho Hua so that I could get back to work and prepare for the impending Gallic insanity.

Ate hummus for breakfast on Saturday before heading over to Green Aisle to pick up our Momofuku Milk Bar cookies ( OMG cornflake-chocolate chip-marshmallow!), cardoons and a Stump Town re-up.  After GAG stopped in Fuel, an experience that was too ridiculous for words.  Dinner at Meme was lovely as usual and to top it off we were sent away with a parting gift of gorgeous kale.

Sunday dinner was awesome! I mean it doesn't get much better than delicious broth with tofu, kale, cherry tomatoes and prawns.  After dinner watched the Eagles and later, a new episode of Real Housewives of ATL.  I Love Sundays!

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 9:39 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Menu for Osteria's Michaud/Sawyer collabo dinner

POSTED: Monday, November 22, 2010, 7:08 PM

Filed Under: Chef Salad | Food Events

Jeff Michaud of Osteria (640 N. Broad st.) has sent over the menu for the "Sunday Supper" he'll cook with chef Jonathon Sawyer of Cleveland's Greenhouse Tavern. The five-course dinner (some stuzzichini before the starters, too) scheduled for this coming Sunday, Nov. 28, at 6 p.m., and a seat will run you $130, all-inclusive. (Spit-roasted veal belly sounds like something we possiblypotentiallymaybe would like to eat.) Tix here.

Stuzzichini

fried pecorino cheese canestrato

house cured beef speck with walnut mostarda

beef tongue tremezzini with butter, radishes, cucumber and cress

crispy white bait with hominy, pork skins, curly parsley and lime

1st

fresh baccala mantecato tiepido with boiled farmers potato

poached lake erie walleyed pike quenelles with burrata and preserved tom

2nd

warm porcini sformato with castelmagno fonduta

black walnut soup encroute with smoked guanciale, wintered racing onions and sage

3rd

duck ravioli with apples, pancetta and brown butter

wood fired pigs head, coca cola agro dolce, young vegetable crudite and lettuce

4th

spit roasted venison loin with persimmon salad and bitter chocolate

spit roasted veal belly with warm consommé, petite wood ear mushrooms, dry moroccan olives, preserved lemon and matsutaki

5th

meyer lemon bavarese with wild huckleberries and almond croccante

roasted ohio apple crostada with goats milk chedder and bitter caramel

Tweets that mention Menu for Osterias Michaud/Sawyer collabo dinner :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper -- Topsy.com

Posted 2010-11-22 14:59:00

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jeff Michaud, Meal Ticket. Meal Ticket said: Menu for this Sunday's @JeffreyMichaud and @jonathon_sawyer collab dinner at Osteria: http://ow.ly/3dOV3 [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 7:08 PM Permalink | Post a comment

NOW OPEN: Tres Jalapenos

POSTED: Monday, November 22, 2010, 6:02 PM

Filed Under: Openings

Photo | Rachel Burgos

Only open a month, Tres Jalapenos (744 Christian St.) is the BYO sister restaurant to Los Jalapenos (1800 S. Fourth St.). Located right on the corner of Eighth and Christian, the space (formerly Paxia, then Mezza Luna) features a nice mix of kitschy/traditional Mexican flair; it's quite larger than I expected.

Photo | Rachel Burgos

On the menu, they offer the usual Mexican goodies, like burritos, quesadillas and tacos both hard and soft shelled. (The most expensive entrées available are only $14.) Check out the Sueno Camaron, shrimp served in a chipotle cream with rice and tortillas; another specialty, Pollo Pippian, features a sauce made from regional Mexican chilies and toasted pumpkin seeds over a chicken breast with rice, beans and tortillas. Appetizers like chips, salsa and guacamole are all in the $5.00 area, and there's a variety of nachos ranging from $7.75 to $8.75. I will most certainly be ordering the traditional al pastor tacos again (pork, pineapple, cilantro and onions in soft shells).

Photos | Rachel Burgos

"Margarita Mondays" offers free classic margarita mix made fresh to order for your bottle of tequila. They will soon offer flavored varieties, like watermelon and cantaloupe, as well. Tres Jalapenos' "Taco Tuesdays" special boasts all-you-can-eat tacos traditional, crispy or soft for $12.95 (fish and shrimp tacos are not included). The BYO also offers weekend brunch ending at 3 p.m., with dishes like a chorizo omelette ($7.95), steak and eggs with tortillas, rice and beans ($12.95) and huevos rancheros ($9.95), all served with a complimentary mimosa. Tres Jalapenos does not have a website yet, but can be reached by phone at 267-239-2358.

danya

Posted 2010-11-22 14:36:29

Pretty disappointed with the fare here. Out of a can/bag/box, didn't taste any originality. Won't be returning.

Max

Posted 2010-11-24 09:32:42

Danya,

I am shocked that this was your take on our place.  I assure you everything made fresh daily.  Sauces, chips, rice beans, beef, etc.  If possible, please let me know what you had at Tres Jalapenos.

David G

Posted 2010-11-23 10:19:26

What I really miss at this location was Molcajete Mixto, which was fantastic.  If they couldn't make it work at this location...

danya

Posted 2010-11-24 12:52:21

Well, that's good to know. Perhaps I will give it another shot.

I ordered guacamole (this was a togo order), and asked if the chips "were good?" I received this answer: "Well, I like them... they're the multicolored chips that a lot of places use..." which made me think they were bagged.

I skipped them. The guac itself was mushy, I thought it could have been Sysco.

Had steak tacos, hard and soft. The hard shells also appears to be premade, the cheese was plastic-y, the steak hardly hot and not very exciting. 

Guess I should try a different dish.

Michelle

Posted 2010-11-23 13:19:07

Molcajete Mixto was rad

Foobooz » Quick Bites

Posted 2010-11-24 13:56:09

[...] Tres Jalapenos has opened at 8th and Christian. [Meal Ticket] [...]

Erika

Posted 2010-11-25 00:21:36

I don't really know if you can judge a place by their to go? Most food from any place will get "mushy" if it's been sitting around long enough. I eat their once a week and love the green enchiladas. I actually wanted to lick the plate. I'm a very picky eater and what i like most about this place is that everything tasted fresh. i think the dinning in experience is a must and love the way the staff will cater to my very specific needs. and i love the chicken soup. and by the way the salsa and chips are not at all oily but in a way addictive. going there after class has become my weekly treat.

Posted by Rachel Burgos @ 6:02 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Mexican Thanksgiving at Xochitl

POSTED: Monday, November 22, 2010, 5:00 PM

Filed Under: Food and Holidays | Food Events

In case you somehow missed our ginormous Thanksgiving guide or are feeling like a little Mexican alternative this week, check out Mexican Thanksgiving at Xochitl (408 S. Second St.), which is running from November 22 to 28 (save for Thanksgiving day, when they are closed). The family-style feast is $35 per person, and includes a starter of sweet potato and blue cheese guacamole; turkey breast with mole poblano; turkey leg and cornbread tamales; huitlacoche, chestnut and apple stuffing; collard greens with Chile de Arbol; and habanero cranberry sauce. The feast concludes with coconut pie with quince jam.

Tweets that mention Mexican Thanksgiving at Xochitl :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper -- Topsy.com

Posted 2010-11-22 19:03:54

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Alyssa Underwood and Trattoria Totaro, Meal Ticket. Meal Ticket said: Mexican Thanksgiving feast at @xochitlphilly: http://ow.ly/3dIS8 [...]

Posted by Anthony Sica @ 5:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Progress at Spread Bagelry

POSTED: Monday, November 22, 2010, 4:11 PM

Filed Under: Openings

We've been dropped this pic from inside Spread Bagelry, the Montreal-style bagel café in progress at 262 S. 20th Street. (We first mentioned the project back in June.) Spread, whose website is live, will fire their bagels in a 10-ton-plus brick oven, which is what's being constructed above. Awesome!

Tweets that mention Progress at Spread Bagelry :: Meal Ticket :: Philadelphia City Paper -- Topsy.com

Posted 2010-11-22 11:52:11

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by braincoffee and Brownstoner Philly, Meal Ticket. Meal Ticket said: Progress inside Rittenhouse's Montreal-style bagel shop, @SpreadBagelry: http://ow.ly/3dG7B [...]

poncho

Posted 2010-11-22 15:21:35

Spread needs to open soon, this block is bereft of lunch options!

Ticket Stubs: Meal Ticket Weekly Recap, Nov. 22-26 :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-11-29 08:32:16

[...] They’re making some nice progress inside Spread Bagelry in Rittenhouse. [...]

Foobooz » Quick Bites

Posted 2010-12-01 13:19:03

[...] They’re in the midst of building the oven at Rittenhouse’s Spread Bagelry. [Meal Ticket] [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 4:11 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Ticket Stubs: Meal Ticket Weekly Roundup, Nov. 15-19

POSTED: Monday, November 22, 2010, 3:06 PM

Filed Under: Meal Ticket | Ticket Stubs

Monday, Nov. 15 Barbuzzo starts lunch, and we got the menu. Southwestern tapas spot Kokopelli sets an opening date. Our HUGE roundup of Thanksgiving options in Philly. Team Meal Ticket hits up spots like 500 Degrees, Percy Street BBQ, MangoMoon and James in Notes from the Weekend. Tuesday, Nov. 16 Mental health day. Wednesday, Nov. 17 Cookie Confidential looks to open on Black Friday. The Foodery does not have Four Loko. So stop asking. CP food critic Adam Erace's Green Aisle Grocery is now carrying cookies from Momofuku Milk Bar. Thursday, Nov. 18 UPenn haunt La Terrasse revamps its entire menu. Thanksgiving dinner in calzone form? God bless ya, D.P. Dough. Skwinkles Salsaghetti (mmm!) gets the Weekly Candy treatment. Friday, Nov. 19 We take on peculiar pastas and strange spirits for our fall/winter Meal Ticket supplement in City Paper. Check it out! Girard's getting a new Indian restaurant (another one?!) called Sahara Indian Cuisine.

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 3:06 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Tonight: French Party at Snackbar

POSTED: Friday, November 19, 2010, 9:34 PM

Filed Under: Food Events

Click to enlarge

Get your French on tonight at Snackbar (253 S. 20th St), where DJ Lee Jones of Sundae fame has masterminded a tres bien party. Starting at 4 a.m. Paris time (that's 10 p.m. Philly time, non-Francophiles) enjoy classic cocktails like French 75s, plus "Paris Punch" (you'll have to show up to find out exactly what that is). You can nibble on traditional Snackbar treats, plus French flatbread and escargot. There's no cover for the event, but management suggests you BYOFA (Bring Your Own French Accent).

Tweets that mention Tonight: French Party at Snackbar :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper -- Topsy.com

Posted 2010-11-19 22:25:52

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Rory Ramsden, Meal Ticket. Meal Ticket said: Tonight: @sundaephilly's French Party at @SNACKBAR253 http://ow.ly/3cLZS [...]

Posted by Rachel Burgos @ 9:34 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Sahara Indian Cuisine opening next week

POSTED: Friday, November 19, 2010, 8:28 PM

Filed Under: Openings

burgerbaroness on TwitPic

H/T to Jess from Fries With That Shake for tipping us off to Sahara Indian Cuisine, a Northern Indian takeout/delivery joint aiming to open next week at 517 W. Girard (formerly a Crown Fried Chicken). Owner Raj Jaswal says the restaurant, which does not have an on-site dining room, will definitely cook crowd-pleasers like chicken tikka masala and lamb curry, but they'll also rock house specialties like "Chicken 65," fried chicken (shoutout to Crown!) done up in a special curry sauce. Girard's shaping up to be a bit of a vindaloo-soaked battleground, what with this new competitor pulling up stakes right down the block from both Tiffin and Ekta.

Ticket Stubs: Meal Ticket Weekly Roundup, Nov. 15-19 :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-11-22 10:07:27

[...] ICE CUBE: GPF0 turns 25 with a bang Meal Ticket• Tonight: French Party at Snackbar• Sahara Indian Cuisine opening next week• Meal Ticket Supplement, Fall/Winter 2010• WEEKLY CANDY: Skwinkles Salsaghetti• [...]

barryg

Posted 2010-11-20 13:20:23

WTF people.  There is zero competition in South Philly, just open a damn Indian take out place already.

Posted 2011-01-19 05:17:59

You most definitely have to check this place out! Not only is the food amazing but their prices are cheaper too! The other indian places don't even compare to this place, finally some great indian food!!

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 8:28 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Meal Ticket Supplement, Fall/Winter 2010

POSTED: Friday, November 19, 2010, 7:44 PM

Filed Under: In Print | Meal Ticket

Photos | Neal Santos

Every so often, we pop a little Meal Ticket into the print edition of City Paper. For our latest MT supplement, we put together two fun little pieces for y'all: - In his primi primer, Adam Erace rounds up some unusual pasta shapes being twisted, pulled and pinched in Philly kitchens. Check it out to find out what the chefs at Mémé, Paradiso, Garces Trading Co., Modo Mio and other spots are up to. - Philly's uptick of cocktail destinations is reason alone to raise a glass but what if you don't know what's in that glass to begin with? We chat with bartenders at some of our favorite joints The Franklin, Noble and Oyster House, just to name a few to get the lowdown on some of the more obscure spirits finding their way into seriouscocktails around town.

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 7:44 PM Permalink | Post a comment

WEEKLY CANDY: Skwinkles Salsaghetti

POSTED: Thursday, November 18, 2010, 11:42 PM

Filed Under: Weekly Candy

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

Once a week, Team Meal Ticket shares its latest sugar-laden fixations. Do not tell 0ur dentist. IN QUESTION: Like all the best things in life, Skwinkles Salsaghetti, which was endorsed by multiple commenters in a previous Weekly Candy installment, is weird and Mexican. The core of Salsaghetti are small chewy watermelon gummi strands (similar in size to Sour S'ghetti) dusted with chili and salt flecks. What really stands out about Salsaghetti, though, is the sauce that comes packaged along with the candy. It's a sticky/saline/OKitskindagross tamarind syrup you're meant to dress the watermelon 'ghetti with before eating. AVAILABLE AT: We've spotted Salsaghetti at all sorts of bodegas around town, but strangely enough, we copped this particular pack at the Best Buy on Columbus Avenue. Check out the weird labyrinthine walk to the registers there, dotted on every side with a surprisingly well-curated selection of snacks and sweet treats. They've got a lot of Mexi stuff. HOW MANY DO WE TYPICALLY EAT IN ONE SITTING: We made it through most of this pack, but dude ... the sauce ... the sauce. Not feeling the tamarind sauce. Y'all remember Boober's pickle car from Fraggle Rock? This stuff tastes like the pickle car's motor oil, if that makes any sense. Really into the Salsaghetti straws themselves, though, as they're a nice balance of fruity, salty and zingy. FINER POINTS: Not sure if we'd recommend consuming Salsaghetti the way it's meant to be consumed (with that godforsaken sauce), but if you're a curious candy consumer like we are, it's most definitely worth a single shot. Would eat the 'ghetti by itself any day, though.

Tweets that mention WEEKLY CANDY: Skwinkles Salsaghetti :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper -- Topsy.com

Posted 2010-11-19 01:40:00

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Pete LaVerghetta, ebenezer heng and Rebecca Williams, Rosemary Wickstrom. Rosemary Wickstrom said: WEEKLY CANDY: Skwinkles Salsaghetti :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog ...: IN QUESTION: Like all the best things in li... http://bit.ly/dxFgc8 [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 11:42 PM Permalink | Post a comment

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If you don't know Nutella is bad for you and your kids, then you are a total idiot and a bad parent.
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Notes from the Weekend: May 20
Afternoon Snacks: Rachael & Guy do improv, Bacon hot dogs, Seasonal cocktails both posh and... less-so
Frozen Drinks Alert: Water ice cocktails at Noir
Now Serving: Jerry's Bar
Afternoon Snacks: Ramen burgers, Faux-artisanal liquor, Pet worms
Serious Eats weighs in on Questlove's fried chicken joint
Hell's Kitchen casting in Philly
Spike TV's "Bar Rescue" turns Swanky Bubbles into Sheer

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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