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Archive: December, 2012
Notes from the Weekend is a feature that sees the members of Team Meal Ticket compiling all the food/drink highlights uncovered during prime eatin' time, Friday to Sunday. We'd love to hear all about YOUR weekend eating adventures in the comments. Go for it! (View past NFTW installments at citypaper.net/notes.)
Adam Erace: AE
Caroline Russock: CR
Emily Kovach: EK
This weekend was a bit of a whirlwind, here goes: On Friday I grabbed a seat at the bar at Barbuzzo for a plate of gnocchi with wild mushroom and chestnuts and a glass of Chard. Of course it's pretty much impossible to get out of Barbuzzo without the salted caramel budino, so yeah. After dinner wandered over to Tria where I ran into SPTR/ASB chef Scott Schroeder. More wine (Guiseppe Stella Freisa d'Asti on the recommendation of Tria Fermentation School teacher Sande Friedman) and a cheese plate later and I made my way over to Voyuer for to check out Simian Mobile Disco. It's worth a mention that those guys have an album entitled Delicacies with all of the tracks named for “an exotic, and often bizarre, delicacy from around the world” including ortolan, fugu and Casu Marzu, that totally bizarre (and not for the faint of heart) Sardinian cheese with live bug larvae.—CR
On today's Afternoon Snacks, we've got more Santa, great gifts courtesy of Milk and Honey Market, and a couple of fun vintage collections to peruse via Saveur and Anchor Brewing.
In the grand tradition of family events with Santa in bars, Frankford Hall (1210 Frankford Ave.) had the man himself in this past weekend, and he’ll be back on Saturday and Sunday for pictures and beers and all-around merriment. From noon to 3 p.m. on Sat., Dec. 15 and Sun., Dec.16, kids get free food, pictures with Santa, and arts and crafts to keep them busy. Carols will be provided by power-polka outfit the Ja Ja Jas.
It might be a little premature but we're pretty stoked on the Navajo Taco pop-up happening at 12 Steps Down (831 Christian St.) on January 21st. Before delving into the details of the pop-up a little background on the Navajo Taco is probably in order. This New Mexican-Native American-Tex-Mex mash up takes fry bread and tops 'em with taco toppers like ground beef, shredded cheese, iceberg and olives.
So why are these southwestern tacos popping up in South Philly? Well, the story begins with Marcos Espinoza, part of the team behind Side Project Jerky. Growing up his parents owned a Salt Lake City restaurant called Navajo Hogan specializing in - you guessed it - Navajo tacos.
Espinoza has rounded up local food illustrator Hawk Krall and La Calaca Feliz chef Lucio Palazzo to help him recreate the tacos of his childhood. There's also been word that Espinoza might fly his mom out for the occasion.
The menu is still in the works but for now topping options for the fry bread tacos include meat and vegetarian options, mutton stew and a dessert taco. Krall is creating posters for the event that will be for sale at the Shiprock pop-up, named for a town in the Navajo Nation.
It's not like we really need an excuse to partake in a cocktail or two but when the proceeds from said cocktails are going to a good cause, well, all the better. This Sunday the Philadelphia chapter of the United States Bartenders Guild is taking over Tequilas (1602 Locust St.) for a Hurricane Sandy benefit.
Kicking off at 9 p.m. the night will feature $10 cocktails from the likes of Phoebe Esmon and Christian Gaal, current and former Franklin folks Al Sotack and Colin Shearn, Village Whiskey's Stephen Seibert as well as several out of town 'tenders.
The event is being sponsored by a roster of generous liquor companies including industry favorite Fratelli Branca, Pierre Ferrand, Philadelphia Distilling and many more. And if the bargain drink prices, pro bartender lineup and well-stocked bar wasn't enough to entice you to drink for a cause, if you bring in a toy to donate your first cocktail is on the house. Cheers!
Tomorrow night at Perch Pub (1345 Locust St.) they're kicking off their annual Twelve Beers of Christmas event, with a different holiday brew on special each night. The proceeds from the sales of the featured bottles go to the Salvation Army, and the bottles will be put to use in building a 9-foot Christmas tree throughout the event, which ends on Sat., Dec. 22.
Tomorrow they'll kick things off with Mad Elf. Prices will vary pretty widely, with the most expensive selection at $22 being saved for the final night: that's a 25-ouncer of Jolly Pumpkin Noel de Calabazas, which weighs in at 9% ABV and has racked up a ton of praise. But selections start at just $5, and the list overall is pretty stellar.
Monday, December 3
Lemon Hill rolls out a menu cocktail menu curated by Franklin mastermind Al Sotack.
Pub and Kitchen is doing Christmas dinner all month long.
Tuesday, December 4
Santa Claus is coming for brunch this Sunday at Brauhaus.
Top 10 cookbooks of 2012 with plenty of Meal Ticket approved picks.
Wednesday, December 5
Little Baby's launches a sweet take on a CSA. Spoiler: it's ice cream!
Looks like we're going to have to wait a little bit longer for the Serpico-Starr project.
Thursday, December 6
Adam Erace shares Michael Solomonov's pickled persimmon recipe.
Celebrate Hanukkah with a whole lotta latkes at London Grill.
Friday, December 7
Wursthaus Schmitz serving up hot sausage sandwiches in Reading Terminal.
Serious Eats visits Tacconelli's for thin crust pies and plenty of advice.
On today's Afternoon Snacks, we've got a whole slate of things to do tonight in Fishtown, from ice cream and beer, to ice cream and art, to a whole night of beer sampling.
Tonight's not just any old First Friday—it’s a very Fishtown First Friday (yes, even in spite of this). First up, it's the 1st Annual Frankford Ave First Friday Tree Lighting and Prize Grab Stroll to benefit Philabundance. With a name that detailed, further explanation feels almost unnecessary, but here you go: From 6 to 8 p.m., stop by happy hour at Fishtown Tavern (1301 Frankford Ave.) for food and drink specials (featuring Yards Brawler and IPA) and to procure an ornament with a donation to Philabundance.
Between 8 and 9 p.m., take a walk along the Avenue up to Little Baby’s (2311 Frankford Ave.), where you can show your ornament for a $2 discount on any of their new holiday flavors before helping to decorate the tree by hanging your ornament. The tree lighting takes place at 9 p.m., where there will be prizes and gifts and Yards pint glasses that entitle the holder to $3 Brawlers for the rest of the night back at Fishtown Tavern.
Peppermint bark ice cream, a killer art sale, and beer sampling, after the break! »
File this one under: spendy presents for people you really love. Alongside more modest food-related gifts (mod Japanese barware, organic vanilla) at the Food52 Shop, is an entire bone-in jamon Ibérico. Imported from Fermin in La Alberca, Spain by The Rogers Collection in Portland, Maine, this 16 pound piece of a pig comes with a special wooden ham holder and slicing knife. All for just for $650 (hey, its full retail value is $830)!
Seriously though, imagine the look on a loved one’s face when this beast is delivered to their doorstep. Yes, it might be an obscene amount of cured ham, but it will last for months after even the most committed New Year’s resolutions have deflated.
If you’d like celebrate the season with Fermin’s beautiful pork products on a slighty tighter budget, there is also a $59 option that would bring mad sophistication to any snack spread: two ounces of Ibérico de Bellota Lomo, two ounces Serrano Paleta, a seven ounce Dry Cured Salchichon Ibérico Sausage, and a seven ounce Dry Cured Chorizo Ibérico Sausage.
WTF podcast and all around awesome comedian Marc Marcon is in Philly this weekend performing at Helium and according to this photo on Twitter it looks like he's at Paesano's right now enjoying some Philly sandwich action. Enjoy, Marc!
Over on Slice, Serious Eats' blog devoted to all things pizza-related Liz Bomze is up in Port Richmond checking out Tacconelli's (2604 E. Somerset St.) and has more than a few words of wisdom for the uninitiated. Her helpful guidance includes these vital Tacco-stats:
"It's strongly recommended that you call ahead to reserve your pizza dough. They make a limited amount each day, and they usually sell out over the phone. Call between Wednesday and Sunday after 10 a.m.
Pizza is the only item on the menu, though you're welcome to bring any accompaniments you might want, like olives or salad. You may also bring wine or beer—it's one of Philly's many BYO restaurants—and if you care about drinking either of those in something other than a plastic cup, bring glasses, too. (They serve soda.)
The hot peppers (75 cents for a small cup) are HOT.
They only serve dinner, but it's not a late-night pizza joint; last seating is at 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and it's earlier on other nights. They're closed Monday and Tuesday.
Takeout: Yes. Credit cards: No.
It's casual, but it's not cheap: Pies run about $20 before extra toppings.
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