Archive: February, 2011

Notes from the Weekend: Feb. 28

POSTED: Monday, February 28, 2011, 11:16 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.)

AE: Adam Erace EF: Erin Finnerty DL: Drew Lazor AP: Adrian Pelliccia LRP: Laurel Rose Purdy

Photos | Drew Lazor

I spent most of the past week in gorgeous New Orleans, crashing at the home of our beautiful and generous friends AR and JR and eating and drinking and goofin' about town. Gonna share a couple highlights from our Friday-to-Sunday festivities pictured above are po'boys from Mother's, the local institution that came recommended by The Corner chef and former NOLA resident John Taus. We opted for the "2/3 size" option at lunch Friday, but if they'd given us these mofos at the full-size price I certainly wouldn't have noticed up top's your classic fried skrimp variety, and on bottom is Mother's "Famous Ferdi," that unmistakable po'boy bread stacked up with pickles, mayo, baked ham, roast beef and debris gravy, the Nawlins term for the meaty drizzle derived from the bits and juices that collect in the bottom of the pan when you're carving up a hunka meat. DL

Photo | Adam Erace

Friday morning, the fiancee and I made settlement on our very first house together. It's a South Philly fixer-upper with lime-green rugs, faux pine paneling, drop ceilings, aqua tile and piss-after-a-long-night-of-boozing-colored countertops. (Curiously enough, there are no mirrored walls.) We celebrated at Artisan Boulanger Patissier (1646 S. 12th St.) with pistachio croissants and spinach/mushroom quiche. Will be fortifying myself there often, as sweat equity begins this week. First order of business: new raised beds in the backyard. Growing season is around the corner. AE

Photo | Laurel Rose Purdy

Friday's eating began as a rushed-as-hell pickup from Alyan's (609 S. Fourth St.) for Foul Medames with Tehina and grape leaves to give me some Middle Eastern happy for the work night to come. But then my status went from good to great: Have any of you been to The Latest Dish (613 S. Fourth St.) recently? Housemade sausages are happening. Newish chef Steve Forte is showcasing his own, and on Friday the feature was a clove-y winter Cotechino over white beans and bacon. Hearty as shit, subtly spicy, actually kind of perfect and he's doing Bratwursts with kraut sometimes, too. Get some. LRP Friday: I went home to my parents' house and picked up a giant vegetable lasagna from Di Bruno Bros. (1730 Chestnut St.) that'd been languishing in their freezer for much too long. They saw themselves clearing out extra freezer space; I saw dinner. I took it back to my apartment, stuck it in the oven, and served my roommates some delicious, well preserved veggie lasagna. Victory. AP Late late, wound up at Kennett (848 S. Second St.) again. It's just comforting to know that I can fall in there at midnight and drink a bunch of Cotes du Rhone alongside a legitimate, fresh and local cheese board. I can tell that everyone believes the hype (did you read AE's review yet?); each barstool and every seat in the dining room was occupied for awhile. LRP Dropped by Honey's (800 N. Fourth St.) after work on Friday for a quick dinner and had the usual vegetarian chicken fried steak, as well as a rare instance of questionable service. I attempted to replicate their delicious blueberry compote at home later in this weekend and failed good enough, but just not the same. Any suggestions or exact recipes found hidden in an armoire, please pass along. EF

Photos | Drew Lazor

We really only treated ourselves to one upmarket dinner in NOLA there's waaaaay too much wonderful stuff to eat and drink and see to detonate the whole budget at one or two amazing debt-inducing restaurants. (I'll be back in April, Besh!) On the reco of Corbin Evans, another Philly chef and former New Orleanian, we peeped Patois, chef Aaron Burgau's pretty neighborhood bistro (reminded me, looks-wise, of Blackfish) that does Louisiana food "with a French accent." It was a blast. Two faves above: a scary-light potato gnocchi with hedgehog 'shrooms, jumbo lump, edamame and reggiano; and a charred octopus on a bed of fatty chorizo-flecked chickpeas. Couldn't have been happier. Thanks, Corbin! DL

Photo | Adam Erace

Later on Friday, C and I toasted with 200 friends and fam at our engagement party at the pretty swanky Tendenza (969 N. Second St.) in Northern Libs. So busy drinking Ketel/sodas mingling with guests that I forgot to eat. (Yes, I forgot to eat!) But I did snag one of the root beer floats being passed around the room on silver trays. Take-home baggies of L&M Bakery (11 Saint Mihiel Drive, Delran, N.J.) powedered-sugar cream doughnuts were lined up for departing guests, which meant lots of extras at home that I devoured during the remainder of the weekend. AE

Photo | Drew Lazor

Few more po'boys for lunch on Saturday this time from Crabby Jack's, a sandwich joint from the owner of the universally adored Jacque-Imo's, where we grubbed Wednesday night. (At the latter spot, they literally deep-fry a po'boy, bread and everything. My NOLA-resident friends SS and BS split it and were stuffed.) From Crabby's, though oysters, pulled pork, paneed chicken (pan-fried cutlets). Some killer mac 'n' cheese. See, this is why I didn't blow my cash wad on August, y'all. DL Saturday: I had more lasagna. For each and every meal. At the time, I did not regret this decision. AP Late Saturday morning, my brunching companion and I were literally the only two people at Noble (2025 Sansom St.). We enjoyed a zesty lemon curry crepe special and a super-fresh wedge of spinach/mushroom fritatta. If the secret isn't out yet: Noble is open for brunch on Saturday now, people. EF

Photos | Laurel Rose Purdy

Crushed some brunch repeats at Garces Trading Co. (1111 Locust St.) on Saturday afternoon. I'm a sucker for those $25 brunch prix-fixes (holler at your baby artichokes in Meyer lemon broth), but especially that wheel of buttery Nettle Farms Kunik cheese. Half goat, half cow, it's grassy and pasty and evil and so delicious. We finished by being dragged into the kitchen to ogle at the 400-pound pig that was chillin' on the prep table. Dude was about 10 times the size of me; I showed my boyfriend a picture of the pig's enormous cabeza, to which he remarked: "Look at how much head cheese they're gonna make." LRP Most of my Sunday consumption was made up of picking and snacking. The main event was a tasty blend of three flavors of my only vice: Capogiro Gelato (117 S. 20th St.). Killed the cup of Thai coconut milk, meyer lemon and Grey goose/avocado before the Oscars began. Can't wait for next year's show. I have a feeling Hall Pass is going to SWEEP. EF We avoided the brunch lines at every single brunch offerer on Sunday when it's nice out, forget about it. So instead I had some bananas and weird Icelandic yogurt because I am a creature of many habits. Finished off the weekend late on Sunday night by sliding into the back bar of N. 3rd (801 N. Third St.) to make fun of celebrities, drink some more Cotes du Rhone (La Chouffe for the beau) and actually eat a meal. I loved my sesame-crusted tuna with wasabi mashed potatoes, but I burned the roof of my mouth. Boyfriend had the roasted chicken, always stellar. All of a sudden there was a pile of chocolate ice cream in front of me and I don't remember a thing thereafter. LRP Sunday: After OD'ing on lasagna and not having it in me to face another lasagna breakfast, I booked it over to Steak Queen (38th b/t Spruce and Walnut) to check out their revamped menu. Brunched on a chicken cheesesteak dripping in ketchup and hot sauce and a new menu addition spinach! For dinner, I headed over to Pho & Cafe Saigon (4248 Spruce St.) and got my standing order: tofu rolls and the venerable No. 27, vermicelli topped with spring rolls and grilled pork. After applying thick coats of hoisin and sriracha, I downed my meal in about 4 minutes. It was a great choice for getting out of my "eat one type of food for an entire weekend" rut. AP

Photo | Adam Erace

Sunday did a marathon house shopping, the intensity of which was mitigated by Rocco's Sausages (1601 S. Columbus Blvd.), the little garlic-scented shed like a beauty mark on the ugly mug of Home Depot. Hot sausage. Onions. Peppers. Mustard. Outside on a picnic table in what felt like the most beautiful weather since the summer. AE

Photos | Drew Lazor

After traveling for what felt like 72 hours on Sunday (it was more like 12 stupid, stupid multiple layovers!), I was in absolutely no mood to cook anything or go out and horrify everyone with the onyx bags under my eyes, so we copped some takeout from the new Makiman Sushi near Broad and Spruce. Digging on the chirashi that's simply sashimi draped over sushi rice, kinda like a Japanese naked burrito and especially the pork dumpling soup, which comes with little matchsticks of fishcake. DL

Laurel Rose Purdy

Posted 2011-02-28 18:59:49

ME, the girls at La Va are goddesses. At least those I remember from four years ago.

Posted 2011-02-28 18:34:50

Calling bullshit on Vietnam, which I went to on Saturday. Volcano bowls at Bar Saigon on the fourth floor are an insane $18. Downstairs, they're only $14. Still, delicious and dangerous. Same can't be said for the food, which I could have gotten faster and cheaper in South Philly. I guess you pay for ambiance right?



Also, shout out to the ladies who work at La Va, solely because the dudes who work there are a disaster. The ladies are quick and polite. The dudes always seem to give my order to someone else. Step it up, men.

Posted 2011-03-01 08:47:42

Followed the hype to Kennett on Friday and was not disappointed.  The lamb burger was juicy and the exact right amount of lamb flavor.  I also appreciated the waittress who questioned my second drink order.  "A lord chesterfield, are you sure, i mean have you had it before."  I appreciated her looking out, but sometimes you just feel like a Yuengling.

Sunday brunch went to Paesano's, with two helpers we split the brisket and egg sandwich, the lamb sausage, and the fried lasagna hoagie.  Fantastic way to start a sunday on the couch.

Mikey

Posted 2011-03-01 10:32:05

I went to Zac's Hamburgers in Folsom, PA with a friend that wanted to check it out. I was reasonably impressed by the freshness and value. The burger patties are cheap, small, and have a homemade look, feel and taste. They're essentially an up-and-coming Delco version of Five Guys with a ways to go. They've got plenty of other things to offer such as various shakes, fries and buffalo chicken bites (yum). There's also no shortage of burger toppings. I'm looking forward to returning on a Sunday with friends for their special of 10 burgers for $14, made any way you want.

Posted 2011-03-01 16:17:21

Plus five for the Ron Swanson comment.

Laurel Rose

Posted 2011-03-01 15:00:37

Anthony, I don't find anything abnormal about that.

Nicole

Posted 2011-03-01 11:06:00

When I'm in NOLA I usually save the budget busters for leisurely lunches when both the damage and the pressure to over-order are lighter. Herbsaint is my favorite for a nice civilized weekday lunch.

Drew Lazor

Posted 2011-03-01 11:11:35

That spot came highly reco'd as well, Nicole! I wasn't able to make it this time but want to next time. It looks pretty inside.

rascal b. schuylkillian

Posted 2011-03-01 12:42:32

I am not so sure Zac's is all that up and coming.  It's been a culinary destination for Delco stoners and day laborers since at least the 80's.  Zac's is decent but I prefer Charlies.  "Charlies vs. Zac's" is a long standing debate among Delco hamburglars.

Julie

Posted 2011-03-01 13:11:10

Now I want baby artichokes. You all are killing me.



I'm starting with Thursday because Thursday was Zento Night (thanks for the 10% off tip guys!). After a pit stop at the Khyber me, the boyfriend and best friend started the evening with the fried calamari. Then we had two orders of the mouth meltingly amazing square sushi (one tuna, one salmon), spicy crunchy tuna with eel and avocado, shrimp and fish topped with spicy scallop, the "real" California roll with crab, and probably the best roll I've had yet-avocado, cucumber, and fried shallot topped with bronzino, micro-greens, and more fried shallots with some delicious sauce that I can't remember because FOOD COMA. 



Friday I made the Trader Joe's goat cheese and sun-dried tomato ravioli with grilled chicken, sauteed spinach and grape tomatoes, and some olive oil and garlic. Nothing special, but it went quite well with some repeat viewings of our favorite Ron Swanson moments from Parks and Rec. I should have made steak. And ALL the eggs and bacon.



Sunday we skipped down the hill to Main Street for brunch at Bourbon Blue. We took advantage of their Bloody Mary bar, and I had the buttermilk pancakes with fresh berries while the boy had eggs Benedict with a crab cake and potatoes.

rascal b. schuylkillian

Posted 2011-03-01 12:33:04

Last time I was in New Orleans I hit up Mother's for the fried catfish po boy.  It was a killer sandwich, but I am not sure the post-lunch food coma was worth the long ass wait in line.  A cold Abita, a tray of super fresh half shells, and a side of anything deep fried is my favorite New Orleans food experience.  New Orleans is the epicenter of the global frialator food culture.  I love it.

Anthony Sica

Posted 2011-02-28 21:01:30

@LRP- Those Meyer Lemon chokes at GTC are INSANE. I want to have a sauce off between those and the clams at Southwark.  I would brush my teeth with either if it was a normal thing to do.

Michelle

Posted 2011-03-01 11:24:19

New Orleans is beautiful and filled with great people and amazing food. I am still craving po'boys, even though I swore I would never eat again after finishing each one. I was more impressed by the 80-lb women serving and bussing the powder-laden tables at Cafe du Monde than the actual beignets themselves. (Don't hate me, New Orleans!) They were carrying trays piled 8 inches high while weaving in and out of the hungry tourist crowds!





While not New Orleans-specific, a very memorable dish for me was the tater tot "tachos" our friends introduced us to. Very simply, it is a plate of tater tots dressed like nachos and served with sour cream and salsa. I plan on making this at home very soon.

Drew Lazor

Posted 2011-03-01 16:21:08

"I think you may have heard I want a lot of bacon and eggs. What I said was BRING ME ALL THE BACON AND EGGS YOU HAVE. Do you understand me?"



Funniest show on TV! Ron and I have very similar eating tastes.

jamie

Posted 2011-03-02 17:07:10

I love the Kunik cheese at GTC!! Isn't it sexy?

Crawdad season kicks off next week at Chris’ Jazz Cafe :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2011-03-02 13:31:17

[...] so very mysterious Hop Sing Laundromat• New reservation app NoWait and Zavino want to text you• Notes from the Weekend: Feb. 28• Tomorrow: Eat free IHOP, support CHOP Video Blog• Behind the Scenes with Kurt [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 11:16 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Tomorrow: Eat free IHOP, support CHOP

POSTED: Monday, February 28, 2011, 8:27 PM

Filed Under: Dealage | We're Here to Help

Tomorrow, IHOP will be taking advantage of the glorious event that is National Pancake Day by raising funds for children's charities while dishing out complimentary short stacks. For each free stack of their classic buttermilk pancakes, guests will be invited to donate to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, and proceeds from area IHOPs will go toward the CMNH's programs at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Stop into participating IHOPs tomorrow (including locations at 1320 Walnut St., 3 Snyder Ave. and 3400 Aramingo Ave.) between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. to do your good deed of the day. Can't make it out? Click over to IHOPPancakeDay.com to donate online.

Posted by Erin Finnerty @ 8:27 PM Permalink | Post a comment

March 1: National Pig Day at PBR

POSTED: Monday, February 28, 2011, 7:35 PM

Filed Under: Food and Holidays

Tuesday is National Pig Day. Yes, I just said those words. National Pig Day. Old City's Philadelphia Bar & Restaurant (120 Market St.) is dedicating their entire day to the celebration of this beloved and delicious swiney being. Chef Jordan Sauter will be roasting pigs all day today into tomorrow in preparation of the FREE ROASTED SUCKLING PIG SLAMMERS they will be throwing your way between noon and 1 p.m. tomorrow. Don't sleep on this. Slammers, if you weren't aware, are like double sliders. Sauter does not want to "leave you hungry," so after 1, the slammers will be $3 a pop. Avery Brewing Company's Hog Heaven Barleywine will be poured all day into 10-ounce goblets for another $3, and Sauter will be braising some piggy shanks in said brew and serving them with cracklins and bacon-y lentils for $10. Readers, this is a really important holiday. See you there.

freelunch

Posted 2011-03-01 13:36:10

Stopped by PBR today for the free lunch.  The pork was wonderful and the super thick cut bacon, crispy skin, and variety of house-made condiments totally made it.  However, the place was totally dead.  It made me sad to see that very few people took advantage of the porky goodness.  It was honestly some of the best I have tasted.

Laurel Rose Purdy

Posted 2011-03-02 11:46:27

I was SO SAD that I couldn't make it - stuck in my doctor's office for hours just thinking about free roast pork.

Posted by Laurel Rose Purdy @ 7:35 PM Permalink | Post a comment

March 15: Chefs collab, American-style, at The Corner

POSTED: Monday, February 28, 2011, 6:43 PM

Filed Under: Chef Salad | Food Events

John Taus, who just took over exec chef duties at The Corner (102 S. 13th St.) is already ready to bring it he's organized a chef's collaboration dinner, scheduled for Tuesday, March 15, centered around "modern takes on American comfort food." Participating this time around with Taus David Katz (Mémé), Peter Woolsey (Bistrot La Minette) and charcuterie dude Andrew Wood (Fork), plus Matt Levin of Adsum, a newcomer to the chef-collab circuit. (The rest of these dudes, in various combos, have pulled off plenty of crazy concept meals, ranging from pig dinners and French bistro interpretations to mullet-wigged odes to the Jersey Shore.) No official word on menu items just yet, but we do know that Woolsey's in charge of dessert. There will be two seatings of the dinner, at 6 and 8:30 p.m., and seats will run you $50 a pop. Call 215-735-7500 to reserve. UPDATE: Taus says he'll be doing sweetbreads and crawfish with tasso ham ragu and pickled jalapeno grits for the dinner. ON IT! UPDATE [02mar11]: And here's Katz's dish: "Cochon du lait," with black-eyed pea/ham hock stew, fried Brussels sprouts, Creole mustard and green tomato marmalade.

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 6:43 PM Permalink | 2 comments

Prune's Gabrielle Hamilton at Amis Industry Night April 4

POSTED: Monday, February 28, 2011, 5:03 PM

Filed Under: Chef Salad | Food Books | Food Events

We made it quite clear how much we admired Gabrielle Hamilton's memoir Blood, Bones & Butter in our Feb. 24 issue, and it's cool that Philly fans of the Prune chef/owner's book will be able to meet the author at an April 3 First Person Arts brunch at Pumpkin. Now comes word that Marc Vetri, who's been pals with Hamilton since they met at the South Beach Food & Wine Festival a few years ago, will host Hamilton at April's first-Monday-of-the-month Industry Night at Amis (412 S. 13th St.). "Anyone heading into or even thinking about heading into culinary school should have to read [Blood, Bones & Butter]," says Vetri, who's read the book twice. "It gives you an idea of what they're in store for." Early in the book, Hamilton writes in beautiful detail about the elaborate lamb roasts she and her family would organize for their friends and neighbors in nearby Lambertville; they'll recreate this meal for Industry Night attendees on April 4. So big a Blood, Bones & Butter booster is Vetri that he's actually purchased 150 copies of Hamilton's book for the event the first 150 folks through the door will receive a free copy, which they'll be able to get Hamilton to sign.

blue

Posted 2011-02-28 17:02:58

Taunt?  Sounds like they're trying to protect us.  The food industry is not for the faint-hearted.

Dave

Posted 2011-02-28 15:07:38

Now they're just trying to taunt those of us who don't work in the food industry, aren't they?

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

Ticket Stubs: Meal Ticket Weekly Recap, Feb. 21-25

POSTED: Monday, February 28, 2011, 3:48 PM

Filed Under: Meal Ticket | Ticket Stubs

Monday, Feb. 21 Port Richmond Pour House is opening soon in ... you can guess where! The new Makiman Sushi offers an all-you-can-eat option every Monday. The Piazza's Nana Petrillo's is brewing up their coffee pourover-style. Gavin's Café at 26th and Pine makes some mean empanadas. Guapos Tacos and Spanish fries with brown gravy and sushitron and pizza marathons and tripe-y brunches and a lot more in Notes from the Weekend. Check out photos of the brand-new Fathom Seafood House, from Mike Stollenwerkfish and Little Fish. Tuesday, Feb. 22 Audrey Taichman is opening Cook, a multi-purpose kitchen and culinary center, in Rittenhouse. Blue Bear Tavern (formerly Doc Watson's) is getting close at 11th/Walnut. There's a bangin' new spring menu at Maru Global Takoyaki. Wednesday, Feb. 23 Is Rim Café's saffron cappuccino delicious or suspicious? Erin Finnerty investigates. Lots of dough-savin' prix-fixe options for dinner at Hoof + Fin. This spring, Little Baby's Ice Cream will bring you artisanal desserts on a tricycle. Thursday, Feb. 24 The bar expansion at Bistrot La Minette is complete! Chef Scott Swiderski has left The Corner. AirHeads Xtremes get the extreme xtreme Weekly Candy treatment. Friday, Feb. 25 Erace tests out Distrito delivery from online service Grub Hub.

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 3:48 PM Permalink | Post a comment

IN PRINT: City Paper Food & Restaurants, Feb. 24

POSTED: Friday, February 25, 2011, 6:12 PM

Filed Under: In Print

Photo | Neal Santos

- Good looks all around from Kennett, the new Queen Village saloon with a checkered past. From Prohibition cocktails to wood-fired pizza, the K crew does it all and just about all of it well. - Drew Lazor writes up Blood, Bones & Butter, memoir of Prune chef/owner (and New Hope/Lambertville native REPRESENT!) Gabrielle Hamilton. (Have you booked tickets for the First Person Arts brunch with her at Pumpkin?) If all the lines in this book are as clever as, Her purpose is to take a long luxurious bath in my ear (re: her sister), then I cant wait to read. - Feeding Frenzy shares deets on Fathom, Far From Home Cafe, Cook and Port Richmond Pour House. - Chili cook-offs, Tours de France, Art in the Age beer dinners and more in the illustrious LRPs Whats Cooking.

Posted by Adam Erace @ 6:12 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Testing: Distrito delivery from Grub Hub

POSTED: Friday, February 25, 2011, 2:02 PM

Filed Under: Testing

Wednesday night, facing a combination of raptor-like hunger, restaurant fatigue and an empty fridge, I ordered dinner in. Was feeling pumpkin curry from Circles, always a good look (see November's review), so I popped onto online ordering service Grub Hub, which Id never used before but knew the good folks at Circles were tied into. There, my hunger was quickly replaced by wide-eyed awe at the number of restaurants hooked into GHs delivery network. I entered my address and got the following reply: "We have 120 matches that offer delivery to you."

The possibilities! A Butcher and Singer burger ... Giwa bibimbop ... Peking duck from Sang Kee ... and my lazy ass wouldnt even have to put pants on. In the mood for Mexican, I settled on Distrito, downloaded Grub Hubs idiot-proof app to my iPhone, created an account and placed an order with a few quick clicks. Each merchant has a varying delivery charge and minimum (Distritos is $6.99 and $15), and you can customize each selection with special instructions, say, extra chips with the crab guac or hold the spice on the shrimp ceviche. You get a total at check-out and can choose to pay cash or credit, with the option to add gratuity instead of fumbling around in your pockets when the deliveryman arrives. I ordered at 6:15, and the Grub Hub app estimated dinner would arrive by ugh-Id-need-a-snack 7:30. But then I got an email confirmation (this doubles as your receipt) clocking the ETA at 7:15. The doorbell rang at ten after early! and I was greeted by a collegey kid hauling the kind of gigantic duffel bag golf clubs and dismembered bodies are transported in. He unzipped the duffel, removed two pink plaid Distrito bags and bounced.

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

I unpacked dinner: tortilla soup, chicken enchilada, huitlacoche quesadilla, a strawberry/Cabrales/baby greens salad, Joses slammin esquites and the dynamite District chicken, miles of fried skin still hot and crispy. Everything properly labeled. Salsas, dressings, mojos all packed separately in little plastic cups and paper pint containers. Napkins and plastic airplane cutlery included. Everything was fresh and flavorful, not a sprig of microcilantro out of place. But thats hardly the point. I had eaten Distrito for dinner, without having to go to Distrito. Sure beats greasy pizza.

Posted 2011-02-25 16:35:22

I'm so glad that GrubHub's getting some recognition. When I lived in Chicago (where, I'm pretty sure, it was founded) it was a dependable stand-by when I didn't know what I wanted ... only that I didn't want to go there to get it.

rachel

Posted 2011-02-25 09:36:09

Adam, welcome to the wonderful lazy world of grubhub! My favorite part about them is that if you have like, A dollar on you you can put the entire transaction  (tip included) onto your card.

your dinner sounds like it was  a treat, though I have yet to order from any of the nicer-ish places offered on grub hub. 

I live in south philly but not TOO south but also not close to center city... wonder if distrito would deliver to me?

barryg

Posted 2011-02-25 11:56:26

Distrito would deliver to you as they use a delivery service, hence the $6.99 deliver fee. The places that do their own deliver have much more modest deliver fees, but limited delivery areas.



Late night tip: DP Dough in West Philly delivers until 2:30 during the week and 3:30 on the weekends, they deliver all over town. Like to deep South Philly and up in North Philly. Delivery fee varies by how far, but is reasonable.

Posted by Adam Erace @ 2:02 PM Permalink | Post a comment

WEEKLY CANDY: AirHeads XTREMES Rainbow Berry Belts

POSTED: Thursday, February 24, 2011, 8:18 PM

Filed Under: Weekly Candy

Once a week, Team Meal Ticket shares its latest sugar-laden fixations. Do not tell 0ur dentist. IN QUESTION: One of my favorites, AirHeads XTREMES Rainbow Berry Sweetly Sour Belts. OK, so maybe the people at AirHeads HQ went overboard by calling these "XTREME," but how else are they supposed to sell kids candy these days? The crystalline sour dust is pretty tame and the generic berry flavor is alright (the rainbow colors are just for show and are not individually flavored), but every bite has a surprising sweetness to it. Like, a sweetness greater than that of your average candy. Allow me to reiterate our Weekly Candy slogan: Please don't tell my dentist. WHERE TO BUY: Rite Aid, 17th and Chestnut. Standard. HOW MANY DO WE TYPICALLY EAT IN ONE SITTING: They aren't tongue-splittingly sour, so you can comfortably consume an entire eight-belt package. Heck, you might even have some to share with friends (AKA, me). FINER POINTS: I love these! Back in my candy store-working days (shout out to Sweets from Heaven), I had a signature mix that included these bad boys in their bulk-bin form. Following up on last week's Finer Points: I'm still looking for a tree stump box translator! Inquire within.

Tweets that mention WEEKLY CANDY: AirHeads XTREMES Rainbow Berry Belts :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper -- Topsy.com

Posted 2011-02-24 17:56:25

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Eva Miranda, Meal Ticket. Meal Ticket said: Weekly Candy http://tinyurl.com/4mtjrxv [...]

Posted by Erin Finnerty @ 8:18 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Feb. 27: Susanna Foo guest stars at Square 1682's Penns Woods wine dinner

POSTED: Thursday, February 24, 2011, 7:29 PM

Filed Under: Chef Salad | Food News

hotelpalomar-philadelphia.com

Chef Guillermo Tellez of Square 1682 (Hotel Palomar, 117 S. 17th St.) will be hosting a collaborative with James Beard award-winning chef Susanna Foo. Tellez, formerly of Starr's go at Striped Bass, prides his global array of dishes on their inclusion of sustainable, local and organic ingredients. Once upon a time, these chefs were practically next-door neighbors, before Foo moved her fine-dining Chinese kitchen from Walnut Street to Lancaster Avenue in Radnor. So, on Sunday, Tellez and Foo will be working together at Square to present a three-course dinner for $65 a person . Each course will feature a dish prepared by each chef, side by side, complete with wine pairings of reserve selections from Penns Woods Winery in Chaddsford.A portion of the night's profit will go toward the Philadelphia Academies charity to benefit the integrity of our public schools. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., there will be a chef-hosted canape reception, where you can rub elbows, sip local Traminette and snack on truffle and wild mushroom dumplings and classic Cantonese rabbit Soong with pine nuts and honey, among other small bites. At 7 p.m., seated dinner begins, and you really don't want to miss this showcase of talent. See why by checking out the menu in full after the jump.

SUSANNA FOO GUEST CHEF DINNER SQUARE 1682

CANAPÉS *** Wild Mushroom and Truffle Dumpling Rabbit Soong with Pine Nuts & Honey Yellow Fin Tuna Poke Slider Wild Bass Ceviche --2008 Penns Woods Traminette--

AMUSE *** Lobster Spring Roll (Chef Susanna Foo) Papaya, Micro Spinach, Honey Mustard Sauce --2009 Penns Woods Pinot Grigio Barrel Select--

Artichoke Soup (Chef Guillermo Tellez) Spicy Baja Scallop Ragout, Ginger, Sesame Puff Pastry --2007 Penns Woods Chardonnay Reserve--

ENTRÉE *** Seared Halibut (Chef Guillermo Tellez) Truffle Sweet Potato, Toasted Corn-Caper Vinaigrette, Preserved beets --2005 Penns Woods Proprietors Reserve--

Tea Smoked Duck, Star Anise Duck Sauce (Chef Susanna Foo) Roasted Asparagus, Butternut Squash, Multigrain Chinese Wild Rice --2005 Penns Woods Cabernet Reserve--

DESSERT *** Valhrona Chocolate Crunch Bar (Chef Guillermo Tellez) African Nectar Gelée, Green Tea Macha Ice Cream --NV Penns Woods Lacrima Dolce--

Tweets that mention Feb. 27: Susanna Foo guest stars at Square 1682s Penns Woods wine dinner :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper -- Topsy.com

Posted 2011-02-24 14:52:44

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by laurel rose, Meal Ticket. Meal Ticket said: Details and menu for the Foo/Tellez collabo, going down this Sunday http://tinyurl.com/4tse3wm [...]

Posted by Laurel Rose Purdy @ 7:29 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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