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Archive: March, 2011
Just an FYI, readers: posting will be sleepy over the next few days as we upgrade to a fancy, shmancy new operating system. Forget us not while we work to make Meal Ticket better than ever!
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| Photo | NJ Monthly |
| the dining room at Luke Palladino in Northfield |
Last we spoke to chef Luke Palladino, he had just traded the glamorous life at Borgata, where he operated Specchio and Ombra since the casino's opening, for a simple 30-seat BYOB in Northfield. This mainland city is just 5 minutes by rickety causeway from Margate, two towns at opposite ends of a marshy bay and turtle sanctuary, but mentally, it's a world away from the resort's summer bustle. It's a quieter life, and that’s what Palladino wanted when he opened his eponymous hermitage Luke Palladino (1333 New Road) last year.
So if a lifestyle change was Palladino's goal, why's he heading back to the casino this summer?
"It's funny," the Italian-American chef says. "Craig [LaBan] is reviewing us this week and he said the same thing to me." It's a fair question, the ink still fresh on a deal with Harrah's (777 Harrah's Blvd.) to install a 200-seater in the space that formerly housed Polistina's, a ristorante whose spelling of tapas ("tappas") is all you need to know about its virtue. "I took a break from casinos," Palladino continues. "I don't know that I shunned them altogether, but this is a nice opportunity. Harrah's is a good company … they're making lots of changes, and we're certainly happy to be a part of them."
Luke Palladino at Harrah's Resort aims to open by Memorial Day Weekend, the chronological finish-line new seasonal restaurants race to reach. (If you don't get open by then, might as well wait till July 4.) Local designer Scott Eccard, who outfitted Northfield in dolphin-grays, compelling monochromatic photos and burlap upholstery is projecting that modern warmth on the Harrah's space, but Palladino points out, "While it'll be the same feeling and style, I don't want this to look like a big Northfield." He doesn't want it to look theme-y, either. "This isn't a 15th-century building. We're not going to put fake bricks in the wall and make people think they're in Montalcino." Plenty of other casinos have that market covered.
For food, expect the regional Italian, Jersey farm-flavored cooking Palladino has always strived to celebrate. If last summer's memorable meals at Northfield are any indication, this season will see a riot of heirloom tomatoes, eggplants, zucchini, corn, squash blossoms, soft-shells, beans, berries and more. Dude's pasta is to-die, too. (Sottocenere agnolotti in foie crema? Yes please!) Sourcing from small local farms will be more of a challenge for 200 seats than 30, but with Cookie Till, owner of Margate stalwart Steve & Cookie's and longtime local-ag champion, Palladino is working to form a growers' consortium. "There's a whole group of local growers that are getting better at what they do," he says. "Once summer starts, things grow so prolifically here, I don't think [sourcing locally] is going to be a problem at all."
There will be no changes at Luke Palladino Northfield. The chef, whose presence at the BYOB has been a fixture, still promises he'll be there every night, splitting his time between Northfield and the Harrah's outpost. "With traffic, I'm only 15 minutes away." We apologize in advance for clogging your roads.
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| latimes.com |
Author Charles Bukowski was a man attached to many outlandish opinions; most either love or hate him. On Tue., March 8, Fergie's Pub (1214 Sansom St.) is hosting the second annual wake honoring the anniversary of Bukowski's death (actually March 9) aptly named Bukowskifest in hopes of establishing a true "national holiday for drunks." (Last year's inaugural fest was held at Triangle Tavern.) The "Pigkowski" award will be bestowed to the Bukowski-est, most lascivious boozehound in the bar. We imagine this could get pretty rowdy; with a game of Bukowski-inspired Quizzo and boozy poetry readings throughout the night, it might be a tough call who takes the title. Cheap jug wine and $3 house vodka will be offered in addition to the usual bar pours. Let us leave you with an appropriate passage from the writer's novel, Women, to get the old Bukowski wheels turning in preparation: "That's the problem with drinking, I thought, as I poured myself a drink. If something bad happens you drink in an attempt to forget; if something good happens you drink in order to celebrate; and if nothing happens you drink to make something happen."
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| Photo | Neal Santos |
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| etsy.com |
- It's pretty much a no-brainer that Etsy is truly an emporium for handmade novelties. That cutting board shaped like the state of Pennsylvania is so cute! And A. Heirloom custom-carves every other state! Also, the funny high-heeled pilgrim boot that is Italy! And Long Island! Don't you want one?
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| buzzfeed.com |
- Buzzfeed has compiled the 30 most WTF-inducing canned food items out there. Among the many questionable items are canned PB&J sammies, cream of possum (not sure I'm buying it), whole chickens and some really gnarly-looking gray squid. - I don't really watch Paula Deen, but I do know that she's got a sweet Southern drawl and calls us nicknames like "puddin'" and "sugar." None of this really matters what does matter is that photo of her riding on the Lochness monster, or on a stick of butter, or on Harry Potter. Paula Deen riding things. Click click click click. Laughlaughlaughlaughlaugh. - Ew. I'm sorry for any of you who have eaten at Nina's Bella Pizzeria in Upper Darby, the establishment whose owner planted mice in neighboring pizza shops. With this kind of tactic, there's probably a reason why he wanted to sabotage the competition. If your pizza's not all that, people will like it more if you sneak rodents on everyone else's. It'll work. Yup. - OK, let's not talk about disgusting things anymore. Let's talk about divine, delicious, decadent things. Things like these Red Velvet Pancakes. Ugggghhhhhhh. With whipped cream cheese on top. Hello? How is this even fair? Ughhhhhhh. I will just whine at the photo until I get to eat these by the millions. - Back to disgusting topics! Or maybe not? Clearly not everyone thinks so, but I'm sure we can all agree that this is a little much, right? London's Icecreamists are churning breast milk ice cream yes, of the human variety. The descriptive term of "free range" attached to it is just hilarious. I sure hope I'm free range. The stuff's called "Baby Gaga," MSNBC reports, and translates from pounds to $23 a serving. (Apparently, it was just pulled from the store over health concerns!) Dear readers, what are your thoughts on this?
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| Photo | Adam Erace |
I did not like the pizza from Uncle Oogies but these look really good.
I love the pizza at Oogie's but I will def try these next time!
I love the pizza at Oogie's and I'll def have to try these next time!
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| Elena Peteva - "Offering" |
Another great event in your city. Makes me want to move.
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It's worth staying for a bite. I love red cabbage as an added ingredient in the falafel salad.
You got it Jonathan! This is Hummus. Went there last night before a movie that ended up being at Ritz 5 instead of Rave, oops. No matter, though, as I still got down on a good falafel platter. Also I got my "Hummus Rewards Card" going.
hummus
Hummus - 40th and Walnut.
Santa Fe Burrito
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| Photo | Neal Santos |
i now feel extra cheap having purchased 3 bottles of four roses and 2 bottles of barranc del closos. TIME TO GET MORE!
I scored the last George T. Stagg bourbon in the state system at the Society Hill store yesterday. Pretty tickled at the $38 price point on a $100 plus bottle. Herbisant eh? I have a bottle of Vieux Carre, is Herbisant substantially different/better for sazeracs?
Same here, Lew. I got 2 bottles of Herbsaint and 2 bottles of Glenrothes Select Reserve SM earlier!
Hey, I despise the PLCB, but I got my butt out there and bought some cheap booze yesterday: you BET I did.
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