Archive: April, 2010

HAPPY HOUR HOPPER at Rembrandt's

POSTED: Tuesday, April 20, 2010, 9:26 PM

Filed Under: Booze | Dealage | Happy Hour Hopper

Happy Hour is a place to vent daily frustrations and unwind, a time to reconnect with friends and coworkers you don't mind seeing beyond the boundaries of Cubicle Land. It's is also the ideal time to score a deal on your favorite gustatives and gulpables. Although my work scenario has me behind a kitchen prep station rather than a desk, I can appreciate HH just the same. For this feature, I'll hop bar by bar to HHs across the area and report back to Meal Ticket every Tuesday. If you've been to this week's featured HH, tell us about it in the comments. I want recommendations for future trips, too! Let's delve into it at Rembrandt's. WHERE YOU AT? I met Fairmount friends at Rembrandt's (741 N. 23rd St.) for a Friday happy hour. When I walked up a handful of outdoor diners sat at round plastic tables but soon retreated indoors after a sprinkling of rain. Inside, I had my choice of sedentary real estate in either of the two rooms of the bar area. Instead of bar stools or a dining table, I grabbed a high-top for three that was more conducive to conversation, but still maintained the "at the bar" feeling. The wooden bar, which wrapped around a half-wall that created the two rooms, seats around 20. The low- and high-top tables combined could seat another 40 or so. The wooden faÃ§ade around the bar and the small white, burgundy and orange tiles covering the floor give the room a charming, antique personality, as do the walls adorned with the original works of local artists. Two large flat-screens in either corner. WHAT'S THE SCENE? I was surprised to be in close proximity of a toddler and teenager — not the bar patrons I'm used — but I suppose that's telling of the atmosphere here, sort of like it's anyone's place to come hang out. Tunes from the '90s played, although I barely heard a note over the intermittent yelps as the Flyers and Phillies games played on the tubes. When the games ended sports fans dispersed and a new crowd, a little less casual, filed in. WHAT'S THE DEAL? Select drafts (on Friday it was Great Lakes Golden Lager, Yards Brawler and Victory Prima Pils), wines (a red, a white and a Zinfandel), and well drinks are $3 during happy hour, from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday. We had some Victory and Great Lakes and snacked on "pot" (potato) chips and hummus off the $3 to $5 happy-hour snack menu. The pot chips were well-seasoned waffle-cut crisps fried just under the burnt mark (right where I like it) and served with a slightly spicy aioli. Hummus was good, too, with a nice kick of cumin served with pita bread; some pieces fluffy, some crisp. Also available: mac and cheese, BBQ ribs, mini crabcakes, a cheese plate, and bacon-wrapped asparagus (!).

Posted by Marie DiFeliciantonio @ 9:26 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Kraftwork opens ...

POSTED: Tuesday, April 20, 2010, 9:18 PM

Filed Under: Openings

Kraftwork on Flickr

... Friday, May 7, says Adam Ritter, who is confident on that date for his Fishtown restaurant/pub (Girard and Montgomery). We dropped prelim details on the project back in January.

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 9:18 PM Permalink | Post a comment

A few seats remain for tonight's Glenlivet Scotch dinner at Noble

POSTED: Tuesday, April 20, 2010, 8:03 PM

Filed Under: Booze | Food Events

There are a few open seats left for tonight's four-course Glenlivet dinner at Noble: An American Cookery (2025 Sansom St.). Brand ambassador Ricky Crawford will be on hand to pair various scotches (The Glenlivet 15 Year, Glenlivet Nadurra 16 and 18 Year, etc.) with food from chef Brinn Sinnott (lobster bisque, peking duck and foie gras with blackberry and cinnamon, etc.). The evening begins at 6:30 with passed hors d'oeuvres and concludes with a toast of the ultra-rare Glenlivet Archive 25 Year; cost is $90 a head, a price that includes tax and grat. Full menu after the jump.

Click to enlarge

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 8:03 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Best places to buy blood sausage in Philly?

POSTED: Tuesday, April 20, 2010, 7:30 PM

Filed Under: Weird Regional Foods | We're Here to Help

cocinatipo.com

A Meal Ticket reader checks in with this question:

I'm looking for some Catalonian blood sausage. Do you know of any markets, butchers or grocers that might have this for sale anywhere in the area?

One place that comes to mind off the top is Orlando's Quality Meats on Ninth between Christian and Carpenter, where they do blood sausage, or morcilla, in-house. (We failed to realize that Orlando no longer works out of the Italian Market. Our mistake — thank you to commenter Pucca.) But where else? Who's got the best? Drop your ideas and suggestions in the comments.

Holly Moore

Posted 2010-04-20 14:52:56

If you're talking Morcilla, head up North 5th.  There is a butcher on the right hand side just north of Somerset that does great morcilla, along with an outstanding octopi salad.

Pucca

Posted 2010-04-20 15:03:22

Orlando left his store two years ago! He has been working for Giunta at RTM since he left the 9th street market. Talk to him, he may still make it for a special order.

deeney

Posted 2010-04-20 15:59:31

Freddy and Tony's at 2nd and Allegheny, cheap take out prices and you can buy either by weight or dollar amount.

caga tio

Posted 2010-04-20 16:15:32

I am willing to bet that you will not find Catalan (style) blood sausage in Philadelphia.  Though I do not recall seeing it in their case, you may want to talk to the people at Garces Trading Company to see if they will sell you some.  Other then that, your best bet is ordering it online at latienda.com

PhillySon

Posted 2010-04-20 16:44:16

DiBruno Bros. occasionally carries Morcillo Sausage.

cscott

Posted 2010-04-20 22:54:39

Thank you for all your responses.  I am actually looking for Botifarra Negra, a Catalan pork blood sausage.  I did in fact order some Morcilla from latienda.com and am expecting it to arrive tomorrow.  I was recently in Barcelona and there are several recipes I want to try out which call for this particular sausage.

Felicia D'Ambrosio

Posted 2010-04-21 08:27:00

Asked Xochitl chef Lucio Pazzo where he sources his excellent morcilla after tasting it for the first time last night -- he said D'Angelo Bros. in the Italian Market makes two types -- the Mexican style (pork sausage/beef blood) he uses, as well as a South American style with dried fruit and nuts! 

The pulpo y morcilla skewers in black garlic mole were sheer genius.

anne

Posted 2010-04-21 11:52:55

Swiaki's in Port Richmond sells Polish blood sausage - kishka

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 7:30 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Happy Holidays, you witless stoners!

POSTED: Tuesday, April 20, 2010, 6:30 PM

Filed Under: Food and Holidays | Food and Politics

Baked good

Disclaimer: City Paper and Meal Ticket do not endorse participation in any sort of extralegal activity, even if said activity is conducted in the privacy of the home. Egads no. If you don't already know, today's date of April 20 is considered in some circles a red-letter day for smokers of marijuana. Whether it first originated as a police code or as the designated time a few friends gathered daily to indulge, 4/20 is now an open code that signifies the consumption of cannabis, an intoxicant that is most often smoked, but can be included in potent potables and foods — pot brownies, space cakes, gooballs, hash cookies and the buttered-tea beverage bhang. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in cannabis that produces that "high" or "stoned" feeling, is highly soluble in fats and alcohol but not water, making it an ideal candidate for inclusion in food items containing butter or oil. Add butter and the illegal herb to the top half of a double boiler, simmer, strain and bhang! Cannabutter ready for use in any recipe, most often of the baked-good variety. For bakers venturing beyond basic preparations, dozens of countercultural cookbooks exist, as well as hundreds of Internet threads, posts and Web pages on the topic bristling with recipes, techniques and tips. After all, who doesn't want a little treat on a solemn high holiday?

Posted by Felicia D'Ambrosio @ 6:30 PM Permalink | Post a comment

APRIL 26: Do you want a South Philly food co-op?

POSTED: Tuesday, April 20, 2010, 5:30 PM

Filed Under: How-To | We're Here to Help

DragonBallYee

Weaver's Way Co-op

South Philadelphians interested in participating in the formation of a food co-op for the neighborhood should mark their calendars for Mon., April 26 at 6:30 p.m., when organizers of Germantown food co-op Weaver's Way will speak on the topic. Learn exactly what a food co-op is, how it works and volunteer to participate at the meeting, which will be held at the South Philadelphia Older Adult Center (SPOAC) at 1430 E. Passyunk Ave. at Dickinson.

Alison

Posted 2010-04-20 13:25:59

Fantastic!

uberVU - social comments

Posted 2010-04-20 14:40:36

Social comments and analytics for this post...

This post was mentioned on Twitter by jaimeknowsbest: RT @mealticket: South Philly: Do you want your own food co-op? Mark your calendar for April 26. http://bit.ly/9Hp2V6...

Rachel

Posted 2010-04-21 10:36:20

yes!

David

Posted 2010-04-27 12:24:28

As a Weavers Way member I support this. I was late but our other representatives carried on well, without me. I'd say 50-60 people attended and after breaking into small groups to discuss this whole thing with wants and needs, committees were formed. More meetings and planning sessions to come. If you're in South Philadelphia then keep your eyes out for this, especially if you want to see it happen.

Posted by Felicia D'Ambrosio @ 5:30 PM Permalink | Post a comment

NOW OPEN: Old City Asian Bistro

POSTED: Tuesday, April 20, 2010, 4:14 PM

Filed Under: Openings | Photos

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

James Lee, who owns Black Dog Cafe in Skippack Village (and, we hear, is working on several upcoming restaurant projects in Lansdale) took over the space that was Anjou (206 Market St., 215-922-6222), and for a sec, Maru, for Old City Asian Bistro, open since last Wednesday. Spread across two floors, the quite-literally-named restaurant is serving a big mix of sushi and Chinese-American wok-style dishes, topping out at $20. They're doing a Bento Box deal from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. — get entrÃ©es like shrimp in garlic sauce, Thai curry chicken or basil salmon, plus soup, salad, shumai, California roll and rice, for $9. Right now they're BYO, but management expects a liquor license to kick in within the next three months; they have plans to launch delivery in the coming weeks, too. They're open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 4:14 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Bistro redux and classic cocktails at Le Bar Lyonnais

POSTED: Tuesday, April 20, 2010, 3:46 PM

Filed Under: Booze | Dealage | Menu Time

Click to enlarge

Sazeracs with maple foam, Aviations replete with crÃ¨me de violette and Hemingway daiquiris a-tingle with grapefruit juice. These mainstays of the educated barkeep's repertoire have arrived, along with a new bistro menu, at Georges Perrier's perfect-for-a-secret-tryst Le Bar Lyonnais (1523 Walnut St., downstairs). Perrier and chef de cuisine Nicholas Elmi are turning out bistro classics like pÃ¢tÃ© en croÃ»te, a terrine of duck and Hudson Valley foie gras enclosed in a pastry crust lit with cornichons and dijon and steak tartar with potato gaufrette, as well as lighter plates like their signature crab cake with whole grain mustard sauce and haricot verts. A new, sleeker interior look with banquettes and discreetly concealed lighting is pending; until then, stop by for Le Bar Lyonnais' slept-on happy hour, weekdays from 5 to 7 p.m., where all those cocktails drop from $11 to just $6.

Posted by Felicia D'Ambrosio @ 3:46 PM Permalink | Post a comment

EAT THIS IMMEDIATELY: The Slate Stuffed Burger

POSTED: Monday, April 19, 2010, 8:54 PM

Filed Under: Eat This Immediately

Photos | Drew Lazor

Chef Matthew Hartnett, who's been cooking at Slate (102 S. 21st St.) since this past December, has a foreal-foreal best-burger candidate on his hands with this unapologetically delicious beast, which we tried for the first time on Friday night. Slate's signature burger, at $14, is a hair more expensive than your average bar snack, but it's so very worth it here: Hartnett stuffs his burger patties with a mixture of tender short rib and mushrooms, which creates some savory textural trickery upon first bite. (Imagine eating a silky soft-serve cone and finding a bunch of Twizzlers tucked into the ice cream. OK, now imagine a beef-fat-laden version of that.) Finish it off with a heap of melted bleu and a side of truffled fries and you've got a serious contender. What's most appealing about the burger, flavor bombasticity aside, is that it's really easy to eat — there's no seared foie or heirloom tomato or frisee or pickled rhubarb shotgun-spraying in every direction every time you sink your teeth in. It's interesting enough to stand out from the bunned pack, but traditional enough to grub on without feeling like you should be wearing dry-clean-only slacks. Eat this immediately.

Marie DiFeliciantonio

Posted 2010-04-19 16:25:27

that's the prettiest thing I've ever seen.

poncho

Posted 2010-04-20 15:30:29

I, too, recently ate at Slate and had the MOST delicious fried chickpeas.  Eat those immediately Philadelphia!

jason

Posted 2010-04-20 15:55:07

this looks most delicious, i'm getting a food boner.

big d

Posted 2010-12-13 17:35:18

I just had a food ejaculation.

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 8:54 PM Permalink | Post a comment

MAY 14: Green Aisle Grocery and Spinal Tapas collide

POSTED: Monday, April 19, 2010, 7:40 PM

Filed Under: Food Events | Product Placement

Blogalicious

Garlic scapes destined for corsia verde

So far Spinal Tapas McMasterminds Tim McGinnis and Brian McManus have tackled Philly Weekly's 50 Must-Eats cover story, the legendary barbecue of Texas and flavors emerging from Peru's culinary capital of Lima in three dinners created and served at Philly Kitchen Share (1514 South St.). Now the writing-cheffing duo has teamed up with fellow food scribe Adam Erace, who owns Passyunk Ave. food boutique Green Aisle Grocery (1618 E. Passyunk Ave.) with brother Andrew. On Fri., May 14, Erace will man the burners alongside McManus and McGinnis to turn out a multi-course feast featuring some of his favorite local products from Green Aisle. "Tim and Brian are incredibly talented chefs, and after eating at two of their Spinal Tapas events, teaming up with them for a Green Aisle dinner was a no-brainer," said Erace. "They cook with respect for ingredients and let real flavors do their thing." Expect Zahav hummus croquettes with cucumber and chive salad, beef carpaccio dressed with Green Meadows greens and CafÃ© Estelle lardons, corsia verde, Erace's signature garlic scape pesto over Severino gemelli and Anson Mills cornmeal-dusted Pennsylvania brook trout with mushrooms and fiddlehead ferns. A grown-up "Chipwich" of Capogiro gelato, local mint and Baker E's cookies all rolled in fair-trade cocoa nibs finishes you off. The $65 ticket includes food, wine and Erace's Tasker Collins cocktail, a refreshing mixture of gin, cardamom leaves and kaffir lime. There is only one 16-person seating, so if all this piques your interest, score your ticket now-ish at phillykitchenshare.com.

Posted by Felicia D'Ambrosio @ 7:40 PM Permalink | Post a comment

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | NEXT »

The Lite Choice Opens Flagship Store on 16th Street between Walnut & Locust
Notes from the Weekend: June 17
Rock Star cheese dinner at Di Bruno's
Free stuff for Father's Day
Vetri opening in the Navy Yard, plus a nod to Le Bec
Gone Fishin'
Happy National Beef Jerky Day!
Afternoon Snacks: Party Pizza, Empellon joins tumblr, Giant bibimbap (!), Snickerdoodle cobbler
Summer of Riesling Dinner at P&K
Now Serving: Lil' Pop Shop

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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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