Archive: April, 2010

Notes from the Weekend: April 19

POSTED: Monday, April 19, 2010, 7:00 PM

Filed Under: Notes from the Weekend

Notes from the Weekend is a new 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. We're 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!

FD: Felicia D'Ambrosio MD: Marie DiFeliciantonio AH: Alexandra Harcharek DL: Drew Lazor

Photo | Drew Lazor

Made a long-overdue stop at Slate (102 S. 21st St.) Friday night and ate one seriously good burger that everyone needs to try — Chef Matt stuffs his patties with short ribs. More details/pics in an Eat This Immediately post later today. —DL Took a seven-hour coach ride up to Boston for work, where I proceeded to kick ass, take names and steal as many Foursquare mayorships as I could. Nommed at Armsby Abbey (144 North Main St.), a little pub in Worcester, where they were hosting "Stout Fest," featuring 22 local and craft stouts on draft all day. Tried a 2009 Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout (bitter with smoky caramel undertones), which paired nicely with a rustic ham-and-pear pizza with arugula, bleu cheese and balsamic glaze drizzle. —AH At Dad's birthday celebration I couldn't resist Melograno's (2012 Sansom St.) fried chicken livers, papardelle tartufate and proscuitto-and-spinach-stuffed rabbit saddle. (In true DiFeliciantonio fashion, all plates got passed around the table.) Walking hom, we rerouted to Mahogany on Walnut (1524 Walnut St.) only to find out it'ts closed on Sundays, so we re-rerouted to Tavern 17 (220 S. 17th St.) for Nightcap No. 1. Then it was back to the house for Nightcap No. 2: a freshly unwrapped Macallan 25. —MD Navigated the grocery triangle of the Italian Market, Bitar's and Ack-a-me with City Paper photographer Neal Santos on Saturday morning to stockpile for a video dinner party shoot. Fourth-generation sausage slinger Danny Fiorella was kind enough to show us one of the two things "you never want to see made," according to the cliche. The other? Legislation, which is not nearly as delicious. —FD Saturday's home-cooked lunch with culinary school gal friends started out with a bit of bubbly, then moved to zucchini and shallot quiche, Mediterannean salad, zesty lemon and rosemary tomato soup and date/pecan/brandy pastries. Not enough can be said about having friends who cook well. —MD Shop, prep, cook, shoot, serve, wash, serve, wash, collapse. Repeat! I hope everyone at the dinner party enjoyed the lamb, grilled pizzas, romaine-and-cuke salad with yogurt dressing, bacon-wrapped Vacheron-stuffed dates, zucchini "pasta" and those stupid Totino's pizza rolls you all ate at 4 p.m. before dinner. (Video feature coming soon.) —FD Did a charitable drinkin' deed and supported the Salt Shaker Foundation at PJ Whelihan's in Cherry Hill (1854 Marlton Pike East) on Saturday night. The foundation helps raise money for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, Cooper University Hospital and Cooper Cancer Institute. —MD Cooked up a batch of corn-tortilla-wrapped fish tacos with la familia Saturday — panko-crusted flounder, garlicky shrimp, homemade guac. Would've been able to eat more had it not been for the four pieces of Shop-Rite fried chicken consumed in the car on the way back from purchasing ingredients. —DL

Photo | Drew Lazor

One amazing sweet-tooth pairing: black bottom cupcakes and Old Rasputin Imperial Stout (see right).—DL Observation: Doritos Late-Night: All Nighter Cheeseburger chips smell like pickles and liquid smoke. —MD Discovered my new favorite cocktail, a twist on a whiskey sour: The Night Flower Sour, with Hirsch small-batch bourbon, THEIA jasmine liquor and homemade sour mix over ice, and a big tropical flower perched on the rim (flower not optional). —AH Briefly fell deeply in love with our bartender at Druid's Keep (149 Brown St.) Sunday night. She hooked up our Wawa coffees with double shots of Jameson and Bailey's over ice. In between her dancing and singing, we watched her mod other customers' brought-in beverages, like a Dunkin' Donuts orange smoothie turned screwdriver boozesicle. —AH Caught an early nightcap at Alma de Cuba (1623 Walnut St.) Sunday evening, where friendly barkeep Keith mixed up a couple mean drinks and schooled us on the semantics of ceramic coconut glasses (more tough-looking dudes order the passion fruit-based Alma Colada than you might think). He also reminded us that Alma's 5-to-7 happy hour, which features $6 moijtos, sangria and lounge appetizers, runs Sunday to Friday, not Monday to Friday like most HHs. —DL

Carolyn

Posted 2010-04-19 14:23:00

Did not resist the fried Saganaki cheese to start off a delicious meal at Effie's on Pine Friday night. Did not resist the baklava, either, to end it. Split a bottle of Red Bicyclette pinot noir before sitting through a two-hour dance performance. Not a bad idea.

After a Saturday full of gardening and feeling sick from too much Saganaki, ventured out for some late-night bun at Viet Phuong. Char-broiled pork and spring rolls: somehow soothing.

Natalie

Posted 2010-04-19 14:23:52

Friday Night:
Ordered pizza and salad from Gianfrancos Pizza Rustica in South Philly (yes, they're delicious and yes, I have them on speed dial).  Gawked over wedding photographer portfolios all night.

Saturday Night:
Ate half gallon of ice cream during "Father of the Bride"-Marathon-induced panic attack.  After parents drove an hour from Pottstown to calm me down, took them to Penrose Diner for pie.

Sunday Night:
Took future-in-laws to Continental (spur of the moment decision after Tinto and Village Whiskey had 2-hour waits).  Enjoyed my jumbo lump crab pad thai whilst sitting next to Johnny Whitworth (more affectionately known as AJ from Empire Records).  Resisted the urge to quote my favorite film all over his salad, and instead sat there staring at him for an hour.  Johnny, if you're reading this, I'm sorry.

Patrick Rapa

Posted 2010-04-19 14:27:36

Friday night I tried out a Smash (lemon/mint/spirit) with rum at the classy little Franklin Mortgage and Co. A little sweet, but sophisticated and appropriate for the Franklin's speakeasy vibe. Next time I won't wear jeans. After that we hit Village Whiskey to wait forfuckingever for that amazing hamburger. Damn you, big huge amazing hamburger cooked exactly the way I wanted it.

Molly Eichel

Posted 2010-04-19 14:28:16

Tilapia tacos were worth forgoing the usual carnitas at Cantina Los Caballitos, although I wish I had more room for the following birthday cake (courtesy of best bud Caitlin), which had some of the most decadent icing I've ever eaten. The night ended with too much Coors Lite (isn't any Coors Lite too much Coors Lite? Silver Bullet!) at Westy's Tavern, which hosts some of my fave karaoke in the city — you can read a bit more about in Critical Mass' Been There/Done That.

Also: Percy Street's Mac 'n' Cheese makes me rethink my distaste for pasta. Sooo decadent.

james david saul

Posted 2010-04-19 14:38:34

Friday:

No better way to start the weekend than with Govindas Chicken Cheesesteak (on a spinach wrap) and variety pack from Intercourse Brewing Company. Bareville Pilsner win.

Saturday:

Frenetic Web design fueled by Mumu's Spicy Orange Lentil Dip and chips from Weaver's Way co-op, plus more Bareville Pilsner. Do I need to stop capitalizing Web now too?

Sunday:

Brunch alive at Memphis Taproom! The "Vegan Rooster" comes with vegan blood sausage, which brunchmates and I concluded gets its moistness (and namesake) from real vegan blood. Also, their implementation of toasted-coconut-as bacon-alternate succeeds here as it does in the Club sandwich.

danya

Posted 2010-04-19 14:39:39

Molly: "distaste for pasta" ? I *wish* I had that. Would help with the waistline. (Agree on the Percy Street dish's awesomeness.)

Michelle C.

Posted 2010-04-19 14:50:33

I'm intrigued by AH's Druid's Keep outing.  Definitely going to check that out soon!

Saturday: Dinner at Paul.  Very hit or miss as far as I was concerned.  After-dinner drinks took place at Smokin' Betty's upstairs bar.

Sunday: Bobby Chez crab cakes, lobster mash and cucumber and tomato salad for dinner.  Especially delish when paired with a Flyers win.

poncho

Posted 2010-04-19 14:51:30

This weekend I discovered my newest favorite Capogiro combo: Sweet basil and Avocado.  SOOOOOooo good!!

Ashley

Posted 2010-04-19 15:13:22

Friday night - French fries and $1 off Founders IPA at TIME for happy hour + jazz. Nightcap at South Philly Taproom for more delicious brews and an amazing Grilled Caesar with fresh artichokes and polenta.

Saturday - coffee and to-go beer at Ultimo cafe

Sunday - mediocre brunch at Green Eggs Cafe. Orange Chicken dinner at Terryin and Dark Chocolate and Sweet Amish Milk Gelato at Capogiro on Passyunk.

kibby

Posted 2010-04-19 15:41:31

On Friday I ate awesome fried smelts and a smoked trout salad with beets from Standard Tap.  Yan Beck, who joined me, got the fried chicken sandwich which was the biggest sandwich I've ever seen. Seriously.  And he ate it all. After that, I hung out in a dirty warehouse and drank fancy beer. Saturday, I went on an ill-advised, caffeine fueled shopping spree at the Cherry Hill Mall. Drank more coffee there and left with way more clothes from Forever21 than a 27 year old should have. Ate white pizza from Gianfranco's and drank some ice tea vodka that night.  Sunday I made whole wheat pasta with cauliflower, onions and feta.  Yum!

EAT THIS IMMEDIATELY: The Slate Stuffed Burger :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-04-19 15:54:51

[...] @ The Barbary 4/15/2010 Meal Ticket• MAY 14: Green Aisle Grocery and Spinal Tapas collide• Notes from the Weekend: April 19• Get goaty at Talula's Table today• Saturday: Reading Terminal Market gets in on the [...]

Aubre

Posted 2010-04-19 15:58:30

Friday- Phillies game in the cold rain (minus one) two hot dogs and too many beers (plus 3)

Saturday- Lunch at Landmark by Penn. Delicious guacamole, decent salads, almost spontaneously combusted by the fire pits outside. Dinner at Zavino. Seriously this pizza is the nectar of the gods. Get the sausage. And the linguine with spicy tuna confit... I would have bathed in it.... fish smell and all.

Sunday- Breakfast at Famous 4th Street. Ate a veggie omelette that was bigger than my face. Flyers game at Misconduct Tavern. Love that place-- crab and artichoke bruschetta, grilled skirt steak sandwich. Delicious food, and the least obnoxious sports bar I've ever been to.

uberVU - social comments

Posted 2010-04-19 17:42:18

Social comments and analytics for this post...

This post was mentioned on Twitter by mealticket: Here are Team Meal Ticket's eating/drinking NOTES FROM THE WEEKEND. Leave your own in the comments! http://bit.ly/aF7ixS...

tsog

Posted 2010-04-19 18:26:05

Late lunch Sunday strolling down Market St in Old City... found just-that-day opening of Old City Asian Bistro (next to old Snow White). Had most amazing sushi - fresh fish, not too much rice.  Dining partner had gigantic and beautiful bento box.  Not-too-sweet hot and sour soup, too.  Service was efficient and the price....could not find any cheaper, especially in old city! Watch out Mizu!  Finished off with ice cream at Franklin Fountain... what a way to enjoy a sunny day!

Posted 2010-04-19 18:29:40

Friday - Drank BrewDog Tokyo Stout (tiny but tasty), a Furthermore Thermorefur (sour ale with beets and black pepper) and shared Aventinus mussels and wings with friends while watching Roy Halladay pitch and the Flyers lose at Devil's Den.

Saturday - Bit the bullet and planted most of our seedlings in the garden: lettuces, strawberries, peppers, oregano, basil, fenugreek, artichokes, romanesco. Also seeded peas, cucumbers, carrots, dill and wormwood alongside the garlic and rosemary already thriving in the planter. Put the fig tree purchased a few weekends back at Greensgrow into a proper pot. Celebrated with my first Negroni (after drinking way too many Boulevardiers since getting my first bottle of Campari). 

Sunday - Moderated a panel about alternative transportation at the GoGreenExpo then hit the Iron Hill Brew Pub in Phoenixville and had two flights of very drinkable — if not mind-blowing — beers, including a nice Irish Dry Stout on nitro I quite liked and a Chocolate Stout and a Belgian Honey Beer that the gf was quite fond of.

Emily

Posted 2010-04-23 12:08:02

Fun column!  I'm already excited to see what next Monday's post will bring...

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 7:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Get goaty at Talula's Table today

POSTED: Monday, April 19, 2010, 6:30 PM

Filed Under: Dealage | Field Trip | Food Events

Kids are cute but their rectangle pupils areunnerving.

Jaded and childless urbanites that we are, we're not often jealous of our suburban neighbors. But not only does Kennett Square have miles of mushrooms and bucolic Brandywine River scenery, it has taste mecca Talula's Table (10 W. State St., Kennett Square). Today the gourmet market is hosting a cheese happy hour featuring a grip of East Coast goat cheeses complemented by sips of local craft brew. From 4-7 p.m. owner and fromageophile Aimee Olexy will share bites of goat cheeses from Amazing Acres (Elverson, PA), Shellbark Hollow Farms (West Chester, PA), Pipedreams Farms (Greencastle, PA), Cherry Glen Farms (Boyds, MD) and Vermont Butter and Cheese, among others.

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

Saturday: Reading Terminal Market gets in on the Italian Festival game

POSTED: Monday, April 19, 2010, 5:40 PM

Filed Under: Food Events

South Philly holds all the cards when it comes to Italian festivities, from the annual Italian Market Festival scheduled for May 15-16 (did we mention it's sponsored by Sorrento Cheese?!) to more neighborhood-y affairs like the St. Padre Pio Festival, held in September outside the Annunciation B.V.M. church at 10th and Dickinson. But now Reading Terminal Market has plans to yell "mangia!" with its first-ever Italian Festival, scheduled for this Saturday, April 24, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A bunch of RTM vendors will set up in Center Court to offer sample-size portions of well-loved dishes — Giunta's sausage scallopini, Termini's cannoli and prosciutto-wrapped melon from Iovine Brothers included. There'll also be wine tasting, strolling Italian troubadors and an aria performance from La Traviata courtesy of the Opera Company of Philadelphia. But will you see old Italian women dancing to a cover band rendition of Montell Jordan's "This Is How We Do It"? You're probably gonna have to head down to South Philly for that, kids.

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 5:40 PM Permalink | Post a comment

SUPPER: Grilled pizza instructional

POSTED: Monday, April 19, 2010, 4:44 PM

Filed Under: How-To | SUPPER

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

Climbing the rungs of pizza-making proficiency is akin to joining a cult. First, there's the required reading and research. Then you start participating in established traditions, developing expectations, exulting in feelings of belonging and superiority and conveniently forgetting the galllons of tears cried over painful steps backwards. Grilled pizza, one of the few approaches that doesn't require the purchase of a pizza stone, is practically pizza for the uninitiated. We won't go into the intricities and esoterica of dough here; there is a world of research on the Web on the making of every imaginable permutation of water, flour, salt and yeast. We use New York Times columnist Sam Sifton's recipe from his April 19, 2009 article Crust Fund, sometimes adding 1 teaspoon of honey to make a more active dough. Once your dough is proofed, heat a gas grill to medium-high. Stretch the dough, using plenty of flour on both sides, into whatever shape you like (an oblong works well on the grill). Place the stretched dough directly on the grill; cook the first side (this is where the toppings will end up) for about 5 minutes, until lightly charred. Flip and cook second side (this will be the bottom of the pizza) for 3 minutes, until pizza is not floppy. Lift dough off grill with pizza peel or sheet pan and place on work surface. Lightly apply toppings of your choice (to the fully done side of pizza) and return pie to grill. Grill over medium-high heat with lid of grill closed until toppings are melted and bottom is lightly charred (the array of black spots is called leoparding). Slice, serve, and enjoy the first step to cult membership. All photos by Neal Santos.

Johnny Utah

Posted 2010-04-20 08:38:20

Do you have to hold your arm out like a Maitre D when you remove the pizza from the grill like in the 4th pic?

Lust4Mike

Posted 2010-04-20 11:06:47

This guy shoulda been a hand model. Grill it baby! Seriously, this looks delish. I'm going to try it ASAP. Nice work you guys.

uberVU - social comments

Posted 2010-04-20 12:27:09

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This post was mentioned on Twitter by mmm_pizza: SUPPER: Grilled pizza instructional - Philadelphia Citypaper (blog) http://ping.fm/z08eU...

Nate

Posted 2010-04-24 15:11:46

Aw man! You totally beat us to bloggin' about this! We've been making pizza's like this for the past two weeks like crazy. We're addicted and have been making them almost every other day! SO quick and easy!

Posted by Felicia D'Ambrosio @ 4:44 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Cheat Sheet: Container garden tricks from Plants On Deck

POSTED: Monday, April 19, 2010, 3:38 PM

Filed Under: Field Trip | Food Blogs

Plants On Deck

Support hose for melons

Growing up on 35 acres in southwest Michigan, Plants On Deck gardening blogger Char Vandermeer spent her childhood weeding and tending her mother's one-acre garden plot. "My mother is a serious gardener," said Vandermeer in a phone chat. "She canned, and that garden fed the three of us year-round." A longing for fresh, homegrown produce nudged her into lining the roof deck of her South Philadelphia row house with containers to grow tomatoes, herbs, cucumbers, tiny melons, lettuces and other edibles. Vandermeer began blogging about her experiences in May, 2009. "I learned how to grow from my mother," she said. "But container garden is completely different. I'm self-taught, so I started the blog as a way to take notes on what works, and what doesn't." Vandermeer offers a few tips to novice container gardeners, after the jump. "Vegetables need full sun. At least six hours of direct sunlight every day, and eight is better. Containers need to be watered frequently, and that means every day." "Basil and mint are almost impossible to kill. All herbs are pretty hardy -- sage and thyme are easy. I've had good luck with little Thai eggplants and small cucumbers like lemon and Spacemaster varieties. Radishes and lettuces can go in the ground now, and you can replant lettuces until July (they don't like heat). I wouldn't suggest starting with tomatoes, which are the bane of my existence. Anything that can go wrong with plants goes wrong with tomatoes." Vandermeer also recommends checking out Penn State University's excellent horticultural extension, as well as the horticultural websites hosted by many universities, for more education on container gardening.

Marie DiFeliciantonio

Posted 2010-04-19 11:29:21

glad you posted this...I want to start a garden and this is a great jumping-off point.

uberVU - social comments

Posted 2010-04-19 13:13:48

Social comments and analytics for this post...

This post was mentioned on Twitter by brownthumbgirl: Cheat Sheet: Container garden tricks from Plants On Deck http://bit.ly/aO8DbD...

container vegetable gardening | Gardening Tips Online

Posted 2010-04-23 01:46:19

[...] Cheat Sheet: Container garden tricks from Plants On Deck :: Meal … [...]

Eileen O'Connor

Posted 2010-05-10 22:21:50

I love the tip on supporting the melon.   Please check out my article too!

Posted by Felicia D'Ambrosio @ 3:38 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Jeppson's Malort cocktail challenge Victims Participants Nos. 2-3: Colin Shearn and Al Sotack of The Franklin

POSTED: Friday, April 16, 2010, 10:13 PM

Filed Under: Booze

We recently challenged Philly's best bartenders to come up with a tasty cocktail using Jeppson's MalÃ¶rt, a notoriously disgusting Chicago-based spirit. The first person to take us up on the challenge was Christian Gaal of Noble. Now here are contributions from Colin Shearn and Al Sotack, barkeeps both at The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Company.

The subterranean spirit stirrers at The Franklin (112 S. 18th St.) seemed to be equal parts intrigued and concerned by the introduction of MalÃ¶rt to their bar, easily one of the best-stocked in the city. "So you got some gross shit for me?" Shearn, a self-proclaimed bitter-stuff enthusiast, asked when we surfaced with the goods. Yes we did. (Just to recap, MalÃ¶rt is an only-available-in-Chicago spirit that is well-reputed for its crass undrinkability.) Shearn's two attempts (pictured, top left and bottom): 1.5 oz. MalÃ¶rt .5 oz. Green Chartreuse .5 oz. Carpano Antica .5 oz. Ramazzotti 5 dashes absinthe Salt Lemon This cocktail traveled in the "don't fight it, just let it happen" direction also taken by Gaal's "Broad Street Bully" entry — instead of attempting to mask the wormwood-based roundhouse kick to the junk that is unquaffable MalÃ¶rt, this preparation all but embraced it, with the addition of anise-forward flavors like Ramazzotti (a brand of amaro, the Italian digestif) and absinthe. The half-ounce of Green Chartreuse (CP's Tim Hyland recently broke down use of that oddball spirit in Philly) gave things a slightly vegetal bent, too, with the salt and lemon peel cutting through it all. 1 oz MalÃ¶rt 1 oz. Plantation Reserve 1/4 oz. Demerara syrup Egg white Angostura bitters Shearn's second sipper went a different route, with egg, top-shelf rum and raw sugar simple syrup combining for a sort of sweet 'n' nutty wedge block protecting our punt-returning palate from MalÃ¶rt's bloodthirsty special-teams beast. Did it work as a drink? Yessir, we drank it. Did it hold off the MalÃ¶rt in any way? Nah, it was still there. We got tackled — but we made it to the 35 or so before eating turf. Head bartender Sotack caught a swig of MalÃ¶rt and promptly announced to his coworkers that he was not to be permitted to taste any drinks for the rest of the evening, as his palate was shot. Didn't really believe him, though, as he put together this complex entry in a Collins glass (pictured, top right): .5 oz. MalÃ¶rt 3/4 oz. lemon 3/4 oz. ginger syrup .5 oz. Carpano Antica 1.5 oz. Famous Grouse Mugwort tincture Seltzer 2 dashes Peychaud's bitters Salt Sotack's drink has the distinction of being one of the most well-balanced cocktails we've tried so far, especially when considering there was a helluva lotta stuff in it. The unmatchable spice of ginger, as we discovered both here and in one other experimental session we haven't posted about yet, is a great foil for supervillainous MalÃ¶rt, as is a smooth-as-can-be blended Scotch like Famous Grouse. The Mugwort tincture was a bold addition, too, as the bitter plant is actually a relative of wormwood, MalÃ¶rt's primary component. On a later visit to the The Franklin, managing partner Mike Welsh told us that he discovered a few unlabeled ounces of the stuff that Shearn had stashed in a glass behind the bar, and smelled it out of curiosity, only to recoil in shock and terror. A boozy jack-in-the-box moment. Sorry about that, Mike. Next up in the MalÃ¶rt cocktail challenge: Preston Eckman of APO Bar + Lounge.

Jeppson's Malort cocktail challenge Victim Participant No. 4: Preston Eckman of APO :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-05-12 18:52:44

[...] spirit. The first person to take us up on the challenge was Christian Gaal of Noble, followed by Colin Shearn and Al Sotack of The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Company. In this installment, Preston [...]

June 28: Seven cocktail beasts form boozy Voltron at Oyster House :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-06-21 21:43:24

[...] a Malort Challenge victim); Phoebe Esmon (Chick’s CafÃ©); Al Sotack of The Franklin (also a Malort Challenge victim); Christian Gaal of Noble (make that three); and George Costa of Southwark. They’re not [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 10:13 PM Permalink | Post a comment

April 22: The Whole 9 Yards at London Grill

POSTED: Friday, April 16, 2010, 8:09 PM

Filed Under: Booze | Dealage

Next Thursday, April 22, London Grill (2301 Fairmount Ave.) will put nine Yards varieties on draft, including signatures like ESA, rarities like Old Bartholomew Barleywine and seasonal selections like Saison. Stop by any time after 6 p.m. to hang out with some of the crew and drink the fruits of their labor. To complement the bevs, there will be a $5 small plate menu offered. "We are celebrating 15 years at Yards and our 12 to 13 years on tap at the London Grill," said Steve Mashington, Yards' operations manager.

Tomorrow: Yards’ Earth Day Empty Case Extravaganza :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-04-21 16:14:57

[...] Continue the Earth Day festivities at London Grill, where they’ll have nine different Yards beer on tap.   Tomorrow: Yards’ Earth Day Empty Case [...]

Posted by Marie DiFeliciantonio @ 8:09 PM Permalink | Post a comment

All-veggie Earth Day tasting at Square 1682

POSTED: Friday, April 16, 2010, 6:00 PM

Filed Under: Food and Holidays | Menu Time | Vegan | Vegetarian

Spring morels

In terms of environmental burden, non-vegetarian meals have 1.5-2 times the impact of vegetarian meals where meat has been replaced with a vegetable protein. Square 1682 in the LEED-certified Hotel Palomar (121 S. 17th St.) is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day and the conscious power of a vegetarian diet with an-all veggie tasting menu available Thu., April 22 through Sat., April 24. The $40, six-course feast by Square chef Guillermo Tellez highlights the diversity of flavors pristine produce brings to classical preparations - bright and clean (spring pea soup with bleeding heart radishes, cashew butter and lime-mint granita) or earthy and indulgent (roasted local mushroom tart with Brie and herb oil). To keep things from getting entirely too virtuous, Tellez is finishing off the tasting with two courses of dessert (lemon curd napoleon with almond cream and a Valhrona dark chocolate pateÃ¬ with eggless coconut custard); six optional paired organic and biodynamic wines are available for an additional $20. See the full menu with wine pairings after the jump.

SQUARE 1682 â CHEF TELLEZ'S EARTH DAY VEGETABLE TASTING AND OPTIONAL WINE PAIRINGS

Terrine of asparagus and petite carrots

Preserved mushrooms, carrot cardamom vinaigrette

Spring pea soup and bleeding heart radishes

Cashew butter, lime-mint graniteÃ¬

Optional wine pairing: 2008 King Estate Signature, Pinot Gris, Oregon (Organic)

Petite vegetable medley

Celery root, red wine reduction, mustard vinaigrette

Optional wine pairing: 2007 Paraducci Pinot Noir, Mendocino, California (Organic)

Roasted local mushroom tart

Brie cheese, pickled turnips, herb oil

Optional wine pairing: 2007 Descendientes de Jose Palacios Petalos, Bierzo, Spain (Biodynamic)

Lemon curd napoleon

Almond cream

Optional wine pairing: NV J "Cuvee 20" Brut, Sonoma, California (Sustainable)

Valhrona dark chocolate pateÃ¬

Coconut eggless custard

Optional wine pairing: 2006 Chapoutier Banyuls, France (Biodynamic)

SQUARE 1682 EARTH DAY COCKTAIL

âGreen Squaredâ

Organic Square One Cucumber Vodka, fresh lime juice, natural agave nectar and muddled cucumbers

Word to your Mother: Earth Day events :: Critical Mass :: A&E Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-04-16 18:45:45

[...] 2-3: Colin Shearn and Al Sotack of The Franklin• April 22: The Whole 9 Yards at London Grill• All-veggie Earth Day tasting at Square 1682• New bar menu and cocktail list at Union Trust's "Mezz Bar"• Wynnewood's Tiffin opens [...]

Carlos@Garden books

Posted 2010-05-05 02:44:53

Excellent work on this particular  post. It makes for an interesting and thoughtful read. Myself, I prefer to go the organic route. But then again I'm rather particular.

Posted by Felicia D'Ambrosio @ 6:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

New bar menu and cocktail list at Union Trust's "Mezz Bar"

POSTED: Friday, April 16, 2010, 5:17 PM

Filed Under: Booze | Menu Time

Next week, Union Trust (717 Chestnut St.) is rolling out a revamped version of its second-floor. Now dubbed Mezz Bar, it's been tweaked to carry more of a lounge feel, and they're adding a new cocktail list (including one named after Lenny Dykstra ... it's about time) and bar menu whose prices top out at $13 (smoked oysters, burgers, ceviche, pork belly sliders, etc.). We're also told there are plans to up the bar's craft beer game a bit. Peep what's in store at Mezz Bar food- and drink-wise after the jump. Union Trust Mezz Bar Cocktails $12 the flyin' hawaiian - pineapple-infused tito's handmade vodka the john daly - earl grey infused blue coat gin, fresh lemonade blood orange cosmo - tito's handmade vodka, combier, blood orange the franklin mint â ketel one, st. germain, fresh lime, mint the low rider - patron aÃ±ejo, grand marnier, fresh lemon the peardrop - grey goose pear, rock candy syrup, fresh lemon jalÃ© berry - bombay sapphire, blackberries, jalapeÃ±o, fresh lemon lenny dykstra - woodford reserve, domaine de canton loosey goosey - grey goose, mandarin oranges, madagascar vanilla Union Trust Mezz Bar Menu latin âsmokedâ oysters // $10 fresh market oysters, avocado, charred herb mignonette southwestern shrimp cocktail // $9 chipotle-blood orange cocktail the rittenhouse burger // $11 gruyere, caramelized onions kingfish ceviche // $9 grapefruit, pineapple, jalapeÃ±o, mint steak & eggs // $13 prime dry-aged strip, shallot soubise, black truffle tater tots pork belly sliders // $9 carolina slaw liberty cheese steak // $11 prime ribeye, caramelized onions, reggiano whiz steak tartare // $13 crispy shallots, parmesan, pickled ramps tuna carpaccio // $13 truffle-soy vinaigrette, spicy radish salad the phightin's daily burger // mp inspired by our opponent. Toppings vary daily, based on who our Phillies are playing frites // $5 long hot aioli crispy onion rings // $7 stilton bleu, sundried tomato vinaigrette

Foobooz » Quick Bites

Posted 2010-04-20 10:48:47

[...] Union Trust has dubbed its second floor “Mezz Bar” and has unveiled a new menu with nothing over $13. [Meal Ticket] [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 5:17 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Wynnewood's Tiffin opens this weekend

POSTED: Friday, April 16, 2010, 4:12 PM

Filed Under: Openings

Photo | Neal Santos

The latest location of Munish "The Naantrepreneur" Narula's Tiffin debuts this weekend with a grand opening party this Saturday, April 17, from 5 to 9 p.m. It's located in the Wynnewood Shopping Center at 50 E.Wynnewood Road, also home to eateries like Elevation Burger. Right now, Narula's got his flagship Tiffin location (plus the Indian pizza spot Tiffin etc.) on Girard Avenue, plus eateries in Mt. Airy and Elkins Park. A Bryn Mawr location is in the works, too, to compete with the Ekta restaurant Narula's former chef Raju Bhattarai opened in February at 1003 Lancaster Avenue.

polianarchy

Posted 2010-04-16 12:27:07

South Philly is next, right?

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 4:12 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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