Archive: April, 2010

Win a copy of Stephen Fried's Appetite for America

POSTED: Thursday, April 15, 2010, 9:53 PM

Filed Under: Contests | Food Books

In this week's food section, A.D. Amorosi talks to writer Stephen Fried about his new non-fiction book Appetite for America, which discusses at length the influence English-born entrepreneur Fred Harvey had on the modern hospitality industry. Harvey, in many ways, started "fast food" in America with his chain of Harvey Houses, restaurants that catered to hungry train travelers along the Santa Fe Railway. He introduced so many never-before-seen concepts to American dining, from European-trained chefs to his all-female "Harvey Girl" waitstaffs. And he was able to develop a system for serving people fast — many of the trains stopped at Harvey Houses for less than an hour — without compromising quality. Fried will visit the Free Library this coming Wednesday to read from his book. Want a copy for yourself? All you have to do is be the first to e-mail drew.lazor[at]citypaper.net with the correct answer to the following fast-food-related question:

Director David Lynch has said that the coffee and milkshakes at this fast-food chain have helped him develop many of his best ideas. Name the chain!

UPDATE: We have ourselves a winner! Congratulations to Meal Ticket reader Jackie M. for landing the book with the correct answer: Bob's Big Boy.

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 9:53 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Pity if you missed it: Kick-Ass hot dogs

POSTED: Thursday, April 15, 2010, 8:41 PM

Filed Under: Food and Movies

Anyone spot these promosexuals out by City Hall today? They were giving us free hot dogs and shwag from Kick-Ass, which hits theaters tomorrow. (See our review in the movies section.) Probably the first and last time you'll see McLovin plastered on the front of a mobile food cart.

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 8:41 PM Permalink | Post a comment

The Lola Bean coming to Fishtown

POSTED: Thursday, April 15, 2010, 7:09 PM

Filed Under: Coffee | Openings

WXPN employee Erica Zito and her girlfriend, Mary Button, are saying June for the opening of The Lola Bean (1325 Frankford Ave.), a community-oriented coffeehouse in Fishtown. About a block down from Johnny Brenda's, the cafÃ© will pour La Colombe, and the plan is to serve light fare — sandwiches, grab-and-go snacks and soups, plus muffins and bagels from South Philly's Carangi Bakery, etc. They'll be able to accommodate around 20 people in the interior, decked out with a mid-century modern, mixed-with-antique feel — "OK, modern, but not filled with stuff from Ikea," laughs Zito. Street-side windows will open 7 feet wide for a breezy feel, and they plan on having a bit of outdoor seating. Lola? That's the couple's doggy.

The Lola Bean opens Saturday :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-09-09 15:34:19

[...] Bean, at 1325 Frankford Avenue (215-634-LOLA), will open to the public this Saturday, Sept. 11. (We first mentioned the cafÃ© in April.) They’ll serve from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day and 7  a.m. to 4 pm. on Sunday before kicking [...]

The Lola Bean getting close :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-09-02 14:00:31

[...] Lola Bean (1325 Frankford Ave.), the cafÃ© we first mentioned back in April, will be opening on or around Sept. 11, co-owner Erica Zito tells Meal Ticket. They’ll pour La [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 7:09 PM Permalink | Post a comment

NOW OPEN: Seasons 52 King of Prussia

POSTED: Thursday, April 15, 2010, 6:35 PM

Filed Under: Openings | Photos

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

Earlier this month, Seasons 52 Fresh Grill (160 N. Gulph Road) opened in the old Bennigan's by Nordstrom at the King of Prussia Mall. This is the 10th location to date and although I've already enjoyed the food at Seasons 52 in Cherry Hill, I couldn't pass up an invitation to sit at the chef's table by the kitchen with culinary director Clifford Plieu, culinary director. The foundation here is seasonality, locality and healthy eating. Aside from Jersey corn and tomatoes (when in season), Plieu is still in search of area farms with flawless product. All dishes register at 475 calories or less. Even âMini Indulgencesâ like Belgian chocolate rocky road and key lime pie are under the mark (as a salute to the region, a shoofly pie is in the works). The main edible deviations at this location are the sandwiches and main plates at lunch, which are swapped out for seafood, meat and poultry entrÃ©es come dinnertime. As the name suggests, the food changes seasonally and specials are rotated each of the 52 weeks of the year. They also boast a selection of 100 wines with 26 varietals; 60 available by-the-glass. Two main seating areas, the lounge and the dining room, lie on either side of the foyer. In the lounge there are a few flat-screens above a large, J-shaped bar that surrounded by tall booths. During our visit, a piano player was entertaining on a stage in the center of the bar. There is also ample space for private dining, which can be reserved luncheons, conferences and weddings. Seasons 52 is open daily for lunch from 11:30 a.m. till 4 p.m., and from 4 till 10 p.m. for dinner. On Fridays and Saturdays they serve dinner till 11 p.m.

Craig

Posted 2010-04-24 21:23:21

WOW!  Not only does their menu change seasonally, (4) times per year, but Seasons 52 actually changes their menu weekly, (52) times per year!  Hence the name "Seasons 52"!:-)  Great Food & Service.  We'll definitely be back for more!:-) ~CD

Janice

Posted 2010-08-13 10:29:44

Good Day,

Going to Season's 52 tonight first time there looking forward to it - will be in the area as am going shopping and then on to dinner.  Let you know what I think once I have eaten.  Used to live on the Mainline and miss it very much!

Posted by Marie DiFeliciantonio @ 6:35 PM Permalink | Post a comment

IN PRINT: City Paper Food and Restaurants, April 15

POSTED: Thursday, April 15, 2010, 5:52 PM

Filed Under: In Print

Photo | Neal Santos

- Trey Popp is infinitely pleased with the careful cooking at Amis, Marc Vetri's new Roman trattoria. From the delicately fried artichokes (above) to the house-cured meats, chef Brad Spence is putting out simple-on-paper food with bold and focused flavors. - Next Wednesday, author and Philly resident Stephen Fried will visit the Free Library to discuss his brand-new Appetite for America: How Visionary Businessman Fred Harvey Built a Railroad Hospitality Empire That Civilized the Wild West. A.D. Amorosi catches up with the journo to talk about the influence of Harvey, who Fried credits with shaping the modern American hospitality industry. - Goat cheese parties, cheffy collabs and bake sales for a good cause in What's Cooking. - Feeding Frenzy has word on new and up-and-coming spots, including Le Viet, Hop Angel Brauhaus, The Diving Horse and more.

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 5:52 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Al fresco French movies return to Bistrot in May

POSTED: Wednesday, April 14, 2010, 9:20 PM

Filed Under: Food and Art | Patio Drinking

BestFrenchFilms

Yum

The twinkly lights and walled-off tranquility of Bistrot La Minette's (623 S. Sixth St.) narrow, flower-lined courtyard make it one of the city's premier outdoor dining destinations. If the chic setting and pÃ¢tes fraÃ®ches aux truffes noires aren't enough to qualify a visit as a cultural experience, the return of Al Fresco French Movies nights should erase any lingering doubt. The second season of viewing subtitled French classics under the stars begins in May; films will be shown weather permitting at 8:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays. Reservations are recommended, and Bistrot will post the schedule of films on their Web site in late April.

Posted by Felicia D'Ambrosio @ 9:20 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Food bloggers get charitable for the Great American Bake Sale

POSTED: Wednesday, April 14, 2010, 8:30 PM

Filed Under: Food and Web | Food Blogs | We're Here to Help

This Saturday, local bloggers will bring out their best goods for The Great American Bake Sale, which will raise money to aid nearly 17 million children in America (that's about one in four) without access to nutritious, high-quality food and resources. The proceeds benefit Share Our Strength, a national charity actively working to combat the problems through educational programs and financial support. To do your part, head to Liberties Walk outside of A Full Plate CafÃ© (1040 N. American Street) on Sat. April 17, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There are also bake sales in Pittsburgh and Hershey at the same time. More than 20 bloggers have already signed up to donate plates of cupcakes, cookies, brownies and a few specialty treats. "We've even got gluten free and vegan foods," says organizer Julie DenOuden. "We're trying to appeal to all different diets, but then there's some things that are just plain yummy." Foodaphilia has compiled a short list of some of the projected offerings, which includes goodies like Carbomb cupcakes and burger-shaped cookies from Burgatory.

Posted by Alexandra Harcharek @ 8:30 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Tonight: Catch Alaskan yelloweye rockfish at Tinto

POSTED: Wednesday, April 14, 2010, 7:19 PM

Filed Under: Photos | Weird Regional Foods

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Meal Ticket stopped by Tinto (116 S. 20th St.) this afternoon for a peek at the Jose Garces restaurant's just-arrived pair of yelloweye rockfish, an extremely hard-to-come-by treat Dave Conn and Anthony Scuderi just landed from purveyor Mikuni Wild Harvest. The chefs were eager to talk up the fish, which'll only be available at the restaurant tonight (and possibly tomorrow). Line-caught off the Alaskan coast just 48 hours ago, yelloweyes differ from East Coast rockfish (aka striped bass) in both flavor and texture. Colder water temperatures grant the fish's flesh increased firmess; taste-wise, the meat is sweet, in the vein of lobster or skate wing. Native to the Gulf of Alaska, these big boys have been known to grow as large at 40 pounds, but the ones Tinto landed are somewhere in the 8- to 10-pound range. As you can see, the fish- and ramp-wielding Conn and Scuderi drew a bit of a crowd out on Sansom Street. For a dish, Conn says he plans on pan-searing the fish with chorizo, saffron (to complement that that natural delicate sweetness) and wild ramps.

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 7:19 PM Permalink | Post a comment

SNACK TIME: Would you eat the KFC Double Down?, where the pros catch the Phils, Tyson says goodbye to Center City, Starrs predict a gastropig in our future, hot six-foot grill action at Koo Zee Doo

POSTED: Wednesday, April 14, 2010, 4:18 PM

Filed Under: Snack Time

Serious Eats

The KFC Double Down. Ew.

Every Wednesday, Meal Ticket pokes around the food blog world to see what's simmering. -Serious Eats throws caution to the wind and chows on the KFC Double Down, a bacon-and-cheese sandwich/monstrosity where fried chicken stands in for bread. Take a peek and vote in the poll. -Foobooz and lil' bro site iSportacus teamed up to poll sports bloggers, radio personalities, beer folks and other fans to come up with their Top 10 Bars to Watch the Phillies. Inflamed readers are already duking it out in the comments. -Chef Tyson Wong Ophaso has departed Chew Man Chu to return to his native Thailand, writes KleInsider. Ophaso didn't care to elaborate on the reasons behind the decision. -Spotted Pig owner Ken Friedman is flustered and says no, but Stephen Starr calls back to say YES. Will the two impresarios go all-in on a gastropub concept in Philly? Grub Street Philadelphia is working it out. -Koo Zee Doo will be lighting a fire under foodies with their new rotisserie charcoal grill and outdoor seating, reports The Restaurant Club.

Posted by Felicia D'Ambrosio @ 4:18 PM Permalink | Post a comment

DON'T FRONT: Edy's Yogurt Blends Caramel Praline Crunch

POSTED: Wednesday, April 14, 2010, 3:00 PM

Filed Under: Don't Front

I am of the firm belief that you shouldn't stock your vices in the home. For me, the forbidden fruit is sugar. I have no self-control when it comes to the stuff. A package of Oreos in the cabinet will call to me, siren-like, even while I sleep. Once the box is breached, I will go forty Oreos deep and emerge with teeth capped in black sugar paste and soul smeared with despair. The answer is classic weight-loss advice: don't buy it and you won't eat it. This is all undone when visiting parents, who seem to relish offering dessert after every meal and displaying their fully stocked Carb Cabinet, loaded with chips, cookies, chocolate-covered bits and pieces and everything else you weren't allowed to eat when you actually lived with them for 18 years. This is where we encountered the excessively named Edy's Yogurt Blends Caramel Praline Crunch. As the cardboard tub declaims, this "cultured frozen dairy dessert" is indeed rich and creamy from slow-churning, a process that allows lower-fat ice cream to reach heights of richness normally exclusive to styles with maximum butterfat. The bits of crunchy praline almonds and ribbon of gooey caramel are generously distributed through the pure white fro-yo, adding textural interest to the smooth, aerated cream. A single serving of one-half cup rings up at 120 calories, 30 of them from fat, and delivers 10 percent of your daily calcium requirement. Health food it's not, but it is cultured like a.m. yogurt with active cultures, and the first ingredient is skim milk. As long as you don't devour the entire half-gallon, this is a rewarding treat that gets as far from ice-milk as you can go without shooting your whole week of workouts in their sore foot. Available at Wegman's, Acme and other normal-type grocery stores. Here's a product locator. Don't Front.

SamJ

Posted 2010-04-16 09:10:54

A single half-cup serving? Good one.

Frank

Posted 2010-08-04 14:30:45

My Mom bought this single serve cup as part of her diet because she doesn't want to give up sweets. I love sweets myself but only eat them when I truly have a craving. Today was one of those days and I decided to try this lowfat frozen yogurt. I finished the cup i about five min..it was tasty! THEN, instantaneously my stomach started churning and I ran for the bathroom and had a serious case of diarrhea. TWICE! Never will I eat this product again....unless I am deciding to lose a few pounds in the form of a laxative. All stick to the all-natural stuff next time!

Posted by Felicia D'Ambrosio @ 3:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

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If you don't know Nutella is bad for you and your kids, then you are a total idiot and a bad parent.
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An edible guide to Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival
Notes from the Weekend: May 13
Bar Crawl: What's new at Ortlieb's
Extra! Extra! Lobster openings, chocolate closings and lots of free stuff
Afternoon Snacks: Richard Blais's Ikea Burger, Waffle "tacos," Coffee nerdery, The U.N. wants you to eat more bugs
Spike TV's "Bar Rescue" turns Swanky Bubbles into Sheer
Real Talk: 50 Things They Never Told You About Being a Chef
Night Market Watch

About this blog

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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