Archive: May, 2010

Recap: One Night in Morocco at Zahav

POSTED: Thursday, May 13, 2010, 9:36 PM

Filed Under: Chef Salad | Food Events | Menu Time


Photos \| A.D. Amorosi

Last night, Zahav (237 St. James Place) put aside its regular menu for a trek to Morocco, via a teaming of chef/co-owner Michael Solomonov and his pal, David Katz from MÃ©mÃ©. Since Katz named his restaurant (2201 Spruce St.) for his Moroccan-Jewish grandmother, the night's traditional menu was an extrapolation of his family's recipes with the usual twists that each chef keeps up their sleeves. With cinnamon, cardamom, saffron and cumin as the predominant spices, the family-style night had many humble highlights. The large-ish sardine with chermoula, caraway and cilantro was marinated overnight, then lightly grilled so that each flavor came out individually. The chicken with green olives and lemon has a subtle, zesty taste and its tenderness kept its meat off the bone. The poached peas and meatballs with celery boasted the most cinnamon-y flavor of the evening, but the last items packed the best one-two punch. The Sabbath stew with braised short ribs was heavenly and filling, what with all those chickpeas swimming in beef stock. And the almond semifreddo with chocolate feuilletine and candied orange actually tasted like my grandmother's spumoni, therefore forever linking Katz and I beyond me just loving his duck at MÃ©mÃ©. Full menu after the jump. SALATIM Cooked and Raw Peppers Cucumber Salad Carrot salad MOROCCAN HUMMUS Taboon Bread MEZZE Sardines with Chermoula Meatballs with Celery and Peas Chicken with Green Olives and Lemon Couscous with Fava Beans and Morels Crispy meat Cigars DAFINA Traditional Sabbath Stew - beef, short rib, chickpeas and barley with yams and potatoes ALMOND SEMIFREDDO Chocolate Feuilletine, Orange

danya

Posted 2010-05-13 17:49:23

awesome photo

Posted by A.D. Amorosi @ 9:36 PM Permalink | Post a comment

IN PRINT: City Paper Food and Restaurants, May 13

POSTED: Thursday, May 13, 2010, 8:24 PM

Filed Under: In Print

Photo | Trey Popp

- Trey Popp stays at home to cook this week, exploring the possibilties of mastic, an odd, expensive resin that's most commonly applied in desserts. Popp finds that there's more to it than just the sweet stuff. - Felicia D talks to Spencer Walker, a cook-turned-scribe who's written Cook to Bang, a guide to bedding ladies via cooking. Chopped and screwed indeed. - City Tap House, Bodhi Coffee and Jake's Sandwich Board — all newcomers, all detailed in Feeding Frenzy. - In What's Cooking, we've got word on this weekend's Italian Market Festival, a Nubian goat milking workshop, a Philly dining retrospective panel discussion and more.

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 8:24 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Kevin Sbraga competing on Top Chef D.C.

POSTED: Thursday, May 13, 2010, 8:07 PM

Filed Under: Chef Salad | Food TV | Top Chef

bravotv.com

Chef Kevin Sbraga of Hamilton, New Jersey's Stephen Starr-helmed Rat's Restaurant will be one of 17 cheftestants competing on Top Chef D.C., which debuts Wednesday, June 16. (We actually just spotted the guy eating lunch at El Rey earlier today.) Here's his bio, from Bravo's website:

A self-proclaimed "beast in the kitchen" with unrivaled knife skills, Kevin is currently the Executive Chef at Rat's at the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ, which is managed by Stephen Starr. After earning his BS of Culinary Arts from Johnson and Wales in Miami, Kevin went on to become the Chef de Cuisine at The Grill at Philadelphia's Ritz-Carlton Hotel and was included in the 2007 list of "Top 10 Chefs" by Philadelphia Style magazine. In 2008, Kevin served as the Culinary Director of Garces Restaurant Group and was named winner of Best Meat Presentation at Bocuse d'Or USA. This African American, Italian chef declares he's the "Barack Obama of the cooking game" and wants to prove that "he can."

Molly Eichel

Posted 2010-05-13 15:49:05

Oh Kevin, I don't know how to pronounce your last name but that Obama + your overall look makes me want to give you a hug!

Top Chef D.C. Episode 14 (Finale Pt. 2): Sling blade :: Meal Ticket :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-09-16 16:47:19

[...] Our dude Kevin Sbraga, the Willingboro native who we’ve been calling Jersey Kev on this blog since Day 1, took home Season 7 of Top Chef like a damn boss! And Brendan Fraser goes WILD! I’ll be honest — as I touched on last week, I had this weird feeling that the sensationalized treatment of fellow finalist Angelo’s freak ailment in the episode previews was something of a death knell for both Kev and New York-based chef Ed — what better storyline for the drama-guzzling sluts of the Bravo network than a lanky, peculiar half-Dominican chef rising from the dead on his Latino Lazarus grind to outcook two competitors not afflicted by unidentified Southeast Asian parasitic invasion?! I’m glad they didn’t go there, I’m glad I was wrong, and most of all, I’m glad that this season’s belt — unlike some otherrrrrr seasons — was scooped up not only by a chef who represented well in the final challenge, but did his thing throughout the span of the always-preposterous Top Chef season, as well. [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 8:07 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Muntin's menu

POSTED: Thursday, May 13, 2010, 5:05 PM

Filed Under: Menu Time | Openings

It's the first week for Muntin (1326 Spruce St., 215-546-0180), a mostly-sushi (but also kind of Thai) spot in what was formerly Misso. Check out the menu in full below. Hours: Mon.-Thu., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sun., noon-10 p.m.


Click to enlarge

joey testa

Posted 2010-05-14 02:00:55

ate there-
good stuff. 
high quality fish.

-joey the "tester" testa - (tm)

the boss with saaaauuuuucccce. (ketchup)

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 5:05 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Biba, from the Tria team, to open in August

POSTED: Thursday, May 13, 2010, 4:29 PM

Filed Under: Booze | Openings

Jonathan Myerow of Tria sent us a couple teaser details about Biba, the bar he aims to open in late summer in the Left Bank building at 3131 Walnut. (We first mentioned it back in February.) The name — not to be confused with the tween demonspawn that is Justin Bieber — is derived from the Latin verb "bibere" (to drink), and that's what the space'll be all about, with 26 wines by the glass ("focus on value," says Myerow) and 10 beers on tap bottled beers, plus one local cask selection. To eat, "wine-friendly" light bites like cheese, charcuterie and chocolate. While many people view the Trias as resources given their expansive, ever-changing fermentable selections, Biba will carry more of a laidback, neighborhood hang type feel. The bar is small; they'll have room for 34 inside and 12 on an outdoor deck. Proposed hours: Sun.-Thu., noon-mid; Fri.-Sat., noon-1 a.m.

Left Bank Wine Bar Will Be Called Biba | Under the Button

Posted 2010-05-17 10:06:07

[...] It’s apparently, maybe, probably not going to open in August. [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 4:29 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Jeppson's Malort cocktail challenge Victim Participant No. 4: Preston Eckman of APO

POSTED: Wednesday, May 12, 2010, 11:52 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, followed by Colin Shearn and Al Sotack of The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Company. In this installment, Preston Eckman of APO Bar + Lounge takes things in a pithier, hoppier direction.

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

First off, it should be noted that Eckman, APO's beverage manager, is the most stone-faced Malort drinker we've encountered so far. While most people's mugs tighten up into a counter-clockwise death pucker the second the infamous Chitown spirit hits pummels the back of their throats (see Flickr for empirical proof), the nonchalant Eckman gave a pour a whiff and downed it like a champ. After a brief pondering period (he casually cast his eyes toward the ceiling as if he was dissecting a standardized test question), he declared himself ready to go. Not sure if he was faking or not, but if he was, he's a helluva faker. For Eckman's first few drinks, he decided to double down on Malort's bitter-times-infinity handshake with fellow-traveler additives (Aperol) as well as cut it with citrus, in the form of lemon juice, Lillet, Angostura orange bitters and apricot liqueur. Combier (triple sec) acted almost as a mediator between these two camps, as the silky liqueur has some bitter orange pith backbone to it. 1 oz. Pisco (white grape brandy) 3/8 oz. Aperol .5 oz lemon juice .5 oz Malort Combier orange twist 1 oz. Beefeater 3/8 oz. honey .5 oz Malort .5 oz. Rothman & Winter Orchard Apricot Liqueur Angostura orange bitters Lillet Of these two cocktails, we found ourselves gravitating toward the second mix-up. Perhaps it was the Orange Iguana-like hue of the thing (thank Rothman & Winter for that), but it's more likely that it was our trusty Yeoman Warder who set that irascible Malort bloke straight. After sipping on these cocktails, Eckman got a little more off-the-wall with it. He mixed Malort with Dogfish Head 60-Minute IPA (yes) and close to an ounce of Gosling's Dark Rum for something that resembled a beer but didn't quite taste like one. We both figured the ale's hoppiness would beat the Malort into submission -- we were right, but almost too right, as the concoction straight-up destroyed whatever Malort element was present. (Yes, for our purposes, this was a bad thing.) In perhaps his most original and peculiarly tasty rendition, Eckman tossed Cynar (a weird, bitter artichoke-based apertif), Ron Zacapa (a brilliant high-end Guatemalan rum), lime juice, ginger beer and a full ounce of Malort together. A photo of this drink now appears in the 2010 edition of the Merriam-Webster dictionary next to the word "holyshitihavenevertastedanythinglikethatbefore." (Yes, that is a real word.) Its name? The "Dark and Malort-y."

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

Posted 2010-06-18 14:07:47

[...] through their list, will host Preston Eckman (formerly of APO, now of the forthcoming Adsum, and a Malort Challenge victim); Phoebe Esmon (Chick’s CafÃ©); Al Sotack of The Franklin (also a Malort Challenge victim); [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 11:52 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Old City Social Thursdays starts tomorrow

POSTED: Wednesday, May 12, 2010, 9:35 PM

Filed Under: Dealage

A bit of news from your friendly neighborhood Happy Hour Hopper: Old City Social, the Thursday version of Center City Sips, starts tomorrow, May 13. More than 20 Old City bars and restaurants will pour $3 wines, beers and cocktails along with half-price apps from 5 to 7 p.m. They're also trying to work out a free parking deal, but for now the deal is $7 during OCS hours in all E-Z Parking lots.

Posted by Marie DiFeliciantonio @ 9:35 PM Permalink | Post a comment

New outdoor farmers' market joins Reading Terminal fray

POSTED: Wednesday, May 12, 2010, 9:07 PM

Filed Under: Field Trip | Food News

Come get some

This Sunday, May 16 will see the debut of a local, outdoor farmers' market adjacent to the famed Reading Terminal Market at 12th and Arch streets. Operating 9 a.m.-1 p.m. every Sunday from May 16 through mid-November, the market is the fruit of a partnership between RTM management and buy-local organization Farm To City, who collaborated to secure a dozen local farmers vending vegetables, berries, tree fruit, herbs, Piedmont beef, pastured chicken, cow and goat's-milk cheeses, chocolates, honey and flowers. This weekend's kickoff will feature a slew of longtime RTM merchants literally rolling out a vintage welcome wagon stuffed with specialties to greet local farmers and producers, as well as live bluegrass tunes by Special Delivery.

Posted by Felicia D'Ambrosio @ 9:07 PM Permalink | Post a comment

NOW OPEN: The Dapper Dog

POSTED: Wednesday, May 12, 2010, 8:50 PM

Filed Under: Openings

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Harry Stormes (right) dropped us a note about he and partner Seth Russell's brand-new NoLibs cart The Dapper Dog, so Team Meal Ticket took a lunchtime field trip to check it out. Operating for about a week at the corner of Second and Poplar, the duo's serving a lineup of all-beef franks (on Sarcone's rolls) dressed with everything from asparagus, sharp provolone and parm to mac and cheese and pepperoni. Everything's $3.50 to start, and you can augment your orders with add-ons like fried eggs and chili and various sides (pico de gallo, rice and beans, etc.). Full menu here. Stormes says that Second and Poplar (across from Standard Tap and The Foodery) will be their primary base of operations; they're doing Wednesday lunch hours from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., then late-night hours (8 p.m. to 3 a.m.) Friday and Saturday. (After 2 a.m., the menu shifts a bit and Double D offers literally anything you want on bread for five bucks; people were ordering pepperoni and mac 'n' cheese sandwiches this past weekend.) They're also there Sundays from noon to 5; aside from that, Stormes and Russell are concentrating on special events and festivals. They'll be slangin' franks after Dr. Dog's Electric Factory show tomorrow night, and will feed Fishtowners at the Trenton Avenue Arts Festival on May 22.

NOW OPEN: Starvin’ Marvin’s Super Dogs :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-05-14 17:08:12

[...] past week, Team Meal Ticket took its first bites of The Dapper Dog and Renaissance Sausage. Today we dug into one more: Starvin' Marvin's Superdogs in Northeast [...]

What We Wrote*, May 10-14 :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-05-14 17:59:44

[...] - The Dapper Dog starts slingin’ late-night franks at Second and Poplar. [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 8:50 PM Permalink | Post a comment

SNACK TIME: snacky Smurfy, Berley bros. make a sweet deal, pie charts for easy eating, homemade harissa, taco time at 10th and Wolf

POSTED: Wednesday, May 12, 2010, 6:15 PM

Filed Under: Snack Time

4fun24.com

Every Wednesday, Meal Ticket pokes around the food blog world to see what's simmering. --Wolfgang Puck will lend his voice to the character of Chef Smurf in upcoming movie The Smurfs, writes Grub Street New York. This exclusive paparazzi photo suggests Chef Smurf will be learning to do Le Cirque's famous "circus of desserts" for the shoot. --When I read KleInsider's report that Shane Candies, housed at 110 Market St. since 1911, had been sold, tears sprang unbidden to my eyes. They turned into waterworks of joy when he revealed Franklin Fountain ice-cream jerks Ryan and Eric Berley were the buyers. --Wheel of Nutrition makes dieting as easy as finding wedge-shaped grapefruit and celery, says Gizmodo. Their pie-chart plates illustrate portions for Diet, Extra Ordinary and Super Size eating plans. --We trend-forecasters at Team Meal Ticket have an inkling harissa, the Moroccan red pepper-and-spicy chili paste that improves everything, is about to have a moment. Learn to make your own with Serious Eats' recipe. --Drawing For Food hits up Los Gallos at 10th and Wolf for some post-Phillies tacos --$5.50 for three!

Posted by Felicia D'Ambrosio @ 6:15 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.
First Gigs: Jeff Ziga, Little Baby's Ice Cream
An edible guide to Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival
Notes from the Weekend: May 13
Bar Crawl: What's new at Ortlieb's
Afternoon Snacks: Richard Blais's Ikea Burger, Waffle "tacos," Coffee nerdery, The U.N. wants you to eat more bugs
Extra! Extra! Lobster openings, chocolate closings and lots of free stuff
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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