Staff Blog
Notes from the Weekend: Feb. 21
posted by Drew Lazor
Notes from the Weekend is a 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! (View past NFTW installments at citypaper.net/notes.)
Adam Erace: AD
Erin Finnerty: EF
Drew Lazor: DL
Adrian Pelliccia: AP
Laurel Rose Purdy: LRP
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| Photos | Laurel Rose Purdy |
Guapos Tacos parked its handsome self on Strawberry Street on Friday afternoon, exclusively for Amada employees to indulge and gloat on our massive collection of beer bottle caps — that’s how we won this fiesta — used to strategically decorate the side of the truck. We feasted on chorizo-y Mexican pozole soup and, of course, TACOS. Mahi tacos. Carnitas and costillas. Delicious guacamole. Spring weather, and Coke in glass bottles! BLASTING Jay-Z. Lucky us! —LRP
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| Photo | Drew Lazor |
I had a very important business strategy strategery meeting with AE and Felicia D. on Friday at Locust Rendezvous (1415 Locust St.) — so incredibly important was this rendezvous at The ‘Vous that we (at FD’s behest) acquired Spanish waffle fries with a side of brown gravy. “You guys are crazy,” our server told us, shaking her head. —DL
Friday: I went over to my friend Sarah’s house, where she was hosting a dinner party for our friend Anthony. It was his 21st birthday, and she pulled out all the stops — to start, she made an out-of-this-world white bean hummus hybrid, plus a comprehensive meat/cheese platter. The main course was homemade pizza with mozzarella, mushrooms and fresh tomatoes. One of the surprise standouts, though, was dessert: She got tiramisu from The Restaurant School’s bakery, which is 1. super cheap; 2. totally under the radar; and 3. pretty great! Will definitely be headed there when in need of a shmancy-yet-cheap dessert. —AP
Two friends, the fiancee and I capitalized on an elusive Friday night reservation at Barbuzzo (110 S. 13th St.) for a toasty warm table indoors. The expertly charred octopus and educational goat cheese board were stand-outs this time around, as well as the loud crackling of the boys’ pig popcorn. The budino was a crowd pleaser, naturally — but can we get some love for the steamy bread pudding in here?! —EF
Introduced my beloved big sister to my also beloved Zahav (237 St. James place) on Friday night. And she said she hated hummus. The second she got a taste of Solo’s garlicky Turkish method: converted. The newest haloumi incarnation was heavenly, back to the date jam pairing with crushed walnuts. Kibbe Naya with black harissa and a butter-poached pumpkin, grilled Al Ha’esh, were two personal favorites. I looooooove you, Zahav. —LRP
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| Photos | Drew Lazor |
Takeout from Fuji Mountain (2030 Chestnut St.) later Friday night was a good look — the sashimi spread and Florida Roll (salmon, masago, non-goopy non-mayo spicy sauce, avo) were lovely, but my personal favorite thing to get from The Fooj is hamachi kama, the crunchy, salty, meaty tuna neckbone. Pescetarian girlfriend said this is the closest she can get to eating fried chicken, and I agree. Hit it with a little lemon and pick big crispy-skin-covered hunks up with your fingers. Top 5 foods. —DL
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| Photo | Adrian Pelliccia |
Saturday: Sarah and I decided that we’d join forces and make another pizza from scratch. This time, we topped it off with the leftover brie and mozzarella from the previous night and topped it with slices of zucchini and lemon juice. For the base, we went with a creamy ricotta-basil spread. It was transcendent (see photo). Also, I learned the secret to awesome pizza dough: honey. —AP
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| Photo | Drew Lazor |
The odd lull period between the hours of 3 and 5 p.m. is my favorite time to go to Village Whiskey (118 S. 20th St.) — there’s almost always room for me at the bar, and I can chill and enjoy my drink (Sazerac this time) without getting mean-mugged by a lady from Perkasie waiting to boot me off my stool. Plus, if you’re a spirits geek and possess basic manners, the bar staff is happy to let you peep stuff from its unreal collection, like this 150th anniversary Campari none of us have. —DL
I sadly skipped brunch altogether this weekend. Saturday’s breakfast? Just some Van’s gluten-free blueberry waffles, which are the TRUTH. GF or not, these trump any and all other alternative flour-having frozen waffles. Also a “Divine Grape” GT’s Kombucha — my new signature flavor, which a girlfriend says “smells like balsamic vinegar.” It kind of does. I like that. —LRP
Saturday was a slow day spent in a futile battle against a cold, but I found time to make it to Rim Café (1172 S. Ninth St.) to visit Italian Market superstar Rene Kobeitri on a top-secret mission from Meal Ticket — details and photos coming soon! —EF
Saturday popped into an absolutely packed Manakeesh Cafe & Bakery (4420 Walnut St.), the last of three visits for Official City Paper Business (read the review next week). The looooong line of head-scarved females, hipper-than-thou undergrads and West Philly locals affords ample time for stargazing at the gem-like sweets in the impressive pastry case. No doubt Manakeesh’s bulk pistachio purchasing is largely funding the nuts’ national ad campaign. Snooki don’t come cheap, after all. —AE
One of the best dinners I’ve had in a long time alert: Cochon (801 E. Passyunk Ave.) killllled it Saturday night! Still full. Gene Giuffi’s smoked/sous vide-d/grilled spare ribs with insane onion rings (loved GG’s ribs for a minute!) and crawfish risotto croquettes in a nutso lobster butter sauce to start. Then onto fried oysters, plus sweetbreads over gnocchi dressed up carbonara-style. Mains (this is where my arteries were like noooo but my stomach was like KEEP ON DOING WHAT YOU DO DREW): a HUGE bowl of bouillabaisse (mussels, shrimp, crabmeat, scallops), and skirt steak topped with mushroom/Roquefort sauce and a side of foie gras bread pudding (literally a lil’ foie nubbin chilling inside!). By dessert — poor man’s pudding — I seriously didn’t know what to do with myself. Go there. —DL
Before completely crashing on Sunday, went out to lunch with the future in-laws at Rembrandt’s (741 N. 23rd St.). I loved the revamped tofu-less veggie banh mi, held together with fresh slices of avocado and pickled veggies. Followed that up with an apple empanada, drizzled with caramel sauce and accompanied by vanilla gelato. It was perfect in every way, but I think I still prefer Taco Bell’s doughnut-y, Hostess Pie-like $.99 version. —EF
Sarah and I decided to go all or nothing with this pizza thing and continued our dough bender into Sunday night. We made the same ricotta-basil sauce and opted to go balls-out as far as toppings were concerned: caramelized onions, leeks, chunky bacon. After three solid days of only pizza (the occasional salad got peppered in there from time to time), I have only this to say: No regrets — I would do it again in a heartbeat. —AP
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| Photo | Drew Lazor |
Birthday brunch at one of my fave places Sunday afternoon — MĂ©mĂ© (2201 Spruce St.)! Place was jammed but we still got my food crazy speedy — tripe/chorizo/chickpea stew topped with a sunny-side egg, biscuits ‘n’ gravy, cherry-stuffed griddle cakes topped with shaved foie (no more foie for awhile or I will die). Girlie had an omelette that, if I remember correctly, did not have foie in it for some reason. —DL
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| Photos | Adam Erace |
Sunday, kept dinner simple at home with penne tossed in Severino prepared pesto. Here’s a nifty trick for adding texture to pasta dishes: breadcrumbs. Right on the burner, I lightly charred a slice of sourdough, tore it into big pieces and pulsed it in the food processor to form loose crumbs. Earlier, I had fried some pancetta; I added the crumbs to drippings (try it with bacon, too) and sauteed on medium heat till till toasty and brown. Seasoned with salt and pepper and scattered over the penne, the golden breadcrumbs added a porky top-note and rough crunch. No pasta should be without them. —AE
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Philly City Paper, Drew Lazor and Gene Giuffi, Meal Ticket. Meal Ticket said: NOTES FROM THE WEEKEND in beast mode this week, check it out and share your notes! http://ow.ly/40I5F [...]
Made it over to Artisan Boulanger Patissier a little too late Sunday morning to get croissants, so, instead we purchased some brioches (so cheap!) and a baguette in order to make some ham, egg and cheese sandwiches. Boyfriend couldn’t stop talking about how good ABP’s coffee was. For dinner, made super stoner food kimchi quesadillas with bacon, sauteed yu choy and flourless chocolate cake to go with a Twin Peaks marathon. Sunday reclaimed.
It is happening again….
the giant! i miss him.
sometimes my scones bend back
I cannot believe you are pinning the entire Spanish-fries-with-gravy thing on me. Just because I said Little Pete’s mozz sticks are good with gravy.
Started Saturday morning by tying the grill to the porch to keep it from hurtling away in the tornado, then headed to Artisan Boulanger for breakfast croissants and bread for dinner. Dribbling flaky croissant crumbs all over ourselves, we proceeded to H Mart in Upper Darby to stock up on Korean supermarket things and gorge on samples.
Spent the rest of the day fiddling with mushroom stock and resultant mushroom gravy, then made clams and chorizo with orange and bay leaf for dinner. Not too shabby, Tyler Florence.
Whipped up my most successful batch of biscuits yet (Joy of Baking online recipe) to absorb yet more vegetarian mushroom gravy. Consumed one-half a stick of butter in biscuit form before 11 am, whence I retired, spent, back to bed.
Subbed out parsley for cilantro in a homemade banh mi with fried tofu, carrots, spicy mayo and kimchee, since we lacked pickled daikon, all on Artisan Boulanger’s open-crumbed, crispy baguette. Heavy eating weekend all around.
I’m not blaming you, I’m thanking you!
SABLE – MOZZ STICKS WITH GRAVY? You just pulled some Inception shit on me. Gonna need to go ahead and try this. I am jealous of your heavy gravy heavy weekend.
Mozz sticks with gravy, yes indeed. This is the kind of revelation that can only come to you at Little Pete’s at 3 am, minutes after drinking really old DFH 120 minute IPA. Mystique was totally trying to cop my gravysticks.
Hit up fergies Friday with mi lady after some over priced vihno verde at vintage. I wasn’t wowwed by bebe’s BBQ. It was good, but missing something. The fried pickles were a tad meh. The rest of the weekend included some home cooking and fingered burbons
Ok, my device just had a spelling induced mind fart. Fingered=gingered. Also cooked up some awesome jumbo meatballs in a fennel/sun dried tomato sauce along with a roasted veggie Mac and cheese. I love me some fennel.
It was my first time having kama at Fuji Mt. and it was seriously good. In terms of sashimi and rolls, though, my heart still belongs to Vic.
Cochon was amazing, those crawfish risotto croquettes with lobster butter was the perfect vehicle for the baguette I was not eating to save room for more… Oh well!
Love going to Meme any day of the week, but especially when it’s the long overdue brunch visit. My omelette had scallions, red pepper, mushrooms and queso fresco, so great. And the server we had was wonderful, I think he is new…
Kama is my go-to at sushi spots! So much flavor in that boomerang neck bone.
Like I said man, Top 5 Foods!!
Yo – the boyfriend and I went to Cochon Saturday night for our 5 year anniversary, too. We also got those ribs – fucking divine – and I also got the bouillabaisse, which was heaven, especially those mussels and scallops . He got the pork belly. Mmm, pig. We ended splitting the cognac cheesecake and creme brulee. Brought some killer beers along – Goose Island Madame Rose and Foothills Brewery Sexual Chocolate.
Ended up at Monk’s later that night to indulge in Cantillon and Cascade sours.
OMG! That sounds fucking amazing!!!!
Friday: Tried unsuccessfully to grab a seat at Kraftwork and El Camino Real. Finally got into The Abbaye and had their Southwest Red Bean Veggie Burger. This thing was heartier than many beef burgers I’ve had. It was quite tasty with a surprisingly decent tomato and some nice guac to finish it off. Their fries are damn good, too. Following that we were able to stop by El Camino Real for my very first pickleback shot. I didn’t hate it, but will I do one again? I don’t know, someone buy me a pickleback and we’ll find out.
The pickleback necessitated a midnight snack at late night taqueria at 10th & Wolf where I had a great burrito, possibly the best in town outside of Jose’s. I love this place, and although I am yet to try the food sober, I am confident in the quality of palate when inebriated. My standards slip, but I still know what’s good.
Saturday: Brunch at Oregon Diner was exactly what it was supposed to be (though coffee service was a little lacking). Following the Secrets of the Silk Road exhibit at the Penn Museum (recommended, try to get there before they ship the mummies back to China), we tripled down on the veal at at Hostaria Da Elio. They do a nice veal parmesan but killed it on the stuffed veal chop and especially the veal cannelloni. This was plan B after being denied at Hoof & Fin, but what a delicious plan B it turned out to be.
Sunday: A homemade feast (not by me) of 20-hour vegetarian cholent, roasted cauliflower, whipped tahina, Israeli salad, slow cooked barley, and elephant-shaped birthday cake. I never knew a one year old’s birthday party would be so delicious.
Actually, it’s at 8th & Wolf, not 10th.
Friday: apparently wife and I are not the only ones who associate warm weather with Oyster House HH, as the place was way too packed by 5:30 when we got there. Headed to Noble instead, totally made up for it with some smoky scotch concoction they had on special. finally “made it” @ Southwark, walked in, was recognized and handed a Sazerac…felt like christmas morning. from there we cruised around the corner to Kennett for some ridiculous brussel sprouts and a pizza.
Saturday: dinner @ Fond, one of my absolute favorites, and alot of others as well as ressies are super hard to come bye. everything as always was great: sweatbreads (favorite in philly), foie, pork belly, steak, malted choc ice cream and meyer lemon cake. i cannot say enough great things about this place, always consistently great service and food. pasrty chef even came out to settle an argument over meringue b/n wife and I. adam you need to start stocking their olive bread, cray good.
Sunday: an innocent brunch at Standard Tap turned into several beers and an inpromptu bowling session next door. Great weekend overall, just wished I had monday off like the lucky ones!
Friday’s beautiful weather beckoned, of course. After a run along Kelly Drive, hit Sabrina’s in Fairmount for an afternoon brunch of whole-wheat banana pancakes with a side of scrapple. A perfect comfort-food plate. Sat at the bar, where service was top-notch and friendly.
Later Friday started with Happy Hour at Perch Pub, and walked into a maelstrom of people of all sorts. The wood varnish still permeated the air (in a bad way). I ordered the happy hour beer Troeg’s Troegenator, and they were out, so I asked what the replacement $3 happy hour beer was….and I was stared at blankly, then had a response of “there is not one.” I don’t get how another happy hour priced beer is unavailable just because the original was kicked. Oh well. Had a tasty Walt Wit, said hello to Nick the bartender, then left.
Headed to Fergie’s, where I haven’t been in years. The downstairs has been spruced up, has a fresh feel to it. Ordered a few 20oz pints of Dogfish Head Brown Ale and Guinness. Headed upstairs to hear a great band, joined friends at a table, then ordered Mark Bebe’s fabulous “west” Carolina BBQ pork sandwich and hand-cut fries. Sandwich was tasty, not as generous in portion-size as it was at Bebe’s BBQ when it was in the Italian Mkt. The accompanying cole slaw was weak in flavor. Any of his BBQ is terrific though. A buddy ordered the brisket and loved it. Decided to order a mac-and-cheese for the table too. More of the baked variety…but it was delicious.
Friday night I went to Pub and Kitchen for a friend’s birthday dinner. It was super loud and busy so I couldn’t really hear what everyone was ordering and was bummed when the food came out and everyone at the 12 person table had ordered either a burger or fish and chips. It goes against everything I believe in! Also, as I navigated the packed crowd to smoke a cigarette I noticed that a guy was wearing a euro-looking track jacket thingy that said “DUSH” on the back of it. It was pretty amazing and also accurate.
Saturday, a friend and I decided to grab lunch at Dandelion since we were in the neighborhood. It was my first time there and the food was good! Our server, while totally being on top of shit, seemed kind of surly and “over it” which just made us like her more. I’d go back just for the pickled beetroot jar, yummmm. We sat at one of the high-top tables by the bar and got repeatedly bumped into (hard!) by the table of dudes behind us. They weren’t wearing “DUSH” jackets but totally could’ve been, if you know what I mean.
Sunday I planned on having a quiet night at home and making dinner. I did make a yummy meal of miso glazed chicken and a quick pickled radish salad with avocado and sesame but alas a quiet night wasn’t in the cards. We got a call from a friend who was at the Pope. Living across the street from it is amazing but it also means you NEVER have a good excuse not to go if you are asked. Alls well that ends well though and we ended up having hilarious conversations over a few too many Piraats.
So I checked at Beagle Tavern in Norristown for brunch on Sunday and…not too bad. I had a monster size burger cooked to perfection, mild wings that literally fell off the wings and some tasty local brew. Calamari left much to be desired. The best part was the bartender, Christian..someone needs to give that guy his own show!
Friday I checked out The Prim Rib’s happy hour and it was quite a treat. Best clam casino in town and the ribs were totally something from the Flinstones..they were HUGE!. Decent drink specials. Clam Casino, ribs, some girly drink = $18.
The piano guy was a classy touch.
Friday was spent in lovely glenside at jerzee’s sports bar for a friends birthday. surprisingly bangin pizza. not surprising clientele. and the loudest bass speakers not at a club shaking the place.
saturday more suburbs checking out the station taproom in downingtown. really really good seafood chowder special and delicious cuban and grilled cheese sandwiches. beers were a bit high priced but i don’t think any of the richers noticed.
sunday brunch at resurrection where i love the tallboy beer mimosas and pan con tomate.
Sunday first brunch was at Meme for griddle cakes with shaved foie gras. second brunch an hour later at Dandelion for chicken liver and foie gras mousse with grape chutney. Dinner was a chicken sandwich at Silk City. Monday morning tour of Hudson Valley Foie Gras followed by dinner at Eleven Madison Park. Four Courses were Foie Gras torchon with Quince gelee, Pink Snapper, Roast Pork with Speatzle. Also had amazing sea urchin panna cotta, sturgeon sabayon, chocolate with thai chiles, and black truffle beignets.