The Philly Food File

Updates Coming Soon

2008-08-23T18:57:00.002-04:00

I promise, I have not fallen off a cliff or have my feet permanently stuck in the sand in Cape May. Updates are coming soon!

Stay tuned because I'll have the dish on all of our adventures including Cape May, Philly (including Osteria and Lacroix) and even the rural mountains of Pennsylvania.

xoxo,
Me

AZIE in Media

2008-03-21T17:50:00.011-04:00

With Girl Out To Lunch

What to do on a spring like day in February? My go to place is Media. Great shopping and so many places to have lunch.

AZIE recently opened in the building once occupied by the West End Pub. First impression..WOW..The decor is beautiful. Clean lines, warm colors and full of natural light from the floor to ceiling windows. River Stones and Tile on the walls and bar. And no crowded seating, lots of room. I decided to sit in the bar area. The red couch that lined the wall looked comfortable, and the round frosted glass tables, again were not cramped together. Service was immediate even in the lunch hour. Nice size menu. Something for everyone but not over complicated.

I chose the Black Cod with Boc Choy in a white Miso reduction, $18.00. Served to me by manager Joe, the cod was cooked perfectly. One piece of Boc Choy cut in four? More veggies please! Joe was friendly. We had a nice conversation about our Italian Heritage. A very relaxed atmosphere made this an enjoyable meal.

I took a peek at the desert menu. I asked Joe what I should try. The Tofu Cheese Cake $8.00. I was again wowed by the presentation. A square of Tofu Cheese Cake, topped with chopped pineapple, wrapped in a banana leaf. Served with a cup of maple syrup on the side and a fresh flower. Very good and light. So here it is. I think a $35.00 lunch ( including tip ) is a little high for one person. Get rid of the fresh flowers and buy more veggies. I did enjoy myself and I will return to try the Sushi.

Before you go into the restaurant, take a walk around the corner to the side of the building. You can watch the chefs preparing food through the glass windows.

LUNCH GIRL'S TIP: If your planning a special date, reserve a table on the second floor loft.

AZIE,
Global, Asian
217 State Street
Media, PA

Let me know your experiences with AZIE. And if anyone asks, I am
'Out to Lunch!'

Winter Beach Adventure

2008-03-20T19:39:00.006-04:00

“I shot 6 holes in my freezer…
I think I got cabin fever…
Somebody sound the alarm!”
- Jimmy Buffett

While we wait for the Foodie Girl to recover from her bikini wax and update everyone on our winter dining adventures, it apparently falls to me to talk about our just completed trip to the beaches of Northern New Jersey.

For me anyway this is the time of year I start to really think about warm weather, picnics and the beach. Every time the mercury tickles the 60-degree mark and I’m able to lose the jacket, I hope for summer (or at least spring) to come early so we can put all of the gray and brown behind us and replace it with green grass and warm nights. So leave it to me to rush the season and make plans to visit the shore in mid-March.

Eager to try some place different than Cape May, we went exactly 120 miles to the foot of New Jersey’s Sandy Hook and spent the evening in a town called Highlands. This town is aptly named since this is the only spot anywhere on the Atlantic coast (short of Maine I suppose) that features a hillside about 200 feet high that rises above the ocean reminiscent of St. Thomas or St. Maartin in the Caribbean.

A Room at the Inn
Through the magic of Google and some net detective work we decided to stay at a small B & B called Sea Scape Manor. It turns out the research on the web was much easier than finding the actual Inn. After a few U-Turns (forget about making a left in the Garden State) we decided to turn off the GPS and use The Force to find our target. It turns out Sea Scape Manor is at the top of a steep hill through a residential neighborhood and a parking lot of a local high school.

Without getting into too much detail about the Inn, we’ll say our Innkeepers were delightful (thanks Cindy) and our room was charming (however a bit small) with a spectacular view of the ocean, the Sandy Hook Bridge and the Intercoastal. You can even see the sprawling skyline of New York just 20 miles or so to the north. The place could use a bit of sprucing up but I’m sure when spring blooms things will look much brighter. Once we got used to the steep hills, sharp turns and no turns we found the area easy to navigate with the feel of an old fishing town.

“We’ll go to Bahrs ‘n get some Lobsters” – Tony Soprano
It seems like every shore town has a restaurant like Bahrs. Cape May has the Lobster House and Sea Isle City has Carmines, to name a few. It’s a classic seashore seafood restaurant. They have been around since 1917, with their dock and dining room facing out to the foot of Sandy Hook. They are known for their New England Clam Chowder (red) which the Foodie Girl reported had lots of veggies, was a little spicy with nice size pieces of clam and was overall very good. She even took a can home from their gift shop.

After the soup she was looking forward to the Lobster Roll, which is large chunks of lobster served on essentially a hotdog roll. This was good as well but did not compare to the world famous Lobster Roll served at ‘Pat’s Lunch’ on the causeway to Stone Harbor. (I dream of an Eagles’ Super Bowl victory, she dreams of a lobster sandwich at the shore. We all have our priorities.) These lobster pieces were not quite as sweet and contained a little more mayo than she thinks is necessary. The other negative was for some reason the bread came out toasted instead of in its natural bread-like state. Perhaps this is another specialty at Bahrs.

The Landlubber (not sure exactly what that means… should I be insulted?) among us had the French Onion Soup (very good, not too salty) and a delicious burger featuring meat from a local farm. Overall, we enjoyed Bahrs. The view was excellent and the servers were friendly and efficient even though they were wearing green in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. My guess is in warmer weather the deck is packed and boats stream by toward the bridge and New York Harbor. This is not what one would consider fine dining but definitely gives the visitor some local flavor.

Making Wine from a Lemon at Sirena Restaurant
This beach area of North Jersey seems to feature a number of what we would consider middle of the road establishments but a small number of fine-dining restaurants. So leave it to the Foodie Girl to seek out the upscale Sirena Ristorante in Long Branch.

This restaurant is in the center of what appears to be a brand-new fairly upscale shopping district right on the ocean. It’s just off the main drag (Route 36) that runs north south through each of these tiny shore towns. There are a number of other dining spots in this same little area that appears to be worthy of a visit as well.

The restaurant is really beautiful with a spectacular ocean view. Since it was a Monday night in the off-season we had no trouble getting seated right away. We wound up in a large, comfortable booth on the upper tier of seats that faced the water and the cozy fireplace. This is where we hit a bump in the road.

After a few minutes the two servers who appeared to be on the floor passed near our table several times without stopping by. Five minutes passed without getting approached, then ten. We observed someone who appeared to be a manager or host visiting other tables so we decided to hold off getting up and leaving until he came to see us. When he did make his way over he was mortified to learn that we had been there for a good 15 minutes without a visit from a server. Yikes!

After his most sincere apology we learned his name was Carl. He grabbed his server Jamie, a very delightful young lady, and quickly offered us some drinks. After a short discussion about wines (He must have figured I knew enough about wine to be dangerous) Carl preceded to bring us four different bottles to taste. (A crisp Sancerre, a Sangiovese Blend from Sonoma, a Napa Cab and a light fruity red from Montelpuciano.) Our angst over the long wait was melting away. After tasting all four, with four different glasses Carl brought, I could not make up my mind so I was treated to a complimentary glass of both the Sangiovese and the Cab along with the glass of Sancerre.

Time to eat. The Foodie Babe went for the Pan-Seared Diver Scallops with baby clams. It was served with a puree of something called gigante beans, which was almost like mashed sweet potatoes. She reported that this was an outstanding dish and the bean puree was simply fantastic. The Sancerre was the perfect match for the Scallops with apricot notes and good acidity.

I was thrilled to hear the evening’s special, a roasted short-rib ragout served with fusilli pasta. The only disappointment here was the pasta on my plate was not fusilli, not even close, but more like a very thick spaghetti without a curl in site. In fact the folks sitting at the table next to us made the same comment once their entrée came out to their table. This aside, it was an exceptional choice with generous and hearty sections of short rib in a tomato sauce blended just right with a sprinkle of Parmesan. I would order this again in a minute.

We finished up with some decaf (it was 9:30 already) and Zabaglione for dessert. This consisted of an amaretto custard, some very ripe strawberries and a biscotti. What a great way to end a night that could have been a disaster.

On the way out I stopped to chat with Carl, Jamie and another server named Sean (or Shaun, not sure). They all again apologized once more for the earlier issues, especially when they learned that this was our first visit to the area and we came in from the Philly area. I again assured them that we had a great time and wound up talking about movies for a few minutes before heading out into the cold.

You can check out Sirena Ristorante at www.sirenaristorante.com

That’s it for now. We’ll continue to hope for an early spring and warm beach weather. Thanks for reading.

Coming soon...

2008-02-21T22:36:00.002-05:00

Check back in soon for our latest adventures from January Restaurant Week at Estica on Locust Street, Brunch at Lacroix at the Rittenhouse, Ristorante Verona in Frazier and many more. Our guest blogger "Girl Out to Lunch" will tell us all about Azie in Media and my Hub will let you know about all of the fabulous wine we've been drinking at home and at BYOBs.

Stay tuned!

When 'GirlOutToLunch' speaks, people listen!

2008-01-18T21:41:00.000-05:00

Greetings again to my Fellow Foodies! I’ve just been overwhelmed at the kind comments I’ve received from readers of the Food File. Can you see me blushing? Well I am happy to introduce you to our very first guest blogger, the lovely and talented “GirlOutToLunch.” I hope you like it!

Lunch for One at Chops on City Avenue

I’ve never been shy about traveling by myself or for that matter asking for a table for one. So when noontime rolled around and I was cruising a rainy City Avenue near the Expressway I decided to bypass Friday’s, Houlihans and the other chains to enjoy a civilized lunch at Chops.

Two well-dressed men greeted me at the door and my wet umbrella was whisked away in seconds. I already felt like a rock star! I was seated at a cozy booth set with a plate of pickled veggies. Yummy! The daily newspaper was brought to my table to read while waiting. Nice touch. Even though I’ve dined solo many times and never feel self-conscience, it is nice to have the paper while waiting for the food to arrive.

My waitress Jennifer was well spoken, a necessity when you have a list of specials that reads like a short story. I ordered the Chicken Medici from that long list.

A basket of fresh yummy breads was delivered promptly. My Chicken Medici was not far behind. Two nice size portions of moist chicken breast arrived, covered with a thin slice of salty prosciutto and a sprinkle of nutty asaigo cheese, served on a bed of perfectly cooked broccoli rabe. My lunch also came with a huge portion of homemade potato chips and hash browns. These were not Pringles!

I did take notice that many people were ordering the Lobster Bisque. I asked Jennifer if I was missing out on a specialty. She admitted "the bisque was a little watery today". I really appreciate that kind of honesty.

In all I loved the food (half went home for dinner) and the service was perfect. Even though I was not expecting to have a ‘real’ lunch at a place as classy as Chops I was made to feel very comfortable and welcome. I hope to make it back for dinner soon.

Wilting Under Pressure: Brodeur's on State Street in Media

I was eager to return to Brodeur’s and take advantage of the gift card that was burning a hole in my purse. I was looking forward trying it again.

My server knows me from previous visits. Over-tipping jogs the memory. The lunch rush in Media was over, so service was fast. There were lots of specials to choose from but I heard the word DUCK. She had me at ‘quack.’ I was now really looking forward to the Long Island Duck Breast served on a bed of fresh spinach with dried cranberries, walnuts and red onion.

I wasn’t told the price for the special (a real pet peeve I have with servers) so I did inquirer, "how much is the Duck Salad?" I was told $10.99. Not bad for duck! The salad looked beautiful. It was a little sparse on the duck, but I figured at $10.99...

The duck itself was a little overcooked but still tasty. Here is where things started to go badly. While eating the Spinach I started to notice brown, wilted slimy old spinach under the fresh green spinach on top. YUCK! I was shocked. After I regained my composure, I brought it to my server’s attention. She assured me, the chef did not purposely try to give me rotten food. Puh-leaze!!! Even if the chef was blind he would know that this spinach was not suitable for human consumption. I was graciously given a ‘fresh’ spinach salad to go.

The final disappointment was the check. The price of my Duck Salad was $13.99 not $10.99 as I was told. I've been to Brodeur’s a few times before and found it to be unremarkable. Is Brodeur's on the endangered restaurant list?

Here is the final insult: I just opened the ‘fresh’ take home salad. I am shocked! I’ve been greeted by more rotten, slimey, brown wilted spinach. Disgusting! I wonder what the next restaurant will be at the corner of State and Jackson Streets in Media?

If anyone asks, I'm
OutToLunch

I want to go where its warm! Some thoughts from the first two weeks of January...

2008-01-15T22:35:00.000-05:00

Here a few random food and wine notes from the past few weeks.

Bertolini’s at the King of Prussia Mall
by the Foodie Girl

The Foodie Hub was patient enough to be dragged through the King of Prussia Mall a few days after Christmas while I hunted for post-holiday bargains. When the growling in his stomach became audible I had mercy and we walked over to “Bertolini's Authentic Trattoria.” The place was packed but Hub used his charm and Jedi Mind Tricks to get the three of us seated in less than five minutes. The folks there use their head when seating those of us with well-behaved pre-schoolers. We were led to a large booth next to the giant window, to which our little girl exclaimed; “I can see the whole world from up here!” (That garnered about a half-dozen laughs from those around us.)

Now, I would describe Bertolini’s as a glorified pizzeria, set inside a huge bustling bistro trying to look like a trattoria in Italy. Make no mistake, we were in a mall in Pennsylvania, but it was a surprisingly good experience considering recent stops at Carraba’s (see November 07 entry) and Bennigan’s which was so bad we up and left. Our server was prompt (yes, she said her name and asked if she could start us out with a beverage) and certainly understood dining with a 3-year-old with limited patience. For that matter, she understood a 41-year-old with limited patience too. Little girl had a thin crust brick-oven pizza, which she enjoyed while gazing out the window. I went for the Tuscan Tuna Salad, served with Cannellini beans, kalamata olives, and sun-dried tomatoes. The salad was interesting and tasty. Hub is definitely an Italian boy as for the second night in a row he had a big dish of penne in bolognaise sauce (aka macaroni and gravy).

We don’t think anyone will confuse Bertolini’s with a fine Italian bistro, or their brick oven pizza with a place like Rembrandt’s in Philly. But if you need a relatively fast mall stop to get you back to Old Navy in no time, I say go for it!

Havana Daydreaming
by the Foodie Hub

Let me first say you could not hear my stomach growling that night in the K of P mall. The growling she heard was, “If you want me to stand and wait for you outside the candle store or Victoria’s Secret, you better feed me and give me a cocktail.”

OK, that said let’s talk about how much I hate winter. I hate it. Can’t stand it. I like it warm.

So when the opportunity presents itself to enjoy an unseasonably warm 67 degrees in January, you better believe I’ll figure out a way to take advantage of it! I lucked out and found myself in the charming village of New Hope on that warm Tuesday afternoon during the second week of January. With my business done I had time to stroll along Main Street and marvel at the mild temps and the crowded streets on a Tuesday. Don’t all of these people with the motorcycles have a job? Anyway, I was seduced by the open outdoor restaurant and bar at Havana. Moments after I was seated at the bar, overlooking the cars trying to parallel park next to Harleys, I quickly learned from the adorable bartender that Tuesday was Half-Price Day! This was getting better by the minute. It’s rare that I get to slow down for a real lunch, let alone outdoors on a sunny and warm day. Over the course of an hour I had two cocktails (shhhhh) and a very large bowl of Papardelle pasta with meat sauce for the low, low price of $13.45. You can’t beat it with a stick. The only negative about the place is the cigarette smoke. If smokers would only be a little more considerate and make an attempt not to blow smoke my way we could all get along. Come spring when it warms up again I will certainly make the hour drive to Bucks County and check Havana out again.

Wine Report
By Him

“Where the juke box is blasting, and the liquor is flowing… an occasional bottle of wine. That’s why everyone here is just more than contented, to be livin’ and dyin’ in three-quarters time.” – Jimmy Buffet

For the fellow wine lovers and wine drinkers please let me share a few thought about some recent wines we have enjoyed.

Copain L’haver Syrah Mendocino County 2006
A great party wine. We served this one at a birthday party for non-wine snobs and everyone commented positively on it. I think it’s a bit overripe and grapey but pleasant still with plum and cherry notes. Copain makes some real knock-out wines like the ’05 “Les Copains” James Berry Vineyard Blend (A Rhone blend featuring mainly Grenache and Syrah, what a surprise) or the single-vineyard ’05 Thompson Syrah. I’ve also mentioned the ’06 Katie’s Corner Vioginer on this blog which is another go-to white for my money.

Magenta Brut Champagne NV
Wow! Even non-champer drinkers will love this one! It has just a hint of dryness with some apricot and a hit of citrus. We popped this one at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve and finished it off the next morning with OJ. It’s a real value at $35.00.

Jerome Quiot Gigondas 2004
This wine is not as big as the ’03 but the tannins are much softer and it’s generally more food friendly. The finish is long and dry. We love Gigondas as our ‘house wine’ when dining on lamb at home.

Fournier Les Belle Vignes Sancere 2005
This was the white served at the same party as the Copain Syrah. It went quickly. It always amazes me how much more character there is in the Sauvignon Blanc grape from the Loire Valley than anywhere else in the world. This wine has so much more sweetness while maintaining its acidity. I still have a 2004 old vines “Grand Cuvee” on my rack that will be finding its way to a dinner out soon.

Domaine Coteau Pinot Noir– Eola-Amity Hills, Oregon 2006
It’s really hard to beat the Burgundian ’04 Coteau Pinot. (Spectator gave it a 91) The previous vintages came from Yamhill County, Oregon and you can taste the difference. The ’06 is a bit muddy at times and herbal but still blows the pants off other young Pinots. I’m sure it’s still in its youth and will benefit from more time on its back. I also own two bottles of the Coteau ’06 ‘Reserve’ for which I have high hopes. We had this Pinot at a Greek restaurant in West Chester. I'm urging the Foodie Girl to start writing!

Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
If you can still find this at a Pennsylvania Wine and Spirits shop I suggest you grab what you can. This is a straight-forward Napa Cab that rated a 91 from Spectator that sells for $12.99 for a half bottle. In the over-inflated world of California wines this is a real bargain. I think the halves rock.

Final thoughts
1) I have two 1999 Cote Roties that call my name every night. I think it might be time to pop the cork on one.

2) The Foodie Girl even looks sexy in her blue snowflake PJs and fuzzy bunny slippers.

3) I really enjoy peppermint tea.

xoxoxo,
The Philly Foodie Girl

Walnut Street BYOB

2008-01-07T08:37:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year once again to all of our readers! Since the Foodie Girl is back at the gym and I’m at home staring at the screen of my laptop, I felt it was up to me once again keep the world updated on our latest food and wine adventures. So don’t touch that dial!

Over the Christmas week we had several opportunities to check out a variety of restaurants and lounges in the city and beyond. The star of the week was a relatively new BYOB called Salento.

We actually decided to stay in the city overnight at the Loews at 12th and Market Street. This is the building with the gigantic ‘PSFS’ 33 floors up. It’s really a cool hotel with an Art Deco theme and a funky vibe, even with its halls decked with Holiday decorations. Sole Food is the resident restaurant on the lobby level facing Philly's Hard Rock Café across the street. We’ve dined at Sole Food twice, the first time under the original chef Martin Gagne and most recently with chef Thomas Harkins. We didn’t stay for dinner that night, just for a few happy hour martinis before heading out to yet another BYOB. I will say that the bar at Sole Food is certainly one of the top 5 hotel bars of all time and maybe the best in the city.

You can view a short video about Loews and Sole Food at the link below:
http://www.philadelphiapavideo.com/city/play.aspx?ItemID=8

We moved on to Salento, a new BYOB Italian Restaurant on Walnut Street between 22nd and 23rd Streets. This is the new creation of Davide and Kathryn Faenza, who also own the tiny L’Angolo in South Philadelphia. (If you ever want to feel like you’re sitting in someone’s dining room with 25 of your closest friends you should try L’Angolo.) This is the former location of the ubiquitous Fellini Café which exited this spot recently. The décor is sparse and almost reminiscent of my sister’s first apartment in 1975. OK not really, her apartment was pretty cool, especially to a 10-year-old. (I know she’ll eventually read this!) However, Salento’s white plaster walls did lack character and certainly don’t help with the noise level.

The restaurant filled up quickly as expected. The Foodie Babe started out with a marvelous salad of ripe red tomatoes, mozzarella and onions. She was sweet enough to share some of the cheese and it was out of this world. I went with the grilled Radicchio with gorgonzola and reduced balsamic. This was good but clearly could have used more dressing especially as I dove deeper into the center of the red leaves of the radicchio.

For our main course I went with the ‘Pappardelle al cinghiale,’ a homemade pappardelle pasta with wild boar ragu. This was outstanding. The ragu (which I’m told is one of the things Chef Davide is known for) was rich, slightly peppery and almost like a stew. My lovely wife raved about the ‘Orecchiette al’anatra,’ which is shredded braised duck with orecchiette pasta. This was served as she liked it with a generous broth almost like a soup. I thought the duck was right on but she felt that it may have been a tad overcooked and tough in parts. We both agreed it was excellent and unlike anything we’ve had previously.

While we did not stay for dessert, we are told that Kathryn is the pastry chef and her desserts are a real star. More about our eventual dessert experience in a second. As for the wine of the evening, my Italian collection is admittedly a bit weak. I went with La Forra Chianti Classico Riserva 2001. I purchased four bottles of La Forra on the suggestion of my wine friend Steve last year. It really takes a long time for the wine to open up and express its fruit. While more BYOBs have invested in quality stemware, I’ve yet to come across one with a real decanter. That would have helped. Anyway, the wine was a good choice for the pappardelle dish but could have potentially overwhelmed the more delicate flavors of orecchiette and duck. We wound up bringing half of the bottle back home with us.

Overall we think Salento provided excellent food and the wait staff was great. Our only criticism lies with some of the bus staff that were too quick to remove our plates when they saw a three second break in the eating action. I almost lost my gorgonzola before its time!

OK, now about dessert. Since we were staying in the city and didn’t have to worry about driving I felt comfortable enough over indulge in the intoxicating spirits of hot chocolate. The Foodie Babe was set on checking out a new spot called “Naked Chocolate” on Walnut Street between 13th and Broad Streets. So off we walked in the cold drizzle without an umbrella. The place was packed and I was down to my boxer shorts when I realized it was the chocolate that was naked and not the customers. (Thank God!) This place serves up different flavors and variations of hot chocolate, which tastes like 100% melted chocolate in a cup. I can still taste it ten days later. The closest we ever came to something this decadent was at a famous café called “Laudree” on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. When you get to Naked Chocolate be patient and wait it out for a seat. They serve the hot chocolate in cool little teacups with a side of whipped cream and a cookie. If you get it to go, remind them to give you the whipped cream and cookie. Also, be advised that since the chocolate is so rich, the smallest size is plenty.

Thanks for reading everyone and xoxo from the Foodie Girl!

Grazing through December

2007-12-24T01:01:00.000-05:00

T’was the day before the night before Christmas… and I’m busy being good!

Here are our thoughts on some restaurants visited for lunch, dinner and various parties throughout the month. Please note that you will find no mention of holiday cookies or home-made candy anywhere here!

Bridget Foy’s on South Street
I hit it for lunch on a wet Thursday afternoon. My go-to choice at Foy’s is typically the meatloaf with macaroni and cheese. Our server suggested the special of the day, which was Pappardelle pasta with a lamb ragout. Let me tell you, this was a top five pasta dish of all time, right up there with the fuscili at Carlucci in Chicago and gnocchi on the promenade in Nice. It was terrific! The lamb was sweet and the sauce had a touch of cream and Parmesan. I was so close to asking for another bowl to take away and probably would have if I didn’t have to spend the rest of the day in the city. I only hope that when I get back to Bridget Foy’s again they still have it on the menu.

Rembrandt’s in the Art Museum area
The Hub of Mine held his company’s Christmas Party at Rembrandt’s for about 30 friends, colleagues and clients. We had a really nice private room upstairs complete with a fireplace and bar. The folks served us a really delicious thin crust brick oven pizza which was a real hit. Guests also devoured several plates of their signature pork ribs, crab balls and a really cool concoction of blue cheese and walnuts served on a big leaf of lettuce. The party was a hit and the friendly staff did a really nice job for the guests. Hub and I had an outstanding dinner at Rembrandt’s this past summer, which was equally good.

Nooddi, The Noodle Bar in Media
It’s been a while since we’ve been to ‘The Nooddi Bar’ in Media. This corner BYOB serves a variety of classic Thai cuisine with an emphasis on noodle filled soups and entrees. In fact, we ran into a gentleman I had not seen in years who claims the Nooddi Bar has the only Thai that comes close to what he had in Thailand.

The Foodie Girl got all hot and bothered with the semi-spicy Tom Yum, a noodle dish with lemongrass and seafood in broth. I went for the Pad Se Ew (its hard to order these things without chuckling) which is sautéed beef with the wide rice noodles. Both dishes were very good, the service was efficient and we didn’t have to wait for a table. It’s also family friendly, which of course is important to us. Since it is BYOB I was able to dig into the cellar to find the right wine match. I came up with a knockout white, a chilled Copain Viogioner from California’s Catie’s Corner vineyard. It was fresh enough to stand up to the spice of the food and still keep it’s pear and floral notes.

Brunch with Santa at Brodeur's on State Street in Media
A year ago we had a really nice "Brunch with Santa" at the Desmond Hotel in Great Valley. It was packed with families who paid a bunch of money to see Santa and have a really elaborate brunch in a nice setting. Well, we waited too long to make plans this year so we were looking for an alternative. My sister came up with Brodeur's on State Street in Media. They were having a much lower-key Sunday Santa Brunch that our Foodie-In-Training and her one year old cutie would enjoy. Brodeur's is the site of the former New Orleans Cafe on the corner of State and Jackson Streets. Long time Media-ites still refer to it as 'Old Borough Hall.'

It turned out to be the perfect setting for a late Sunday morning with the kids. Brunch consisted of what you would expect: the standard breakfast eggs, sausages and so on, along with carved beef and omelet station. Everything was very good. Things were so good that my husband and brother-in-law wore out the carpet walking back and forth to the food line to fill their plates! The regular filling of the glasses with Mimosas was a nice surprise. However I think everyone would agree the deserts were the real hit of the day. I mean, who does not love a chocolate fountain?? Who is the artist who thought of liquid chocolate streaming like a waterfall into a bowl, just asking to have fruit and pretzels dipped in?

Perhaps what was most important that morning was the outstanding Santa Claus that greeted the kids. He remembered everyone's name and came around to the tables to speak with the families. I know Santa is used to getting his picture taken but this one really worked with the shy kids to get some memorable photographs. Kudos to the staff at Brodeur's. It's a good bet we'll be back for dinner on a weeknight soon.

Countryside Market & Deli in Swarthmore
We finally made it for breakfast to the oft mentioned Countryside Market! Its true, you really do forget you're in Delaware County when you're there. The omelets and breakfast sandwiches are different (in a good way) and can be requested exactly as you like it to be prepared. The service was very slow, both for waiting for our first cup of coffee and for the food to come out once ordered. (I'm not as patient as my darling is.) Maybe that is part of the country appeal. Another down side is the constant blast of cold air every time the door opens. I suggest asking to be seated away from the door if possible. We're told the sandwiches here are top notch as well. We will be back here again for round two and we'll let you know about it.

Happy Holidays!
Thanks to the hundreds of you who read my blog and a big thank you to those who have left comments. And Santa, if you’re reading this, please bring my wine-crazed husband a mixed case of 2005 Chateauneuf-du-Pape and maybe some overpriced Bordeaux.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

xoxoxo,
The Foodie Girl
(with an assist from Hub)

Hit or Miss at Media Asian Restaurant

2007-12-05T08:14:00.000-05:00

If you’ve been following the Foodie Girl’s pictures, descriptions and accounts of the dining game you have probably read mentions of Peking/Tokyo Restaurant in Media. Typically we tap Margaret Kuo’s location on State Street for takeout on Friday evenings. She loves the sushi and I often opt for a trio of appetizers. (Beef Negamaki, the carnivore’s version of sushi, a dumpling called ‘Wasabi Shumi’ and Chicken Yakitori) This past Friday we braved the cold to dine in with our three year old.

We’ve actually been going to Peking for about 10 years or whenever it first opened in the mid-90’s. This location was remodeled and updated about three years ago to resemble an upscale Asian bistro reminiscent of Old City. It really is stylish inside.

All of this leads me to the comment I need to get off my chest. As much as we enjoy this place, love the new décor and especially the folks who work there, it has become wildly inconsistent in both food and service. Let me explain.

One of my traditional favorites was the Chicken or Filet Mignon Teriyaki. I could count on this consisting of a good size portion of chicken or filet served over grilled onions, with an ample amount of their delicious teriyaki sauce. It would also include a green salad, a small ‘side’ portion of dumplings or something similar, a steamed veggie like corn on the cob or carrots and finally steamed rice. Lately however, the grilled onions are gone, the sauce is barely there, the ‘side’ dish is gone, and the veggie is either gone or barely steamed to the point it is hard. What happened?

In the case of this past Friday, I once again opted for the Filet Teriyaki. When the plate arrived the filet looked different than what I expected but very good so I went with it. About half way through I realized that I was given the Filet with Bourbon Sauce instead of what I asked for. It was delicious but clearly different that what I requested. None of the other goodies they previously included the Teriyaki Dinner were anywhere to be found.

The Foodie Babe has also noted on numerous occasions that the attention to detail on her sushi rolls is not always there. While it is always very fresh she recalls that the rolls were always much neater and appealing to the eye in the past. (Apparently that is very important to sushi lovers)

Let me say again that the folks who work the front of the restaurant have always been terrific. This is a busy place on the weekend. Carol is the quarterback of it all and always double-checks our carryout order. She’s also quick with a treat for our little Foodie-in-Training. However, the service at the table is clearly hit or miss.

One last thing I wanted to get off my chest. What is up with the town of Media? They are calling themselves “America’s First Free Trade Town.” I have no idea what this means. Apparently it is not some sort of historical designation. It’s a riot to see these ‘Free Trade’ signs covering the windows of all the empty storefronts. I guess they’re just waiting for another mega bank to move in. It’s even funnier that most of the retail stores were closed at 8:00 on a Friday night during Christmas shopping season. Can someone help me to understand this?

Thanks for listening. I feel better now. Time to put the little one to bed.

Yo!
The Foodie Hubby

Restaurant Weak? Not at Lolita!

2007-11-15T21:12:00.000-05:00

Trying to find a new restaurant during Philadelphia Restaurant Week is always a challenge.

First of all, the value is good - $30 for 3 courses. Plus, the fact that you’re getting 3 courses is a great way to be a little more daring and try some different dishes you might not typically order. Lately, though, we’ve come away from Restaurant Week feeling that despite the value, the portions seem to be getting smaller and smaller. That is until we went to Lolita at 106 S. 13th Street in Center City Philadelphia.

It was a warm Friday evening in September with people dining out on the sidewalk. Even though we had reservations, I was nervous we’d still have a wait since it was a Friday night during Restaurant Week and the place isn’t really big. It turns out we didn’t have to wait long and even got to request the “fish bowl” which is one of our favorite places to sit. Sitting in the alcove by the front window is a great place to people watch. We enjoyed watching the parade of under-dressed 20-somethings checking out the restaurant and walking in to request a table.

The great thing about Lolita is that it’s a BYOB. The chances of finding a BYOB on the list for Restaurant Week isn’t usually good so we were already ahead of the game. Hubby, as usual, picked the perfect bottle of wine to compliment our Mexican food. (I asked and he does not remember exactly what we drank. He thinks an oakey Chardonnay.)

My first course was a delicious ceviche. Hubby enjoyed his 3-chile marinated pork carnitas. What a nice surprise to find that these appetizers were “regular” size and not the smaller portions we typically get during Restaurant Week.

For our entrees, I had the grilled Hawaiian Waluu. It’s a different kind of fish than I’ve usually seen on menus and a pleasant surprise. Again, it was a good-sized portion but not overwhelming. Hubby loved his grilled pork chop.

Often for Restaurant Week, the pace is quick as restaurants are trying to get in as many diners as possible in one night. Our server didn’t rush us and let us linger over our bottle of wine while we made our dessert selections. We each ordered something different so we could try the other’s dessert. I ordered the pecan cheesecake and hubby decided to try the Kahlua-espresso soaked lady fingers. What a great way to finish the meal!

We’ll be sure to go back to Lolita again to experience it when it’s not Restaurant Week. I highly recommend reservations since the place is kind of small. By the way, they encourage diners to ‘BYOT’ as in ‘Bring Your Own Tequila.’ They will set you up with the fixins for your own pitcher of Margaritas!

xoxoxo,
The Phillly Foodie Girl

Prime Time in Chadds Ford

2007-11-15T20:46:00.000-05:00

Greetings again, Foodies! Thanks for your patience in hearing all about our recent visit to Brandywine Prime Seafood and Chops in Chadds Ford, PA.

I believe this restaurant used to be called the Chadds Ford Inn. The completely renovated ‘BP’ has managed to keep its rustic feel while its seasonable menu reminds you that you’re in Brandywine Country, just steps from the famed Brandywine River.

We met our delightful friends Theresa and Joe (who are not foodies but really appreciate good dining) at about 7:30 on a chilly Saturday night in October. The restaurant boasts two levels with a busy (smoke filled) bar on the first level close to the host stand. We thankfully were led to the upstairs dining area where it was a bit quieter albeit much colder. That’s when I reminded hubby why I wear longer skirts in the fall and winter.

So let’s get on to what really matters: The Food! We grooved on the very seasonal Pumpkin Bisque and Mushroom Soup. Both were really good and not too creamy, with the latter soup loaded with the locally grown Kennett delicacy.

For entrees, hubby was thrilled to see the very French Bistro Steak, complete with pomme frite. I had the crab cakes, while both Theresa and Joe opted for the straight-forward chicken dish. Everyone enjoyed the entrees, which were generally very good but not remarkable.

When I called to confirm our reservations I was sure to remind the manager that we were celebrating our friend Joe’s 4x birthday. Believe it or not, this has been a problem at some restaurants in the past. I’ve called ahead, many times at least twice, and still there was no candle or acknowledgement of the birthday we were celebrating. I was assured that there would be a candle placed on his dessert. The staff was efficient and friendly and did come through with the candle and a hearty happy birthday! In fact, the manager even came over to make sure that business was taken care of.

Now please bear with me, as the Foodie Hubby will have a headache for the next month if I don’t talk about this. The best part of the meal was the wine. For a very reasonable $10.00 corkage fee we were able to bring along our own wine, a 2003 Chatauneuf-du-Pape Vieux Lazaret Cuvee Exceptionel. Hub commented that the wine seemed to be in its ‘dumb period’ and not yet showing its full potential. I though it was delicious. This bottle would have cost $200.00 on any wine list cool enough to have such an awesome bottle on their list. We really wish more restaurants would have a policy as reasonable as BP!

So to summarize, we enjoyed Brandywine Prime. My guess is that once it is decked out for Christmas it will be really festive and cozy. We’ll also probably opt for a menu item a bit more daring next time. And once again, Happy Birthday to our friend Joe!

Brandywine Prime is located on US 1 south just before the intersection of Route 100 in Chadds Ford.

xoxoxo,
The Philly Foodie Girl

Breaking the Chains

2007-11-04T18:59:00.000-05:00

When our daughter was born 3 1/2 years ago we were constantly told by other parents that "Your days of going to fine dining establishments are over. Get used to going to Olive Garden on a Saturday night."

Boy, we've been doing our best to defeat that theory and so far I think we're doing pretty well. Saturday night we dined at Brandywine Prime in Chadds Ford with our friends Joe and Theresa. (When the Foodie Girl gets back from the gym she'll tell you all about BP.)

However, I can hear those parents right now laughing at us with an "I told you so." Bookending Saturday night were two trips into the chain restaurant world: Hibachi and Carrabba's in the Springfield Mall.

Yep, you read right. Dinner next to a Halloween Adventure Store and inside the mall. Now here is the interesting part... neither were all that bad. Without getting into too much detail here is how it came down.

Our little one loves Chinese food. She has been eating noodles and rice dishes from Margaret Kuo's in Media since she was old enough to hold chopsticks (about two years old). We thought she would get a big kick sitting around the giant grill while the Hibachi chefs lit rice on fire and tossed shrimp in the mouths of diners. She was mesmerized and loved every minute of it. Those sitting around us got more of a kick watching her than the chef!

Anyway, I went for the Filet Mignon and Chicken combo. It was a bit of a small portion but very good anyway. The foodie Babe had a Scallops and Filet combo. She reported the meat not being as tender as you would expect from filet and the scallops being just OK. Because we were seated before 6:45, we qualified for the early bird price and saved about $12.00.

Now on to Sunday night and Carrabba's Italian Grill in the Springfield Mall. It was my big sister's birthday and my younger sister's 14th wedding anniversary, so 10 of us got together at 4:oo in the afternoon for dinner. Let me say I'm shocked how many people were in this place in the middle of the day. What ever happened to watching football on Sunday afternoon?

The staff there was quite nice. The only problem is I think every server in the chain restaurant world studies the same training manual. Just once it would be nice not to hear, "Hi, I'm Suzie Snowflake and I'll be taking care of you today. May I start you off with something to drink?" Actually the other thing that bugs me is when you're eating your 'salad' (iceberg lettuce with some diced tomatoes) and the entree comes out a mere 4-minutes later.

The good part about Carrabba's: they were flexible in altering their menu offerings to what we wanted. (They were nice enough to change a spaghetti dish to rigatoni with meat sauce for my dad and I.) My rigatoni was just OK. The Foodie Girl's salad with eggplant and goat cheese was a little small and on the salty side. Everyone else seemed pretty happy with what they ordered. Another hit was when they substituted my Absolut Citron with Kettle One Citron. You really can taste the difference.

The bad part about Carrabba's: as a group of 10 we were really confined in our pushed-together tables, our service seemed a bit rushed (see above comment), and the place is really dark. Next time we'll bring a flashlight to see the menu. Overall, this is what you expect from a place in the mall.

The best part: Having the family together to celebrate a birthday and an anniversary!!

Now get ready because as soon as the Foodie Girl gets out of the shower she'll be telling you all about our experience at Brandywine Prime. Caio.

A Non-Chain Restaurant in King of Prussia?

2007-11-01T08:19:00.000-04:00

Thanks Foodie Girl for letting me say a quick something about a rare find in King of Prussia- Creed’s Seafood and Steaks.

Why a rare find? Well, if you’ve ever trudged along in the stop and go traffic along Route 202 or Gulph Road in K of P, you know the roadway is jammed with ubiquitous national chain restaurants that pretty much can be found anywhere. I don’t want to say that these places are bad, it’s just that you can find them most anywhere.

This is why Creed’s is so cool. It was great to hit a place, even for lunch, and find the proprietor (Jim Creed himself) in the restaurant saying hello to what appeared to be regulars. It’s been a while since the Foodie Babe and I have been there for dinner, but this lunch with a colleague was a winner.

As you would figure in that area at noon it was mainly business people, really a parade of suits and fancy cars in the parking lot. Despite what appeared to be a large party in one rooms the service was prompt and not at all smothering. My friend had the lunch special, Tilapia over spaghetti squash and rice. ($15.) I went for the classic Cobb Salad even though avocado does nothing for me. ($11.) Both were outstanding!

Since we were talking about business it was good not to be presented with a check too early as we hung out for nearly two hours. Our server was nice enough to keep filling the iced tea glasses as we shared stories about past experiences in the business.

So if you’re doing business in King of Prussia, Valley Forge or anywhere along 202 or 422 you must check out Creeds. If you are staying at a hotel in the area, like the Sheraton Park Ridge or Radisson, leave the hotel restaurants behind for a few hours and get some local flavor! And while I didn't see the dinner menu, I was impressed by the wine list.

You can see a short video about the restaurant here: http://www.philadelphiapavideo.com/city/play.aspx?ItemID=60&CatID=1

Thumbs up to Creeds on North Gulph Road in King of Prussia.

The Top Food and Wine Lists!

2007-10-18T22:27:00.000-04:00

After the question, "Is your hair naturally curly?" the most common question I hear is "What are your favorite restaurants of all time?" So I present to you:

The Philly Foodie Girl’s
Top 7 All-Time Favorite Restaurants

In no particular order:

Lacroix at the Rittenhouse, Philadelphia
Try it on Monday evenings, their BYOB night.
view the video at http://www.philadelphiapavideo.com/city/play.aspx?ItemID=72
Le Jules Verne – Paris
In the Eiffel Tower. Enough said.
410 Bank Street, Cape May, NJ
We dream about the Jamacian Steak on the patio!
Twin Bays Café, Phoenixville, PA
The best all around BYOB.
Aureole, New York
Maybe our best all-around meal of all time.
The Moshulu, Philadelphia
Been there a dozen times. The deck is a party in the summer!
view the video at http://www.philadelphiapavideo.com/city/play.aspx?ItemID=16
Philippe on Locust, Philadelphia (closed)
We still miss it.

Thank you to the folks at The Philadelphia Visitor's Channel for providing the links to the videos. Even thought nobody asked, I thought I would throw in:

The Foodie’s Hubby Top 5 Wines & Regions

5. Chianti Classico - La Forra Classico Riserva
4. California Cabernet - Richard Partridge Cellars
3. Right-Bank Bordeaux - Chateau Lynch Bages
2. Oregon Pinot Noir -Domaine Coteau
1. Chateauneuf-du-Pape - Domaine Vieux Lazaret Cuvee Exceptional

Next week: My favorite BYOB's in the Philadelphia Area.

XOXO,
The Philly Foodie Girl

West Chester, PA BYOB

2007-10-15T08:15:00.000-04:00

Greetings Phellow Phoodies!

OK, I'm getting a little carried away after the Eagles victory over the Jets and the Flyers 3-1 early in the season. I'm also about to get a little carried away regarding our latest BYOB excursion, Butterfish in West Chester.

We're told that the restaurant resides in a former milk processing house, presumably when the property was farmland and not a shopping center and home to a Chinese buffet and Happy Harry's. It is charming, comfortable and somewhat minimalistic.

Our friends Linda and Bob arrived shortly before us and had already relocated to a table away from the activity of the kitchen. Good call. They had brought along a young Australian Cab ('05) which they were already enjoying and we opened our old-school ('05) Napa Valley ZD Chardonnay. Our other selection was a '03 St. Emilion from Teyssyier which would have to wait another night to be poured. (Note: My Philly Foodie Guy is the wine snob who agonizes over his collection for 15 minutes before we go out in order to find the best selection for our destination. I tease him while he ponders his decision but certainly get turned on when he somehow manages to pick the right wine most every time.)

I had the signature Hawaiian Butterfish which was a knockout! It was flavored with ginger and a touch of fruit. I had to thank our friendly and knowledgeable server for that suggestion. I always appreciate suggestions. My hubby opted for the 8-ounce filet was equally outstanding. The cabernet sauce was the hit of the plate and really brought out the flavors of the filet and Yukon gold mashed. Our fellow foodie friends opted for the crab cake and rack of lamb, both of which were outstanding! In fact the lamb looked so good Hub almost regretted passing it up over the filet. (He loves a nice rack.) Our friend Bob reported that he was equally overwhelmed by the sauces that came with the rack.

We highly recommend Butterfish. The entrees were delicious, the salads were a generous portion and the stuffed scallop appetizer was a hit at our table. We also loved the flourless chocolate cake and the pear and mixed fruit cobbler with ice cream. Just a few misses - the restaurant was a little loud and a little cold. We were also seated by the door and close to a lot of activity. My official rating: three-and-a-half XOs out of 5!

It's located in front of the East Bradford Shops on PA Route 52, a.k.a. South Bradford Avenue in West Chester. Its just about 3 minutes from Downtown West Chester and the University Area.

Before I give you a hug and kiss goodbye, please let me say Happy Birthday to our dear friend and dining companion Linda, who soon celebrates the first anniversary of her 59th birthday. Hubby agrees that if I look as good as Linda does when I hit that milestone we'll both be happy! Happy Birthday, Linda!

XOXO,
The Philly Foodie Girl

Fore! Tavola at The Springfield Country Club

2007-10-03T21:40:00.001-04:00

OK, while we wait for the Philly Foodie Girl to finish bikini shopping and leave her next post, please let her hubby chime in with a quick word about Tavola at the Springfield Country Club.

First, let me say there is not much fine dining where we live in Delaware County. We enjoy some of the places on State Street in Media, especially Margaret Kuo’s Peking Restaurant and sometimes Iron Hill. So the big question was where to turn to on a warm Friday night in late September when we were determined to sit outside and enjoy the mild early fall weather? How did you guess Tavola's Restaurant and Bar? I’m not even sure how to pronounce it.

This is the former location of ‘Stephen’s’ at the Springfield Country Club, as in Stephen Finley of Finley Catering fame. The three of us, including our well-traveled daughter, were seated on the outside deck right next to a green on the golf course by Joe, our chatty host. Overall, the atmosphere was pretty interesting, as a mix of sixty-something golfers and mismatched thirty-something couples came and went over the course of our two hours there.

The food ranged from pretty good to adequate - the $29 filet good, the sugary sweet potato fries that came with it questionable, the salads adequate. The ‘Asian-flared’ mussels the Foodie Girl had were described only as ‘interesting’ since many of the shells were empty and the combination of flavors was mismatched. However, she did appreciate the effort to come up with some interesting dishes at a place like this.

The service was spotty, with long waits between visits from our server. When Jennifer the server did spend time with us she was quite nice and very accommodating and playful with our Junior Foodie. Maybe she had too many tables to tend to on a night the place was two-thirds full.

Overall, we believe we will probably return to Tavolas. In the warmer months I highly recommend opting for the outdoor patio. However, if given the choice between here and a real fav - Carson’s Dockside Grill on the newly refurbished Ridley Township Marina, we would choose Carson’s. (Pork Wings! Another story for another day!)

Please be sure to post your comments about your experiences at Tavolas or anyplace in the Philly area. Caio!

Old City Fav!

2007-09-15T14:27:00.000-04:00

Thanks again for taking the time to read my blog. Please be gentle with me since this is my first official post.

Now I know everyone has their opinion on the best cheesteaks in the city. That's why I wanted to start out by talking about one of my all time favorites, Campos Deli on Market Street. We stopped in for a quick bite before playing tourist for the afternoon with a ride on The Big Bus. The place was busy but it was not long before it was our turn to order. I have to admit it: I dream about the sandwich called "The Godmother." I love the garlicky broccoli rabe and sharp provolone.

Now in the sake of full disclosure, my husband has been doing business with Mike and Denise Campo for a number of years. When I was pregnant with my daughter, the Campos would send home a Godmother for me sometimes three times a week. We joke that our little one has been eating their goodies since before she was born! So anyway, the staff is always accommodating and there is never a problem having the sandwich goodies served over a bed of romaine instead of the roll. What a delight!

My hubby enjoyed the meatball sandwich with sharp served on a seeded Sarcone's roll. He usually goes for the cheesesteak or roast pork but I guess he was in a meatball mood. Denise was kind enough to personally make my 3-year-old cutie a no-frills cheese sandwich.

I always get a kick out of the out-of-town folks coming in to ask for a "Philly" cheesesteak. The staff is always nice enough to remind them that they are here now and can drop the Philly when ordering. I've seen some places being a bit surly when this happens.

You can check out their video thanks to the Philadelphia Visitor's Channel at:
http://www.philadelphiapavideo.com/city/play.aspx?ItemID=5

I highly recommend Campos for authentic cheesesteaks, hoagies and specialty sandwiches! Now we're off to the outskirts of Chester County to check out "The Inn at St.Peter's Village." I'll let everyone know if it's worth the trip!

XOXO,
The Philly Foodie Girl

Welcome to The Philly Food File!

2007-09-14T22:07:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the Philly Food File. The Philly Foodie Girl is here to share my dining experiences in Philadelphia and around the world! Please check back frequently for updates. I hope you can share your thoughts with me as well. Thanks.