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
Friday, January 18, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
I want to go where its warm! Some thoughts from the first two weeks of January...
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
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
Monday, January 7, 2008
Walnut Street BYOB
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!
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!
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