Blog Updates! :)

Just in case you think I've been remiss in blogging, well, I'll have you know...that you're (unfortunately) correct. :(

I definitely haven't been making a good show of my words, but for now, here are links to a few of my posts through Penn Appetit:

Vendy Awards --
http://pennappetit.blogspot.com/2011/07/1st-annual-philadelphia-vendy-awards.html (Check out the last 1/3!)

West Philly Night Market --
http://pennappetit.blogspot.com/2011/06/night-market.html (Check out the last 1/2!)

Audrey Claire --
http://pennappetit.blogspot.com/2011/06/audrey-claire-neighborhood-gem.html

They're not plentiful, but they're still posts, right? ;)

The Philly Cheese Experiment - A Cheesy Cook-off!

As a pretty serious cheese lover, I decided to check out the Philly Cheese Experiment this weekend at World Cafe Live. Essentially, the event brought together 20+ amateur chefs to present their uniquely cheesy dishes, ranging from savory bites (the best of which involved bacon) to sweet treats (the best of which also involved bacon! OK, that's a lie, but some did well with the sweet and salty combination).

The cook-off took place on the lower level -- a spacious room that was perfect for this kind of more intimate foodie event. As soon as I checked in at will-call and picked up my drink ticket (for a Brooklyn Brewery beer that came with admission), I proceeded inside the room to get my snazzy sustainable bamboo plate and flatware (two thumbs up for supporting the green movement!), as well as my voting form (which also served as my event map).

On my immediate right was a long bar (presumably where all the Brooklyn Brewery beers were on tap), as well as a series of tables lined up nearby against a railing. As I stepped further in, I noticed a short set of stairs to my left leading to a big open area (that bore a slight resemblance to a mosh pit) where all of the competitors were situated. Their stations lined the outer edge of the space, with dishes proceeding from savory to sweet (though the line ended up going in the opposite direction!).

The judges -- Emilio Mignucci of Di Bruno Bros., Tony Luke, and wine representative Maria Valetta -- were seated on the right side of the stage, where the competitors brought their entries up for tasting and judging. As these were all amateur chefs, the event didn't come off as intense or stifling in any way. In fact, everyone was friendly and informative, often showing off their dishes with great excitement.

With fun music playing at just the right volume, a not-too-overwhelming crowd milling about, and delicious smells wafting through the air, I was ready to go. However, my friend Joe had yet to arrive, and so I had to wait. On a side note, I tend to enjoy some foodie events on my own, the same way I tend to enjoy some nice restaurants as a solo diner. However, I've found (in my *old* age) that fairs, festivals, and food competitions are *much* more exciting with good company (cue cheesy music).

As soon as Joe made it to will-call, we proceeded inside. We decided to stop off at the fresh cheese table first, where Chester County Cheese Artisans were showing off their wares. Joe was particularly impressed by a sharp provolone being offered with blueberry preserves, while I personally enjoyed a gouda topped off with apple raisin chutney, and a mixed sheep-goat cheese that resembled a brie or a camembert in terms of consistency.

After nibbling through our homemade cheese plates, Joe and I found the end of the line, which as I mentioned previously, seemed to go backwards. While we needed to down the ice creams before they melted, we were able to pile all of the proffered items on our plates before we reached the end of the line. These included interesting ice creams, several dessert items, some grilled cheeses, a few traditional dishes, and a handful of memorable bites.

After scoping out the room, Joe directed us upstairs so we could find somewhere to slowly savor our bounty. I'd totally missed the stairs going up, so I was glad to have brought a friend with me. The biggest complaint I have about these kinds of events is that there is never enough seating or tables to enjoy your food. This time, I was pleasantly surprised, as we found several high tables and chairs, where we could enjoy our food and look down at all of the action below.

As we proceeded around our plates, we came across several items that tasted fairly prosaic, including a cheese ravioli (that apparently had bacon in it, though we didn't taste it), and a mac 'n cheese sprinkled with panko and bacon. A bite of goat cheese that was apparently rolled in bacon and fried tasted mostly of, well, goat cheese. A cheesy version of a macaroon was way too soft to even be held, and completely overwhelmed by spices we couldn't recognize. A grilled cheese version of a Philly cheesesteak didn't come off well, especially with the steak being overcooked.

Despite several missteps, we were happily surprised by several items on our plates. Joe thoroughly enjoyed the fondue, which came with big hunks of beef, and most certainly tasted of beer. I personally found it a bit strong, but well, Joe likes his beer. I absolutely loved the grilled cheese with the butternut squash baked into the bread, which added interesting taste and texture, and complemented both the cheese and the bacon in the sandwich. While the offering came with tomato soup, it certainly didn't need it.

In terms of sweets, Joe was disappointed by the cannoli, especially since it was more shell than filling. As these were mini-cannolis, the shell to filling ratio is often a problem. On the other hand, he was completely enamored with the blue cheese ice cream that came with crumbled parmesan waffle cone pieces. I found the ice cream quite good as well, with the blue cheese flavor coming out more as an end note, and the waffle cone pieces providing just enough salty crunch. That said, I would've liked the parmesan flavor to come through a bit more.

While we left before they announced the results, I found out later that the winner was actually the Notorious Pie.Ro.Gi (oh yes, pun very much intended). Joe and I both thought this dish was pretty basic, but we obviously weren't the only ones voting. So that's that. And yet another successful foodie event completed. Voila!

http://thefoodexperiments.com/nationaltour/philadelphia/

I swear I haven't been a slacker! :)

While I've been a slacker in previous times, I swear I haven't been a slacker these past few months! Instead, I've been writing for Penn's student-run food magazine and affiliated food blog! :D

My article on pork belly (NOM NOM NOM) recently got published in the spring issue, and I should be able to post a link in a few months (since there's a time lag between the physical printing and the online availability)!

For now, here are some of my contributions to their blog on Philly eats (and random musings)....

Baby Blues BBQ (West Philly)
http://pennappetit.blogspot.com/2011/01/baby-blues-bbq-philadelphia-version.html

Restaurant Week Musings
http://pennappetit.blogspot.com/2011/01/restaurant-week-words-of-wisdom.html

Fante's Cake Decorating Class
http://pennappetit.blogspot.com/2011/02/are-you-next-cake-boss.html

Oyster House (Center City)
http://pennappetit.blogspot.com/2011/02/oyster-house.html

Percy Street BBQ (South Philly)
http://pennappetit.blogspot.com/2011/02/percy-street-bbq-meat-lovers-dream-come.html

Cupcake War Musings
http://pennappetit.blogspot.com/2011/03/cupcakes-will-never-die.html

Foodzie's Tasting Box
http://pennappetit.blogspot.com/2011/04/foodzie-tasting-box-gift-to-self.html

Talula's Garden (Washington Square)
http://pennappetit.blogspot.com/2011/04/talulas-garden-secret-garden-that.html

Cuba Libre (Old City)
http://pennappetit.blogspot.com/2011/04/cubra-libre-ticket-to-havana.html

Philly Eats Updates! :D

So let us not even comment on how long it's been since I've posted b/c that's an ongoing conversation that could pretty much last a lifetime. ;) That said, a freezing cold HELLO to *all* of my readers! (All five of you maybe?) :)

Now that the formalities are taken care of, let's get to the good stuff! YUMMY YUMMY FOOD. NOM NOM NOM. Since the summer months, I've tried a slew of places, both good and not-so-good. As time is limited (and as I really should be sleeping), let me give you a quick rundown of my must-eats.

By the way, a dedicated shout-out to Peter (who's been a great foodie friend who's introduced me to his unbelievable cache of foodie friends). No matter how much he thinks I'm stealing them away (which I'm not), I'm eternally grateful. (There. I said it. Now will you quit making me feel bad? Geezus. What's a girl got to do?) ;)

TOP PICKS:

FANCY ($$$) EATS --

1. Amada - Forever my favorite. Kevin & I went for my first fancy meal ever in Philly -- and I will forever be haunted by how amazing it was. That said, Peter & I went for our joint birthday celebration w/friends and ordered the whole roast suckling pig (cochinillo asado). Although we didn't *need* to order the tapas (which our server specifically suggested that we do), they certainly rounded out a ridiculously filling meal. The Spanish octopus got rave reviews from the entire table, with the Serrano ham & fig salad coming in a close second. We picked out a few more items, but needless to say, everything else paled in comparison to the amazing pig that was brought out and carved right in front of us. The best part was that we got to sample all different parts of the pig -- the juicy bits, the drier bits, the crispy bits -- even the tongue and the cheeks! AND we all got a take-out container to bring home. Talk about the best leftovers EVER.

2. Tinto - Forever my second favorite. Karu & I went for quick bites in the summer, but that was nothing compared to the full-on meals I had w/Caroline & Alison in later months. If I'd taken the apt in Old City, I would've been right around the corner from Amada. But guess what? Now I'm just down the street from Tinto! Providence I swear. As this was one of Caroline's favorite places while she was at Wharton (and lived down the street from it), I gave her free reign to choose most of our dishes for the night. The wild mushrooms were absolutely heavenly, as was the truffled chestnut soup. However, the duck confit and the Berkshire pork belly were BY FAR the best things I've ever eaten -- to the point that I had to get a SECOND order when Alison went back a week after Caroline's visit. And no, there's no such thing as overdosing on Tinto OR pork belly.

3. Chifa - So as I'm writing these notes, I'm realizing that every fancy place I've picked has been a Jose Garces restaurant. Coincidence? I think not! JG really does offer very creative and delicious food that's pleasing to the eye AND to the palate. Even though I don't have any pics from my Chifa adventure w/Sajini, let me just tell you that the pork belly buns, the BBQ ribs, and the scallion pancakes have GOT to be ordered. The flavor profiles were spot-on -- a perfect combination of salty and sweet w/just the right amount of sauce. I'm literally so anti-sauce sometimes that it's a problem. Thankfully, Jose & I are obviously connected on some higher foodie level.

OTHER $$$ FAVES:

Buddakan - This place has gotten much less press, most likely b/c most folks know it coming out of NYC. That said, Nicole & I had a VERY yummy time here, amidst the super modern chic decor. The tea smoked spare ribs and scallion pancakes were quite good, but I tend to be partial to both!

Cuba Libre - Dave treated me to a delicious meal here, which included camarones con Cana (shrimp on sugar cane skewers) and arroz con pollo (delicious considering I don't even like rice!). More dishes will need to be tried, but for now, super high marks!

LESS FANCY ($$) EATS --

1. Han Dynasty - Ever since hearing about this place from Nicole several months back, I've been dying to try it. When Derek & Melissa came into town, it was a prime opportunity to check it out, especially since we all agreed that it was practically impossible to find REALLY good Chinese food -- even in Chinatown(s)! If you didn't think Chinese food could blow you away, then you simply must go to Han Dynasty. The menu is uniquely organized by preparation and spice level, such that you can choose what cooking technique is applied and how much spice is incorporated, along w/what protein you would like. As Melissa does not eat red meat, Derek & I worked through the wontons in chili oil (which we were watching them freshly prepare at tables nearby) and the pork belly in garlic sauce. (By the way, do we see a theme with the pork belly?) Both were extremely delicate yet flavorful, with the wonton skins oh-so-thin and the pork belly sliced thin as well. One of the best qualities about the food at Han Dynasty was that, even though it's Szechuan (therefore inherently spicy), the heat was never overwhelming to my (more sensitive than Derek's) palate. The cumin-crusted chicken I picked was most definitely my favorite dish of the night -- I swear I've never tasted chicken so infused with flavor, and more importantly, so moist. Given her leanings toward sweetness, Melissa chose the garlic sauce shrimp, which was a great balance of sweet, sour, and spicy (as the description indicates). The addition of the pea shoots w/garlic (which we saw arrive at an adjacent table) offered a good balance to the rest of the meal. Most definitely the best Chinese I've had in Philly -- or perhaps anywhere!

2. Oyster House - One of the best birthday celebrations (of many) I had this year was at Oyster House. I'd passed by this place numerous times since I moved here, and I'd been dying to go ever since I found out about their "A-Buck-A-Shuck" Oyster Hour! Peter had mentioned that it was one of his favorite places, where he used to (and maybe still?) find himself once a week. When my 32nd birthday (woohoo!) rolled around, I knew I had to had to had to get to this place. And I was SO not disappointed! Not only did the hostess on the phone offer to set aside space for me up front, the service was impeccable -- attentive w/o being too intrusive. Our server even brought complimentary ice cream for those who lingered till the end! Even w/o the extras, we would've been perfectly happy. The raw oysters (both the specific ones for Oyster Hour and the others on the menu) were delicious -- and w/no sand! (Even the freshest oysters always seem to have sand in them!) While the turtle soup left a lot to be desired, I loved my fried Ipswich clams, Peter his OH burger (w/a fried oyster on top!), and Noelle her roasted oyster sampler. There is OH SO MUCH MORE to be tried here. Another visit will simply have to be organized soon!

3. Percy Street Barbecue - This was literally the most random find as I was walking down South Street during one of my early treks through Philly. When Ivana was in town, I was pretty much deadset on having it since: 1) we weren't having Philly cheesesteaks, 2) we'd already trekked around West Philly looking for Metropolitan Bakery's millet muffins and South Philly looking for Rita's Water Ice, and 3) she knows how much I love BBQ and Southern food. Given that we'd been eating ALL day, we could only pack in so much, but what we did have was ridiculously good. As I've mentioned previously, I'm very much anti-sauce and I'm very partial to a good dry rub. And if you read about Percy Street's orientation toward Texas BBQ, you'll now where I'm coming from. So not only did I order a half rack of baby back ribs, but also a half order of pork belly. Surprise surprise, right? Needless to say, I stuffed myself and I still had leftovers. I believe there were some veggies in the mix, but I'm afraid everything non-meat was a blur. The best BBQ I've had since De'sha's graduation celebration -- where everything was made Texas-style in her mom's backyard smoker. Mmmm....

OTHER $$ FAVES:

Baby Blues BBQ - Peter & I had been competing to see who could get to this place first, and we finally decided to call it a truce and try it together. Even though he had to race out early for doctor duties, the rest of us had a great time trying ALL of their ribs, including the Memphis-style long-bone pork ribs, the baby back ribs, and the Texas-style beef rib (emphasis on single rib b/c this thing was GINORMOUS), as well as the beef brisket. We also ordered a "side car," which included 4 sides & cornbread. Although the mac 'n cheese was quite good, as was the not-too-creamy creamed spinach, the rest fell short somewhat. We felt the same about the banana pudding, but ultimately, the single awe-inspiring beef rib totally made up for any shortcomings. That and the great service, which included a free plate of pork ribs to try (b/c we hadn't specifically ordered them). Let's just say I felt a little bit better about not making it to Baby Blues original outpost in Venice! (Check out my full review in an upcoming entry on the Penn Appetit blog!)

Marathon - Marathons are pretty much EVERYWHERE in Philly, but they are sooooooo good that I'd be totally comfortable going there every single night of the week. They have great food options for any appetite, and the prices are totally reasonable. I've had everything from my favorite "greens & grains" combo to their semi-famous matzoh ball soup to their delicious Rittenhouse salad to their housemade veggie burger. Eve & I even got to sample their chef's special apple granita one night! Great neighborhood food at great neighborhood prices.

Considering that it's 2AM, I'll stop here for now b/c cheap eats could go on forever, though I suppose I could start you off with a list....

SAVORY -

- Dim Sum Garden - soup dumplings to die for, braised pork like my mom's, crispy/greasy scallion pancakes

- Sakura Mandarin - quite good soup dumplings, very yummy regular dumplings, bok choy & mushrooms that never looked or tasted so good

- Sang Kee Peking Duck House - quite good soup dumplings, delicious Chinese roast pork

SWEET -

- Bonte - warm/crispy waffles w/ooey gooey insides, particularly good w/dark chocolate & pecans

- Capogiro - delicious/inventive gelato, scrumptious/light brioche, moist/decadent pumpkin bars

- Bassetts - forever my favorite stop in Reading Terminal

- Franklin Fountain - for atmosphere as much as ice cream

OK, now time for bed.... :) And dreams of new foodie adventures! :D