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
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
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
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 ($$$) EATS --
1. Amada - Forever my favorite. Kevin & I went for my first fancy meal ever in Philly -- and I will forever be haunted by how amazing it was. That said, Peter & I went for our joint birthday celebration w/friends and ordered the whole roast suckling pig (cochinillo asado). Although we didn't *need* to order the tapas (which our server specifically suggested that we do), they certainly rounded out a ridiculously filling meal. The Spanish octopus got rave reviews from the entire table, with the Serrano ham & fig salad coming in a close second. We picked out a few more items, but needless to say, everything else paled in comparison to the amazing pig that was brought out and carved right in front of us. The best part was that we got to sample all different parts of the pig -- the juicy bits, the drier bits, the crispy bits -- even the tongue and the cheeks! AND we all got a take-out container to bring home. Talk about the best leftovers EVER.
3. Chifa - So as I'm writing these notes, I'm realizing that every fancy place I've picked has been a Jose Garces restaurant. Coincidence? I think not! JG really does offer very creative and delicious food that's pleasing to the eye AND to the palate. Even though I don't have any pics from my Chifa adventure w/Sajini, let me just tell you that the pork belly buns, the BBQ ribs, and the scallion pancakes have GOT to be ordered. The flavor profiles were spot-on -- a perfect combination of salty and sweet w/just the right amount of sauce. I'm literally so anti-sauce sometimes that it's a problem. Thankfully, Jose & I are obviously connected on some higher foodie level.
OTHER $$$ 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 ($$) EATS --
1. Han Dynasty - Ever since hearing about this place from Nicole several months back, I've been dying to try it. When Derek & Melissa came into town, it was a prime opportunity to check it out, especially since we all agreed that it was practically impossible to find REALLY good Chinese food -- even in Chinatown(s)! If you didn't think Chinese food could blow you away, then you simply must go to Han Dynasty. The menu is uniquely organized by preparation and spice level, such that you can choose what cooking technique is applied and how much spice is incorporated, along w/what protein you would like. As Melissa does not eat red meat, Derek & I worked through the wontons in chili oil (which we were watching them freshly prepare at tables nearby) and the pork belly in garlic sauce. (By the way, do we see a theme with the pork belly?) Both were extremely delicate yet flavorful, with the wonton skins oh-so-thin and the pork belly sliced thin as well. One of the best qualities about the food at Han Dynasty was that, even though it's Szechuan (therefore inherently spicy), the heat was never overwhelming to my (more sensitive than Derek's) palate. The cumin-crusted chicken I picked was most definitely my favorite dish of the night -- I swear I've never tasted chicken so infused with flavor, and more importantly, so moist. Given her leanings toward sweetness, Melissa chose the garlic sauce shrimp, which was a great balance of sweet, sour, and spicy (as the description indicates). The addition of the pea shoots w/garlic (which we saw arrive at an adjacent table) offered a good balance to the rest of the meal. Most definitely the best Chinese I've had in Philly -- or perhaps anywhere!
OTHER $$ 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!)
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
- Bonte - warm/crispy waffles w/ooey gooey insides, particularly good w/dark chocolate & pecans
- Bassetts - forever my favorite stop in Reading Terminal
- Franklin Fountain - for atmosphere as much as ice cream
Saturday, August 28, 2010
More Philadelphia eats! Especially sweets!
Even after I'd spent seven hours on my last entry, I can't help but keep eating my way through the city. To be fair, I've literally been here six weeks and it's only been calm enough recently for me to process all that I've put in my tummy. Plus, I've been attempting to try as many new places as possible, seeing as how I might be too overwhelmed in September to do much of anything but sleep!
ETHNIC:
Gia Pronto - While Gia Pronto promotes itself as more organic than Italian fare, I thought the presence of panini was enough reason to stick it in the ethnic category, at least for the time being. At this point, I've only been to Gia Pronto twice, but I've ordered salads both times, and I've found them a bit expensive, a bit soggy, and a bit wanting in general. Marianne raves about this place constantly (and she may very well be their poster child), but I've yet to comprehend the hype. The choose-your-own salad concept -- where you can pick your greens, toppings, and dressing -- is nothing new. (I know because I enjoyed a better version at CSFB about a decade ago.) Plus, having my salad doused in dressing seems to defeat the purpose of eating a salad in the first place. That said, I'm still willing to give the panini a chance, especially since they've looked and smelled amazing from a distance. Also, their chocolate-covered biscotti must be laced with crack, because they're so addictive that I had to consume two in a 10-minute timespan. Enough said.
Han-Wool - Given his recent pangs for bibimbap, Jared decided on Korean for our mid-week lunch date. And considering that the only run-in I'd had with Korean food around campus was the Koja truck (to be discussed below), I happily followed him to Han-Wool. Not having read the reviews, I personally thought the food was pretty darn good. While the banchan was fairly minimalist, my hae mool tang was just spicy enough for me, and Jared and I both contributed to polishing off the pa jun. Even though I'd only ever had pa jun with seafood, the vegetable version was just as good -- perfectly crispy on the outside and nicely chewy on the inside. From what I could tell, Jared seemed to think his bibimbap was quite good as well. While the Yelp reviews are less forgiving (particularly those from Koreans who obviously know authentic Korean fare), as someone who's had her fair share of Korean food, I'd still vouch for Han-Wool as a good mid-week Korean food fix.
KoJa - On the other hand, I was totally unimpressed by the KoJa food truck. Not only was the menu totally basic, it seemed to cater (or rather pander) to American taste buds. While they did have japchae and soondooboo, they also had stiry fry and sukiyaki, which are certainly not considered typical Korean dishes. Furthermore, I ordered the vegetable and tofu stir fry, only to find out that the onions were sliced too thin and overcooked. Are you serious? It's a sitr fry. What's to mess up? Bryan got the beef bulgolgi, which he seemed to be less than impressed by. All in all, the best things about KoJa are: 1) the aloe drinks (and those were bottled!) and 2) their location next to Sugar Philly (the dessert truck right next door). Their staff was quite nice, but that certainly doesn't make up for their weaknesses food-wise.
Sitar - As consolation for working on a day when others were playing, a few of us got to have lunch ordered to the office. Since I don't eat pizza (the original choice), we went with Indian instead, and I finally got to try Sitar, whose buffet Melissa had raved about several weeks earlier. Considering the dearth of vegetables in my diet recently (and perhaps generally), I opted for the vegetable shahi kofta, a mix of vegetables and cheese in a mild cream sauce. My container arrived with a "korma" label, so I'm guessing the two dishes are synonymous. That, or my order was completely wrong -- yet still utterly delicious. As I've noted before, I tend to avoid carbs that aren't in dessert form. However, I was pretty ravenous by lunchtime, and the jasmine rice looked too good to dismiss. Ultimately, it was the best vehicle to soak up what was the most amazing cream sauce I've tasted in a very long time. There's just something about Indian sauces that make them indescribably scrumptious. Perhaps it's the perfect amount of butter or cream, or the subtle infusion of nut flavor, or the balance of spiciness with savoriness. Regardless of what it is, both my takeout containers might as well have been licked clean, because I was more than impressed with what Sitar had to offer.
IKEA - While I'm talking about ethnic food, I thought I'd throw a plug in for IKEA's Swedish meatballs. Considering that I hadn't been to IKEA in a decade, I had to make sure to pick up some of their Swedish meatballs before leaving the store this afternoon. And at 5 for $1, I really couldn't walk away. Thankfully, Karu was willing to indulge me (because once I have something on my mind, I really can't let it go), and partake of the experience as well. Despite the ubiquity of meatballs in other cultures, I personally believe the Swedes have cornered -- and mastered -- the market. I mean, these things were perfectly seasoned and moist, and yet somehow still made 10 times better than they already were by the luscious gravy lathered on top. I find IKEA items in general to be a bit hit-or-miss, but this sentiment certainly does NOT apply to their meatballs.
SWEETS:
Naked Chocolate Cafe - One of my first foodie stops in Philadelphia during my interview visit was at Naked Chocolate Cafe (which actually has several shops within city limits). And while I only purchased chocolates and truffles (which were happily and quickly consumed) at that time, I was mesmerized the other morning by all the gorgeous cupcakes being set out in the window for display. After getting my tetanus booster, I decided that I'd treat myself (and rightly so) to a cupcake for breakfast. I trekked all the way back and I was (again) mesmerized -- this time by the pure ginormousness of these cupcakes (about 1.5-2 times the size of typical cupcakes). After much pondering, I decided to try the marble (marble cake with marble frosting), which honestly had drawn me in because I thought it looked very smores-ish. Even though it wasn't smores-related after all, I found the cake to be pretty moist, though I wasn't as pleased with the frosting, which was more whipped than buttercream (at least from what I could tell). I guess my personal preference is for buttercream frosting, so whenever I get whipped frosting, I'm always disappointed to some degree. So fair warning to all cupcake purveyors out there!
Insomnia Cookies - Even though I've been working for six weeks, I haven't ventured too far from the immediate vicinity of my building. If anything, it's because we're so well-fed at the office that there simply isn't a need. Plus, I can't help it if Au Bon Pain (with its amazing selection of cookies and croissants) is no more than a few steps away from the door to our suite! (I swear I was cursed as soon as I found out it was there!) At any rate, I was absolutely touched when January and Jaime surprised me with my first trip ever to Insomnia Cookies. I could smell cookie heaven even before I walked in the door, and I was totally in awe when my Smores Deluxe cookie came out warm and gooey. I could've died right then and there, but I'm glad I didn't, because I wouldn't have had the joy of eating it on my walk back to my office. I don't think I even made it in the door without finishing the whole thing! Given such rave reviews, I had to bring Bryan and Peter down to try them, and I had to bring some back for Melissa and Joe as well. Honestly, these cookies come pretty darn close to the Doubletree Hotel cookies that I absolutely adore. And that's saying A LOT.
Sweet Ending - So I've passed by Sweet Ending several times over the last six weeks, but I've never felt the right pangs at the right time. Finally, on my way home from a movie the other night, I thought I'd stop by and sample a few flavors, just to satisfy my own curiosity. To be clear, I didn't think this version of the frozen yogurt shop would come close to Yogurtland -- and it didn't. However, the concept is the same (with many more flavors and toppings than Pinkberry or Red Mango), and the flavors are actually quite good. Unlike Yogurtland, however, Sweet Ending has fewer non-fruit flavors, and the consistency of the frozen yogurt seems to be a bit more icy and a bit less creamy. I suppose you could get over that though, especially if you've never had Yogurtland for comparison.
QUESTION MARKS:
There have been a few sweet spots that I've tried that I haven't been too impressed by. However, given that others have given them rave reviews, I'm open to giving them a second chance. For example, I found the cake in the vanilla pound cupcake (as well as the staff, quite honestly) at Brown Betty to be quite dry and unappealing. Perhaps I'm not a fan of pound cake, but I'm also a firm believer that any cake that goes into a cupcake should be nice and moist. I'm willing to take it as a batch issue though, especially since I've yet to try my favorite coconut and lemon flavors. Alli and Lee highly recommend the carrot cake and red velvet ones as well, and the "nudie" flavors sound quite interesting. I'm usually quite content to write things off, but I also value the opinions of my fellow cupcake connoisseurs! So, kudos to them for backing their favorites! :)
ETHNIC:
Gia Pronto - While Gia Pronto promotes itself as more organic than Italian fare, I thought the presence of panini was enough reason to stick it in the ethnic category, at least for the time being. At this point, I've only been to Gia Pronto twice, but I've ordered salads both times, and I've found them a bit expensive, a bit soggy, and a bit wanting in general. Marianne raves about this place constantly (and she may very well be their poster child), but I've yet to comprehend the hype. The choose-your-own salad concept -- where you can pick your greens, toppings, and dressing -- is nothing new. (I know because I enjoyed a better version at CSFB about a decade ago.) Plus, having my salad doused in dressing seems to defeat the purpose of eating a salad in the first place. That said, I'm still willing to give the panini a chance, especially since they've looked and smelled amazing from a distance. Also, their chocolate-covered biscotti must be laced with crack, because they're so addictive that I had to consume two in a 10-minute timespan. Enough said.
Han-Wool - Given his recent pangs for bibimbap, Jared decided on Korean for our mid-week lunch date. And considering that the only run-in I'd had with Korean food around campus was the Koja truck (to be discussed below), I happily followed him to Han-Wool. Not having read the reviews, I personally thought the food was pretty darn good. While the banchan was fairly minimalist, my hae mool tang was just spicy enough for me, and Jared and I both contributed to polishing off the pa jun. Even though I'd only ever had pa jun with seafood, the vegetable version was just as good -- perfectly crispy on the outside and nicely chewy on the inside. From what I could tell, Jared seemed to think his bibimbap was quite good as well. While the Yelp reviews are less forgiving (particularly those from Koreans who obviously know authentic Korean fare), as someone who's had her fair share of Korean food, I'd still vouch for Han-Wool as a good mid-week Korean food fix.
KoJa - On the other hand, I was totally unimpressed by the KoJa food truck. Not only was the menu totally basic, it seemed to cater (or rather pander) to American taste buds. While they did have japchae and soondooboo, they also had stiry fry and sukiyaki, which are certainly not considered typical Korean dishes. Furthermore, I ordered the vegetable and tofu stir fry, only to find out that the onions were sliced too thin and overcooked. Are you serious? It's a sitr fry. What's to mess up? Bryan got the beef bulgolgi, which he seemed to be less than impressed by. All in all, the best things about KoJa are: 1) the aloe drinks (and those were bottled!) and 2) their location next to Sugar Philly (the dessert truck right next door). Their staff was quite nice, but that certainly doesn't make up for their weaknesses food-wise.
Sitar - As consolation for working on a day when others were playing, a few of us got to have lunch ordered to the office. Since I don't eat pizza (the original choice), we went with Indian instead, and I finally got to try Sitar, whose buffet Melissa had raved about several weeks earlier. Considering the dearth of vegetables in my diet recently (and perhaps generally), I opted for the vegetable shahi kofta, a mix of vegetables and cheese in a mild cream sauce. My container arrived with a "korma" label, so I'm guessing the two dishes are synonymous. That, or my order was completely wrong -- yet still utterly delicious. As I've noted before, I tend to avoid carbs that aren't in dessert form. However, I was pretty ravenous by lunchtime, and the jasmine rice looked too good to dismiss. Ultimately, it was the best vehicle to soak up what was the most amazing cream sauce I've tasted in a very long time. There's just something about Indian sauces that make them indescribably scrumptious. Perhaps it's the perfect amount of butter or cream, or the subtle infusion of nut flavor, or the balance of spiciness with savoriness. Regardless of what it is, both my takeout containers might as well have been licked clean, because I was more than impressed with what Sitar had to offer.
IKEA - While I'm talking about ethnic food, I thought I'd throw a plug in for IKEA's Swedish meatballs. Considering that I hadn't been to IKEA in a decade, I had to make sure to pick up some of their Swedish meatballs before leaving the store this afternoon. And at 5 for $1, I really couldn't walk away. Thankfully, Karu was willing to indulge me (because once I have something on my mind, I really can't let it go), and partake of the experience as well. Despite the ubiquity of meatballs in other cultures, I personally believe the Swedes have cornered -- and mastered -- the market. I mean, these things were perfectly seasoned and moist, and yet somehow still made 10 times better than they already were by the luscious gravy lathered on top. I find IKEA items in general to be a bit hit-or-miss, but this sentiment certainly does NOT apply to their meatballs.
SWEETS:
Naked Chocolate Cafe - One of my first foodie stops in Philadelphia during my interview visit was at Naked Chocolate Cafe (which actually has several shops within city limits). And while I only purchased chocolates and truffles (which were happily and quickly consumed) at that time, I was mesmerized the other morning by all the gorgeous cupcakes being set out in the window for display. After getting my tetanus booster, I decided that I'd treat myself (and rightly so) to a cupcake for breakfast. I trekked all the way back and I was (again) mesmerized -- this time by the pure ginormousness of these cupcakes (about 1.5-2 times the size of typical cupcakes). After much pondering, I decided to try the marble (marble cake with marble frosting), which honestly had drawn me in because I thought it looked very smores-ish. Even though it wasn't smores-related after all, I found the cake to be pretty moist, though I wasn't as pleased with the frosting, which was more whipped than buttercream (at least from what I could tell). I guess my personal preference is for buttercream frosting, so whenever I get whipped frosting, I'm always disappointed to some degree. So fair warning to all cupcake purveyors out there!
Insomnia Cookies - Even though I've been working for six weeks, I haven't ventured too far from the immediate vicinity of my building. If anything, it's because we're so well-fed at the office that there simply isn't a need. Plus, I can't help it if Au Bon Pain (with its amazing selection of cookies and croissants) is no more than a few steps away from the door to our suite! (I swear I was cursed as soon as I found out it was there!) At any rate, I was absolutely touched when January and Jaime surprised me with my first trip ever to Insomnia Cookies. I could smell cookie heaven even before I walked in the door, and I was totally in awe when my Smores Deluxe cookie came out warm and gooey. I could've died right then and there, but I'm glad I didn't, because I wouldn't have had the joy of eating it on my walk back to my office. I don't think I even made it in the door without finishing the whole thing! Given such rave reviews, I had to bring Bryan and Peter down to try them, and I had to bring some back for Melissa and Joe as well. Honestly, these cookies come pretty darn close to the Doubletree Hotel cookies that I absolutely adore. And that's saying A LOT.
Sweet Ending - So I've passed by Sweet Ending several times over the last six weeks, but I've never felt the right pangs at the right time. Finally, on my way home from a movie the other night, I thought I'd stop by and sample a few flavors, just to satisfy my own curiosity. To be clear, I didn't think this version of the frozen yogurt shop would come close to Yogurtland -- and it didn't. However, the concept is the same (with many more flavors and toppings than Pinkberry or Red Mango), and the flavors are actually quite good. Unlike Yogurtland, however, Sweet Ending has fewer non-fruit flavors, and the consistency of the frozen yogurt seems to be a bit more icy and a bit less creamy. I suppose you could get over that though, especially if you've never had Yogurtland for comparison.
QUESTION MARKS:
There have been a few sweet spots that I've tried that I haven't been too impressed by. However, given that others have given them rave reviews, I'm open to giving them a second chance. For example, I found the cake in the vanilla pound cupcake (as well as the staff, quite honestly) at Brown Betty to be quite dry and unappealing. Perhaps I'm not a fan of pound cake, but I'm also a firm believer that any cake that goes into a cupcake should be nice and moist. I'm willing to take it as a batch issue though, especially since I've yet to try my favorite coconut and lemon flavors. Alli and Lee highly recommend the carrot cake and red velvet ones as well, and the "nudie" flavors sound quite interesting. I'm usually quite content to write things off, but I also value the opinions of my fellow cupcake connoisseurs! So, kudos to them for backing their favorites! :)
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Philadelphia munchies!
Over the last five weeks, I've gotten to try plenty of delicious (and not-as-delicious-as-I'd-hoped) eats in my new home of Philadelphia. While I'd love to write at length about each and every one of my foodie adventures, work is supposedly revving up soon (eek!), so I thought I'd at least share a few of the highlights, before I have no time whatsoever!
RITTENHOUSE SQUARE:
Twenty Manning Grill --
While I may be a tenant of the building, and therefore naturally partial, I must admit that Twenty Manning Grill has been my personal favorite in Rittenhouse Square thus far. Not only are the chef and staff super friendly and sweet, but the ambiance is laid-back and relaxing, and the food is amazing and affordable. I came on a Friday night to try their special of the day -- the Maine lobster roll, and I had one of the best meals I've had since arriving in the city. The meal started out with a rustic amuse-bouche -- a small radish paired with a bit of sea salt. Definitely not my favorite, but interesting nonetheless.
That night, I had the heirloom tomato gazpacho, which came with a quenelle of pineapple-basil sorbet. The gazpacho was light and delicious, and the sorbet offered a sweet contrast to the acid of the tomatoes. The Maine lobster roll was equally delicious, plated as a tartine with chunks of lobster layered on buttery brioche, and with enough mayonnaise to bind without being excessive. On the recommendation of my server, I decided to end the night with the berry cobbler. Looking for something not too sweet, this dessert was just that, incorporating blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries, without being too saccharine or tart.
I thought my first experience was so good that I literally came back the week after. The gazpacho was still amazing, though I wasn't quite as excited by the chop chop salad. I should've gone with the oysters, but I felt guilty indulging. This just goes to show you -- guilt is a wasted emotion. My next adventure? Mac 'n cheese night. Mmm....
Cichetteria 19 --
While I'm normally not a big fan of Italian, my old roommate Eri came to visit me all the way from LA, so I felt compelled to find her some yummy Italian in the neighborhood. I'd passed by Cichetteria 19 many times on my daily walks, but as soon as I saw Cichetteria 19 on the list of neighborhood restaurants on restaurant.com, I decided it was time to give it a try. Plus, Open Table offered 1000 points for showing up between 5 and 6. So, Eri and I wandered in for an early dinner on a rainy Sunday, and were shown to a lovely high table near the windows by the front of the room.
The menu offers "cichetti veneziani" (small plates) to start, and the option to get several items for discounted prices. Neither of us were too hungry, so I picked the flash fried calamari and Eri chose the aged prime meat ball. I tried both, and I wasn't too impressed with either. The calamari was fine, but lacked any sort of crunch. The meat ball was more meat than bread crumb, but then fell apart too easily as a result. For our entrees, Eri went with a basic Margherita pizza (she likes her staples!), and I decided on the arugula salad with eggs, bacon, figs, walnuts, gorgonzola, and a caramelized onion vinaigrette. I didn't try the pizza, but I wasn't particularly pleased with my salad. It certainly wasn't a plate worth looking at, but more importantly, it looked and tasted soggy, especially having been drenched in dressing.
To end the meal on a sweet note, we decided to split the "fonduta di cioccolato" (chocolate fondue). While the plate (again) wasn't worth looking at, the chocolate was absolutely decadent. I must admit that it was visibly lumpy and could've used more tempering, but the flavor (bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate, I believe) was excellent, and I couldn't help trying to scrape the last bit out of the bowl. The best pairing was probably the small chunks of pound cake, which were perfectly solid yet moist, allowing for maximum "soakage" of chocolate. All in all, C19 was fine -- definitely worth another restaurant.com certificate (purchased at a discount), but not necessarily worth full price.
Le Bec-Fin --
After my boss's boss mentioned Le Bec-Fin as her favorite French restaurant in the city, I googled it, only to find out that it's closing next June! After 40 years, the chef has decided to pursue other culinary opportunities. While I could've easily waited to schedule a meal here in the next few months, the chef is offering a special 40th Anniversary Celebration Dinner menu, which is only available between 5 and 6 for the remainder of the summer. When I first walked in, I was reminded of my first fancy meal with Derek at a French restaurant in New York. A bit too quiet, a bit too stuffy, a bit too old school. A place where you worried about being underdressed.
Thankfully, I'm over that now, and I trod quietly behind the hostess on our way through the main dining room and up the stairs to a similarly stuffy but smaller dining room. As a solo diner, I'm always very aware of where my seat and table are in relation to the rest of the room. That said, I was a bit disquieted when I realized they'd sat me at a small table where I had full view of the entire room -- and where the entire room thereby had full view of me. Moreover, every time I looked up, I couldn't avoid making eye contact with one of the servers standing by the door to the kitchen. Again, a bit disconcerting, but such is life.
After perusing through the anniversary menu and the main menu, I decided (with some guidance from my server) on the tomato and watermelon salad and the roasted stuffed quail. The salad was absolute perfection and may literally be the most delicious and beautiful appetizer I've had in Philadelphia yet. The dish consisted of red and yellow tomatoes, as well as red and yellow watermelon, and was drizzled with tomato water at the table. Not only was every piece of fruit fresh and crisp (as tomatoes are indeed fruit), but the chevre sorbet offered the loveliest sweet and grainy contrast to the rest of the dish. Since I couldn't recall the menu or hear through my server's thick accent, I was delighted when my server confirmed that I was indeed tasting cheese in the sorbet! (*applause* *applause*)
Unfortunately, the entree left a great deal to be desired. First of all, the quail was stretched super thin and stuffed to the gills (is this an appropriate reference for a piece of fowl?) with ground pork. Again, I was happy when another server confirmed my taste buds, especially when I realized I was tasting my favorite meat. On the other hand, I could barely make out the flavor of the quail. Ultimately, the quail was more of a vehicle for the pork than a key element of the dish. Secondly, the pork was a bit oversalted, which made the whole dish a bit oversalted, especially since there was so much pork on the plate. Finally, the beans and root vegetables on the plate were *barely* al dente, which certainly didn't contribute to an already weak plate.
In terms of sides and smaller plates, I found the chive roll to be quite good, especially given its brioche quality. However, the butter that came with it was oversalted, which ruined the roll experience somewhat. (Anything that requires that I drink a ton of water simply isn't very pleasant.) The amuse-bouche was a lovely bite of rabbit aspic with blueberry compote. While the bite could've been slightly bigger, the acid from the blueberry cut through the richness of the aspic quite nicely. The cheese plate was unfortunately quite pathetic. While I certainly didn't expect a big plate of cheese, I was quite shocked to learn that the so-called "third course" of the menu was nothing more than a piece of aged gouda (which was quite good in and of itself) and 2 grapes. A disappointment for sure.
Thankfully, the meal ended in the best way possible -- with the most magnificent dessert cart I've seen in quite a while. The only problem is that the cart itself is ridiculously unwieldy. Watching servers both upstairs and downstairs trying to maneuver these carts was absolutely painful. At any rate, I was ecstatic when my server indicated that I could try several desserts and that I'd also be getting a small plate of petit fours and small treats. I decided to try the tropical mousse (with mango, passion fruit, and lychee), the chocolate praline cake, and the fig tart. My small plate included a homemade marshmallow, a madeleine, a macaron, and a piece of dark chocolate. Needless to say, everything was delicious, and I'll be back for salad and desserts at least, especially since I wasn't that impressed with the rest of the meal.
Lacroix --
When AR suggested this place for lunch, I was definitely excited, and even more so when I read about it in a Philadelphia magazine a few days later. Plus, having been underwhelmed by Le Bec-Fin the night before, I was hoping that Lacroix might be able to redeem Philadelphia in terms of French food preparation. To my dismay, they failed -- and quite miserably.
First of all, the three plate menu was simply boring. Even though a few items looked interesting, the most appetizing item was the burger. When the most appetizing item on a French menu is the burger, something is definitely wrong. That said, we picked off the regular menu, with AR choosing the soba noodle salad (with hamachi, edamame, and maitake mushrooms), and me choosing the baby squash salad and the coddled egg "quiche." Not only did AR think her salad lacked flavor and salt overall (even though the hamachi was quite scrumptious), but I thought the flavors and textures in my dishes were completely off as well. The baby squash salad was bitter, there was almost no greens, and I couldn't taste the vanilla in the vinaigrette at all. The "quiche" was definitely not worthy of either quiche or "quiche" designation, looking like nothing but an egg, some beans, and some mushrooms thrown into a piece of puff pastry.
The only redeeming quality of this meal was the dessert plate at the end. That said, there were issues here as well, with some items being quite good, and other items lacking strong flavor profiles. For example, the blueberry cheesecake was simultaneously creamy and light, with a subtle infusion of blueberry flavor and color. The coconut cake was very coconut-ey, though we couldn't figure out the fruit gelatin layer in the middle. In contrast, one of the chocolate cakes was so overly soaked in rum that we were both overwhelmed by the intensity of the liqueur. The complimentary sweets at the end (including roasted almonds and candied orange peel) did nothing more than overwhelm us with unncessary sugar.
JOSE GARCES (Old City/West Philadelphia/Center City):
Amada (Old City) --
As soon as I realized I'd be interviewing at the University of Pennsylvania, I immediately booked a reservation at Amada. Having read extensively about Jose Garces's presence in Philadelphia, I knew there was no way that I'd miss out on an opportunity to try his food. While Kevin and I were huffing and puffing by the time we got to the restaurant (damn rush hour traffic!), we were immediately welcomed into the dark and bustling interior. As we followed the hostess into the deepest recesses of the restaurant, weaving around tables of loquacious diners in the main dining room, we passed by a long bar on the left and an open kitchen in the back, ending up in a smaller dining room. While I love bustling spaces, it was nice to be seated in area where you could at least attempt to hear your dining companion!
Given the extensive nature of the menu, I already had several items in mind, so I was thrilled when Kevin gave me free reign to order for us. Our server was adorable, offering to adjust my selections if I made any missteps, but ultimately complimenting me on my choices. Since it's been about two months since the meal, I'll do my best to recall what ended up on our table that night. FYI that we decided to skip the larger dishes and stick with the tapas, so that we could sample as many tastes as possible.
Because we were at a Spanish restaurant, I picked out the aged manchego with the truffled lavender honey -- a mild cheese with a mild honey. The subtle flavors were a great way to start the meal. To sample the charcuterie, I decided on the ensalada de jamon -- a serrano ham and fig salad that came with cabarales blue cheese and spiced almonds. This dish was absolutely beautiful, with all of the salad components wrapped in serrano ham. Every element was equally intense, but they balanced each other perfectly in a rich symphony of flavors. From the traditional tapas menu, I ordered the pulpo a la gallega (Spanish octopus) and the oysters (with strawberry escabache and cava granita). The octopus was scrumptious, and tasted like moist chicken. The oysters tasted clean and fresh, with the escabeche and granita adding just a bit of fruity acid.
From the grill list, I picked the barramundi, especially since I love any sort of sea bass. The fish came out with just the right amount of flakiness and chew. So that we had some vegetables on the table, I went with the esparragos con trufas -- grilled asparagus with poached egg, mahon crisp, and truffles. Yes, the dish was a vegetable dish, but no, it definitely wasn't healthy. The dish was rich and luscious, and the truffle shavings made it that much more decadent. A vegetable dish to savor for sure. And while I'm not the biggest fan of pizza, I decided that I had to *sacrifice* for the sake of the meal and order one of the Spanish flatbreads. So that we could sample some serious meat, I ordered the costillas de ternera with beef shortribs, horseradish, and bacon. Not only was this the heaviest dish of the night, but also the most flavorful. Then again, what do you expect with both beef *and* pork on the plate? :)
Those who know me shouldn't be the least bit surprised that I saved room for dessert. Kevin probably was though, especially since he was eating what I was eating, but of course he let me induldge in whatever I wanted off the dessert menu. To be honest, I can't for the life of me remember what we had, though I'm guessing it had to be something light (the passion fruit sorbet maybe?) because there was no way we could fit much more food into our stomachs that night. Needless to say, this was absolutely my FAVORITE meal in Philadelphia to date. And honestly, I'm not sure it's beatable. Well, unless folks decide that they want to go back with me and order, get ready for it, THE WHOLE PIG. (I saw it go into the back room, and I swear I needed a drool bucket.)
Distrito (West Philadelphia) --
When I realized that Distrito was taking part in University City Dining Days, I booked a reservation immediately for the two-week anniversary of my first day of work. While some folks may consider this move a bit premature, all I can say is this: I knew I'd have to eat regardless of whether it was a good day or a bad one. When the date got closer, I decided to invite Katie and Jarrod, who'd been the best hosts during my early days in Philadelphia! Who better to celebrate with, right?
Because I got to the restaurant early, I parked myself by the entrance and watched as a gaggle of sorority girls walked into a private room behind the hostess station. As soon as everyone entered, I watched the top secret door close behind them and blend into the wall. This offered only a mere taste of what was in store for us in the main dining room upstairs. As soon as Katie and Jarrod arrived, we were escorted past a long bar and up a grand staircase. The entire space was funky cool, with lots of bright colors (most notably pink! woohoo!) and modern design elements. And we were seated at a table where Katie and I got a spectacular view of the super long open kitchen.
As part of the Dining Days menu, each of us got to pick several small dishes, so we decided to dine family style (for the most part) and pick complementary dishes. Again, this meal took place several weeks ago, so I"ll do my best to recall what ended up on the table. To start, we picked the traditional guacamole with cotija cheese, which both Katie and Jarrod had had before and raved about, and the salsa Mexicana to balance out the richness of the guacamole. We also tried the octopus ceviche and the gazpacho. The octopus was just chewy enough, and the gazpacho was a great combination of tomato, watermelon, and cucumber. A bit of jumbo lump crab gave the dish slightly more density.
For our meat dishes, we went with the carne tacos (one of the steak ones), the queso fundido (with duck barbacoa, poblano chiles, and mixed cheeses), and the rabbit mole. Of course, I was the one that chose the duck and the rabbit, and I thoroughly enjoyed the unique way they were integrated into typical Mexican dishes. For our vegetable dishes, we chose a combination of hot and cold dishes. Asking for the pecans off to the side (per nut allergies), we went with the chilango chop chop salad, which was a great tangy combination of mixed greens, apples, cranberries, pecans, and a honey-lime yogurt dressing. Katie also picked out the esquites (sweet corn with queso fresco, chitpotle chile, and lime), the platano y crema (sweet plantains with queso fresco), and the huarache de hongos (like a flatbread with mushrooms). The queso fresco provided a mildly tangy contrast to the sweetness of the corn and the plantains, especially helping to cut through the richness of the latter. The flatbread was delicious, with a bit of black truffle heightening the quality of the dish.
For dessert, we only had two options to choose from, so Katie and I picked the tres leches cake, while Jarrod tried the chocolate flan. These were pretty basic, but ultimately solid. We also indulged in drinks during the meal, sampling the tamarind agua fresca (slightly bitter yet nicely tangy), a house margarita (which provided a light buzz), and several Mexican beers. On the whole, we had a great time, and I'm looking forward to going back -- particularly for their lunch specials! :) (Thanks for the suggestion, Alli!)
Tinto (Center City) --
As my most recent foray into the land of Jose Garces land, Karu and I decided to check out Tinto for drinks and appetizers. Even though the restaurant had suffered from a power outage earlier in the day, and could only seat us in the bar area, the few appetizers we tried were absolutely amazing. The mixed cheese plate came with a mild blue, an aged manchego, and a sheep's milk, as well as several crisps and pieces of fruit. The duck canape came with two pieces of duck confit wrapped in serrano ham. My favorite fowl wrapped in my favorite meat. Let's just say I have no words to express my level of joy. I seriously can't wait to get back here....
ADDITIONAL FAVORITES:
Now that I've written about my more elaborate foodie adventures, here are some additional favorites worthy of mention....
Restaurants --
Continental - Jarrett and I came here for lunch during a conference several years ago, and I can still remember the huge olive above the entrance and the hanging chairs in the upstairs dining room. And while I don't remember exactly what I had back then, I do remember that the food was just as good as it is now. Thanks to Alli and her equally foodie ways, I got the chance to try Continental again during my interview visit. The menu is completely eclectic and international, with items ranging from Mexican pizza to cheesesteak eggrolls to lobster mac 'n cheese (with the latter supposedly having a bit of a cult following). On this visit, we split the Thai chicken lettuce wraps, and I decided on the crispy calamari salad. Both dishes offered a nice balance of flavors and textures, with the greens tasting especially crisp and fresh. With a menu that screams for attention, this is definitely a place I need to get back to ASAP.
Dim Sum Garden - After randomly reading about soup dumplings, I decided I *had* to find them in Philadelphia. The last time I'd had amazing soup dumplings was at Joe's Shanghai in New York -- and it's been a LONG time since then. The ones at Din Tai Fung in southern California were absolutely measly and miserable and pathetic. So I was determined to find a place in my new city, and I was thrilled to find Dim Sum Garden on Yelp. Eri indulged my desire to seek out this place while she was in town, and we had the best time with our super soup-ey pork dumplings and our perfectly crispy yet chewy scallion pacakes. We also ordered the stewed pork in brown sauce, which tasted just like my mom's (though on a weaker day rather than a stronger one). I'm for sure bringing the office staff back here!
Food Markets --
Reading Terminal Market - Similar to the Ferry Building in San Francisco, the Reading Terminal Market is a mecca for food lovers. The diversity of purveyors and eateries is tremendous, and the aisles are filled with foods from all around the world. Some of my favorites are vendors who have outposts in other areas of the city, making it easy for those who don't love crowds (especially on weekends) to enjoy their wares. These include: Sang Kee for delicious Peking duck and roast pork, Flying Monkey for amazing dessert bars, and Bassetts for the best ice cream in Philadelphia (especially green tea).
Headhouse Farmers Market - While nothing can compare to the endless farmers markets of southern California (especially the Santa Monica Farmers Market), the Headhouse Farmers Market does a fairly good job of providing a variety of wares for folks interested in local farmers and purveyors. This includes: organic produce, free-range meats, fresh herbs and spices, and unique gift items. In addition, food trucks like Renaissance Sausage and Twisted Lemonade are on hand to provide sustenace as you troll through the market looking to stock your cabinets and fridges.
Di Bruno Brothers - Like a gourmet Whole Foods, Di Bruno Brothers sells fresh and packaged goods, with the Center City location incorporating a cafe, a deli, a cheese shop, a bakery, a meat/fish shop, and a restaurant within two spacious stories. Not only can you pick up food to go, but you can also stock your refrigerator with prepared foods for the week!
Sweets --
Last but not least, let me take a few last minutes to mention some of my favorite sweet spots in Philadelphia. I'm totally out of steam from writing all day, but I simply can't neglect the most important food group!
Capogiro - The best gelato in Philadelphia. Thank goodness there are locations near work AND home.
Scoop DeVille - For upscale McFlurries. There are literally a gazillion possible combinations of ice cream/frozen yogurt and mix-in's. And the shakes and smoothies are pretty scrumptious too!
Yogorino - Less tart than Pinkberry and Red Mango, creamier than Pinkberry. A perfect post-workout treat -- delicious but not too indulgent.
Sugar Philly - A dessert truck that sells the most delicious AND affordable macarons. I'm more than grateful that they're parked two steps from my office in the afternoons!
That's it for now! I'm still waiting to find the best cakes and the best cookies, but I've yet to sample all of my delicious goodies (including yummy cannolis) from Isgro. Mmm.... :)
RITTENHOUSE SQUARE:
Twenty Manning Grill --
While I may be a tenant of the building, and therefore naturally partial, I must admit that Twenty Manning Grill has been my personal favorite in Rittenhouse Square thus far. Not only are the chef and staff super friendly and sweet, but the ambiance is laid-back and relaxing, and the food is amazing and affordable. I came on a Friday night to try their special of the day -- the Maine lobster roll, and I had one of the best meals I've had since arriving in the city. The meal started out with a rustic amuse-bouche -- a small radish paired with a bit of sea salt. Definitely not my favorite, but interesting nonetheless.
That night, I had the heirloom tomato gazpacho, which came with a quenelle of pineapple-basil sorbet. The gazpacho was light and delicious, and the sorbet offered a sweet contrast to the acid of the tomatoes. The Maine lobster roll was equally delicious, plated as a tartine with chunks of lobster layered on buttery brioche, and with enough mayonnaise to bind without being excessive. On the recommendation of my server, I decided to end the night with the berry cobbler. Looking for something not too sweet, this dessert was just that, incorporating blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries, without being too saccharine or tart.
I thought my first experience was so good that I literally came back the week after. The gazpacho was still amazing, though I wasn't quite as excited by the chop chop salad. I should've gone with the oysters, but I felt guilty indulging. This just goes to show you -- guilt is a wasted emotion. My next adventure? Mac 'n cheese night. Mmm....
Cichetteria 19 --
While I'm normally not a big fan of Italian, my old roommate Eri came to visit me all the way from LA, so I felt compelled to find her some yummy Italian in the neighborhood. I'd passed by Cichetteria 19 many times on my daily walks, but as soon as I saw Cichetteria 19 on the list of neighborhood restaurants on restaurant.com, I decided it was time to give it a try. Plus, Open Table offered 1000 points for showing up between 5 and 6. So, Eri and I wandered in for an early dinner on a rainy Sunday, and were shown to a lovely high table near the windows by the front of the room.
The menu offers "cichetti veneziani" (small plates) to start, and the option to get several items for discounted prices. Neither of us were too hungry, so I picked the flash fried calamari and Eri chose the aged prime meat ball. I tried both, and I wasn't too impressed with either. The calamari was fine, but lacked any sort of crunch. The meat ball was more meat than bread crumb, but then fell apart too easily as a result. For our entrees, Eri went with a basic Margherita pizza (she likes her staples!), and I decided on the arugula salad with eggs, bacon, figs, walnuts, gorgonzola, and a caramelized onion vinaigrette. I didn't try the pizza, but I wasn't particularly pleased with my salad. It certainly wasn't a plate worth looking at, but more importantly, it looked and tasted soggy, especially having been drenched in dressing.
To end the meal on a sweet note, we decided to split the "fonduta di cioccolato" (chocolate fondue). While the plate (again) wasn't worth looking at, the chocolate was absolutely decadent. I must admit that it was visibly lumpy and could've used more tempering, but the flavor (bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate, I believe) was excellent, and I couldn't help trying to scrape the last bit out of the bowl. The best pairing was probably the small chunks of pound cake, which were perfectly solid yet moist, allowing for maximum "soakage" of chocolate. All in all, C19 was fine -- definitely worth another restaurant.com certificate (purchased at a discount), but not necessarily worth full price.
Le Bec-Fin --
After my boss's boss mentioned Le Bec-Fin as her favorite French restaurant in the city, I googled it, only to find out that it's closing next June! After 40 years, the chef has decided to pursue other culinary opportunities. While I could've easily waited to schedule a meal here in the next few months, the chef is offering a special 40th Anniversary Celebration Dinner menu, which is only available between 5 and 6 for the remainder of the summer. When I first walked in, I was reminded of my first fancy meal with Derek at a French restaurant in New York. A bit too quiet, a bit too stuffy, a bit too old school. A place where you worried about being underdressed.
Thankfully, I'm over that now, and I trod quietly behind the hostess on our way through the main dining room and up the stairs to a similarly stuffy but smaller dining room. As a solo diner, I'm always very aware of where my seat and table are in relation to the rest of the room. That said, I was a bit disquieted when I realized they'd sat me at a small table where I had full view of the entire room -- and where the entire room thereby had full view of me. Moreover, every time I looked up, I couldn't avoid making eye contact with one of the servers standing by the door to the kitchen. Again, a bit disconcerting, but such is life.
After perusing through the anniversary menu and the main menu, I decided (with some guidance from my server) on the tomato and watermelon salad and the roasted stuffed quail. The salad was absolute perfection and may literally be the most delicious and beautiful appetizer I've had in Philadelphia yet. The dish consisted of red and yellow tomatoes, as well as red and yellow watermelon, and was drizzled with tomato water at the table. Not only was every piece of fruit fresh and crisp (as tomatoes are indeed fruit), but the chevre sorbet offered the loveliest sweet and grainy contrast to the rest of the dish. Since I couldn't recall the menu or hear through my server's thick accent, I was delighted when my server confirmed that I was indeed tasting cheese in the sorbet! (*applause* *applause*)
Unfortunately, the entree left a great deal to be desired. First of all, the quail was stretched super thin and stuffed to the gills (is this an appropriate reference for a piece of fowl?) with ground pork. Again, I was happy when another server confirmed my taste buds, especially when I realized I was tasting my favorite meat. On the other hand, I could barely make out the flavor of the quail. Ultimately, the quail was more of a vehicle for the pork than a key element of the dish. Secondly, the pork was a bit oversalted, which made the whole dish a bit oversalted, especially since there was so much pork on the plate. Finally, the beans and root vegetables on the plate were *barely* al dente, which certainly didn't contribute to an already weak plate.
In terms of sides and smaller plates, I found the chive roll to be quite good, especially given its brioche quality. However, the butter that came with it was oversalted, which ruined the roll experience somewhat. (Anything that requires that I drink a ton of water simply isn't very pleasant.) The amuse-bouche was a lovely bite of rabbit aspic with blueberry compote. While the bite could've been slightly bigger, the acid from the blueberry cut through the richness of the aspic quite nicely. The cheese plate was unfortunately quite pathetic. While I certainly didn't expect a big plate of cheese, I was quite shocked to learn that the so-called "third course" of the menu was nothing more than a piece of aged gouda (which was quite good in and of itself) and 2 grapes. A disappointment for sure.
Thankfully, the meal ended in the best way possible -- with the most magnificent dessert cart I've seen in quite a while. The only problem is that the cart itself is ridiculously unwieldy. Watching servers both upstairs and downstairs trying to maneuver these carts was absolutely painful. At any rate, I was ecstatic when my server indicated that I could try several desserts and that I'd also be getting a small plate of petit fours and small treats. I decided to try the tropical mousse (with mango, passion fruit, and lychee), the chocolate praline cake, and the fig tart. My small plate included a homemade marshmallow, a madeleine, a macaron, and a piece of dark chocolate. Needless to say, everything was delicious, and I'll be back for salad and desserts at least, especially since I wasn't that impressed with the rest of the meal.
Lacroix --
When AR suggested this place for lunch, I was definitely excited, and even more so when I read about it in a Philadelphia magazine a few days later. Plus, having been underwhelmed by Le Bec-Fin the night before, I was hoping that Lacroix might be able to redeem Philadelphia in terms of French food preparation. To my dismay, they failed -- and quite miserably.
First of all, the three plate menu was simply boring. Even though a few items looked interesting, the most appetizing item was the burger. When the most appetizing item on a French menu is the burger, something is definitely wrong. That said, we picked off the regular menu, with AR choosing the soba noodle salad (with hamachi, edamame, and maitake mushrooms), and me choosing the baby squash salad and the coddled egg "quiche." Not only did AR think her salad lacked flavor and salt overall (even though the hamachi was quite scrumptious), but I thought the flavors and textures in my dishes were completely off as well. The baby squash salad was bitter, there was almost no greens, and I couldn't taste the vanilla in the vinaigrette at all. The "quiche" was definitely not worthy of either quiche or "quiche" designation, looking like nothing but an egg, some beans, and some mushrooms thrown into a piece of puff pastry.
The only redeeming quality of this meal was the dessert plate at the end. That said, there were issues here as well, with some items being quite good, and other items lacking strong flavor profiles. For example, the blueberry cheesecake was simultaneously creamy and light, with a subtle infusion of blueberry flavor and color. The coconut cake was very coconut-ey, though we couldn't figure out the fruit gelatin layer in the middle. In contrast, one of the chocolate cakes was so overly soaked in rum that we were both overwhelmed by the intensity of the liqueur. The complimentary sweets at the end (including roasted almonds and candied orange peel) did nothing more than overwhelm us with unncessary sugar.
JOSE GARCES (Old City/West Philadelphia/Center City):
Amada (Old City) --
As soon as I realized I'd be interviewing at the University of Pennsylvania, I immediately booked a reservation at Amada. Having read extensively about Jose Garces's presence in Philadelphia, I knew there was no way that I'd miss out on an opportunity to try his food. While Kevin and I were huffing and puffing by the time we got to the restaurant (damn rush hour traffic!), we were immediately welcomed into the dark and bustling interior. As we followed the hostess into the deepest recesses of the restaurant, weaving around tables of loquacious diners in the main dining room, we passed by a long bar on the left and an open kitchen in the back, ending up in a smaller dining room. While I love bustling spaces, it was nice to be seated in area where you could at least attempt to hear your dining companion!
Given the extensive nature of the menu, I already had several items in mind, so I was thrilled when Kevin gave me free reign to order for us. Our server was adorable, offering to adjust my selections if I made any missteps, but ultimately complimenting me on my choices. Since it's been about two months since the meal, I'll do my best to recall what ended up on our table that night. FYI that we decided to skip the larger dishes and stick with the tapas, so that we could sample as many tastes as possible.
Because we were at a Spanish restaurant, I picked out the aged manchego with the truffled lavender honey -- a mild cheese with a mild honey. The subtle flavors were a great way to start the meal. To sample the charcuterie, I decided on the ensalada de jamon -- a serrano ham and fig salad that came with cabarales blue cheese and spiced almonds. This dish was absolutely beautiful, with all of the salad components wrapped in serrano ham. Every element was equally intense, but they balanced each other perfectly in a rich symphony of flavors. From the traditional tapas menu, I ordered the pulpo a la gallega (Spanish octopus) and the oysters (with strawberry escabache and cava granita). The octopus was scrumptious, and tasted like moist chicken. The oysters tasted clean and fresh, with the escabeche and granita adding just a bit of fruity acid.
From the grill list, I picked the barramundi, especially since I love any sort of sea bass. The fish came out with just the right amount of flakiness and chew. So that we had some vegetables on the table, I went with the esparragos con trufas -- grilled asparagus with poached egg, mahon crisp, and truffles. Yes, the dish was a vegetable dish, but no, it definitely wasn't healthy. The dish was rich and luscious, and the truffle shavings made it that much more decadent. A vegetable dish to savor for sure. And while I'm not the biggest fan of pizza, I decided that I had to *sacrifice* for the sake of the meal and order one of the Spanish flatbreads. So that we could sample some serious meat, I ordered the costillas de ternera with beef shortribs, horseradish, and bacon. Not only was this the heaviest dish of the night, but also the most flavorful. Then again, what do you expect with both beef *and* pork on the plate? :)
Those who know me shouldn't be the least bit surprised that I saved room for dessert. Kevin probably was though, especially since he was eating what I was eating, but of course he let me induldge in whatever I wanted off the dessert menu. To be honest, I can't for the life of me remember what we had, though I'm guessing it had to be something light (the passion fruit sorbet maybe?) because there was no way we could fit much more food into our stomachs that night. Needless to say, this was absolutely my FAVORITE meal in Philadelphia to date. And honestly, I'm not sure it's beatable. Well, unless folks decide that they want to go back with me and order, get ready for it, THE WHOLE PIG. (I saw it go into the back room, and I swear I needed a drool bucket.)
Distrito (West Philadelphia) --
When I realized that Distrito was taking part in University City Dining Days, I booked a reservation immediately for the two-week anniversary of my first day of work. While some folks may consider this move a bit premature, all I can say is this: I knew I'd have to eat regardless of whether it was a good day or a bad one. When the date got closer, I decided to invite Katie and Jarrod, who'd been the best hosts during my early days in Philadelphia! Who better to celebrate with, right?
Because I got to the restaurant early, I parked myself by the entrance and watched as a gaggle of sorority girls walked into a private room behind the hostess station. As soon as everyone entered, I watched the top secret door close behind them and blend into the wall. This offered only a mere taste of what was in store for us in the main dining room upstairs. As soon as Katie and Jarrod arrived, we were escorted past a long bar and up a grand staircase. The entire space was funky cool, with lots of bright colors (most notably pink! woohoo!) and modern design elements. And we were seated at a table where Katie and I got a spectacular view of the super long open kitchen.
As part of the Dining Days menu, each of us got to pick several small dishes, so we decided to dine family style (for the most part) and pick complementary dishes. Again, this meal took place several weeks ago, so I"ll do my best to recall what ended up on the table. To start, we picked the traditional guacamole with cotija cheese, which both Katie and Jarrod had had before and raved about, and the salsa Mexicana to balance out the richness of the guacamole. We also tried the octopus ceviche and the gazpacho. The octopus was just chewy enough, and the gazpacho was a great combination of tomato, watermelon, and cucumber. A bit of jumbo lump crab gave the dish slightly more density.
For our meat dishes, we went with the carne tacos (one of the steak ones), the queso fundido (with duck barbacoa, poblano chiles, and mixed cheeses), and the rabbit mole. Of course, I was the one that chose the duck and the rabbit, and I thoroughly enjoyed the unique way they were integrated into typical Mexican dishes. For our vegetable dishes, we chose a combination of hot and cold dishes. Asking for the pecans off to the side (per nut allergies), we went with the chilango chop chop salad, which was a great tangy combination of mixed greens, apples, cranberries, pecans, and a honey-lime yogurt dressing. Katie also picked out the esquites (sweet corn with queso fresco, chitpotle chile, and lime), the platano y crema (sweet plantains with queso fresco), and the huarache de hongos (like a flatbread with mushrooms). The queso fresco provided a mildly tangy contrast to the sweetness of the corn and the plantains, especially helping to cut through the richness of the latter. The flatbread was delicious, with a bit of black truffle heightening the quality of the dish.
For dessert, we only had two options to choose from, so Katie and I picked the tres leches cake, while Jarrod tried the chocolate flan. These were pretty basic, but ultimately solid. We also indulged in drinks during the meal, sampling the tamarind agua fresca (slightly bitter yet nicely tangy), a house margarita (which provided a light buzz), and several Mexican beers. On the whole, we had a great time, and I'm looking forward to going back -- particularly for their lunch specials! :) (Thanks for the suggestion, Alli!)
Tinto (Center City) --
As my most recent foray into the land of Jose Garces land, Karu and I decided to check out Tinto for drinks and appetizers. Even though the restaurant had suffered from a power outage earlier in the day, and could only seat us in the bar area, the few appetizers we tried were absolutely amazing. The mixed cheese plate came with a mild blue, an aged manchego, and a sheep's milk, as well as several crisps and pieces of fruit. The duck canape came with two pieces of duck confit wrapped in serrano ham. My favorite fowl wrapped in my favorite meat. Let's just say I have no words to express my level of joy. I seriously can't wait to get back here....
ADDITIONAL FAVORITES:
Now that I've written about my more elaborate foodie adventures, here are some additional favorites worthy of mention....
Restaurants --
Continental - Jarrett and I came here for lunch during a conference several years ago, and I can still remember the huge olive above the entrance and the hanging chairs in the upstairs dining room. And while I don't remember exactly what I had back then, I do remember that the food was just as good as it is now. Thanks to Alli and her equally foodie ways, I got the chance to try Continental again during my interview visit. The menu is completely eclectic and international, with items ranging from Mexican pizza to cheesesteak eggrolls to lobster mac 'n cheese (with the latter supposedly having a bit of a cult following). On this visit, we split the Thai chicken lettuce wraps, and I decided on the crispy calamari salad. Both dishes offered a nice balance of flavors and textures, with the greens tasting especially crisp and fresh. With a menu that screams for attention, this is definitely a place I need to get back to ASAP.
Dim Sum Garden - After randomly reading about soup dumplings, I decided I *had* to find them in Philadelphia. The last time I'd had amazing soup dumplings was at Joe's Shanghai in New York -- and it's been a LONG time since then. The ones at Din Tai Fung in southern California were absolutely measly and miserable and pathetic. So I was determined to find a place in my new city, and I was thrilled to find Dim Sum Garden on Yelp. Eri indulged my desire to seek out this place while she was in town, and we had the best time with our super soup-ey pork dumplings and our perfectly crispy yet chewy scallion pacakes. We also ordered the stewed pork in brown sauce, which tasted just like my mom's (though on a weaker day rather than a stronger one). I'm for sure bringing the office staff back here!
Food Markets --
Reading Terminal Market - Similar to the Ferry Building in San Francisco, the Reading Terminal Market is a mecca for food lovers. The diversity of purveyors and eateries is tremendous, and the aisles are filled with foods from all around the world. Some of my favorites are vendors who have outposts in other areas of the city, making it easy for those who don't love crowds (especially on weekends) to enjoy their wares. These include: Sang Kee for delicious Peking duck and roast pork, Flying Monkey for amazing dessert bars, and Bassetts for the best ice cream in Philadelphia (especially green tea).
Headhouse Farmers Market - While nothing can compare to the endless farmers markets of southern California (especially the Santa Monica Farmers Market), the Headhouse Farmers Market does a fairly good job of providing a variety of wares for folks interested in local farmers and purveyors. This includes: organic produce, free-range meats, fresh herbs and spices, and unique gift items. In addition, food trucks like Renaissance Sausage and Twisted Lemonade are on hand to provide sustenace as you troll through the market looking to stock your cabinets and fridges.
Di Bruno Brothers - Like a gourmet Whole Foods, Di Bruno Brothers sells fresh and packaged goods, with the Center City location incorporating a cafe, a deli, a cheese shop, a bakery, a meat/fish shop, and a restaurant within two spacious stories. Not only can you pick up food to go, but you can also stock your refrigerator with prepared foods for the week!
Sweets --
Last but not least, let me take a few last minutes to mention some of my favorite sweet spots in Philadelphia. I'm totally out of steam from writing all day, but I simply can't neglect the most important food group!
Capogiro - The best gelato in Philadelphia. Thank goodness there are locations near work AND home.
Scoop DeVille - For upscale McFlurries. There are literally a gazillion possible combinations of ice cream/frozen yogurt and mix-in's. And the shakes and smoothies are pretty scrumptious too!
Yogorino - Less tart than Pinkberry and Red Mango, creamier than Pinkberry. A perfect post-workout treat -- delicious but not too indulgent.
Sugar Philly - A dessert truck that sells the most delicious AND affordable macarons. I'm more than grateful that they're parked two steps from my office in the afternoons!
That's it for now! I'm still waiting to find the best cakes and the best cookies, but I've yet to sample all of my delicious goodies (including yummy cannolis) from Isgro. Mmm.... :)
Monday, June 21, 2010
Taste of the Nation: Los Angeles - Sunday, June 6, 2010, Media Park in Culver City
Seeing that I was getting my doctorate soon and possibly moving away from California, the likelihood of making it to TOTN in LA again would be slim. Therefore, I was thrilled to have the chance to dominate this event -- once and for all!
That said, Miss D and I have gone to enough tasting events to know that you simply should not finish your entire plate, unless it’s a particularly small bite. This approach did not sit well with Miss A, who’d rather stuff herself than throw away food. That being said, at Miss A’s request (and considering my lack of interest in bread anyways), we decided to skip any slider/sandwich options. While this knowingly eliminated dishes from two of my favorite restaurants (Ford’s Filling Station’s lamb burgers & Grace‘s pork sliders) and several other establishments, it was ultimately a matter of self-/stomach-preservation.
I, on the other hand, had my sights set on XIV’s braised and grilled Piedmontese beef cheeks. If anything could be more delicate than perfectly prepared braised short ribs, it’d be perfectly prepared braised beef cheeks. These were absolutely decadent, and required several moments of focused savoring.
Miss A was particularly drawn to different interpretations of the traditional caprese, including the one from Culina. Likewise, I was completely enthralled by the gelato di parmigiano alla caprese from Lago. A parmesan gelato -- who would’ve thunk? And what great presentation!
I enjoyed the chilled porcini soup with shaved foie gras from Bistro LQ, but was actually more intrigued and delighted by the soy milk white chocolate ice cream with American caviar. Both were surprisingly light, despite their decadent ingredients. Creative AND delicious.
Nevertheless, one of our favorite pit stops was the POM booth set up in the center of the park, where we wandered over for quick breaks between rounds, to rejuvenate with cool and refreshing POM juice. I even made a point to introduce myself as the POM reporter, and snap a few shots with the POM banner!
While suffusing ourselves with POM, we had the chance to check out the main stage, where we spotted a few big stars throughout the day, including Michael Voltaggio (of Top Chef fame) cooking up a storm, and the Two Hot Tamales (Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken) auctioning off a private dinner party catered by the two of them. From what I can recall, I think they raised several thousand from some last-minute (and very excited) bidders!
On our third loop, we picked up the last of our savory dishes, making it a point to grab seconds, thirds, fourths, and even fifths (!!) of our favorite bites.
Out of all the dishes we tasted, Miss A and I were in total agreement about our favorite of the day. Hands down, we absolutely ADORED the torchon foie gras from Bottega Louie. We literally went back FIVE times, and we even picked up Sam Marvin’s card from, well, Sam Marvin himself. This bite was the perfect blend of flavors and textures, requiring no improvement whatsoever. Literally, if we could’ve sat there all day eating these bites, we wouldn’t have complained.
By the time we reached our final loop, it’d been about 2 hours since we started our eating adventure. We were quite stuffed at this point, but unlike Miss A, I have quite the sweet tooth, and I was determined to fit in some dessert before the day was done.
Unlike typical Oreos which are crunchy, the homemade “better than Oreos” from Mercantile/District resembled a thin layer of butter cream squished between two dark chocolate brownies. All I can say is: OMG. HEAVEN.
To cleanse our palates, both Miss A and I indulged in two rounds of gelato from the Gelato Bar. While I was in love with all four gelato flavors I tasted, I was actually more enamored by the fact that Ben Ford was literally standing RIGHT in front of me on our second gelato run. I was tempted to ask him for a picture, leading me to tug ever so lightly on the sleeve of his chef‘s jacket. Thank goodness he didn’t notice, because after I thought about it, I realized that I much preferred not to disrupt his gelato enjoyment. (That, and I might’ve started babbling like an idiot.)
As we pondered the afternoon’s highs (of which there were many) and lows (of which there were few), we decided to take one last slow saunter around the park. Many restaurants were already packing up, but it was great to see people still wandering in, even with just 30 minutes left!
From what I could recall from previous years, there seemed to be fewer restaurants involved this year. That said, I thought the number of participating establishments was just right, as the park seemed much less congested and the traffic much more manageable.
All in all, Miss A and I had the BEST time. She was thankful for being my special guest. And I was thankful for being chosen as POM Wonderful’s intrepid reporter! Thank you for this amazing opportunity to share my love of this event -- and food in general! Bon appetit, mes cheries! :)
http://taste.strength.org/site/PageServer?pagename=TOTN_homepage
Share Our Strength:
http://www.strength.org/
POM Wonderful:
http://www.pomwonderful.com/
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Brooklyn's Finest
On a cold, rainy, Saturday night, one of the best things to do is head to the movies. Of course, everyone else is thinking the SAME EXACT THING, so I was slightly overwhelmed by the throngs of people that were milling about the theater. That said, it's always nice to get in some spontaneous BFF time, so I'll suffer a little bit of agoraphobia for that!
After some discussion and debate, we decided to go to see Brooklyn's Finest over Shutter Island. (Apparently M had watched the latter and wanted to get those 2 hours of her life back, so I decided that that wasn't the best review to go in with.) I miss home so badly at this point that I perk up at any mention of New York, so this was definitely the better choice -- despite dramatically dark representations of the projects (where I grew up) that freaked me out a bit.
Brooklyn's Finest falls in line with many many MANY movies that bring together several story lines that collapse into each other within the last 10 minutes. If you're looking for complicated plot structure, this movie isn't for you. Each of the three story lines revolve around a cop (if you haven't figured that out already) -- a burnt out cop about to retire (Richard Gere), an undercover cop looking to get out (Don Cheadle), and a stressed out cop trying to support his family and willing to do so by any means necessary (Ethan Hawke). Come to think of it, those are pretty much the story lines. So I suppose that's that.
In terms of character development, I think more work could've and should've been done for the audience to understand what exactly drives the action -- and inaction -- of the three main characters. Richard Gere certainly did NOT live up to his potential in this movie, doing that *blink blink* he so often does to indicate *intense* thought. (As H would say, are you kidding me??) Don Cheadle didn't fare much better, offering nothing more than a stoic look throughout the entire movie. YES, cops are stoic, but where the heck was the depth?? Out of all three, Ethan Hawke gave the best performance, creating a portrait of a man under serious duress from family obligations. All I can say is that his pain was visceral. Watch for it.
What ultimately drove this movie was the intense action, which started from a shot through the head in the first five minutes and ended with several shots in the style of Gran Torino (BRILLIANT movie). Although I love dramatic action, I tend to be a sensitive and jittery sort, so I was thankful to have H asking me if I was OK every few gasps and jumps in my seat. I was also thankful to have a shoulder to turn my head into after consecutive gunshots were fired and serious blood was splattered across the scene (which happened quite frequently).
Even though this movie lacked any semblance of depth, I must admit that the action was enough to warrant the ticket purchase (though perhaps a matinee ticket would've been preferable). Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your point of view), I found the nudity a bit excessive and gratuitous, not adding all that much to the flow of the movie. Then again, what sells? Sex, drugs, and alcohol -- all of which this movie has PLENTY.
If you're looking to indulge, check it out.
http://www.brooklynsfinest
After some discussion and debate, we decided to go to see Brooklyn's Finest over Shutter Island. (Apparently M had watched the latter and wanted to get those 2 hours of her life back, so I decided that that wasn't the best review to go in with.) I miss home so badly at this point that I perk up at any mention of New York, so this was definitely the better choice -- despite dramatically dark representations of the projects (where I grew up) that freaked me out a bit.
Brooklyn's Finest falls in line with many many MANY movies that bring together several story lines that collapse into each other within the last 10 minutes. If you're looking for complicated plot structure, this movie isn't for you. Each of the three story lines revolve around a cop (if you haven't figured that out already) -- a burnt out cop about to retire (Richard Gere), an undercover cop looking to get out (Don Cheadle), and a stressed out cop trying to support his family and willing to do so by any means necessary (Ethan Hawke). Come to think of it, those are pretty much the story lines. So I suppose that's that.
In terms of character development, I think more work could've and should've been done for the audience to understand what exactly drives the action -- and inaction -- of the three main characters. Richard Gere certainly did NOT live up to his potential in this movie, doing that *blink blink* he so often does to indicate *intense* thought. (As H would say, are you kidding me??) Don Cheadle didn't fare much better, offering nothing more than a stoic look throughout the entire movie. YES, cops are stoic, but where the heck was the depth?? Out of all three, Ethan Hawke gave the best performance, creating a portrait of a man under serious duress from family obligations. All I can say is that his pain was visceral. Watch for it.
What ultimately drove this movie was the intense action, which started from a shot through the head in the first five minutes and ended with several shots in the style of Gran Torino (BRILLIANT movie). Although I love dramatic action, I tend to be a sensitive and jittery sort, so I was thankful to have H asking me if I was OK every few gasps and jumps in my seat. I was also thankful to have a shoulder to turn my head into after consecutive gunshots were fired and serious blood was splattered across the scene (which happened quite frequently).
Even though this movie lacked any semblance of depth, I must admit that the action was enough to warrant the ticket purchase (though perhaps a matinee ticket would've been preferable). Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your point of view), I found the nudity a bit excessive and gratuitous, not adding all that much to the flow of the movie. Then again, what sells? Sex, drugs, and alcohol -- all of which this movie has PLENTY.
If you're looking to indulge, check it out.
http://www.brooklynsfinest
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Valentine's Day
To be honest, it's been a stressful week. One that needed to end with a cheesy chick flick and some quality girl time. Needless to say, I was happy when it did. (Thanks, L&A!)
As one who likes to bankroll New Line (and my friend's fiancé), I pretty much see everything that comes out of this film studio. And I pretty much pay to see them several times over, only to own them several months later. (And yes, I'm a fan of consumerism.) Valentine's Day may not necessarily be the exception, but I'll admit that it wasn't quite as good as Sex and the City and He's Just Not That Into You. (Sorry, Mark!)
Valentine's Day attempts to be an American version of Love Actually -- or at least has been referenced as such, opening on a holiday and being all about love and stuff. By comparison, I'd have to say that Love Actually does a much better job of plot and character development, creating more surprises through its subtle interweaving of story lines. With that said, however, Valentine's Day did offer one major surprise, which left me teary-eyed at the end.
As a whole, Valentine's Day is a perfect movie for Valentine's Day. On a day that celebrates cheese and sap, you WANT the best friends to end up together, you WANT the cute kids to end up together, you WANT the old couple to end up together, and you WANT the random singletons to end up together. To say you don't is pretty much blasphemy.
Ultimately, this movie offers little in the way of depth, but more than enough in terms of red, pink, and good-looking actors. All I have to say is this: McDreamy, McSteamy, and Bradley Cooper? What more could a girl want for Valentine's Day? OK, maybe some roses would be nice. No worries. Ashton has those covered.
http://www.valentinesdaymo
As one who likes to bankroll New Line (and my friend's fiancé), I pretty much see everything that comes out of this film studio. And I pretty much pay to see them several times over, only to own them several months later. (And yes, I'm a fan of consumerism.) Valentine's Day may not necessarily be the exception, but I'll admit that it wasn't quite as good as Sex and the City and He's Just Not That Into You. (Sorry, Mark!)
Valentine's Day attempts to be an American version of Love Actually -- or at least has been referenced as such, opening on a holiday and being all about love and stuff. By comparison, I'd have to say that Love Actually does a much better job of plot and character development, creating more surprises through its subtle interweaving of story lines. With that said, however, Valentine's Day did offer one major surprise, which left me teary-eyed at the end.
As a whole, Valentine's Day is a perfect movie for Valentine's Day. On a day that celebrates cheese and sap, you WANT the best friends to end up together, you WANT the cute kids to end up together, you WANT the old couple to end up together, and you WANT the random singletons to end up together. To say you don't is pretty much blasphemy.
Ultimately, this movie offers little in the way of depth, but more than enough in terms of red, pink, and good-looking actors. All I have to say is this: McDreamy, McSteamy, and Bradley Cooper? What more could a girl want for Valentine's Day? OK, maybe some roses would be nice. No worries. Ashton has those covered.
http://www.valentinesdaymo
Up in the Air
For those who watch movies for their visual appeal, Up in the Air offers more than its fair share of lookers. As a man who continues to age like a fine wine, George Clooney has a Cary Grant style about him -- casual, warm, sexy, with just the right amount of self-effacement to make him that much more desirable. Vera Farmiga has a more formal air about her, evoking the glamor of yesteryear yet oozing sex appeal without even trying. As for the rest of the cast, Jason Bateman and Anna Kendrick are both quite adorable, offsetting Clooney and Farmiga's old school movie star qualities with their quirky cuteness. Looks aside, these actors show off some impressive acting chops.
For those who watch movies for plot, Up in the Air presents some nice arcs and some great surprises over the course of two hours, making the time fly by (no pun intended, really). The movie starts off with Clooney and no doubt ends off with Clooney, focusing on his mile high club status (ahem) and his dreams of being the superelite of supereilte travelers. Along the way, his relationship with Farmiga, which develops out of a feisty competition over who has more travel status cache, is totally captivating, in all its sweet, daring, and hilarious glory. Clooney's work life and the potential elimination of 90% of his travel are made that much more dramatic by Bateman's cavalier attitude and Kendrick's naive presence. Finally, his interactions with his sisters, which involves getting a cardboard cutout through customs, adds an endearing bent to a movie with more somber qualities.
Finally, for those who watch movies for those deeper messages, Up in the Air is a humdinger. Based on how you interpret the characters and the outcomes of the story lines, this movie is either depressing or hopeful. The fact that you can take things either way may ultimately be the goal of the movie -- which is really quite ingenious if you think about it. Depending on your mood and personality, this movie can either reach into your inner sense of doom and gloom, or your inner sense of promise and resilience. Either way, what you come away with may be more a reflection of you than the movie itself. When Clooney stands beneath that flight board at the end of the movie, he has a choice. The message, however, isn't in what he chooses, but in the the fact that he has a choice.
http://www.theupintheairmovie.com/
For those who watch movies for plot, Up in the Air presents some nice arcs and some great surprises over the course of two hours, making the time fly by (no pun intended, really). The movie starts off with Clooney and no doubt ends off with Clooney, focusing on his mile high club status (ahem) and his dreams of being the superelite of supereilte travelers. Along the way, his relationship with Farmiga, which develops out of a feisty competition over who has more travel status cache, is totally captivating, in all its sweet, daring, and hilarious glory. Clooney's work life and the potential elimination of 90% of his travel are made that much more dramatic by Bateman's cavalier attitude and Kendrick's naive presence. Finally, his interactions with his sisters, which involves getting a cardboard cutout through customs, adds an endearing bent to a movie with more somber qualities.
Finally, for those who watch movies for those deeper messages, Up in the Air is a humdinger. Based on how you interpret the characters and the outcomes of the story lines, this movie is either depressing or hopeful. The fact that you can take things either way may ultimately be the goal of the movie -- which is really quite ingenious if you think about it. Depending on your mood and personality, this movie can either reach into your inner sense of doom and gloom, or your inner sense of promise and resilience. Either way, what you come away with may be more a reflection of you than the movie itself. When Clooney stands beneath that flight board at the end of the movie, he has a choice. The message, however, isn't in what he chooses, but in the the fact that he has a choice.
http://www.theupintheairmovie.com/
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Indigo Grill
I have to admit that I *love* being taken out to eat -- especially when I have free reign to pick where we go, and especially when my dinner date has yet to fully experience my lavish dining habits! So when Dave suggested coming down to SD for a nice meal out, I was more than a little bit excited. :)
After perusing many many many menus, and offering Dave several options to choose from, we decided to go with Indigo Grill down in Little Italy. When I discovered that J&T had gone several times, and tried almost everything off their menu, I was confident that we chose well.
On a dreary and wet Saturday night, we made our way downtown. With the rain still coming down, and Dave a little more stressed than usual, the drive was a little dice-y. OK, not really, but I thought it'd be dramatic to write that. ;) What *was* dice-y, however, was the parking situation. It took many loops around (which I didn't mind since we were early for the reservation anyways) for Dave to concede that we'd have to settle for a lot. Thankfully, at that hour (around 8ish on a Saturday), the flat fee was about $5, which is better than the cost of parking before 7PM (about $8-$10).
As we made our way into the restaurant, I noticed that it was quite bustling, which is always nice to come into from the doom and gloom outside. We were seated pretty quickly at a great banquette table in the middle of the back wall. I scooted in on the banquette side and got a great view of the room -- a few twosomes, a small group to my right, a couple of large groups, a bar near the front entrance. The room had great decor, with a bit of safari-tropical flair, and lots of color and light. The whole space was lovely on the eyes, and felt simultaneously warm & comforting and hip & cool.
Our server Nika brought us menus fairly quickly, and was perfectly attentive all night. We were a bit starved, so we skipped drinks, and dove right into appetizers. Both J&T and Nika had warned us that the portions were ginormous, but Dave was splurging, so we decided to try everything and take stuff home at the end of the night. For appetizers, I went with the Pipian Crusted Brie, which came with jalapeno jelly, honey roasted garlic, grilled nopales, mole negro, and scallion flatbread. (Apparently, "pipian" is now the adjectivized form of pumpkin seed. Who knew?) Dave went with the Stacked Beet Salad, which came with orange segments, shaved fennel, lime-caraway dressing, and dried beet chips. When the apps came to the table, we were floored. They were simply ginormous, totally entree-sized, and absolutely beautiful. Total works of art on super-sized plates.
More importantly, the food tasted absolutely delicious. The melted brie literally oozed out of it's pipian crust, and the mole negro was nice and salty (perhaps a bit too salty?) with layers of flavor. The nopales were grilled perfectly, and the crispy flatbread was a great vehicle for the jalapeno jelly. I'm not a big fan of garlic, so I just had a bite. Dave's salad was quite substantial, with the beets being cooked to just the right consistency -- a good chew without being too mushy. The beet chips were nice and crispy, with a great beet-iness that I could totally taste.
I thought we'd both committed to not finishing our appetizers in preparation for our entrees, but I was clearly wrong. We were obviously starving, because when I looked down at our plates, we'd both pretty much cleared them. Eek! So when our equally ginormous entrees showed up at the table, there really wasn't much more we could do but stare. Yet again, we were met with towering works of art, even more substantial than before. The plates were completely covered in food, in an I've-already-been-dominated-so-let's-see-if-I-can-even-make-a-dent sort of way. At this point, there was a split second when I wished I hadn't ordered an appetizer. However, this thought vaporized quickly as soon as I thought about the yummy, ooey, gooey brie settling nicely in my tummy. :)
For my entree, I decided to go with the Mojo Bone-in Rib Eye, which came with honey-roasted garlic & spicy corn relish, a tamale with mole negro, pipian rojo, and butternut squash with bourbon-walnut butter. Dave had never tried chimichurri, so he went with the Flat Iron Chimichurri, which came with pico de gallo, black beans, a cilantro vinaigrette salad, and a chili honey-glazed quesadilla. I was more than amused with his look of shock when our massive dishes arrived at the table. I sensed that he also felt beaten before the game even started -- and he's quite competitive, shall we say.
I literally couldn't make it through more than a third of my steak, but what I did have was absolutely divine. I ordered it rare, and it came out just so! A rarity in itself. (No pun intended. OK, well, maybe, just a little.) The meat was well-salted, and I could taste the fat. Mmmm.... FAT.... The relish offered a great contrast in taste (tangy) and texture (poppy) to the steak. And the butternut squash was nice and rich and creamy with the bourbon-walnut butter. Unfortunately, all I could get down was a few bites of each. And I didn't even attempt to open the tamale.
Seriously. Beaten. Dave didn't fare much better with his steak, which was also well-seasoned and well-sauced, but remained barely touched. We both agreed that it was probably better to keep the meals fairly intact, so that we could enjoy the whole experience when we got home. OK, whatever, TOTAL LIE. We were simply intent on having dessert, which was the main reason that Dave picked this place out of the list that I sent over. Plus, how can one truly splurge without having dessert?
Considering that we'd polished off our appetizers, Nika wasn't surprised when we asked her to box up our entrees, though she was probably a little shocked when we asked for dessert menus. We already knew we wanted the Roasted Plantain Cheesecake Flautas, which came with a firewater dipping sauce. But I upped the ante by adding the Rainforest Sorbet Assortment at the last minute. I've read that the sorbet assortment is always tacked on by the pastry chef as a safe choice for diners, but I love having my palate cleansed at the end of a meal. Nika wasn't quite sure of the three flavors for the night, but I wasn't partial either way, and we ended up with mango, raspberry, and guava.
The flautas had a lovely crisp exterior and a warm smooth interior, making for a great textural contrast. I'm not the biggest fan of cheesecake though, so I preferred the berries & cream that came on the side. Dave literally had to stop me before I ate them all off his plate! As for the sorbets, they were delicious in all their variety. The mango tasted just like my favorite Trader Joe's version. The raspberry had a nice tang to it, and I think it was Dave's fave. The guava was my fave because it wasn't too sweet and there was just a bit of bitterness to it. Like grapefruit without the acid. I seriously wish I'd considered the possibility of taking them home (which Dave totally suggested and which we ended up doing) before I started eating big spoonfuls of them all. I would've left more behind! *DEEP SIGH*
At any rate, this was the best meal I've had in a VERY long time. And I was honored and touched when Dave said it was his best meal EVER to date! Apparently now he knows how princesses eat. :) Let's hope he comes back to SD really soon -- with the same appetite in tow!
If you want great ambiance, food, and service, definitely make your way to Indigo Grill. It was a totally unforgettable experience.
Indigo Grill
1536 India Street
San Diego, CA
619.234.6802
http://www.cohnrestaurants.com/restaurants/indigogrill/
After perusing many many many menus, and offering Dave several options to choose from, we decided to go with Indigo Grill down in Little Italy. When I discovered that J&T had gone several times, and tried almost everything off their menu, I was confident that we chose well.
On a dreary and wet Saturday night, we made our way downtown. With the rain still coming down, and Dave a little more stressed than usual, the drive was a little dice-y. OK, not really, but I thought it'd be dramatic to write that. ;) What *was* dice-y, however, was the parking situation. It took many loops around (which I didn't mind since we were early for the reservation anyways) for Dave to concede that we'd have to settle for a lot. Thankfully, at that hour (around 8ish on a Saturday), the flat fee was about $5, which is better than the cost of parking before 7PM (about $8-$10).
As we made our way into the restaurant, I noticed that it was quite bustling, which is always nice to come into from the doom and gloom outside. We were seated pretty quickly at a great banquette table in the middle of the back wall. I scooted in on the banquette side and got a great view of the room -- a few twosomes, a small group to my right, a couple of large groups, a bar near the front entrance. The room had great decor, with a bit of safari-tropical flair, and lots of color and light. The whole space was lovely on the eyes, and felt simultaneously warm & comforting and hip & cool.
Our server Nika brought us menus fairly quickly, and was perfectly attentive all night. We were a bit starved, so we skipped drinks, and dove right into appetizers. Both J&T and Nika had warned us that the portions were ginormous, but Dave was splurging, so we decided to try everything and take stuff home at the end of the night. For appetizers, I went with the Pipian Crusted Brie, which came with jalapeno jelly, honey roasted garlic, grilled nopales, mole negro, and scallion flatbread. (Apparently, "pipian" is now the adjectivized form of pumpkin seed. Who knew?) Dave went with the Stacked Beet Salad, which came with orange segments, shaved fennel, lime-caraway dressing, and dried beet chips. When the apps came to the table, we were floored. They were simply ginormous, totally entree-sized, and absolutely beautiful. Total works of art on super-sized plates.
More importantly, the food tasted absolutely delicious. The melted brie literally oozed out of it's pipian crust, and the mole negro was nice and salty (perhaps a bit too salty?) with layers of flavor. The nopales were grilled perfectly, and the crispy flatbread was a great vehicle for the jalapeno jelly. I'm not a big fan of garlic, so I just had a bite. Dave's salad was quite substantial, with the beets being cooked to just the right consistency -- a good chew without being too mushy. The beet chips were nice and crispy, with a great beet-iness that I could totally taste.
I thought we'd both committed to not finishing our appetizers in preparation for our entrees, but I was clearly wrong. We were obviously starving, because when I looked down at our plates, we'd both pretty much cleared them. Eek! So when our equally ginormous entrees showed up at the table, there really wasn't much more we could do but stare. Yet again, we were met with towering works of art, even more substantial than before. The plates were completely covered in food, in an I've-already-been-dominated-so-let's-see-if-I-can-even-make-a-dent sort of way. At this point, there was a split second when I wished I hadn't ordered an appetizer. However, this thought vaporized quickly as soon as I thought about the yummy, ooey, gooey brie settling nicely in my tummy. :)
For my entree, I decided to go with the Mojo Bone-in Rib Eye, which came with honey-roasted garlic & spicy corn relish, a tamale with mole negro, pipian rojo, and butternut squash with bourbon-walnut butter. Dave had never tried chimichurri, so he went with the Flat Iron Chimichurri, which came with pico de gallo, black beans, a cilantro vinaigrette salad, and a chili honey-glazed quesadilla. I was more than amused with his look of shock when our massive dishes arrived at the table. I sensed that he also felt beaten before the game even started -- and he's quite competitive, shall we say.
I literally couldn't make it through more than a third of my steak, but what I did have was absolutely divine. I ordered it rare, and it came out just so! A rarity in itself. (No pun intended. OK, well, maybe, just a little.) The meat was well-salted, and I could taste the fat. Mmmm.... FAT.... The relish offered a great contrast in taste (tangy) and texture (poppy) to the steak. And the butternut squash was nice and rich and creamy with the bourbon-walnut butter. Unfortunately, all I could get down was a few bites of each. And I didn't even attempt to open the tamale.
Seriously. Beaten. Dave didn't fare much better with his steak, which was also well-seasoned and well-sauced, but remained barely touched. We both agreed that it was probably better to keep the meals fairly intact, so that we could enjoy the whole experience when we got home. OK, whatever, TOTAL LIE. We were simply intent on having dessert, which was the main reason that Dave picked this place out of the list that I sent over. Plus, how can one truly splurge without having dessert?
Considering that we'd polished off our appetizers, Nika wasn't surprised when we asked her to box up our entrees, though she was probably a little shocked when we asked for dessert menus. We already knew we wanted the Roasted Plantain Cheesecake Flautas, which came with a firewater dipping sauce. But I upped the ante by adding the Rainforest Sorbet Assortment at the last minute. I've read that the sorbet assortment is always tacked on by the pastry chef as a safe choice for diners, but I love having my palate cleansed at the end of a meal. Nika wasn't quite sure of the three flavors for the night, but I wasn't partial either way, and we ended up with mango, raspberry, and guava.
The flautas had a lovely crisp exterior and a warm smooth interior, making for a great textural contrast. I'm not the biggest fan of cheesecake though, so I preferred the berries & cream that came on the side. Dave literally had to stop me before I ate them all off his plate! As for the sorbets, they were delicious in all their variety. The mango tasted just like my favorite Trader Joe's version. The raspberry had a nice tang to it, and I think it was Dave's fave. The guava was my fave because it wasn't too sweet and there was just a bit of bitterness to it. Like grapefruit without the acid. I seriously wish I'd considered the possibility of taking them home (which Dave totally suggested and which we ended up doing) before I started eating big spoonfuls of them all. I would've left more behind! *DEEP SIGH*
At any rate, this was the best meal I've had in a VERY long time. And I was honored and touched when Dave said it was his best meal EVER to date! Apparently now he knows how princesses eat. :) Let's hope he comes back to SD really soon -- with the same appetite in tow!
If you want great ambiance, food, and service, definitely make your way to Indigo Grill. It was a totally unforgettable experience.
Indigo Grill
1536 India Street
San Diego, CA
619.234.6802
http://www.cohnrestaurants.com/restaurants/indigogrill/
Zocalo
Considering how ragged and stressed I've been lately, it was an absolute delight when Teresa suggested a nice lunch out. After discussing a few options and perusing the menu, we decided to try Zocalo -- a restaurant with two locations, one in Old Town and one in 4S Ranch. I'd seen the Old Town location from the outside, but I hadn't gotten to try it yet, so this was the perfect opportunity. Since Teresa needed to stop by BBB, we made our way to the 4S Ranch location and wandered in around noon on a Friday. (I even made a quick reservation to get those lovely Open Table points!)
Now, I have no idea how early/late people eat lunch in SD suburbs, but I suppose noon is a bit early for some. When we walked in, the restaurant was fairly light, though I didn't mind too much, since I always think service should be even better under these circumstances. Either I was right or our server was simply awesome or possibly both, because we literally had some of the best service either of us have ever had. But before I go on, I'd just like to say that I thought the decor was magnificent. Seeing that it was a grey day, I was unbelievably happy to see all the colors -- reds, oranges, greens, blues -- on the walls, on the tables and chairs, everywhere. Plus, super high ceilings always do it for me. I love walking into big, airy, expansive spaces -- it makes me feel a little like royalty.
Soon after the hostess showed us to a half-moon booth, our lovely server Jeannie greeted us happily and offered us drink and lunch menus. The first memorable thing she did was ask us what kind of lunch we where having -- a quick power lunch or a more leisurely lunch? I don't remember ever being asked such a thing, but I thought it was quite brilliant. Isn't it annoying when food or checks come out too quickly or too slowly? Totally frustrating. By asking a quick question, Jeannie did away with all that nonsense and totally put us at ease. Major brownie points!
As she was going over the menus, water, chips, salsa, and warm gooey cheese appeared magically in front of us by way of another server. Teresa quickly dipped into the cheese -- a total novelty -- and delighted in its warm gooey-ness. We were left for a bit so that we could peruse the menus on our own. After contemplating the drink menu, we decided to go with the Carmen Miranda -- a non-alcoholic drink blending coconut, pineapple juice, and cream. Teresa wasn't quite sure whether the flavors would go well together, but I sensed a willing accomplice, so I ordered it to share.
The second memorable thing that happened was that the bartender automatically split the drink into two glasses for us. Normally, I'd suppose that bartenders would be annoyed that we didn't order two drinks, but instead, this one was nice enough to make sharing easy. Totally unexpected, definitely more brownie points. More importantly, the drink was absolutely delicious. Just enough sweetness, not too much tang, not too heavy. It would've been a lot for me to drink both glasses, but split into two, it was just perfect. Mmmm.... And with the indoor palms overhead, we totally felt like we were in a tropical paradise. All we needed were some umbrellas in our glasses!
Because I hadn't been out in a few weeks, I decided that we needed to start with an appetizer. After Jeannie assured us that the seafood was only lightly dusted, we went with the crispy harina masa fried shrimp and calamari. The dish came with an assortment of squid rings, squid tentacles, and shrimp, as well as a spicy tomato mojo and a lime crema. With a nice big squeeze of lemon and a quick dip in one or both sauces, the shrimp and calamari were delicious. Not too fried, really great flavors.
For our main dishes, I went with the large masa-crusted soft shell crab and shrimp salad, which came with crisp watercress, snap peas, tomatoes, and roasted wild onions. I ordered the dressing on the side, so my plate showed up with a small cup of cilantro dressing, and two smaller cups of ancho chile cream and more lime crema (which are normally drizzled on top apparently). The dish was very pretty, with my single small crab sitting atop the watercress, and my two pieces of shrimp leaning on the side. At first, I thought, "Wow, that's all the crab and shrimp I get?" But after I started eating, I realized that that was more than enough, especially after the appetizer. All in all, I thought the dish was quite good, though the crab could've been slightly crispier. The sauces went well with the calamari and shrimp from the appetizer, so it was fun to dip dip dip away!
Teresa went with the crispy soft shell crab sandwich, which came with oven roasted serrano ham, jalapeño tartar sauce, lettuce, and tomato. The sandwich was quite large, and she wasn't sure how to go at it. After some careful layering and maneuvering, however, she was able to get a good grip on it. The serrano looked quite crispy, but she admitted later that she thought the crab was a bit too fried and not meaty enough for her tastes. I was a little sad to hear that, especially since mine was so good, but we both thought she might've met her *fried* quota with the appetizer. Regardless, we both enjoyed her crispy sweet potato fries, which she thought went better with my ancho chile cream than her ketchup.
By this point, we were stuffed. There was no way that dessert could fit into our tummies, but of course I had to check out the menu anyways. Every item looked pretty good, though Teresa was particularly drawn to the coconut flan, and I was wondering about the sorbet trio. Again, there was no way anything else would fit, so we "resigned" ourselves to coming back again. Needless to say, we'll have to, simply because Jeannie (easily) cajoled us into signing up for email offers and updates, which include a free appetizer sampler on our next visit AND an alcoholic treat on our one-year anniversary. Who's going to say no to that? Seriously.
At the end of the meal, she quickly grabbed us some boxes to pack up our leftovers, and was nice enough to honor my request for some extra ancho chile cream and lime crema. For serving us a delicious meal with a lovely disposition, we tipped her well. And we'll definitely be repeat customers.
If you haven't made it to Zocalo, it's time.
Zocalo
10514 Craftsman Way
San Diego, CA 92127
858.924.9200
http://www.brigantine.com/locations_zocalo.html
P.S. I *totally* regretted forgetting my camera!! :(
Now, I have no idea how early/late people eat lunch in SD suburbs, but I suppose noon is a bit early for some. When we walked in, the restaurant was fairly light, though I didn't mind too much, since I always think service should be even better under these circumstances. Either I was right or our server was simply awesome or possibly both, because we literally had some of the best service either of us have ever had. But before I go on, I'd just like to say that I thought the decor was magnificent. Seeing that it was a grey day, I was unbelievably happy to see all the colors -- reds, oranges, greens, blues -- on the walls, on the tables and chairs, everywhere. Plus, super high ceilings always do it for me. I love walking into big, airy, expansive spaces -- it makes me feel a little like royalty.
Soon after the hostess showed us to a half-moon booth, our lovely server Jeannie greeted us happily and offered us drink and lunch menus. The first memorable thing she did was ask us what kind of lunch we where having -- a quick power lunch or a more leisurely lunch? I don't remember ever being asked such a thing, but I thought it was quite brilliant. Isn't it annoying when food or checks come out too quickly or too slowly? Totally frustrating. By asking a quick question, Jeannie did away with all that nonsense and totally put us at ease. Major brownie points!
As she was going over the menus, water, chips, salsa, and warm gooey cheese appeared magically in front of us by way of another server. Teresa quickly dipped into the cheese -- a total novelty -- and delighted in its warm gooey-ness. We were left for a bit so that we could peruse the menus on our own. After contemplating the drink menu, we decided to go with the Carmen Miranda -- a non-alcoholic drink blending coconut, pineapple juice, and cream. Teresa wasn't quite sure whether the flavors would go well together, but I sensed a willing accomplice, so I ordered it to share.
The second memorable thing that happened was that the bartender automatically split the drink into two glasses for us. Normally, I'd suppose that bartenders would be annoyed that we didn't order two drinks, but instead, this one was nice enough to make sharing easy. Totally unexpected, definitely more brownie points. More importantly, the drink was absolutely delicious. Just enough sweetness, not too much tang, not too heavy. It would've been a lot for me to drink both glasses, but split into two, it was just perfect. Mmmm.... And with the indoor palms overhead, we totally felt like we were in a tropical paradise. All we needed were some umbrellas in our glasses!
Because I hadn't been out in a few weeks, I decided that we needed to start with an appetizer. After Jeannie assured us that the seafood was only lightly dusted, we went with the crispy harina masa fried shrimp and calamari. The dish came with an assortment of squid rings, squid tentacles, and shrimp, as well as a spicy tomato mojo and a lime crema. With a nice big squeeze of lemon and a quick dip in one or both sauces, the shrimp and calamari were delicious. Not too fried, really great flavors.
For our main dishes, I went with the large masa-crusted soft shell crab and shrimp salad, which came with crisp watercress, snap peas, tomatoes, and roasted wild onions. I ordered the dressing on the side, so my plate showed up with a small cup of cilantro dressing, and two smaller cups of ancho chile cream and more lime crema (which are normally drizzled on top apparently). The dish was very pretty, with my single small crab sitting atop the watercress, and my two pieces of shrimp leaning on the side. At first, I thought, "Wow, that's all the crab and shrimp I get?" But after I started eating, I realized that that was more than enough, especially after the appetizer. All in all, I thought the dish was quite good, though the crab could've been slightly crispier. The sauces went well with the calamari and shrimp from the appetizer, so it was fun to dip dip dip away!
Teresa went with the crispy soft shell crab sandwich, which came with oven roasted serrano ham, jalapeño tartar sauce, lettuce, and tomato. The sandwich was quite large, and she wasn't sure how to go at it. After some careful layering and maneuvering, however, she was able to get a good grip on it. The serrano looked quite crispy, but she admitted later that she thought the crab was a bit too fried and not meaty enough for her tastes. I was a little sad to hear that, especially since mine was so good, but we both thought she might've met her *fried* quota with the appetizer. Regardless, we both enjoyed her crispy sweet potato fries, which she thought went better with my ancho chile cream than her ketchup.
By this point, we were stuffed. There was no way that dessert could fit into our tummies, but of course I had to check out the menu anyways. Every item looked pretty good, though Teresa was particularly drawn to the coconut flan, and I was wondering about the sorbet trio. Again, there was no way anything else would fit, so we "resigned" ourselves to coming back again. Needless to say, we'll have to, simply because Jeannie (easily) cajoled us into signing up for email offers and updates, which include a free appetizer sampler on our next visit AND an alcoholic treat on our one-year anniversary. Who's going to say no to that? Seriously.
At the end of the meal, she quickly grabbed us some boxes to pack up our leftovers, and was nice enough to honor my request for some extra ancho chile cream and lime crema. For serving us a delicious meal with a lovely disposition, we tipped her well. And we'll definitely be repeat customers.
If you haven't made it to Zocalo, it's time.
Zocalo
10514 Craftsman Way
San Diego, CA 92127
858.924.9200
http://www.brigantine.com/locations_zocalo.html
P.S. I *totally* regretted forgetting my camera!! :(
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)