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By Bill & Tush
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Podcast Description
The PhillyFoodGuys uncover and review lesser-known restaurants in Philadelphia, PA. Disposing of convention, Bill, Tushar and friends focus on finding fun and unique food places in this city of neighborhoods. Restaurants, food markets, sidewalk vendors and food places of all types are fair game in our search to find Philly's best underground eats! Please check out our website at http://PhillyFoodGuys.com
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Open-Chef-A-Me a Big Hit | Billed as an event where “Karaoke Meets the Kitchen,” Philly’s inaugural Open Chef A Me night was a big success. Founded by four friends over beers at a local bar, this dinner event brings amateur chef’s into the kitchen of an area restaurant to create a meal for forty of their closest “friends.” So, if you obsess over shows on the Food Network, cringe at the clueless on Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares or crave to unleash your inner Jacques Pepin, then here’s your chance. Oh yeah, if you like random experiences with fun people this is for you too. Monday night’s event was held at South Philly’s Langostini and featured Chefs Bart Mroz and Magda Kozak who prepared a delicious, polish-inspired feast. The evening began with light hors d’ oeuvres and refreshments provided by Victory Brewing. (Shameless Plug: Victory’s Baltic Thunder Porter was especially tasty). As the meal progressed, our Culinary Tour Guide Jesse Middleton announced each course, which included: Fresh Spinach Salad with Dried Cranberries, Candied Walnuts with Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette Victory Thunder Porter Braised Beef Four Cheese Mac and Cheese Kalafior z Bulka Tarta – Polish Cauliflower with Browned Butter and Bread Crumbs Sernik z Jablkami – Polish Cheesecake with apples The entire meal was delicious and the crowd was a diverse mix of the founders’ families, friends and miscellaneous other characters. Planned and executed in less than a month, the event was reminiscent of a culinary flash mob. Frankly, I couldn’t help feeling that we were all privy to the newest Philly food secret… But now that the cat’s out of the bag, Open-Chef-A-Me is inviting everyone to participate. Whether you’re a wannabe chef, food officionado or just in the market for meeting new people and having a good time, Open-Chef-A-Me is for you. But you better hurry, our own PhilaFoodie David Snyder was stalking the event too, so all of Philly may soon know about it! Special thanks to go out to the four Open Chef A Me founders who made this happen: Bart Mroz Jesse Middleton , Evan Kaplowitz and Louis Brice, not to mention the night’s sponsors Victory Brewing and Bridge Market Group. | 3/31/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Philly Food Blogger Tips: Zahav and Modo Mio | Last week’s Philly Food Blogger Meetup gave us an opportunity that we couldn’t ignore: corner some of our favorite food bloggers to uncover a few of their “secret spots.” So after a few beverages, we sat down to chat about some of their favorite lesser-known restaurants. In fact, we were lucky enough to get so many recommendations that we made two episodes. This week we’ll cover Zahav and Modo Mio. Here’s a brief rundown Old City’s Zahav David McDuff from McDuff’s Food and Wine Trail thinks Old City’s Zahav has something for everyone. Delicious Israeli food prepared with love in a great environment. Perfect for a meal or a snack. Zahav 237 St. James Pl. Philadelphia, PA (215) 625-8800 www.zahavrestaurant.com Northern Liberties’ Modo Mio Jess (Fries with that Shake) and Kate (Messy and Picky) really like Modo Mio. The whole experience is really enjoyable – delicious food, great service, comfortable atmosphere. Plus plenty of options for veggies and it’s a BYOB. Also, I can’t wait to give the Tiramisu a shot. Modo Mio 161 W. Girard Ave. Philadlephia, PA (215) 203-8707 www.modomiorestaurant.com I really enjoyed the chance to chat with David, Jess and Kate. Give the podcast a listen; I don’t think you’ll be dissappointed. Next episode, I’ll be chatting with three other bloggers about Divan Kitchen, Q.T. Vietnamese Sandwich and Tiffin Mt. Airy. So stay tuned… | 3/23/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Dim Sum at Chinatown’s Ocean Harbor | Dim Sum has always seems to be a crowd favorite, so we were stoked to get the opportunity to visit Chinatown’s Ocean Harbor restaurant on a recent Saturday afternoon. Escorted by my sister Christina and her mom Joanne, we were treated to an insider’s tour of what is a traditional weekend treat for many Philadelphia-area families, Asian or otherwise. And we are all for tradition. As we entered the restaurant, it was clear from the start that we were going to get more than a meal, but an entire experience. Confronted by throngs of people, a cacophony of sounds and all sorts of delicious aromas, I was struck by the dramatic difference from the relative calm of the Race Street sidewalk just a few feet away. Apparently weekends are busy and crowded; Joanne mentioned that many Asian families from the region come into town on weekends to shop for groceries and have lunch. So maybe 1pm on a Saturday may not have been the best choice to avoid crowds, but it was great for many other reasons. After a brief wait, our hostess disappeared into the busy dining room asking us to follow her. Frankly, we’ve had Dim Sum several times, but having a couple “culinary tour guides” to show us the ropes made it a lot more fun. As we made our way to our table, I experienced my first ever Dim Sum Cart traffic jam – nobody yelling, just dispensing tins, plates and bamboo steamers full of tasty treats. Thankfully we arrived at our table without incident. As soon as our butts hit the seats, Chris and Joanne had some of their favorite items on the table. After a few simple questions, like “What is this?” we quickly realized that trying to understand what we were eating would be an uphill battle. So we put the FoodGuy inquisition into neutral and allowed the rest of the meal to become a pleasant blur; tasty items coming at a fast and furious pace. So I’m not going to give you a blow by blow description. Thankfully we took plenty of photos All of the items we sampled were hot and fresh, so generally it’s pretty hard for any Dim Sum virgin or veteran to go wrong. However, after getting some advice from Chris and Joanne, here are a couple suggestions: 1. Go when it’s busy – Constant stream of fresh food 2. Go to a larger restaurant – Fresher items, more variety 3. Go with a group of friends – Try many items 4. Start slowly – Figure out what you like 5. Dive in – Don’t get overwhelmed, just do it Concluding our meal, it came time to pay the check; the billing process for our meal was interesting in itself. Once seated, we were given a blank check that resembled a score card. As the various items were dropped off, our server would ask for the check and select a box indicating “Small, Medium, Large” or “Special.” Finally, we had the bill summed and we paid the cashier. Our meal was about $15pp – a deal. We really enjoyed Dim Sum at Ocean Harbor. Sure, the food was great but it was the experience that really made it special… I’ll admit that if you don’t have the luxury of a culinary guide, the prospect of immersing yourself into an unfamiliar environment may be daunting, but give it a shot you won’t be disappointed! Ocean Harbor Restaurant 1023 Race St. Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 574-1398 P.S. – If you go to Chinatown for Dim Sum during the weekend, the more adventurous should take some time to do some grocery shopping in one of the many produce shops and sidewalk stands. It’s an experience in itself Also, here’s a handy Guide to Dim Sum if you’d like some more information | 3/14/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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South Philly’s For Pete’s Sake | For Pete’s Sake is a great South Philly local that’s an ideal spot for a quick bite, or a few pints. Ever since seeing patrons having a relaxed meal at their sidewalk tables during warmer weather, we knew that we had to check it out. Located in the shadow of I-95 at Front and Christian Streets, For Pete’s Sake has a warm, comfortable atmosphere, a good beer selection and a menu that could be best described as “pub grub with a twist.” Stumbling into the bar one frosty evening, Patti and I found a busy pub containing a 12 seat bar and 12 tables. We were immediately greeted by one of the staff that ushered us to an available table. Settling in, we commented on the attractively decorated room, that was actually enhanced by tasteful seasonal decoration, as apposed to the typical dollar store trappings. Confronted by a sizable beer menu, Patti and I made our selections and moved on to the menu. The beer selection appears to be a point of pride and you can check out For Pete’s Sake beer list here . While the menu is of limited size, I think that it offers just enough standard bar food, plus a few unique items. A couple appetizers that I noticed were Escargot, Broccoli Rabe and “Mushrooms and Toast,” while the Chocolate Souffle dessert piqued my interest too. We chose the Mushrooms and Toast appetizer, with entrees including a Lamb Pasty and Fish ‘n Chips finishing with the Chocolate Bombe for desert. We really enjoyed our meal. The Mushrooms and Toast appetizer was delicious, featuring mushrooms topped by a poached egg, supported by pieces of grilled flatbread and accompanied by a small side salad. According to Patti, my Lamb Pasty is really a pot pie; she’s a pasty snob since her mom is a pasty-makin’ fiend from way back. Whatever you call it, it was delicious – pieces of cubed lamb in a rich, flavorful gravy with the necessary veggies and enclosed in puff pastry. The Fish and Chips was equally satisfying, providing a large portion with a tasty crunch, without being overly oily. I think I used like half a bottle of Malt Vinegar on mine – yum. While flavorful, the Chocolate Bombe was a bit too heavy for me; it was chocolate cake enrobed in a thick layer of chocolate. Patti, being the chocolate nut that she is, liked it. I’d like to point out that the service we received was excellent. With a modestly sized restaurant, it appeared that the two servers shared bartending and foodservice duties. Although this can be sometimes a recipe for disaster, especially with a full bar, we found our servers provided service that was timely and thoughtful. So, if you’re looking for a good, casual meal and a few drinks, we think that you’ll enjoy For Pete’s Sake. For Pete’s Sake 900 S. Front St. Philadelphia, PA 19147 (215) 462-2230 www.forpetessakepub.com | 2/11/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Truck Food at Temple: Teppanyaki & Coffee | Truck food is alive and well on Temple’s North Philly campus. During a recent visit, I had the opportunity to sample some of the best from area food trucks: Japanese Teppanyaki and coffee. Yeah, I know it’s a weird combination, but let me elaborate… After checking out Temple’s facilities for an upcoming event, my guide and I found ourselves in the midst of lunchtime. I told Paul from The CaffiNation Podcast to be ready with a suggestion for the best truck food on campus, so we headed directly to the Japanese food truck located at the intersection of N.12th and W. Berks Streets. Walking up N.12th Street on Temple’s campus, there’s a number of unremarkable looking food trucks and the “Japanese and Korean” truck is no different. Painted white over blue and surrounded by drink coolers, our mobile café had no sign and only displayed its menu taped in the window. I was encouraged upon our arrival: there were a number of people already waiting for their meals (a good sign when it comes to truck food). I took Paul’s lead in ordering the Beef Teppanyaki with noodles, but added an order of Vegetarian Dumplings, both of which set me back a whopping $8 (incl. beverage). Waiting for our food, we watched as the trio of cooks smoothly produced meals for the continual steam of students. After a short wait, it was our turn to take our brown bags away to find a suitable dining spot. The Beef Teppanyaki was delicious and included a thick, spaghetti-like noodle, broccoli, onions, sesame seeds and a side of homemade chili sauce. The beef was tender, yet flavorful and not overly greasy. Furthermore, the noodles made the dish much more substantial and enjoyable. While the Vegetable Dumplings were good, they weren’t anything fantastic. Regardless, I definitely recommend this spot if you’re in the neighborhood. “So, what about the coffee?” you ask. Well, as we were finishing up our meal, Paul mentioned that his local caffeine “pusher” roasts its own coffee beans daily. Considering that The Pretzel Hut is almost within spitting distance of a Starbucks, I had to check it out. Located just outside the Paley Library at N. 11th and W. Berks Streets, The Pretzel Hut is a small kiosk that brews a fresh pot every fifteen minutes and serves a fine cup of coffee. While it doesn’t hurt that it’s inexpensive, I’d be willing to spend a little more if they offered an environmentally friendlier coffee cup, but that’s just me. So if you want a really good cup of coffee and rail against world-wide coffee domination, stop by The Pretzel Hut to “stick it to the man.” The “Japanese and Korean” Food Truck is located at the intersection of N.12th and W. Berks Streets Pretzel Hut is located outside the Paley Library at the intersection of N. 11th St. and W. Berks Street. | 4/27/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Indian Lunch Buffet Roundup: We’re Full! | Philadelphia is packed with plenty of good Indian restaurants, but a good Indian lunch buffet can be hard to find. With that in mind, we selected Karma, Tandoor India, Sitar India and Uduppi Dosa House to find the best Indian lunch buffet around. Is it an exhaustive list? No, but if we didn’t limit ourselves we’d still be eating… Without further ado, here’s how we ranked each Indian lunch buffet: Karma was the first stop in the Indian Lunch Buffet Round up and proved to be the standard by which the others were measured. There was an excellent variety of food items, all of which were presented in an attractive, appetizing manner. It was clear that the items were of high quality. The atmosphere at Karma is contemporary and comfortable, even if I thought the dining room was a bit dimly light. The service was reasonably attentive and the staff friendly. Finally, at $9.95 Karma had the most expensive buffet, but we thought it was worth it. Karma is located at 114 Chestnut St. in Philadelphia, PA (215) 925-1444 www.thekarmarestaurant.com Sitar India proved to be a credible candidate, but didn’t outshine the other competitors. Regardless, the buffet offered some solid dishes that everyone enjoyed; Sitar India is one of the few Indian restaurants in University City to offer Dosas. The wide open, rectangular dining room wasn’t particularly comfortable and having the buffet stuffed into a corner made it difficult to get to. Still, the $7.95 buffet price created a constant flow of patrons that kept the buffet items fresh and hot. Sitar India is located at 60 S. 38th Street Philadelphia, PA (215) 662-0818 Tandoor India was stop # 3 in the Indian Lunch Buffet Roundup and did not disappoint. The buffet offered a variety of high quality items in an attractive, comfortable environment. The “standard” $7.95 price for the buffet also includes soft drinks. I could babble on, but why waste your time? This place is very good. Tandoor India is located at 106 S. 40th St. Philadelphia, PA (215) 222-7122 www.tandoorindiarestaurant.com Uduppi Dosa House proved to be an enjoyable end to the Indian Lunch Buffet Roundup. Specializing in Southern Indian food, we had the opportunity to taste a number of dishes that we had not experienced at any of the other restaurants. Furthermore, Uduppi’s Dosas were excellent – I now understand why Tushar likes them so much. Lastly, at $6.99 how can you go wrong? Uduppi Dosa House is located at Center Plaza 2163 Galloway Rd. Bensalem, PA 19020 (215) 638-4008 www.uduppidosa.com Overall, I thought the food and service were good, but the lack of any significant atmosphere places Uduppi behind Karma and Tandoor India. Tushar, on the other hand, ranks Uduppi highly because the food is so different from that of Northern Indian restaurants. I understand his position, but I think that his passion for Southern Indian food mars his judgement Let’s just say we’ve agreed to disagree. What do you think? [Tags]Philadelphia, Philly, Indian[/Tags] | 4/17/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Indian Lunch Buffet Roundup: Episode # 4 | Bensalem’s Uduppi Dosa House is a bit beyond our normal scope of Philadelphia’s city limits, but that’s where we had to go to get some decent Southern Indian food. Adamant that we need to include a South Indian candidate in our Lunch Buffet Roundup, Tushar pointed us north of the border to sample some southern delicacies. I’m happy he did. On the surface, Uduppi Dosa House doesn’t seem to be all that special. Located in the middle of a strip mall, the exterior of the restaurant is fairly inconspicuous; the interior is equally underwhelming. As we were ushered to our table, I could feel Tushar developing a plan of attack; I also think he started to foam at the mouth. He really likes Indian food. You know, being Indian and all… Without getting into too many of the gory details, we sampled the majority of the buffet items, but our favorites include: Masala Dosa A crispy, crepe-like cake served with a variety of fillings Rasam A sweet and sour soup Sambar A pea and vegetable stew Sambar Idli A rice and lentil “cake” served with Sambar Mehdu Vada A savory indian fried dumpling Chennai Pal Payasam Warm milk-based dessert with vermicelli & nuts I’m really glad that I had the opportunity to enjoy some southern Indian dishes, because they were very good and different from northern Indian food. I now understand why Tushar loves his Dosas. Slightly sour and crunchy, Dosas have both a nice flavor and texture. The Rasam had a subtle sweet and sour taste, especially when eaten with an Idli. The Sambar was delicious and offered just a bit of spice, but not enough to put sensitive people off. Lastly, the doughnut-like Mehdu Vada offered a crispy crunch in a savory little package. Generally, I found that most of the dishes featured delicate and interesting flavors. Typically, no meal is complete without Tushar grilling our server. So, as I sipped my Madras Coffee, Tushar got the “low-down” on some special buffets offered on a weekly basis. Wednesday night brings a Chaat (Northern Indian street food) Buffet for $11.99 while Friday Night Uduppi offers an Indian Chinese Buffet $11.99. Sounds pretty darn affordable! If you consider that our lunch buffet was $6.99 each, the Uduppi Dosa House is the price leader! In summary, go to Uduppi Dosa House for the food not the atmosphere. It’s worth the trip if you’re keen on trying southern Indian food. If you’re already in the neighborhood, definitely hit it. How can you go wrong for $6.99? Please stay tuned for our final post of our series on Philly’s Indian Lunch Buffets where we’ll announce the winner and tell you why. Uduppi Dosa House is located at Center Plaza 2163 Galloway Rd. Bensalem, PA 19020 (215) 638-4008 www.uduppidosa.com | 3/19/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Belgian Beer Buzz at Beneluxx | A lesser known spot to sample beer, wine, cheese and chocolate. Mmm good. | 3/12/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Vietnam Cafe: A Gracious Meal | A visit to one of West Philly's newest restaurants. | 2/24/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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West Philly’s Dock Street Brewery | After months of pre-opening updates and post opening assessments, we finally got the opportunity to visit West Philly’s Dock Street Brewery. And we weren’t disappointed. Our first of two visits occurred on a recent Saturday night, when Dock Street was packed. Mob scene not withstanding, the hostess greeted us promptly and put us in the queue for the estimated 1 hour wait. Afterward, we stalked the bar and attacked two freshly vacated barstools. Luckily enough, they were in a prime location: next to the taps and within view of the food staged for delivery to the dining area. We found a home for the evening. Armed with beers, Patti, Sue and I had the opportunity to get a feel for the atmosphere. Although the exterior presented a finished, “gastropub” look, the inside is definitely raw. At first glance, the stainless steel bar surface reminds me more of an auto parts store than a bar, while the open dining area, complete with concrete floor and lawn furniture, contributed to an industrial feel. Dock Street does not offer a traditional restaurant vibe; in fact I wouldn’t classify it as a “restaurant” at all. “Beer Hall” is a much better description. Sipping our brews, our attention turned to the menu, which offers something for everyone. While covering the basics, Dock Street specializes in pizza, panini and calzones; the obligatory salads and sandwiches round out the limited menu. Surprisingly, Dock Street also offers quite a few vegetarian and Vegan options, a definite nod to the local veggies. Sue had been to Dock Street before and directed us toward the pizza. We chose the Flammenkuche (Gorgonzola, apple-smoked bacon & rosemary) and the Portobello (Portobello mushrooms, Mozzarella, Gorgonzola) since we love fungi. Anxiously awaiting our dinner, we watched a constant stream of items leaving the open kitchen to waiting tables; all the items looked good, but I think the pizzas are definitely the stars here. Beer-wise, I’m going to spare you the gorey details and summarize our experience by saying that Dock Street has a half dozen craft beers that we enjoyed (and will enjoy again, and again…). Users of the Beer Advocate give it a B+. If you need a dose of beer geekery, check out the Beer Advocate’s User Reviews. When our pizzas arrived, they were definitely worth the wait. The Flammenkuche was substantial and delicious: the gorgonzola was remarkably mild and mixed well with the bacon. Though lighter, the Portobello pizza was also a winner with plenty of mushies and a good gorgonzola “twang” not to metion a thin, crunchy crust. It’s tough to beat good pizza and tasty craft beer! Our first experience at Dock Street Brewery was a winner. Our second experience mirrored our first visit.. A group of us stopped in a week later for a casual meal and were equally impressed. While seated in the dining area, the service was good and the Pizza was still strong. We chose the Brie (sliced pears, toasted walnuts, Brie and rosemary),BBQ Chicken and Greek (mozzarella & feta cheeses, sun dried tomoatoes topped with mixed greens) pizzas with a Mixed Greens Salad. Our foodserver was timely and attentive too. We really enjoyed the meal. We like Dock Street Brewery and definitely think it’s worth a visit. There have been quite a few reviews, many of which have been tepid at best. Philadelphia Weekly’s Adam Erace titled his review “Dock Tease” while PhilaFoodie compares Dock Street to a creature of the Galapagos bucking Darwin’s theory. The Inquirer’s Rick Nichols was equally nonplussed, but focused on what Dock Street means to the neighborhood. Others that might interest you include: Living on the Veg goes into depth on the vegetarian choices at Dock Street, while The City Paper covers “hits and misses” at Dock Street. Gee, I guess we’re a little late to the party… Oh well. Regardless, w[...] | 2/13/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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South Philadelphia Tap Room: Bloggerlicious | Thanks go to our fellow Philadelphia Bloggers for introducing us to the South Philadelphia Tap Room. During a recent afternoon, Patti and I burrowed into South Philly to attend the Philadelphia Webloggers Meetup at this laid back neighborhood local. Although this was just our first visit, we found food, atmosphere and beer all delicious. Tucked among the narrow urban streets of South Philly, the Tap Room is an inviting oasis in a sometimes trying urban landscape. Situated on a corner, large windows provide plenty of natural light without being overly bright; perfect for drinking or eating. Obligatory neon signs hang in the window, but thankfully touting the likes of Yard’s. Inside the Tap Room, we found a really nice wooden bar and bar back with plenty of exposed brick and a sweet vibe. The beer selection seemed impressive, with about a dozen taps and a cooler full of oddly shaped bottles crying out to be tasted. In fact, the Beer Advocate rates the South Philadelphia Taproom as “Outstanding.” You can get the details here. Finding the Philly Webloggers in the rear of the room, we sat down to catch up with some old friends and meet a few new ones. Quite a few in the group were South Philadelphia Tap Room veterans: Scott & Marisa, Bart and Roz. I believe the rest of our group were Tap Room virgins: Alex, Tony, Mike, Albert Patti and me. I know that I’m forgetting a few others, sorry. Tragically, as we considered our food and beverage options, I had to depend on the palates of others; I’m on a diet. “How the Hell are you going to give an opinion without trying any of their food!” you might ask Good question. But, knowing that many of the Webloggers write about food, I figured that my bases were covered. Also, Patti is a PhillyFoodGuy, so if we can’t offer an opinion based on all that culinary horsepower, then we might as well hang it up right now. Armed with beverages, it wasn’t long before our waitress returned with our food. Among the items sample were: Pulled Pork Sandwich Black Forest Stew Asparagus Salad with Feta Cheese and Kalamata dressing Wild Boar Burrito Spicy Buffalo Chicken Sandwich Swinging Beef Sandwich Universally, everyone enjoyed their meal. While the Swinging Beef Sandwich didn’t meet expectations, our waitress immediately replaced it with another item of our choosing. One of everyone’s favorites proved to be the Wild Boar Burrito. Unique and flavorful, the burrito was grilled and served with a fresh garden salad with homemade Ranch dressing. The Pulled Pork Sandwich also proved to be very popular. Of the items that weren’t tried by our group, Roz strongly suggested the Plantain Nachos, a unique twist on an old favorite. Also, I’m told that they have a strong Sunday Brunch. I can’t wait to go back to the South Philadelphia Tap Room. I love beer. I love food. (uh, hence the diet!) And this is a fun local spot that comes highly recommended by a group of people I trust. You should too. The South Philadelphia Tap Room is at 1506 Mifflin St. Philadelphia, PA (215) 271-7787 www.southphiladelphiataproom.com | 1/30/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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American Idol Tragedy: 1807 Washington Ave. | Something was amiss during our return trip to New Trieu Chau. Pulling up to the restaurant located at 1807 Washington Avenue in South Philly, something was different. At first, I thought it was me: Did we drive by and miss it? A second lap around the block proved that we hadn’t. The hole-in-the-wall spot offering great Southeast Asian food had been usurped by another! After some quick deliberation, we decided to give the replacement a shot. Honestly, we’re not sure of the name of the new restaurant. A Taste of Asia, Tasty Asia or some sort of derivation. If you can’t tell, this isn’t a traditional PhillyFoodGuys post. Normally we only suggest spots worth going out of your way for, but we had to tell this story. Sitting in one corner of the restaurant, the four of us relaxed as we waited for our appetizers to arrive. A large TV displayed Disney Channel programs while some light music played in the background. “I haven’t heard that one since the 70s!” Tushar chuckled. Straining to listen, I agreed, but something was different. Our food server soon approached with our appetizers and began to distribute the dishes and tableware. Again, the background music grabbed our attention; something was wrong. I looked at the waitress for some sort of acknowledgement, but she just returned a blank stare. We must be imagining things. A few moments later, with mouths full of Curry Seafood Soup we erupted in laughter. A loud, dissonant wail had built into a crescendo erupting from the other side of the restaurant: Afternoon Karaoke! Unbeknownst to us, there’s a Karaoke bar above the restaurant and two patrons were the source of our confusion. Off-key, heavily accented, loud, hilarious. Each of us knew something was amiss, but couldn’t quite put a finger on it until the “auditory eruption.” It was one of the best laughs we’ve had in quite some time. If you want a sample, check out the podcast. For the record, A Taste of Asia is good, but doesn’t warrant a PhillyFoodGuys recommendation. The Salt-baked Squid and Curry Seafood Soup were particularly good, while the Fried Dumplings and Whole Tilapia in Black Bean Sauce were only fair. I did fall in love again with Vietnamese Coffee, Cafe Sua Da, and recommend it highly. Obviously, we took a chance on A Taste of Asia and it didn’t work out. Regardless, those that frequent lesser known restaurants understand that the results are often unpredictable. That’s what makes it fun. Thankfully, even if we can’t endorse the restaurant as a whole, A Taste of Asia still offers some good food and a twist that will give anyone a good laugh. | 1/20/08 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Indian Lunch Buffet Round Up: Episode # 3 | Tandoor India offered really good food with better than average atmosphere for our competition of Indian lunch buffets. | 12/30/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Lucky Strike: Old School Meets Vintage Cool | Center City’s Lucky Strike Lanes has something for everyone with equal parts bowling, bar and restaurant. Maybe the best way to describe Lucky Strike is bowling lounge and restaurant? I dunno, but however you describe it, Lucky Strike Lanes is a cool place to dust off your game, have a few cocktails and maybe even dinner. Granted, Lucky Strike is a chain and we didn’t get the opportunity to sample the food. To be honest, I couldn’t tell whether Philadelphia Weekly’s Fall 2006 review was positive or negative, but based on what we saw, but I’d give it a chance. Regardless, we enjoyed the bar, bowled a few games and had a great time. There are a handful of things that we found special about Lucky Strike. First and foremost, I loved the 50s retro chic. Patti mentioned that if she didn’t know any better, she’d swear that Stephen Starr opened a bowling alley; an interesting mix of vintage and modern with attention to detail throughout. Second, the blend of the bar, restaurant and bowling alley is performed really well in a nice, open format. Furthermore, there are two floors plus a roof deck, which should grab anyone’s interest. Lastly, Sue said it best “I’d come here just for a drink, or dinner or bowling.” Each component is strong enough on its own. Check out the Inside of Lucky Strike. Click To Play In summary, we found Lucky Strike to be a fun spot that everyone will enjoy. Whether you’re a couple or a group, the mix of retro lounge, sports bar, bowling and billiards should satisfy most diverse tastes. For parents with older kids, this spot provides a welcome respite to the mind-melting alternative of Delaware Avenue’s Dave and Busters. Is it cheap? No, but then most understand the difference between a can of Schaefer and a bottle of Belgium’s Chimay. (For more information on pricing, check out Lucky Strike Lanes website here). Regardless, if you’re looking for a fun bar with great atmosphere and some fun activities, then Lucky Strike has got you covered. Lucky Strike Lanes is located at 1336 Chestnut St. Philadelphia, PA (215) 545-2471 Hot for some other spots like this in Philly? Try these: Strikes Bowling Lounge - University City North Bowl Lounge ‘n Lanes – Northern Liberties [Tags]Philadelphia, Philly, Center City, American Food, Lucky Strike Lanes, Podcast, bowling, lounge[/Tags] | 12/27/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Indian Lunch Buffet Roundup: Episode # 2 | Stop # 2 of the Indian Lunch Buffet Round Up: Sitar India. | 12/13/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Feast of the Seven Fishes Contest | With the holidays upon us, including the Italian tradition of the Feast of the Seven Fishes , we thought we’d do something different after stumbling upon a unique opportunity: A Contest. Author and Feast Freak Bob Tinnell contacted us about two upcoming events in Philly promoting his book, Feast of the Seven Fishes. A chronicle of an Italian-American family’s preparation and celebration of the traditional Christmas Eve seafood feast, the book is the combination of a graphic novel and cook book. Uh, when I say “graphic novel” I mean the type of illustrated artwork often found in comic books, not the stuff wrapped in brown paper at the newsstand. I was lucky enough to speak with Bob earlier this week to learn more about the feast, his comic strip and how he came to blend the two together. You can listen in by checking out our podcast on Feast of the Seven Fishes. In addition, we chatted about two promo events being held next week in Philly. Afterward, Bob was nice enough to shoot us a free copy of his book. That’s where the contest comes in. The Contest: We want your recommendation for a great, lesser-known Italian restaurant in South Philly. Yeah, we know about places like Mama Marias, Ralph’s, Victor’s, Mezza Luna and La Vigna, but we’re sure that even with our research we must’ve missed one or two. The Prize: You guessed it: A copy of Feast of the Seven Fishes. We’ll even try to get it autographed “ no guarantees.” Also, it may have a ring of residual red wine on it if we use it for a coaster during next week’s book promotion. Whether you’re interested in learning more about the traditional Christmas Eve seafood feast, want to prepare one yourself, or just keen on checking out a unique book I think you’ll like this prize. So start thinking! Official Rules: Deadline is Saturday December 15th Submit recommendations via email bill [at] phillyfoodguys.com, or call our message line at (267) 297-2350 Every recommendation receives one chance A drawing will be held to select the winner Please include your contact information Lastly, the promotional events for Bob’s Feast of the Seven Fishes in Philly will be a lot of fun: Book Signing at Fante’s Kitchen Warehouse 1006 S. 9th St. 12-3pm Prix Fixe taste of “Feast of the Seven Fishes” & Book Signing Vesuvio Restaurant & Bar 736 S. 8th St. 5-9pm (215) 922- 8380 Reservations Suggested If you’re interested in getting more information on Bob Tinnell or his book, check out the Feast of the Seven Fishes blog here. [Tags]Philadelphia, Italian Food, Feast of the Seven Fishes, Podcast, Bob Tinnell[/Tags] | 12/6/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Chaikhana: Russian Food in Northeast Philly | Curious about Russian food? Chaikhana Uzbekistan in Northeast Philly is a good choice for the adventurous diner. Featuring cuisine from Uzbekistan, a Central Asian province of the former Soviet Union, Chaikhana offers an assortment of traditional foods designed to remind area expatriates of home. Thankfully the rest of us can get a “taste of home” too. We would never have found Chaikhana Uzbekistan if it wasn’t for our Russian culinary guide Denis, who gave us the 411 on good Russian food in Philly. Having emigrated from Ukraine and now living in the area, we couldn’t have found a better source. It doesn’t hurt that his family used to run a restaurant just a few blocks away, either. Located in the Bustleton section of the Northeast, Chaikhana is in the heart of Philadelphia’s Russian community. Arriving to a warm pot of tea on a cold day, Denis took control of the lunch menu to give us some authentic Russian flavor by showing us some commonly eaten dishes. I was interested to learn that Uzbek cuisine is remarkably similar to that of foods from the near east, like India and Pakistan. In fact, Tushar was able to identify a number of the items found on the menu. In addition, we learned of other commonalities in the cuisines, such as the use of the Tandoor oven in the preparation of meals. Sipping our tea, Denis spoke briefly with our server who returned shortly afterward with: Lepyoshka - A traditional Uzbek bread commonly served with tea Fresh Vegetable Salad - A fresh green salad tossed in a light vinegar and oil dressing Samsa Tandori - A rounded dumpling filled with ground meat, onion and celery served with a ketchup-like tomato sauce Digging into our appetizers, I found each delicious and freshly prepared. The Lepyoshka is a light, leavened bread similar to Naan, and topped with Sesame seeds for flavor - delicious. The Samsa Tandor was also good; resembling a form of meat pie, it’s substantial and would offer anyone a great snack. A short time later, our server arrived with a soup course that consisted of: Shurpa - Lamb soup with root vegetables Lagman - Vegetable soup with vegetables, pasta and Dill Zharenaya Kartoshka - Thinly sliced potatoes, fried and herbed with Dill Our soups and potatoes while hearty, were remarkably light in flavor and satisfying. The lamb in the Shurpa was very good and not heavy. Regardless, I think my favorite was the Lagman, which was herbed with Dill and offered unique noodles, reminiscent of homemade pasta. Learn more about Shurpa and Lagman here. By this point in the meal, we were almost stuffed but thankfully we had paced ourselves, because our last course arrived promptly: A variety of Kebabs: Lamb Shish Kebab Chicken Shish Kebab Lula Kebab - Ground Lamb and Beef. Similar to Shawarma Although simple in concept, these skewers of well marinated lamb, chicken and ground meat were the highlight of the meal. Grilled over an open flame, each Kebab was tender yet offered the slight crunch often found with grilled meats. The most interesting item was the Lula Kebab while the flavor of the Chicken Shish Kebab was best. Overall, our visit to Chaikhana Uzbekistan was not only fun, but delicious. Clearly, we had it easy with Denis our culinary guide, but everyone should enjoy themselves. The restaurant is clean and inviting, while the staff helpful. Don’t be distracted if your server doesn’t speak English; the menu features both Russian and English item descriptions. Lastly, our feast was moderately priced at about $17 per person, but we ate like pigs. Take a trip down the Silk Road to visit Chaikhana Uzbekistan, you’ll be glad you did. Chaikhana Uzbekistan is located at 11903 Bustleton Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19116 (215) 677-6618 [Tags]Philadelphia, Northeast Philly, Russian Food, Uzbek Food, Chaikhana Uzbekistan, Podcast[/Tags] | 11/27/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Spring Garden’s Silk City Diner Bar & Lounge | Great atmosphere and food at Spring Garden's Silk City Diner Bar & Lounge | 11/21/07 | Free | View In iTunes |
| Total: 18 Episodes |
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