CoolPapaBell

Maggio's is amazing. I worked in the area back when I was just an acne faced pup and all the fat guys at my office in Mason's Mills Park loved it. Good sauce but I never understood their infatuation with it. Twenty years later those fatsos at said office are still keeping them in business. They were only "okay" then too.

Marjorie: There's a Joe's Peking Duck in Marlton in the shopping center just south of the Marlton Circle on Route 73, behind Olga's Diner. It's run by one of the former managers of the original Chinatown location. I haven't had the noodle soup there, but the Singapore Noodles and the Peking Duck are just as good as ever. This place is a frequent stop for me in the summer on the way home from Long Beach Island. ← I will have to try it again as you are one of my most trusted DeBellaware Valley sources, but the one time I got the namesake Peking Duck I thought it would be a little better considering they get many rave reviews. If you haven't already, try Food For Thought in the same shopping center. It's very good and I'd rate the crab cakes ahead of Bobby Chez. And I love Bobby.

FTR, I've been to the one that was in metro Hotlanta and failed after a few years. As AYCE sushi goes it's pretty good and the selection is incredible including non-sushi items. It's more like the "super" buffets though a little better. It's no Fuji but I guess about as good as AYCE sushi will get and fairly reasonably priced. Don't get overly excited but if you live or work close, it's a good lunch bargain if you can make a total pig of yourself like I've been known to do.

Granted someone who lives there should supersede me but when I went to school just outside of the ‘Burgh it seemed to me pirogues were about the only thing I remembered being somewhat indigenous. Of course Primanti Brothers is perhaps the quintessential Steele City blue collar place to eat, and their signature is putting the fries on the sandwich. I remembered that a hoagie/sub was ALWAYS cooked and while perhaps is was more of a college thing than a southwest PA tradition, I remember most pizza places had “pizza boats” essentially a poor man’s pizza made on French bread rather than pizza dough. The Big Mac…or was it the Quarter Pounder was invented just down the road from my alma mater in lil' Uniontown, PA. That’s probably 35-40 miles outside of the Burgh.

Katie, no, no. It was my grandmom who did love it, but I lived in Camden until 1975 and I know a lot of places there had it. Also we moved to Marlton in said year and we could still get it a lot of places. I was only a little kid then but I kind of associated it as a Philly thang, but I’d say it’s widespread availability decreased in the 70s sometime and seem to really fade out about the same time the Rubix’s Cube ™ did. Though most people older than me are already dead, perhaps a lifelong Debellaware Valley old-timer can verify that it wasn’t just the maternal side of my family that loved it. FWIW, grandmom was not German if that’s germane. How could you beat a breakfast of scrapple and German buttercake? I swear it USED to be very popular Philly way a few decades ago.

When I was young, ah which was a long time ago, I remember my grandmother would always bring German buttercake I guess from Fishtown. It seems back in the early 70s and late 60s (told you I was old) it was commonplace in bakeries around the Cradle of Liberty. My parents still live across the river and my mom says she rarely sees it anymore. What happened Katie to this once popular in the Quaker City food item?

Been to the top of both mountains with Lexington No. 1 and Jim's for Lexington style and Allen & Son's for eastern. I say both. Is M&K in Granite Quarry worth a stop next trip up I-85? BTW, don't want too get technical but does not "barbecue trail" refer to only Salisbury to Albermarle?

So what are the post Robert Bennett reports? Will the prodigies make me cry like a school girl? Will those chocolate croissants touched by the hands of God be a distant memory? I want my Miel gateau! With all due respect to our beloved Katie’s Oregon monks, Bobby B is the maharishi of all that is sweetmeat.

Fresca actually may not have a super distinctive style, but it’s not quite New York style, not quite designer but a little of both. They do have more than their share of interesting creations such as the ballpark, Mexican, etc. As far as the sauce being boss, I looked it up and it’s still around. Years and years ago when I worked in Huntingdon Valley, the guys at the office lived and died for Maggio’s in Southampton. . I didn’t go as ga-ga as they did, but the one thing I loved was the sauce. Kind of like Tacconelli’s it’s where the sauce and cheese are swirled in but more sauce than traditional NY. Anyway, I have no idea how much they’ve changed since I last tried them in 1987 (gulp) but if longevity means anything, they’ve been around since 1976 and I do know a lot of people who thought they were the gurus of pizza. Maggio's website

Is that also where a hoagie becomes a sub?

Is that the same Tacconelli family that operates the store in Port Richmond, or is it like Pat's King of Steaks, where the original store is in the hands of one branch of the family and the franchises are owned by another, and the two don't speak to one another? (I've eaten at one of the franchises--Oliveri Prince of Steaks in the RTM; Herb Oliveri is forbidden from using the name "Pat's" within a (I think) five-mile radius of 9th and Passyunk--and I think it inferior to the orignal Pat's.) The way I understood it, Papa Tacconelli is a one-man show in Port Richmond. ← Without going too Googling mad, I was able to find this write up The 70 year old Philadelphia pizza making institution has crossed the Delaware River and has opened a second location in Maple Shade across from the Moorestown Mall. The pizza oven is from the same manufacturer as the original oven in Philadelphia. That of course does not directly answer the question, nor have I been to the original, but seems to indicate it's not a pretend franchise. Cool Mama Bell also liked it. But we both think Pizza Fresca is pretty close.

Don't forget Tacconelli's has a location near the Moorestown Mall too. Also no need to go all the way to Trenton to get great Jersey pizza. Pizza Fresca (website) in Marlton is excellent. I think I mentioned in the Joisy forum a while back that in my trips up there, I've found the "Best of" in South Jersey Magazine to be shockingly accurate for a small time publication. Rightfully so Pizza Fresca has gotten a few Best Ofs. For your trips across the Delaware, here is their latest "Best of" but previous years are still worthwhile. In fact I think their initial in 2003 may still be the best as I guess sometimes you have to mix in new places for variety. I think you may need a password.

I live in Atlanta now, but visit there as family still up there, hence the PA/NJ Gullets still of interest. Anyhoo down here I've seen places serve them with Swiss or cheddar and yes mayo is standard on some. Even one place is close to authentic, but they have this bizarre mustard and catchup concoction served standard. I don't recall ever seeing either served standard anywhere in the Debellaware Valley.

Except the inventors seem to disagree. Check it out.

I've said that many, many times myself. If there is one exception, Gaetanos has one to describe the specific toppings as a "Philly Cheesesteak" has "cheese sauce and fried onions." Menu here Worse is when a place claims to serve "Philly steak and cheese". Nobody, I mean nobody calls it that. The real question is cheesesteak one or two words or does each work?

I took two kids plus an infant to Siam Cuisine. The kids loved the shrimp dumplings. Good, reasonably priced food. Oh and my five year old loved the Franklin Institute more than just about any place he's been including Disney, two national acquiriums, Sesame Place, Carowinds, etc.

PJ Whelihans is among the best I've had, though the Cherry Hill location was much better than Maple Shade. They also have good Buffalo shrimp.

32 East is great as is Nirvana in Boynton Beach.

You people are really making me feel old. I used to go to school at St. Joe’s on Federal Street. I cheated and Google mapped your place. I could have walked there from my ‘75 and earlier house. Actually ‘75 is probably the last time I could have safely made the walk. Anyone I actually do have a point, I think. Though I am not familiar with the old stomping grounds by any stretch, I would think there are tons of great taquerias, grocerias, and carnicerias along Federal Street and Old Marlton Pike area. Kudos for doing the legwork. One tip: don’t get lost.

Better than even the Coffee Cup? I had a great soul food breakfast there, though I must admit I'm not sure I'd rate it Top 5 in the country as some publications have. Even before I read your response to Gifted Gourmet's question--and is that Sally Jesse Rapheal in the avatar I was thinking along the same lines. May he rest in peace, Lydell "Deacon" Burton is the greatest chef in Atlanta history. Ain't nobody close, no way, no how. Therefore in his memory, I nominate nobody currently on this earth.

I was afraid you were going to ask. I assumed the yardbird was the same at each location. The reason I do not know is I have it at our big family July 4 party and cuzzie picks it up. I never asked the location but I think she lives in Collingswood but the bash is in Marlton. I don’t actually live up there any longer and there are so many other places on my list to eat when I go there, otherwise, I would have asked the exact location.

You can laugh at me all you want. I’ve had some of the best fried chicken in the world. Among them: Deacon Burton’s, Thelma’s, and Watershed in Atlanta; Blue Willow Inn in Social Circle, GA., Lady & Son’s in Savannah, Mrs. Rowe’s in Staunton, VA, Coffee Cup in Charlotte... I am surprised at how good the fried yardbird is at Acme. Nope, I am not saying quite is good as the above, but I can’t believe I can get some very competitive fried chicken at a supermarket in the north.

As far as the shipping issue, they do NOT ship truffles from October-March because of the weather. But I may add as far as my post about getting Mars chocolates, they are actually shipped twice by the time we get them. Once to my family member then he resends to us.

Say it ain't so, Shoeless Joe. I'm glad I got to experience his talents various times. The article is right, it is a quirky shopping center and I saw that European restaurant closed. Kyoto was good sushi but didn't last. I hear a lot of good things about Misto. But at least Miel and Chez survived. Or so I thought. Oh well still plenty of options for my next trip to my ole stomping grounds, but I can't imagine in the sweets catagory many to compensate.

Can't really attribute Miel's product to Robert Bennett, now that he is no longer part of the business. ← Wow, when did that happen? I just saw he's no longer on their site, but when I was there in June and July, the lovely young lady who works there was talking about him. Also I am almost positive he was still on the site then when I looked at the online menu in said period. I hope they have all the recipes. What's the scoop?