Furious Flav-or

Flavette and I made the pilgrimage today. She's become quite the fan of bulgoki (sp.?) after today's visit. I pretty much had the better part of the ban chan to myself, since she doesn't do seafood. I'm still very new to Korean, this being my third time, so I'm not sure as to what should or shouldn't have been there, but it occurs to me that the table could have benefited from more variety in sauces? The dumplings that we had were served with soy sauce. I was pining for true gyoza sauce. And I find it impossible to enjoy squid (much the same cuttlefish) on the grill that isn't flavored with olive oil and lemon juice — blame Spain for that one. Didn't do the gizzards, just the varieties of beef, chicken, pork, and tripe, with some broccoli and garlic. We'll definitely be back, especially since they're right around the corner from my Asian market of choice.

Do we mean fusillade? ← GAAAK!!! But for 9/11, that would be hilarious. No wait, it's hilarious anyway. ← Fuselage sorta works... they were fly-by-night reviews. Damn spell check!! ← If "fuselage" works I suggest that you check your airframe for battle damage.

Do we mean fusillade? For what it's worth, I've eaten there once, in the 70s, and at the "other" one once, in the 80s. The "original" was forgettable, and the 15th St. version only marginally better. It's a high-end Geno's Steaks; the quality is miserable these days, the pilgrimage is obligatory, and everyone goes to other places anyway. On the other end of the spectrum, compare it to Snockey's.

We had a restaurant here that was called Cyclo as well, but the name has changed to Phó Ba Le. One of the waiters explained that they had chosen a new name for this site but that it was, in fact, still related through ownership or relation with other Cyclos. Some of this might be related to the tendency with some ethnic groups in the restaurant trade to piggyback on already successful names in new locations.

Thanks for the link. ← Quite happy to have obviously amused you.

Haven't been to Desi yet. I snagged their take-out menu tonight, oddly enough, on the way home after inhaling a T-bone around the *cough* corner. Been to Jaipur. With a tear in my eye, I kept on wistfully looking across the parking lot and trying to picture the tree-trunk cutting board and beat up pans in that shabby little gas-stained curry shack down the road and across the street. We'll be heading for Frazer more often in the future.

For non-strictly-veg, Royal India (formerly dishing out great while-u-wait at the US Petro gas station in K of P, now only a lunch-time self-serve per lb. buffet) has moved into quarters on Rt.30 in Frazer, just west of where Rt. 202 comes through. The front is a food store, and the back a restaurant, done in a sparse, but bright manner, with high ceilings and the inescapable flat-panel TV on the wall. We had a dinner buffet there a few weeks ago that was really, really good. I wish I could remember more of what was on it, but paneer masala and pakoras stand out.

Here's the typical phó standard, prepared at home. The very pacifist among you should be aware that this was originally posted on a forum with its own traditions, and thus whatever you see should not be construed to be anything other than that which it is. If you're unsettled by imagery of weapons other than cast-iron skillets and chef's knives, do abstain from viewing. Those of you on slow connections may sit for a bit. http://sigforum.com/eve/ubb.x/a/tpc/f/9666031561/m/900108052

It's called Asia Bakery, and it's right between Ho Sai Gai and KC's, next to the old-fashioned meeting hall (is it the Businessmen's Association?) with the classically Chinese exterior. Having Vietnamese on the awning as well as Chinese and English, I assumed that it was at least marginally Vietnamese. From Google: http://tinyurl.com/4s59h I made a run up there tonight after supper at Pho Ba Le, bun bo hue and a summer roll (bun bia?), which was a real let-down after earlier trips.

Actually, it was banana blossom. It adds a nice, slightly sour counterpoint to the flavor.

Funny that I prepared this and shared it with folks on a Mac forum. Here's the rest of the thread, which is a blow-by-blow illustrated prep guide with recipe: http://www.appleswitcher.com/viewtopic.php?t=11576 Oh, and yes, be careful to whom you describe this dish as purely Vietnamese.

I might have the geography wrong. It's a Viet place, really nondescript, off Race, and I think I meant south, not north.

Don't laugh (and hello to all those with whom I haven't broken bread in a great while), but if I'm in the city I've become quite a fan of hitting Chinatown and doing soup in one spot, and Vietnamese pork buns at the bakery (forget its name but it's a few doors north of Ho Sai Gai). Little or no atmosphere, zero cachet, but no wait and it still tastes great.

If you really, really want a panzarotti, the only place to go to is Franco's in Westmont. I grew up a short bike ride from the place, and it's da bomb. http://www.epinions.com/content_141390483076 Camden is dodgy.

When April's BBQ truck gets picked up by a Sikorsky to the strains of Wagner we'll know who was responsible…

You haven't been properly baptized in Philly until you risk your life on a hard "soft" pretzel from a street vendor at some place like Penrose Avenue at the base of the Schuykill Expressway. Seriously, having a cheese steak or a roast pork sandwich from a quality place is good, but it's only scratching the surface of the food experience here in Philly. We have diversity and quality as well, in many different cuisines. I can just imagine you, had you the chance to sample some ice cream from Bassett's at the RTM. You might still be here in the city, comtemplating the wonder. Please do come back and let the regulars (I'm not one yet, but what the heck) know in advance. You'll be fêted and stuffed as never before.

Sounds like a wonderful dining experience. I'm just laughing to myself that an eGulleter contributed so richly to the parking congestion in the neighborhood on the one weekend that I'm not only in town, but in Highwood specifically. Thankfully, we figured out the trick of parking on the Metra train station lot.

Actually I want a big old Victorian with a wrap around porch in Haddonfield that's steps away from the lovely little "downtown Haddonfield" area that has several nice restaurants/BYOBs as well as an awesome collection of consignment stores for an Olympic class full contact shopper like myself. Hee. I have an interlocutor on a Mac forum who went absolutely nuts when she found out that I grew up in Haddonfield. She, it turns out, is from Haddon Heights. It was a good place to grow up, and afforded me an excellent secondary education, but the mania that some people have for getting there, or at least getting close enough to say that they live there, is unsettling. You're right, though, Katie. The shopping is great, and it's an easy drive from there to lots of interesting places for a gnosh if you find the local places uninspiring. Just make sure to pick up the bottle on the way in, or on the way out, because the town has been dry at least since they stopped pulling pints of lager at the Indian King Tavern. My secret vice is a panzarotti at Franco's. It's in the Westmont neighborhood of Haddon Twp. Go figure!

I don't think that McBusinesses are the entire issue. There's nothing fun about South St. when it's to the gills with "plasticpeople." It reminds me of an unseen conversation behind my back years ago at an "El Torito" up in North Jersey. "Oh, God, I don't know, I've been here so many times, I don't know. I guess I'll have the New York Strip, medium, with a baked potato and a side salad." Who eats even chain Mexican and orders Ponderosa food?

Little-known secret: Look for soccer games in South Philly on weekend mornings at places like the public league fields at 10th/11th and Bigler. There are almost always great tamales and elotes to be had, and some decent soccer to watch, as well. However, no se habla inglés.

I always found most of it too pretentious. The only two places that I've been to in the neighborhood are Manayunk Brewing and The Bayou Bar. I guess I can shoulder my own bit of responsibility for its failure. Or, we can just admit that everything has a cycle, 'hoods included.

Just send them to 13th and Spruce. Exploration is half the fun!

I'll third (fourth, fifth?) the Celebre's suggestion. I've been going there happily since '64. Primo's is also spot-on. There's another sandwich shop worth trying, De Marco's, on Jackson St., just in from the Commerce Bank on Broad St. The Old World Special is a favorite.

"Elote" is just the Mexican word for corn, an aboriginal inclusion into their Spanish. Otherwise, it's "maíz," and an ear is "una mazorca." Anybody selling roasted peppers down there?

Sounds like you've had a close encounter with an order of birría? Obviously, the menu has evolved down there since last I paid a buck to park and schlurp some tacos. I'll have to make a return trip. I just never make it past Phó Ba Le! Did you notice if they have horchata on the menu?