herbacidal

I believe the dinners at 2nd and Cecil B Moore that Katie organized were on a Tuesday and Wednesday in the same week. Either 2 successive Mondays or a Monday and Tuesday of the same week would probably both be fine, depending on the preferences of the restaurant.

The restaurant is theirs? I always thought it was someone else's. It's also been a while since I've been to Ba Le, at least a year. I suspect there's more than a few, I just don't know specifically where. I was hoping there was one in the shopping plazas to make directions easy for someone. I think I know of one on 8th I've been in, but it's been a while, and I was thinking if I had to give specific directions, etc. etc. Anyway, moot point now.

IIRC, Ba Le is the bakery at the front of the shopping center at 6th. Unless they've added seating, I don't believe they're what I'm looking for. I'd prefer seating.

Do any of the 3 Vietnamese shopping centers on Washington Ave in Philly have (presumably Vietnamese) coffee shops in them? Thanks.

Ah, Pica's. The site of my greatest undoing. I remember feeling like a beached whale after eating there. Rolling out the door was preferable to walking.

Are you the reason?

Hmm, that'd be a key selling point. Imagine the PR possibilities.

That's only in the US.

Yah, somebody named Ravi (owner?) had a heart attack and it's been curtained ever since. ← Yea, I believe that was the owner. I think that was the turbaned guy that ran the dining room. A shame, it was a good place. I hope he's well too.

Glad to hear I remember incorrectly. I still want to check it out, but can't make the trip this weekend. Naturally, pictures will be posted?

Riendo seemed to be going at relatively decent speed when I was there.

Well, still sandwiches but other stuff too, the two new (last year or so) falafel joints, the vegetarian one on 20th around Market where Pad Thai Shack used to be. Philly Falafel (right name?) on Sansom right around the corner from Pad Thai Shack. Didja notice Samosa @ 12th and Walnut isn't there anymore?

Shank & Evelyn's DOES have a great cheesesteak, but it's SO hard to pass up the egplant parm sandwich. Good thing i over-order for the trip back to D.C. Thanks, Kevin ← Which was for the ride home? How did it hold up?

Stopped by Taco Riendo a few weeks ago. Whatever I had was good, albeit more expensive than it would be elsewhere. Considering the newly renovations and stuff, not suprised though. Worthy addition to the scene, especially in that part of town. I prefer Joe's ??? on 10th south of Spring Garden b/c little cheaper, and I think just as good.

get the little grilled fish that the lady makes, which i can't remember the name of. and her haemul pajun, which is the best example of this in the known universe. but mostly get the gamjjatang, which is pork neck bone and potato stew, which is the greatest drinkin dish ever. ← Assuming you're talking about mrbigjas and his recommendation of the little shop in front of the railroad tracks, I think the latest buzz was that that place was no longer open. That's what I vaguely remember from a few months ago, can anyone else confirm or deny this?

Sorry Herb, but there's also no "60th and Torresdale." Chink's is at 6030 Torresdale Ave., in the Northeast. 60th St. would be West Philadelphia. ← You're right. I've been through the NE enough to know that. Stupid me. I was just being lazy and didn't put the exact address. It's what I get for doing this late at night.

Let me elaborate on that. The kitchen in our 2br apartment in Hong Kong (regular-sized, not luxurious) was roughly the square footage of 2 American bathtubs. The kitchen in our house in semi-rural Guangdong was roughly the same size, although the house itself had far more square footage than the HK apartment.

U be right. I am thinking of Rick's. I just want the thread up. I'm just throwing it out there. Hopefully it'll grow and be useful enough to the out of towners to be pinned.

I was thinking we might do well to start a Best of Philly thread, as a what not to miss if you only have one day in town, etc. That way, we can head off and refer most of the out of towner questions to the thread. I'll start with a few of the obvious: Reading Terminal Market at 12th and Arch Streets. Best overall food market in the US, especially considering its balance between market and lunch offerings. Considering I've never been to Ferry Building Marketplace, Pike Place Market, and any other market outside of Chelsea Market in NYC (which I think is far less diverse and offers far less to most visitors) that opinion may be worth nothing. I can think of a few ordinary street markets in Hong Kong and China that I like better. Cheesesteaks: Pat's, Geno's and Jim's are what tourists know about. There's also John's Roast Pork @ 2nd and Snyder, D'Alessandro's @Walnut Lane & Henry Ave, Chink's @ 60th and Torresdale, Steve's in the Reading Terminal that slightly more experienced folks know. Okay, that's enough for now. Let ér rip.

I believe Chinese do the egg for the meat for our version, but it's been a while since I've done it, so I'm not sure.

Totally on point.

The Philadelphia Inquirer: Craig LaBan find the food more rewarding than the menu prose at Gayle. Rick Nichols surmises that the bubble has burst on soda drinking. Marylin Marter turns up the heat on the Sous-Vide controversy. City Paper: Elisa Ludwig follows Bryan Sikora to Sovano. and is amazed to discover good food in the burbs. A.D. Amorosi picks his Top 5 rising Star chefs. Drew Lazor notes recent openings and closings in Feeding Frenzy. Pat Hogan surveys upcoming events in What's Cooking. Josh Chamberlain plunges into Dive. The Philadelphia Weekly Kirstin Henry is not buffaloed by Ted’s Montana Grill , and explores Astrology and Food. Mara Zepeda decides it’s time to make the doughnuts with Vada Mix from the market. Tom Acox finds two Unqualified Reviewers at June’s Restaurant. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Karin Welzel takes some tastes at Tasca Navarre Tapas Bar & Restaurant. Michael Machosky drools over attempts to make the world’s largest pizza. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Gabrielle Banks tells us about a Pizza-Throwing Contest. Virginia Lim toys around with Single-Purpose Kitchen Gadgets. Amy McConnel Schaarsmith takes a tour of Indian Regional Cuisines, tastes some at Green Tree Kitchen and provides a Glossary of Indian Cooking Terms. The Morning Call (Allentown) Susan Gottshall experiences Hungary pangs at Paprika’s in Hellertown.

The Philadelphia Inquirer Craig Laban checks out northeast Philadelphia’s rodizio at Picanha Brazilian Grill. Rick Nichols test drives New Tripoli’s apple dumplings. Marilyn Marter visits chefs on their night off. Sono Motoyama tells us about sous vide cooking. Philadelphia City Paper Carolyn Wyman previews this year’s the Book and the Cook Festival. Maxine Keyser visits Django to check on changes post-sale. Philadelphia Weekly Kirsten Henri checks out Raw Sushi & Sake Lounge Anonymous gets the 411 on Maslenitsa aka Butter Week, the Russian version of Carnival. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Amy McConnell Schaarsmith gets efficient as she gives us some one-dish meals. Virginia Phillips talks about unglamorous pork butt. Pittsburgh Tribune Karin Welzel visits Scoglio and gets Italian. There’s a change in perception as Irish food moves from bland to hearty. Morning Call Allentown Susan Gottschall peeks into the Bowers Hotel.

Everything KL said was accurate, but this was especially insightful.

What's that BYOB on Broad just north of Oregon? Possibly the same owner as old standby Io e Tu? And if you go that far down, LÁngolo is an option as well. Cafe de Laos and Porky & Porkie's at 11th and Washington are available for Laotian-Thai and semi-Korean BBQ, although my impression of your request is that you're thinking clsser to the BYOB style semi-fine dining.