Bobby 2 Shakes

I remember a show from the early 80s called "Crazy for Food" with a lady named Annemarie Huste (I think she just went by "Anne Marie"). I believe it was on USA Network. She had a great work ethic and an engaging personality. And she made a gianduja with Toblerone that I still need a bib just to think about it. Just the inspiration you need when you're cooking something from Maida Heatter's Chocolate Cookbook.

Funporcine Circumstances

Last Friday I tried a place called Alex's at Leverington & Pechin, about three blocks from Ridge Ave in Roxborough. Tasty thin crust & cheese, and a sauce that tasted like Franzone's without the added sugar. Also, if you're ever on Springfield Rd in Clifton Heights, try Gaetano's (Delco Daily Times best of Delco 6 consecutive years). They make a homemade sauce and their crust is thicker than a thin-crust but has a thin-crust consistency. I recommend it highly. Also, gas at the nearby corner of Providence & Springfield roads is consistently cheaper than anywhere I've seen. I saw cars lined up at the Wawa waiting in line for gas that cost more than that selling at P & S Rds with no lines.

I heard that when he showed up for the BBQ throwdown, it was the guy's daughter's birthday party. All of a sudden, here comes Bobby Flay with all this equipment. Happy Birthday to you, Dad's got somethin to do, presents wait til tomorrow, hope he wins now, don't you?

Here's a link to the aforementioned article. You may need to register (free, so it says)

Enough with the danger already! When you get back, you can take it easy and unwind here. While you're in town, enjoy Primanti's sandwiches with built-in fries.

In John T. Edge's Hamburgers and Fries, Chapter Fourteen is titled "Philadelphia Frydom." In the appendix there is a "Black Book of Burgers" with 57 burger joints, none from Philadelphia. The next page is the "Black Book of Fries." Of 12 entries, 7 are in Philly. The local ones he lists are; Chickie & Pete's Copabanana Ishkabibble's Eatery Key Food Pizza Monk's Cafe Nodding Head Tony Luke's He raved about Tony Luke's Beef Buster sandwich with fries in the sandwich. I thought that was a Burgh thing, what with Primanti's and all.

DH and I went last year, both the food and the music were wonderful! We're doing it again this year. If you like blues-type music (they have more than just straight blues, this year) it is a great weekend. ← The Wildwood BBQ championships is also having a blues festival.

You might consider Jubilee or Eclat.

This year it's July 14, 15 & 16. Above link still works & is up-to-date.

Alton skews well with the coveted "silly" demographic. Coveted because they spend so freely, because they're... well, silly. One of my life's big regrets is that Thomas Dolby had only one hit with "She Blinded Me With Science." Maybe this is God's way of making it up to me/us.

According to the June 22 Inky (paragraph 4) Matt Ito's last day at Fuji is Aug 31. Anybody hear any news on where he might be looking?

Rudeness is just raw material. It's up to us to turn it into kindness, the best revenge. The best part is, by the time they realize what you've done, you'll be gone and they can't reciprocate. And they owe you. Thanks for the heads-up, btw. I'm glad I didn't buy any chocolate or other aroma-sensitive items. It's also great to know Philly chefs go there. Jason, do you have any other overheard recommendations?

If you haven't been there already, check out The Head Nut at where Haverford Ave crosses the point Wynnewood Rd becomes Eagle Rd (across from Septa Rt 100 Wynnewood Rd station) in Ardmore. They have bulk herbs & spices (white cardamom?) dried peppers, bulk fruit, nuts, grains, candy, coffee, & tea (Main Line Coffee Roasters, also in Lancaster County Farmers Market in Wayne 3 days a week), racks of hot sauces with obscene scatological names, oils, extracts, & sauces (including Jean-Georges Vongerichten tamarind sauce & grapeseed oil). My mind was numb from trying to wrap it around the concept of a tiny place with so much stuff. The people waiting on you have personalities, too. An important consideration.

Jerry & Linda are going to be giving a class on how to judge BBQ - July 15 from 11 AM to 2:30 PM at the NJ State BBQ Championships in North Wildwood. They're also going to be featured in an article in the NY Times July 5, I believe.

I recently picked up a book in a used bookstore called "Pennsylvania: Off the Beaten Path, 4th Edition" by Sara Pitzer. Cost me all of fifty cents. I looked up Sara Pitzer on Amazon/Borders and this book came up as 23rd bestselling of 28, 2 behind her "Cat Tales." The latest edition appears to be from 1997, so some of these places might no longer be with us. She breaks down the state into 7 sections, with another chapter on PA wineries. For this thread, I'll list eateries from 3, 4, and 5. For details, buy the book (what with copyright and all that) 1). Southwestern Pennsylvania 2). Northwestern Pennsylvania 3). Central Pennsylvania Duffy's Tavern, Boalsburg Steak House,Tavern Restaurant (mentioned earlier), Stoney's Post House Tavern, Corner Room (esp sticky buns, also listed earlier), Ag Hill (ice cream), Eutaw House, Whistle Stop, Sweet Annie Herbs, Woodward Inn, Madisonburg Bake Shop, Bechtel's Dairy & Restaurant, Walnut Acres, Reighard House Bed & Breakfast Inn, Peter Herdic House 4). North Central Pennsylvania Penn Wells Dining Room, The Log Cabin, Frenchville (the whole town speaks perfect classical French), Straub Brewery 5). South Central Pennsylvania Katy's Kitchen & Tea Room (no relation to our own Katie far as I can tell), Hunter's Valley Winery, Historic Fairfield Inn, Hickory Bridge Farm, Brafferton Inn (breakfast), Jean Bonnet Tavern 6). Northeastern Pennsylvania 7). Southeastern Pennsylvania

That was before he started hanging around hugging teddies in karaoke bars. PS: And I don't remember even hearing one single Ramones song!

I can't remember when I've seen a subject so thoroughly summarized in such a short space. Every word tells.

Strange that after Emeril & Rachael demonstrate that there's a bottomless pit of desire for food-related content, they pare down the food-related content. I say make the food section whole again and while you're at it, make the comics bigger again. --- Maybe Craig needs a cleanup hitter, someone to follow up on his reviews.

I'll settle for some smoked foie, while it's still available.

When I went this morning I was issued a pair of hydrofoil slippers to prevent the inadvertent trampling of innocent insects.

Something between them? Avuncular, I'm sure.

One of the great things about Philly is the rivalries between nearby restaurants, ala Pat's & Geno's (for english-speaking cheesesteak eaters), Murray's & Hymie's delis, D'Alessandro's & Chubby's cheesesteaks, Charlie's Pizza and Franzone's Pizza out in the western burbs.

As I marvelled at how someone with no TV experience could have such command of the screen, I realized that this was deja vu, I've seen this in other episodes. My own instinct is to believe that those who put themselves in the hands of the production crew, the team players, were the ones who presented themselves best. The real stars of this show are the folks behind the scenes that spend hours guiding the action, reviewing everything, editing, arranging and finally arguing about what will make Tony look his best. Nari succeeded brilliantly because she is naturally talented AND can follow the masterful, experienced direction of the crew. The funny thing is, I probably wouldn't realize this if I hadn't seen "Next FN Star." Rachael Ray's success can probably be attributed to her qualities as a team player more than anything else.

Spaghetti with cinnamon-laced tomato sauce. There. I said it. Now please excuse me as I withdraw to my secret recoil hideaway. I should be ok by Monday.