Jeff L

Jeff Michaud will teach all how to make thin crust pizza next Wednesday from 5:45 - 7:45 at Fosters Homeware 399 Market St (215 925-0950). I might have gone except he wants $65 bucks, almost enough to eat at Osteria.

I hadn't thought of that but I sincerely doubt I'll be up to testing the hypothesis anytime soon. When I get back to that area, I will try either Desi Village or ATOI and hopefully not on a Sunday and this time with something positive to report.

The Standard Tap often offers a very fine steak frites, and they have excellent beer, decent wine, and good food in general, although I wouldn't call it ethnic. There's no TV. I'd vote for the Tap also. The jukebox makes up for the lack of a TV and they serve some of Philly's best bar food hands down. Here's a link to an earlier thread: http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=76478&hl=

I hate when that happens, especially a place like this which does indeed make a remarkable cheesesteak. Why fix it if it isn't broken? Ego can lead to ruination of a great place. I'm not even a big cheesesteak fan, leaning more toward Philly's other lesser known (to outsiders anyway) roast pork but I must say I've enjoyed Dalessandro's version very much and am sorry to hear this news.

As if the way the LCB has dealt with Jonathan Newman until now wasn't bad enough, wait till you read this. I'll give you a hint, the article is titled "Inqlings: LCB sics lawyers on ex-leader". http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/17997074.html

I don't know for certain but I would doubt it. You should call over to the Marlton store which I would guess is the closest to you. 856 983 - 2222

It's funny you mention Desi Village because I was vacillating between that and Jaipur. I was also considering A Taste of India which my neighbor (who is also Indian) recommended. I don't get out that way too often and was looking forward to a great Indian meal. Every one can have an off night, I guess.

Joe Canal's rocks. I've gotten some pretty great wines there at really great prices consistantly. At the Lawrenceville store, they will match anyone's price, anyone's even internet specials. Just go in with the printout and speak to a manager, done. They had the Panarroz 2006 (Jumilla) on sale last week for $8.99 and I found it listed for $5.99 and they matched it. I ended up buying 2 cases and saved over $70 bucks. They will bend over backwards for you there. Case in point, last year after Katie introduced me to Luxardo Amaretto, I asked about it and they never heard of it. They said they would get it for in for me and now they stock it regularly. Really great stuff

Unfortunately, no one warned me not to go to Jaipur. Ok it was short notice but... About the best thing I can say about this place is that the owner was very nice and gracious. We got there around 6:30 last night and there were just four other people in the place, not a great sign but I'm thinking it is Sunday and well you know. We started off with a few apps consisting of Papri Chaat and the Non-Vegetarian Platter. The Chaat was only passable, nothing like I've enjoyed at other places. The sampler was actually pretty good and came with a combination of chicken samosa, chicken pakora, chicken tikka and seekh kabob. My friend ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala which was unremarkable in every way. I've made this better at home. I was in the mood for lamb and ordered the Lamb Vindalu. Big mistake, I ate part of one piece and it was so overcooked I couldn't eat any more. We also ordered some garlic naan which looked as bad as it tasted. All in all, bad choice for a place that seems to have a decent rep. When the owner came around to ask how the meal was, I said it was ok until I had the lamb. He was nice enough to come back later and tell me he tasted it and it was indeed way dry and overdone..he removed the item, from our bill. Nice touch but I won't be going back any time soon.

Has anyone else dined at Jaipur recently? My buddy and I are planning to go tomorrow after the IMAX Rolling Stones show in King of Prussia.

Excellent review David and I daresay pictures almost as good as Philadining.

This is too funny. Today we met with a couple executives from Ohio at Criniti's. (again) After we got the business part out of the way, they were asking us about what makes Philly special food-wise. As we were just 10 blocks from Tony Luke's, I offered to grab them a few roast pork w/rabe to travel. These guys never heard of broccoli rabe and I told them to just trust me. I can't wait to hear back from them tomorrow. I'm still thinking about their plane ride home with that awesome smell and the looks they must have gotten from other passengers.

That sounds really tasty Katie. I've walked by that place so many times without even thinking about eating there. It just looks kind of scary to me, not the cleanest looking place you know what I mean?

Thanks Jeff. I've actually seen that website in my exploration of Japanese charcoals. Some people seem to have way more free time than others I suspect.

Phil, great review and pictures as usual. Do you, or anyone reading, know the type of charcoal depicted in your pics above? I've been trying to find a reasonably priced alternative to Japanese Sumi Charcoal for use with my Konro grill. I've used Binchotan Charcoal but could not get the stuff to burn in my chimney starter.

That clam pie is a thing of beauty. You know how when you go to Tony Luke's you just have to get the roast pork italiano? Well for me, it's why I always get the tomato pie with garlic every time I go to Delorenzos. Unless I'm with a party of four, I generally don't order it. Your pic has me craving one and I just might order one next week when me and a buddy go back for lunch

At long last I made it out to Robbinsville for lunch today with my oldest daughter. I must say that I had the best pie today in all my years of going to Delorenzo's on Hudson Street. It was perfectly charred and chock full of chunky tomatoes. I usually order mine with garlic but my daughter asked for none so we got half garlic. Perfection. As to the place, what a drastic change. Gary was helping Sammy out with the pizza making and he was even smiling, a rare occurance not usually witnessed at the original place indeed! He came to our table afterward and commented that seeing my daughter made him feel old, he remembered my taking both girls when they were very young. When Eileen came (Sam's mom and Gary's wife) I told her I couldn't believe how wonderful the place looked and that I was still processing the fact they have bathrooms AND take credit cards! There were at least a half dozen waiters and really nice photos of the bygone era which was Chambersburg back in the day. I'll be back soon, only a half hour from my home.

← I thought Snipes closed down or sold out. Can you supply more details on this?

We're supposed to go here in the next few weeks. My close friend who manages the building is taking us. We both really like L'Angolo and look forward to something nice in the new space. I agree with Zeffer81 about the owner. He is quite a charming guy and I've always wondered why more places don't have a visible front person to interact with patrons. It could make the difference between a meal and a memorable meal. Of course the food must be on target.

Interestingly, this topic continues in this months Gourmet magazine which has a nice feature on both Formica Bros Bakery and White House Subs. Formica bakes their rolls. Funny thing is the slant is on subs not hoagies. "The sub has plenty of crazy aliases (grinder, bomber, hoagie, blimp, zep, wedge) and countless cognates around the nation". Nice article and I hear pretty great hoagies too!

Great Sunday adventure. You'll love everything about this place esp the food. Be sure to ask Carmen for her business card, just do it.

Because of your mistake noted someplace on this board, I avoided making it myself and got the full size roast pork. I just don't get the kaiser roll thing. It's not like they can't cut a normal hoagie roll to size for a smaller sandwich. The multiple reference to subs and sub shops irked me too, but as Bob correctly points out, this is the DC term for it.

This guy must have been lurking on this board for sure. He hit the best the city has to offer in the article. Sandy, you can rest assured that most people who read the Washington Post won't be crowding us out at Tony Luke's anytime soon.

Get the six in one at Bova. At $3.33 I'm pretty sure they were talking about the large #10 cans. Escalon also will charge shipping that adds up too.They are $34.99 at Bova, (24 cans - 28 oz). Try the La Regina San Marzanos when you are at Bova, I feel confident that they will blow away the stuff you get at Costco and they are inexpesive too. http://www.bovafoods.com/ I usually make a lot of meatballs and then simmer in the sauce. I generally use 5 or 6 cans of the six in one to 3 or 4 cans San Marzano. I chop the ends off the whole tomatoes and leave out the water they are packed in. In order, I briefly saute 5 or 6 cloves minced garlic and a little red pepper. I add a few cans of six in one till it simmers then I add the san marzanos. I like a thick, not runny sauce so I sometimes use a little tomato paste to get the right consistency.