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EdtheMLB

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  1. As a native of Ghana that episode hits close to home. Tony did a good job in showing the real Ghana. The apetheshie (the vodka like liqour) that Tony was drinking is very strong. Its known in parts as widow maker. My parents tell me that some people who have drank it and not been able to handle it have gone blind. He really did everything that a true Ghanian would have done, even eating fufuo w/ his hands (may have to work on the technique). Cheers & well done Tony! <sales pitch>If anyone is thinking of visiting an African country, Ghana is the place to go (and i'm not just saying this because I was born there). 1) It is the safest country in that region, 2) Ghanians are known to be the friendliest Africans, and 3) English is the national language <sales pitch/>.
  2. Natural stone? What type of rock is it? If it isn't soapstone, I'd track down a more suitable material for baking. ← The type of stone is Travertine. I bought it under the impression that any type of natural/unglazed stone is fine for oven use. Is there any reason why soapstone is the only suitable baking stone? Ed, is your stone quite wide? Where is the heat source in your oven? I'm wondering if it's blocking the circulation of heat in the oven... ← The stone is almost the exact size of my oven racks. Once loaded, there is little if any space arround it. I have one of those old style gas oven's that you have to light with a match. The heat elemsent is underneath the oven in the broiler compartment. I guess I thought that heat building up underneath the stone would be a good thing as this would lead to a hotter stone. I guess the only way to find out is to try using a smaller stone.
  3. One thing that I can't seem to control is the burning of the bottom my loaves. They start burning on the bottom long before they are done. Sourdough, ciabatta, white bread, they all seem to get small (about 1/2 inch diameter) burn spots from the direct contact w/ the stone. Is this a common thing? To solve this I usually put the oven rack back in 1/2 way through and move them to the rack. For my stone I am using a 2ft.^2 peice of natural stone i picked up from my local home depot.
  4. Check out Prime Grill in midtown. My kosher colleague swears by this place.
  5. Wanker Bankers...I like that term. Has a nice roll off the tongue. I am willing to walk or take the subway one or two stops. I have the usual 1hr lunch, but I rarely take the whole hour. It would be ideal if there was a place that we could walk to (15min) and bring the food back.
  6. Thanks for the pointer. I looked through SobaAddict70 post in the NewYork forum and found some interesting threads. I learned there's a Starwich arround the corner from my building. I'm looking fwd to trying that out, but I can't imagine spending $15 everyday on lunch. I was really looking for some insight on where people that work downtown eat lunch.
  7. My department is moving downtown and thus I am leaving behind all the great midtown lunch spots. No more Halo Berlin and Daisy Mays bbq. No more Sapporo, Pams Real, Manchenko Tei or Kati Roll Co.. My new location is adjacent to the South Ferry station. I have never worked downtown before, but from what I've heard, quality lunch spots are few and far between there. I was hoping to get some suggestions on where the really good, reasonably priced eateries are. I am a very adventurous eater and am willing to try nearly and style of cuisine. Any and all suggestions are welcome. Thanks -Ed edited: spelling & to add the following. any kosher spots are welcome as well. I work w/ someone who is strictly kosher.
  8. I saw this on Good Eats w/ Alton Brown and I've tried it myself. Try clamping your hand cranked pasta maker to an ironing board. Its the perfect length for the sheets of pasta. I just lay a bed sheet on the board before clamping so no flour remains to ruin my work shirts later. I also found that the clamp requires a thick surface so I used 1) folded newspaper or 2) small piece of wood.
  9. Thanks for all your advise. I almost felt like I knew the city before I even got there. The layout is very similar to Manhattan so it was easy navigate. Philedalphia is an awesome city with tons to offer. We couldn't fit it all in one weekend. The thing that blew me away the most, and that I most enjoyed were the markets in Philly. I loved the Reading Terminal Market so much I went twice in the same day (had it been open on Monday, I would have gone for a third time). I got a roast pork sandwich from DiNics. Everyone was right about this place. The pork was some of the juciest that I have ever had. The one thing that I didn't enjoy about this sandwich was that the bread was a bit soggy. I asked for the sandwich to go, so my guess is that the juice from the pork, soaked into the bread. But the flavor was right on. We then went to Fosters where they have some preety neat trinkets and gadgets. The guy behind the counter there was unbelievalbe helpful. He had a wealth of information about the use of S hooks to hang meat and provalone. I picked up some S hooks to hang utensils on the rack above my oven. We ventured over to Fisher soft pretzel and watch the girls do their thing. It was amazing to watch them make pretzels and pig in blankets from this amazing dough. I got a soft pretzel w/ butter while my girlfriend picked up some wax candy. I noticed that the pretzel had a nice tang to it. While my girlfriend was picking out candy, I wandered over to the Dutch eating place with pretzel in hand. I was suprised by the sign I saw for a Rib sandwich. Ribs have bones, how could you make a sandwich out of them? After a conversation with the lady behind the counter, it turns out they remove the meat from the rib after cooking (unlike the McRib from McDonalds that is made from ground meat). Even though I had just eaten a sandwich about 30 minutes prior, I had to try this one. I took my sandwich and sat outside of the market, just south of the convention center on 12th street. I have to be honest, I enjoyed the rib sandwich more than the pork sandwich from DiNic's. The rib meat was so juicy that it was literally dripping from my mouth (like a watermelon). And it paired so nicely with the mild bbq sauce the had. About an hour later, we met my girlfriends family at the Christ Church where B. Franklin is buried. There was some fine wine, champagne and cheese waiting for us. We received a very informative tour the burial grounds. At the end I did the tourist thing and threw a penny on B. Franklins grave. We then headed to Fork:etc for diner, which was amazing. We had two tables set up in what was the retail section of the restaurant where they sell packaged lunches, books, and things of that sort. Appetizer - Duck pate with creole mustard and conishon pickels Entre - Hanger steak with yuca (cassava) fries and sauted chard <Forgot to snap a picture> Desert - Peach cobler with lemon grass and vanilla gelati. The second day we took a cab to the Italian market. First stop was Gino's for a steak sandwich. The sandwich was the best steak sandwich I've ever had. And I got a little south Philly attitude when I asked for a cheese steak with no cheese. We then headed up the west side of 9th street checking out all the store fronts. We stopped in Claudio and picked up some olive oil, cheese, and panchetta. I found myself blown away yet again. We tried so many different cheeses, and I even bought my first aged balsamic vinager (the 25 year old Claudio brand). We then stopped in the spice market. I have actually never seen, been in, or imagined a store like this; that sells only spices, teas, and coffees. I bought some white and yellow semolina and some tomatoe and spinach powder for pasta making (I'm planning on posting on the Pasta cookoff thread when i can get to it). I also picked up some chamomile green tea, and candied ginger. Walking south down the east side of 9th, we didn't really pick up much as it was mostly fresh produce and meats. I did pick up one of those peeled and chopped mangoes. The mango was very good and sweet. I felt like a kid again getting the mangoe all over my hands and face. Buying fresh ready to eat fruit on the street kinda reminded me of Ghana where you can buy fresh coconuts for the milk, and mangoes on the street. One thing I noticed in Philly was how accomodating everyone was. Everyone we asked for directions was so helpfull. After the market we went back to my girlfriends uncles house (22nd by Delancey) were they were grilling some food. Preety standard fare except for these shrimps marinated in garlinc, ginger, sesame, honey and what I think was ketchup. It was amazing to eat as you got bits of ginger with every shrimp. The birthday cake was a tiramisu cake that the children decorated. On monday before we left, we wanted to stop into la colombe for some coffee. Unfortunatley it was closed for Labor day. We saw a man in the park w/ a cup of coffee and asked him where he got his from. He pointed us down Walnut to the bridge to the new coffee shop (I think it was Walnut Bridge Coffee shop). They served illy coffee which was of very good quality. We took the coffee and lemon popy seed scone back to the park and sat and enjoyed the day for about an hour. I also stopped by Pats and tried one of their steak sandwiches. This time I knew how to order. Looking back, both sandwiches were preety good and its hard to choose a winner. I'd have to say that fries were better at Pats, but Geno's was bigger and newer. Things I would like to go back to Philly for: Arts Museum; South Street night scene; Liberty Bell; La Colombe coffee house. Once again, thanks again for all your advice. I'd like to get to Philly atleast twice before the end of the year. I'd like to get the chance to experience Studiokitchen, and I would like to go out on South street. Thanks guys. -Ed
  10. Thank you so much guys. I really can't tell you all how much I appreciate the responses. Thanks again. -Ed
  11. Hello, This is officially my first post on eGullet...so here goes. I am visiting Philadelphia next weekend (Sept. 3nd) and I was wondering if you anyone could suggest a few restaurants/activities/sites for me and my vegetarian girlfriend. We're staying at the ClubQuaters Hotel (168 Chestnut St.). We have Sat./Sun/Mon. mornings to explore the city and see what we can find. I'm really looking forward to all the different places available to eat. I've heard of the two famous Philly cheese steak places across the street from one another, however I'm a bit weary to try those out (possible tourist trap?). I also read on citysearch.com that there is an Italian market in the city that is preety good. Can anyone support this? My girlfriend is looking more towards to visiting some of the sites in they city. She wants to visit those stairs that Rocky ran up. I don't mind the sites but I would like to find the places that are off the map. I read in the New York Times that as far as arts and culture, Philly is now what Brooklyn was 20 yrs ago. I would like to find some of these things that make Philly special. Though my girlfriend is a strict vegetarian (no chicken or fish), please don't let this limit your selection to vegan/vegetarian oriented establishments. She is willing to go to places that serve primarily meat (i.e. steak houses, bbq joints). Thanks for your advice. -Ed P.S. Anyone have any ideas on getting around the $20/day parking fee?
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