Siouxsie

Ordered the other evening from "Golden Chopstick" at 18th & Spring Garden. Very disappointed in all aspects, from soup to nuts (well, rather, soup to fortune cookies). Anyone know anywhere better for order-in Chinese? Doesn't need to be fancy, just decent and able to deliver the basics (soup, dumplings, General Tso's, etc.). Thanks.

I vaguely remember seeing books from this series at Borders when they first came out in about 2001, but I was a poor student then and new books were mostly out of reach, even trade paperbacks. I recently was browsing my local used book store and found two: Idwal Jones, "High Bonnet: A Novel of Epicurean Adventures" (1945) Wanda Frolov, "Katish: Our Russian Cook" (1947) Here's the series link: http://www.randomhouse.com/modernlibrary/seriesfood.html These look like fun and interesting foodie books with a vintage bent. MFK Fisher quotes on the front cover (neat design, too) and intros by Marion Cunningham (Katish) and Anthony Bourdain (High Bonnet--this was about when Tony B was beginning to become a "name"--neat!) Wondering if anyone else has read any of the others? Siouxsie

Vad, I didn't mean the entire city...I just meant (and thought I'd typed) Center City. I wasn't thinking of Reading Terminal because that's more like takeout than sit-down. I think I might even stand by it (for Center City) if the quality wasn't so poor the last time I had it. Now I'm not so sure. Sorry for any confusion. Siouxsie

I hafta say, I originated this thread with bon mots for Jones, but I hadn't been to Jones in a bit at that time. I think I've gone twice in the past month or so and darned if it just didn't really live up. I had the fried chicken one time, which I used to love, and it was horrendous, like it'd been sitting in funky oil for way too long. The other time, I had the quesadillas and they were OK, but nothing special. I might think twice before going back. I did have a good lunch of those huevos at El Vez tho. Siouxsie

Yep. Fran's fried chicken, cornbread, and greens are superb; even more so when I learned that she apparently uses relatively healthy cooking oil. I do, however, recall not adoring the mac and cheese for some reason (too mushy?) and thinking the yams were just a bit too sweet (I like to still taste a bit of the actual yam). The time factor doesn't bother me now that I know to budget for it. The first time I went, I was absolutely starving and nearly passed out at my table. The waiter was kind enough to bring me some greens out early and I slurped the whole plate in about thirty seconds. In tune with my current BBQ thread running, I notice here that I never did try her ribs. Will have to make a trip out that way soon! Siouxsie

I don't know where my original post got to! I double-posted by mistake, blanked one out, and now not sure what happened. Anyhoo, the post was inspired by having just met the owner of Phoebe's, which is located at 22nd and South, while waiting for a parking spot in a totally different part of town. Long story short, he mentioned in chatting that he had bought Phoebe's and I see the online reviews are pretty positive. He mentioned the original owner was from Oklahoma, which I guess is not specifically a BBQ hotbed, but the little I had time to learn was that theirs is a tomato based sauce and the meat itself is smoked with a dry season rub. So, that's the gist of my original post. Thanks! Siouxsie

I'm trying to picture exactly where this is...I guess I could google the address. I usually hit Belmont coming from downtown via the West River Drive, then exit at Sweetbriar and come up the main wide road that goes to the Mann. This sounds like I'd make a right onto Belmont from there? If so, which side of the road should I be looking? All I can picture there are baseball fields. I love smoked brisket. Siouxsie

I'm fond of the fish & chips at London on Fairmount. Siouxsie

My father's lady friend had a GC so we checked this out tonight. It was a bit uneven. The tasty crusty bread came with a trio of dips: pesto, white bean, sun-dried tomato. These were pretty good! I had a glass of a 2004 chardonnay that was OK (forget the name). She and I shared a salad of spinach, pancetta, parmesan, roasted pear, and cider vinaigrette. Also good--the best part of the meal, in my view. Dad had the lentil soup and said it was too thick. The entrees were the problem. She had the branzino, which was good, although she wasn't crazy about the skin being left on one side. They also messed up her veg substitute. Dad had the chicken and also asked for a veg substitute, which they got wrong too. He noticed the waiter didn't write the subs down and that may have been the problem. By the time it got fixed, his chicken had got a bit dried out. Mine was the most unhappy. I ordered the pasta special: handmade fettucine with crab, roma tomatoes, thyme, basil, and shallots. The pasta itself was great, but what I really got was some crabmeat in a basic red sauce. It was kinda bland. The waiter and manager both came over and insisted on having the chef re-toss it with more red sauce, but by that time it was just more of the same and everyone else was done. I guess I was lured by the description and the dish just didn't live up to my imagination based on that description. I appreciate that they did try to fix it though. Good service, overall. Dessert was the bread pudding, which was pretty good. We were also comped our dessert drinks, so that was a nice finish. I might go back, but would order differently. To do it again, I'd be likely to just stick with apps and those bread dips! Happy munching, Siouxsie

Great responses, gang. I'm going to go with the undercooked diagnosis or, and I'm still hanging onto this for some reason, my notion that it might have been OK beforehand, but someone said "Well, people like their desserts warm, so let's nuke it for a minute before it goes out!" The top wasn't especially warm, so I'm pretty sure it wasn't a broiler/heatlamp issue. It also had that kinda uneven warmth inside like you get with a nuked thing... I didn't say anything at the time as my father gets miffed when I do that, but I'll do some diplomatic interrogation next time before ordering it. I live around the corner and will likely give it another shot because it tasted OK flavorwise. Siouxsie

Hm. I happen to like Lee's Italian hoagies, but I sort of grew up on them (the old Ardmore location on Lancaster), so I guess it's a taste/memory thing for me. I do find, however, that the Lee's in University City is nowhere as good as the Lee's that's in Bala off Belmont. In fact, the last time I was at the U-City location, I was really disappointed. I'm thinking I'll amble over to Primo's next week for lunch one day tho. I had their tuna hoagie over the summer and liked it plenty. It's just that I work in a small office and everyone is health conscious and it's all carrots, hummus, and celery. I'd feel like a bigfoot heathen coming back with a big ol' hoagie! Siouxsie

I'm a real fan of CB, but it never seems to be quite right around here. I tried it tonight at London on Fairmount and it was warm and soupy, like it had been microwaved! That can't be right, no? My thought is that it should be chilled, cool, or at least room temperature so that it maintains its shape a bit. Any recs?

Hi Mummer! As I wrote in the intro, I am a DeBreaux fan, but it definitely takes some scheduling. I once called in my order from Franklin Mills mall! It actually worked out perfectly. My guy pal who I took there about a month or so ago had the ribs and I was coveting them something fierce. I am not often around 30th St. station, so that's out. I'm likely headed to RTM this week to check out DHD. Waves to rlibkind! I hate to work a cheap pun, but this thread's got some legs. Glad I inspired a few ventures. I actually have never been a huge Popeye's person, even when I lived in NOLA, where it's from. One always pays for it down the road and I don't love their sides. Siouxsie

Oh, rlibkind, that looks scrumptious, and a wonderful price for a half bird. This is at the Reading Terminal? Better, you think, than Delilah's? Delilah's is in the bins, though, which is less appealing than at least a freshly "finished" entree like your pic. My big issue in that regard is that I can't imagine getting good and messy with a fried chicken lunch, then having to go back to work! The place I sometimes got from in Baton Rouge was OK to take home and reheat, so I guess I could try that. Mmmm! Siouxsie

Just stumbled across this and it looks like fun. Michael Klein, the Inky's "Food & Drinq" blogger (also writes other stuff like "Table Talk") is running a new blog for a few months about the opening of a new restaurant (Med-Israeli) in the old Sfizzio spot near the Ritz. Here's the link: http://blogs.phillynews.com/inquirer/makingofzahav/ Susu

I'm new...have come on over for a lookie from the Pennsylvania group and decided to stay a while! Love this thread. I have recently been on a tear: all three Ruhlman "of a chef" books, Pepin's "Apprentice" (about halfway through so far), Kurlansky's "Cod" and, for practical tips, Linda Carucci's "Cooking School Secrets for Real World Cooks." Plus, I've made a list of about twenty titles from this thread to check out! I'd already read Reichl, Steingarten, Bourdain, etc., but might purchase because I always want to re-read those. I already have volumes by Elizabeth David and Bemelmans around here somewhere to re-read! I also recommend a dark horse, "The Frog Commissary Cookbook" by Steven Poses, et al. Those who came of age in Philly in the 70s and early 80s will recognize the name. It's a wonderful cookbook with great recipes, cute illustrations, and reminiscences of starting and running an experimental urban restaurant during that era (now it's just catering--my local used book store's proprietor just had them cater her daughter's wedding and mentioned it because I bought a newish copy that's in much better shape than mine, which is shredded and over 20 years old). Hi to all! Susu

My Jones post got me craving fried chicken. It's definitely a weakness. I moved here from NOLA, where there were a few good places, one of which was on Claiborne in an area frequented by pimps! Also had Gus's in Memphis and Mrs. Rowe's in VA. Yum. I do like Jones for Center City, but also Fran DeBreaux's in Overbrook. Where else?

Thought this might be fun. List your favorites or ones you dislike and why! I like Jones the best. Their fried chicken is the best I've found in Center City. I also like Continental in Old City. Don't really have any I dislike. Siouxsie

My father likes "plain food" as in, basic chicken dishes, roast beef, veggies, etc. We have a tough time finding places to go in the area. We'll go beyond Center City for a worthwhile rec! Thanks, Siouxsie

I used to work on North American St. and we'd order from Rustica all the time. Loved it. NYPD is good too for work day in Center City. Can't help with delivery in your area, but does anyone have any good ideas in the Art Museum/Fairmount area? Siouxsie

Kelly Drive...righto! Beg pardon. Either way, I'll be looking to see if it lasts. I'd try it again, just would be hetchy to order anything with more than one ingredient that might not be commonly kept...like cherry tomatoes! Thinking about it more, I wonder if maybe they're skimping a bit to save money. Easier to throw in some of the mountain of already diced regular 'maters than to buy and store the cherry toms? I'm with you on the Barnum quote. On the way home, another member of our group was saying that most folks are so happy to eat out and get a huge plate of food that they're not so concerned/don't notice that it might not be too good. I do like the Italian place on 2d and South tho. Heart of Rome? I forget the translation... Keep on munchin' Siouxsie

Hi all. Newbie here. I was inspired to join and post on the "merits" of my meal at this restaurant tonight. Not good! I ordered the capellini with crabmeat, which was billed as also coming with cherry tomatoes, basil, and garlic in a white wine sauce...what I got was capellini (OK) with what seemed to be canned crabmeat (OK...they didn't promise it was fresh), no apparent basil or garlic, but pale, diced regular tomatoes and...zucchini? Swimming in a puddle of a light sort of orange liquid. The whole thing was unappealing to look at and tasted worse. I brought it up to the server and was told they'd try it again. It came out with a bit more basil and garlic, the same blah crab, and now with grape tomatoes? And, yes, zucchini. I gave up at that point. I hate to be picky, but at nearly $20, shouldn't it be a better match to the menu description? And look kind of appetizing? And taste like food? They comped my dessert. I ordered the cheesecake with chocolate topping and berries. I got no topping and two strawberries. The cake wasn't too bad. They were also out of Frangelico. Who ever heard of an Italian restaurant without Frangelico? The others did a bit better, but nobody was thrilled. Is it me? Siouxsie