KatieLoeb

Thanks you guys! Delighted everybody enjoyed everything. The staff thought you all were fun too. They enjoy having a very interested crew asking questions and sending the plates back to the dishroom already cleaned! I heard you all made quite a dent in the piggy. Sounds like you had a chance to do a reasonably good tour of the menu, but there's still plenty left to try on your future visits. I think the sangria recipe is etched in stone now and the whining about too much cinnamon is over. I'm happy that both the red and white was to folks liking. Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you if you're coming in. We lives to please...

Congrats glepore! Sounds great! I like the idea of doing the cheeses from Hendricks up the road. All good suggestions on good pub grub. The handcut fries, mussels and variations and good wings are crucial too.

THIS ought to get you started. Pad Thai? Paella? Pan-fried ____? The possiblilites are mind boggling.

Peter: Please keep us informed as you taste your way through the list. I'd be curious what you thought of the various suggestions, some of which I can't find here in PA but would search out in NJ if they were worthy. You can avail yourself of WineAccess.com to help you find the closest retailer of any given bottle.

Sandy, it sounds like a pleasant evening. I like that Jones has the deviled eggs on the menu because I think they're a great bar snack with a cocktail, but that might just be me. Duncan Hines chocolate cake and a glass of milk? Who could resist? The decor is so 70's Brady Bunch house it's laughable. I'm looking for the trophies over the fireplace... I'm not so sure that the self-parody is the reason Mr. Starr is lacking the respect he deserves in some circles.

Wow! Sounds great! Nice application of the Earl Grey with Violets, Matt. It's actually good hot with honey too... BTW - the Calypso tea I got the sample of is very good. I'm going to go back and get more and perhaps inspired by your brilliance, try do some rum infused with the Calypso tea. I think those flavors would be complimentary.

Daniel, nobody really cares if you go to TJ's or not... ← I think Katie does... ETA: And I do, too! ← You're right Megan. I do care about Daniel. And I also can't resist the opportunity to bust his chops a little bit when he makes it so easy.

To me, it's the little things that make a sandwich go from good to great. Interesting spreads or flavored mayonnaise/aioli that really compliments the protein. Using things like hummus or baba ghanoush in the sandwich. Interesting additions that add a new dimension of flavor like the fig jam I love to use in grilled Brie sandwiches. Interesting flavored cheeses that are a twist on the tried and true. So here's my short list of things to put on sandwiches to make them better: Pesto mayo Chipotle mayo Roasted Red pepper mayo Smoked Paprika Aioli Tapenade mayo Hummus (with flavored hummus bringing other variations) Baba Ghanoush Tapenade Fig Jam Pepper Jelly Orange Marmalade Cranberry Sauce Roasted Garlic Cheddar Jalepeno Jack cheese Horseradish Cheddar Etc. Any combo of one interesting sauce, with one/two interesting protein and one interesting cheese makes for a good sandwich.

Michael: Sorry - I didn't mean to ignore that, I guess it just wasn't as much of an issue for my mom since the foods that are high in postassium weren't really part of her diet anyway. She wouldn't drink juices at all because she just wasn't drinking a lot of fluids and she was never a big fan of dried fruits anyway. She ate beans but in very small quantities very infrequently, and always colored beans like red or black. She did miss bananas though. In addition to her failed kidneys she also had a heart condition and high blood pressure so was always a proponent of low-sodium cooking and eating. That's where the salt free seasonings came in handy. My mother's doctors tried to switch her over to peritoneal dialysis at one point but it was never very successful for her. Lots of issues with having to do it herself and problems with the port. She finally went back to hemodialysis after a short while and although she hated having to go to the hospital three days per week, she felt better on her non-treatment days so it was the lesser of two evils.

Michael: My mom was a hemodialysis patient for the last several years of her life. The diet I tried to get her to stick with was really just decent healthy eating. Lean proteins in moderation, lots of fresh veggies, good whole grains, pasta and whatever would fill her up quickly when she came home afterward. Cook with lots of fresh herbs and find salt free spice mixes (like Mrs. Dash, the Trader Joe's 21 Seasoning Salute, etc.) and use cooking techniques that add moisture to the food (like braising and thick stews) but aren't purely liquid like a broth based soup would be. Helps keep the thirsties and dehydration away since actual beverage consumption is so closely monitored. Dialysis is a draining procedure, both literally and figuratively, and to say it takes a lot out of you would be both an understatement and perversely true. She was exhausted when she came home on those days. Many times it was all she could do to climb the stairs and go to bed. I wish you the best of luck with your loved one's care and treatment. Keeping their diet interesting will help make this transition a lot easier I'm sure.

I stopped in Wednesday afternoon and the bartender didn't look like a Katie to me. ← My apologies. That was Paul who was bravely filling in for me while I was off judging the Philly Cooks competition down at the Cruise Ship Terminal. I heard the bar had some action on Wednesday and was sorry I missed it. Sorry I missed you too. I'll normally be the Monday-Friday lunch time tendress. Stop in again!

I'm very much in agreement with all that Daniel said. I've known several women with high risk pregnancies who were told by their physicians to drink a glass of wine to relax. Pregnant women probably shouldn't be doing shots of tequila or three martini lunches, but a glass of wine never hurt anyone. Lest we forget there was a time when fermented beverages were safer than the drinking water and women drank wine or mead all day long, squatted in the field to give birth and continued sheaving wheat as if nothing had happened. I'm not suggesting we go back to a time when the average life expectancy was 35 and many women died in childbirth, but the facts are that normal healthy babies were born to strong healthy women that drank moderately throughout their pregnancies. And those that died in childbirth didn't die from drinking but from lack of medical technology. With all the technology we have today you'd think there would be less fear mongering and more solid information being disseminated to women all over the world.

Come on in! Cherie: I am but a lowly bartender these days. There is a manager taking care of the wine list (which has pretty much stayed the same since I put it together prior to opening). Since the list is primarily Spanish there was little room for anything but one or two California wines. I'd be happy to put in a good word for you with the appropriate parties though, for the next time that slot is available on the list. And I wouldn't expect you NOT to mention the Folie a Deux! Were you drinking the La Bastida Reserva 1998 Tempranillo by any chance? That one is quite popular with the staff so it's always my first suspect when I hear that the waiter recommended a Tempranillo. It's very tasty stuff that pairs quite well with many of the menu items. If it isn't what you ordered last time, try it next time you're in.

Ooooooh Sam! That antique cocktail pitcher is gorgeous! It's taking every fiber of my being not to go on an eBay binge right now...

Yes it is. Chef Kamol Phutlek was the chef/owner of Alouette, as well as having graced the kitchens of La Panetiere and Frog Commissary. His influence on cuisine in Philadelphia and the "Restaurant Renaissance" back in the 1970s can not be underestimated. He's famously a mentor of other chefs as well. ← Thanks, I thought I'd heard that. The guy really knows what he's doing in the kitchen and the waitstaff are all professional and pleasant, at least that's been our experience. The only other place that serves up this kind of food that we really like is called Origin in Somerville, NJ. It's an amazing place, check out the NJ board for this one. Also, a place we used to like is 410 Bank Street in Cape May. Problem now is consistancy or the lack of it. They still pack em in down there though. ← Jeff: There's a place in Collingswood called Water Lily that philadining and I tried a short while ago that was excellent and was also Asian-French inspired. We posted about it in the NJ board so you can go back and see our impressions of the place. It was very good and could almost replace the dearly departed Le Me Toujours in Marlton in my heart and stomach. Next time you're heading to Cape May let me know. I have a bunch of great recommendations for you.

Yes it is. Chef Kamol Phutlek was the chef/owner of Alouette, as well as having graced the kitchens of La Panetiere and Frog Commissary. His influence on cuisine in Philadelphia and the "Restaurant Renaissance" back in the 1970s can not be underestimated. He's famously a mentor of other chefs as well.

I've had both the Good Dog burgers and many many Rouge burgers since I used to eat them two or three times a week when I worked there. While the Good Dog burger is an excellent burger, I'd have to give the Rouge burger the edge, at least to my taste. Juicier meat and a better roll, as well as Applewood smoked bacon, a heap of carmelized onions and really stinky blue cheese. Yum!

If money is no object then the rest of the fantasy has to include never needing reservations or worrying about the restaurant bill in addition to not sweating the rent. If that's the case the answer is easy. A glamorously decorated fabulous penthouse with a wrap around deck consisting of the top two floors of the Time Warner Building!

Daniel: Glad I could amuse you. Seriously, I have no doubt you'll go to TJ's when you have the chance and I'm certain you'll find some things there you'll like. The "perfect egg" thing was a guess on my part, but I just had a sneaking feeling from reading your posts that your eggs would have to be very special. I kid you with genuine affection and respect for your shopping prowess and patience. I really don't have the time to be the Parisian housewife so I must make some sacrifices, but I have the ultimate respect for folks that can.

If you don't mind walking across campus, I'd suggest having lunch at Nan at 40th & Chestnut. It's Thai-French cuisine with a high fabulosity factor. BYOB. Penne at 36th & Walnut is very good and practically across the street from the Hospital. Their handmade pastas are fabulous and they have great wines by the glass. Their Lunch Menu looks excellent and is pretty reasonably priced. Many folks have recommended POD at 36th & Sansom. If you're driving in and don't mind going just slightly further afield, Vientiane Cafe at 4728 Baltimore Avenue serves excellent Thai and Laotian cuisine and is open for lunch. Cute little place that's BYO also. Cash only but very reasonable.

Cherie and Eileen: I'm so glad you both enjoyed your Amada experiences. This post also gives me the opportunity to let everyone know that Amada is now open for LUNCH! Yes folks, you can come and have some great Amada grub for lunch now Monday-Friday. We serve from 11:30AM-2:30PM and I will be cheerfully tending bar and would be happy to pair up some wine for you if you'd like. There's the $12.50 "Catalan Express Lunch" which is your choice of one of two soups (Caldo Gallego or Zarzuela de Mariscos) and your choice of one of four salads (Tuna, Chicken & Romaine, Ensalda Verde or Serrano Ham & Fig) or one of four Sandwiches (Vegetarian, Steak, Chicken or Serrano Ham and Chorizo). All these items are also available a la carte as well as an a la carte selection of many of our most popular tapas and charcuterie items. It's been pretty quiet this week so I'm looking forward to seeing some of you stopping in to keep me company!

I'll heartily second this suggestion. The mussels are outrageously good and the Grey Lodge's cheesteak is my favorite one in the city. There's a damned fine whiskey and bourbon selection in addition to all that great beer too.

The dinner specials at the South Street Diner are usually very good and range from $8.95-13.95 on any given day. Comes with soup or salad, two veg and dessert - the full meal deal for a bargain price. I recently had sliced London Broil with a baked potato, steamed asparagus, a small salad and a slice of chocolate cake for about ten bucks. Their Greek dishes are usually pretty good too. I can always get out of Dmitri's on the cheap and be very satisfied. A plate of hummus, an order of grilled octopus and usually a plate of their delicious sugar snap peas with feta is enough for two with leftovers. Pretty much any of my usual haunts in Chinatown can feed me for several days for $25. Villa di Roma is my South Philly go to for a big honking plate of pasta and some cheap chianti. Good meatballs there if you're looking. La Lupe could feed a small family for $25.

Nah...better yet, let's meet up and drag Daniel there for a TJ experience! Cheers, AzianBrewer ← I'll take him at his word and not drag the poor lad. No need to ruin the backs of his shoes, y'know. I really do want to hear what Daniel's honest assessment of TJ's is after his visit though. I suspect he'll understand what we've all been trying to tell him and will still stubbornly insist on running all over Manhattan for the perfect egg or whatever. If I had the time I'd do that too. Sadly, I was genetically deprived and was born into the wrong family. No trust fund. So I have to work like a sled dog and don't have time to shop like a Parisian housewife. That's where Trader Joe's, Whole Foods and the local farmer's market come in handy.

Really? Wow. What an odd way to go about trolling for new clients. I can't imagine he really wanted a date. He brought the dog? On a first date? What if you were allergic or something? What a self-absorbed asshole! Thank god he still has his dog. He'll need the company with those manners. I'm surprised he even has friends.