KatieLoeb

Yes - but Gail told me herself that Anthony is hedging his bets by keeping the liquor licenses up to date - just in case retirement is too boring for him! Gosh I hope they get some rest and then come back, even with limited hours. I've yet to make it to N.O. and I hope to take up the gracious personal invitation I received from Gail and her son John before I'm laid to rest. Two of the nicest folks I've ever had the pleasure of meeting.

Diet Coke with a splash of Rose's Lime Juice is much better.

Happy belated Birthday! Can I come to your next party? Everything looks scrumptious!

Thanks Cherie. The check is in the mail...

Colonial city, colonial drink? I don't know. The only thing I can think of is that Philly was an important port (as in ships coming in with cargo) that might have had a lot of commerce in port (as in the fortified wine). Wishniak soda would make a decent mixer with Bourbon I think. Kind of an alternative to Jack & Coke. Has absolutely nothing to do with Philadelphia though, other than the substitution of the soda as a mixer.

Butterscotch Krimpets are the very best commercial sweet ever known to man. I just love them. And they're strategically placed right by the cash register in many stores for that last minute impulse purchase. Because who could resist? It is a constant battle of willpower at the checkout... Actually most of the Tastykake products are really good, especially for commercially packaged "junk food". But the Butterscotch Krimpets will always hold a special place in my heart. Who doesn't love butterscotch?

Some ideas could be found and shipped to you from the Pennsylvania General Store. or Philly-Food.com or Little Mike's Voila! Instant Philly food with atty-tood!

Sadly, I missed the pilgrimage to Samba by a bunch of intrepid PhilleGulleteers (I was working, of all things), but I think that's pineapple grilled with a splash of butterscotch schnapps aka Buttershots.

A spa day. Perhaps a seaweed wrap. A quick trip to the steam room, and then a butter and herb massage. Oh wait. No. That's what makes me happy. To eat the lobster.

Devon Seafood Grill sells 1lb. lobsters at cost, $9, for Happy Hour 4-6PM Monday thru Friday!!! That's about as cheap as I think you'll find them anywhere, and cooked for you as well.

Good Day Mr. Chairman, and thanks for joining us here at eGullet. I often joke that I play "Sommelier for the Masses" when I'm purchasing wine for a group dinner, but you really are Sommelier for the Masses! You're known as a real "consumer's Chairman" and I'd like to know what drives your purchasing for millions of PA retail customers. When choosing wines, for example, are you simply looking for the best deal, are you looking for wines you think will have more universal appeal, or are you trusting your own tastes in making the selections?

The eGullet Society for Culinary Arts & Letters is delighted to welcome Jonathan H. Newman, Chairman of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) for an eG Spotlight special appearance April 24 - 28, 2005. Although the Chat does not officially start until Sunday the 24th, you may begin posting your questions for Chairman Newman in this thread at anytime. Since his appointment in August of 2002, the PLCB has expanded its premium collection stores, introducing competitive prices and broadening the selection of wine offered to consumers. Other important initiatives include Sunday sales hours; accessory sales; samplings at stores; enhanced employee training for wine education; launching an Online Store at www.pawineandspirits.com; creating LCB stores within supermarkets (One Stop Shops); establishing climate control during all phases of wine handling; and in-store temperature controlled wine rooms. In addition, the Chairman Selection Wine program uses the purchasing power of the PLCB (the largest wholesale purchaser of wines and spirits in the world) to offer fine wine at the best prices in the country. His efforts have been honored by Wine Enthusiast magazine, which named Newman its Man of the Year in its December 2003 cover story for his efforts in creating Pennsylvania's profile as a wine-friendly state. In 2004, he was awarded the prestigious Award of Merit by the American Wine Society. And in 2005, he was awarded with honorary membership to the Guild of Sommeliers, an international organization that has given this award to only 4 other individuals in its history. The Chairman will be taking questions from members of the eGullet Society on subjects ranging from purchasing, pricing, taxation issues and what his plans are for the future of wine and spirits in Pennsylvania. Please join us in welcoming Mr. Newman to the Society.

That's true. And many of them are the clientele at my restaurant. I sincerely hope Ms. McCutcheon doesn't decide to come eat at the Oyster House and write about it. She sounds impossible to please. Surprisingly the reopening of Bookbinder's doesn't really worry me from the "competitive" standpoint. They're all the way across town and at a different price point. The Marathon Grill on my corner that's packed to the gills every waking minute is far more worrisome in terms of poaching our business.

Actually I did stop in there once right after it re-opened. I wanted to have a glass of wine at the bar after a long day at work and scope the new digs out. The bar was already closed at 10:15 PM on like a Thursday night?? And I'm not trashing the review. I'm stunned by it. As I said - I'd have to have had an experience that bordered on criminal negligence to write a review that nasty. FWIW, I do know several folks that have been there for the full meal deal. The comments ranged from pretty good to mediocre on quality of the experience and the food, and universal agreement that the place was outrageously overpriced.

I just made the horseradish tonight and my eyes are still watering! This time I roasted whole small beets for the color and the taste was much improved over using the canned beets as I'd always done before. This stuff will take the top of your head off! Woo-hoo! I can't wait to have some with Gefilte fish on Saturday! Happy Holiday everyone!

Put Down this Bookbinder, this week's review in the Philadelphia Weekly by Lauren McCutcheon, has to be the singularly most scathing review I've ever read that made it to print. Not only was everything awful, but it was the worst example of it's kind in the whole wide world. I find it hard to believe that any restaurant of that caliber could mess up on so many levels and not "get it". I'm shocked to say the least, and wonder if Ms. McCutcheon might have some personal beef with the management or ownership of the place to be so brutal. I'd have to be treated rudely, served lousy food AND get food poisoning to write that a restaurant had nothing to redeem it. What gives? Has anyone else been there yet? Any opinions? I'm somewhat shocked that an editor didn't tone that down a bit before it hit the presses.

Ummm - are you sure you don't mean the newly renovated Marathon @ 16th and Sansom?? I don't think there's a Marathon at Broad & Chestnut.

Stopped by the Delaware/Snyder Avenue Outlet store today to buy a bottle of Manischewitz White Concord to make my Passover charoset with. Also picked up a bottle of Kim Crawford Sauv Blanc and a bottle of the Valdubon '03 Ribera del Duero I'm sipping at right now. Pretty tasty stuff for the low low price of $8.99. Very rich flavors that will pair well with a steak that's tenderizing as I type. It's a bit "hot" on the nose, but drinks smoother than it smells. BTW - there was plenty of the Flora Springs Trilogy and Soliloquy at the Snyder Outlet shop as well. Plenty of St. Francis Merlot and Cab too. Didn't see the Foley PN, so I don't know if lancastermike sent his minions to scoop up every last bottle in Eastern PA before Mike Volker and I could get any.

Welcome MikNik! Delighted to have you and your voice here...

Uglesich's for lunch - it's the only thing they serve. They're awesome folks and the food is great. I had the rare pleasure of trying it at my restaurant in Philly for Book & the Cook this year. Sadly this institution is closing soon, so this might be your last chance. Say howdy to Gail for me if you go!

White Dog Cafe has a lovely Saturday brunch that goes over well with the blue haired crowd. If it isn't too hip, Rouge also does Saturday brunch.

I do understand. <sigh> Sometimes I'm just not the flavor du jour... I'm still awaiting the chance to go dueling wine bottles though.

Now that's a great story! One can only hope in the time that's ensued since the lad's 21st birthday his parents have come to some sort of understanding with him. Or perhaps he's happily living in their Delancey Street manse by now... I love the sign. Too bad the investors won out on that one.

I'll look forward to it with eager anticipation. Cocktails afterward at location yet to be decided.

The best chile advice I ever received was from Chef Robert Del Grande of Cafe Annie in Houston. A summary of what he told me appears at the beginning of my Chili recipe in RecipeGullet HERE He was definitely right about toasting the dried chiles and then softening them in a liquid before pureeing in the blender. He also said not to mix dried and fresh chiles in a recipe, which I thought was interesting. I think if you plan on using the chiles for a dry rub, then just running them through the coffee grinder should be enough. You could possibly toast them first as well, but you;d probably have to wait for them to "dry" a bit afterward so it didn't all clump up from the oils when you tried to grind it.