KatieLoeb

Here's the follow-up folks, by our own Michael Klein: Phila. Redo on a Roll Apparently Chef Todd Miller will be making one for David Letterman on his show tonight. Didn't Dave already have bypass surgery???

I like the Goya olive oil - it has a particular fruity taste that I really like. The juices are excellent and make for great frozen cocktails. The recaito and sofrito also come in handy in a pinch.

DDC Dinner Tuesday October 19, 2004, 7:00PM The Abbaye 637 North 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 215.627.6711 $25/person Tax & gratuity inclusive – Cash Bar available Appetizers – Choose One - Oyster & Crab bisque - Vegan Roasted Garlic & White Bean Spread served w/toasted bread - Abbaye Salad (mixed greens, apple smoked bacon, gorgonzola cheese, roasted walnuts, carrot straws & house - Ploughman’s Lunch (pickled shallots & onions, slices of Granny Smith apple, wedge of Cheddar, house made Duck Prosciutto, toasted bread) Entrée – Choose One - Pork loin stuffed w/homemade Sausage & Fennel w/mushroom gravy - Roasted Butternut Squash & Potato Gnocchi w/Vegetarian Red sauce - Cornmeal encrusted Catfish & homemade Plum sauce - Vegan Shepard’s Pie over Sautéed Spinach Desserts – Choose One - Sour cream & Apple Cobbler w/Vanilla ice cream* - Bread Pudding* - Vegan Oatmeal Cookies w/Vegan Coconut-Chocolate sorbet - Brownie* *option of Sorbet or Vanilla ice cream w/these RSVP to KatieLoeb via PM option by Saturday 10/16/04. Space is limited!

Margaret: Both Veracruzana and La Lupe are open on Sundays, and in fact are some of my favorite places for breakfast or brunch. If you want to Mapquest it the exact addresses are: Tacqueria la Veracruzana 908 Washington Avenue La Lupe 1201 South 9th Street More info and photos are available on Holly's website HERE

Herb is correct. I always think of it as Delaware Avenue but I think the newer signs all say Columbus Boulevard. Margaret - which way are you coming from on I-95? We could be far more specific if you could tell us where you're coming from. In either case, Washington Avenue only goes one direction from Delaware Avenue/Columbus Blvd. so the rest of the directions should be fine. Tacqueria Veracruzana is right by the Italian market and La Lupe is on the next corner over from Pat's/Geno's cheesesteaks, so if you know your way to either of those landmarks you should be fine.

Just hit Washington Avenue off of Delaware Avenue once you get off I-95. Between 9th and 10th on Washington is Tacqueria Veracruzana. Or head down 10th Street from Washington, turn left on Wharton Street, left on Passyunk and left again onto Federal. Go one block and at the corner of 9th & Federal is La Lupe. Both of these are authentic tacquerias that will have the genuine ethnic article you are craving.

I think the Johnny BLUE Label at about $200/bottle is about the silliest thing I've ever heard of. Who the hell would pay that much for a blend???

The Giant Heart exhibit just reopened. More info Here.

Or galooptchy, galuptzi, golubsti, golombki if you're Polish, krautwickel or gefiltekraut if you're German or Viennese, holuubtsi if you're Ukranian, sarmali if you're Romanian, or dolmas if you're Armenian. Everybody eats stuffed cabbage! I can't think of a more universal "peasant" food that crosses geographic, religious and cultural borders than this dish.

Even chain restaurants with "corporate" menus that are identical at each property are subject to being only as good as the Executive Chef at that particular outpost. The Capital Grille in Philly is the highest grossing in the chain I was just recently told, and certainly any dinner I've had there has been superb. Folks I've sent there have all enjoyed it as well. I've heard the same of the CG in Washington. If the chef at the new Manhattan CG is sending out soupy side dishes he isn't cutting it. He will undoubtedly be quickly replaced. Unlike small non-chain restaurants, Chefs are rather like shark's teeth in the big corporate chains. If one is lost, another pops up to replace them.

The Riedel Single Malt Glass is a lovely vessel. It does seem to concentrate the spirit right onto the mid-section of one's tongue when sipping. I purchased a pair of these and a very nice bottle of Woodford Reserve bourbon for a friend's 40th birthday gift. He really loves them.

Is it time for the big ten gallon hats? Is Spruce Hill big enough for both Marigold and Rx?? Tune in next week as our hero prepares for a West Philly gunfight for the BYOB Championship of the Free World As We Know It, and defends his honor and his turf...

Robyn: I didn't even realize the overlap (and I don't think that's ever happened before) until I looked up the dates myself. Should be a great visit for anyone that likes both the horticulture and the fine dining angle on their travels. I don't think Philly can possibly compete with Southeast Asia, but could definitely be a rewarding trip for a long weekend. Southeast Asia and it's attractions will still be there later on, but the Philadelphia Flower Show and Book and the Cook festivals are different every year!

The Flower Show is almost always around the first week of March - right around my birthday - and it is spectacular. Definitely a great time to visit Philly if you've never been here and there are all kinds of hotel incentives right around then. Next year it will be March 6-13, 2005. Later in March is Book and the Cook, an annual festival that pairs up cookbook authors and chefs with local restaurants for special dinners. Also an excellent time to visit! Next Book and the Cook will be March 11-20, 2005. Since they overlap next year it's prime time to visit Philly and see the largest indoor horticultural exhibition in the world and then eat well to boot!

The Gentleman Jack is far better for sipping neat. It's delicious in fact. Also makes a tasty Manhattan.

The Pedroncelli Cab is basically at about half price right now (it's normally $22), so from that perspective it's a "bigger/better" bargain. But that Zin at $9.99 makes it perfect for "grab-and-go" to BYOB of your choice or to take to someone's house for dinner without breaking the bank. Even at it's regular price of $14.50 it's a pretty good value.

James: Lookee HERE

I've no doubt there'll be some barflies at Barclay Prime that fit that description too.

Interestingly, some of my fellow guests at a wine tasting I attended this evening were telling me about attending the "soft opening" of Barclay Prime last night. I'm told the decor is scary (Day-Glo green and black seating) and that the prices are truly and shamelessly outrageous. Apparently it isn't just the $100 Cheesesteak. They're charging $16 for a Cosmopolitan, $11/glass for cheap South American wine that costs $8/bottle and $26 for a Sidecar. I think the novelty will wear off quickly in the shadow of that sort of exhorbitant and insulting markup. Methinks the Starr empire is reaching Critical Mass.

This is a must do. One of the very best views of the city skyline and downtown area is from the top of the Art Museum staircase, as seen down the "Champ d´Elysee" of Philadelphia, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. And you can even skip the raw egg protein drink first if you want to.

I've finally discovered the link for the Chairman's Selections page of the PLCB website. I'm not sure how often it's updated, but since I have spies in the managers of the two local stores, I get a heads up on some things before they come out. I've tried all of these in the last couple of weeks: St. Francis Merlot Reserve Behler Vineyard 2000 $17.99 Dry Creek Merlot Reserve 2000 $12.99 St. Francis Cabernet Sauvignon Nuns Canyon Reserve 2000 $17.99 Each one of these has been delicious and a real bargain. I've had those Pedroncelli wines before and those are a killer buy as well. On deck for the next round of Chairman's Selections: Burgess Cabernet Sauvignon Library Selection 1992 $19.99. My friend Marnie Old spoiled this for all of us that would snap it all up by posting this as her "Selection of the Month" in the latest issue of Philadelphia Magazine. (Marnie!!! ) Nab it when you can or talk to the wine manager at your local store to see if they'll give you a heads up when it comes in. It's going to go at lightning speed and is an absurd price for 14 year old already-aged-for-you-at-the-winery Cabernet. Should be in either end of October or early November my sources tell me.

Angelina is what replaced Blue Angel. Jones is newer. Barclay Prime steakhouse (home of the $100 cheesesteak) just opened yesterday. It's right down the street from me. Cafe Republic was the one glaring failure. Not sure if it was the neighborhood, if it was ahead of it's time, or if folks just didn't get it. Didn't know Chowderow was involved. That's an interesting factoid. Squeat - if you think the website is annoying you should see the waitstaff and the kitchy uniforms at the various outposts. The new Continental Midtown has the waitresses in pleated denim mini skirts and rugby shirts. They look like field hockey players as envisioned by a porn producer.

My Cubano side comes out every Thanksgiving when I make a Pumpkin Flan for dessert instead of Pumpkin Pie. Less filling but the same flavor profile.

If the alternative is Manishewitz/Lime Nova, I'd say pass the platter. Congrats on getting out of the house! I've used a wee bit of Cognac instead of vodka on my gravlax and it's delicious. I can't imagine that tequila wouldn't add an interesting twist to the flavor.

Rachel: Come visit. I'll fast in anticipation and give the full monty Cheesesteak tour!