Andrew Fenton

That'd work fine, I think. But my experience is that if all you're looking for is recrispitalization (as opposed to full pizzafication) even a toaster oven works pretty well.

Charleston looks good, but more than I want to spend: one of our group has specifically said she doesn't want to spend more than $50-60 on dinner, and I don't think we could do that there and have a good time. Italian is right out: I'm trying to go light on Italian over the next few months (since it's all I'll be eating for a year or so). It sounds like Brewer's Art is the way to go, then... Cool: I'll make the missus drive...

I'll be in Baltimore next weekend: just one day and one night, so this is going to be a targeted, in and out, commando-style eating mission. Having pored over the relevant threads, I've come up with a short list; any recommendations would be ever so appreciated. Lunch is easy: to Lexington Market, to Faidley's. Though it occurs to me: crabs are out of season. Do they freeze the crab cakes? If so, are they still worth it? If not, any other good spots in Lexington Market? Dinner is the real issue. I've got a list from old threads: The Brewer's Art Henniger's Tavern Peter's Inn Saffron Most of the recommendations I've gotten seem to be more bar-food type places (the exception being Saffron); I'm most definitely up for that, but if there's anything un-missable that I've missed, I'd love to hear it.

Yeah, sitting in a cardboard delivery box doesn't help any pizza's crust. That's probably why I've almost completely given up on delivery pizza since I've moved to Philly: better to travel to the good stuff. But reheating works wonders as well.

Syrenka is one of these places I've been hearing about for years, but have never tried. Bob, do you think it would make a good DDC spot?

Franco and Luigi are really good. I haven't had their pizza in ages-- they don't deliver to me, and for a long time, I didn't have a car-- but it's one of my favorites. The fresh ricotta pies are terrific, and I think their tomato pie (no cheese, no toppings other than fresh basil) is the best in the city.

It's not super-big. More in the summer, as they have a garden area. Maybe forty or fifty? Aw hell, I'm no good at judging these things: call 'em and ask.

In general, any place that doesn't take reservations would be a good bet, I'd think; that's doubly true if you get there early. You mentioned Chloe: I'd add Lolita to the list. (They've started taking reservations during the week, but not, I believe, on weekends.) Then there are places that just don't tend to fill up. Sansom St. Kebab House is never that full; it's cheap and good; and as I've said recently, I always feel like I ought send more business (especially my own) their way. Also, I've found lots of the Chinatown standbys to be fine for a weekend walk-in.

Yes. Details. Now!

I've wondered for a long time: is there any way to actually measure the effect of a bad review? Not just from LaBan, but more generally. I mean, while we all know that people of taste and distinction count grease stains like astronomers count the stars in the heavens, and make their dining plans accordingly, is there a metric for how a review affects a restaurant's bottom line? You'll see a restaurant like Marigold get a glowing review in the Inquirer, and their reservation book fills up-- but then, they've had lots of good reviews, as well as good word of mouth and reports on the internets. Contrariwise, I never ate at Sammy's after LaBan's review and its naaasty bologna-bite anecdote. It went out of business... but again, how much of that is due to his review, and how much due to other causes? I suspect that in a large market like Philadelphia there's no evidence beyond the anecdotal and circumstantial. But I may be wrong: any evidence to the contrary?

Holy crap! I want your friends. Trade?

Well, we know that the effects-- good or bad-- develop over time. So what's the deal? From the name, I'm speculating that they allow the pizza to age in a cave, like a fine cheese. But that's probably not it.

I've gotta agree with the Planet Hoagie underwhelmingment. I checked them out a couple of weeks ago, and found the hoagies to be okay, but nothing special. Since there are so many hoagies in Philadelphia, I tend to rate them based on how far I'd travel for one. Top of the list are Chickie's and Sarcone's-- those are worth a visit to the city. Primo's, I'd go a few blocks out of my way. Planet Hoagie would be fine if I was hungry, and was in the neighborhood. But they're not worth a special trip.

Too much of a good thing; that's all. Plus, variety is the spice of... er, maybe that's allspice. Whatever.

Where does Southwark get its name? I suppose it's like a bulwark, defending South Street from South Philadelphia's barbarian hordes. Fortunately, the name is the most confusing part of the restaurant, which otherwise is a very nice little bistro. We ate there last night, and I was struck, first off, by how great their bar is. I've gotten so used to eating at BYOB's that I've forgotten what a good bar can do for a restaurant. Friendly bartenders, a bunch of local folks sitting around drinking, and they make a pretty good Manhattan. Good enough for Fat Tony, that Manhattan. There's a good selection of small plates (under $10) and a half-dozen or so entrees (all in the $15-20 range). I wasn't super-hungry (and after two beers before I got there, followed by that Manhattan, and another glass of wine, was starting to get super-drunk), and ordered a couple of small plates: a very nice marinated beet salad (great mustard vinaigrette and a pile of those wee little clover-like greens), and one of the specials, sweetbreads. Three chunks of fried sweetbreads, nestled on top of a blue cheese bread custard. Both the sweetbreads and the custard were tasty; if I have one complaint, it's that they kinda had the same texture: crispy-creamy. I'd have served the sweetbreads with something like shoestring potatoes, or maybe some greens. But whatever; they were good. And I'm such a fan of restaurants offering offal; Salt knew their way around a sweetbread and a tripe, and I kind of miss them. You listening, Southwark folks? Put sweetbreads on the menu, permanent-like! I also tried a few other dishes, including the fried smelt: big smelt, deep-fried in batter. That part was a little weird: at their best, smelt are like aquatic popcorn, but this batter was a little much. The veal cheeks appetizer kicked some serious ass: braised, with a rich sauce and hand-cut pasta. Yow. Maybe the best thing I ate last night. I can't say the same about the London broil special: I mean, it's London broil. What are you gonna do with it? I just don't like it much, which is why I didn't order it. The polenta-parmesan cake that came with it was pretty good, though. I didn't try the chocolate pot de creme, but my tablemates went through it like Sherman through Georgia. Instead, I split the mascarpone-honey crepe with hazelnuts. Not too sweet, and very good. Bottom line: Southwark is worth checking out. I know that folks miss Tartine (I'm embarrassed that I never made it over there, given that it's right around the corner from me), but this seems like a pretty worthy successor.

That fits my understanding (though I seem to remember cinnamon + cloves + allspice). It's also thin: more like a sauce than like chunk-style Texas chili. I'm not a fan; I think you may have to have grown up with it...

I guess I just don't understand why you'd want to eat cheesesteaks two days in a row, let alone reheated cheesesteaks. The only way I can imagine it is as part of a "lost weekend", drunken bender, kind of scenario. In which case, yeah, it'd be a good way to go.

See, that's why I love Ed Rendell: he's politician who loves to eat. I've said it before and I've said it again- Caesar was right. Stay away from politicians who have that lean and hungry look; you can't trust them.

It is expensive for barbecue. (On the other hand, it's a lot cheaper than a trip to TX.)

Just like Mom used to make!

With the prominent exception of the best pizzeria in Philly; Tacconelli's, where they refuse to-- well, strongly advise against-- putting more than two or three toppings on a pie. (Which is as it should be: more than two or three toppings on a pizza is barbaric.)

I'll second this advice. It's part of my standard pizza operating procedure: just parchment, no cornmeal. I like it because there's no stick, no cornmeal on the floor or caked on the bottom of the pizza, and I get excellent crust texture.

So how was it, gang? It can't have been as exciting as my Saturday, what with the lying in bed dying of the flu and watching daytime TV. (I mean, I did have half a bowl of won ton soup, which was pretty rockin'.) But second to that, I'm sure it must have been at least okay... Which Brooklyn joint came out on top?

I haven't done it myself, but I bet that Panorama's bar would be a great spot to eat- you could gaze admiringly at the oenotechnological miracle behind the bar as you ate. (And even if you don't order food, their little bread snacks are great eating as well.)

Okay, by "plastering tool", y'all mean a putty knife, right? Great idea; I will pick one up for my next tamale go-round.