cinghiale

More steak history, in the context of the Rick's/Pat's spat: A battle royal, with cheese

Actually, Burg means castle, or fortress, though a citizen is a Bürger. City is Stadt. The derivation of the Ham- root is somewhat unclear. Somewhat less OT (and less pedantic): A related, delicious German meat dish, Königsberger Klopse.

69 restaurants in 4 states. They went bankrupt a few years back. Even as punked-out college kids in Ann Arbor in the 1970s, we'd hit dowdy-homey Knapp's for the occasional birthday dinner special (discount = your age), plus free chocolate cake. Man, that cake. And the fried chicken. Line here. Any Michiganders remember Win Schuler's? Used to have 10 or so restaurants in Michigan. They're down to just the original now. You can still get their renown, super-tangy Bar-Scheeze online and in MI grocery stores (just spotted it last week while visiting).

Three of us sat at the Morimoto sushi bar last night for omakase and were informed that the restaurant no longer offers the $80 omakase. Varying explanations were offered: (i) they've had the $80/100/120 standard omakase for some time, and prices have gone up (new structure: $100/120/150 --"you could always get $150, or even $400 if you want"); (ii) they've merely replaced the $80 omakase with a tasting menu, which features, "just like on Iron Chef", a theme ingredient; and (iii) the "new" $100 omakase offers the same quality/experience as the "old" $100 omakase. On the latter point, I'm not convinced. Many of the standards from the old $80 omakase remain -- hamachi, snapper, kobe. There was a nice jackfish, though, and I don't recall that on the earlier $80 omakase. It's pretty much a 25% price increase, or, ballpark, the price for three to dine used to feed four. As is standard at Morimoto, my omakase differed from my dining companions', since I've had it before. There were some nice dishes -- poached kumamotos, coffee-smoked salmon, a generously sized, well-prepared squab. The omakase at Fuji was always my favorite, and without the accompanying sticker shock (last night's dinner for three was $400 before t/t). Does Raw offer a similar hot/cold/sushi experience?

In Hamburg (and elsewhere in Germany), ground meat patties, called Frikadellen or Bouletten, are usually served not on a roll, but accompanied by one. Fries, or Pommes, are a standard side and not uncommonly eaten with mayo or various tomato-based condiments. Cart vendors and sidewalk-fronting stores with display cases may have Frikadellen on a roll for ease of eating on-the-go. Sausage likewise is usually served on a long paper plate with a roll on the side and a little cardboard holder to protect your fingers. Sometimes you'll find the (long) sausage served on a (short) roll, again for protection against grease and burnt fingers.

Admin: Threads merged. Congrats, Andrew. Probably better posted in Fine Spirits and Cocktails board, but thought all Philly eGers should share the love. Carnivores in Margaritaville edited to correct the drink's name: Weeniecello -- man that's easier to say than spell

Thanks, Jim. I'll just make the trek out to Medford, then. Really looking forward to trying one.

I only seem to be in Camden on Saturdays, mid-day. And man, for maybe a year and a half, I never seem to catch the joint open at that time. I would've assumed that they're dark on Saturdays, but in August, they had a sign on the door saying that they were closed Saturdays during late August. Ergo, they should be open on Saturdays now. No hours on the window. I did see a card for Donkey's II in Marlton (or Maple Shade?), which listed the same hours as noted above. Anybody know if they're ever open on Saturdays? Or, is the take-out door different than the door on Haddon Ave? I'm so dyin' to try this steak... Edited to add that my latest attempt was today.

Today's FoodTV personalities, Dispense oh such bland generalities. On Mario they soured, What's wrong with Scripps Howard? 'Nuff said that their star shills for Applebee's.

Ate at Hatfield's Friday night. What a wonderful spot! Had a reservation for 9:00, were seated at 9:15. Gave us time to enjoy a cocktail on the porch. Me: Concord Martini (that would be gin with grape juice and a grape subbing for the olive); she: Caipirosca (vodka-based caipirnha). Both quite good. We sat inside, though tables, mostly two-tops, ring the space outside along the porch. Ambience was cozy and welcoming, as described. The room was noisier than Russell had indicated, but we did arrive at the peak dining hour on a Friday; it quieted down around 10. I had the octopous/hearts of palm on an olive puree. Well composed, octopus was prepared very well. I think I'd give Jose Garces' Amada here in Philly the edge in octopus prepration, but it was still one of the better octopus dishes I've had. My gf had a butter lettuce salad (man, that green is appearing everywhere now, it seems) w/Maytag blue. Also good. My main was the hanger steak/short rib combo, and it was perfect. I had short ribs Thursday night at a Swiss place in NYC, so it was good opportunity to compare. Hatfield's preparation gets the nod and more. The rib was served boned and was terrifically moist, tender, flavorful. The steak was medium and spot-on. Gf had the halibut (I believe) -- she went with the Market Menu, but the listed fish was out, so they substitued from the entree menu. It was really well seasoned and tasty. We shared the MM dessert -- a blueberry muffin-ish thing. While I found it somwehat pedestrian, the other desserts being brought out looked awesome. Had wine by the glass. Nothing stellar, but all were quite reasonably priced. Service was spotless. Price was as planned: $150 before t/t. We went next door to BLD and met Russell, who had left a note at Hatfield's that he would be at the charcuterie bar. It was very nice to meet you, Russell. Sorry our stay wasn't longer, or I would have pushed for a meal with you. You're a great resource for the LA board. I hope we can gtg when I'm next in town. We did have breakfast the next morning at BLD. Sat outside and took in the early Saturday streetscape. I had a delicious eggs benedict-riffing dish with a chorizo-like sausage whose name I've forgotten. My only criticism is that the Bloody Marys (Maries?) could be a bit bigger. Finally, we had breakfast Sunday at the Fifties Diner on Lincoln Boulevard in Venice. Nothing fancy, but sizeable portions well prepared, and quite inexpensive. I look forward to trying more of the recommendations here when I next come to LA. Thanks to all for the information.

Thanks to all. I have a reservation for tonight at Hatfield's. Maybe I can sneak in a lunch at one of the other recommendations here.

Thanks so much, Russell. I'll take a look at Providence, Grace, Hatfield's and BLD. If we decide on BLD, I'll look for you at the charcuterie bar. Thanks again.

Flying in from Philly for the weekend. We're staying in West Hollywood and are on our own tomorrow night. Looked at the pinned thread on threads. Joe's in Venice looks good. Looked at the pinned LA Times Dining compilation and spotted Tagine, in Beverly Hills. Looks promising, but doesn't appear to have been reviewed here. Any other suggestions are most welcome. Looking to spend $150. Prefer contemporary American/California. Asian, N. African, or Indian works, too. We will have a car and can travel from West Hollywood, but hope not to spend all too much time in transit. Not interested in Italian or neo-pizza places. Thanks.

From the Hartford Courant.

As Andrew probably knows, you can get cinghiale from Wells Meats here in Philadelphia. I made one agrodolce awhile back.

For me, Umbria = lentils, and I really enjoy della Croce's lenticchie con salsicce. Also a favorite is her anchovie-based salsa umbra, which works for bruschetta, too. I've tried to make umbricelli using farro, but I haven't been very satisifed with my results thus far.

Hey, someone poached my screen name (and misspelled it)!

Spinach farmers in New Jersey, the country's fourth-largest spinach producer, are getting hit hard -- and are pissed: The FDA's alarm is extreme, area farmers say, and threatens their harvest this month. I found this information quite surprising, not to say disturbing:

DiBruno's (9th Street, probably Chestnut as well) is now carrying pata negra from, I believe, La Tienda. While the jamon won't be available until 2007, they do have chorizo and lomo. The sample of chorizo I tried was truly amazing. But beware sticker shock: $40/lb. I opted for a 1/4 lb, and I made it stretch through about a week as an app during my nightly cocktail hour. The lomo is $80/lb. Anybody's guess what the jamon will cost... I also happened to spot this piece about La Tienda in the NYT last Sunday: "Do You Want to Visit Your Ham?"

I'm reminded of the story "A Really Big Lunch," in the 2004 New Yorker food issue, wherein Jim Harrison recounts a 37-course meal (with 13 wines) taken in one sitting. Designed as a birthday meal for twelve, the menu was composed of dishes made from recipes drawn from cookbooks dating from the late 1600s to the early 1800s. I don't recall how long the meal lasted, but there were, I believe, certainly considerable pauses during the seating.

Despite Robert's cautionary post, I had a great meal at Trattoria Laguna on 12/30. Alvise picked us up at the vaporetto stop and chauffered us back afterwards. The restaurant was near empty that night, and we were given a great table at the back. The fish and seafood were singularly fresh. Service was stellar. We celebrated NYE at Antico Giardinetto, near the Rialto. The owner, Lolo, has a fish stand in the market. Again, the fish was superbly fresh. The ambience was great. Pricey, though -- albeit New Year's Eve. Vedat's write-up on Gastroville is here. Sorry haven't gotten around to writing it up yet (incl. pix).

Agreed, Jason. I ate there again yesterday for lunch. gf and I split tacos carnitas (3), spicy chicken burrito and chicken quesadillas. Tacos were pretty good, though I think Taqueria Veracruzana gets my vote for best carnitas (though Jose's does load 'em up w/guacamole, sour cream, veggies, cheese, etc. as desired at no upcharge). The chicken burrito (we choose black beans) was excellent; I was reminded how my last burrito, purchased about a year ago at Pico de Gallo, was so bad as to put me off burritos permanently, I thought -- this one was excellent, and I'm back. The best dish were the quesadillas. The caramelized onions were so sweet, the chicken so tender, the tortillas so perfectly crisped, the seasoning terrific. Man, we were stuffed. Total bill was $21, including two sodas. I'm gonna try the steak and shrimp items next, at you recommend.And welcome to eGullet.

I, too, found these recipes, Melissa. Stoemp basically appears to be a mash served with a meat course. Interestingly, on Belgian food sites, the main meat is pork (ham, sausage). A bit of beef (carbonnade, stew) and chicken (Waterzooi), but there was very little out there for veal, let alone game. Of course, lots of moule and endive and waffles. This website features recipes from Everybody Eats Well In Belgium. FYI: Here's the champ from Kummer: Atlantic Monthly article

The mention of stoemp under Brussels intrigued me. Never heard of it, but sounded kinda like champ, the Irish mash, a recipe for which I've saved from a Corby Kummer article in the Atlantic Monthly and make occasionally. So, I googled for more info and found NOTHING indicating that it's made by "combining rabbit or veal". (No mention of this dish on eG at all). But, as mentioend upthread, the misspelling of mangia pretty much sealed it for me that the author of the piece is clueless.

I noticed he'd been gone, too. I've never tried his cheesesteak. There's always a fairly long line there, so I don't stop in too often. My go-to truck is Maria's, on the east side of 16th, in front of the Centre Square building (not to be confused with the neighboring truck, recently sold by Tommy and now grim). Maria's cheesesteaks are pretty serviceable.