davidbdesilva

Just wanted to let everyone know that a June DDC dinner is being planned and is in the works. I will be posting all the details (along with the menu) shortly but the only hint I'll give for now is that it will be in the suburbs this time. Stay tuned...this one will be a good one, I promise.

OK Holly I think it's time to hit the matresses! I know this place in Jersey you could use, pretty sparse but no one will find you there. Better still, I have relatives in Sicily who could put you up but you might not pass as a Siggy and therefore stick out. I could provide some "protection" at the place in Jersey, for a small fee of course, payable in good BBQ. Or, I have friends who could show up and break a knee cap or two. Just let me know and consider it done... Putting on my psycholgists hat for a moment, this guy sounds a little paranoid and full of himself . Maybe a group of say 20 or so egulleters should show up with cameras and start snapping away and send him off the deep end, now that would be funny!

Alfresco dining at its best! What a fun idea to do with friends on a warm evening. The food looked excellent, I'll have to get there sometime soon. And by the way Katie, I love Benjamin Tawny Port and it is one of THE best deals out there for about $10. It is consistently rated in the high 80's to 90 points in the trade mags. You guys have too much fun, it's the only way to enjoy life!

Next time a group of you decide to go and need a pair, please please let me know, we'd love to get back there. It's been way too long since I have tasted Shola's delights and would love to again soon! We rarely taste food that even approaches Shola's creations and creativity. This winter we ate at Blue Hill in NYC and we both agreed that it was in the Shola-style of cooking. But, it cost a lot more than Shola does! So keep us in mind!

And Herb, would you take this said blonde beauty with you on your next NYC entrails adventure? I'm SURE she would just love that! Damn, Pawlak wasn't kidding when he said you would eat anything! That was quite a post on the NY board, with gross pictures and everything. Did you at least chase those dishes down with some good Scotch? That at least would have helped deaden the taste buds. And you want to come aboard the Moshulu after that? Wouldn't be surprised if the chef wouldn't let you aboard. I'd love to hear all about it when I see you!

Khajuraho in Ardmore for outstanding Indian food, inexpensive and BYOB.

And to think that that venerable restaurant (Tapas) moved to Lansdale in the old Tremont Inn, nobody patronized it (Lansdalites preferring the Burger King down the road and Flamenco being something you try not to catch from somebody) and quietly closed. The Tremont Inn was then torn down and now we have a lovely Rite Aid there instead. Sad indeed.

I agree 100%! In my opinion there is no better way to enjoy good quality coffee than in a French-press. I use what I consider to be the best coffee I've ever had (La Colombe) for this method and the results are outstanding. I have always been told to stir the coffee right after you add the boiling water (with a non-metalic implement, not sure why) and I tend to stir it again after a minute or so. I think this adds to the coming together of water and coffee and improves flavor. Fortunately, I have been noticing more and more restaurants (here in Philly)serving singe-serve French-presses for their coffee (often with La Colombe). It tends to be a little pricier but I will gladly pay more for it. I love espresso too, but agree that pressed is even better and brings out more of the nuances of the coffee.

Judy and I would definitely be up for this one. It has been way too long since we've seen many of you and this would be a perfect way to do that and enjoy some great food at the same time! Lets do it

I have also noticed similar changes since Dickens Inn was bought by the owners of Black Sheep, renamed Dark Horse, and acquired Ben McNamara as chef. I tried his lamb shank (yes, this is not pub food either!) and it was excellent! Now I can have a good brew, smoke a good cigar, and have excellent food!

I fondly remember two restaurants that introduced me (and I think to a lesser extent Philly) to Latino fusion food. Who can forget Vega Grill in Manayunk where I was fortunate enough to experience Guillermo Pernot's cooking long before moving on to Pasion? It was a lovely little corner restaurant with a neon sign outside. Went there about three times before Pernot left and got too big for his own britches, boy was that a nice intro to his cooking. I also fondly remember Pompano Grill and it's "SoBeUban" fusion (South Beach Urban). In the lovely old corner bank building at 4th and Passyunk, they served excellent grilled whole fish, great Sangria, and had a beautiful hip bar (where, during the craze, I was also introduced to the fine nuances of the cigar). They eventually added rooftop dining and were going strong when seemingly suddenly went kapoop. Restaurants have come and gone at that location and I'm not sure anything is there now. I also miss the original Zanzibar Blue on S. 13th Street. The small but lovely front room with hanging curtains and the small and intimate back room where, after dinner, you could hear great jazz such as the likes of the Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble, practically sittiing in your lap. Can't say I've been to the new place, it sounds a little too out of touch with what the original seemed to have and did so well. And finally I miss a place called Ristorante Alla (or Aua?) Letitizia somewhere on Passyunk in South Philly. My cousin was once the Maitre'D there and I remember a little old Sicilian woman doing all the cooking in this lovely converted townhouse. Incredibly delicious home cooking reminiscent of my own grandmother. All of these long gone but surely not forgotten.

I have to admit that when I first settled on the Gewurtztraminer (at $41) and then was told that the sommelier recommended the Reisling (at $49) that I felt a twinge of "he's trying to sell me a more expensive bottle of wine" run through me. The Reisling, as I said, turned out to be a very good bottle of wine, a good choice to match our food, and I was glad that I did order it. I too dislike buying wine in restaurants primarily due to obscene mark ups, that's why I predominatly frequent the many BYOB's we have here in Philly The problem I had with this server was that he took the bottle with him and stored it away from the table. When in a chiller near the table I usually choose when and how much to pour so it usually isn't an issue. I don't want to make a mountain out of a mole hill, but more upscale restaurants need to make sure that servers are well trained. Ours seemed nervous but was a nice person. All this being said, we both agreed that we would return to this restaurant and I would highly recommend it to those who live in the area.

Went to a very nice restaurant last night here in Philly (Novelty) and ordered a very nice Reisling Spatlese (forget the name). It was more than I usually like to pay for a bottle in a restaurant ($49) but it was recommended by the sommelier. The (young) waiter brought it over to the table, opened it, gave me a sip, I nodded and then he proceeded to slosh it into my wife's glass so fast and furious that he spilled a good ounce of it on the table. He then sloshed me (no spillage thank goodness) and walked away, no apology. I looked at my wife and started laughing. He periodically returned and never let our glasses go empty, but each time it was like he was pouring lemonade on a hot summer day. On one return trip to the table I commented that I really liked the wine and asked to see the bottle again. He proceeded to contort the bottle in all manner of directions as I watched the wine inside toss and turn like a rough sea. I laughed again. Fortunately the company, window seat, food and wine were all too good to get uptight about it. Does this bother anyone else like it bothers me or is this just a silly pet peeve?

Thank you for your help! I greatly appreciate it and look forward to seeing some of your beautiful city! My signature line is taken from Wanda Tornabene's "La Cucina Siciliana di Gangivecchio" which is recipes from Gangivecchio's (a restaurant in Sicily) Sicilian kitchen, a wonderful Sicilian cookbook I recommend and translates as "To nourish ourselves with delicious food turns necessity into ecstasy", how true that is! Thanks again!

Will be coming from Philly to Atlanta and staying at the Hyatt Regency for about 4 days and need some good recommendations for inexpensive to moderate places for dinner (nothing too pricey). Can be ethnic or not and walking distance or short drive from hotel. Btw, how is the restaurant in the Hyatt? Read about Havana Cafe in other post here, any good? Near the Hyatt? Thanks for any and all recommendations!

I am also a big fan of Strega and I'm surprised that no one has likened it to Galiano, which I think it tastes much like. I like them both and both are very herbal and taste of anise. Both are great for making a Gold Cadillac (Strega or Galiano, white Creme de Cacao, half and half, shake and pour into cocktain glass and enjoy!). I have very fond memories of my relatives in South Philly having small glasses of Galiano or Strega after dinner with dessert.

Recently had a bottle of 2001 Anselmi Capitel Foscarino, which was perhaps the loveliest bottle of Soave I've had. I have also had the Capitel Croce (also by Anselmi), which was excellent as well, but the Foscarino seemed even fuller, richer, and more full of fruit. While you won't see the word "Soave" on the bottles (Anselmi finally got so pissed off at the poor quality of typical Soave that he took the name off of his), they seem to be the full potential of this wine. I also enjoy Pieropan as well, but the Foscarino seems to be fuller and richer. Anyone else enjoy these wines? or have other Soaves you enjoy?

Yes I was told to avoid the food at the Blue Note. Actually my wife was a little hungry and got a decent oriental stir fry salad, not bad but way too expensive. I'd like to explore other jazz venues in NYC. Where should I visit next? Village Vanguard perhaps?

$25 was good for the 10:30 set (Lizz Wright) and the 12:30 set, so yes I guess you are right that that was a good deal afterall. I just would have loved to hear more of Lizz Wright!

My wife and I drove up from Philly for an extremely enjoyable evening Saturday night (on a VERY cold night!). First we had dinner at Blue Hill...what can I say but incredible! It was packed and nice and cozy and warm on such a cold night. We loved the atmosphere, the service was very professional but relaxed and outstanding, and the food was to die for. Apps of butternut squash ravioli and crabmeat lasagne were excellent. Entress of stripped bass and leg of lamb were outstanding. We split a dessert of pear sorbet with fried filled chocolate spheres and that was OK. Dinner was paced perfectly, the food was prepared perfectly, and we had a relaxing 2 hour meal with no pressure to leave. We are working our way through some of your better restaurants and our fav was Eleven Madison Park (which was excellent), but we agreed that we liked Blue Hill better. Tables for 2 are close together but you end up having pleasant conversation with people around you. We (hurriedly) walked over to Blue Note and had a drink at La Lanterna while waiting to get in line. We both thought the Blue Note was excellent as well. We had excellent seats (up on the first level) with a clear sight line a mere 20 feet from the performer. Lizz Wright was outstanding but we thought that only an hour was too short a set, especially for what we paid ($25pp). Listened to some of the next set, lefy NYC at 2 am and got home around 3:30 am! Well worth it for such an enjoyable evening in your fair city! This is why I truly love NYC!

What a great idea! One that I would love (along with a fine cigar though). Seek out a bottle of Arberlour a'bunadh and some Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength. Both fill the mouth will lucious sweet flavors and at 60% abv each, they are wonderful on these very cold nights! (and will likely instantly kill any flu germs that might happen to be in your mouth!). Salud!

Before heading home to pop open some bubbily, I downed 2 Troegs Mad Elf on tap at the Drafting Room. Honey, cherries, sweet and damn good!

Well I agree with the original poster, I prefer a gin martini to a vodka anyday and (single malt) scotch to bourbon anyday. Gin and scotch are much more assertive drinks than vodka and bourbon and I've met many people who don't like the former two but do like the latter two.

Katie, I'm VERY jealous! Booker Noe himself! Damn that must've been fun. I am impressed by the many good bourbon's out there. Someday I'll be able to afford the 20 yr old Pappy Van Winkle's which I hear is incredible. My personal favorites are: Bookers (at 127 proof this is mighty powerful but very smooth) W.L. Wellers 19 yr old A.H. Hirsch 16 yr old Jefferson's Reserve 15 yr old Eagle Rare 17 yr old These are all quite good and tasty, but I still prefer a good single malt scotch to these. BTW, I do think Woodford Reserve, Jim Beam Black, and Knob Creek are all respectable.

You go girlie girl!!! To think that I attend dinners with the new co-hostess with the mostess sends shivers down my back! The Holly-Katie duo is quite a formidable team, we are lucky here on the Pa. board! Congrats