davidbdesilva

Another vote for L'Angolo, very good Italian food in my opinion. I'll add another: if anyone is ever out in the 'burbs in my neck of the woods try Il Melograno in Doylestown. Very good food from a lovely family from the Apuglia region of Italy. Have to get myself back to L'Angolo though, I had the best veal chop there, it was dee-lish.

If he's smart he'll buy it and then promote that Katie Loeb to wine goddess and let her run the whole damn place!!! (that'll get me a discount then right Katie? ). It would be a good move on his part IF he left it alone as Herb has stated.

I love Indian food and I love wine, sometimes a tough marriage but I think it can work. Personally, I cannot drink red wine (which is my preference over whites) with Indian food, both end up tasting strange in my opinion. I like a nice Sauvignon Blanc from NZ, a sweeter reisling, vouvray, and yes moscato d'asti (which went very well).

Once again I agree with you Slkinsey. I don't think the Highland Park 18 yr. old is worth the extra bucks over the 12 yr old and the Laphroaig 10 yr old is about as "rough and ready" as they come, the essence of peatiness, you can almost smell the salty coastal air of Islay! It is definitely not for everyone but damn is it good. Also, I have never seen "glenlivet" on a bottle of Arberlour and $60 for their 15 yr old is quite pricey. I love their 15 yr old sherry cask scotch which I have seen for about $45.

I wholeheartedly agree with you regrading Highland Park, which I think is among the best of the best. It has a hint of sweetness and peatiness, neither of whcih are overpowering or dominant. I also agree that it is quite a good bargain as well. My favorites of favorites are: Arberlour, Highland Park, Talisker, Macallan > hard to beat in anybody's book!

Please see my other post on scotch on this board. I agree that single malt scotch is much better than bourbon or rye, though I like them too. Just tonight I had a glass of Jim Beam Black ($18 a bottle) and thought it was rather good bourbon. The best bourbons I've had have been Booker's, A.H. Hirsch, W.L. Weller and Jefferson's Reserve but you don't want to know what they are a bottle ($40 and up). Of the sctoches I like I think that Arberlour is one of the best and a great bargain. A bottle of their 10 yr. old will cost you $25-$30 and it is very good. A Speyside scotch, it has inherent sweetness and literally no peatiness. Their 15 yr. old sherry cask is incredible but will set you back about $45 or so. Highland Park 12 yr. old is also quite good, sweetness and some peatiness as well, but not overwhelmingly so. That'll cost you $35-$40 but it is quite good. As was previously said, you can't go wrong with The McCallan 12 yr. old either. Enjoy!

These are good prices in my opinion (based on what I have seen here in state controlled Pennsylvania). Being an avid single malt scotch, bourbon, and rye drinker, I tend to like single malt scotch the best because I think it is the most complex and has the most nuances. I like bourbon and there are many great ones (Booker's, A.H. Hirsch, W.L. Weller, Jefferson's Reserve), but I still prefer scotch. Personally, I don't think there is much comparison between a single malt and a blended scotch, but that's me. Of the ones you mention I think the Glenmorangie is the best, their port, sherry, and madiera cask scotches are even better (and more expensive). In my opinion, one of the best bargains in single malts (and one of my favorites) is Arberlour. I can get the 10 yr. old for about $30 here in Pa., probably cheaper elsewhere. It is a highlands/speyside scotch, which tend to have more inherent sweetness and less peatiness. Their 15 yr. old sherry cask is awesome but will set you back about $45. Start with their 10 yr. old and save the peaty ones from the islands (Highland Park, Bowmore, Laphroaig, etc.) for later after you have acquired a taste for scotch. Hope this helps, and enjoy your journey into single malts!

Had dinner at Tartine on Saturday night and we enjoyed ourselves a lot. A lovely little corner restaurant at 4th and Passyunk (just off of South), Tartine is little, quaint and cozy. Some may say that there isn't much atmosphere but I feel that its sparseness is its atmosphere. Reminds me of a little cafe in Paris. They have a liquor license but also allow BYOB, so naturally we brought our own (a very good 1997 Chinon). The short handwritten menu is completely in French so our lovely server gladly interpreted and descibed each dish for us very well. For apps my wife had an onion tart ($8.50) and I had shrimp swimming in a lovely butterly, garlicky sauce with tomatoes ($12), both were very good. For entrees my wife had simply done Talapia ($22, called St. Peter's fish in Europe) while I had pork loin done in a dijionaise sauce ($18), again both were very good. Deserts were homemade puff pastries, one with raspberries and one with pear, smothered in creme glaze ($6), very good. The food is simply prepared country comfort food prepared by the 70-something chef who comes out and walks around, talking with people. Whereas NYC has dozens of very good French bistros, Philly seems to be lacking in this area. Tartine is a very good, homey French bistro that helps this problem.

Thanks for the information Katie and it makes perfect sense to me. $25-$35 corkage fee is reasonable and if and when I have that 1990 Brunello or Barolo perhaps I'll call ahead and make sure it's OK (though I'm sure SB has them in their cellar!). Thats a good idea so everone knows what's going on and no one is embarrassed.

Katie, you bring up a question that I have had. What IS the typical corkage fee in Philly anyway? I'm sure it's more at more expensive restaurants but I'm also sure its gotta be cheaper than in NYC. I have always been embarrassed to do such a thing at a fine restaurant, should I be? Is it considered bad taste to bring a bottle to a fine dining establishment? I'm sure they'd blow a gasket (or perhaps a cork?) if you showed up at LBF with your own bottle! Just wondering what the attitude (now be honest) at SB is regarding this. Thanks!

Have been wanting to try Tartine Herb, have you been there yet? Sounds like a classic French bistro of the type they have in NYC. Hope to get there soon.

It was my understanding that Azafran does take reservations for parties of 6 or more, am I wrong? Did you mention that you were a party of 6 when you called? Because this would be a great place to go. How about a place like Figs? That's BYOB and a fun place on a Saturday night.

Great recommendations so far by everyone! I'll second and third Pigalle, sexy/romantic French Bistro with very good food, easily within the $200 limit. I'd also second Pasion, though you'll be a lot closer to and maybe even at that $200 mark (their wine list is overpriced I'm sorry to say). I'll also say that Alma de Cuba would be a very good choice as well, sexy, sleek and very good food. I'll throw two more out there: Tangerine, with it's wall of inlaid votive candles and low light it is very romantic. And a new restaurant that we've been to in Olde City: Red Sky. Now this place has a very New York/Miami minimalist atmosphere with a steel bar and bar chairs, red backlit wall and ceiling, and a very loungy/cool vibe. And, by the way the food is very good and you'd be within your budget. Many great choices to choose from so I don't think you'll miss if you choose any of them! Happy anniversary!

Try the Corsica and Nizza, they are stronger (and I believe better) than the Phocea coffee. Corsica in a French press is awesome IMHO and Nizza smooth and medium bodied. I like both better than Phocea, though Phocea isn't bad at all. If it's strength you want go with the Corsica, awesome coffee. In my opinion, there really is no comparison between Le Colombe and Starbucks, one is premium coffee and one is a bitter pretender, but just my opinion.

In the Fairmount section I would also recommend The Bishop's Collar. A lovely neighborhood pub in the English style with a pretty good selection of beers and ales. On a nice evening sit outside at one of their tables and take in the passerbys and city as you converse and imbibe. Depending on the night, inside it can get noisy since it is a smaller, cozy place. The staff are very friendly and you can even pick up one of their nice shirts that say Bishops Collar on the front and "saved by the pint" on the back.

The best Californian Cab I remember having was a 1992 Phelps Napa Valley. It tasted like velvet, was hugely bodied, and was simply delicious. I have another 1997 (95 pts.) of the same resting in my cellar and I look forward to the day I open that. Another wonderful Cab I had years ago was a 1984 Chappellet Napa Valley. Not nearly as big as the Phelps but a delicious wine nonetheless.

Your wine selections sound awesome (a Gavi-Fiano blend, now that sounds absolutely delicious!). Next time we are in town for dinner we'll have to stop in for some of your "Katie-selections"! Sounds like you are whipping their wine list into great shape. Too bad the restaurant week thing didn't pan out. I agree, either do it and do it right and plan way ahead or just skip it. Hopefully next year they'll be in and I'll be there!

La Colombe is the best, most consistent coffee I've ever had. I won't even mention any others by name because they don't belong in the same sentence with La Colmbe. I have enjoyed the Corsica, Nizza, and Phocea belnds and all are simply awesome in a French press! And BTW, I have never thought that La Colombe was expensive or overpriced, seeing what other "coffee makers" charge for their crap. Keep up the great work and the great product.

We almost cancelled our reservations for Alma de Cuba Thursday night, expecting the city to be half blown away by Isabel. Boy am I glad we didn't. First of all the evening wasn't that bad, mostly windy but getting cranked up by the time we drove home at 11:00 pm. When we arrived at Alma at 6:45 expecting the place to be empty, it was in full swing and crowded. The 3 course $30pp dinner was excellent and an excellent value. We started off with the mushroom empanadas (very good) and the shrimp ceviche in a tomato based sauce with cilantro, red pepper and avocado slices, excellent! Entrees were salmon with a honey glaze, banana slices and a hint of horseradish, excellent, and vaca frita, a huge plate of fork tender skirt steak with rice, black beans, cherry tomaotes and avocado slices, excellent (and too much to finish). Desserts were lemon custard flan, excellent, and coconut chocolate cake (good but not great). I was a bit surprised at how steep their limited wine menu was. We chose the cheapest red available and got a nice Chilean Syrah from Calitera (steep at $40 for probably a $10 bottle of wine). The place is still as sexy and chic as ever and all in all we had a great time. To be honest, the food tasted as good to us as when we first went when it just opened and Rodriguez was doing the cooking. The evening was topped off with a fine cigar and scotch at Mohogony just down the block. I'm glad we didn't let Isabel ruin our plans. BTW Katie, that deal at Striped Bass sounds excellent and if I had known previously I would have been tempted to switch, having never dined there.

Dinner at Mambo's was very good and this is the real deal when it comes to Latino food. The seafood soup was excellent, the empanidillas very good, the pernil unreal, and the steak and chicken very good as well. The owner and his svelte wife can surely cut the rug and are as smooth as it gets! Now, my favorite Latino restaurants (each for different reasons but each similar in a way) are: Tierra Colombiana in North Philly, Diaz in Avon-by-the-sea, and Mambo's in Trenton. Each serve authentic home-cooked food that is incredibly cheap in a very nice family atmosphere.

First of all I have to say, Shola not a proven chef yet? What? Are you kidding? I think being trained in London, working at Blue Angel and then Le Bec Fin (where he was so frustrated with the inappropriate techniques of the little man that he left) and not to mention his masterpiece meals at Studiokitchen surely qualifies him as an established star chef. That being said, I have also been very impressed with the food turned out by Ben Mc Namara at Dark Horse. I was used to eating typically bland Shepherd's Pie and bangers and mash there when it was Dicken's Inn, until I recently tried their lamb shank and was blown away. I then learned that they had hired Mc Namara and it all made sense. I think he is an unsung and unrecognized star chef in his own right.

Was in the area so we decided to stop in for dinner. Wife ordered lamb in a light tomato sauce with yougurt, salty (lamb) but very good. I got the mixed kebab grill which had a ton of food and included chicken, lamb (minced kebab and round patty) and veal along with cous cous, rice, lettuce, tomato and onion, very good. The family staff are very friendly and there were lots of Turkish people eating there (I take that as a good sign for sure). Defintely a place to try for a different and delicious type of cuisine.

First of all I love the Freudian male inuendo of the title! So I continue it by saying that mine is short and small! I've been seriously collecting for only about 6-7 years I guess and I only have about 60 bottles. Let me say that this is only because of the fact that I have three growing children so for now essentials come before wine (the agony of it all) I live in a fairly old house (75 yrs) so there is an old coal bin room in the cellar that is usually fairly cool. Since I have limits in quantity (and have to sneak it passed the wife), I concentrate on quality and value. My small collection is predominatly Italian with some American and French. I usually equally divide between drink now and lay down to rest wines. Someday I envision having a larger climate controlled cellar with oodles of wine directly next to my climate controlled humidor containing my many boxes of Cuban cigars. Well we all need to dream a little don't we?

This sounds awesome for sure and I will be trying to get to at least one place. Though maligned by some, I was actually thinking of Alma de Cuba (which has live Cuban Jazz every Wednesday) though Pasion is very tempting as well. And BTW, I laughed out loud when I saw Bucca de Beppo listed with all the others. Having been forced to eat there once (birthday party), I wouldn't pay $5 pp for what should not be called food.

Personally, I've never tasted a wine that I would call "bitter". Even in big tannic Italians I taste the underlying "sweetness" of the grape. But I think as one drinks wine more and more often, or a type of wine more often, the so-called "bitterness" goes away and other more subtle tastes come through. But then again, maybe that's just me. And as far as coffee goes, I have noticed that "I drink my coffee black and don't spoil it" attitude in some drinkers. Personally, I must have half and half (milk dilutes coffee and makes it weak IMO) and never sugar. Though I prefer my espresso with nothing but a lemon peel (the Sicilian way?).