Mummer

Our friend Shola is a star. Don't know about rising. He's there, but access is limited.

Great story and it looks like a great sandwich. Like Holly, I've heard of the place but I've gotta get in there, unfortunately, to compete among the Best of geeks. When I moved to Philly in the 70s, one of my colleagues clued me in on local things like Pat's, Geno's and addytood. I asked if there were any local slang I should know and he offered that pavement means sidewalk, the franchise was the only Philly who could throw a strike, and that nobody bothered with the first name of the Boulevard. When I asked about the local brew, Schmidt's, he said, "Every other letter!"

Bluegrass band? It would be nice to have some pickers with the pickin'. We already buzzed about a pickup band. With this crowd we'd have to be amplified. I'm ready, keys or squeeze, or both. We're doin' mummers (but not suits) at the next Philly DDC dinner.

Mea culpa, Sara, There is an Eastern Market in Ballamore, but I also goofed as Faidley's is in their Lexington Market. Eastern Avenue is the way home to Philly from downtown. You go thru their little Italy. I've done a few projects there. The Ballamore (and Interstate) folks try to get you to go South, thru a tunnel. Perhaps it's a better route, but I think they're looking for a toll. I don't care as much about the toll as about the traffic.

Sara, I think you mean the Eastern Market in Ballamore. My trip, with Holly Moore, to meet Varmint, Vengroff and hjshorter, for Faidley's crabcakes and Camden Yards, hooked me onto this board, even though my best reduction is to my bank account. S'got me damn serious about Varmint's bash the week after my birfday! Charlie

It seems that Holly, Katie, Herb and Mummer are (at least. tenatively) planning to do some pig pickin'. At Purdue we called it a hog roast, and that sucker was on an open spit. Never saw an apple. The joke was that the farmer sent his daughters to Bloomington and his hogs to Purdue. Now that I've offended thousands of alumna, (sorry, but it's somewhere in cyberspace beyond almost all of them), I'd like to resolve a puzzle I've had since nearly being beheaded by a Cleveland Indians bp ball at Camden Yards. We've got Vengroff and Varmint and we've Darren and Darrell, as I recall. Which is which? And what's that big comma thing about?

SideBern's - Everything they say. Since they print the menu daily, they were happy to give each of us a copy. That certainly makes details easier. The room is as attractive and had, to me, a fifty's, Populux feel. A combination of the Mondrian-like logo, the free-flowing, large island bar and the light-blue shirted waiters. Aps were Tuscan Tenderloin Carpaccio (reggiano crusted oysters, micro arugula, lemon truffle aioli) and Escargot Fricasee (baby spinach, oven dried tomatoes, golden raisins, spicy garlic sauce, parmesan crisp.) The former was a very tasty single slice, about seven inches in diameter, topped with the other components. The flavors were very nice and seemed to blend together. Such was not the case with the snails, as one bite would have a tart tomato spin while the next would be sweet raisin. The parmesan crisp, a serving bowl sitting on the sauce had a wonderful mouthfeel and kick. Both were excellent - I liked the snails better. Then they brought out the 4 daily breads and refilled our wine glasses. We had a Foley Pinot Noir 2000, chosen from an extensive list (but not like the trophy one down the street) using my "if you don't know a specific bottle, choose the second least expensive from the variety you want" theory. $50. Entrees were Tempura Jumbo Soft Shell Crabs (purple sticky rice, french beans, crispy garlic and shallots, passionfruit pondu) and Charcoal Grilled Veal Chateaubriand (carmelized fennel risotto, baby spinach, melted peppers, oyster mushrooms, shellfish emulsion.) Again, each was excellent. The veal dish was stacked while the vegetables for the crabs were on either side of an oval platter beside the stacked other components. I didn't find the crab as flavorful as other's I've had, but I think it was due to the strong other flavors. There was much more happening on the plate than with pan-sauteed softshells. The waiter asked about temperature and the "medium" veal was mostly pink but not at all cool - I though it was perfectly cooked for my colleague's request. It was a marvelous dish and the risotto was terrific! We split, and thoroughly enjoyed everything. We passed on desserts - the bill was $131 before tip.

Yes, SideBern's is extraordinary. Thanks, posters, for that recommendation. I'll provide details later. Kiet, my Vietnamese colleague, and I also had a good meal at The Yellow Door. An aside - We all know that the booming US economy isn't happening today. Is it a national trend that we're greeted at a restaurant with an opening upsale about water? Both places did so, but neither argued when we said that tap water would be fine. Back to The Yellow Door, voted Tampa's best new restaurant. Nice music playing, black clad waitresses (surprise!) stark, open, attractive room. There weren't many people there early (7:00) on Wednesday, nor when we left. They call their menu Pan-Asian, a variety from the East, but we stayed with Vietnam dishes. Aps were spring and fresh rolls, mains were duck breast in yellow curry and tendeloin of beef something (not mine, our server's favorite, tasty.) All were very good. My curry had a nice edge without being overbearing. Sorry about lack of details, but I was there for dinner rather than note-taking. Next time in Tampa, I'll try the current best new restaurant. Seems the readers have good taste. Funny thing - when I went to the restroom door, I found myself in the restroom corridor of the place next door. (The restaurant group has a noodle house and a bistro. Kiet said he'd like to visit the noodle house for lunch, based on the menu they gave us. Maybe next time. We didn't see the bistro menu.)

Thanks! SideBern's is well supported. I hope Kiet is up for it. I'll pass along Yellow Door and our vendor there plugs me into Cuban places. Both of my Bern's meals were as part of a large (20 or so) group. Great meat, fine service, trophy wine list (that's somebody else's thing.) Perhpas, the huge table diminished the experience. Our host was a pal of our waiter and we had a tour at one meal. Perhaps it's the size of the place. It didn't compare with memorable meals at smaller Philly (and European) restaurants. I thought it was hokey that we had to go upstairs to have dessert. And I'd rather have cheese than sweets.

PA lcb... the biggest customer of wines and spirits in the world...has managed to FUBAR. We all suffer!

I've a business trip to Tampa next week. Any "must go" restaurants? (I've been to Bern's and it doesn't qualify, IMHO.) I'll be with a Vietnamese colleage; what's the best Vietnamese place? I'd love to have him order dinner, as long as it excludes what Westerners would call pets!

Varmint, it's a long way (and time) away. But if Holly and Katie can make it from Philly, I probably can, too. Katie told me about your plans at our DDC dinner at the Persian Grill last night. I've been in the last five Baltimore Columbus Day parades. I need a break! I'll bring my squeezebox, of course, and I'd probably bring some piano-like electronics, too.

I grabbed an opportunity to pinch hit at Studiokitchen on Friday night. (The last minute request was placed on another Phila board.) Shola was, as always, the delightful host who prepared a marvelous meal from scallops to salmon to lamb chops to dessert/cheese. The man insists on the best ingredients and adds his world-class skills to create a meal unlike any other I've had. (Except for the other times I've been there.) Marvelous flavors, interesting contrasts, amazing vibe in the place! Mark and Darr made the Moore Bros. trip that evening, and they told us about the gang putting together the box of fine bottles we enjoyed. I didn't take notes, I asked few questions, I enjoyed. Studiokitchen is a gem!

My sister lives in Austin. We always have a meat-a-thon in Lockhart when I visit. The good news is I'm going in June! Charlie

I'll get around to sprucing up my eGullet persona, but, first, I'll add my "me too!" for our Crab Ball outing. I had a great trip down chatting with Holly about food and his web page, plus a little about business. As we wandered the Lexington Market, Varmint recognized Holly's profile and we were three. Vengroff and hjshorter caught up with us soon and we were off to Faidley's oyster bar. I switched to three large clams and three oysters when the fellow beside me was served his clams. They served my crabcake on top of two slices of ordinary wheat bread but I also used my fork. The small crowd made for an easy pregame including watching the Tribe's batting practice from the right field fence (right by Boog's.) And the quick game allowed Holly to get me to the earlier return train. He was doing some additional MD eating on the following day. Several MD micros on tap at the park; no more food for me - I got the word about the dogs from the others. Good fun with a nice bunch of folks.