Mummer

They've got a logo that brings to mind the Grand Tetons. They fry their 'taters in olive oil. They use real cheddar cheese. They've got bamboo floors and are trying to be LEED (green architectural design) certified. They're better than McDonalds. But, if you've got a neighborhood tappie that makes a good burger with pink in the meat, you don't need to check out this Wynnewood joint. I usually skip fries, but I gave them a try. They reminded me of McDonalds (once fried shoestrings,) perhaps back in the day when they were flavored with beef tallow. (Yeah, I know, olive oil. Sorry that I wasn't that discerning; I knew they tasted different but I'll easily skip the fries again.) This guy's picture works pretty well, as long as I lifted the roll to see the toppings. I had a double (Elevation) with lettuce, tomato, house sauce and fried onions (a few diced, celephane-like, nearly tasteless little things.) I thought the toppings were mighty stingy for a $6 burger. another opinion If you're closer to, say, Royal Tavern, Good Dog or Grace Tavern, use your gas money for a pint.

My sister has lived in Austin for 15 years, so we always head south for BBQ during my visits. In the early days, it was Kreuz. After they moved, we've also gone to Smitty's and Luling Central Market. We hit Smitty's and Kreuz on Monday. (Luling was closed.) Just as things were on my previous visit, about a year ago, Smitty's smoked while Kreuz seemed to be resting on its laurels. Smitty's fatty brisket had a nice trace of fat thru the slices and was moist and flavorful. The Kreuz meat had a nice smoke ring, but it was very dry. I understand why somebody invented BBQ sauce. The sausage rings were similar. Smitty's was fatty, but that made it taste fuller than the dry Kreuz offering. I guess July 4th weekend was a good one as K had no japoleno/cheese rings. On both recent visits, Smitty's prime rib was transcendent. Moist, pink, fatty, crispy edges...I'm drooling here in PA as I type. I don't think I've had better meat in my life. If I were on death row, that would be my last meal. A little OT, we drove 400 miles on Friday for cabrito burgers at Mac and Ernie's in Tarpley and gorditas at Live Oaks in Uvalde. (tripe, sweetbreads, brisket and smoked sausage) Yeah, we spent some time admiring the Hill Country and the Frio valley. Worth the trip, fer shure, fer shure! BTW, the latter spot's addy at net sites is FUBAR. The place is a block or so from Rt 90, south of the franchise chicken joint in the middle of town. Check timing as both have limited hours. Further OT. Kreuz has a Gene Autrey Nudie suit on display in the dining room. Not Graham Parsons, but pretty cool! My "when in Rome" experiment confirms that Red Pop is vile!

I didn't see it in a quick run thru today's print edition, but the Inky on-line has a piece about a new cheesesteak book. I'm not buying several of the 25 things I don't know, but I was amused by 25. Here's what somebody posted in the reply section - "al sharpton would be doing cannonballs at valley swimclub before dylan offered someone an autograph for no reason." On a (sorta) related note, I'm planning to check out the new Elevation Burger joint in Wynnewood today or tomorrow.

No reason for scorn. If you do this at 3am, you'll be happy. If you do this at 3pm, you'll wonder why cheesesteaks have such a buzz.

Margaret Kuo's in Wayne or Susanna Foo's in St. Davids. Both are easy from the Blue Route and close to Vanillanova.

While this won't do anybody much good at 7am, and you're probably thru the security line by now (9:45,) here's a pretty good, recent list. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/food/200906..._favorites.html It must be nice to have interns at the radio station making food runs all over the Delaware Valley.

One of my favorite memories is my grandmother's Sunday brunch treat at Hotel DuPont's green room in the 70s. "That's a slice of truffle on your eggs Benedict, Charles," she taught me. I'll bet you can still get a great brunch there next week during the Clifford Brown jazz fest.

Pittsburgh rare is God's gift to beef, IMHO Bob. "Fried" onions only make a burger better. belch. OK, I'm lost in the burbs. Google says 413 E. Girard; Kenzo!

There are free band concerts at 8pm every Thursday this summer at the Mummers Museum, Second and Washington. I'm dining at Snockey's before gigging there tomorrow (June 4) with the Uptown Stringband.

That would be Di Fara Pizza, 1424 Avenue J, provider of truly exceptional pies on that winter Saturday. We Philadelphians are fortunate that Trenton is much closer than 100 miles. And I've heard stories about a spot in New Haven, but that's even more OT than pizza.

Heading to a musical weekend in the Poconos for Memorial Day, I stopped at J&R Smokehouse in Wind Gap for lunch. I knew I wasn't gonna get food like we shared at Dean and 'Cella's pig pickins in Raleigh, but it was easy to look at the menu and know my choices were pulled pork, brisket or a half slab of ribs. I chose the first, and soon appeared a huge sammie of reheated meat with an equally huge portion of fries and a small, whole deli pickle. I suspect that a from the grill meal would be really good. There were traces of wow among the "eh!" The fries were double cooked, but the oil was "mature." The portion was large enough that I saved a quarter for my buddy Marinade at the jam camp. He was a happy camper. I knew I wasn't in Philly with $2.50 lagers in one of those beehive mugs. Not a destination, but mucho better than chains (or Yoccos) on your way to the "mountains." The waitress said I should try the brisket, confirming that we were on the same page. Next time.

I was pleasantly surprised by the food when I played an event at Aldar Bistro on Montgomery Avenue in Bala-Cynwyd last year. http://www.aldarbistro.com/

I've never had to deal with being 6'3", but there was that cold, windy New Years' parade with the top-heavy backpiece... It would have been a treat to be sitting in a warm bar bitchin' cuz my stool was too short.

I've been to Dante's twice, each time having a half-rack of the very saucy, but not in a bad way 'cuz it's damn good, St. Louis ribs. Once it was the wide end, the other the other. Both times the meat nearly fell from the bones. I've also had both the brisket and pulled pork sammies. I preferred the latter as a better fit with the sauce, but the beef was no slouch with its crunchy edges. It's not far from home, so I can call, drive over for pick-up and return with hot stuff. It's also close to the Mann, with that season approaching.

When my son was 16, quantity was the most important part of his diet. Rodizio is the thing. They'll keep bringin' it! Combining ideas, take him with some buddies to Picahna in NE Philly. They'll eat like kings, and the cost for several will be less than for two at Fogo.

I'd figure the print edition is more tightly edited, altho' things are probably tough all over a bankrupt paper.

My newspaper says Excellent - Three bells. When I saw that, I said, "Damn! It will be months before I have that Cypriot breakfast."

Ken's Seafood. See recent Chinese New Year thread. There may be an eponymous thread or something you'll find if you gamble with a search. Get the geoduck as a recession buster.

The food feature in the Esquire that arrived today is breakfast. Part of their setup is "no brunch allowed." To confirm, there's a sidebar by Tom Junod on Waffle House, fer chrissakes! Say what you want to about Waffle House, but it's damn sure breakfast. The only local entry is Kanella. How could "The Cypriot breakfast plate tastes heartier and more serious than its American counterpart," "grilled halloumi and lounza (ham) are salty slabs" and Turkish coffee be wrong? But neither this thread nor their webpage mentions breakfast or hours. Wazzup?

We did have dumplings in chili oil on Tuesday night. I'd had them on my previous trip, also. Dunno the difference with wontons, but it seems a worthy research project. Han gave us leftover hot and sour soup as a parting gift. Yeah, it's mighty good.

That's Han. My buddy said the same thing about the room on my first visit there. There were only two of us, so we didn't have 24 things on that trip. Thanks again, Phil A!

An egg is the new mayonnaise. I like oil with Italian cold cuts, but others go for mayo. Thursday's Inky said egg topping is 'in' I'm sure Pfizer loves it. Only a couple more years on that Lipitor patent.

This was a next step. The beginning was when LBF changed the concept, gaving up their stars.

You can always stop for a few tastes and ask for a single-scoop cone of your fave. Perhaps, they'll get the message. "...especially these days."

My recollection is the 23 & Sansom location was Thai Royal Barge into the 90s. Since then, it's been Erawan.