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katbert

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Everything posted by katbert

  1. We ordered from F & L and had a white 1/2 broccoli, 1/2 spinach, a plain cheese, a sausage and a tomato & eggplant. The pizza was fine for delivery-- I think the key to the crispy crust that I like is reheating. I took some home and will probably have it for breakfast tomorrow. mmm. breakfast pizza. Thanks guys.
  2. I used to live across the street from this restaurant school and the pastry shop would open at 7am with fresh baked practice goodies coming out of the ovens over the next hour or so. I would drop by for still-warm-from-the-oven super buttery pain au chocolat, fabulous for freshness and $1.25. mmm. Sometimes they would do weird combos in the muffins (cheese+bacon) but I always went for chocolate. There was also improvement over the semester (pastries would start out shaped weird at the start of the semester and then become more uniform towards the end).
  3. Unfortunately they won't be open tonight (I think they usually close by 3?) by the time we get back after work and no one can stop by during the day beforehand. But I agree their pizza's fab and close. (Also they sell those big preshaped mostly baked pizza shells for super cheap, $1.35 for 2 large).
  4. I tried digging through the old pizza club threads and the google search on the site wasn't too helpful-- any recommendations on pizza that we can get delivered to 10th & fitzwater for a movie night? I'm thinking maybe Joe's although we'd be happy to try one of the south philly places. No car so I'd rather not pick up unless it's the best pizza ever in walkable distance. tia.
  5. Is the PA wine & spirits page supposed to be a complete listing of what's offered? The product lookup for PLCB says that 07826 Regular FAIRVIEW GOATS DO ROAM IMP. RED VI $8.99 exists in several stores in PHL, but the PA wine & spirits doesn't have anything with goat in the name except for : Fairview Goat Roti $15.49. I admit that wines that invoke animals are appealing for me. Cute!
  6. In the lab where I work, all the research techs (think low on the academic payscale) talk about bringing lunch to save costs, but mostly don't. Instead, it's out to the food trucks with the bosses & postdocs, trying to beat the lines when the university students get out of class. I mostly bring leftovers, soup or sandwiches, although it only works if I pack lunch the night before and not the morning of. In addition, everyone tries to eat together although it's flexible. I like workplaces where people eat together, it's friendlier.
  7. trader joe's ginger granola, straight out of the bag, in front of the computer at work when I don't have time to eat at home. Although I usually try to eat a different TJ's granola when I do have time at home, with yogurt and a glass of milk on the side. I used to love Honey Bunches of Oats also.
  8. I was originally sold on Lacroix's brunch by the pictures, but today the City Paper (p50) published a blurb on January 6/6:30pm Wednesday reservations doing walkthroughs of the kitchen. I took a look at their website and they've updated it to include sample menus and prices for all their meals. Of note they're also offering the latest $$$$ trend of a chef's table: "The Chef’s Table allows guests to dine in the heart of Chef Lacroix’s kitchen with a tasting menu up to 12 courses, priced accordingly, created that evening by Chef Lacroix. Up to 7 guests may dine at The Chef’s Table." I'd really appreciate it if the $$$$ people going to Studiokitchen do a head to head face off with Lacroix's chef's table with photos + review. TIA.
  9. percyn, the original request was way back in August, so we're no longer looking for marzipan, but thanks. Lucky pigs: Pigs (along with mushrooms, shamrocks and lady bugs) are lucky in Vienna for the New Year. After all the Christmas markets (think outdoor craft fairs w/ hot alcoholic beverages) shut down, little street stands pop up all over the city selling rows on rows of little glass/ceramic/plastic/stuffed pig figurines for New Year's. Some of the little plastic pigs are awfully anthropomorphized- one toted a machine gun with a black bra and pants. All the pastry places carry pig shaped pastries and the chocolate stores sell pig shaped marzipan. Cute! I did bring back some touristy Mozart balls for work (chocolate covered marzipan) that were ok, but I still don't enjoy marzipan.
  10. Any suggestions on a decent bottled bbq sauce easily available tomorrow? I'll be taking it to Vienna so no recipes please. Apparently Austrian bbq sauce is inadequate. (In addition I'll also be hauling brown sugar, pie pans, chocolate chips, peanut butter, weird fake pancake syrup stuff).
  11. It seems like the breakfast places are being slightly neglected so I'll trot out the usual suspects: Sabrina's at 9th & Christian, not too far from east Center City. They are probably best known in PHL for breakfast served during all hours (monster stuffed challah french toast, consistently best home fries ever, and a pretty extensive menu), but they also offer a regular (& interesting) byo dinner menu. Casual bright fun cheery atmosphere (if you're not seated in the first room by the main door). If you decide to go on a Sunday morning make sure you call ahead to get your name put on the list and then check in at the counter when you get there. I think I'm going there this Saturday. 10th Street Pourhouse on 10th between Locust & Spruce Sts: even more casual with a smaller and less diverse menu than Sabrina's, slightly coffeehouse feeling, only open am- early afternoon, but good. Carmen's Country Kitchen @ I forget- 11th & Wharton? Not so convenient to Center City but maybe worth a visit if you're looking for creative brunch made from stuff bought locally and recently. Is couscous in your omelette too creative? You decide. Note that you are restricted to 4 options only (waffle/pancake (same batter, different format), omelette, french toast, lunchy/meaty item (eg. ostrich/salmon/frog legs/conch)). There's another thread somewhere in here all about Carman's. Also tres casual. Can we do accents in here? Also probably a good idea to call beforehand for reservations since there's <20 seats. Note that it can get pretty cold in Carman's b/c the door is Right There.
  12. Tingly burning! Cold! Hot pepper and mascarpone with swirly fig jam. Capogiro's new website lists the flavors made daily. I don't know what I was thinking when I picked the hot pepper one; it wasn't super hot but it would've been more appropriate in between courses as a palate cleanser than as half a cone of tingliness. I liked the avocado and the gooseberry also. Also, to everyone who goes- do you tip in the tip jar? (I do since I know one of the staff.)
  13. katbert

    The Tater Tot Topic

    I love fried potato products and I like tatertots. As for finding them in Canada, the grocery stores in Edmonton definitely carried tater tots, at least as of a year or two. I remember McCain's dominating the frozen potato section, with at least a dozen different kinds of fries, etc. Also there was (is?) that pseudo Mexican mall fast food chain that sold tater tots and also cinnamon twists (their v. of churros) sitting under heat lamps. One frozen potato thing that seems to be less common in the American grocery stores that I've used is hash browns in the 1/2 cm cubic format. I find a lot of french fry cut varieties, frozen patties & nuggets, but not these breakfasty ones. (And yes, I can dice and fry potatoes, but sometimes it's nice not to dice=lazy).
  14. hi, I wanted to say thanks again for all the suggestions- something mysterious happened to me where I didn't manage to eat nearly as much as I wanted to, possibly having had something to do with the time change. However, I did make it to the following: Fairfax farmer's market: I was excited if overwhelmed by the options. I had some decent cod fish & chips from the place w/ all the seafood salads in their counter case, felafel & chicken shwarma from another place, a giant cinnamon puff pastry palmier cookie, and I loved all the different pop in bottles at the little old school soda stand. mmm, cream soda. Guelaguetza: interesting menu but they were out of blossoms. I tried the cactus- warm green smooshy. The chips w/ mole? and crumbly cheese? were addictive. John O'Groats: I loved the great neighborhoody character and liked the mango+macadamia nut coconut pancakes w/ whipped cream. The first time my home fries came out our server noted that they weren't very crisp and suggested returning them to the grill, which I appreciated. The three triangles of french toast were creamy custardy good, although my friend wanted something decorative on the otherwise empty plate. Luna Park: Very hip and trendy scene; we walked in and checked out the menu which was reasonably priced and interesting although they didn't have (m)any vegetarian options. Then we realized there was a 45min wait and bailed in favor of Hide Sushi: scallops, tuna, salmon, yellowtail, pickled (?) gourd, those rice filled tofu skin dumplings. Very busy, high turnover, 20min wait. I like the customer self management of the whiteboard wait list and no nonsense atmosphere. Bread & Porridge: my friend preferred the cute ambience here much more than John O'Groat's and enjoyed her fluffy blueberry pancakes. LOTS of blueberries. My goat cheese+spinach+onion omelette was stuffed high with filling and was especially good with the fresh salsa that appeared unexpectedly on the table. Yum!Decent homefries. I found the maple breakfast sausages bland; despite a noticeable maple flavour, there wasn't enough savory seasoning to bring out the pork goodness. La Brea Bakery: ok, I didn't quite go here but we drove by it and I was like- hey! but we didn't stop. :/ In n' Out: I like the fresh and natural concept, but sadly I was underwhelmed. I wish my fries had been crispier. I was surprised to see that they were chunking the potatoes by hand one by one b/c one of the diners in PHL has a machine where a bucket of potatoes goes in one end and fries shoot out the other side. Some place by Venice beach: $1.50 fries which turned out to be big slices of cooked potato subsequently deep fried to a slightly greasy crunchiness. Excellent windy empty beach food. The seagulls are very patient stalkers. Magic Castle: I only had a fruit tart off the dessert tray. Pretty. I didn't get to the Getty and I'm sad that I didn't go to more sushi. Next time. I liked the Japanese pavilion of the LACMA, the mostly empty beach, the tarpits, and that drivers are really determined to stop for pedestrians. I was not into the strip mallness atmosphere. My sense of LA is that you mostly have to know where you're going before you go out; there aren't many areas where you can just walk around and explore/discover interesting places. Also kudos to the MTA for ease of use.
  15. yesterday: concord grape, cherimoya, tropical sunrise (papaya), pear+wild turkey, pumpkin+pecan, sweetpotato+caramel, cinnamon, regular green grape, persimmon, quince, bacci (those little chocolate hazelnut wafer balls in silver & blue foil). The citrusy fruits are mostly gone. I thought the persimmon, quince & cherimoya were too subtle for me. The pumpkin and sweet potato ones both had swirlies of crunchy caramelized sugar bits. mmmmmmmmm.
  16. thanks for the responses so far, I really appreciate it. I know I edited the original topic once but I seem to have lost the edit button. I'd like to add in requests for: * places to go for dessert/pastry (I personally like bakeries that offer some regular low key muffin/danish/croissants alongside crazy fancy pastries with curliques and drizzles) either bakeries to take out from or places to sit down and have dessert+coffee * ice cream or gelato
  17. hi all, I just read back about a year's worth of the LA titled topics and I'd like to refine some currently vague dining plans for 4 wide open days next week (coming from PHL). I haven't spent any time in LA at all (although I once drove around it on the way from Laguna to SFO) and I've only just started checking out maps of the area. I'll be staying in the Palms area from Wed afternoon-Sunday eve with a friend who's in grad school and unfamiliar with LA (she's been there 3 weeks and isn't so food oriented) so probably I'll only have access to a car on weekend nights and the weekend when she's not in class. Also, I am not afraid of public transportation and people keep telling me not to walk anywhere in LA. Also no expense account (boo, academia) so I'd mostly like to keep entree costs <$20s (exception: sushi). Places on the shortlist: Guelaguetza Joe's in Venice Langer's Chandni (b/c my friend is Indian+vegetarian (and doesn't cook)) Mori Sushi (since it seems close) In n out I forget the correct punctuation. I walked by one in SFO but didn't actually get to eat there. (not food) the Getty museum, probably on my own one of the weekdays the kinds of suggestions that I'm looking for: * moderate (<$40) sushi- I'd like to have sushi at least once a day but I can't afford fancy transcendental sushi (you know what I'm talking about) more than once * smaller neighborhoodie places- byo <40seats open kitchen is the latest restaurant trend here * low key brunch places that have good home fries and interesting waffles/pancakes/french toast/omelettes beyond what you'd expect at a regular diner. Eg: an omelette w/ green tomatoes, goat cheese, caramelized onions and couscous (note that suggestions don't have to be this weird). * regular breakfast/diner suggestions also welcome. * french fries. I love fried potato products (latkes, roesti, tater tots) so any variant is appreciated. * things to do that I'm not going to find looking online what I'm not looking for: * hipster scene and fancy pants. * Thai/Chinese. (I've had a lot of both) * Korean bbq. Actually, I would personally REALLY LOVE to go to korean bbq but it's better with groups and it would be sad if I suggested it to my vegetarian friend. SO, if ppl want to go for lunch thurs/fri that would work out but other than that, sadly no. thanks, kt PS: if anyone wants anything from an East Coast Trader Joe's let me know, I'm already bringing stuff
  18. I was at amateur night for wine tasting tonight; rules were red, <$20. There wasn't a set # of ppl showing up and we ended up with 10 bottles including one made by the host's father. This was probably (ok definitely) too many and we had a fair number of dropouts before the end. From ~10 opinions that managed to get through all the bottles, the top three were (in order) Clos du Bois merlot 2000, T Vine something '95 (mostly grenache), Pedroncelli cab 2000 (I brought it but didn't know anything about it beforehand). The T Vine snuck in at the end around the price rule since it's not like one can just go to the store & pick it up. yum. Since everyone's been talking about it, I also picked up some of the Trilogy- they have one case at the 19th street store & >1 at the 13th st superstore. The staff at the stores are really into it also. Since we're sharing storage stories, I don't have a basement so mine is currently going into the lesser used drawers of one of my dressers & a drawer in a bookshelf. My collection rate > consumption rate so I'm going to either expand into the closet or go to more byos. Also I think I've tasted more wine in the last month (there was a trip to the Finger Lakes region) than I've ever tasted in my life previous to that. I'm starting to like it more.
  19. This is from a listserv mssg that quoted a direct email to someone else. disclaimer: I have no affiliation whatsoever w/ the Marigold restaurant, its kitchen, its staff, or monkeys, etc. ----------------------start of blurb---------------------- Thank you for your continued interest in the opening of the Marigold Kitchen, formerly the Marigold Dining Room. It was a pleasure speaking with you on the phone yesterday; here are details regarding the information we discussed and the open-house on October 5th: The restaurant will be re-opening its doors for business on Wednesday, October 13th under the name the Marigold Kitchen. In the six months since its close, the restaurant was purchased by Steven Cook, a chef formerly of Twenty Manning and Salt, both in Rittenhouse Square. Steve was trained at the French Culinary Institute in New York and is a graduate of Penn's Wharton School of Business. It is his vision to blend a current trend in modern-American cuisine with the century-old tradition of University City. Through considerable re-design of the dining room and kitchen, we have taken great strides to create an atmosphere that is beautifully modern while still reminiscent of the restaurant's rich history. Also, the first menu is intended to be inviting to long-time visitors to the Marigold as well as exciting to those guests, perhaps the same, who are seeking a more innovative cuisine. On Tuesday, October 5th, the Marigold Kitchen is opening its doors for one evening to give Marigold enthusiasts a first glimpse of the restaurant's interior, as well as an opportunity to view the menu and meet the management and staff. The doors will be open from 5:30 to 9:30, our normal operating hours, and light refreshments will be served. Again, I appreciate your interest in the Marigold. Please feel free to contact me with any questions at any time. Jonathan Makar General Manager The Marigold Kitchen PH: (215) 222-3699 jon@marigold-kitchen.com -------------------------------------end of doohickey
  20. A brief review of recent fried potato experiences: -La Terrasse's worst steak fries I've had in a very long time. Some of the wedges weren't cooked all the way through, dark colored & crappy tasting. What happened to the regular fries w/ fried leeks? Those were terrific and worth $4. aaagh. +cute pinky long, very regularly cut teeny matchstick fries at Grace Tavern. Aesthetically pleasing and tasty; the bourbon mayo makes them even better. -Morning Glory Diner home fries: slightly below average, uncrispy +Sabrina's home fries: still deep fried, still crispy on the outside and tender already cooked on the inside, $1.50 +Good Dog's fries: fresh cut 1/2 regular peel on, 1/2 sweet potato. The sweet potato ones tend to get a little extra dark with that caramelized burnt sugar taste to go with the salt & fat. What's not to get addicted to? Just the part where they're not as crispy as plain potato. $4 for enough for you & 2 hungry drunk friends. +Maoz felafel's fries: feels like a ripoff at $2 considering it's just a little cone of rectangular steak cut evenly golden fries and you could get a gigantico slice of Lorenzo's across the street but they were really good and I'd get them again ?Jone's potato pancakes. I hear they're very crispy. +Standard Tap's fries: they were good enough that we ordered two more baskets sequentially. -Nodding Head's fries: the most recent time that I was there the fries seemed like they were encrusted for extra crunch. Not really my thing.
  21. Bourbon butterscotch, marscarpone fig with big chunks of fresh fig. Someone found the yellow watermelon to be like watermelon+lots of sugary sweetness almost squashlike. Also elderberry. There are also at least two La Columbe combinations but I didn't try them. We've been considering buying 2pints at a time b/c it would be more cost effective ($18) but would we get flavor burnout? Maybe, but it wouldn't stop us from finishing it all.
  22. can anyone help out? A friend would like to buy some marzipan. Since I don't like it, I have no idea where to find any. tia.
  23. summer fireworks, rosemary & goat's milk with creamy marscarpone mmmm. kt
  24. Last night after tasty $2 martinis at bump, I had the pineapple+mint, lemon+purple basil, and the lime+cilantro (all sorbets, all fantastic). I've considered giving up my summer dining out food budget over to Capogiro but I don't have the stick-to-it-iveness.
  25. When I visited Good Dog a few weekends ago, we had 2 regular and 1 Good Dog burgers: all cooked to order, but the Good Dog burger had hardly any Roquefort in it. Maybe it depends on who's in the kitchen b/c they definitely skimped that time. Also yay for the pool table upstairs as well as cute doggy photo decor. kt
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