22nd & Philly

A Sandwich Quest to Cleavers Cheesesteaks in Center City

2016-06-20T21:18:00.000-04:00

On a recent Sandwich Quest we visited Cleavers, a new cheesesteak shop a few blocks from Rittenhouse Square. According to Philly Insider, the four partners come from families who run a meat manufacturing company and have been in the restaurant business for years. Sounds like the fearsome foursome of cheesesteak creators!

Cleavers is a classic, made-to-order cheesesteak shop that uses prime USDA ribeye (most use a lower grade beef) that is neither sliced nor chopped to bits, but a sort of combo of the two. You'll be hard pressed to find a cheesesteak with more meat, except maybe Ray's in Lansdale. It's truly a monster that deserves kudos considering far too many shops skimp on the meat.

Overall, it's a high-quality cheesesteak, but still has room to improve as the meat was a bit stiff and the fried onions did not add enough of a sweet, caramelized flavor. While it's nice to have an above average cheesesteak option in Center City, we'll continue to suggest John's Roast Pork and Spot Burger as our two favorite cheesesteaks.

As an aside, the Parmesan waffle fries were a hit, served in a hefty portion for only $4. The rest of Cleavers' menu includes a variety of more creative cheesesteaks, chicken sandwiches and veggie options, a variety of fries and other fried sides.

*Kid friendly? Yes fine for kids, ours ran around and made a mess!

Cheesesteak with ll fried onions from @cleaversphilly, the new cheesesteak joint on 18th Street in former Good Stuff Eatery. Hearty serving of meat and cheese served piping hot on a good roll. Onions missing a punch but Cleavers still a good addition for Center City. Also big selection of bottled beers!

A photo posted by 22nd&Philly (@22ndandphilly) on May 21, 2016 at 2:17pm PDT

Hoagie Quest: Matt & Marie's Italian Stallion

2016-03-27T20:51:00.000-04:00

Since opening in 2014 near Logan Square, Matt & Marie's has quietly built a solid reputation with their modern Italian take on sandwiches. Co-owners Nicole "Marie" Capp and Justin "Matt" Sapolsky are also expanding the concept to Rittenhouse Square and Washington Square. Apparently, the business plan they wrote at Wharton said to open locations near squares!

I finally visited the original location to find out if I missed Matt & Marie's glory days before the challenges of expansion hit home. The sandwich shop is set up similar to a Subway where you order at one end and the hoagie is passed along the queue. It's quick and efficient, but leaves you wondering if the pre-sliced meat is fresh and high quality.

No need to worry. After the first bite of their Italian Stallion, you know Matt & Marie's brings it with the meat. Their combination of Molinari fennel salami, Genoa salami and sweet coppa hits your tastebuds like a cured-meat Starburst. Unlike bland provolone used by so many other shops, Matt & Marie's uses Claudio's, which is actually sharp. Clearly, the foundation of the Italian Stallion has all the makings of a great hoagie. Unfortunately, a house needs more than a foundation and that's trouble with this place.

The bread lacked freshness and had a Wawa-like quality. Not, bad, but certainly not good enough match Hoagie Quest's best. My two biggest issues, though, were with the hoagie's construction and the pepperoncini aioli.

Good flavor but poorly spread

As the pictures show, neither the cheese nor the pickled peppers, which were very good, were spread throughout the hoagie. That's a basic hoagie building block and a miscue that should never occur. The menu also says onions are included, but I only noticed a stray slice.

While the pepperoncici aioli tasted quite good, to a traditionalist like myself it's a sneaky trick to get around the no-mayo-on-an-Italian rule. The flavor also overpowers the quality meat and cheese. I would prefer to have a pepperoncini oil instead.

In the end, Matt & Marie's makes a good hoagie and I'd definitely go back to try others, but I'm leery of the expansion since the execution was already lacking at the original location. Also, be mindful of the "modern Italian" tagline and as you will want to hunt somewhere else for a traditional hoagie.

Italian Stallion from @mattandmaries. Both a great sandwich and disappointing from major execution issues. Meat and cheese are high quality but cheese not evenly spread along with the peppers. Pepperoncini aioli is good but hides flavors of sandwich and too close to the no mayo on an Italian golden rule. #phillygram #sandwichquest #22ndandphilly #phillyfoodie #hoagie #hoagiequest

A photo posted by 22nd&Philly (@22ndandphilly) on Mar 12, 2016 at 6:00am PST

Federal Donuts vs Shake Shack: Fried Chicken Sandwich Throwdown

2016-02-11T20:45:00.000-05:00

Forget the burger wars. It's time for a chicken fight between Federal Donuts and Shake Shack with both juggernauts releasing their own version of a fried chicken sandwich.

The chicken gods from FedNuts serve a double-fried boneless breast with buttermilk ranch seasoning, spicy sauce, American cheese and pickles on a Martin's potato roll. Shake Shack's boneless, spicy breaded Chick'n Shack comes with herb mayo and dill pickles on a potato roll.

Shake Shack took the crown by a hair with a slightly crispier and spicier breading that delivers a better overall flavor profile. The buttermilk ranch coating at FedNuts was lost in the mix so we'd like to see a version using the unique seasoning of their popular Za'atar fried chicken. That tweak could enable FedNuts to steal the crown away.

Both are worthy editions to your sandwich hunting list. What are you waiting for? Go get one. Or both!

Shake Shack's new chick n' shack sandwich. Great? Yes. Big hunk of white meat, good ranch sauce and pickle mix. Life changing? No. Sitting outside on a 50 degree January day? Perfect.

A photo posted by 22nd&Philly (@22ndandphilly) on Jan 31, 2016 at 11:16am PST

Federal Donuts fried chicken sandwich, also great but by a narrow margin not quite as good as the Shake Shack version. Little more crunch, and breading a little more flavorful at Shake Shack.

A photo posted by 22nd&Philly (@22ndandphilly) on Jan 31, 2016 at 11:54am PST

9 Restaurants That Should Replace L2

2016-01-31T11:16:00.001-05:00

In February 2014 we wrote a post about eight restaurants that should replace Dmitri's on Fitler Square after it closed much nearby residents' dismay. Even though new tenant Tria Fitler Square has turned out to be a pleasant addition to the neighborhood, it was not on our original list.

With the former L2 space at 23rd and South available again after a pizza/growler concept fell through, we're revisiting our original list. It's a great location that, with some renovations, could help continue the growth in commercial vibrancy in the neighborhood and be a great corner spot to eat.

Without further adieu, here are many the original ideas we'd still like see move in, with some tweaks:

1. Koo Zee Doo. We have not been shy about claiming Koo Zee Doo to be one of our all-time favorite restaurants in Philadelphia. But it fell victim to rent hikes in Northern Liberties and slow weeknights, closing in 2013 to widespread outcry from fans all over the area. Chef David Gilberg is at William Street Common now, but maybe he and co-owner/wife Carla Goncalves will consider a resurgence. The neighborhood could use something unconventional like Portuguese food. Only question will be... is the rent still too high?

2. Manakeesh. Along the same lines, Lebanese fusion could be a nice "something different" for Fitler Square. Manakeesh Cafe at 45th & Walnut is a huge hit for its flatbread sandwiches, platters and baked goods (we are obsessed with the baklava). We'd love to see them create a casual sit-down dinner menu, while also opening for breakfast and lunch, reminiscent of the original cafe style.

3. Chimu. On a recent trip to Brooklyn, we were tipped off to try Peruvian restaurant Chimu. Holy cow was it good. Skirt steak, chimichurri, ceviche... Is there any Peruvian food in Philly? If so, please advise on where we can get this. And then bring it closer!

4. Girl and The Fig. Another transplant idea. If you've ever been to Sonoma, CA, and didn't try the fresh, locally-sourced French cooking at Girl and The Fig, you missed out. Best meal we had in wine country. Not to mention that its owner/chef was raised and launched her career in Philadelphia. Come back, Sondra Bernstein! Your East Coast outpost awaits!

5. Gayle: The Revival. Daniel Stern's byob off South Street was the first restaurant we tried after moving to Philadelphia that really made an impact. (blog post from 2009, yikes!) The creative twists he put on dishes like pork & beans, shepherd's pie and "breakfast" blew our minds at the time, and the fact that a chef came out to talk to us made a real impact on the way we looked at food.

One vote for dim sum! (photo at Bing Bing)

6. Bring back Pat! Friends had mixed experiences at 943 during its run on 9th Street in the Italian Market. Maybe it was the wrong spot? Struggled like other BYOBs to bring in enough revenue? We really liked the Argentinian/Italian blend at 943 and would love to see Chef Pascual Cancelliere (such a nice dude) give it another shot with a liquor license and new audience.

7. El Bulli. I mean, why not. Best restaurant in the world is now closed, so let's see it re-open in Philadelphia! A foodie can dream.

8. Dim Sum Anything. We cherish dumplings and would love to see an outpost outside of Chinatown. While we'd take a Dim Sum Garden or another Bing Bing, we'd be happy with anything serving up piping hot soup dumplings.

9. Anything Good AND Kid Friendly. As new parents our needs and wants have changed. No longer can we just show up and sit at the bar or count on sticking with reservations. We enjoy taking our son out but it's a lot of work at the same time, and expensive to hire babysitters. (And when we do get out, it's even harder to find time to blog about it!) So, how about a place that provides the best of both worlds. L2 is a big enough spot for families and highchairs, while still catering to the masses. Give us the chance to enjoy a great meal along with a kid friendly dining experience. We would thank you for it.

What we don't need: Brunch joint like Honey's, more Neapolitan pizza like Vetri or $27 entree bistro a la Fitler Dining Room. We're not criticizing any of those spots, just don't need another one so close.

What are your suggestions??

Warm Up Your Cold Winter Nights at Whetstone Tavern

2015-12-28T11:08:00.003-05:00

Photo Credits: Whetstone's Instagram

Whetstone Tavern opened in July at 5th & Bainbridge in an inviting corner spot that has seen its share of restaurants cycle through. We were fans of the last tenant, Tapestry, so we're happy to see another solid restaurant take its place. The layout is similar to Tapestry but with lighter, trendy blue/gray/white scheme that sets a chic yet comfortable mood.

Executive Chef Jeremy Nolan's famed German cooking should be familiar to any Brauhaus Schmitz regulars. To Whetstone he now brings fresh, classy versions of American tavern fair and a bourbon/whiskey-focused drink menu.

Our party of four was satisfied with our choices and really impressed with some. Two appetizers really stood out: the highlight of my meal was an outstanding pumpkin bisque added to the menu for fall. A topping of pumpkin seed pesto, pumpkin seed oil, sherry wine and crispy garlic perfected the simple, light creamy soup.

Kung Pao chicken wings. Warning: Seriously hot!

The waitress warned that the kung pao chicken wings appetizer was quite hot and she was not kidding. Bradd loved their flavor and crisp, but wouldn't let my pansy tastebuds anywhere near the spice.

Each entree was $24 and seemed to me an appropriate portion size and quality for the price. Braised rabbit and fresh pappardelle tetrazzini was an excellent choice for a cold night. It is served with sherry cream, beech mushrooms, smoked almonds and shaved piave cheese.

Another item that will catch your eye and not disappoint is the Creekstone Farms braised short ribs, served with roasted baby carrots and cremini mushrooms, parsnip puree, red wine gravy, fresh horseradish and parsley. The pan seared scallops with braised cauliflower, chile infused fennel confit and crispy fingerling potatoes were perfectly fine but probably the least memorable dish of the night.

Short ribs always stand out during cold winter nights

I was drawn to the pan sauteed lump and claw meat crabcakes, which turned out to be cooked just right and very tasty. I wasn't in love with the old bay roasted potatoes on the side but the leeks and pickled vegetable remoulade sauce made a deliciously seasonal topping.

I just barely had room left for a bit of maple custard pie with walnut streusel on top. Thank goodness because it was awesome.

Whetstone touts its bourbon focus so for cocktails we tried the Burly Burch, which basically tastes like a (very) spiked root beer so get it if you're a big root beer fan, and the Apple Barrel, another strong, good drink with a bit of a bite. I'd go back to Whetstone Tavern for dinner any time, but would also enjoy just sitting at the bar for a few more cocktails and enjoying the atmosphere. And maybe another slice of maple custard pie.

*Kid-friendly? Like many restaurants, I could see Whetstone Tavern as an ok place to bring a baby or young child during the early dinner hours or brunch. As it fills up, the noise level rises but was never disruptive. Tables are close together but not so close you couldn't replace one seat with a highchair.

L: Apple Barrel with bourbon, Appelkorn, served on the rocks. R: Burly Burch with bourbon, birch beer, fresh lime, served long over ice

All Photos Credit to Whetstone Tavern's Instagram.

Five Dollars Will Buy You One of the Best Burgers in Philadelphia

2015-12-07T21:03:00.001-05:00

America's burger craze has shifted from the $15+ luxury burger to the reasonably priced, roadside snack that could rival any fancier competitor on quality. While the best of the best still require visits to restaurants like REX 1516, Village Whiskey or Pub & Kitchen, it's now just as easy to grab a quick, affordable burger to meet our needs. Call it the Shake Shack effect.

The famous $5 Fountain Porter burger

For our cheap dollar, the best of the bunch is at Fountain Porter in South Philly. The no-thrills corner bar just off East Passyunk Ave. serves up a $5 patty with cheese, lettuce and tomato on a potato bun. That's it.

The minimalist Fountain Porter burger, perhaps the best of its class in Philadelphia, is cooked to absolute perfection - crispy on the outside, pink on the inside with juice oozing out to coat the bun. You can knock 'em back like White Castle (without the undesired after shock).

Before arriving at Fountain Porter, we thought the burger was the only thing on the menu. You can actually get a variety of pickled items, cured meats and cheeses as well, but the burger is the star of the show. I wish the fries were a bit crispier, but they were still quite good for the price. The spicy pickles were a nice snack, too.

Fountain Porter also has one of the best beer selections around. It's really the perfect spot for a quality brew with an affordable burger, even if you buy two!

*Kid friendly? Not ideal, but with an adventurous spirit you can sit in the back and make do. You'll need to get there early before the crowds roll in. At 5 p.m. on a Saturday, we were glad to see another tiny table with two toddlers. It was loud enough inside that any noise they or our little guy made was drowned out, but if your child doesn't do well with noise, then Fountain Porter isn't the best option for you.

Inside shot! Pretty simple but delicious.

The Nana Test: La Fontana Della Citta

2015-11-19T20:47:00.001-05:00

On one of the recent beautiful November nights, we took the opportunity to grab an outside seat at La Fontana Della Citta, an Italian BYOB near Rittenhouse Square. We've walked past a million times and seen it both empty and packed, leaving us to wonder - is that place any good?

La Fontana can be classified as an average BYOB that suits the purpose of an Italian meal. It’s not the place for special night out or a particularly dynamite experience. But, if you just want a decent bowl of penne, like I did, you’ll walk away pleased.

Let’s take La Fontana Della Citta through The Nana Test.

Atmosphere: Nothing especially unique. The outside seating was a bit too dark, even for November. The meal could have benefited from some more warmth from the waiters, too. Friends have told us that it gets quite boisterous later in the evening when a youthful crowd drowns their pasta with wine. The menu hints at this with some odd warnings such as a two credit card maximum per table, a $16.95 minimum per person after being seated and a request to leave promptly after paying your bill. 3 out of 5

Simplicity: La Fontana has an expansive menu covering just about every Italian dish. The presentation is basically, "here is your dish to eat." Kristy’s gnocchi lacked the ideal fluffiness, but the vodka sauce hit the simplicity notes. Olive oil for the table (which only came after we asked for it) was terrible and could have been a store brand for all I know. Too simple. 3 out of 5

Gnocchi in a blush sauce with random chunks of mozzarella cheese. That last part was awkward.

The sauce: Arrabiata is one of my favorite sauces and I've found many lacking spiciness, or worse just come with a hot pepper on top. La Fontana’s had a deep red sauce flavor with just the right amount of spice. The sauce sums up La Fontana in a nutshell - I could make their dishes better at home, but then I would have to spend the time to make it. In other words, La Fontana gets the basic job done in a pinch. Side note: Di Bruno's homemade jar of arrabiata is a great option for an Italian night at home. 3 out of 5

Penne Arrabiata

Serving size and bread: As the cornerstone of a great Italian meal, it's surprising that La Fontana completely neglected this area. The bread tasted like stale Wonder Bread. Terrible. The serving size hit the Goldilocks note, though - not too much, not too little. 1 out of 5

Antipasti: For only $10, La Fontana provides an above average portion and solid variety of meats and cheeses. The actual antipasti though was a microcosm for the meal - neither great nor bad. 2 out of 5

Antipasti

The secret sambuca test: Our little guy was ready to get going so we did not have a chance to grab an espresso or digestif. I did overhear the waitress tell another couple that they have house red and white wine for guests that don't bring their own. I’ll give the benefit of doubt and assume they had some sambuca. +1

Overall score - 13 out of 25

*Kid friendly? While we did not eat inside, we think La Fontana would be fine with a kid, especially if you're on the early side. It's not a high-end BYOB.

On a related note, we've quickly realized that outside dining is a godsend for newbie parents. It's been a great way to check out restaurants, keep the baby occupied and store the stroller. We're hoping it's a short winter and/or more restaurants will continue to embrace the needs of parents.

The 2nd Best Thing at Pizzeria Vetri is Still Not Pizza

2015-10-19T20:11:00.002-04:00

Last year we wrote about Pizzeria Vetri and told everyone that the best thing to eat there isn't even pizza. It's the rotolo. Turns out the second best thing is still not pizza, but the calzone.

The calzone didn't cross our eating radars until we dined at the kitchen counter at the new Center City location on Chancellor Street. The secret must be out, as the pizza creators were busy making calzones one after another. After spending an hour drooling, we knew the calzone was on our hit list.

The prosciutto cotto and ricotta stuffed, folded pizza is a mouthwatering delight of tastiness. Vetri's light and slightly sweet pizza dough somehow tastes even better as a calzone than pizza.

While the pizza is certainly some of the best in the city, trust us and go try the calzone. Of course, get a rotolo on the side and the daily thick crust (the third best thing!).

*Kid-Friendly? Absolutely, especially the new location. It's down the street from our day care and has become the perfect spot for a bite and beer. There is plenty of room inside for your stroller.

Two warnings though, First, the bathroom did not have a changing table. Second, be careful when you sit outside - the pizza oven vent is up above and at times can be unbearable. Kids or no kids, I'd suggest sitting just inside near the window to avoid the fumes. Awful.

Same Same but Different in NoLibs

2015-09-30T15:04:00.001-04:00

There are so many hot new restaurants in Philly, it's tough to know which to try next. On the top of our list was Same Same in Northern Liberties... and it should be on yours, too.

We first met Chef Chad Kubanoff and his wife Thuy in London during our inaugural Chowzter/FoodieHub blogger trip and spent an entire day with them food hunting through various markets. Proving how small our world really can be, it turned out Chad was from Bucks County but living in Vietnam at the time, cooking at a top restaurant and running motorbike street food tours with Thuy, who was born and raised in Vietnam. For FoodieHub, they represented Saigon, offering expert recommendations for where to get the best banh mi, noodles and more around the busy city.

They moved back to the U.S. last year to fulfill Chad's dream to open a restaurant here at home. Same Same shows off some of the best street food Saigon has to offer. You'll barely recognize the former Koo Zoo Doo space turned casual, with a small courtyard and local street signs on the walls.

Definitely check out Same Same for lunch or dinner. Pho will be added to the menu soon, just in time for winter. In the meantime, here's what we ate...

For a main dishes at Same Same, choose between a banh mi sandwich, noodle bowl or lettuce wraps, and then pick your featured meat/vegetable. Our banh mi was with pho-spiced pork confit, made with a dry rub of star anise, cinnamon, black cardamom and black pepper. The pork is marinated overnight, slowly braised in pork fat for 8 hours and seared to order. The bread comes from Ba Le Bakery on Washington Ave. Loved it! Really rich, fresh flavors on an excellent roll. If we lived Northern Liberties, stopping in often for a banh mi lunch would be a no brainer.

For something to share, grab an order of vegetable spring rolls and Thuy’s delicious chicken salad. The latter is a very light and fresh dish made with shaved cabbage, pulled poached chicken breast, toasted peanuts, fresh herbs and lemon. We cleaned the plate. The simple spring rolls are delicately fried, adding the perfect little crunch to your meal.

Lettuce wraps come with fresh mustard leaves, green lettuce, lots of herbs, pickled daikon radish, pickled carrot and rice noodles, plus a bowl of house made fish sauce dressing for dipping. We loved this sauce, which Thuy said is mixed with a little water and sugar to make it slightly less pungent. Delicious. The staff at Same Same will also show you how to properly roll a lettuce wrap, including the green lettuce inside a mustard leaf to make it stronger. Who knew?! We ordered the tender chicken thighs marinated with lemongrass, ginger, fish sauce and a bit of chili.

Overall, the food at Same Same was light, tasty and very fresh. We ate a lot but never felt stuffed and trust that Chad and Thuy make sure the experience/ingredients are authentic to the streets of Vietnam.

*Kid-friendly? Absolutely. Casual atmosphere, colorful finger foods and smoothies, and a resident baby (Chad and Thuy's own 3 month old!) make it a great place to bring along the kids. Our little guy tried really hard to get his fingers on a spring roll but he'll have to grow some teeth first.

Gennaro's: Is this Pizza Better than Pizzeria Beddia?

2015-08-30T18:41:00.000-04:00

Philly has taken center stage in the nation's Pizza Wars with Bon Appétit naming Pizzeria Beddia the best in America. Sadly, we have not been there yet, and with the lines now reaching preposterous levels, I am not sure we will at all. Anyone want to wait in line and deliver us a pie?

That leaves us chasing the best of the rest, which are probably just as good, like Pizzeria Vetri, Pizza Brain and Square Pie (our current favorite). An overlooked place to throw into the mix is Gennaro's Tomato Pie in South Philly.

Mike Giammarino's cash only, no reservations BYOB serves Philly a little slice of the old NYC Italian pizzerias such as Patsy's or John's of Bleecker Street. It makes sense, considering his family owns Lombardi's in Brooklyn and he ran the Center City spinoff that closed in 2005.

Giammarino returned to Philly in 2013 to open Gennaro's and we're glad he did. His thin crust pies are on par, if not better than, many of the new joints popping up everywhere. Gennaro's low key, neighborhood vibe is enjoyable as well.

We ordered two styles - the white pizza with mozzarella and ricotta cheese and our favorite plain tomato pie with mozzarella, crushed tomato and olive oil. Both were fresh with the distinctive thin crust providing a nice crisp bite.

Old school NYC pizzerias are known for delivering delicious charred taste out of coal-fired ovens. Lacking its own coal oven, Gennaro's suggests cooking their pies a little longer to mimic the flavor. Our pies tasted more burnt than charred so we'd skip that step.

Gennaro's has a new spot on Passyunk Square called Grace & Pat's that serves up "Grandma Style" pies. If the thicker, but not Sicilian thick pizzas, are anything like my Italian grandmother's then I will be a regular visitor. Craig Laban is a big fan. Has anyone been yet?

*Kid-friendly? Yes, Gennaro's is very casual and a fine place to bring kids. There are fun, vintage photos and decor on the walls, and of course the food is right up any kid's ally. It's not huge and the tables are tight, though, so you might want to leave the stroller in the car or by the door.

Celebrate the Seasons with Dinner at Townsend in East Passyunk

2015-08-23T19:32:00.001-04:00

The Fountain at The Four Seasons may have closed, but its legacy lives on in the next generation of great Philly chefs, for whom restaurants like the Fountain served as training grounds.

Townsend Wentz started his journey to greatness at The Fountain, and after stops at Lacroix, Twenty21 and a few NY restaurants came back to Philly to run McCrossen's (which we loved while he was there). Last April, Wentz opened his namesake Townsend on East Passyunk Ave.

We got to experience the summer menu this July and it was one of the most delicious meals we've had in a while. Start to finish, Townsend delivered on delicate flavors, beautiful presentation and great service. The photos below speak for themselves. Our three-course meal plus one shared dessert was plenty filling but well paced so it didn't leave us stuffed.

Clockwise from top left: Pan Roasted Magret Duck Breast with summer white bean cassoulet and port reduction; Jumbo Lump Crab Risotto with truffle-asparagus salad; Rabbit Pot-au-feu with roasted loin roulade, braised rabbit, carrots and potatoes; Potato Gnocchi with sweet corn, mussels, wax beans and pickled fresno chilies. These were all second and third courses. As appetizers we also had the Andalusian Gazpacho with basil oil and brioche croutons and the Marinated Hamachi with cucumber, sesame, lime, cilantro and furikake. Each bite was better than the one before, though if I had to pick a favorite it would be the risotto.

Townsend is a French restaurant nestled in a Passyunk rowhouse with seasonally inspired menus. Get there soon to try what we had. I can't wait to see what Townsend offers for fall. There's a bar just inside the door, seating in the back and more upstairs. We lucked out with the front bay window seat upstairs and a lovely view of Easy Passyunk Ave at dusk. Great idea for Valentine's Day, a birthday or other special occasion.

*Kid-friendly? It is feasible to bring a child to Townsend, probably best during earlier hours, but it is such a nice experience that we'd recommend calling up the babysitter and making Townsend a night out just for mom and dad.

... and for dessert, chocolate souffle. Just do it.

Four Spots for a Quick Lunch in Philly

2015-08-17T20:53:00.003-04:00

Having a baby in the spring or summer means having a couple weeks off - or more if you're lucky - to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather in between feedings, naps, laundry, etc. I did my best during my maternity leave to get out of the house each day and do something, whether it was meeting a friend for lunch, picnicking in different parks, or simply walking the Schuylkill Trail.

Here are a few favorite things I grabbed for lunch. They'd make great weekday lunch spots during work or outings on the weekend.

Dizengoff

We are in love. That's all there is to it. We've been to Dizengoff three or four times now, and each time loved whatever hummus inventions were offered that day - chicken, eggplant, cucumber, beet pistachio, all great. One hummus order per person is plenty for lunch. It comes with a little veggie salad and pickles, too. Tip: You might be surprised to only get one pita per order but it goes a long way. Maybe order one extra, but that's it.

*Kid-friendly? Dizengoff has limited seating but it's easy enough to roll in with a stroller on slightly off hours and enjoy a meal at one of the indoor picnic tables or sidewalk seats.

Dos Tacos

We became Sylva Senat fans after he cooked our Underground Supper Club dinner last year. Dos Tacos is his new tiny taco joint in Center City. Senat's traditional and more creative tacos are fine, not great, but get the job done. MY favorite bite at Dos Tacos is the elotes - mexican corn grilled just right with a blend of lime aioli, smoked paprika chili and cojita cheese that will quickly distract you from the tacos. For only $3, it's a must order.

*Kid-friendly? Let me go back and stress tiny. The narrow shoebox location has a few high tops and stools to munch at, if you don't mind the ordering line on top of you. Strollers and children not advised unless it's really off peak hours. The music is also really loud. Only you know if that will wake up a little one or drown them out...

Hai Street Kitchen

Last year we included Hai Street Kitchen in another lunch round-up post. The recently-added So California roll, which is basically a giant California sushi roll, brought us back for another visit. A crowd pleaser for anyone who is unnecessarily nervous about the other menu items, the So California is simple enough that it's hard not to like. I still prefer the "Crunch" with shrimp tempura but might borrow the avocado salsa from the California next time as an add-on.

*Kid-friendly? The Center City location of Hai Street Kitchen requires going up a few steps and is small, but the newer University City spot is much bigger, flat and easier to navigate with kid in tow. And you can eat outside there. Kids that eat real food might enjoy Hai Street as something fun and different to eat, too.

So California roll at Hai Street. House lemonade is also good and not too sweet.

Cute outside tables at Hai Street's University City location give you a spot to enjoy the outdoors.

Metropolitan Cafe

Metropolitan Cafe has been around for a while but we just recently started grabbing food there en route to Rittenhouse Square. Important to know: they have disallowed carry out orders during peak lunch hours in order to focus on the seated customers. Seems like a silly move given the small number of seats and amount of money they could make on carry out, especially on weekends. But that's that so you should plan to sit down during lunch hours. Anyway, I really enjoy their chopped vegetable salad, crushed almond and lemon pesto panini, and short rib, caramelized onion and taleggio cheese sandwich. And all the desserts, of course. You can't really go wrong there.

*Kid-friendly? Inside Metropolitan Cafe is tight to sit with a stroller but it's doable to roll in and grab take out for a picnic in Rittenhouse Square, or to sit at one of the outside tables with your babe. Mid-summer, the outside tables are not shaded, however, so keep that in mind.

You Have to Eat This Before Summer Ends: Gelato at Gran Caffe l'Aquila

2015-08-02T21:04:00.000-04:00

Gran Caffe L'Aquila opened last January as Philadelphia's first "grand Italian experience:" a fancy coffee and wine stand up bar, a pastry counter, a complex menu of meats, cheeses and entrees in the dining room, wait staff with Italian accents and chic fedoras, bold decor shipped directly from Italy and more.

Ever since our honeymoon in Venice seven years ago, we've wished the U.S. had more (if any) drop in, stand-and-sip/socialize wine and coffee bars like we frequented in Italy, so Gran Caffe drew us in several times during winter and spring. The espresso did not disappoint, the pastries were delicious and the uber thick, rich hot chocolate made from chocolates found only in L'Aquila, Italy, was excellent. A little taste of of the motherland, found! Keep that in mind this winter.

Come summer, what really stood out at Gran Caffe L'Aquila, though, was the gelato. Dare I say that it rivals - if not surpasses - Capogiro?! My first bite of regular chocolate was so creamy it stopped me in my tracks. Combine with pistachio for sweet bliss. The selection of traditional and unique flavors - including blends spiked with alcohol! - will have you salivating to try them all. No wonder it just won Best of Philly for 2015. Gran Caffe's owners have also won the World Cup of Gelato. Michael Klein has more on that and how the devastating 2009 earthquake in L'Aquila, Italy, destroyed their original cafe and motivated them to reopen in Philly.

The rest of the food at Gran Caffe has been met with mixed reviews, but definitely take a break from your regular gelato or ice cream shop and give this one a try before summer is out.

Beautiful coffee and almond croissant...

This delightful pastry below is called a Sfogliatelle, a "shell-shaped filled Italian pastry native to Campania. "Sfogliatella" means "small, thin leaf/layer," as the pastry's texture resembles stacked leaves." And it had chocolate inside. Winner!! To the right, Italian hot chocolate. Thick, rich and perfect on a winter day.

Where to Eat in Ocean City, NJ

2015-07-21T13:50:00.001-04:00

If you follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, you would have seen the play-by-play of our Ocean City, NJ, vacation last week. It was the perfect family trip with a newborn. We lucked out with five beautiful beach days and four grandparents eager to occupy the little guy, giving us a healthy break.

Cookouts, crabs and ice cream took over our menu for the week. Our Twitter friends offered some solid recommendations but we also just went for whatever was convenient and looked good at the time. Here's a quick recap of some of the best things we ate in Ocean City in case you hit the beach this summer.

Browns Doughnuts - also serves full breakfast!

Sunrise Cafe Meat Lover's breakfast sandwich

No trip is complete without a hunt for the best doughnuts. We ate an exceptional volume of them last week, from the Fractured Prune (made hot to order in all sorts of fun flavors), to Cathy's 14th St Cafe (more traditional, fluffy style and very good) to the famous Browns Restaurant. Browns came to us via Twitter as a Laban family favorite. With only six flavors of fairly small doughnuts, sold at $5 for a half dozen, it's worth getting one of each to try a bite and pick your own winner. Bradd's favorite was honey glazed; despite being a chocolate girl, I actually liked the vanilla frosted most. All six were fantastic little creations, hot and slightly crunchy on the outside. Browns is at the very north end of the Ocean City boardwalk so walk or ride a bike there to make up for eating waaaay to many of them.

The Sunrise Cafe was a little corner breakfast/lunch shop near our rental house. Big portions of pancakes and french toast, perfectly cooked eggs and tasty smoothies kept our family satisfied for breakfast a few mornings. The highlight had to be the meat lover's egg sandwich, shown above. Holy moly. This sandwich was loaded with full servings of pork roll, scrapple and bacon for only $6.50. That will fill you up before hitting the beach.

Manco & Manco Sicilian pie

Tomato pie at Bennie's Bread

On the pizza front, who can resist a slice (or seven) of Manco & Manco pizza? Bradd had his share throughout the week but one day on the beach we tried something new - their Sicilian pie. We highly recommend it for a change. The hearty thick crust pie will feed the whole family. Bradd also stopped in Bennie's Bread, an Italian bakery and market with meats, cheeses and delicious slices of tomato pie. Get there early for fresh slices topped with basil.

Jibarito Puerto Rican sandwich on flattened plantains, empanadas and zucchini fries from D'Caribbean

Coconut crusted tilapia at Cousin's Restaurant, two nice size pieces of fish plus rice and veggies

For lunch in downtown Ocean City, check out D'Caribbean. The casual Caribbean bistro seems a little out of place among the beachware clothing stores and American fried food that typically occupy Main Streets at the shore. But free samples of their excellent empanadas drew us right in to order more. D'Caribbean also makes good little sandwiches and smoothies, served with a smile by enthusiastic staff. Nice break from the boardwalk food.

We cooked and ate dinner on the porch most nights, but ventured out one evening to Cousin's in the north end of Ocean City at 1st & Asbury. It satisfied our need for a seafood dinner with a big menu covering everything from coconut tilapia to fresh grouper to crabs & spaghetti. Remember Ocean City is a dry town so no bar or BYOB. Have happy hour at home first. And if you really want a great meal, hire Bradd's dad to make blue crabs cooked in homemade pasta sauce and stuff yourself into oblivion...

Wherever you vacation this summer, enjoy!

Sidecar Delivers Sandwich Quest Hit with Beer Can Chicken

2015-07-04T13:06:00.001-04:00

Sidecar has been a Graduate Hospital favorite for as long as we've lived in the neighborhood. With a lengthy, rotating beer list and a simple, straightforward food menu, it's easy to understand why.

The menu was completely revamped last June to focus primarily on double-stacked burgers, a move we initially found perplexing since you can get a great burger at so many places today. We've since grown to accept the change with some help from Sidecar's neighborhood-friendly decision to keep several other go-to crowd pleasers on the menu, such as the BBQ pulled pork and the clam chowder that was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives in 2013.

An overlooked gem, though, is Sidecar's beer can chicken sandwich.

The two-hands-required sandwich is unlike most of the pulled chicken I've had over the years. Rather than being dried out, the chicken is done right, with the juices and rich flavor of chicken plus beer shining throughout. Sharp provolone is also expertly mixed with onions throughout the sandwich, while long hots on top of the Goldilocks variety (not too hot, not too bland).

The surprising kicker was the snowflake bun, which I don't recall having before. Light and airy with a hint of chewiness, it does a great job holding the sandwich together, while soaking in the juices.

The result is an instant Sandwich Quest favorite.

Sidecar's beer can chicken. Fried long hots, onions, sharp provolone, snowflake bun. Juicy, tasty and Sandwich Quest worthy.

A photo posted by 22nd&Philly (@22ndandphilly) on May 1, 2015 at 5:46pm PDT

Where to Brunch in Graduate Hospital: Little Spoon Cafe

2015-06-13T11:23:00.003-04:00

Little Spoon Cafe took over the corner of 15th & South in October, adding a nice brunch option to South Street West's emerging restaurant row. It was clearly needed in the quickly growing family neighborhood - wait times instantly soared during peak hours.

Our first visit to Little Spoon was packed with great bites. On the savory side, their version of a Monte Cristo sandwich, made with honey ham, smoked gouda, fried egg and jalapeno mayo on country white bread, was as good as it looks below and the egg scramble of the day, almond pesto, added a hint of creativity and a lot of great flavor to otherwise standard eggs. The breakfast burrito also hit the spot, but know that it's served with the potatoes inside the wrap making it quite a large endeavor!

Monte Cristo

Breakfast Burrito

The bacon waffle, which understandably draws a lot eyeballs on the menu right away, was, well, a waffle that tastes like bacon. Might be just the thing for you, but to us it was not as special as it sounds like it should be, so temper your expectations there.

Winner!! Carrot Cake Waffle

Sweet dishes always catch the attention of brunchers, and at Little Spoon the carrot cake waffle was one of the best parts of our meal. It wasn't overly sweet, even with the dollop of cream cheese icing on top and maple syrup. The waffle had just enough of that comforting, familiar carrot cake flavor without making you feel like you were actually eating cake for breakfast.

The only disappointment was the cheese plate. It rotates all the time but on our particular day the two cheeses just weren't thrilling. Also, it's not the best thing to order on a hot day, especially if you snag one of the couple tables in Little Spoon's back courtyard. Maybe save that for cooler weather brunches.

I've stopped in Little Spoon other times for quick take out, too. On the warm morning of the Broad Street Run, their Death By Sunshine smoothie (a Dominican-inspired smoothie with orange juice, pineapple juice, mango sorbet, soy milk and vanilla) hit the spot while I watched Bradd run, but my bacon, egg and cheese on a bagel did not. The bagel either wasn't toasted enough or sat too long before being stuffed and served to me - too common of a problem when getting breakfast sandwiches to go from any cafe. I need to remember that in the moment.

Little Spoon is definitely worth a little bit of a wait on a nice morning and a welcome brunch addition to the neighborhood, serving a hearty mix of traditional brunch items and fun, creative dishes. Also serves lunch food, which we hope to try sometime this summer, too!

Outdoor tables behind Little Spoon - cute area, look for their homegrown herbs!

5 Questions with Adam Richman of Man Finds Food

2015-06-02T21:24:00.000-04:00

Adam Richman has traversed the country in search of culinary gems, eating challenges and America’s best sandwiches through his popular Travel Channel series Man vs Food and the Best Sandwich in America contest.

Of course, Philadelphians know that he named DiNic’s roast pork the best sandwich in America so he clearly knows his sandwiches.

His new show, Man Finds Food will air a Philly-focused show tomorrow night, June 3. Several sneak peak videos and photos are posted on the Travel Channel website.

We had the chance to catch up with Adam to discuss Man Finds Food, Philly’s food scene, a Philly-based dumpling idea and even some soccer.

It was a refreshing interview as Adam is a down to earth food hunting celebrity who clearly has much love for Philadelphia.

What follows is a lightly edited transcript of our conversation. Hope you enjoy!

Tell us about Man Finds Food and what you’re hoping to provide viewers with the concept?

AR: The greatest thing about Man vs Food was that it gave people a little bit of a road map for iconic good, quality local eats that are revered by locals so you don’t fall into tourist traps. Man Finds Foods is more representational than presentational. So Man vs Food was all about the spectacles and the big challenges and stuff, but Man Finds Food is much more about what is actually in the city and showing places that locals themselves may not know about or dishes instead of very famous ones.

The other thing is showing my crew. Breaking the fourth wall by making the search for places as real as possible and being honest about the way things taste or where they are. Man vs Food was like telling you where to eat, where Man Finds Food is like giving the keys to the car to everybody so everyone gets to know what the special thing is.

Philadelphia’s food scene continues to grow each year.What would you tell the rest of the country about what’s going on in Philly, what the scene is like and what they might want to check out?

AR: Most people are always going to mentally think cheesesteak and soft pretzel because it’s what they know. It’s the same way with New York - you think of pizza and a dirty water dog or a bagel. To marginalize the cuisine of modern day Philadelphia with those two classics, albeit delicious, is wrong. People do not really realize about how Morimoto impacted Philadelphia or how the restaurants around Rittenhouse Square have really grown by leaps and bounds.

For me I guess, I would at least tell people to think beyond nearby cities such as D.C., New York or Boston, as they are getting so full of chefs because of so many people going to culinary school in all these cities. Other cities like Philadelphia are going to get amazing, young, hungry culinary talent looking to set up and make a name for themselves.

Philly is young vibrant city and a really cool place. I love the BYOB notion of a lot of the great restaurants. It’s not just a matter of value add, but the notion that you can have a very special bottle of wine that you are saving for a great occasion.

I love the range of stuff that is popping up in Philadelphia. I went with a friend of mine and some people in my crew to a place called Vedge when we were filming and ironically enough my director went to a place called Charlie Was a Sinner the same night. The thing is, we had been filming fried chicken and other similar foods. It was so cool that, independent of each other, not knowing where the other was going, my director went with her friend and I went with my friend to plant-based restaurants just because the food is so kickass. I think that is a great way to look at Philly. I think it’s so cool to change people’s expectations in thinking about Philly.

You previously named DiNic’s roast pork the best sandwich in America. What do you think separates Philly from other cities when it comes to sandwiches?

AR: Number one you have a city with a tremendous university population so sandwiches are obviously a tremendously affordable option number. Second it’s the perfect meal on the go and whether you live in Bella Vista, Conshy or King of Prussia you’re going want something to take with you.

There is also a tremendous meat tradition in Philadelphia going back to the meat packing [days]. Obviously the proximity of Reading Terminal to Mennonite farmers that are in [Pennsylvania] and the access to fresh meat and produce helps, too. The notion of a hearty sandwich is really popular and I think you know we live in a day and age where everything from soda to mustard has been made into an artisanal fashion, so the idea of "farm fresh" is going to translate to everything from tater tots to sandwiches.

I also think because everyone in Philly has their favorite cheesesteak or their favorite place that I think there is going to be a little bit of defiance of the average Philly chef to try to show, “hey we are not just cheesesteaks.” To show that the culinary skill in Philadelphia can stand toe-to-toe with anything

You have new book out called Straight Up Tasty: Meals, Memories and Mouthfuls from My Travels. What would you highlight that a Philadelphian might appreciate from the recipes or about the book in general?

AR: There’s a lot. For example, you mentioned that I named DiNic’s roast pork sandwich my best sandwich in America. So what I did was reinterpreted that very sandwich as dumplings with roast pork, broccoli rabe and provolone (Bradd’s note – why hasn’t this been done yet?? We’ve made a cheesesteak into everything, but I don’t think I ever had a roast pork dumpling which is surprising since it’s so good and iconic Philly. Get on it Bing Bing!).

The book is straight up tasty meals, memories and mouthfuls from my travels. I am not a chef. I don’t have a restaurant. I didn’t go to Johnson & Wales or CIA, but I have been working in the industry off and on since I was 12 years old. I have been in thousands of kitchens in the past six years or so just doing my show, so I've been just paying attention and asking questions.

The book’s recipes are essentially recipes I played with at home for years from things that were inspired by something I tried on the road. I reinterpreted some dishes in really fun ways, too. I wanted to make a cookbook that was for anybody who wanted to explore and play with food, flavor and experience, but was afraid and felt it was intimating. I wanted to help those who had been made to feel their cooking wasn’t any good. I really just wanted to make it about fun and flavor that’s why I called it Straight Up Tasty.

Little side question for you since I know you’re a big soccer fan who even had the opportunity to play in Old Trafford, Manchester United's stadium. As a Tottenham fan, what do you think of Harry Kane and do you think he’s going to stay or end up at a big club?

AR: He won’t go and they won’t let him. I think they learned their lesson with Gareth Bale, where truthfully a good coach would have built a team around him instead of solely relying on him and using him up like AVB (André Villas-Boas).

Harry Kane, I think, appreciates when he scores that he is one our own. He knows the role he plays as a London kid and the role he plays as a Tottenham factory man so no I don’t think Kane is going anywhere. He knows he’s got a young coach and a good supportive team around him and knows if we get rid of the lumber that is weighing the team down, we have a very formidable team for next year

Bonus Question. Anything else you want to mention?

AR: I hope people watch not because I am the host and I want ratings, but because every business that has ever been on a show of mine gets a massive financial boost from all the business they receive as a result of the exposure. My point is that being able to watch Man Finds Food puts money in the pockets of small to medium independent business. It’s something you can’t ignore that’s really special.

I hope people tune in and not just enjoy a really kickass show, but get a chance to really and truly appreciate a really fun really pleasurable exploration of their city and see Philly shine for something other than the typical soft pretzel, cheesesteak or Eagles game.

Burger Grease: the Key to One of Philly's Best Cheesesteaks?

2015-05-10T21:19:00.003-04:00

John's, Dalessandro's, Pat's, Joe's Steaks... Spot Burgers?

Yes, that's right. One of Philadelphia's best burger trucks also serves up one of the best cheesesteaks in town today. Philly Mag gave Spot Burgers a Best of Philly cheesesteak honor in 2014 and we could not agree more.

The sandwich is packed with a 1/2 lb of roughly chopped, seasoned rib eye inside a long, soft and chewy roll from Conshohocken Italian Bakery. Some might prefer a denser roll, but the softness here enables clean bites and soaks in the cheesesteak juice. We recommend ordering with American cheese and grilled onions.

Spot Burgers' secret ingredient in our minds is burger grease. Firing up the cheesesteaks on the same flat top as some of Philly's best burgers adds the slightest burger flavor you don't get at other dedicated cheesesteak shops. The inaugural bite of our Spot cheesesteak was one of the few "wow" food moments we've had in a while. And it stayed that good until the last bite. Gotta love that such mighty flavor comes out of the tiniest yellow box on wheels.

Spot Burger is looking to open a permanent joint with the help of a GoFundMe campaign so here's hoping they continue to serve up this cheesesteak! For now, follow Spot Burgers on Twitter or Facebook to know where they're headed next.

Cheesesteak from @spotburgers. Delicious and one of the best we've had. The flavor from the burger grease is a real kicker. This is the final #perfectbite.

A photo posted by 22nd&Philly (@22ndandphilly) on May 9, 2015 at 10:35am PDT

A First Look at Tria Fitler Square

2015-05-01T20:17:00.001-04:00

The Fitler Square neighborhood shed a quick tear last year upon learning that our beloved Dmitri's was leaving the corner of 23rd & Pine. We weren't regulars but that place sure was popular and an anchor of the hyper-local culture.

In a blog post, Bradd and I offered up eight restaurants that should replace Dmitri's - everything from a re-emergence of our favorite Koo Zee Doo to a Philly outpost of Zeppoli - but we didn't expect Tria to jump on the chance to open yet another wine bar. With two other Tria locations already close by, admittedly we were a little disappointed in the news. However... after giving it a first try we have to say we're excited to go back.

What's most appealing about Tria Fitler Square is the sidewalk seating and extra windows along 23rd Street, opening up the restaurant to great natural light, airflow and a view of its lovely namesake Fitler Square. What's going to be frustrating are the crowds. A no reservation policy = wait lists, especially this first summer. Go early or be prepared to wait, even for a bar seat. It was nice to see the hostess willing to track down people waiting across the street in the park.

The new Tria offers a similar wine, beer, cheese and snacks menu to its sister bars, including some recognizable bruschettas. You can't go wrong with any of the bruschetta; our go-to is the comforting pistachio-herbed ricotta with lavender honey ($4½ for two pieces). As for the cheese menu, go with whatever jumps out at you, or ask the knowledgeable staff for recommendations.

Pistachio-herbed ricotta with lavender honey on toast

Montealva Curado, a goat's milk cheese from Spain

What's different at Tria Fitler Square are the 'medium plates." Too cool to be called entrees yet appropriately named for their portion size, the two we had were pretty darn delicious.

Grilled octopus with orzo salad, golden raisins, chili and citrus-mint yogurt ($18) is Tria's homage to the crowd favorite dish at Dmiti's. It's a perfect, lighter plate for summer, drawing us both to pick at every last nibble so none of the flavors would go to waste. Hand-rolled ricotta cavatelli with asparagus and Castelvetrano olives in a hazelnut brown butter ($14) could have used slightly more punch, maybe even just more salt, but was still a really pleasant way to round out our meal.

Grilled octopus over orzo salad and citrus-mint yogurt

Hand-rolled ricotta cavatelli

With some time off this spring/summer to raise a newborn (yikes), I'm hoping to roll the stroller right up to an outside table at happy hour. Contrary to our initial hesitations, Tria Fitler Square will be a nice spot to relax with a glass of wine, grab a good quality bite and enjoy the scene.

Can Jose Garces Bring the Baja to Philly?

2015-04-25T09:30:00.000-04:00

Fast casual set up at Buena Onda. Bit of a line on a weeknight!

Buena Onda is Jose Garces' latest Philly opening at 19th & Callowhill, bringing his local empire to 12 restaurants. It's his most casual, "inspired by the fresh, tranquil, do-it-your-way spirit of Mexico's Baja peninsula." Order at a counter, pick your own seat and they'll bring out your food.

Having been to La Paz, the gorgeous Baja beach town 3 hours north of Cabo where we feasted on heavenly ceviches and fish tacos caught that same day, we had much more reasonable expectations for Buena Onda. It didn't exactly transport us back to the Baja, but we have to say "fresh" was the best word that came to mind after our visit and the ambiance did give off a more tranquil vibe than most fast casual joints.

Tacos de Pescado Por Favor!

With fish tacos at the center of the menu, we tried each - Atlantic mahi mahi, jumbo pacific shrimp and the catch of the day (perch). You choose to have the fishes fried or tequila-lime glazed, and all are served with a chipotle remoulade, avocado, red cabbage and jícama slaw in a house made flour tortilla. Both of us really enjoyed the light tequila-lime glaze on the mahi mahi and the shrimp, and the fry batter on the perch was similarly airy but flavorful. Might as well split up your order and try some of each.

Mahi mahi, perch and carne asada tacos

Shrimp and carnitas tacos

Off the meat tacos menu, Bradd liked his chili-glazed carne, served with chile de arbol, queso fresco and cilantro in a corn tortilla, but had to improvise when the bottom quickly fell out. He made good use of both house sauces on the table, a spicy tomato and a salsa verde, to punch things up, too. I was a big fan of the pineapple topping that gives Garces' carnitas taco a tropical twist. The menu also includes quesadillas, tortilla soup and other smaller items, as well as margaritas and beer.

Chips and salsa, always a pleaser

Bueno?

I wouldn't call the shrimp "jumbo" but other than that, our only major feedback is that we'd love to see more tables out on the sidewalk. Pizzeria Vetri is two doors away and has quadruple the outside seating.

Could Garces have offered a more innovative food experience? Sure. For a chef of his acclaim, Bueno Onda isn't exactly the next Garces destination. But the ingredients were fresh and balanced each other out well - it was a solid, light dinner for a nice spring night. If we lived within walking distance, we'd be back more quickly. Given the short line that formed by 7pm, the Callowhill neighborhood doesn't disagree.

For 3 fish at $3.50 each, 2 meat at $3 each, salsa and chips ($5), and a margarita ($7), our bill was $31. Not bad, but not cheap when compared to South Philly taquerias. In the end, Bueno Onda is not trying to be the next El Jarocho so give it a try if you're feeling fishy one night this summer.

40 Local Food Blogs to Follow Around the World

2015-04-18T21:03:00.000-04:00

If you're anything like us, food is a very important part of your travel plans. Whether we're on the road for work or flying halfway across the world for fun, we always try to sample the best local food.

That's why the coolest thing about traveling to London, San Francisco and New Orleans with Chowzter over the past two years has been meeting all the other contributors from around the world. They write blogs, run tours and share incredible photos of the local food/culture that we're dying to experience.

Even better, we've realized that they are just like you and me - regular people who love to eat/drink, love their cities and love the communities that are built around food. That's the perspective we trust and want to lead us to our next meal.

If you're traveling to any of the following cities this summer, please check out these great local writers we've met for their posts, videos, podcasts, tweets, instagrams, etc. with ideas on what to eat. And remember that much of what they write about are "fast feasts" - not fast food and not fine dining, but all the great local, affordable dishes in between (can you say Rotolo?) And if you don't see your destination city here, check out Chowzter.com and their new video site www.foodiehub.tv for quick suggestions in about 100 other cities.

Best croissant in Paris at Grenier a Pain,
as told by Paris blogger Mathilde!

North America:

Austin - Man Up Texas BBQ
(great name! he does BBQ tours too)

Buffalo - Buffalo Eats

Charleston - Charleston Food Bloggers
(check out his video of San Francisco, too)
Chicago - Roam & Home
Dallas - FoodBitch
Detroit - The Hungry Dudes

Houston - Urban Swank
Los Angeles - Gourmet Pigs

New York - Feisty Foodie

Orlando - Tasty Chomps

Portland - Talk. Eat. Drink. Portland.
(middle school teachers write on happy hours!)

Queens - Chopsticks & Marrow
San Diego - Kirbie's Cravings

San Francisco - FoodHoe's Foraging

Savannah - Savannah Foodie
Seattle - The Gastrognome
St. Louis - St. Louis East and Drinks

Toronto - Food Junkie Chronicles

Vancouver - Follow Me Foodie
Washington, DC - Capital Cooking

Around the World:

Bankok, Thailand - Thai Street Food
Barcelona, Spain - Forever Barcelona (hosts food tours!)
Baja California and western Mexico - A Gringo in Mexico
Beirut - No Garlic No Onions
Bristol, England - Bristol Bites
Buenos Aires, Argentina - Pick Up the Fork
Caracas, Venezuela - Milsabores
Dubai - Ishita Unblogged
Glasgow, Scotland - The Glasgow Food Blog
Hanoi, Vietnam - Sticky Rice
Istanbul, Turkey - Istanbul Food
Jakarta, Indonesia - Eats and Treats
London, England - Eat Like a Girl
Manila, Philippines - Our Awesome Planet
Mumbai, India - Finely Chopped
Paris, France - Mathilde's Cuisine
Puebla, Mexico - All About Puebla
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Eat Rio
Seoul, South Korea - Seoul Eats
Singapore - Camemberu
Sydney, Australia - Simon Food Favourites
All around Latin America - New World Review

Friday Food Photos: 3 Spots to Grab Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner this Weekend in Philadelphia

2015-04-03T09:53:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday! It's 60 degrees out, Easter weekend and we're starting to spot some flowers... could spring finally be here?? It felt like this day would never come...

Time to shake off winter hibernation mode and get back out on the food scene. Here are three Friday food photos to inspire your next breakfast, lunch and dinner around town.

Breakfast: Breakfast Burrito from Cafe Ynez. Despite all the great food options around Graduate Hospital, we'd been missing a good Mexican restaurant until Cafe Ynez opened last year. Brunch was the immediate draw and I can vouch that the giant, stuffed breakfast burrito is worth the trip. All the ingredients tasted very fresh and none overpowered their companions. (Overkill on rice or beans can be so frustrating.) It comes vegetarian with scrambled eggs, refried beans, pico de gallo, good guacamole, sour cream and rice in a flour tortilla but you can add any meat you'd like - I highly recommend the carnitas. Their homemade Mexican hot chocolate also hit the spot and friends were very pleased with the huevos rancheros.

Cafe Ynez is still one of the earliest food ventures in the west-of-Broad section of Washington Ave., along with Kermit's Bake Shop. (Stop there after brunch to pick up a sweet treat for later.) But as the neighborhoods in Southwest Center City continue to evolve, I think we'll see more great places popping up along this strip. Cafe Ynez, 20th & Washington Ave.

Lunch: Veggie Panini from Palm Tree Gourmet. I happened by the Palm Tree deli and mini grocery market at 20th & Pine on a recent weekday during lunchtime and couldn't believe how many people were in there ordering sandwiches. Guess there is more of a lunch crowd in the neighborhood than I realized.

Either way, this was a quick, healthy and tasty little lunch option to grab n' go. It's made with romaine lettuce, tomato, onion, alfalfa sprouts, cucumber, green pepper avocado and your choice of cheese. At $6, it was a little cheaper than most food trucks or other sandwich shops, too. Rumor has it the buffalo chicken panini is pretty awesome, so that's next on the list. I'd love to see Palm Tree add a few tables on the sidewalk so we can enjoy a quick lunch al fresco there this summer. Palm Tree Gourmet, multiple locations.

Dinner: Meatballs from Me n' Mo. An entire restaurant dedicated to meatballs! No seriously, the top of the paper menu literally says, "House Balls." It's simple: wander in off South Street to what feels like someone's Italian home kitchen, order a glass of wine for $6, choose your balls (pork, beef, lamb, chicken, veggie, specials), pick from among 5 or 6 different sauces (marinara, pesto, mushroom cream, vodka, etc.), grab a few $5 sides like homemade gnocchi and the wedge salad, and bada bing you've got yourself a nice little dinner.

Were they the best meatballs we've ever had? No. Did we enjoy a perfectly fine dinner with the parents for, like, $60? Yes. And they haven't stopped talking about it since! We tried a bunch of different meatballs and sauces, all were good but our favorite was that night's special, a fontina-stuffed chicken meatball in white wine sauce. Me n' Mo Meatballs, 2nd & South Streets.

Is this the Best, Cheapest Italian Hoagie in Philadelphia?

2015-03-25T20:32:00.000-04:00

Major Wing Lee Grocery Market is a corner deli in East Falls known for two things: incredibly cheap hoagies and 15 minutes of fame courtesy of Parking Wars.

Even though I think the show is stupid and don't care to promote the meter gods, this Parking Wars episode is actually quite hilarious to watch (starts at 8:30) as the parking authority stakes out hoagie hunters who illegally park and rush in to get hoagies. The result is a $41 fine for hoagies that cost between $2.50 and $4.25.

Yes, that's how cheap Major Wing Lee hoagies really are.

A large Italian hoagie is $4.25, which is certainly a great price for the size and amount of meat. For comparison's sake, the Daddy Wad at Paesano's is $9 and the Spicy Godfather at P&S Deli is $7.25. But cheap does not always equal good. Where does Major Wing Lee rank on the scale of the best, cheapest Italian hoagies in Philadelphia?

I'd say it's right up there with cheap hoagie legend Wawa ($6-ish) on quality and almost on the number of hoagies made per minute, considering the consistent flow of customers during the five minutes I was in the store.

I've seen people claim this to be one of the best hoagies around. That's a stretch, but they do hit many of the basics - fresh cut meat, thick cut onions, shredded lettuce - although the unforgivable sin of asking if I wanted mayo was committed.

Major Wing Lee Grocery Market's large Italian hoagie

Like many cheaper hoagies, Major Wing Lee fell victim to a less than ideal roll. The Amoroso roll felt grocery store-bought and was a too chewy for my liking. The provolone lacked sharpness, also a common occurrence with cheaper hoagies.

Major Wing Lee will not make into the upper echelon of Hoagie Quest for those reasons, but it is certainly one of the better cheap hoagie options in Philadelphia. Just watch out for those parking tickets!

Left: nicely stuffed hoagie for a good price. Above: Inside Major Wing Lee Grocery Market

Typo, but still cheap!

Everyone is Going Bang Bang for Bing Bing

2015-03-11T20:27:00.000-04:00

Jade Shrimp Dumplings

Cheu Noodle Bar founders Ben Puchowitz and Shawn Darragh opened Bing Bing Dim Sum in mid-February. Finally a fun place to get dumplings outside of Chinatown, and it hit East Passyunk with a splash - 250+ people served nightly since opening, according to Shawn. We first attempted to visit two weeks ago on Wednesday to find a 45 minute wait, much too long for the pregnant wife. We went back again on a Saturday, arriving 30 minutes after their 5:00 pm opening and it was already jammed, though we were able to snag two seats at the bar.

Dealing with such demand while working out the typical new restaurant kinks has been a struggle, Shawn admitted, and it showed in some of the initial menu items. Adding to the challenge, Bing Bing has to live up to the success of Cheu, bringing that distinct-but-indescribable Cheunish twist on noodles to the traditional, beloved dumpling.

Dumpling hunters would be wise to leave their comparisons to Chinatown-favorite Dim Sum Garden behind. That’s not a convenient excuse, but rather a deliberate deviation from the need for authenticity that will help align expectations with Bing Bing's interpretations of dim sum.

Ben and Shawn are committed to evolving and adjusting the menu, so expect some new items soon. They already added pork soup dumplings after initially excluding them, for fear they were too traditional. Plus, finding the right doughy texture to handle both the soup and meat inside is much harder than most might think (1 in 10 typically break in the cooking process). Making it more difficult, the soup dumpling masters in Philly, NYC and really everywhere that Ben and Shawn turned to for guidance held their secrets close to the chest. Even chef friends would not show them the tricks.

Bing Bing’s current iteration of the soup dumpling has been six years and thousands of YouTube-watching hours in the making. Give them another year and I think they will get closer to current soup dumpling king Dim Sum Garden, but for now they are just fine and more convenient to home for South Philadelphians than Chinatown.

Pork Soup Dumplings
Don't get burned!

Inside the soup dumplings... they'll show you how to eat them if you don't already know!

The pan fried bao buns stuffed with pastrami & swiss (or mushroom & cheddar if you prefer) were winners. The buns had a good consistency and we both enjoyed the Cheunish twist of incorporating Jewish deli flavors. I just wish they would have been more stuffed like a Jewish deli sandwich, especially at the price of $7 for two.

Pan Fried Bao Buns w/ pastrami and swiss

The XO chicken wings and turnip cake rounded out the highlights of our meal. Cilantro and honey flavored wings are coated with sesame seeds to add a crunchiness to the fall-of-the-bone meat. The bartender said the trick is marinating them in buttermilk for several hours. Whatever they gotta do, I loved the wings and the pickled jalapenos that come with the them. They are expensive at $10 for only six, but worth the price.

The turnip cake seemed like the outlier on the menu but sticking to our “everything is better with an egg on top” mantra rarely fails. The polenta-like cake is made with turnips, matzo meal, maple and bonito. Dang is it good. Break the egg and let runny yolk flow throughout the cake to create a little piece of awesome that you aren't going to get anywhere else.
An excellent appetizer.

2 layers of turnip cake is hard to see under that delicious fried egg. Get a little bit of each ingredient in every bite.

XO Chicken Wings with pickled jalapenos

The jade dumplings and crispy curry dumplings were a mixed bag. Kristy felt the leeks overpowered the shrimp inside some of the jade dumplings, while I liked their flavor. The fact that they were green from a mix of leeks, cilantro and scallion added a fun twist to the traditional shrimp dumpling. Despite being labeled "crispy curry dumplings" for some reason the blast of curry flavoring still surprised us; maybe we expected a variation since it is still a dumpling. This could turn some people off (Kristy wasn't a fan), but the cauliflower and chive filling grew on me over time.

The last two items we tackled were the char siu pork ribs and the bubble waffle dessert. The barbecue ribs were cooked perfectly and didn't even need the tomatillo salsa on top so I was satisfied.

Do you like waffles? How about funnel cake? If so, then you will love the bubble waffle, which is a blend of both with a hint of sweetness. Almond lemongrass dipping sauce was a nice accompaniment. Kristy suggested coating the waffles with even more powdered sugar so you get it in every bite.

Char Siu pork ribs

Bubble waffle, a street food dessert from Hong Kong

It’s going to take some time for Bing Bing to do for dumplings what Cheu did for ramen in Philadelphia. but the potential exists. We’re excited that Shawn and Ben are trying their hand at dumplings and look forward to eating our way through the evolution.

Pass the dumplings!

High Chairs, Changing Tables and Chicken Fingers: Big News at 22nd & Philly!

2015-02-22T16:10:00.000-05:00

Big news, friends: life at the 22nd & Philly homestead is about to change. Starting this May, we'll be a party of three! We're very excited to welcome a baby boy and couldn't be more pumped for this new phase of life in Philadelphia.

A few thoughts we want to share with readers:

Onesie purchased at Open House on 13th St

Everyone wants to know, what's going to happen to the blog? Let's be honest. Who the heck knows?! We never dreamed that we would have been blogging for so long when we started writing in 2008. However we do know that it's impossible to predict how our schedules, eating patterns and everything else in life will shake out. We love writing this blog and will do our best to keep posting, tweeting, instagramming and more. We are determined to be those people who just strap the kid on and go, but we will just have to see. Hopefully through midday excursions, early bird dinners and Saturday night babysitters (recommendations welcome) we will still be able to tell you about great places to eat in Philly, while adding advice about dining out with kids to our coverage. Stay tuned and bare with us!

Being a pregnant foodie can be fun and so will being food-loving parents. We've been a little behind on posting during the last 6 months, distracted by checking off baby prep lists and binge watching Netflix when I was too exhausted to go out, but it's also helped us experience Philly's great food scene in a new light. Just because your eating interests are all messed up, you can't booze and you're dead tired/getting fatter by the minute doesn't mean you can't enjoy what Philadelphia has to offer.

We have a ton of farmers markets giving us access to fresh, organic foods that are healthy for mom and baby. Peanut butter on Honeycrisp apples from the Fitler Square Farmer's Market was my savior this fall. Bradd is hell-bent on making our own baby food so we'll continue to be regular market shoppers. Philly is a very walkable city, making it easy for expectant mothers to get some exercise around town or during her commute. Only want to eat carbs and baked goods? Perfect! Indulge! Federal Donuts, Beiler's, Frangelli's, the list of quality bake shops goes on and kept this momma happy all winter. Philly's pizza craze also offers plenty of classy options to help you feel like you can still go out on the town. Schools and whatnot? Well that's another story but we're all about positive thinking here and know it's partly up to us young parents to start demanding change.

Non-alcoholic drinks can be cool. I owe a big shout out to the bars/restaurants that didn't blink an eye at my requests for non-alcoholic cocktails these last 7 months. Lolita's blood orange margarita tasted delicious even without tequila. The Cambridge and In Riva made some solid fake mojitos. One bartender at Tinto must have dedicated five entire minutes to making me something fun. Vedge, Pub & Kitchen and Crow & The Pitcher were all very accommodating, too. Even some places like Aldine and La Calaca Feliz have non-alcoholic sections on their cocktail menus. There were others that stumbled at the request, though. Our ask of all restaurants is to train your bartenders to make at least one simple, signature virgin cocktail. Please don't ever make them resort to, "ummm, well, we have juice, I guess?" Pregnant or not, no one should be made to feel uncomfortable not drinking.

Making babies is harder and more stressful than you think. This is really important. Getting to where we are today was one hell of a journey - and it's time we speak up. It took the strength of our marriage, endless love of our families, support of wonderful friends, dozens of appointments with the good people of Penn Medicine, serious retail therapy, copious amounts of red wine and an awful lot of tears to survive our baby creation process. It's hard to nail down just how fertility issues make you feel and impact your life. Frustrated. Helpless. Angry. Jealous. Failure. The list goes on. Your life has a feeling of being put on hold. And worst of all, no one talks about it. If we have one regret it was not opening up more and seeking emotional support from other people who faced the same challenges earlier. We want our readers to know that we are here to listen and offer any small words of encouragement we can to people facing a similar journey. Life is not just the joyous moments you see on Facebook. Please email us at editor at 22ndandphilly dot com if you ever need someone to talk to about this. That goes for the husbands, too. Don't be the tough guy.

Bradd is the superstitious one of us. From racing cars to the end of city blocks for good luck to a healthy smoothie binge that put him the hospital with stomach issues, he exhausted his attempts to create good karma. In the end, it's possible that listening to Pearl Jam non-stop for an entire month saved the day. Or it was finally just the right time for us.

Next up? Picking out a name. And maybe a second slice of cake.