Beer Week (and vegan eats!) at Rembrandt's

It was Philly Beer Week that brought me to one of my favorite restaurants in the Art Museum district. I don't often make it to that neighborhood but when I do and I'm hungry I head over to Rembrandt's. And I always order the Tuscan fries.

I give full credit for the discovery of Tuscan fries to Fred. As he tells it, he's been going for years, always orders Tuscan fries, and never shares. And each time as he watches his fellow diners reaching for a bite he tells them that next time they should order their own. Because they are no longer on the menu, if you ask nicely for some Tuscan fries it is a secret code that you are a regular and should be treated as such. I think it's the balsamic drizzle that makes them so addictive. Or maybe the roasted vegetables.

All of their food is consistently good. 

And while I may not always partake, I always appreciate bars that make an effort for the few vegetarian bar goers. Because the food is always so good here, I decided to go out on a limb and order one of their specials, tofu skewers with coconut rice and a red pepper sauce. Kudos to Rembrandt's for having an elegant, original and delicious vegan offering on their menu.

My one gripe is that although the beer selection is good, it's rather pricey. Still, I mostly go just for the food so it doesn't really matter.

Rembrandt's Restaurant and Bar
 741 N. 23rd Street
 (Corner 23rd & Aspen Sts. in the Art Museum Area)
 215-763-2228

You might not be so proud...

Or maybe some of you will be???

I recently posted about a Phillies game where I showed tremendous restraint. I somehow managed to avoid the temptations of hot dogs and cheesesteaks that are abundant at Citizen's Bank Park.

PETA ranks Citizen's Bank Park as the best ball park for vegetarian eats. Given that I only go once or twice a year, I tend to use games as an excuse to splurge. I feel like it's my right as an American to enjoy a hot dog at a ball game. And while I've heard great things about veggie dogs and veggie cheesesteaks there, they're not exactly handing them out at every concession stand.

It was sheer luck that I ended up getting that black bean burger at the last game because we ended up sitting right by the one stand that sells them. I choked it down (it was about as bad as you'd expect it to be) hoping to gain some good karma for a little while.

Any good karma that I earned was promptly spent at Friday night's game against the Padres. Maybe I'm just getting sad about leaving Philly, but I haven't wanted to waste my last few weeks here on terrible veggie burgers. My time is precious.

What better way to enjoy all that is Philly than with a sandwich worthy of an episode of Diners, Drive ins and Dives. I present to you the Schmitter.

Cheesesteak, fried onions, fried bologna, tomato, and special sauce.

And yes, it was worth it.

Things I Will Miss

I will miss being able to share culinary adventures with my office mates. I will never forget last summer bringing in our haul from the CSA every other week and spreading it out on an office table. While cookies and candy are a regular occurence, we got quite a few stares with our giant heads of cabbage, bright red beets, and kabocha squashes. Nobody seemed to mind it though when we shared our giant watermelon one week. Note to all office managers: nothing will boost office morale like a giant ice cold watermelon in the middle of July.

And so it wasn't completely out of place that Betty and I found ourselves slicing into a whole pineapple, dicing onions and chili peppers, and tearing up cilantro at her desk last week. Ok, it was very out of place. Our office doesn't even have a break room. Also, we had to use a mystery plate we found as a cutting board and a scary knife that's been in our office since the dawn of time. I don't want to know how it got here.

When I decided to organize a potluck for a meeting, chips and dip might come to mind. Well you can imagine I wasn't gonna show up with a bag of tostito's and some french onion dip.

Instead I brought homemade tortilla chips and if you hadn't guessed from above Betty made fresh pineapple salsa. Oh and I almost forgot about my fresh brewed sweet tea with mint. I think I could have a new career as a caterer and considering how many catered events my office alone has it might not be a bad idea. Recipes to follow.

Monday Night Meal at Mémé

I know this is much delayed post so forgive me...

My birthday and mother's day fell pretty close to each other this year so what better way to celebrate than by going out to a restaurant that pays homage to my mom's side of the family tree? I give Fred 100% of the credit for picking the restaurant.

Mémé's at 22nd and Spruce is one of many places that I have wandered past many times, but never had occasion to eat at. It's a testament to the strength of the Philly dining scene that I have lived in the same neighborhood for 3 years and have yet to sample every restaurant within walking distance.

The name itself was enough to intrigue me. I have French Canadian roots on my mother's side (you'll have to ask her for all the details) but we affectionately call my grandmother on my mom's side Mémère. (She is incidentally, a great cook.) I was not surprised to learn, therefore, that the restaurant was named after the chef's Morrocan grandmother.

The French influence isn't terribly strong in the food, and the menu would be best described as American. They get my vote for using many local ingredients. They also have an extensive wine list.

The decor was elegant and surprisingly light and airy. Even though they drew a substantial crowd (and on a Monday night no less) the small space never felt cramped.

So on to the food. Like any special occasion (read: expensive) meal it was something of an event. Again my apologies for not writing sooner as my memory is not that great. I remember that you could choose a 3 course prix fixe meal from the menu. I believe it was $35. I don't, however, know how often they do it.

For a non dessert eater like myself, I am often wary of 3 course meals. Especially if I'm actually eating vegetarian, often I will spend less money picking from the menu. I debated for a while until I saw that one of the dessert choices was cheese. End of debate.

First courses: ravioli and scallops

A perfect and light way to start the meal. It tasted like spring.

A not so light appetizer, but an indulgent bite that will not soon be forgotton. It makes you immediately want to try and replicate it at home.

Second Courses: steelhead trout and porkchop

So here was my only gripe about an otherwise stellar restaurant. I inquired about the catch of the day and how it was prepared. The answer was Steelhead Mackeral and grilled. Not being a picky eater, I decided to try it. A little post meal research revealed that Steelhead is actually trout, but my biggest surprise came when the entire fish was presented head and all. It's time like these that I envy vegetarians. I've never seen a piece of tofu stare back at me with its cold, dead eyes. Ok, so my fault for not assuming that grilled meant whole. Again, not a problem. I just put some potatoes and onions over the eye and went about my business. Not having much experience with whole fish I found it hard to avoid every single bone. Especially when you are given almost no light. I'm all for mood lighting but not when there are potential choking hazards involved. Still, I did manage to eat every delicious bite.

According to Fred, his pork chop was divine. Not that I would know of course...

Third Courses: cheese and strawberry napoleon

I'm not sure you can really screw up cheese. Ok I take that back, you can screw it up by not giving me enough of it.

If you're into this sort of thing... You would enjoy it. It managed to be light and decadent at the same time. And of course incredibly fresh tasting.

Bottom Line: Add this to your special occasion repertoire.

Mémé Restaurant
2201 Spruce Street
215-735-4900

Tastebuds

Having lived in various locations around Fitler Square for several years, I have wandered past Tastebuds Market many times. I've been curious and maybe poked my head in once or twice, but like nearby Bacchus I just assume it's a place for those who can afford expensive pre-cooked meals and who don't have the time or desire to cook for themselves. While I do splurge on food, it's usually on expensive ingredients I cook at home or on a nice restaurant meal. I guess the concept of paying $8.99 per pound for eggplant parm that you then eat at home is a bit strange to me.

But curiosity and a Groupon got the better of me and so it was that I ended up there recently sampling the aforementioned eggplant parm. I like the homey, friendly feel and the fact that everything looked really fresh and delicious. If I could afford it (which most people in this neighborhood can I'm sure) and I was pressed for time I could see the appeal. I will say the prices aren't completely outrageous and they offer catering and gift baskets that look reasonable.

I had high hopes for the beautiful looking eggplant parm. Let's just say that I'll stick with my homemade version from now on. Not that it was terrible, I just think the texture of eggplant parm is best straight out of the oven. The flavor was also more lasagna than eggplant. Not necessarily the worst thing, just not what I was looking for.

The Asian marinated vegetables, however, were delicious. Perfect texture and seasonings. They were a much better value, and I even had leftovers to mix with some tofu and rice the next day. I might actually consider them the next time I'm looking to treat myself. Of course we're also entering the high season for local and seasonal veggies so I might as well just try and replicate the Asian marinade myself. I know it included a lot of sesame oil.
So maybe this wasn't the most helpful of reviews. I'm still not entirely sure how I felt about the place either, other than to say it's not the kind of place I frequent.
Tastebuds Market and Catering
24th and Lombard Streets
215-546-6900

It's All Coming to an End (Part 3)

Third Course: Coconut Shrimp

I had much more sucess, and experience making my next dish. The first time was an experiment that went very right. I would make it more often if not for the high price of shrimp and the fact that most shrimp is not sustainably harvested. When the occasion calls for it though, you have to live a little. And given the current state of affairs maybe we should all be stocking up on seafood while we still can.

Ingredients

Raw shrimp* (1/4 per person)

Coconut flakes

Panko

Eggs (2 is enough for 4 servings)

Canola oil

*Go to a reputable fish market (Reading Terminal is the best place in Philly) where you will likely find unpeeled and undeveined shrimp for a decent price. It's worth it to peel and devein them yourself, or enlist some helping hands to do it. Oh, and don't be tempted to get the cooked variety at the supermarket, they just won't do.

Once your shrimp are all cleaned up, set up your breading station. Eggs go in one bowl and the coconut and panko go in another. The coconut and panko should be equal parts, and if your coconut came in large flakes like mine did you may have to crush them slightly. They should be about the same size and texture of the panko. Season this lightly with salt.

Coat the shrimp first in egg, then in panko/coconut and lay out on a baking sheet lined with foil. It makes for easier cleanup.

Drizzle carefully and lightly with some canola oil.

Pop in a 350 degree oven. These cook quickly, about 12 minutes. As soon as the coating gets a little browned you should pull them.

Dipping sauces are in order. Please ask Betty for the recipe she used this time. I have experimented with the sweet/sour/spicy combo before with good results.

It's All Coming to an End (Part 2)

Second Course: Pineapple Fried RiceAnd frankly, no recipe available either. I blame it on the aforementioned tropical drinks and also on my poor planning, but don't trust me on this dish folks. I forgot to buy long grain rice so in the end had to use the sushi rice I had which would have been ok if not ideal. But... I also overcooked it. A quick google search will serve you better unless you are in the mood for some pineapple gruel. Maybe if you work in a nursing home? Or are recovering from jaw surgery?

It's All Coming to an End (Part 1)

I've already started to say my goodbyes. To the people and places that have made my time in Philly so special, but more (ok maybe not more) importantly to the greatest television show of my generation.

Insert groan *here* because I'm talking about Lost. Well, I won't actually talk about it here, I'll leave that to the rest of the geeks out there on the internet. I will however, talk about the finale feast cooked up by the WVE crew.

The First Course: Teriyaki Fish Tacos With Chipotle Lime Slaw

Ingredients

Firm white fish fillets (1/4 lb per person)

Teriyaki sauce or marinade

Optional fresh chile peppers

Tortillas, both flour and corn

Head of green or napa cabbage (1/2 head will be more than enough for 4 people)

A large carrot or 2

Scallion

Mayonaise

Small jar of chipotle peppers in adobo

Fresh Limes

Make sure that your fish fillets are completely bone free. Place in a baking dish and cover with teriyaki. You don't want it swimming in it, just enough to coat. You can add slices of chili if you want, seeds and all. Cover and place in the fridge. This should marinate for at least an hour.

Meanwhile, cut your cabbage into large chunks and place in a large bowl. Cover with water and a large handful of salt. Swish around to make sure that the water gets into the crevices of the cabbage. This step is designed to clean any debri from the cabbage if it's straight from the farm and the salt acts to ensure maximum crunch in the final product. I learned this from making kimchi. The cabbage should sit in there for at least a half hour. Remove from the water and rinse under cold running water and dry thoroughly. Pat with a paper towel if need be.

Using your largest and sharpest knife, slice the cabbage into thin shreds. I kept mine somewhat wide, mostly out of laziness. I also like a nice bite of cabbage as opposed to the weird shred you sometimes see in prepared slaw. Place in your serving bowl.

Use a vegetable peeler to peel the outer layer of carrot and discard. The peeler will then come in handy to peel nice juliennes of carrot right on top of your cabbage.

Slice some scallion on top as well.

In a small bowl, start with a small scoop of mayo. It will probably take less than you think to coat your slaw and it's best to err on the side of caution rather than go overboard. Pour in some of the adobo sauce from the chipotles. This is potent so be careful. Take a few chipotles out and dice before adding to the mayo. Add a squeeze of fresh lime. Taste and adjust as needed. Add to the cabbage mixture and toss. Set aside in the fridge for a while so the flavors can marry.

Your fish should be marinated by this time so pop it in a 350 degree oven, uncovered. I left the teriyaki right in the baking dish because I hadn't added a ton to begin with. Remove any chilis you may have added.

The fish should take about 20 minutes to cook all the way through. It should be completely opaque and flake with a fork when you poke it.

Right before serving, heat up your tortillas breifly in the oven or in the microwave. I would recommend seeking out a Mexican grocer for dirt cheap but high quality tortillas. They can easily be found at Reading Terminal, which of course also happens to be the best place to buy the fish. Keep the tortillas covered so they stay warm. Prepare your table setting with the tortillas, lime wedges, and slaw.

Best consumed with a cold tropical beverage.

I'm a Little Too Excited...

Food Network Here We Come

I have very few nice things to say about the Food Network. Even if I had the talent, charisma, and desire to share my cooking skills on TV I would avoid Food Network at all costs.

But that doesn't mean I can't be excited when I might have the opportunity to have my face shown on a Food Network show right? Ok I'm probably a huge hypocrite. I attribute it more to boredom than hypocrisy.

Whatever the case may be, here's the scoop for any foodies and television junkies in the area. The Food Network is taping a Philly episode of "Chef's Vs. City" tomorrow. If you haven't seen it, it's about as hokey as you'd expect it to be. Teams of celebrity chefs and wannabe Food Network "stars" race across major cities performing challenges like shoving fiery curry down their faces as quickly as possible.

I don't know what all the stops in Philly will be - I would imagine there are cheesesteaks and soft pretzels involved - but I do know that around lunchtime they will be filming at 34th and Walnut. As a loyal patron of the food truck Magic Carpet, I am thrilled that the challenge will include contestants making and selling falafel on the street. I'll be the first in line. Followed closely by Betty and Slagheap if only because I'll be dragging them down there to scope out the scene with me. I figure with 3 people we have a better shot at having someone's face end up in the final cut.

So look out world, WVE is officially making it's television debut. We're gonna be huge.

Happy Hour Just Got Happier

It's that season again, when warmer temps and lighter workloads tempt people to celebrate at the end of the workday and commiserate with their cubicle mates over a few drinks.

Any resident, employee or student of University City probably knows the same 3 or 4 bars with decent happy hour specials. While convenient, the cheese fries from New Deck and the half price margaritas from Mad4 start to get old after a few years. It may have something to do with the infamous purse melting incident at Mad4, but that's a story for another day.

All too often the happy hour dilemna is we either spend yet another night at New Deck or we venture downtown where we face higher prices plus the added transportation costs. Most times it's easier to stay within close proximity to our office. This is just a nice way of saying my co-workers (and I) are lazy.

No one was more excited than I was to hear about newcomer Landmark Americana opening up over by Drexel. Even better, they have happy hour specials to rival New Deck's half price appetizers. Ok, rival isn't the right word because they blow New Deck out of the water especially with their drink specials. I'm also a big stickler for places having an open layout that can accomodate a crowd. The place was incredibly roomy, but if you want to sit outside you'd best get there early.

We sampled the lobster quesadillas and the nachos, both of which were perfectly acceptable if somewhat predictable options for happy hour. For large portions at half price and washed down with copious amounts of beer and house made sangria, however, it's not a bad way to spend a warm summer evening.

Landmark Americana Tap and Grill
3333 Market Street
215-222-4500

2nd Annual Earth Day Adventure

Over a year has passed since I entered the blogosphere, and not much as changed. Last year around this time Betty and I celebrated Earth Day in a manner more suited for Cinco de Mayo. We went out for Mexican food. (Ok, and we also saw the movie "Earth.") I'm happy to say that we kept our promise of making this an annual tradition. Go see the cheesy Disney Nature movie that comes out on Earth Day and eat some tacos.

This year it was "Oceans" and late night dinner at Xochitl. I was tipped off to spectacular late night specials at Xochitl, Thursdays 10-close. Something along the lines of half off almost everything on an already reasonably priced menu.

Even though it required substantial planning for me to eat dinner at 10 pm (I'm an old man, I like my dinner at 6 and I'm in bed by 10) it was worth it. The set up is great, although a little dark in the basement bar where they sat us. The service could have been better, but at half price I think it's allowed. Just don't expect to get out of there any time before midnight.

This is the place for tequila drinkers. They're serious about it here. The knowledgable waitress steered us towards a glass (and I do mean glass, not shot) served with some spicy tomato concoction that's supposed to cleanse the palate. It was interesting.

The food lived up to my expectations. While the servings are small, it's perfect for a group of people who like to sample lots of different dishes.

You'd be proud. I ordered pretty much the only vegetarian options on the menu, the empanadas and the black bean and huitlacoche burger. Both were more than satisfactory.

Oh and watch out for Earth Day 2011: "African Cats" and Zocalo

Xochitl
408 S. 2nd Street
215-238-7280

Falafel Factory (For Free!)

I don't mean to sound like a shill, but if you like bargains -and food- you should sign up for Groupon. Never heard of it? It's a daily listserve of discounts for local businesses. Don't do it if you don't like to clog up your inbox, but if you have the patience to actually read through the daily emails it's pretty sweet. And free. (I swear it's legit, you don't have to give them any scary information or commit to anything when you sign up.)

I won't bore you with the details, but I've used their food deals a lot. And I'm such a loyal customer that Groupon gave me a $5 credit just to be nice. So when the deal of the day was "$5 for $10 worth of falafel," I felt like it was my birthday and christmas all in the same day. Yes, in case you're wondering falafel is a perfectly acceptable gift in my book.

The Falafel Factory just happens to be a few blocks from my house, but it's just enough off the beaten path though that I'd never noticed it. Congratulations Groupon. You've gotten me to sample a local place I probably never would have otherwise. And they have my repeat business.

It's a pretty sparse operation. A small storefront with a simple menu. They chose a very accurate name for the place.

I haven't found much good falafel around here, and not surprisingly given the name, this was spot on. What I liked about it (besides the free-ness) was the texture and the fact that the sandwich didn't have any unnecessary lettuce or filler. If I wanted a salad, I'd order a salad. I ordered the Greek, and it was chock full of nothing but falafel and delicious toppings. They also have flavors like Hawaiian and BBQ, but I'll stick with the Greek. I'm loyal like that. You can add sides like hummus and pita or veggies and dip. I'm glad they were free, otherwise they are not worth the extra $2.

Verdict: At around $7 for a sandwich, it's a bit more than I usually spend for lunch but it's certainly within range. Next time I'm bored with my usual lunch or dinner routine and feel like a splurge it's worth the couple extra blocks. I've also heard good things about the falafel at nearby Mama's.

The Falafel Factory

18th and Chestnut

215-564-0064

Ron's Rib's Restaurant Review

I can't say that I've ever willingly taken Al Roker's advice on anything in my life. His endorsement of local favorite Ron's Rib's has actually been enough to keep me away for a while. I'm also not a huge BBQ afficianado. I love some good ribs, but as far as I'm concerned my dad's are just fine and Philly just isn't the place for authentic BBQ. The only experience I have with southern/soul food are the few obligatory shows I've seen on the subject.

Well after many raves from Fred and company I decided I had to try Ron's. I also get weird cravings every once in a while and one day I just couldn't get a nice juicy hunk of meat out of my head. Actually, I think that describes every day for me.

I also have to hand it to a place that doesn't necessarily do any favors for it's customers. They have odd hours, they run out of food sometimes, there's not much choice on the menu and the place itself is no-frills. I think if I ever ran a restaurant that's how I would do it. The facts that they've been in business forever and have such a devoted following are sure signs of good food, Al Roker notwithstanding.

So how did it taste? It was the big tender hunk of meat I'd been craving. I'm not wimp when it comes to heat, but I had to say the spicy that we ordered was bordering on unpalatable. I'm not one to ever leave a piece of meat uneaten, however, and after eating enough, you don't notice it so much anyways. Fred and I got different sides as you can see. They were tasty enough, but I can't comment on authenticity. The coleslaw was a little sweet for my tastes, but had a nice tang as opposed to the mayonaise goo you sometimes find.

Verdict: If you live in the neighborhood and are craving some BBQ, it will hit the spot. Just maybe order the medium instead of the hot.

Ron's Ribs
1627 South St.
215-732-3561

Tom's Tasty Tacos

I'm sure that all of you Philly foodies and local eaters have eaten at Honest Tom's Taco Stand a million times, but I don't make the trek up to West Philly too often, and when I do the 20 minute wait for a taco is enough to deter me. There are few foods that are worthy of waiting in line for in my opinion, especially street food. Street food by nature should be convenient and quick.

Well it's always been on my to do list, and lately I've had the motivation to start crossing things off that list. Lured by the big annual flea market, the Saturday farmer's market, and of course Tom's famous tacos, Betty, Fred and I found ourselves up at Clark's Park this past Saturday.

They have one item on the menu. The nice thing about that is that you know it must be good. Their breakfast taco features eggs, potatoes, cheese, salsa and guac for a measly $2.50. Which is why it's worth the wait, and most people order 3 at a time.

Betty was the only one brave enough to endure the throngs of other fellow taco lovers all eager to hear their name called. She was generous enough to give us a bite and I was reminded of the soup nazi episode where Jerry says "you can't eat this soup standing up, your knees buckle."

What I wouldn't give for a few of these bad boys right now. Wonder if they deliver.

Honest Tom's Taco Truck
Saturday mornings at Clark's Park (42nd and Chester)
See http://foobooz.com/tag/honest-toms-taco-shop/ for information on other locations and times

Betty's Birthday Blowout

Betty is officially 27. I won't wax poetic too much about birthday's but of course it was reason to celebrate. The nice weather after weeks of blizzard like conditions was the icing on the birthday cake, so we took advantage of it and decided to treat Betty to dinner at one of Philadelphia's most highly sought after restuaruants, Waterworks.

The Schuylkill and Boathouse Row could not offer a better backdrop, and it's been written about as a destination for travelling foodies since its opening. Sweeping and impressive from the outside, it's easy to see why it is an attractive location. Many are the times I have wandered past on a jog down to Kelly Drive, imagining the glamorous and of course fabulously wealthy diners inside.

Well let's just say that a deal presented itself and I jumped on it, knowing that this might be my only opportunity to eat dinner at such a distinguished establishment. I made sure that my top hat was back from the cleaners and fetched my jewels from the vault.

From a place that has a water menu - I kid you not they have a $50 bottle of water - my fellow diners and I went in with fairly high expectations. Here is how the night progressed.

As a former waitress and of course restaurant enthusiast I always pay attention to the service. Luckily, I was not disappointed. Some practices I found quite amusing if not entirely necessary. Example? I can place my own napkin in my lap thank you very much.

We decided it would be best to buy wine by the bottle instead of the glass. Usually a wise decision unless the least expensive bottle is just shy of $40 and there is a 12% alcohol tax. Suprised? Not really. I came prepared to handle a few outrageous charges.

Next came our choice of 4 courses from the prix fixe menu. Make that 2 choices, as 2 of the courses were pre chosen for us. Actually, make that very little choice for an appetizer and an entree. Ok, maybe can't fault them for lack of choice if what's on the menu is fabulous. You be the judge.

Course One: Choice of Soup or Salad

My salad was the best part of the meal, but let's be honest. It's just a salad.

The soup was tasty, leaving us optimistic about the subsequent courses.

Course Two: Sorbet

I bet money that they ran out to the nearest supermarket, bought the cheapest raspberry sorbet they could find, and gave everyone exactly one spoonful in order to make it last as long as possible

Course 3: Choice of AIRLINE chicken, Mushroom risotto, or salmon

You heard me right, airline chicken. Most likely Southwest by the looks of it. All jokes aside, the entrees I think were good except for my risotto that upon closer inspection was doused with far more than its fair share of olive oil.

Course 4: A duo of mint creme brulee and chocalate cake

I would like to know if Waterwork's has a pastry chef. If the answer is yes, I would like to know if he or she is a reject from The Next Foodnetwork Star. The fact that anybody made these desserts, (hopefully) tasted them and decided that they were worthy of human consumption is probably the same person who thinks that Paula Deen and Sandra Lee are actually chefs. I know people are cooking on a budget now, but using toothpaste as a substitute for mint in a creme brulee is going a little too far. Judging from the mint creme brulee I'm guessing that's what happened. Maybe when they went to pick up the sorbet there was a sale on aquafresh so they decided to stock up. And they found some day old Duncan Hines chocolate cake on sale too so why not throw that in and call it a day. So I admittedly don't like dessert but I was the only one who could even stomach more than one bite of it.

Thankfully the birthday cake was fine and there was plenty to share. And that's what it's all about in the end. Sharing a memorable meal with friends to celebrate a special occasion. Perhaps Betty can share her thoughts on the night as well.

Ressurection Twice Fried With a Side of Sandwich

Forget molecular gastronomy. I have recently had the pleasure of tasting two of the greatest and most innovative restaurant dishes ever created: twice fried chicken and the side sandwich. Ok so the side sandwich was actually Fred's creation, but thank you to Ressurection Ale House for creating a sandwich good enough to be elevated to the status of a side.

You are of course scratching your head right now, puzzled as to why one would need to improve upon such perfect culinary masterpieces as fried chicken and the sandwich. Friends, please be patient and I will try to explain. It all started when my fellow food bloggers (and vegetarian food bloggers I might add) introduced me to a small, off the beaten path bar serving great food with more than one vegetarian option. Sounded like my kind of place.

Nestled in the Graduate Hospital/Naval Square area, it is very much a neighborhood joint. Usually an indication that you'll find unpretentious food at a reasonable price minus the crowds surrounding any restaurant within walking distance of Rittenhouse Square.

Within seconds of perusing the menu Fred remarked upon the aforementioned "twice fried chicken" which prompted our waitress to inquire if we were here because we read the recent magazine article. You'd think that I of all people would have been in the know, but alas I had not read said article. No problem. We did not need a magazine article to tell us that this would be fried chicken unlike any other fried chicken any of us had ever had. As if twice frying was not enough to seal the deal, the spiced honey drizzled on top was the proverbial icing on the cake. I officially recommend that the phrase "icing on the cake" be changed to "honey on the chicken."

So what were we to do when two people wanted to order the praiseworthy chicken and they also wished to sample the Monte Cristo? Well anybody with common sense and decency would of course order one of each and share. Luckily, my two fellow diners had no such qualms about following convention and thus proceeded to each order the chicken with a "side of sandwich" to share. I have a feeling the waitress immediately when into the kitchen to tell everybody about the table that was foolish enough to order a side sandwich. Another waitress, who must not have believed that such people exist, delivered our entrees and lo and behold there was an extra sandwich. We ignored the stares and instructed her that it was ours, and no we were not waiting for another person. And that is how the side sandwich was born. May it live forever, or at least as long as such delicious sandwiches exist.

Other courses included the humble pickle, transformed. I've heard of pickled beets, but how about pickled pumpkins and grapes?

The balsamic braised beef shank sandwich is to die for. (Not that I would know of course.) All sandwiches come with their signature curry ketchup.

This is a place where you should save room for dessert.

Resurrection Ale House
2425 Grays Ferry Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19146