Philadelphia - The Hungry Nomad

Power Lunch at Rouge- Rittenhouse Square (Philadelphia, USA)

May 14, 2013 2 Comments

Okay, so I finally went to Rouge but didn’t have the burger. Some say it is the best burger in town. I can’t attest to the burger but having the Nicoise salad and a side of french fries I am sure the burger is delicious too. My meal was really tasty and the ambiance was even better. There is no better place to be on a sunny spring afternoon than in one of the many restaurants lining Rittenhouse Park. Having a drink while watching the stylish Philadelphia clads walk by is a perfect way to spend the day. The restaurant is also quite the scene once the sun sets being one of the hottest spots in town to see and be seen.

French food, Philadelphia, USA

Bibou-rilliance- Bella Vista (Philadelphia, USA)

May 10, 2013 2 Comments

Ladies and gentlemen, I’ve died and gone to heaven. At least, that is how I felt after dining at Chef Pierre Calmels’ Bibou– the tiny 30 seat French BYOB in Bella Vista. Reservations at Bibou are hard to come by considering I have been trying to go since my arrival on the doorsteps of Philadelphia last summer. After having dined there shoulder to shoulder with other diners I learned that most at the restaurant are die hard regulars and usually make their reservations for their next meal on a weekly or monthly basis. It’s no wonder the restaurant is always full (word to the wise: make your reservations well in advance).

Chef Pierre Calmels is no stranger to the Philadelphia dining scene. He was the long time executive chef of the renowned Le Bef-Fin mentoring some of Philadelphia’s finest chefs. Prior to which he worked in some of the best kitchens in the country including those of Daniel Bouloud and under Georges Perrier at Le Bec-Fin. He opened Bibou in 2009 and immediately gained loyalist amongst the city’s gourmands.

The menu changes often to offer the freshest seasonal ingredients and innovative dishes. Yet, some dishes are staples. This includes the ever tender and flavorful escargot. On first thought, one might not think twice about ordering escargot, especially those who are put off by images of snails. Yet the escargot at Bibou proved to be quite extraordinary. Perhaps it the fact that the snails are slow poached and cooled gradually in the most flavorful broth made up of butter, beef stock, mousseron mushrooms and fresh garbanzo beans. Eaten with a side of french bread, these snails were to die for.

A seasonal dish which was appetizing and visually stimulating was the soft-shell crab. A crispy and tender crab presented itself to me covered in chopped tomatos and a citrusy based sauce. The dish is offered as an appetizer or an entree and was an instant hit. Next was the country paté dish- a delicious slab of mixed meat with sundried tomatos, dried apricot and rosemary; with a cassis reduction. For those who love a good paté, here is a warning: this dish will leave you wanting more and will remain with you and your taste-buds for days to come. In fact, it’s been a week since our visit to Bibou and I have been dreaming of this plate ever since. It is not to be missed.

The bone marrow, another stable Bibou dish, was served in a split bone stuffed with a rather salty mix of bone marrow with toasted bread crumbs and a range of herbs along a side of potatoes. Being a big fan of anything to do with bone marrow, I loved the buttery and strong marrow flavors of this dish yet found it to be just a tad bit on the salty side. The Onglet de Boeuf was one of the most tender and meaty hanger steaks I’ve yet to taste served in a green peppercorn sauce with a side of fingerling potatoes and green asparagus.

Dessert as usual consisted of most of the offerings on the menu: the floating island, dark chocolate tort and lemon souffle glace. All three amazing and perfect. The dark chocolate tort is what every warm chocolate cake should aspire to be: warm, soft texture with just the right amount of sweetness and the taste of bittersweet chocolate. The floating island, a classic french dish that I became quickly addicted to in my years in France was so good that I was tempted to order another. A fluffy, light meringue floating in a sauce of creme anglais made with goat’s milk. And while the two vanished within minutes if not seconds, we contemplated a third. Our server recommended the lemon souffle glace: An ice-cream like texture with creamy tart lemon flavor served with a berry reduction on the side it did not disappoint.

Our dining experience was so lovely and we were so satisfied that neither of us wanted to leave. We quickly made friends with our neighbors and together revelled in the extraordinary brilliance of Bibou. I only wish they would expand their space so that more diners can have access to Chef Calmel’s magic.

Food, Italian food, Philadelphia, USA

Rustic Italian at Melograno- Rittenhouse Square (Philadelphia, USA)

May 3, 2013 No Comments

Melograno is an Italian restaurant located in Center City close to Rittenhouse Square. We went on a Friday night without reservations (which they now take despite being informed otherwise online) with high expectations. The rustic Italian decor adds to the great ambiance. Our table lined against the wall was very close to our neighbors which made it a bit uncomfortable given that we arrived early and there were not too many diners so the noise level was down leading to an uncomfortably intimate dining situation. Our server was nice and attentive. The food was good yet nothing particularly stood out.

For our starter we shared the Prosciutto di Parma e Rucola. A plate of arugula prosciutto and shaved parmigiano served with a lemon vinaigrette. It was a really nice consistent dish that I would order again. For our entrees we ordered the Pappardelle Tartufate and Risotto ai Gamberoni (See Menu).

The Pappardelle Tartufate is usually a favorite of mine. The ingredients in this one happened to be ground up to a paste mixture consisting of wild mushrooms, walnuts, truffle oil and pieces of pecorino. I was not a big fan of the mixture in this form nor was the Count who was forced to switch his plate with mine halfway through the meal.

The Risotto ai Gamberoni was a delicious plate of fennel risotto served with fresh shrimp, goat cheese and wine reduction. It was very creamy and fragrant without tasting too fishy.

For dessert we shared a warm chocolate cake with strawberry reduction. It was served within minutes leading me to believe that these are pre-made and microwaved. I am sure I was not wrong because it was too hot and did not taste like it was freshly baked.

While the meal at Melograno was okay, it certainly did not stand out amongst the many restaurants in the city serving Italian Food. It is more an institution serving faithful diners that come back year after year who refuse to dine elsewhere.

Philadelphia, Travel, USA

A cheeselover’s wonderland at Di Bruno Brothers- Italian Market (Philadelphia, USA)

April 30, 2013 No Comments

A trip to Philadelphia is never complete without a visit to the Italian Market made world famous by the scene in Rocky where Silvestor Stallone runs through the streets as a struggling boxer. But beyond the land of Rocky, it is the land of Spaghetti, Rigatoni and Fromagi. And if you are a cheese-lover like me you will not want to miss a trip to Di Bruno Brothers on 9th street (909 South 9th) where you can get your hands on more than 400 varieties of cheese, olives, bread, pastas, charcuterie and so much more. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable and won’t say no to persistent attempts to try every single cheese on the menu.

Food, Philadelphia, USA

Opening of Prime Stache in Old City (Philadelphia, USA)

April 29, 2013 2 Comments

An invitation to a restaurant opening is always a good time. Even more fun when the owner of the restaurant is Philadelphia Eagle’s own Brent Celek. The restaurant is located in Old City in a beautifully restored brick building. A giant mustache sign will help those in search of the restaurant.

The inside of the restaurant is also covered with exposed brick, a long bar and nice dining area.

The modern American menu offers classics such as a Stache burger, pastas, fish tacos and salads. The cocktail list is extensive with fresh and unique drinks such as the peach julip.

To start off our table was served with a tomato and onion salad with a classic vinaigrette sauce. Really nice way to start off the experience. After the salad, plates and plates of delicious treats were brought out. First the fried rock shrimp tossed in a spicy sauce yet still crispy.

The lightly breaded pepper calamari was surprisingly spicy with the addition of fried cherry peppers. It definitely added a kick to the dish.

We were then served with an order of the Sweet Pea and Edamame Ravioli. I was not particularly impressed with this dish. It seemed overcooked, there was too much dough and all the pieces were stuck together.

The fish tacos were a big hit at our table. Tender pieces of grilled tilapia topped with red cabbage and carrots tossed in a citrus-flavored mix served in small white tortilla shells. They were gone before they hit the table.
The baked salmon was served with a side of grilled broccoli. This was definitely one of the healthier dishes on the menu. The fish was very tender and melted in my mouth.
For the vegetarians amongst us, there was the vegetarian lasagna stuffed with eggplants and ricotta cheese. It was a classic lasagna substituting vegetables instead of meat served in a marinara sauce. No one at our table found it to be special or unique. It was missing the small details in flavor and ingredients that make a dish stand out.
The hamburger served with a side of house-made chips was good, although it was the least favorite dish at our table. Perhaps, it was because of the high volume of the event, but the hamburger patty was over cooked, dry and flavorless. The burger had no real substance. It was left half untouched. The two favorite dishes of the evening were the meatloaf and the butternut squash cavatelli. I’m not really a big fan of meatloaf but I found this one to be very meaty and delicious and something I would definitely order again. The butternut squash cavatelli however, was extraordinarily good. It came served with shredded pieces of pork and cheese drowned in barbecue sauce. Very hearty. Very good.

Overall, the decor, ambiance and food make Prime Stache a prime location to hit up on any night of the week.

Food, Philadelphia, USA

Foodopia at the new Fitler Dining Room (Philadelphia, USA)

April 26, 2013 1 Comment

Dinner at Fitler Dining Room can be summed up as having been one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in Philadelphia. The intimate 32 seat bistro might be a new name on the Philly dining scene but the staff sure aren’t. Chef Marzinsky was formerly a chef at Pub & Kitchen, Stateside and the Diving Horse and is certainly making some magic at FDR.

The food alone is worth visiting this small hidden gem for. But everything else about the experience happened to also be perfect. From the beautiful decor consisting of white subway tiles, low voltage lamps over each tabletop, white marble counter facing the open kitchen to the amazing french playlist playing in the background.

Our friday night meal started off with an order of the beau soleil oysters served plain and simple on a bedding of crushed ice. The oysters smooth, silky and fresh. (See Menu)

Next came the roasted and pickled beets served with bottom mushrooms, fried onion rings, black truffle and buttermilk dressing. The earthy flavors of the bright beets were pleasantly complimented by the crispy onion rings.

While not a big fan of steak tartar after a very unpleasant experience back in Paris (details which I’ll spare my dear readers) I was hesitant to try the beef tartar at FDR. Yet, the Count who is a serious carnivore insisted and minutes after my first bite (but too late to have another one) I found myself secretly wanting more. This dish made up of lancaster beef filet mixed with crunch walnuts, piave vecchio cheese, sunchoke-chips and chanterelle mushrooms was so good. The combination of textures and tastes was perfect.

The Potato Gnocchi with the burgundy snails, butternut squash and chartreuse butter was consistent. Although next to the other dishes it did not particularly stand out for me. I found it to lack a bit of flavor.

For our entrees we ordered the beef cheek, stuffed skate and fluke. The Skate consisted of truffle and leek stuffing glazed with marble potatoes and a vermouth nage poured tableside. Wow, was it ever amazing. The strong flavors of the truffle was balanced by the nage, but the depth and variety of flavors resulted in one of the best seafood dishes I’ve yet to taste in a restaurant.

The beef cheek, a new addition to the menu was wonderful and was practically inhaled by the two diners at our table who ordered it. Braised with a tasty barbecue sauce served with greens and pan fried potatoes.

The Rhode Island Fluke was cooked to perfection and served on top of broccolini, cauliflower, winter citrus, chive emulsion and a salsa tonnato. The sauce is what really made these dishes so delicious and alluring.

Dessert consisted of everything on the menu. The Banana pudding, early grey creme brulee, chocolate cake and carrot cake. I am personally not a fan of bananas and can only eat them in a shake where the flavor is drowned out. But I had to try this pudding after every one at our table raved about how good it was. And yes it was good. Just not for banana-phobes like myself.

The warm chocolate cake served with a crunchy peanut butter ganache disappeared within seconds of hitting the table. It was that good.
The carrot cake was served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, raisins and caramel sauce. The cake was very sweet and syrupy. If you don’t like your dessert too sweet you wont like this one. But it was an instant hit at our table (in fact all 4 desserts were big hits).
The earl grey creme brulee served with a hard sugar top was also great. My favorite part is cracking the hard sugar with my spoon and mixing the crunchy sugar with the creamy smooth filling. The earl grey flavor was definitely there although not too strong to drown out the taste of the velvety creme brulee.

As the photos will show, we arrived at 8 pm and were the last ones to leave the restaurant. It was such a warm, inviting atmosphere that it was really hard to leave. In fact, the experience was so good I almost hesitated before writing this review because I don’t want to let the secret out (although I’m sure the restaurant opening is not much of a secret amongst the foodies in Philadelphia).

Food, Philadelphia, USA

Dinner at Fork- Old City (Philadelphia, USA)

April 19, 2013 1 Comment

Last week I started a photography class at Fleisher Art Memorial and had the pleasure of meeting a fellow classmate and foodie who is part of the International Wine and Food Society. He was a wealth of knowledge on the Philadelphia food scene and where I must dine prior to leaving this beloved city which I have grown to love so much. One of his top recommendations was the new and improved Fork, another was Bibou which I have yet to try. Of course the next night, I found myself sipping on a glass of wine at Fork’s bar waiting for a table.

Chef Kulp revitalized this once gem of a restaurant in Old City by joining recently and creating the new and innovative menu. He came over from my beloved Torrisi Italian Specialties in New York City. The result is fantastic. Everything we tasted was flavorful, fresh and brilliant.

The decor at Fork is elegant, sophisticated and beautiful. The open kitchen faces the dining room which is lit with dim lighting. There is a banquette running along the wall lined with dining tables. A large bar in the center of the restaurant and a lit up tree in close to the kitchen.

The menu was what I would describe as ‘farm to table’ but was ever so quickly corrected by our server who called it ‘local’ instead. I guess restaurants are trying to move away from labeling their cuisine as ‘farm to table’ since its become an overused term which many places use freely while not sticking to the principles. Local however, means that all their ingredients are locally sourced. In the end it really means the same thing. The food is local!

Upon ordering our meal we were served with a board of bread with a fancy Italian name, but lets call it what it was: a chewy bagel with a spread of house made cream cheese.

For our starters we ordered the First of Spring Salad and Veal Carpaccio. The Spring salad combined many local greens and sliced radishes served in a ginger creme fraiche. A wonderfully healthy salad and a great start to our dining experience. The Vitello Tonnato was a delicious serving of veal carpaccio, raw tuna with tonnato sauce. My only critique of the dish was the cubes of cucumber which were not crispy and had a soft texture (sort of like when your fridge is too cold and your cucumber freezes as a result). It would have been a perfect dish had those cubes of cucumbers been crisp and fresh. We were served with a complimentary dish, the Smoked Quail. It was served with quail claw in tact. I’m assuming this helps reinforce the ‘local’ aspect of the dish. Nevertheless, despite the claw looking up at me the dish was wonderful. I’ll definitely order it the next time around. The quail meat was tender with a smokey flavor served in a cherry sauce, green almonds and heirloom chicories.

I was advised to stick with the pasta and so it was no surprise that for our main dish, all three at our table ordered from one of the pasta dishes. The black and white pici being my dish was my favorite of the three, although all three were so good it was hard to determine which was better than the other. I’d say that when ordering a pasta dish at Fork you just can’t go wrong. The black and white Pici was the most interesting dish. The pasta itself was as described, black and white, as half was darkened with squid ink. The crispy bread crumbs was such a wonderful addition and added a crunchy texture to the soft noodle dish. The seafood was fresh and flavorful. The Smoked Pumpkin Tortelloni (a larger version of the tortellini) was served in a brown butter sage flavored sauce with crunchy walnuts. I’ve seen versions of this dish at many Italian restaurants and it is hard not to love the sweet aromatic flavors present in this dish. The one at Fork was one of the best I’ve tasted with the addition of the walnuts which again added a welcoming crunchy texture.

The Pappardelle is always a favorite. This one did not fail to impress. A perfect portion of pappardelle noodles mixed with goat meat and topped with aged ricotta. It was simply delicious.

Although the price of dinner was more expensive than your average restaurant in Philadelphia, the impeccable service, impressive wine list and quality of the local ingredients make it well worth the visit.

Food, Food Festival, Philadelphia

A recap of Manayunk’s StrEAT Food Festival (Philadelphia, USA)

April 17, 2013 No Comments

On Saturday April 13th Manayunk held its biannual Street food festival on Main Street. The event drew out food trucks, foodies and crowds of people looking to taste what the city had to offer. From fried cheese curds to Mexican burritos there was a little bit of everything for everyone. The sun was shining, the music was pumping and the crowds were eating and drinking. It was the perfect way to spend a sunny Spring Saturday in Philadelphia. Some of the best food trucks in town were gathered on Main Street delivering their signature dishes with a strawberry twist to hungry crowds. Many food trucks even ran out of food (sadly a few were already closed by the time I got around to them). Among the most notables were Say Cheese, Cosmic Catering, sugary cupcakes from Sweet Box Cupcakes, Philly cheese steaks from Street Food Philly, cheesy mac and cheese from Mac Mart, gourmet Philly style sandwiches Lil Dan’s, the most amazing fried cheese from The Cow & The Curd, savory gourmet sandwiches from Farm Truck Philly, the Good Phellas, juicy burgers from Spot Burgers, Vernalicious, Italian style pizza from Nomad Pizza, the best sweet and savory crepes from Bonjour Creperie and Trinidadian food from Mini Trini.

The Cow & The Curd blew me away with those tiny pieces of cheesy delight. I mean, fried cheese: Enough said.

The crepes from Bonjour creperie were oh so sweet and fluffy: oooey, gooey marshmallow, mixed with chocolate and ground graham crackers. Their crepes were very original and had a mix of dynamic flavors like their bacon, chocolate and strawberry which surprisingly was sweet and salty and mouth watering good.

The guys at Farm Truck Philly definitely had the coolest truck on the block. Featured art work on the back of the truck are available for sale and the truck was covered in graffiti-like art.

Cosmic Catering had some interesting vegetarian flavors in a pretzel like bread cone. What a brilliant idea.

If you missed this year’s Manayunk Street festival, mark it on your calendar for next year but don’t fret, you still have the rest of the week to participate in their dining week.

Burgers, Food, Philadelphia, USA

Burgers at Shake Shack- Rittenhouse Square (Philadelphia, USA)

April 16, 2013 1 Comment

It seems our generation (or atleast everyone I know) is slightly obsessed with Shake Shack burgers, claiming it to have the best burgers in the USA. That to me is one serious claim, one that can only be backed up by having tasted every single hamburger in the United States. Either way, I had to check it out for myself. The Shake Shack in Philadelphia is located downtown in the Rittenhouse Square neighbourhood. There is usually a long line, sometimes out the door. On the day we went it happened to be practically empty which was a nice surprise given that we were extremely hungry and not in the mood to wait.

A large wall sized menu covers the wall describing what and how to order. We ordered the Shake Burger and the SmokeShack Burger. Both good.

The hamburger patties were made to order and made it slightly more flavorful than an all out fast food joint. We ordered with a side of fries which were disappointing. Overall, our experience at Shake Shack was slightly underwhelming. I’m not sure what I expected going in. I guess I thought I was in for tasting the ‘best’ burger in the USA only to come out having had an average burger with less than average fries. Can someone enlighten me on what makes Shake Shack so damn good?

Asian, Philadelphia, USA

Dinner of Contrasts at Fire and Ice Restaurant- Old City (Philadelphia, USA)

April 15, 2013 No Comments

I was invited to Fire and Ice to try their new menu created by Chef Chris Nguyen. Driving by to find the restaurant I saw a neon blue sign. My first thought was that it was surely a club with the same name not the restaurant I was searching for. My second thought was that I was going to eat bad bar food. By the end of the night, I had learned an important lesson: never judge a restaurant by it’s kitsch decor.

The friendly host at the front of the restaurant greeted us and walked us to our table lining against the cushioned white wall shining with dim blue lights across from the long bar. Loud hip hop music bumped through the cushioned walls and we learned that there was a private party in the back lounge area. The ambiance was definitely that of a club, and I’ve never dined in a club before. We were reassured by our server that it was a lounge and not a club, although I’m not sure how to differentiate between the two. The neon blue lights definitely gave it a club feel.

Our server was attentive and knowledgeable and really went out of his way to accommodate us. Shortly after our drinks were served, the Chef himself came out to tell us about the cuisine and his new menu which is his version of Asian comfort food that he grew up on. He was a very passionate man who through the new menu has implemented a fusion of Thai, Korean, Vietnamese and other Asian flavors. The result: delicious, innovative and unique.

I was really surprised at how good everything tasted. Every single dish we ordered was perfect and you could see the passion that was put into it. Others who were invited had the same prejudice only to be pleasantly shocked by the dining experience. However, in the end there is a steep contrast between the food served and the decor and ambiance of the restaurant/bar/lounge. Perhaps it compliments the theme of the restaurant, ‘fire’ and ‘ice’. The contrast between amazing cuisine, served in a neon blue disco setting. I won’t be surprised to hear that he opened his own Asian restaurant in the future, because, Yes- he is that good!

The Food:

We ordered a little bit of everything including the tom yum soup (Rice noodles and a spiced lemongrass broth), the Shaky Beef (wok seared sirloin, wilted watercress, pickled onions, peppered vinaigrette), Kim Chi Trilogy (cabbage with ginger, marinated crisp tofu and spicy radishes), char-grilled chicken satay served with spiced peanut sauce and a turmeric fried rice, the Char Sui Pork Loin (a deconstructed barbecue pork bun), Kal Bi lettuce wraps, pad Thai and phad kee mao (egg noodles, egg, julienne vegetables, red curry and chicken).

The tom yum soup was very authentic and tasted like many I had in Thailand- spicy yet simple.

The Shaky Beef was the chef’s take on the Vietnamese Bo Luc Lac, chopped steak served with watercress with the addition of fries and an egg.

I love kimchi and loved the Kim Chi Trilogy starter dish. The Chef pickles his own kimchi and and has created a lovely small dish as a result.

The chargrilled chicken satay reminded me of an Indonesian dish I had not so long ago. Generous portions of grilled chicken were served alongside a tasty turmeric fried rice and peanut sauce.

The winner had to be the Char Sui Pork Loin, a deconstructed pork bun which was so rich in flavors that we both wanted more (although we resisted the temptation).

Kal Bi lettuce wraps was the chef’s version of the Korean Kal Bi. I loved his rendition of this dish.

The shrimp pad Thai was one of the tastiest we’ve had to date. It was very well prepared and was completely authentic and close to those we tasted on the streets and restaurants of Thailand.

We also really enjoyed the phad kee mao which was egg noodles mixed with red curry, chicken and vegetables. Hints of spice from the curry were in perfect harmony with the noodles and vegetables.
For dessert we had the flan, chocolate cake and fried donuts. The fried donuts were served with a chocolate and orange sauce and were very good.
The Flan was my favorite. It was prepared well and served beautifully.

The chocolate cake served in a raspberry sauce was also delicious and was the perfect end to an interesting evening.

Verdict:

While the decor of the restaurant, crowd and decor threw us off, we loved the food so much that we were raving to our friends all weekend and will definitely be back for more of chef Nguyen’s creations.

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