USA - The Hungry Nomad

Sabrina’s Cafe and Spencer’s Too-Fairmount/Art Museum (Philadelphia, USA)

July 26, 2012 1 Comment

Saturday morning, stomach and fridge empty we decided to go out for brunch. With the help of Yelp we found out that one of the best rated brunch places was right next door. So with a hop, skip and a jump we ended up outside of Sabrina’s Cafe. The restaurant and outside was packed and the wait was over an hour long. But we got offered to sit at the bar and quickly made our way through the restaurant to the back. It was a perfect place to sit since I had a great view of everything that came out of the kitchen. And boy, did everything look tasty!

Our order was taken right away: the burger special for the Count and huevos rancheros for me. After a few minutes of food-watching we were served with what I rate as the best huevos rancheros I’ve ever had. It was presented differently than your typical huevos rancheros. It was served with two blue corn tortillas topped with a smoky chorizo sausage sauce finished with lime sour cream and spicy red pepper guacamole and 2 fried eggs with a side of hash browns and fried jalapeno peppers. I don’t think I need to go on about how amazing this meal was for the photo below explains it all. It was such a large serving but I polished my plate clean. Needless to say I could barely walk after since I was so full.

The Count’s burger special was served with a side of coleslaw and hand-cut fries. He was also very happy with his meal and he is known to be quite the burger snob. He said it was one of the best he has ever had. I can’t really give you details of the tasty burger because I confess I was so into eating my dish that by the time I looked up he was done with his. I could only take that as an indication of how good it was. But I think the photos are an accurate image of the tasty burger.

Everything that came out of the kitchen looked amazing. And every patron looked extremely happy. It is just one of those feel good places with good, rich and filling food in a great environment. In fact it was so good, we have already been there twice since. I guess you can say we are big fans!

Sabrina's Café and Spencer's Too on Urbanspoon

Philadelphia, USA

Osteria- Fairmount/Art Museum (Philadelphia, USA)

July 25, 2012 2 Comments

It has almost been a month since our move to Philadelphia and I have settled in familiarized myself with the city and the dining scene. After some research online I found the top 50 best restaurants in Philadelphia on PhillyMag‘s website. Determined to find out for myself I started my culinary adventure at a James Beard Foundation 2010 Winner Osteria.

Jeff Michaud won best Mid-Atlantic Chef in 2010 and the restaurant was nominated for the ‘Best New Restaurant’ in 2008. Not surprising given that everything from the decor to the wine and house made pasta was beyond perfect.

We went on a Friday night with reservations…a good thing since the place was full. The restaurant is beautiful. It has a rustic yet industrial feel to it. The best part was the glass covered patio looking onto the church next door. It was quite the experience.

As soon as we were seated, we were given our regular menu and an ipad for the wine list. That was a first. Is that what restaurants are doing these days? Anyway, I found it to be a bit confusing and wonder what the not-so-tech-savy crowd would do when selecting their wine.

The menu offers homemade pastas, thin crust pizzas and wood grilled meats and fish. We skipped the antipasti and went straight to ordering our entrees: the lombarda pizza (thin crust pizza with baked egg, bitto cheese, mozzarella and cotechino sausage- $18), the robiola francobolli (postage stamp ravioli served with royal trumpet mushrooms, butter and thyme- $16) and the farfalle pasta (farfalle pasta served made with smoked chorizo, zucchini and aged goat cheese- $16). See Menu

The Lombarda pizza was served exactly as it was described on the menu. The crust was perfect and crispy yet not burnt on the bottom. A few burnt bubbles on the top but not enough to ruin the taste. The flavors of the cotechino sausage and baked egg with the cheese blend and sprinkled herbs made for a perfect combination. The Count and I both loved it and found ourselves eyeing the last piece. I of course always get the last piece since the Count is too nice to say no (but mainly because there was so much more good food to come).

The primi pasta dishes were both delicious. However, we both agreed that the robiolla francobolli was the better of the two dishes. The dish was creamy and covered with butter and Parmesan cheese and quite literally melted in my mouth. It was the first time I tried such a pasta and thoroughly enjoyed every bite. I would have licked the plate if I could but it was a classy joint so I held myself back.

You can really taste the freshness and superior quality of all the ingredients in each bite. Hand made pasta is just something else and in my opinion should become the norm in all Italian restaurants.

Dessert consisted of the butterscotch bonet and chocolate flan with pistachio gelato. When our server described the butterscotch bonet I pictured something resembling a creme caramel. Hence, my surprise when I took the first bite. It was very rich in texture and nothing like a creme caramel. It was doughy and very heavy, drizzled with caramel sauce. It was the one thing I did not like all night. But of course it depends on personal preference.

The Count ordered the chocolate flan and advised me against the butterscotch bonet. So, with eyes that said ‘I told you so’, he refused to share his dessert. You may remember that we refer to him as Count Chokula for his love of all things dark chocolate. Of course he gave in and ended up sharing with me as he always does! That’s what husbands are for afterall. The chocolate flan was warm and gooey in the middle. It tasted like a flourless chocolate cake. The combination of the chocolate and pistatchio gelato made for a perfect dessert.

Glass-covered outdoor seating overlooking the church

Berkel slicer

Brick pizza oven

Vintage Faema Coffee Machine

Osteria was the perfect way to be introduced to Philadelphia’s dining scene. It was one of the best Italian meals I have had to date.

Philadelphia, Sweets, USA

Capogiro Gelateria- Italian Market (Philadelphia, USA)

July 24, 2012 1 Comment

After our meal at Birra, we went for a stroll on Passyunk street. I am already drawn to this area of town given the colorful shops, restaurants and young/hip atmosphere. We spotted a Gelato shop and decided we had enough room for dessert.

At the time, I was not aware that Capogiro Gelateria has various locations and is a local and international Gelato celebrity.

I loved the decor and presentation. Everything was clean, sharp and beautifully presented. The shop was very homey and cozy. The gelato is not set out like other gelato shops but is hidden by lids. There are also not a large variety of flavours to choose from but what they did offer was enough.

The shop also offers a wide range of coffees and sweets.

And biscotti! I love biscotti. But didn’t get a chance to try on this trip.

The flavors are written on a chalkboard. I ordered the Nocciola and Pistachio while the Count ordered the Dark Chocolate and Grapefruit. Capogiro uses local hand picked produce and milk from grass fed, hormone free cows. You can really taste the difference and quality in each spoonful. I was not expecting such an explosion of flavours in my mouth. I’ve had a lot of gelato in my time. And a good amount of that in Italy from Milan, Venice, Florence, Naples and Amalfi coast and I can confidently say that this was one of the best I have ever had. Definitely the best I have had in America.

The flavours were so strong and the gelato was so creamy. I have never taste gelato this good. No wonder it was picked as the best gelato ‘in the world’. This is definitely a new favorite. I have yet to try the other locations but I definitely love the space, decor and flavors offered at this location.

Philadelphia, USA

Pizza at Birra- Italian Market (Philadelphia, USA)

July 23, 2012 No Comments

Our first weekend in Philadelphia and we were already in search of pizza. We headed to the Italian Market to yelp our way to a pizza shop. At that point, I had not done any research on restaurants in Philadelphia so I really knew nothing about where to go and what to eat. But when you crave pizza, you find pizza, and you eat pizza. We parked on Passyunk street and found Birra through yelp. It is a modern Italian restaurant serving mostly pizza and anti pastis. (See menu)

We started with the Salumi dish with three different types of cured meats served with pickles, red peppers and a special sweet sauce. The portions were very generous. It was the first time ever that we did not finish our Salumi dish.

The Salumi was served with a bowl of different fresh breads. The focaccia style bread was very oily but nevertheless tasty.

For our main dish we created our own pizza. You can choose between red or white sauce and choose the number of toppings. We chose red sauce with mozzarella cheese, fresh tomatoes and arugula.

It was a very flavorful pizza. Generous amounts of cheese and all other toppings. It is not a brick oven pizza and made like your average pizza: in an oven. But the end result is good enough.

If you like beer, you will also enjoy their variety of craft beers on tap and in bottles. We went very early on a Saturday but the place was almost full. A range of different characters and an overall loud ambiance. We also noticed that all the servers and bartenders were tattooed up. Perhaps its a criteria before getting hired? Overall, we both enjoyed our meal at Birra. The food was satisfactory and served in generous portions. It was not the best pizza I’ve ever had but it certainly did satisfy our craving.

Cheesesteak, Gourmand, Philadelphia, USA

Pat’s King of Steaks- Italian Market (Philadelphia, USA)

July 18, 2012 1 Comment

Two days on the road and we finally arrived in Philadelphia in the late evening. Hungry with nowhere to go we made the pilgrimage to Pat’s King of Steaks. Rumor has it that Pat’s and Genos are the two best cheese steak spots in Philadelphia. Then there are others that argue that they are the two most popular but by far not the best in town. At this point, I don’t know the difference. We parked the car and were instantly drawn like flies to the bright neon lights of Genos. It was ‘bright’. Too bright for my eyes with a long line up. Pat’s was across the street and seemed a little less crazy. So we headed to Pat’s.

We lined up. Ordered our cheese steak at the counter and moved on. You have the option of three different cheeses: American, cheez whiz or provolone cheese. I’m pretty sure I ordered mine with the American cheese.

The counter is made of glass which allows you to see exactly what goes on in their kitchen. A whole lot of stir fried beef, veggies and globs and globs of orange liquid cheese.

The staff are very friendly. Once we told them we had made the pilgrimage all the way from New Orleans they became extra attentive and told us what to order and how. Its a high paced environment and the photos reveal just that.

Once you pick up your sandwich you can order a drink and fries in another counter. There is a topping station with mustard, ketchup and hot peppers to stack your sandwich with.

The cheese steak was perfect. I have only had one cheese steak in my life and that was in Vancouver at the American Cheesesteak Co. The sandwich was packed with meat and topped off with American cheese. Then I personally added mustard, ketchup and hot peppers, stuffed it with some fries and took a big bite. Mmm so mouthwatering good. It is not the healthiest dining experience I have had and surely it is only a treat to be had once in a while given that each sandwich is packed with calories. I washed it down with some liquid sugar and took another bite. Four bites in and I was full. The Count was full. Our friend was full. Maybe they can offer half portions to Canadians like me? There are people from all walks of life at Pats and in the surrounding area. As I ate, a homeless boy dug through the trash making each bite a bit painful accompanied with a surge of guilt. Then as I took a guilty bite a boy beside me belched so loudly I almost felt sick to my stomach. I guess that is the charm of the place? Welcome to Philadelphia.

I had the same sentiments for the cheese steak as I had for the po-boy in New Orleans. I’m not a big fan. Of course I can appreciate a good sandwich and did think the cheese steak lived up to it’s name; however, on a personal note I cannot say I was won over. However, fear not as I will continue my cheese steak review in the Philly region so I can personally decide which is the best. So far Pat’s did not let us down. Perhaps Geno’s is next?!

Philadelphia, Travel, USA

Next Chapter: Philadelphia- Welcome to the City of Brotherly Love

July 17, 2012 No Comments

After a two day drive from New Orleans, Louisiana through the vast country we arrived late at night to Philadelphia and drove directly to have our first cheesesteak to welcome ourselves to the city we will be calling home for the next year. What do I really know about Philadelphia? All I know I’ve seen in the movies, Rocky running in the cold up a vast staircase, cheesesteaks, philadelphia cream cheese, pretzels, and that it’s always sunny in Philadelphia. For the next year, I’ll spend every second getting to know the city and eat my way through whatever the city has to offer.

What’s most exciting for me was to learn that Philadelphia is another foodie haven. Although I am having New Orleans withdrawals I am adapting to my new home town and starting to venture out to local restaurants. And boy- are there a lot of good ones. The large mix of immigrant groups has led to culinary heaven: Italian, Vietnamese, Chinese, French and even Portuguese. So far we’ve been getting lots of love from the city of brotherly love.

Gourmand, Ice Cream, New Orleans, Sno Cone, Sweets

SnoWizard SnoBall Shoppe-Uptown (New Orleans, USA)

July 12, 2012 No Comments

And the sno cone series continues. I tried Hansen’s and feel that I officially have a good basis for comparison. Next on the list was SnoWizard located on Magazine street. What I like about SnoWizard is that it has a parking area and out door seating. It is also very organized and clean! The inside of the sno making room is clean and everything seems to be as it should be. Two young girls were working the day I went. Both very nice and professional. One took orders, the other made the sno-cones.

The flavors and options were endless. The girl at the counter offered a tasting which I though was great. After tasting a few I settled on the Dreamsicle Cream stuffed with ice-cream and condensed cream. It is the only way to do it. However, I did not expect it to be so big!

The ice cream was served on top of the sno cone and I had to dig in deep to get to the frozen ice and syrup. Not a problem at all since the flavours all blended perfectly.

The sno was nice and smooth. Not the same as Hansen’s but in my mind just as good (especially since I only waited 5 minutes for this sweet treat). The syrup flavour was very nice and overall I really enjoyed it. I also liked the fact that there are seats for customers to sit down in- a great touch. When there are so many sno cone shops around town little details like that make all the difference in the world.

Gourmand, New Orleans, Thai

Basil Leaf- Carrollton (New Orleans, USA)

July 11, 2012 No Comments

Basil leaf is one of the only places in New Orleans where you can find Thai food…and also Japanese?

I tend to stay away from Asian restaurants that offer dishes from the entire region from Chinese to Thai to Korean and Japanese. It lacks authenticity. But when there aren’t enough Thai restaurants to choose from beggars can’t be choosers.On one of our last nights packing up, fridge empty along with stomachs, we started roaming the streets of New Orleans looking for a place to dine. The time: 9:30 pm on a weeknight. Fact: not too many restaurants are open past 9:00 pm in New Orleans on weeknights. We originally had our stomachs and hearts set on Panchita’s-the Mexican diner next to Basil Leaf but upon arrival found them closing up shop. Stomachs churning and McDonald’s becoming a likely dinner option we turned to Basil Leaf. I had always wanted to try it since its one of the only places on the small international culinary strip of Carrollton which I had not yet tried (Cafe Grenada being my favorite).

Even though we were the last ones in the restaurant we were greeted warmly and seated. There were so many choices on the menu from sushi to pad Thai. We ordered the special crab cakes and corn for an appetizer. I hadn’t set my expectations high. At that point, I just wanted to fill my belly with food. Good or bad- it did not make a difference. So I was pleasantly surprised when I took the first bite of the crab cake. It was the first time I had tried crab cake with such a range of flavours and combination. The corn added a sweet after taste to each bite.

For our entrees we ordered the shrimp and chicken pad Thai and red chicken curry. The pad Thai was very good and the serving was huge with a generous amount of chicken and shrimp. The noodles not too soft and the perfect amount of sauce in each bite.

The chicken curry was served with a scoop of white rice and contained broccoli and red peppers. It was also very tasty. I know what you are thinking. I was hungry so anything would have tasted good at that point. But after inhaling the crab cakes I think I could judge the tastiness level quite accurately. And both dishes were great. This review is based solely on the two dishes that we had. I cannot comment on their non-Thai dishes that they offer but I can say that their Thai food was what you would expect at any typical Thai restaurant.

We came in extremely hungry and tired and left with our bellies full and happy.

Gourmand, New Orleans, Sushi

Little Tokyo Small Plates and Noodle Bar- Carrollton (New Orleans, USA)

July 10, 2012 1 Comment

Little Tokyo Restaurant chain is one of the best sushi places in New Orleans. The restaurant has been around for 25 years after the Yusuke family moved to New Orleans from Japan. The North Carrollton and South Carrollton have Karaoke rooms while the North Carrollton offers a Hibachi room- a fun option if you are going in large groups. The South Carrolton location has a younger vibe and nightly live entertainment with some very talented local musicians.

The restaurant has fish shipped from Tsukiji market in Tokyo three times a week which leads to authentic dishes and the freshest ingredients. Many rolls are New Orleans inspired with funky names to go with the rolls. After repeated trips to Little Tokyo and trying many of the rolls we have found our favorites: Chocolate city (spicy tuna, snow crab and avocado wrapped with soy paper, seared tuna and crunchy on top with mixed sauces), the burning man (spicy tuna and crunchy inside, pepper tuna and avocado on top with ponzu and eel sauce) and the burning woman (snow crab roll with pepper tuna and avocado on top with ponzu and eel sauce). See menu. Being a big fan of ramen my favorite is the variety of ramen noodle dishes you can find at Little Tokyo Small Plates and Noodle bars. You can choose your soup base, level of spiciness and add as many toppings as you’d like.

Little Tokyo is our go-to spot for good sushi and ramen for the range of options on the menu and uplifting ambiance.

Gourmand, Iranian, New Orleans, Turkish

Courtyard Grill-Uptown (New Orleans, USA)

July 9, 2012 No Comments

Courtyard Grill is the only place in New Orleans where you can feast on Iranian and Turkish cuisine. It is located on Magazine street and offers both indoor and outdoor seating. The Turkish chef blends his cuisine with the traditional Iranian recipes leading to a menu full of delicious dishes.

The meal started off with a refreshing doogh beverage. Doogh is a yogurt drink blended with water and sprinkled with dried mint. It is a very popular drink in Iran and is always served with the traditional kabob and rice dish.

We were also served with a basket of bread and a side of spicy tomato sauce. It tasted like a Turkish version of Salsa. The bread was perfect. It was chewy and crispy on the outside. The best I have had in New Orleans.

For our main entrees, I chose the boneless chicken kabob served with a side of basmati rice, onions, grilled tomatoes, pickled cabbage and yogurt. The serving was just perfect. Not too much and not too little. The chicken kabob was marinated in saffron and was juicy and tender. The basmati rice was just as it should be: cooked perfectly so that it was not too soft and not too hard. The pickled cabbage and sliced onions were a great touch to the meal.

The next entree was the Koobideh kabob. Koobideh is your Iranian version of a hamburger but while a hamburger is served on a bun the koobideh is served with rice. The koobideh was also tender and juicy and not overcooked. Always sprinkle your kabobs with a Persian spice called sumagh. It adds flavor and helps break up the fat.

Overall, if you are hungry and want a perfect and delicious meal then you should definitely try the Courtyard Grill. The owners are wonderful people and the service is great. You can’t go wrong with any of your choices since all are delicious and fresh.