Philadelphia - The Hungry Nomad

BYOB, Farm-to-table, Organic, Philadelphia

The Farm and Fisherman- Washington Square (Philadelphia, USA)

January 21, 2013 1 Comment

This was my first experience at a farm to table BYOB in Philadelphia. I had been trying to get reservations at this 30 seat restaurant for over a month. Somehow I was always too late and never got a spot for their weekend dinner rush. So I started stalking the team on Twitter and alas they had a last minute cancellation and I was in…and when I say I was in, I mean I was reaaaaaaally in.

We walked in to an elegant dining room which without the signs outside looked like it could have been some one’s fancy dining room. In fact we were treated like we were at a family’s home. From our server Ben who took care of us to the nice and bubbly manager, Judy, who literally wined and dined us. I could not have asked for a better experience. I would have been sold on the service alone…but the food…oh the food. For the whole 3 hours I was there, I was in heaven. When it all ended, I didn’t want to leave and wished I could experience it all over again.

The menu changes daily in order to provide the freshest pick of the day. There are four courses and four choices under each course. There were four of us and we decided to get one of each and share everything. This was really the best way to experience our meal since every single dish was exceptionally intricate and delicious. It would have been a shame not to experience it all.

It started off with a bang. Beau soleil oysters served on a bed of salt rocks topped with hackleback caviar, cinnamon and a tint of blood orange. Small purple herbs were sprinkled throughout the dish making it not only great to taste but also great to look at.

The oysters were so fresh I swear they may have been fished out of the ocean that same day.

Next came the cauliflower and mushroom salad. A mix of greens, hen of the woods and trumpet mushrooms, almonds, cauliflower and goat cheese were elegantly presented.

The mushrooms tasted earthy. Each bite was a blend of all the above ingredients which when mixed together resulted in one of the most amazing salad creations I have ever tasted.

At this point we were already oohing and aahing over the food. But what came next left us all speechless. Have you ever had a vegetable steak? And I don’t mean that frozen vegan stuff you can by at wholefoods. I mean a steak that tastes so good that you forget there is no meat and in fact wish meat could taste like it. If not then I highly recommend the bloody beet steak that chef Lawler has created. Not only was the presentation of the beet colorful and beautiful but the taste was amazing. Who knew beet could be so good.

As a child I went out of my way to avoid eating beet which was ever so popular in my motherland being sold on cold winter days in food stands lining the streets of Tehran. These days I can’t seem to get enough. Of course, eating a bloody boiled beet on its own is not quite the same as having it presented beautifully with purple edible herbs, yogurt, pan drippings and aged balsamic. This beet is cooked whole in a cast-iron pan under a brick and removed when the skin gets crispy and splits. Who knew there was so much beauty in beets?

On to the second course. First came the grilled Spanish Mackerel served over granny smith apples with a mix of coriander, mustard oil and radish. The mix of the mackerel with the apple was again new to my taste buds and I absolutely loved it.

The mackerel was so fresh it may have started swimming out of the plate had it not been grilled to perfection. The apple mix complimented the fish perfectly.

The next dish was one of the top winners of the night (although they were all winners in my mind). Papperdelle with Wyebrook lamb shoulder ragu served with the most delicious tomato sauce, Parmesan and fennel seeds. A dried egg yolk was brought over and shaved on top to give it that extra touch.

This is a dish that I always order when ever offered on a menu and so can say I have a basis for comparison. I’ll keep it short and simple- it was the best.

Another second course on the menu were the Barnegat sea scallops. It was served over smoked barley, creamed kale, sweet potato and maple syrup. I loved ever single ingredient in this dish from the smoked barley to the creamed kale. The importance is in the details and Chef Lawler has really got that down.

The next dish was brought out by the famous chef himself. This was one of the most amazing mix of flavors and textures I’ve yet to taste in my 30 years. What was this mystery dish? The poached Wyebrook farm egg served over cracked rice, green wheat, farro piccolo, quinoa and squash. The texture of crispy, creamy and crunchy flavors mixed with the poached egg yolk was out of this world. I highly recommend you to order this dish if it ever finds its way on to the daily menu.

For the main course we picked three of the four dishes offered. First up was the Hudson Valley Dorade served with creamed carrots, fennel, parsnips and cardamom for added flavor.

Of the two fish we had that evening I definitely preferred the Spanish Mackerel. However, I did love the presentation of this plate. Triangular shaped pieces of dorade served over an orange colored puree topped with shaved pieces of carrots and parsnips. It was a work of art.

Old spot pork loin from Wyebrook farm came next, served with sea island purple cape beans, beech mushroom, purple kale and pork belly pastrami. If you love pork then this dish will blow your mind away. The Chef purchases the animal whole and breaks it down piece by piece dispersing into various parts of the meal (if you are lucky enough you can sign up for one of their courses where Lawler teaches you how to cut meat at home).

This pork dish is the real thing- served over beans drizzled with barbecue sauce and sprinkled with bright purple pieces of kale. A culinary masterpiece.

I rarely if ever order chicken when out at a restaurant. Mostly because there are so many other things that I always want to try and chicken seems so ordinary. Having tasted the Lancaster chicken baked in hay at Farm and Fisherman has made me think twice about my attitude towards chicken. This was my favorite main course of the night. I have never tasted a more flavorful chicken in North American where chicken is tasteless and bland. Perhaps it was because the chicken was local and organic or perhaps it was the magic performed in the kitchen that made this chicken so flavorful. I guess I will never know.

The chicken was baked in hay and served on top of farmer’s cheese spaetzle, bacon and mustard greens. A simple and hearty dish which hit all the right spots.

For dessert we had the layered chocolate ganache and the warm apple pie. Layers of chocolate divided by a thin wafer topped with whipping cream and powdered sugar. Need I say more?

The warm apple pie was so fresh, so warm and so perfect.

Perfect seems to sum up my experience at the Farm and Fisherman. A perfect and magical dining experience.

Fish, Philadelphia, Seafood, Sushi

Vic Sushi Bar- Rittenhouse Square (Philadelphia, USA)

January 10, 2013 1 Comment

Coming from Vancouver where the sushi shops compete with the ever-so-present Starbucks for space, it is hard to find good sushi anywhere I go. I was referred to Vic Sushi Bar in Philadelphia by a fellow Vancouverite who had already gone through the sushi hunt and found this little gem.

It is literally a little gem because the restaurant is tiny and the sushi- delicious. There is a small bar facing the chef and one table in front of the door. Making it an ideal spot to pick up or go in a very small group. We went on a weekday after the lunch rush and found seats at the table in front. The menu is extensive and includes all the basics you’d expect from a sushi shop. We ordered the spicy trio roll (salmon and avocado, spicy tuna and shrimp tempura roll) and a specialty roll consisting of salmon covered with salmon, avocado, eel and drizzled in eel sauce.

Everything tasted extremely fresh. the rice was the perfect amount in each roll. It was made fresh and tasted warm. The fish were all tender and literally melted on first bite.

For dessert, the tamago roll which consisted of a very thing egg concoction. It takes a very skilled tamago maker to create the perfect tamago and this in my mind was perfect.

If you want real sushi made fresh then this is the place for it. You won’t find anything else like it in the city.

Italian food, Pasta, Philadelphia

Modo Mio- Northern Liberties (Philadelphia, USA)

January 9, 2013 2 Comments

On a a cold winter evening with reservations in place and a bottle of red in our hand we made our way to Northern Liberties to dine at Peter McAndrew’s Modo Mio. Three hours later we left in a state of ecstasy. It is hard finding the words to explain our dining experience at Modo Mio. All I can say is that it was one of the best. Having recently experienced L’Artusi in New York City I can confidently say that the meal at Modo Mio far exceeded L’Artusi (it also cost a quarter of the price…although in their defense I am sure they pay much more for rent). I can say one thing: I have been dreaming of my meal ever since our visit and although my rule for our year in Philadelphia is to try each restaurant once I am confident this restaurant deserves that rule to be broken.

We walked into a small dim lit dining room and were seated at one of the dozen or so tables lining the wall. The decor: homegrown, classic, no frills Italian. Ambiance: loud. Very loud.

The Food: The menu consisted of antipasti, pastas and meats. We were lured in to the ‘Turista Menu’- a $34 prixe fix for a four course meal. You just can’t resist (and shouldn’t).

First off, house made whole grain bread was served with a creamy fresh ricotta drowned in olive oil. I could have kept eating it all night as I’m particularly weak around bread, butter and cheese.

Next came the antipasti. Everything on the menu had a creative flare to it. Our antipasti included a octopus salad tossed with arugula, capers chickpeas and white beans.

And a dish made of sliced potatoes covered with grilled cheese and apricots. I would describe this as a twist on the french Raclette (baked potatoes eaten with hot melting swiss cheese). The combination of potatos and cheese is always a killer but when served with a sweet surprise such as apricots and barberries- You just can’t get a better mix of flavors or originality.

Next, the bucatini and veal and rabbit agnolotti were brought out.

The Bucatini- hollow long strands of spaghetti mixed with pancetta and spicy plum tomatoes, herbs and spices cooked to perfection served with generous amounts of pecorino. I still remember each bite and often dream to go back just for this dish alone.

As for the veal and rabbit ravioli, it was my first time tasting rabbit and first time ordering veal. There are several things I don’t like to eat for ethical reasons (such as foie gras, veal and rabbit) but I am willing to try everything once. I have to say this was one of the most beautiful raviolis I have ever tasted. The veal and rabbit mix was wrapped in light, airy and fresh pasta dough. The sauce was a sweet sage butter. The sage butter was the key ingredient in this dish. Each mouthful burst with a strong sage flavor that my tastebuds welcomed eagerly. It was probably the most amazing ravioli I have tasted to date.

We were both ready to call it a night after the pasta, leave on a bright note and have the flavors remain in our memories and minds for as long as possible. But having ordered the four course meal, we had two more courses to go through. I had ordered the red snapper served over squid ink grains in a sauce that was out of this world. It was sweet, tangy creamy and completely unique. It gave the overall dish a sweet yet citrusy flavor. The fish tasted fresh and was cooked to perfection.

The next entree was the ribeye served over a goat cheese crepe topped with sundried tomatoes, salty sardines and a creamy sauce. The beef was well marinated and each bite melted in my mouth. What’s best- it was laid on top of a perfectly crafted crepe. Each bit was therefore a combination of beef, goat cheese and crepe. It was a beautifully executed dish with just the right amount of imagination.

Dessert came next. We always leave room for dessert which consisted of a flourless chocolate cake and tiramisu. The chocolate cake was served with whipping cream and shaved chocolate. It was the perfect texture and flavor.

The tiramisu was also served with shaved chocolate. It tasted light, fluffy and the right amount of sweet.

Service: our server was amazing and walked us through the menu making suggestions, explaining dishes and going out of his way to make our evening memorable. Within minutes of sitting, our wine was opened, poured and the bread brought out.

Chocolate, Philadelphia, Sweets

Max Brenner- Center City (Philadelphia, USA)

January 6, 2013 No Comments

If you love chocolate like the Count and I do you will really enjoy Max Brenner. The smell of chocolate will lure you in to what in my mind is a real life Willy Wonka Chocolate factory turned restaurant. You can indulge on everything chocolate: from chocolate martinis to chocolate fondue. While Max Brenner offers everything chocolate, there are other great dishes on their extensive menu. Recently, I was invited to try Max Brenner’s new sweet and savory menu which consists of new waffle sandwiches, a waffle salad, crepes and new shakes.

I started off with a chocolate martini. Should I go further? It’s liquid chocolate with the addition of alcohol served with a strawberry. It is a deadly combination and will leave you in a state of chocolate coma. I was left wanting more.

Next came the corn croquettes. Little small pieces of heavenly corn and manchego cheese balls dusted in panko bread crumbs and fried to perfection.

I could have continued on the liquid chocolate for the rest of the evening but I was a women on a mission and had to try the waffle sandwiches next. The new menu consists of five waffle sandwiches including a roasted turkey waffle, roasted vegetable waffle, prosciutto and apple waffle, roast beef waffle and turkey club waffle. Of course I tried them all. The Count and I both agreed that the prosciutto and apple and the roasted vegetable waffles were our favorite.

While I enjoyed the waffles I was eyeing the next sweet dish and went straight back to chocolate. Next, I ordered another decadent martini. This time a chocolate peanut butter martini which was essentially similar in flavor but served with a side of honey roasted peanuts.

I know what you are thinking right now: “how much can this girl possibly eat?” Well. I’m not called the Hungry Nomad for nothing. Next, came my two favorite parts of the meal: the peanut butter and banana chocolate crepe and dark chocolate fondue.

The crepe: Layers of gooey peanut butter, chocolate, bananas wrapped in a french crepe dough covered with more sliced bananas and powdered sugar. Served with a side of extra peanut butter sauce in case you felt like you didn’t have enough. It was simply amazing.

Next came the fondue served with a bowl filled with fruits and marshmallows, chocolate sauce and a small flame to roast your marshmallows on before dipping in the chocolate sauce. This by far was my favorite part (not to say that I did not thoroughly enjoy everything else on the menu).

For those calorie conscious eaters amongst us you may be alarmed at the calories you can consume on one sitting at Max Brenner’s. But if you are looking to indulge in chocolaty sweetness there is no where better in town to get your chocolate fix than Max Brenner’s.

Asian, Chinese Food, Dim Sum, Philadelphia

Weekend Dim Sum at Ocean City- Chinatown (Philadelphia, USA)

December 9, 2012 No Comments

It is a beautiful foggy and rainy Sunday in Philadelphia. You know what that means? It is time for dim sum (for some). Many, including myself, prefer this Chinese tradition to the typical eggs and bacon brunch, mostly for the variety of dishes offered in one sitting. In Philadelphia, the best dim sum is of course located in Chinatown and includes restaurants such as Dim Sum Garden, Joy Tsin Lau and Ocean City Restaurant.

We followed the crowds to Ocean City where a crowd of people waited at the front for their turn to be seated. Luckily, the wait was not that long since we showed up after the 1pm lunch rush.

The food is served in steam table trolleys usually stacked high with bamboo or metal steamer baskets. Waiters push them around the restaurant from table to table, and you get to point to the dish that you want and order. Each table gets a card that is stamped. Each order typically costs only a few dollars adding up. Once seated, our eyes went directly to the many food trolleys circling the room. We selected the Har Gow (steamed shrimp dumplings), Shumai (pork), Siu Mai (open pork dumpling), a delicious shrimp and cilantro dumpling.

The Siu mai is a open-topped steamed pork and/or shrimp dumpling made with a wheat flour wrapping and is often topped with fish roe or grated carrot. This is always a favorite and is always one of our orders.

The zhaliang (friend, noodle-wrapped cullers) is a steamed rice noodle wrapped around crispy fried cullers topped with soy and hoisin sauce. The combination of the crispy and soft texture is a perfect contrast and tastes really good.

The Har Gau or steamed shrimp dumplings is always a favorite. It is a translucent dumpling made with wheat starch skin and tapioca to give it that stretchy texture. It is typically filled with shrimp only but sometimes if you get lucky scallions and bamboo shoots are used. The Har Gau is hard to find as it is typically everyone’s favorite. We waited around the longest for a basket of these.

Overall, our dim sum experience at Ocean City was pretty good. Despite the crowds of people, the service was pretty good for dim sum standards. We ended up eating way too much and only paid $30 for a table of two. Where else can you find such a grand feast for so little?

French, French food, Philadelphia

Parc Brasserie- Rittenhouse Square (Philadelphia, USA)

November 26, 2012 No Comments

Once in a while I become nostalgic for my life in Paris. I miss every single detail that put together make Paris so magical. I miss the beauty that covers every inch of the streets, the cobblestone rues, the sound of the french ambulance sirens (am I weird), the beautiful well groomed people, the language and the food and even the subway system. When nostalgia hits the only way to satisfy it is to find a french bistro where you can pretend that for an hour, just for one hour, you are back in Paris. In Philadelphia this can be found at Rittenhouse Square at the Parc Brasserie.

Every single detail from the yellow fiber braided bistro chair on the outside to the layout of the restaurant on the inside and most importantly the menu seems to fit the profile of being a French brasserie. From the outside, the restaurant looks quite small but stepping to the inside you’ll be surprised to see just how large it really is. We managed to find a seat outside overlooking the park where people watching is at its premium. After ordering two glasses of red wine we were ready to order.

I had been craving French Onion Soup all day and started with that. For our main entrees we ordered the steak/frites and the burger. The onion soup was perfect. The rich flavor of the broth was a perfect blend of beef broth and caramelized onions. The croutons were nice and chewy and the baked cheese on top was the perfect proportion covering the entire bowl. I loved the generous portions of cheese which is essentially the best part of the dish. I will be going back for this soup alone. It was that good!

The Steak and fries were typical of what you would find on a menu in Paris and served just the same: With melting butter on top of the meat and generous portions of fries. If you are craving red meat this dish will definitely satisfy all your cravings.

The burger was served with a layer of caramelized onions on top. The meat was tender and full of flavor. The Count managed to polish his plate clean.

At the end of our meal, there was literally no room for dessert but I did spot my favorite french dessert on the menu: profiteroles. And so another trip is in order for a serving of onion soup and the profiteroles.

Beer, German, Philadelphia

Frankford Hall- Northern Liberties (Philadelphia, USA)

October 6, 2012 No Comments

If you enjoy beer, good food, outdoor picnic tables, ping pong and a really fun, relaxed atmosphere then you will love Frankford Hall. It’s located in Norther Liberties- the new up and coming hipster-esque area of Philadelphia. We went for their first weekend of Oktoberfest celebrations. The entire street was closed off with food and beer stands. We went pretty early and found a nice picnic table at Frankford Hall under the mid-September sun. Three hefeweizens in our hands and we were ready to celebrate the harvest season.

We ended up spending the entire day drinking beer which led to an order of practically everything on the menu. I ordered the Frankfurter sausage served with a side of red cabbage and mustard. Delicious. Our table also ordered potato pancakes with sour cream and chives- amazing; cucumber salad- refreshing; and fries- crispy, greasy and perfect.

Feeling guilty about all the beer and food consumed we decided to burn it off by playing rounds of ping pong. It was the perfect way to spend a nice, crisp autumn day in Philadelphia. We will certainly be back to Frankford Hall not only for the range of beer but their amazing German food and happy/friendly ambiance.

Philadelphia

Alla Spina- Fairmount (Philadelphia, USA)

September 28, 2012 No Comments

It is always a good thing to read reviews before planning to go to a restaurant. I didn’t read the reviews for Alla Spina and assumed being a Vetri restaurant that the food would be remarkable. So last Saturday night a group of four of us headed to Alla Spina, mostly so I could check it off of my list of places to eat in Philadelphia. We did not have reservations but were told that room was available at the bar facing the open kitchen. Amazing. This is a foodie’s dream: to actually watch step by step how the food you order is being prepared.

We were quickly seated and greeted by our not so friendly server. Oh well, too hungry to care at this point we quickly reviewed the menu and made our orders. The menu offers a little bit of everything including a few comfort foods such as fried chicken which looked extremely tempting.

My friend ordered the deviled egg served with porcini on top. It came in a small plate of three. The table liked it and though the porcini added an extra touch. Perhaps the best food on the menu that we tried were the $5 pretzel balls served with a cheese dip. In fact, that was the best and only good dish of the night.

Next was the Kale salad. Kale salad is meant to be a healthy substitute but as I watched the line prep cook pour in the olive oil and take samples with his hand to his mouth and back to the large bowl it became less and less appealing. The result was an olive oil salad with kale, provolone cheese and red peppercorns. The kale was drowned in too much oil which really took away from the rich and crispy flavor of the kale.

Our entrees came out next. Two orders of the beef tenderloins, veal carpaccio and burger.

I’ll start with the burger. How can you go wrong with a burger right? However, this burger was bland. It was lacking in salt, was undercooked and just generally flavorless. The chips were the best part. Having no salt and pepper at the bar the Count added the salt and vinegar chips to his burger in order to make it edible.

The beef tenderloin came out practically raw. In fact when taking our order the server never asked how we would like it done. I didn’t tell him assuming there was a certain way these were cooked. Some parts of the meat were actually red raw (see photo below). One bite and we both had to send it back to be cooked properly. As the others ate we waited for our meat to come back.

It came back cooked. The meat was tender and melted on first bite. However, what I found was that it was lacking a side dish to combine the meat with. The few arugula leaves were not nearly enough to balance the meat. I would have liked to see a side of potatoes or something else with this dish. At this point, I just went back to eating the pretzel balls and left the meat to the rest of our table.

I don’t eat veal. It is one of the few things that I refuse to eat after I watched a video on how the young calves are kept and slaughtered. So I can’t really give an opinion on this dish but based on my friends review it was also drowned in olive oil and tasted quite different from your regular beef carpaccio.

Dessert? Based on what we had for our appetizers and entrees we decided to skip dessert and head on out. It is a shame that such a great restaurant would serve such mediocre food? The restaurant is in a really great space next to Osteria and it has so much potential but based on reviews I’ve read it seems little has changed since it first opened.

Philadelphia, Sandwich Shop

DiNic’s Roast Pork and Beef- Chinatown (Philadelphia, USA)

September 27, 2012 No Comments

“You have to go to Terminal Reading Market” said every other Philadelphean when we asked for recommendations of must-do’s in Philadelphia. So one hot summer day I headed to the Market to see what the fuss was all about. Before I begin I have to say that like all things involving food, I am quite spoiled when it comes to markets, having one of the most beautiful in my hometown of Vancouver: Granville Island.

I expected to find a similar market with lots of fresh fruit, vegetable and meat stands. Although those stands are present I would say the market is mostly filled with food stands. Not so bad for a foodie like me. So I wandered around deciding what I should eat and write about. There were many choices but Tommy Dinic’s Sandwich stand seemed to stand out. There was a simple menu and crowds were surrounding it like bees to a flower. I wasn’t aware that it was also featured on Man v. Food on the food network until just now as I prepared to write this review. I guess that explains the line-up.

So I waited in line deciding which of the two offered meats to have: pork or beef. I went with the beef brisket topped with provolone cheese and collard greens. The sandwich came in a large hoagie bun and generous amounts of hand carved beef brisket.

I added banana pepper for that extra spicy and tangy flavor. The result: a great, juicy, flavorful sandwich. The meat was carved perfectly, ever so juicy filled with flavor. I don’t know if I would vote it as the best sandwich in America but I would definitely rate it as one of the best sandwiches I have had. It has its own unique character and flavors. The toppings were not typical to sandwiches I am used to having, but it only added to the uniqueness. The combination of flavors, however, worked perfectly!

DiNic's Roast Pork and Beef on Urbanspoon

Italian food, Philadelphia, Sandwich Shop

Sarcone’s Deli- Italian Market (Philadelphia, USA)

September 19, 2012 1 Comment

Walking down 9th Street to the Italian Market I smelled the perfume of fresh baked bread. Following my nose I arrived at Sarcone’s Deli “It’s all about the Bread!” I read as I walked in through the doors. A small bright yellow deli and friendly staff greeted me. I was the last person in the store and they only had one roll left, especially for me. So the young girl at the counter walked me through the most popular sandwiches and made several recommendations.

I ordered the Old Fashion Italian. While waiting I was offered a bag of bread to take home. Never one to deny food, I happily accepted and took a big bag of cut bread and sat outside.

My sandwich was ready after less than 5 minutes. I fell in love at first bite. The bread was absolutely amazing. Crunchy on the outside with generous amounts of sesame seeds spread through out yet soft on the inside. The sandwich consisted of proscuitto, capicolla and sopresetta. All that meat was topped with crisp lettuce, onions, tasty tomatoes, oil, vinegar sprinkled with loads of oregano.

It was a pretty large sandwich so make sure you go with a big appetite or split in two. That being said I am sure I could have finished the whole thing if I tried.

Later on that evening, the family and I enjoyed eating the bag of bread with all my cheese finds from Claudio’s.

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