The Hungry Nomad - Food, Travel, Lifestyle

Brunch at Wedge and Fig in Old City (Philadelphia, USA)

June 21, 2013 No Comments

Tucked away on North 3rd street in Old City lies one of the quaintest cheese shops in Philadelphia called Wedge and Fig. Besides selling a wide range of domestic and foreign cheese W+F is also a restaurant serving simple yet delicious sandwiches and salads. Brunch here is a must.

We visited on a sunny spring day and walked in to a full restaurant. We were led out of the restaurant, through a long entry way next door to a small quaint garden located in the back of the restaurant.

From the brunch menu, I had the Eggs NOLA- a combination poached eggs, Cajun-spiced Tasso ham and creamy hollandaise served on top of house-made cornbread. Served with lemon Parmesan potatoes and dressed greens. I was not personally a big fan of the cornbread substitute but then again I never liked cornbread but had to order because of the tribute to New Orleans. The Count ordered Shackamaxon – creamy brie, house-roasted turkey breast, walnut mustard aioli, mango + arugula on challah. The gourmet sandwich was delicious as was the eggs Nola. Wedge and Fig is definitely a great place to go for brunch in Philadelphia, or if you want to order a cheese plate and sip on some BYO wine in the cozy secret garden.

Philadelphia, USA

The last Cheesesteak in Philly at Joe’s Steaks + Soda Shop

June 17, 2013 8 Comments

Having started our year in Philadelphia with a cheesesteak, it was fitting that we end it with a cheesesteak. And not any old cheesesteak but arguably the best cheesesteak in Philadelphia. This is how I ended up at Joe’s Steaks + Soda Shop (formerly Chink’s Steaks). When former owner Sam ‘Chink’ Sherman passed away, Joe Groh took over the business yet kept the original name. Despite the reference to the original owner’s nickname, the shop’s name continued to cause controversy, resulting in the birth of Joe’s Steaks + Soda Shop in 2013.

Located at 6030 Torresdale Avenue, Joe’s Steaks + Soda Shop, serves mouthwatering, fresh and tasty cheesesteaks alongside hot dogs, burgers and hot sausage sandwiches. All this can be washed down with a wide range of specialty and traditional milkshakes, sundaes, floats, egg creams and house-made sodas.

What’s even more exciting? Table-service! That’s right, Joe’s is one of the only places I’ve had a cheesesteak where you can get full service at the counter top or at the handful of booths lining the tiny shop.

Stepping into the shop I really felt like I stepped back in time to an old staple American burger and soda shop that I have only come to know about through old Hollywood classics. They have done a great job in maintaining the original look of the restaurant, from the ceiling all the way down to the floor. Seated at the bar, I got right down to business, ordering a house-made orange soda, cheese fries and cheesesteak. The cheesesteak made me change my mind about cheesesteaks. While the first experience we had entering the city last year was underwhelming this one made me realize why this sandwich has become such a staple food not only in Philadelphia but arguably the rest of the continent. It was surprisingly light and not greasy. It had just the right amount of tender pieces of meat covered with provolone, onions and mushrooms. Despite having finished off the plate of fries and cheese I managed to finish my cheesesteak and have room for dessert. To reward myself for finishing my plate, I ordered the Orange cream milkshake topped with whipping cream and candied orange peels.

Okay. Now I get it. Now I am a cheesesteak fan. And now I see why Craig LaBan named Joe’s the best cheesesteak and that my man, Anthony Bourdain made it a point to stop at Joe’s on his recent filming of the Layover. The cheesesteaks and friendly service is deserving of the praise.

Food, New Orleans, USA

Breakfast at Stanley-French Quarter (New Orleans, USA)

June 11, 2013 No Comments

Stanley Restaurant is the place to go for mouthwatering brunch. The experience doesn’t get any better than sipping on your morning coffee while overlooking Jackson Square and the Cathedral. Stanley is Scott Boswell’s casual sister restaurant of the amazing, Stella. The menu includes innovative twists to traditional dishes, including the eggs benedict po-boy and banana foster french toast.

Our breakfast consisted consisted of the Eggs Benedict Poor Boy and the Korean Barbeque Beef Poor Boy. The eggs benedict poor boy was a brilliant take on the traditional eggs benny. Poached eggs, a slice of Canadian bacon and creole hollandaise layered on top of a piece of toasted french baguette.

And just when I thought that I had tasted the best thing on the menu, I took a bite of the Count’s Korean bbq beef po-boy. Sweet and tangy layers of marinated roast beef layered with spicy kimchi and cilantro on a toasted french bread. It was so delicious that I almost wanted to order another. I guess I know what I’ll be ordering next time I’m at Stanley.

The food at Stanley is delicious. So is the view and decor of the restaurant. The service is okay, since the restaurant is always busy, the staff seem a little bit rushed and not very friendly. It is a shame because everything else in this restaurant is stellar.

Food, New Orleans, USA

The Green Goddess- French Quarter (New Orleans, USA)

June 9, 2013 No Comments

Looking for a ‘healthier’ restaurant option in the French Quarter, we made our way to the Green Goddess for lunch. It is tucked in the exchange alley and is easy to miss if you are not looking for it. The restaurant itself is small and a bit stuffy with an area in the back corridor of what seems like the entrance of a residential building/law firm.

The service was good. But then again, we were the only ones there when we arrived. The menus is simple with a variety of veggie options for those vegetarians that have a hard time finding food in the French Quarter. Neither the Count or I are vegetarians and therefore opted for the Grilled Pork and Shrimp Bahn Mi and the Cuban Sandwich. While waiting for our lunch to arrive I was becoming more and more skeptical as the place really did not seem clean. I’m sure if I snuck in the back I would find enough to turn me off. But what you can’t see doesnt hurt you…. I guess. Perhaps the grimy state of the restaurant goes with the hippie-vegan/veggie vibe that is their claim to fame. But I’ve been to many vegetarian/vegan restaurants that are clean and awesome. So I’m not really sure.

All my worries went away once the food arrived. Both sandwiches were delicious and the portions were huge. While the food was good, I expect a little more than just good food when I dine out including consistent service, clean and hygienic environment, which I think this spot lacks. If hygiene doesn’t concern you then the food will more than satisfy you.

New Orleans, USA

Dinner at Dickie Brennan’s new Tableau- French Quarter (New Orleans, USA)

June 6, 2013 1 Comment

On the corner of Chartres and St. Peter Streets in the French Quarter, the new Dickie Brennan restaurant has opened sharing the space with the beloved Le Petit Theatre. The new restaurant, Tableau, is a wonderful addition to the Brennan restaurant family. Walking in to the restaurant, you can still smell the fresh paint, giving it that crisp, new, clean look and feel. The three story, seven dining room restaurant got its inspiration from the last Spanish governor occupying the land. A grand staircase spans three stories of the restaurant, connecting private dining rooms, balcony dining with a view of Jackson Square and courtyard seating, for an authentic New Orleans dining experience. The tall white walls and black wrought iron chandeliers give it a grandiose feel yet the service and ambiance is not stuffy or pretentious. Mr. Dickie Brennan himself even walked around all tables introducing himself and making sure we enjoyed our meal. What a nice and humble man he was.

The menu, developed by Chef Ben Thibodeaux, showcases regional ingredients and classic French Creole dishes with a unique twist. The cuisine is sophisticated, yet true to tradition, with great depth of flavor. We started our night with glasses of Brennan’s Chardonnay, a smooth, buttery white that the our entire table enjoyed. Next, came the Creole French Onion Soup– one of my favorite dishes. It was a delicious treat and definitely one of the best I’ve had. Caramelized sweet onions in a veal stock mixed with andouille, spiked with local beer and topped with a cheesy gruyére crouton. Delicious!

For our main entrees, our table ordered the Creole Courtbouillon and the Roasted Duck. The roasted duck breast and thigh was braised in a Bourbon-cherry duck jus. The flavors strong and rich.

The Courtbouillon is a traditional New Orleans seafood stew with gulf fish, shrimp, oysters and crab-meat in a rich broth served with popcorn rice. If you love seafood it is a great option as it is a large serving of a variety of seafood in a rich broth. It can definitely be shared by two.

Dessert consisted of the Praline Monkey Bread Pudding and Hot Chocolate Pot de Creme. The deconstructed biscuit bread pudding was beautifully presented, mixed with brown sugar and pecans served wit a side of vanilla ice cream and butterscotch sauce. Delicious.

The pod de creme consisted of dark chocolate custard infused with cayenne pepper, topped with house-made marshmallow fluff and caramelized cocoa nibs. I loved it and highly recommend readers to not miss out on this one.

Overall, we had a lovely time at Tableau. Everything from the attentive service to the decor and delicious menu was perfect. What a great addition to the New Orleans dining scene!

Food, New Orleans, Travel

Bonjour New Orleans!

June 5, 2013 3 Comments

The Hungry Nomad is spending this week in New Orleans discovering new restaurants and old favorites.

Philadelphia, USA

Leziz Turkish Cuisine- South Street (Philadelphia, USA)

May 29, 2013 1 Comment

One thing I love about Philadelphia’s dining scene is the wide range of restaurants you can find. On any given night you can choose from anything from Vietnamese, Korean to Turkish. With Turkey on our mind (given our talk of travels to Turkey) we found the best rated Turkish BYOB restaurant in Philadelphia and headed over. It was a Wednesday night and the restaurant was quiet. We were one of only two patrons there but this didn’t take away from the environment. Turkish music played in the background while a large framed photo of Ataturk greeted diners.

Dinner consisted of a combination kabob platter, Turkish pizza and several bowls of thick yogurt. I once had the Turkish pizza in a restaurant in New York and quickly fell in love. It has very distinct flavors and is unlike any other pizza making it uniquely Turkish. The doughy bread is slathered with generous amounts of flavorful spiced meat and tomatoes topped with garden herbs. The dish is served in three. The combination kabob platter was just the right choice for us as it gave us a variety of each kabob: chicken, iskandar, and lamb on top of their house red rice with a side of necessary yogurt dip. Overall, the food was not only delicious but cost less than $30. On the weekends I’m also told that they have live belly dancing entertainment and hookah.

Food, Philadelphia

The Hungry Nomad’s Best of Philadelphia- 2013

May 28, 2013 No Comments

New Restaurant: Fitler Dining Room
French Restaurant: Bibou
Gastropub: The Dandelion
Whiskey list: Village Whiskey
Breakfast: Sabrina’s Cafe and Spencer’s Too
Tacos: La Calaca Feliz
Pizza: Pizzeria Stella/ Nomad Pizza/ Bufad
Burger: Rouge
Italian Restaurant: Modo Mio and Osteria (tie)
Sushi: Vic’s Sushi
Malaysian Restaurant: Penang and Banana Leaf
Chinese Restaurant Not in Chinatown: Han’s Dynasty
Dim Sum: Dim Sum Garden
Spanish Tapas: Tintos and Amada by Jose Garces
Hoagie: Paesano’s and Sarcone’s Deli (tie)
Vietnamese Sub: Q.T Vietnamese Sandwich
Pho: Saigon Express
Mexican: Calaca Feliz and Lolita
Pasta: Fork
Cookies: Insomnia Cookies
Gelato: Capogiro Gelateria
Sausage: Frankford Hall
Mediteranean: Kanella
Farm to table: The Farm and Fisherman
Dessert: Amis
Cheap Korean: Koreana’s
Pretzel: Alla Spina (their cheese dip is to die for)
Middle Eastern: Zahav
Vegetarian: Hip City Veg

Food, New York, USA

Dinner at Daniel Boulud’s ‘Boulud Sud’- UWS (New York City, USA)

May 27, 2013 No Comments

On a cold, rainy sunday evening this spring, the Count and I headed to Boulud Sud to celebrate our one year anniversary. It was to be the first Daniel Boulud dining experience for me and I was giddy at the thought.

We were warmly greeted by the hostess and promptly taken to our seat walking through the crowds of diners filling every seat in the large dining area. It was also our fist time dining on the Upper West Side which had a notably different and older crowd than the one we are use to seeing downtown. The beige paneled walls were covered with photographs inspired by impressionist painters, tables placed close to one another and covered in white linens giving an overall Mediterranean vibe.

The menu was broken down into three sections and subsections ranging in Mediterranean flavors from Sardinia, Greece, Tunisia, Morocco to Lebanon: ‘From the Garden’, ‘From the Sea’, and ‘From the Farm’. [See Menu].

The menu favored sharing many of the small plate dishes while ordering one larger entree to share. The first item that was brought out to us was a complimentary stack of crispy roman style artichoke hearts with a side of creamy aioli dipping sauce. The dish can be found under the subsection portion which includes a variety of Mediterranean mezzes (like the hummus and cauliflower tabbouleh). And while our taste buds were adjusting to the range of textures and flavors we were served one after another amazing plates. Some of the most notables of the night included the steak tartar which was possibly the most exquisite and distinctly Middle Eastern tasting piece of raw meat I’ve yet to taste.

The House-made Greek version of Taramasalata consisted of a smoked cod roe dip served with the most delicious dill covered potato chips. It was a delightful little treat and a great presentation of the traditional Taramasalata. For those who have a soft spot for sea urchins, the Sea Urchin and Crab Tartine should not be missed. Tender pieces of crab topped with sea urchin were served on tiny pieces of rye bread. Next on our list of orders for the night was the Octopus A la Plancha, grilled pieces of octopus served in a bed of almonds and arugula; the Lemon Saffron Linguini and Gambas al Ajillo.

From the farm side of the menu we ordered the Arabic Lamb Flatbread and were also served with the Harissa Spiced Beef Tartare. Both were quite exquisite. I guess I’m a big fan of the ‘harissa spice’ as this dish really did it for me.

The best part of the meal had to be the Grapefruit Givre served to us as a complimentary anniversary treat. The icy treat was made with grapefruit sorbet, and a topping of spun sesame halvah. It was so beautiful presented. The flavors were so intricate and so complex. I am certain I will never taste anything quite like it anywhere else.

Overall, I could not think of a better place than Boulud Sud to have spent our anniversary. The over the top service and friendly staff, and the amazing culinary experience made for the most perfect evening. After having the Boulud experience I’m afraid I will never be able to dine at another restaurant ever again… for my expectations have now raised dramatically.

Philadelphia, USA

Malaysian Food at Penang- Chinatown (Philadelphia, USA)

May 24, 2013 1 Comment

Whenever feeling like good Asian food, we head to Philadelphia’s Chinatown where the possibilities are endless. From dim sum to Korean BBQ there is a range of choices to choose from. With friends in town this week, we decided to try Malaysian. Friends had just returned from a two year backpacking journey in Asia including Malaysia and were keen to relive the Malaysian food experience in Philadelphia.

There are several Malaysian food restaurants in Chinatown but we chose to go to Penang given the more modern and industrial look of the restaurant. Yes, decor does lure us in sometimes. the restaurant was packed on a Wednesday night which is always a good sign of good food to come. And so we left it to our backpacking friends to choose from the endless list of options.

As always, the meal started off with two orders of the Roti Canai: delicious crispy layers of bread served alongside a bowl of fragrant yellow chicken potato curry. This dish proved to me my favorite of the evening. I will be going back just to have their Roti Canai.

Next came an order of the Aby Oyster omelet, a large plate of omelet with generous layers of baby oysters. It was pretty delicious. I’ve never had eggs and oysters together before and have to say that it is a great mix.

The Penang Poh Piah, a favorite amongst our Malaysian food specialists lived up to their standards. What was it? A steamed spring roll stuffed with jicama, fried tofu, egg and bean sprouts covered in a sweet sauce. I personally was not a big fan of the spongy roll, yet everyone else at the table really enjoyed it.

Two orders of noodle dishes made their way to our table. The first was the Mee Siam, a rice vermicelli stir-fry with tofu, shrimp and bean sprouts in a thai chili sauce, grounded peanuts and sliced hard boiled eggs on top. One word: delicious. The Chow Kueh Teow was recommended by our server as the second noodle dish. It consisted of stir fried flat rice noodles with fresh shrimp, bean sprouts, eggs in a soy and chili paste sauce.

Yes, there was more. In fairness, we were a party of 5…all hungry…all big foodies. The next two dishes were my favorites (besides the Roti Canai). The Nasi Lemak was so delicious filled with bursting flavors. A dish consisting of coconut rice served with curried chicken and hard boiled eggs. The soupy Curry mee with Young Tau Foo was a spicy and aromatic blend of lemon grass coconut curry broth with vegetables, tofu, minced shrimp and fish. If you love soups, this dish should not be missed.

Dinner at Penang was cheap, delicious and different. After dining here, Malaysian food has been added to my list of favorite foods.