Food - The Hungry Nomad

Fast Food, Food, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Blogs, Summer

Top Five Cheesesteaks (Philadelphia, USA)

July 11, 2013 3 Comments

Although there are tons of great places to eat in Philadelphia that could satisfy any foodie, no food divides the people of this city more than the famous cheesesteak. Before I came to Philly, I liked cheesesteaks well enough; after I decided to study here, I became both passionate and knowledgeable about them. I now understand that the normal cheese for these subs is whiz, not provolone, and that the best cheesesteaks are minimal in the amount of extras they have. They might not be the fanciest of foods, but they are able to satisfy any homey, greasy craving. I’ve tried dozens of cheesesteak places by now, and here’s my list of some of the best ones.

1. Tony Luke’s

I love the food at Tony Luke’s. While the rest of the places I’ve listed below have great cheesesteaks, Tony Luke’s is my one of my absolute favorites. Although I will admit that my favorite thing at this restaurant is the signature roast pork with broccoli rabe, the cheesesteaks this family-owned business offer up are also fantastic. Right on Oregon Avenue in South Philly, this place is easy to get to, but also very busy. The ideal time to go to any cheesesteak place in Philly is during the off-peak hours because sometimes you can wait up to forty-five minutes for your meal. However, more often than not, it’s worth it if you’re craving one of these popular Philly foods. I plan on visiting Tony Luke’s for a long time to come, and I think it will be even easier since I recently found out a location will be opening up near Temple University. I couldn’t be more excited to have a Tony Luke’s up in North Philly, although I’m sure my waistline will soon be disagreeing with me.

2. Joe’s Steaks + Soda Shop

This restaurant is located in the Tacony/Wissinoming area and was formerly known as Chink’s Steaks. Tala wrote a great review on the restaurant, and it seemed to change her opinion about the Philly cheesesteak.

3. John’s Roast Pork

Another great place that serves both a great roast pork sandwich and cheesesteak. I do have to say that Tony Luke’s does beat this place out a bit in my opinion! Both are located in South Philly though, so you can always just check the two out…on the same day if you’re especially hungry.

4. Steve’s Prince of Steaks

Steve’s is a great place to get a cheesesteak if you’re not in South Philly. I always visit the one on 16th Street that isn’t too far away from Rittenhouse Square. The steak is tender and juicy. I would suggest getting the double meat cheesesteak in order to really treat yourself!

5. Jim’s Steaks

One other place to get a good cheesesteak in the city is right on South Street. Even though it has also been dubbed a tourist trap by some of the residents of Philadelphia, I think unlike Pat’s or Geno’s, Jim’s actually has a reason for being so popular. They are very quick about getting people in and out of here, but still serving up a quality cheesesteaks. One of the best things that Jim’s does is put the whiz on the bread, so it’s much easier to eat than some of the places that put the whiz right on top of the meat. The one suggestion I would make would be to ask for extra whiz because sometimes the subs can come out on the dry side. Here, I always get a steak with extra whiz and fried onions because a good cheesesteak really doesn’t need much else besides these three basics. I haven’t been to any of the Jim’s Steaks besides the South Philly location, but I’d imagine that the other restaurants also offer up great cheesesteaks and I wouldn’t hesitate to try them out sometime in the future.

While my list seems a bit heavy on South Philly, it is the area with some of the best cheesesteak joints. I’ve been to all of the places besides Joe’s Steak + Soda Shop, and I have to say I really enjoy them all. My Mom hasn’t had a real Philly cheesesteak yet, so maybe next time she comes up to Philly I’ll take her to one of these places so she can have the true cheesesteak experience. If not, I’m sure I won’t have a hard time convincing a friend to eat at one of these places with me!

Beach, Fish, Food, Oysters, Seafood, Summer, USA

Dinner at Big Fish Grill (Rehoboth Beach, USA)

July 7, 2013 2 Comments

One restaurant that my family always goes to when we’re down at the beach is Big Fish Grill. This restaurant is ideal for large groups due to its size, but there is always a wait after five p.m. The wait was particularly bad this past Friday when we went as we were told the wait was two hours to get a table, a number that I noticed led to several other parties leaving.

However, since it’s tradition we waited it out and eventually got seated an hour-and-a-half later. The restaurant certainly has the easy-going feel of a beach restaurant to it, so it’s not a place to go to if you’re looking for a nice, quiet atmosphere, but it is a nice place to eat if you want a large selection of pretty good seafood and quick service.

Since we were all pretty hungry, we ordered a few appetizers and drinks. One of the drink specials for the night was a Star Spangled Tini. This tasty drink was a mixture of Stoli Razz, Blue Curacao, pineapple juice, and grenadine. Only one person in our group ordered it, but it was definitely appreciated by the entire table for its festive presentation.

As we waited for our starters, our waiter brought out some crackers and a homemade smoked tuna dip, which is what they serve in place of bread and butter. We decided to start with the fried oysters, fried calamari, and garlic bread. I really enjoyed the fried oysters because they were crispy on the outside, but still retained the texture and flavor of the oyster on the inside. The fried calamari was also good, and my only complaint would be that I prefer it when restaurants serve the crispy tentacles in addition to the usual calamari rounds. The only appetizer I skipped out on was the garlic bread, but the rest of the group devoured the grilled bread, so it must have been delicious.

After we finished our appetizers, our group ordered dinner. Although we all ordered different meals, the one side that we all wanted was the Neva’s Potatoes. These potatoes almost make the long wait worth it and are a mouthwatering mixture of baked hash browns, onions, and cheddar cheese. In fact, we ordered so many of these potatoes that they accidently brought out an extra serving of them!

Of course, the main part of the meal is just as important as the sides. The main courses we ordered included Swordfish, Seafood Pasta, and Crab Cakes. The swordfish was encrusted in potato chips, but was a light balance to the rich Neva’s Potatoes. I particularly enjoyed the garlic cream sauce that topped it since it added a bit more flavor to the normally mild fish.

The pasta came with scallops, lobster, and some of the biggest shrimp I’ve ever eaten. The dish normally comes with linguini, but the kitchen was very accommodating and switched the linguini out for the penne my sister wanted. This seafood pasta came with a creamy tomato sauce, so the dish is best for people that can handle a rich dinner. Overall, I thought it was flavorful and came with a decent portion of seafood for the price it cost, and my sister could only praise it.

The crab cakes were another winner at our table. As a girl from Maryland, I love crabs and have tried crab cakes all over the east coast. Personally, I thought the crab cakes seemed to be a bit on the small side, but my grandmother enjoyed them. The most important thing in a good crab cake, though, is the filler to meat ratio. There was definitely more meat than filler in these particular cakes, so they certainly won points for that, and I’m sure someone else in my family will get them in the future.

While it took us a while to get seated, our meal at Big Fish Grill was enjoyable. In addition to the good food, this place has incredibly quick service and is an ideal place to go if you want a casual restaurant for a beach eat. My family and I will certainly be returning, although we will probably be avoiding this place on the weekends from now on….

Beach, Food, Seafood, Summer, USA

Dinner at Papa Grandes (Fenwick Island, USA)

July 4, 2013 No Comments

Papa Grandes is a new restaurant opened by Matt Haley, a man who has already opened several restaurants in the area, including some long-standing favorites with my family. Each of Haley’s restaurants have distinct feels to them and offer up completely different foods. When you first step into Papa Grandes it definitely has a very laid-back feel to it, as most places in near the beach do. The inside is decorated with various painting that remind me of the hand paintings you would imagine finding in caves. This atmosphere had us all ready to try the food as well.

To start my Mom, sister, and I got the seafood ceviche, queso fundido, and the shrimp and chorizo pincho. Before our starters came out, we were served complimentary tortilla chips with a red salsa that had a kick to it. It was a nice change from the bread normally served at other restaurants, but several of the chips were on the stale side. However, we didn’t have to wait long before the appetizers came out, so it didn’t damper our spirits too much.

The ceviche was good and came topped with a scoop of tasty avocado. While my sister and I both liked the avocado, we did agree that the ceviche didn’t really need it. Beneath this, the ceviche was made up of shrimp, octopus, and baby scallops, and it was a refreshing, tart starter for a hot summer night.

The queso fundido was the complete opposite as it was a heavy cheese dip accompanied by corn tortilla chips, but everyone at the table agreed that it was delicious. I think it was the overall winner for the night. The third appetizer received more mixed reviews. My sister enjoyed the entirety of the dish, but I thought the chorizo was a bit overdone. By the time we finished these, our main meals were already coming out from the kitchen.

As we were eating in a Mexican restaurant, the emphasis was definitely on tacos for the main course. We got both the duck tacos and the tacos al pastor, and in order to change it up a bit, my sister got the shrimp quesadillas. I didn’t taste the quesadillas, but my sister talked them up and particularly loved the ancho honey sauce that topped them. I did, however, try the pork in the tacos al pastor, and I wasn’t crazy about the taste as it was a bit on the dry side.

As a long-term San Diego resident, my mother has had these tacos a lot and said that the pork in the tacos at Papa Grandes was a bit different than what she was used to. According to her, the meat is slightly wetter than what she was served here. My duck was the complete opposite of the pork though, and the meat was nice and tender. My tacos came topped with a bit of guacamole, shaved radishes, and spicy pickled red onions. Despite the pork being a bit dry, everyone was pretty happy with their main courses.

Although we had quite a bit to eat, I am always one for dessert, and we decided to get the churros and the chocolate pot. The churros came with chocolate and were a delicious, sweet end to the meal. On the other hand, the chocolate pot was a dessert that was a bit more complex. It was a thick chocolate served chilled that was topped with whipped cream and chili powder. It definitely satisfied my sweet tooth, but it is probably best for the more adventurous chocolate-lovers out there.

Overall, the service was quick and friendly, and I felt comfortable at this restaurant. Even though a few of the dishes weren’t the best thing I’ve ever eaten, I was satisfied by the end of the meal, especially since it is one of the cheaper restaurants in the area. I enjoyed my first Mexican experience down at the beach, and considering the fact that Papa Grandes has only been open a couple of months, I was happy with this new place and hope to come back.

Europe, Food, Spain, Travel

A Day in Asiego, Spain

June 26, 2013 1 Comment

Although most people think of sun, sangria, and flamenco dancers when they think about Spain, I recently returned from a part of the country that is a bit different from these things. I spent a semester in Oviedo, Spain, studying Spanish language and culture. While I have been studying the language for many years, I really didn’t know much about the culture of Spain before I moved there. Like many people, I only knew of the Spain I saw on TV promoting cruises that stopped in places like Barcelona and Ibiza, and these ads did nothing to prepare me for the lifestyle of Oviedo.

Oviedo is the capital of a region known as Asturias. Asturians are proud of their culture and many of the people I met in Oviedo had families that had lived here for generations. One part of the culture that I obviously enjoyed was the food and drink. Every month, the group of students from Temple University was taken out by our program director in order to try Asturian food. Once we were able to see where a lot of these traditional foods are made by taking a trip to the village of Asiego.

Here we participated in a two-hour tour of the area where we discovered how the popular Asturian hard cider called sidra and Cabrales blue cheese are made. Over these two hours, the man who owned the farm told us about the fermentation process for sidra and how the Cabrales that the farm produces is a mix of both cow and goat milk. Even though most of us were looking forward to the dining portion of the trip, we definitely learned a lot about the way that these foods are created.

After the tour, we were served a traditional Asturian spread for lunch which included over 10 dishes. We each began the lunch with sidra and although it is a cider, it is very different from the cider we drink in the States. It is normally served by a waiter who pours the drink by holding the sidra bottle above his head and the glass around thigh height.

This process carbonates the drink and after a few seconds of pouring, a glass with about an inch of sidra in it is presented to you and you promptly chug it. I tend to prefer sidra to other ciders because it’s a bit more tart and acidic than the canned American brand.

Quickly after we were done with our first glasses of the drink, the family of the man who gave us the tour started to bring out lunch. By this time it was around three in the afternoon, typical lunch time in Spain. It began with salad, bread, and both Cabrales and Manchego cheeses. The Cabrales was accompanied by an apple jam and honey in order to balance out the strong taste of this blue.

I started to feel full after just this course, but it was followed by chorizo cooked in sidra, blood sausage, and some of the best wild boar I’ve ever had. The wild boar was one of the stand out dishes for me since it was incredibly tender, flavorful, and it isn’t something I have the pleasure of eating often.

Overall, all of the food was great, and the controversial blood sausage was the only dish people disagreeing about since a lot of the students were a bit too squeamish to try it. After lunch we were served a homemade pudding with applesauce and nuts on top which provide a nice, light, refreshing end to the meal. While I’ve had a lot of amazing experiences during my year abroad, this feast in Asiego was one of the events that really stood out to me and is one dining experience I don’t plan on forgetting anytime soon!

Food, Hoi An, Travel, Vietnam, Vietnamese

The Last Great Taste of Hoi An Food Tour (Hoi An, Vietnam)

June 23, 2013 3 Comments

Hoi An is a magical place in Vietnam. Full of color and beauty. The cuisine is also one of the best we tasted on our journey through Vietnam. With more than 100 restaurants catering for tourists, there were so many restaurants to choose from and within the restaurants so many dishes to interpret. Most offer some Vietnamese dishes including the local specialties of White Rose, Fried Wontons, Cao Lau and Mi Quang along with some house variations of Vietnamese food.

The best way to learn more about Hoi An delicacies was through a food tour of which there were a handful. After a lot of research over the internet through tripadvisor and other travel review sites, we settled for one led by an old Australian couple who have resettled in Hoi An (something I wish I could do). The tour is called, The Last Great Taste of Hoi An and is highly recommended (although it is quite expensive for Vietnamese standards).

We started our walking tour visiting the colorful local Tan An Markets where we met and chat with stall holders about their food. Our walk then continued along both high streets and back streets, discovering out-of-the-way producers and street vendors making and selling a wide variety of exotic foods. Our final destination was a local restaurant where we enjoyed refreshments and tasted small samples of a wide selection of the local delicacies bought directly from the vendors – most of whom we saw or met on the tour.

Information for visitors:

http://tasteofhoian.com/

Tour Times
7.30 am – 12.00am

Bookings Essential
Family Restaurant
108 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street
Hoi An Ancient Town
Telephone: 09053TASTE (0905 382 783) or 0121 7621 693
Email: theteacher@tasteofhoian.com

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, 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, 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.

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.