Patio - The Hungry Nomad

Beer, Food, Italian food, Louisiana, New Orleans, Pizza, Romantic

Wood Pizza Bistro and Taphouse- Warehouse District (New Orleans, LA)

March 11, 2015 No Comments

The newest restaurant addition to the Warehouse District is Wood Pizza Bistro & Taphouse located just across the street from Cochon. We were in town for Mardi Gras and as expected all restaurants were packed before the parades began. Initially, we wanted to have a sandwich at Cochon Butcher but with a line up around the corner we thought twice. Looking around I noticed this unassuming new restaurant with a large outdoor seating along an old brick wall. It reminded me of many places in New York and I was immediately attracted. It turns out that head chef, Will Salisbury, grew up in Long Island (no wonder) and spent months eating his way through Italy (as I have). So it was a win-win.

The restaurant as the name gives away serves pizza and salads. Not any kind of pizza but the real wood-burning oven kind. Inside, the restaurant is cozy and small with a small pizza assembly open-concept kitchen tucked in the corner and a larger bar serving awesome regional beers (40 beer taps with lots of craft brews from Louisiana and the South).
The pepperoni and mushroom pizza was delicious with a perfectly baked crust, generous amounts of fresh mozzarella cheese, mushrooms and pepperoni. The large salad was generous enough to feed our party of 3 all washed down by our pitcher of beer. Wood has definitely raised to the top of my go-to places in Nola for good eats on a patio. If you are craving pizza, you know the real Italian kind then definitely head to Wood. You won’t regret it!

Philadelphia, USA

Pizza with a view at In Riva- East Falls (Philadelphia, USA)

June 22, 2013 2 Comments

What a better way then to spend a sunny summer evening sipping on a cool beverage with the golden sunset beaming down on the river and reflecting off the old intertwining bridges which make up most of Kelly Drive?

As a frequent runner and cyclist on Kelly drive (yes! I exercise as much as I eat) I often pass by In Riva, yet have never stopped in (given my sweaty state). On one of our last nights in Philadelphia we decided to spend the evening on Kelly drive where we spent so much of our time throughout the year. As soon as I entered the restaurant, I regretted not having gone sooner. The inside is modern, and minimalist with a friendly hostess ready to greet you at the door. We wanted a table outside on the deck looking over the river and had to wait a few minutes for one to come up.

Specializing in Napoletana style piza prepared in a wood fire oven, house made pastas and antipasti, the menu delivers great renditions on southern Italian classics. We ordered the Burrata Caprese salad for our starter and a Pepperoni pizza to share. The selection of pizzas are as authentic as it comes making it really hard to settle on one. But being a sucker for pepperoni I opted for it after our waiter told us that it was imported Italian pepperoni and not the American kind. The Burrata Caprese salad was perfectly executed with completely unique flavors. The vinegar soaked cherry tomatoes added an extra layer of flavor to the creamy burrata and arugula. The wood oven pizza served on top of an empty tomato sauce can was absolutely perfect. In fact, so perfect that we considered ordering a second pizza to savor the experience. The crust was perfectly chewy with just the right amount of tomato sauce, cheese and savory slices of pepperoni.
In Riva was such an amazing discovery. I wish I had managed to go early on in my year in Philadelphia as opposed to leaving it to the last week. Hopefully by sharing this post more people will venture out to Kelly drive for some of that traditional Italian pizza.

Brunch, Food, Philadelphia, USA

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.