Swann Lounge & Cafe at the Four Seasons Hotel

Logan Square, Philadelphia -- This intimate dining room sits right in the middle of the famous Fountain Restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel in Philly. Yeah, that's right. The one that won the Forbes Travel Guide's 2010 Five Star award and was rated the number one restaurant in Philadelphia by Zagat Survey. Unfortunately, The Fountain is probably too posh to participate in restaurant week, so I ate at the Swann Lounge instead...which was not a bad alternative. One of the girls I ate with mentioned that the menu for both restaurants are actually pretty similar, and that both are under the same executive chef.

Appetizer: Late Season Tomato Salad (Burrata, Toasted Pine Nuts, Aged Balsamic) - This was basically a caprese salad on top of a slice of crostini, but I liked the addition of the pine nuts. I thought it was the perfect portion for an app since it definitely left me wanting more.

Crispy Berkshire Pork Belly (Peach, Watercress, Smoked Lancaster Honey) - Some of the girls also tried this app and said it was very delicious. Although I did not taste it, the presentation was beautiful and the pork belly looked very, very tender.

Entree: Alaskan Halibut Cheeks (Anson Mills Grits, Asparagus, Jersey Crab Jus) - I thought this dish was very tasty, although I think I ended up being more fond of the grits and asparagus than the "cheeks". Dont get me wrong, the halibut was very delectable and flaky, but I had never had grits before and I was surprised with how they tasted. I know grits is a southern comfort food that I always associate with breakfast, so I assumed it would be more like oatmeal or something. Man, was I wrong. The grits in this platter were so creamy and smooth, the taste and texture almost reminded me of a mix between risotto and mashed potatoes. Yum, right? I will definitely have to try grits next time somewhere else to see if this is really what I've been missing for all these years. Maybe next time I stop at a Cracker Barrel! (side note: Isn't it strange that almost all Cracker Barrels are located at rest stops along major highways? Weird. I mean, sometimes I'm really craving it in the city and I just don't feel like driving aimlessly down 95 until I see a sign for one.)

Dessert: Baked Chocolate Bourbon Mousse with Spiced Pear Compote - D-E-L-I-S-H. The baked mousse looked like a fudge brownie and was so rich and the dollop of whipped cream on top made it even sweeter. The spiced pear compote was super yummy too and tasted like fall (mmm...cinnamon!).


Overall Grade: A+. I thought this place was so beautiful, classy, and delicious. The only downside was it's a little pricey, but that just means it can be saved for special occasions and it's a bargain for restaurant week. Be prepared to shell out some dough for drinks too (my cocktail was $14). But even though you may spend a little more here than you would at some other restaurants, you're also paying for the ambiance and the service. Nothing beats swanky bathrooms with individual folded cloth towels and pre-wrapped gourmet madeleine cookies as parting gifts.

Seattle/Vancouver

Seattle, WA and Vancouver, B.C. -- What an incredible trip this was! These two cities offer a plethora of unique, appetizing eats while you enjoy their majestic landscape and bustling urban life.


Let's start with Seattle...

Seattle is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful cities in the country. It has everything to offer including a beautiful diverse landscape (sandy beaches, unbelievable views, mountains in the background, Mt. Rainier), very friendly people (eco-friendly, hippies, gays, jauns...), and most importantly - diverse and unique eats.

Let's start with the CREAM CHEESE HOT DOGS! These things are probably in my top 3 best food-cart eats. I've told many people about this and the reaction I usually get is disgust. That is, until they try it. The hot dog is a kielbasa or a polish sausage. It is surrounded by fried onions, jalapenos and a generous amount of cream cheese on each side of the bun. I usually top it off with some hot sawce and I'm ready to go. After a night of crunking at the bars and listening to Sanjay boast about drinking the most alcoholic drink at the bar, there is nothing better than a cream cheese hot dog. It is such a simple concept but the flavors that enter your mouth are so intensely satisfying (that's what she said). The ecstasy or boner that one experiences while eating this is something that should be on everyone's bucket list. However, I must warn that eating too many of these (which is very tempting), especially after consuming heavy amounts of alcohol, can lead to disaster. Although, some might say that "it tastes just as good going down as it does coming back up".

The next day, before we left to go see Steve Nash in Vancouver, we stopped in at Ivar's (a famous seafood chain restaurant in Seattle) for brunch. We ordered some mimosa's and bloody mary's with our seafood buffet. As with most brunch joints, you had your standard breakfast foods such as scrambled eggs, sausages, pancakes, bacon (mmm...bacon), etc. Along with these, there were fresh crab legs, shrimp, seafood salads, amazing clam and salmon chowda, oysters, and others. Also, Ivar's is known for it's clam chowder and it is definitely something worth trying. It is very creamy and filled with just the right amount of clams, potatoes and other ingredients. However, there was a sweetness to the clam chowder that I didn't really enjoy.

After brunch, we headed to Vancouver to holla at the Canadians. If you ever get a chance to go to Vancouver, you MUST check it out. It is such a beautiful city with it's unbelievable views, one-of-a-kind parks, and bustling nightlife. Honestly, I went to Vancouver expecting to climb some mountains and see some elk, but there is so much more. We went out for some drinks on a Sunday night thinking the downtown/bar area would be dead, but it was as lively as Las Vegas Blvd on a Friday night. Many bars/clubs were so packed that the lines ran down the street.


I guess the point is: you should go to Vancouver and I am definitely going back there a few more times before I peace out. Furthermore, let's talk about the interesting food we ate there. That night, we stopped by one of Vancouver's neighboring city: Richmond. More than half of it's population is of Asian decent. There were certain points during my time there, when I felt like I was in China. The Vancouver/Richmond area is pretty much Shanghai: Vancouver branch campus. Anyway, we stopped by this sweet ass night market in Richmond and found some very interesting food. There were rows and rows of little shops, carnival-type games, and good eats. It was like one of those Chinese night markets that you always see on the food network where Anthony Bourdain eats scorpion on a stick. We each got a bunch of little things and tried each others food. There were fried squid, lamb on a stick (my favorite), twirly potato chips on a stick, dumplings, as well as many other delicious treats. It is a very unique experience that we do not get to have in the United States.

The next day, we went to this place called Japadog. You take a classic American hot dog, add some Japanese flavors to it, and sell it to Canadians and you have a recipe for success! Some of these Japanese flavors include seaweed, teryaki sawce, Japanese mayo, and Okonomyaki sawce (radiation). People seem to love it over there as there is always a huge crowd around the little restaurant. Although, I didn't really buy into the hype. It's a very unique taste and something cool to try... once. But, I don't think it's that special. I feel like it's the equivalent of going to Japan, and going to a place called "Amerisushi", where you buy sushi that has American condiments on it such as ketchup and bbq sauce. Hmmm.. might be good? HELL NAW! If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Next time I get a hot dog, I don't want seaweed it. I WANT CREAM CHEESE!

For dinner, we went back to Richmond for some traditional Szechuan cuisine. Ant found a place called S&W Pepper House that serves authentic Szechuan dishes, supposedly. Szechuan food is notorious for it's unrelenting spiciness from the use of chili peppers and peppercorn, which creates a very unique and addicting taste. The chili peppers unleashes the burn in your mouth and the peppercorn provides a strange numbness and tingling feeling. From my experiences with this type of food, it is extremely addicting but does take a toll on your GI system. At S&W, we ordered lamb, chicken, beef tripe, and fish. I'm not going to describe everything but the lamb was definitely my favorite, which was shredded lamb with cilantro, peppers, and cumin. All of the food was very flavorful and tasted pretty authentic. However, they definitely did not make this spicy to the max, since they probably looked at us as amateurs. Though, it was probably good that they played it safe with us, because we probably finished 2 gallons of water during our dinner.

After thoroughly running train on our GI, we headed back to Seattle. That night, we got some drinks and played darts and shuffle board (awesome game) at a local bar. It was time for our late night snack again. So, we decided to go to Beth's Cafe. A very unpretentious place, Beth's Cafe is one of the destinations on Man vs. Food, where Adam Richman attempted to devour a 12 egg omelet (only $15). None of us really wanted to try that challenge... except... Kenndy. Yeah, Kenndy got really hype and started wildin' out. He ordered one of the 12 egg omelets with ham and cheese... and about a pound of hash browns............... and toast. Not surprisingly, he did not finish the whole thing. However, he was a champion in that he finished the omelet part of the meal. Watching him scarf down that omelet was quite amazing, I must say. Incredible.

Lastly, we went to this place (forget the name) on the waterfront to get oysters for happy hour. They were pretty cheap, and very fresh. Not much else to say. Oyster season is in the summer so make sure you get them during that time in Seattle.

Oh wow, almost forgot! We also went to Salumi, which is a small italian deli owned by Mario Batali's father. It is only open Tues-Fri from 11AM til 4PM so you have to get there early to avoid waiting in line for so long. As you wait, you can see people from the window preparing the fresh, homemade pasta and gnocchi. The meat and cheese are very fresh. We got a plate of gnocchi, a platter of salami and assorted cheeses, and a dish with meatballs, beef, pork, and lamb. The meatballs are the best I've ever had and the gnocchi was perfectly cooked and seasoned. For the quality of food you get here, the prices are actually not bad at all. If you love Italian cuisine, you've gotta check this place out!

This trip was so much fun and we certainly had a lot of great food. Much thanks to Ant for being such a great host and showing us around these two incredible cities.

DiNic's

Center City, Philadelphia -- After watching the Man vs Food episode in Philly, I had to go to DiNic's to try the Italian roast pork sandwich. Apparently, according to some, it rivals the iconic cheesesteak... we'll see about that! The process of creating their delicious pulled pork is pretty complicated. First, it is marinated for a day with spices and fresh aromatics. Then, it is browned and slow cooked till the meat falls off the bone. Lastly, it is simmered in the same natural stock as the roast pork plus some wine and tomato sauce. The result is a rich, tomato flavor and flaky, wet texture that saturates the bread but never gets soggy. So, every time you take a bite out of DiNic's roast pork or pulled pork sandwiches, you are eating something that has been slowly prepared for 3-4 days.

DiNic's is located in the Reading Terminal Market, where you can find anything from fresh produce, meats, and many different types of food to enjoy. I arrived at 11:45 in an attempt to beat the lunch rush, but the line was already wildin' out. After waiting for about 20 minutes, I finally ordered my roast pork sandwich with sharp provolone and broccoli rabe. The foot long sandwich is about $8 and they are very generous with the pork. After taking my first bite, I was very surprised at how everything worked so well together. The pork was so juicy that it soaked into the bread and the sharp provolone and broccoli rabe complimented the rest of the sandwich perfectly. Despite the juices, the roll held together. It is such a simple sandwich and it brings out such amazing flavors. You have to try it! Although, compared to the almighty cheesesteak, I will have to say this comes up just a bit short.

Overall grade: A-

Max Brenner

Center City, Philadelphia -- So whippicle. Famous for it's chocolates, this American bistro/chocolaterie is pretty well-known and popular. We've been here twice and both times it took a while to get a table (we waited about 40 minutes just to get dessert). The atmosphere is pretty romantic and there was a gay couple when we went. Pause. Since everything there is ridiculously expensive, we sometimes just hop in to get some free samples.

Dark Chocolat Hot Chocolate - Coca Origin (Venezuela made from criollo cocoa beans with a distinctive aromatic flavor) $4.95 - This was deliciously thick and creamy. It was served in a cute "hug mug" and came with a truffle on the side. If you love hot chocolate, then this decadent treat will definitely hit the spot for you. Note: this did not come with hwipped cream.

The Berry Delicious, Berry Refreshing Berry Sorbet Sundae (raspberry, & mango, sorbet, fresh strawberries, candied blueberries, crunchy macadamia nuts, caramelized rice krispies, garnished with honey pop rocks, served with raspberry sauce & whipped cream) $11.90 - This dessert was fairly large and came served on a wooden paddle (so you could spank your date after seducing her with dessert). I really liked the berries and sorbet because they went well with the hwipped cream. However, we weren't really into the macadamia nuts. And when was the last time you had pop rocks? Very innovative (they were sprinkled on top of the hwipped cream). Furthermore, the Sundae had a lot of hwipped cream on top of it but then there was a side of hwipped cream too (maybe the side was for the after-dessert festivities, ya digg?)

Overall grade:

B- (Steph) - The desserts are really good but it is kind of over-priced. Also, they only have one bathroom stall for the entire restaurant. If you're a fan of chocolate, it's definitely a good experience, but I'm not dying to go there again any time soon (except for the free samples).

D (Louie) - I'm not the kind of person who loves chocolate and I definitely don't love over-priced chocolate. The dessert was good but I feel like dessert any where else would have been just as good. Why not just get a Kit-Kat bar? Or go to the stoh and buy some sorbet, some fruits, and some hwipped cream and make it yourself. Or just go to Popeye's for an apple pie for dessert. Max Brenner sucks.

La Viola

Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia-- One of the cutest BYOBs in the city, this is a neighborhood gem and one of our fave restaurants in the city. Great as a date spot or for a fun meal with friends, it features "moderately cheap" authentic Italian food in a European-style atmosphere (note: it's CASH ONLY). When you come to eat here, prepare to get cozy with your neighboring tables. Just like dining out in a small trattoria in Rome, the tables are connected with each other and you're pretty much sitting right next to strangers- but that just adds to the charm of this place. Also, if you know you definitely want to eat here, I would recommend calling ahead for a reservation. It can get very crowded around dinnertime since it's so popular. In fact, they actually created a second restaurant (La Viola Ouest) right across the street. It features the same menu and is sometimes easier to get a reservation to. One negative thing about this joint is that the waiters talk very slowly and loudly at you when they are telling you the specials (almost as if they thought we were "special").
Side note: If you get a window seat, it's really fun to watch the waiters run across the street to and from the two La Violas (sometimes carrying plates of food).

Now let's talk about food and drank. The nice thing about this establishment is that there's no corkage fee and they'll chill your wine for you, if you want. That means you can bring multiple bottles and have one chillin' on the side while you're drinking tha otha! Also, the sourdough bread they bring out is always warm and tasty. They have an olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and herbs dipping sawce which is pretty standard, but still delicious.

Appetizer: Grigliata Di Calamari (grilled calamari marinated in lemon juice, garlic and peppered extra virgin olive oil) $8- This is da trufe. We had never had grilled calamari before this (usually it's always deep fried), and this was a great first-time experience. The calamari was chewy and all of the flavors of the marinade mixed really well together. The quantity was just right for an appetizer.

Funghi Trentino (porcini shitaki and portobello mushrooms in a garlic basil and olive oil sauce) $8 - This was aiiiite. If you luh to eat shrooms like Mario, then this is for you. In my opinion, mushrooms are good in small doses. When these little fungi are constantly embarging in my mouth, I pretty much get sick of them. Anyway, the gravy that it comes with is very tasty and goes well with the bread after you have finished shrooming up.

Entrees: Gnocchi Al Filetto Di Pomodoro (homemade gnocchi with spinach and ricotta cheese in fresh tomato basil sauce) $10- This is my favorite dish and I get it every time. If you are a gnocchi lover, this is the entree for you. The green gnocchi (alien turds) are soft and doughy and look really pretty covered in the tomato basil sauce. The plate is plentiful, which means I often have trouble finishing it.

Ravioli Alla Viola (homemade ravioli stuffed with lobster in a pink cognac sawce) $14 - It was pretty good but not as good as the gnocchi. Each ravioli is fairly large but the portion size for this entree isn't as sufficient as the others. The filling was very flavorful and you could really taste the lobster in each bite.

Orecchiette Alla Romana (shell shaped pasta tossed with chicken, sausage & mushrooms in a white garlic sauce with french plum tomatoes) $13- This is a fantastic dish, especially for meat lovers (pause). The chicken and sausage are tender and juicy and the sauce is really creamy and delectable. Louie thought this dish was a little spicy, but it was a very large portion size and it was very yummy.

Dessert: Tiramisu $6- This homemade tiramisu was off da hook. It was light and creamy but not overly sweet. The portion size was perfect and you should definitely be careful not to J your P. After finishing the dessert, it is really difficult not to lick the plate dry.

Overall grade:
A+ (Steph) - Excellent food, cheap prices, intimate yet lively atmosphere. It feels like I get to travel to Italy for an hour or two every time I go here (maybe it's because all of the waiters are foreigners)...which I love.

A (Louie) - Best Italian restaurant. My favorite place to go in Philly besides Popeye's. Large portions, very delicious, good prices, GREAT place for a date, you sit right next to other people, familial environment, service is pretty fast.

Miga Korean BBQ & Bar

Center City, Philadelphia-- Miga is a great place for Korean BBQ. With sophisticated and traditional decor, the restaurant is very cozy and the service is friendly. This is a great place to check out, especially if you're into Korean food or hot Asians.

First, drinks (SHOTS SHOTS SHOTS SHOTS SHOTS!). They have a bunch of Korean liquors and beers. We tried the OB (Korean lager made from rice) and shared a bottle of Soju (sweet vodka) with the table. They were both pretty good.

Before you get your entrees, they bring out a huge variety of Banchan (kind of like Korean tapas) for the entire table to taste. We went awhile ago, so I can't exactly remember...but I think there were between 7-12 small plates of appetizers. Among them were plates of kimchi, potato salad, seaweed salad, a spicy chili and turnip dish, pickled radish and carrots, and a sweet potato dish. It was fun to try all of these dishes, especially because they were free and you get as much as you want.

Each BBQ table comes with a skillet on one end of it. They bring out whatever meat is chosen and you get to cook it on your own. It was pretty nice because we went with seasoned Korean BBQ eaters, so they knew what to order and how to cook it. We ended up getting the Galbi (Marinated premium beef short ribs with Galbi sauce), Bulgogi (Marinated thin sliced rib eye with Bulgogoi sauce), and the Chaldobaegi (Thin sliced beef brisket). All of the meats are pre-sliced and come with sticky-icky rice, garlic, lettuce wraps, and dipping sawces for the table. Of course, you can eat everything separately, but it tastes so good to take the meat dipped in sawces (PAUSE!) and wrap it up in the lettuce with rice and garlic...a Korean burrito!

We also got the seafood Pajun (a sizzling scallion pancake). That thing was so good- you could hear knocks from underneath the table. If you ever go there, get it.

Overall grade:
A- (Louie and Steph) - It's a really cool environment to have dinner with your friends. Korean BBQ is a very fun, sexy and interactive way to eat with a group of yo best friends, since you all help out in cooking the food. Free banchan is a nice touch too. However, Miga's portion sizes are not very grindin' and you don't really get your money's worth.

Capogiro

Center City, Philadelphia-- This cutesy gelateria is a great place to come for a quick bite or a sweet ending, any time of day! If the beautiful and unique decor doesn't entice you to enter this establishment, then hopefully the wide array of gelato and sorbet will (372 and counting!). They have a huge assortment of classic and traditional flavors mixed in with innovative and one-of-a-kind creations. Some really distinctive gelato flavors include: Burnt Sugar, Rosemary Honey Goat's Milk, Pineapple Mint, Thai Coconut's Milk, Lime Cilantro, Strawberry Tarragon, and Sea Salt.

While they encourage you to try whatever flavors you desire, I always feel super guilty holding up the line trying a lot. I think the last time I went I tried to taste almost everything...but ended up stopping after 4 or 5. Anyway, the gelato is really really good. It's creamy, perfectly textured, and full of flavor. The only downside is it's a little on the pricey side, but I guess you're paying for the experience. That's why we tried to get flavors we probably couldn't get anywhere else. We got prosecco, cantaloupe (the waitress recommended it and it was sensational-true to its flavor and sweet but not too sugary), watermelon and peach. I remember the pistachio and the dark chocolate being really good too.

Overall Grade:

A- (Steph) - It's pretty much as good as real Italian gelato but with a unique flavor twist. It's a little more expensive than any other frozen treat place around here, but I think it's definitely worth it.

C+ (Louie) - They have a lot of flavors and it tasted really good, but I feel like it's really overpriced.

In-N-Out Burger

Newbury Park, CA -- In-N-Out Burger is a West Coast exclusive fast food joint and the East Coast is definitely missing out. Their success has much to do with this exclusiveness (they are non-franchised) and the way they keep the menu very simple (hamburger, cheeseburger, double cheeseburger, and fries). They serve Coca Cola drinks and have very delicious milk shakes (strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate). Well, I guess the menu isn't that simple because they also have a "secret menu" for the experienced In-N-Out customers.

Basically, you can order your burger or fries in a number different ways...

2x4 Burger (2 patties 4 slices of cheese)
Extra Toast (buns are toasted)
3 By Meat (3 patties no cheese)
Flying Dutchman (2 beef patties 2 slices of cheese nothing else)
Animal Style (patties are grilled with mustard or "mustard fried" extra pickles grilled onions lettuce and tomatoes) - HELL. YEAH!
Grilled Cheese (Cheese without the burger)
Protein Style Burger (burger without the bun, wrapped with lettuce) - Gross.
Veggie Burger (Bun, veggies, no patty) - Don't ever go to a restaurant and order something like this.
Cheese Fries (Don't need to splain)
Animal Style Fries (secret sawce, fried onions, cheese) - HELL. YEAH!
Fries "Light" (Decreased cooking time for softer fries)
Fries "Well" (Increased cooking time for crispier fries)
Fries "Very Well" (Very crispy) - Why?!?

Put that East Coast/West Coast beef aside for a moment and go try the beef at In-N-Out Burger!

Overall Grade:

B (Louie) - I hesitate to give this an "A" because it's a grimy fast food restaurant and it doesn't even come close to Popeye's. In my 4-5 visits to In-N-Out Burger, I have gotten the regular cheeseburger or animal style burger and animal style fries. You gotta go animal style! Also, these burgers aren't the best burgers you will ever have but they are very good for a fast food burger. I'm just gonna go ahead and say that they are the best burgers you can get at a fast food joint. Also, make sure you get a milk shake if you go because they are sooo good.

B (Steph) - I'm not a burger super fan (woo hot dogs!), but their burgers are definitely better than the other chains (McDonald's, Burger King, etc.). In my opinion, the animal style for the fries was "too chunky" and they are better without the sawce. The milk shake is very good but extremely thick (like Rick Ro$$'s beard).

Giorgio on Pine

Washington Square West, Philadelphia-- So tonight we decided to check out this little BYOB right behind our house. It's a small and quaint Italian restaurant, and though it was crowded, it wasn't packed.

Let it be known that the appetizers at this place are not very big. Stan ordered the grilled calamari and when it came to the table, there were literally two pieces of calamari "the size of walnuts" on top of a sparse bed of lettuce. Granted the calamari was stuffed with scallops and shrimp, but still...ONLY TWO?!?!

For our entrees we decided on:
-Linguine with prosciutto, peas, and mushrooms in a tomato cream sauce. It was very creamy and very tasty. The portion was plentiful, which suited the price ($13.50).

-Bucatini with pancetta, shaved onions, white wine, and spicy marinara. The noodles in this dish are on the thicker side and they seemed a little al dente. However, it worked for this dish and the flavors complimented each other well.

-Veal with melanzane (grilled eggplant, fresh mozzarella, basil and white wine tomato sauce). It also came with steamed broccoli and scalloped potatoes. The potatoes were seasoned well and tasted great. I've never had veal before, but this was a decent first experience. It wasn't that great, it just tasted like very lean beef sirloin. (Louie)

Overall grade:
C+ (Louie) - I didn't think this place was anything special. The pasta was very tasty and filling. In contrast, my meal wasn't that great. The veal was interesting but the steamed broccoli and scalloped potatoes were not worth the price of the dish ($20). Basically, I paid a lot of money for a little portion of mediocre food. It was a good thing that the girls didn't finish their pasta. By the way, there is a nice little pizza shop right next door called Paolo's. It has much better food.

B (Steph) - I was very happy with my linguine. It was delicious and more than enough for me to eat. I also liked how they give you a lot of bread. I didn't love their dipping sauce (4 whole cloves of garlic submerged in olive oil), but it was very unique. Also, I had heard that the owner sometimes gives free appetizers and desserts to customers, but we weren't so lucky tonight.

Positano Coast (Guest Blogger)

Old City, Philadelphia -- Finna eat: Positano Coast, fine dining in a casual setting. Italian food with an emphasis on seafood.

So tonight I joined my good friend Cari and Anthony for dinner at Positano Coast. I'm sure you have seen it if you have ever walked around Old City. Its the restaurant with the blue and yellow sign near the Ritz theater. I had passed the restaurant several times but never ventured inside, I'm glad I did tonight.

As I'm sure you know, restaurant week is when several participating restaurants in Philadelphia have a fixe prix menu of some of their finest dishes. You choose an appetizer, main course, and then a dessert. The standard rate is $35.

For the first course I chose the grilled shrimp with mixed greens and palm hearts. Anthony got the potato croquettes, and Cari got 2 oysters and yellowfin tuna tartare (not included on the restaurant week menu). The appetizers came out promptly after we ordered them. My shrimp was perfectly grilled and seasoned and topped with mixed greens and vinagrette. 3 shrimp was definitely a perfect size for an appetizer, but not for sharing. I ate them shits all to myself. Anthony's croquettes were fried balls filled with mashed potato puree and cheese. There were 3 large croquettes and they were presented beautifully with thai basil puree as an accent and sauce (sawce). To borrow a phrase from my colleague, green alien semen. The outside of the croquettes were very crispy without being oily or greasy and then innards were creamy and savory (thats what she said). Its sort of like a fried mashed potato ball but mo betta. Bougie-ass Cari got 2 oysters and yellowfin tuna tartare. I didn't try them shits cause it wasn't on the menu and I felt bad wretching over. Overall I would fux with the appetizers. Perfect portions, perfect seasoning, perfectly cooked (or uncooked in the case of the tartare and oysters), perfect start to a meal.

In between our appetizer and main course I ordered a mojito; lime juice, crushed mint leaves, rum, sugar, and sparkling water. At first I blanked at the name of the drink and made a fool of myself in front of the attractive waitress, but she was able to understand what I was tryna say. It was one of the better mojitos I have had, well balanced with none of the ingredients overpowering the other. The mixture of the lime juice and sugar offset each other in a pleasant sweet and sour mix, while the mint classed up the joint. The rum was not overpowering or even noticeable but I felt a slight buzz after the first one. Thats right, I ordered 2. Shoulda axed how much they cost. Total for the 2 drinks? $20 dorrars.

For the main course I couldn't decide between the grilled branzino (Mediterranean sea bass) or the grilled lamb loin (lamb's junk). The waitress suggested the lamb's junk. It came out medium rare, as I had asked for, with hwipped potatoes and sauteed leeks. The hwipped potatoes were so creamy and smooth that Spiderman's webbing could not compare in terms of consistency. It was light and creamy with a pleasant garlic flavor that didn't overpower the potato. The leeks were sauteed until fork tender. The combination of leeks and potato with the lamb was a perfect match. The lamb provided a solid and moist chewiness, paired with the barely there consistency of the potatoes and the tender leeks. My only complaint would be that while the lamb tasted great, not too gamey, I would have preferred a chewier cut of meat. Maybe it was cooked closer to medium than medium rare. Anthony got the roasted pork shoulder and Cari got the grilled skate. I tried neither of them but they looked good. The presentation of the pork shoulder was too simple and utilitarian for my liking but Anthony said it was very good. Overall I would fux with the entrees as well. The serving sizes were more than I expected and enough to fill me up after being starving at the beginning of the meal.

The dessert course was chosen from their regular dessert menu, and all dessert menu items were included for Restaurant Week which I thought was very cool. I ordered the Nutella/hazelnut/raspberry crepes with hazelnut gelato and raspberries. Anthony order something whose name I don't remember, but basically rice pudding with cinnamon and apples fried in a croquette with vanilla gelato. Cari got the Kahlua chocolate pudding. The rice pudding croquettes were very good especially with the gelato but everytime I put it in my mouth (pause) it reminded me of Popeyes apple pie. The only problem with that is Popeyes apple pie is the best dessert ever and nothing can compare, so while good on its own merits, it paled in comparison to Popeyes. My dessert, the crepes, were pleasant but not spectacular. The crepe itself was moist and well made, the Nutella was nutella-y, the hazelnuts were nutty, and the raspberries were sour. As separate ingredients they work but combined they weren't that great. The raspberries provided a sour suprise (suplise) when you bit into the crepe. Its like when a friend says hes moving to Oregon and you throw him a big going away party, and at that party he tells you one by one that he is actually going to die, and you all share an emotional moment, but then next year at school you show up and surprise surprise, your friend is not in Oregon and sho nuff he ain't dead. So its kind of like that. The best dessert was the chocolate pudding, I couldn't taste any Kahlua but that didn't matter. The consistency of the pudding was almost like chocolate frosting but lighter and creamier, you could feel the slight grittiness of the sugar in the pudding. It was addictive and I had to force myself to not eat all of it. I fux wid it.

Overall the restaurant experience was great. The service was fast and attentive, the waitress and hostess attractive, and the food delicious. I ended up spending way more than I thought I would because of the drinks. Plusses for the restaurant were the really jacked, 50 year old Mexican busboy and the spaghetti.

At the end of the meal the executive chef came out and asked if we enjoyed the food, of course we said yes, and then he dropped the bomb. All the food from tonight was actually made by Pizza Hut! Blew my mind.

Rare - A Weatherman guest review (Guest Blogger)

Midtown Manhattan, N.Y. -- Rare, located on the corner of 37th street and Lexington Ave. in New York, specializes in meat, burgers or cut -- as you could probably guess from its name. I went here on a legit date with a jaun and it was pretty good. It’s actually part of a larger hotel but you don’t notice that at all. The place is kind of small with dark lighting. It has a single-door entrance that reminded me of the All-American Rathskeller, because it’s set back off Lexington Ave. a little bit. But that’s the only thing that reminded me of the Rathskeller. Repeat: The only thing.

Before I speak about the food, which was very good, here’s a diddy about the service. It was a weekday night, and before I picked the jaun up, I stopped by the restaurant, which was on the way, to check out to see if this place would be crowded. I heard good things before and thought it would be good to try out. I walked by and it was crowded so I went in and asked how long the wait would be. 20 or 30 mins, I was told. I said I was just going around the block and would be back in 20 mins or so, which was true, so they put my name down on the list and said it will be here when you come back. Service a plus.

When we returned it took about five minutes to get a table and when were quickly asked for drink orders. There was a nice variety of bottled beers. I had a Stella. She had a Hoegaarden, a pleasant surprise.

For dinner I had what was called an M&M Burger – a burger flambéed in whiskey, topped with caramelized shallots, cheddar cheese and bacon. Oh yeah, bacon. It tasted as good as it sounds, cooked medium rare. And came with fries. If there was any complaint it was that the burger was a little too greasy overall.

The lady had a turkey sandwich of some kind, devoured it, and said it was quite good. I, of course, didn’t finish the burger being my normal slow-eating self. “I’m making you look like a girl,” she said. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that the food was darn good.

It was kind of late so we didn’t get dessert, but it was offered. All around, a pretty good place. Kind of an unexpected small spot right in the middle of Manhattan kind of close to Times Square, but far away enough from the tourists, giant plasma screens and what not.

Total price: $58 for the two dinners and two beers each. Outstanding.

Overall grade: A

Sorry, I didn’t take pictures. I wasn’t thinking about this.

Alma de Cuba

Center City, Philadelphia -- Tonight, we went to Alma de Cuba for Restaurant Week with a bunch of our friends. Since we went with a large group, our reservation was very late (8:45pm). When you first enter the restaurant, you will notice the trendy, comfortable furniture and there were a lot of pictures of Cubans. The decor was very peaceful looking and full of clean lines. The restaurant's lighting was very dim, which is starting to annoy me a little bit. It makes it somewhat difficult to see the menu and take pictures of the food for the blog. Also, the floor plan was interesting because the restaurant had four levels and you could see the other levels from where you were sitting, creating a very open environment.

While we were waiting and engaging in inappropriate conversation about our friends first date, they continuously serve you these bread balls (about 2-3 per person). The bread balls were soft and very doughy because the inside had cheese mixed in with it (I was not a big fan of this). They also gave you a dipping sawce of olive oil, basil and other spices that was grrrreaaat.

The restaurant week menu was not that extensive, which allowed us to try the entire menu among the six of us. Out of the three choices for appetizer, the best one was definitely the Royal Palm Dates (Almond stuffed dates wrapped in bacon with blue cheese). This dish was served to you on a wooden platter with the six Royal Palm Dates resting on lettuce boats. When I first bit into the jaun, I noticed that I got a boner. I'm not sure if the actual dish tasted delicious because of all the ingredients or if it was just the bacon. But, you can never go wrong with bacon.

For the entree, there was a selection of three different dishes: Vaca Frita “Fried Cow”, Panela Chilean Seabass, and Cuban Shrimp Enchilado.

Personally, I had the Panela Chilean Seabass, which (in my opinion) was the best out of the three choices. The fish was served with creamy quinoa with cubanelle pepper puree and pickled cucumbers. Unfortunately, the portion of food was about 1/4 the size of the huge plate it was served on. I hate when you go to fancy places and you get something and the plate is bigger than the table but the food is smaller than an acorn. Regardless of the size of the meal, the actual fish itself was so tender and juicy and cooked to a perfection (melted in my mouf). The quinoa that it rested on tasted a lot like risotto and the sawce that it was in was delicious. The consistency of the grains were not as soft as risotto, which is an interesting feature of quinoa. Lastly, the crunch of the thinly sliced, pickled cucumber complimented the dish very well.

Next, Steph got the Cuban Shrimp Enchilado. It came with verde clam rice with spicy tomato and pepper stew. The spicyness is a little bit too much so you gots to be ready for that. But, the rice was alien green and tasty. Also, I always thought that Enchilados had tortillas but apparently Cubans have beef with that.

Lastly, there was the Vaca Frita “Fried Cow”. This meal had the twice cooked crispy skirt steak, onions, white rice, avocado and tomato escabeche. Honestly, I think that the steak did not need to be cooked twice. It had a great taste but some of it was burnt. The rest of the meal was pretty standard, nothing special.

I thought the dessert was average at best but Steph thought differently. We tried the tapioca pudding and the caramel flan. The flan was very pretty and topped with HWIPPED cream and a wafer. The thing I enjoyed the most about it was that it was served with blood orange and pomegranate salsa.


Overall Grade:

B/B+ (Louie and Steph) - The food was interesting and very artistically plated, but that didn't make up for the fact that the service was not that great. Our waitress didn't fill our water cups very often and was rarely around. Who knows? It could have been due to the fact that it was so busy for Restaurant Week. The place is definitely a very posh establishment for whippicle activity. Also, the drinks were very expensive (glass of cabernet = $12 WTF?????) Do you know what I could do with $12? So many things. I could buy 11 pieces of fried chicken at Popeye's for $9.99 and still have $2 left over. Then with those last $2, I could buy a Turkey Hill Green Tea with Mango. That would be so much more satisfying than a glass of wine.

Sidenote: Our bill ended up being $381.90 including tax and tips (those grimy ass people added a 20% tip!)

Bread Gloves

PHở HĀ

Bella Vista, Philadelphia -- One of my favorite things to eat is phở and I think the best place to eat it in Philly is PHở HĀ on 6th and Washington. The restaurant is located in a Vietnamese shopping center and the area is usually pretty busy so finding parking can sometimes be an issue. When you enter the joint, it has the look of a cafeteria (a very busy cafeteria). It's not a fancy schmancy place, but who cares? Phở me, it's all about the taste of the Phởởd. When you are seated at a table, the waiters come right away to take your order. We ordered our phở and got our phởởd within minutes. The service is incredibly fast (probably because they have the broth, noodles and meat already prepared so they just mix them together and bring them to you).

Unfortunately, every time I go, I get the same thing so I can't really say much about the other stuff on the menu (steak phở). Except this time, I tried some of Stan's pork chops, which were very tasty, but somewhat dry. Anyway, the phở comes in a huge bowl (small or large but the small is way more than enough for 1 person). For the n00bs out there, phở always comes with fresh basil, chili peppers, lime, bean sprouts and onions. Usually, I just mix a bunch of that into the broth along with hoisin sawce and sriracha hot sawce. The steak is kind of rare when they first give it to you, but it slowly cooks in the very hot broth. It's a lot of phởởd so come hungry! The other great thing about PHở HĀ is that it is very cheap. Most of the phở on the menu is around $6-7 and everything else is under $10. Also, it is cash only.

Overall grade:

A (Louie) - Great phở, large quantity of phởởd, cheap prices, extremely fast service = my kind of place. Phở real - if you're tryna get your grind on with Vietnamese phởởd, go to Phở HĀ!