Archive for the 'Food' Category

A Foobooz spy reports that Luke Wilson, who is in town filming Tenure was spotted dining at the bar at Xochitl last night.

UPDATE: Dan Gross has him at Amada. Eeek!

Xochitl [Official Site]

We wanted to go, we really did. We’ve been waiting long enough for this place to finally open its doors and the buzz has been, well, buzzy. But, alas, we have a rather unattractive head cold and beer and head colds do not mix. Now whiskey and head colds…

Joe Sixpack stopped by Devil’s Den and he thinks its super. Did anybody else check it out? Reports? Thoughts?

The Bite does cheesesteaks today and tries to not be cliche with its suggestions on how to always get a good steak. The most important of which might be, don’t get a steak from a spot that doesn’t care enough to use Kraft brand Cheez Whiz.

Cheesesteak 101 [Metro Philadelphia]

In chronicling the construction of Zahav Michael Klein asks a question we’ve often wondered, what do you do when you’ve hired your staff but then the opening gets delayed?

Well Zahav owner and chef Michael Solomonov came up with an interesting way to keep his hired hands busy. He’s had them rework the menu at one of his favorite watering holes, 12 Steps Down.

Less than two weeks after the idea first came to Solomonov in the middle of a sleepless night, 12 Steps customers were eating chicken wings cooked in duck fat and tossed with pickled mango sauce, macaroni and cheese with New York State cheddar and Fried Calamari Salad with carrot-miso dressing.

Week Twenty: A 12 Steps Program [The Making of Zahav]

• Craig LaBan give Le Virtu Gets Two Bells
• Morton’s has a spring deal of Surf and turf for two.
• Osteria, Vetri and Jose Garces are the Philadelphia nominees for the James Beard Awards.
• Sounds like the Foodery is getting a little competition.
• We were promised Minar Palace in March. Unsurprisingly things are running behind.
• Jose Garces’ Chicago restaurant has opened.
• Philadelphia Weekly reviews the authentic and attractive Vietnam Cafe.
• The Beer Lass shares her photos of the Devil’s Den which is opening April 1st.
• A $4 version of the Royal Tavern’s burger plus some hotdog news in The Bite this week.
• European bottle service busser. Well Euro is a better name.
• Les Bon Temps and Time are both likely to be open within a week. That’s a good way to kick off April.
• This Saturday is Quizzo Bowl 4 and Johnny Goodtimes gave us a quiz.
• City Paper gets us salivating about tuna balls.
• We have a new reason to not accomplish anything at all on Sunday.
• And we’re getting pummeled by the bike race on Philly Madness.

This Sunday brunch begins at Jose Pistola’s. And with two courses plus bottomless margaritas or Bloody Marys for $25 you can say goodbye to productive Sundays.

Full menu after the jump.

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Bruce Kim brings his suburban Sushikazu-brand sushi to Center City under the name Misso at 1326 Spruce Street and it beats many of Philadelphia’s often middling sushi options.

But the pièce de résistance, the masterwork — the reason to visit, even — is the tuna ball. An orb of pink, fleshy, finely chopped tuna tartare obscures hidden bits of crisped flour, minced scallion and a judiciously applied smidgen of a spicy sauce (though sometimes the sushi chef uses wasabi). It’s rolled in vibrant orange masago and dusted with green flakes of shiso, each ball offering a spectrum of textures and flavors — crisp, soft, spicy, briny, vaguely oniony.

An order includes five balls (at Sushikazu you’d get six, but we can forgive this oversight) placed over a spaghetti-like tangle of daikon that absorbs the masago glow. Its naked presence, when the tuna is gone, will likely have you going for another round.

Misso Accomplished [City Paper]
Misso Sushi [Official Site]

We were struggling with some technical difficulties most of the day but it looks like we’re back now. Underwear on the inside and everything.

We are currently experiencing technical difficulties. In the meantime check out food and drink links on the left or busy yourself by making plans via our calendar.

And don’t forget about Quizzo Bowl 4. Foobooz will be there and be bringing the team to beat. Unless of course we’re in jail for torturing our IT guys.

In today’s edition of The Bite there’s tastes for all tastes, from dollar dogs at Citizens Bank Park to wine tastings at Mantra.

Also in the Bite comes word that you can get the Khyber’s $4 take on the Royal Tavern’s burger, daily from noon to 7.

Full Khyber menu after the jump.

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