Say What?

• The Savoy Deli & Produce Market off of Rittenhouse Square is probably best known for their flowers but they also sell tacos! [Drawing for Food]

Term We Love

• Chifauxtle – Term Fidel Gastro has made up to describe imitation or faux Chipotle restaurants. [Fidel Gastro]

Moyamensing Means Bird Droppings

• GetYourFooDon visits Witch American Bistro and rates it as Good. [The Witch American Bistro]
• Mac & Cheese calls Nicholas “fresh, seasonal, approachable and comforting.” [Mac & Cheese]

Jealousy is a Deadly Sin

• David McDuff dines at Talula’s Table more than anyone we know. [McDuff's Food & Wine Trail]

To Do List

• Sip a “Midtown Village” Manhattan at APO Bar and Lounge. One of 15 Manhattans they’re currently offering. [Philadelphia Inquirer]
• Eat dinner at Apamate. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed the tapas BYOB for brunch but never been there for dinner. Maybe Mac & Cheese’s run down will be the impetus. [Mac & Cheese]
• Enjoy a drink at the Level Bar at Le Meridien when it opens in September. [The Illadelph]

Don’t read CE Phood’s roundup of dinner at Apamate on an empty stomach. Candied sausage, oxtail, cheese and pepper on a plantain, Iberico ham thinly shaved & sweetened figs. It goes on and on. Luckily we’ve got Spanish wine in the rack. [CE Phood]

Phoodie gives out its 2008 awards in categories like person and restaurant of the year as well as the biggest disappointment. [Phoodie.info]

If Kitchenplay and a commenter are to be believed, you should “never judge a ghetto ass thai place’s food by the writing on the wall.” According to them, Plan-Eat-Thai at 1516 Tasker is serving up promising sounding Thai food behind a bullet proof window. [kitchenplay]

It’s good to hear good things about the latest items coming out of the kitchen at South Philadelphia Taproom. [CE Phood]

Veggicurious gives Local 44 the vegetarian once over. Mushroom ‘Po Boy, a dish even a carnivore get behind. [Veggicurious]

Vegging out at a Butcher & Singer seems a little crazy to us but hey, that’s Living On the Vedge. [Living On the Vedge]

Foodzings is on a eating and blogging tear. Recently she was at Cafe Apamate where she enjoyed a delicious brunch without an hour wait. [Foodzings]

Foodaphilia has the round up on last Saturday’s Northern Liberties’ Rib-Off. [Foodaphilia]

The Beer Lass’ heart skips a beat as she reads Pork Roll Hot Dog off the menu board at the Khyber. [Beer Lass]

Foodzings dines outdoors at Johnny Brenda’s and enjoys the hummus and pork sliders. But hey waitress, put some clothes on. [Foodzings]

MenuPages posts a scathing diatribe from an employee at Maoz and what it’s like dealing witht the “mouth breathers that pass through the doors.” [MenuPages]

Mac & Cheese checks out the fuss at Phileo Yogurt. [Mac & Cheese]

Phoodie.info visits Stoke’s, a South Phillly neighborhood bar and finds a refreshing and unpretentious clubhouse. [Phoodie.info]

MenuPages suggests a date night at Marigold Kitchen in West Philadelphia with drinks later at Fiume. [MenuPages]

Philly Food and Drink celebrates a birthday at Parc. [Philly Food and Drink]

Moore Brothers’ David Moore visits the “outrageously good” Apamate but takes the wrong wine. Don’t worry though, he has a worthwhile suggestion for us. [Moore Brothers]

Craig LaBan puts G-Ho’s Apamate in his sights and he likes what he sees.

The service is still frustratingly inconsistent (our Saturday dinner waitress was fabulous, our brunch waiter so uninterested he was almost rude). The erratic hours have smartly been pared back to focus on dinner and brunch. But more important, the self-taught Ormaechea, who previously worked as a server at Cibucan, is cooking with self-assured inspiration that should make this underappreciated spot a destination – if it can get the service in gear.

Her homemade chorizo lends an earthy backbone to a tiny red crock of chickpea stew. Caramellos de morcilla, inspired by a meal in Asturias, bring crispy bonbon-shaped dumplings filled with blood sausage, apples and sage.

Two Bells – Very Good

Cafe Apamate [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Cafe Apamate [Official Site]

Craig LaBan is reviewing Apamate, South Street’s Spanish restaurant this Sunday.
[Poll=26]
Update: The review is posted and the Foobooz readers got it right. Apamate received two bells.
How many Bells would you give?

Apamate [Official Site]

Hot Chocolate has gone through a renaissance, transforming itself from a kids drink to a rich,sensual, decidedly adult experience.

“While no one was looking, hot chocolate went from Nestle’s Quik to a rich, sensual pleasure,” says Tom Block, who started Naked Chocolate Cafe, a boutique and dessert lounge on Walnut Street offering a thick and luscious chocolate drink that’s like a melted chocolate bar in a cup. The shop opened in August and already has a loyal following.

Classy chocolate is hot [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Photo by stellabella via Flickr.

The City Paper’s What’s Cooking has a couple of ideas for Tuesday night.
Roy’s Restaurant, 15th and Sansom is hosting a five course tropical dinner. Each course represents an island of Hawaii.
Experience Tango Tertulia at Apamate, 1620 South Street. Tertulia means “a social gathering with artistic overtones,” at Apamate it will be an opportunity to listen to amusing stories from Pierre Baston regarding his drawings of vintage tango sheet music.
Bring your own wine and Apamate can transform it into sangria for just $5.

Rick Nichols reviews Apamate, and we break it down into bite size chunks
South Street west at its blooming best
South Street’s grittier side is getting more dining options. And the reason to travel to Apamete is simple, the churros. Get them plain, filled with Nutella, or dulce de leche.

We cut up the big reviews and serve them up in small bites making them an easy nibble.

Salud, Apamate
Apamate, the breakfast, lunch and early dinner café on the 1600 block of South Street brings a Spanish flair to a block marked as much by it’s construction as anything else. The “pimento and Seville orange-hued walls are welcoming, opening up on a garden patio.”

For breakfast, try the Tortilla Espanola or your own omelette creation. Wash it all down with Clementine juice. Yes, Clementine juice, you’ve loved the little fruit, now in convenient drink form.

Currently ham croquettes, and a daily pincho, slices of bread with toppings round out the day. La Catalana con Jamon de mi Edgar “Pa amb tomaquet” is another highlight, the“tomato and garlic rubbed baguette is covered with delicately folded Serrano ham and a drizzle of vibrant green olive oil.”

And for your sweet tooth you have to try the churros, deep fried doughy goodness topped with powdered sugar, and can be filled with cream and fruit, chocolate, dulce de leche or even Kobe’s favorite, Nutella.

Expect an expanded menu of dinner pinchos shortly and Saturday June 24, live flamenco.