Oh wow! Drew Lazor have us salivating with his description of the Arista sandwich at Paesano’s.

The most stellar member of Paesano’s five-sandwich menu selection is also its most traditional — the Arista, thin-shaved slices of unfairly tender house-roasted suckling pig cuddling up to broccoli rabe and long hots on yet another jus-soaked long roll. There’s a small but vocal contingent of Philly eaters that likes to champion roast pork as a purist’s alternative to the overexposed cheesesteak — the problem is that there are about three people in the city who do it well. Time to make that four: Paesano’s rendition is simply — easily — one of the best.

Small Wonder [City Paper]
Paesano’s Grand Opening [Modo Mio]

Bumblefish, an Asian fast food business started in Virginia opened its fourth location and first in the Philadelphia area at 12 S 10th Street on Monday.

The menu includes over 50 items most of which are waiting in their self-service section. If they don’t have you want they’ll whip it up right away. Their soft spring rolls are their signature dish on a menu that includes veggie, cooked and raw sections. Prices top out at $9.59 for the Smoked Salmon Deluxe of smoked salmon and four pieces of sushi.

Bumblefish [Official Site]

Taco Bell is giving away free tacos at all its locations from 2 PM to 5 PM. It seems to be some kind of tie in with the World Series. Whatever, it’s free Taco Bell.

90 Ft. To Free Tacos For America [Major League Baseball]

The first Chipotle franchise in the area is giving away free burritos today from 11am to 8pm. The Chipotle is located at 4030 City Avenue near the new Target. We’re sure traffic will be snarled.

New Store Giving Away Free Burritos Today [NBC10] via Philebrity
Chipotle [Official Site]

It seems everyone is talking about Caribbean food. Yesterday Craig LaBan was talking about Brown Sugar at 52nd Street in his online chat yesterday. He follows that up today with a Caribbean feast he prepares and today in Feeding Frenzy we get word that Festivals is now serving Jamaican food at 52nd and Walnut. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Tomorrow is the official grand opening of the area’s first Jimmy John’s sandwich spot at 44 S 17th Street. Jimmy John’s is the latest midwest sandwich chain to come to town following on the heels of Potbelly Sandwich Works.

Look for Arbol Café to bring Paraguayan food to Northern Liberties in the former Ground Floor Coffee, opening expected for September. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

The Wasabi House at 627 South Street has become Gaja Gaja. According to our tipster Gaja Gaja offers Japanese and Korean food as including sushi and “a decent lunch menu.”

Sonam is coming to the defunct Table at 223 South Street. The BYOB “is taking all sorts of influences — American, African, Asian — and crafting fusion-y portions, 24 in all.” [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Philadelphia Weekly keeps it real this week, reviewing Justin’s Snack Corner, a no-frills all-day breakfastst steak sandwich, hoagie takeout spot in West Philly.

Justin cooks up a storm as he holds court in the manner of Cedric the Entertainer in the Barbershop movies.

The burgers at Justin’s are cooked through, but are moist and delicious nonetheless. A well-seasoned flattop seals in juices better somehow, and the one here gets a mighty workout. The cheesesteaks are oh-so-gooey, flavorful and served on rolls soft enough to give your gums a break, but crusty enough to count.

Anything with eggs at Justin’s will make your eyes roll into the back of your head. They just know how to cook them—fluffy, buttery and seldom marred by that ugly brown overcooking that turns eggs into ughs. Justin’s griddle-masters make a mean French toast, and a perfect stack of pancakes—the kind you’re sick of halfway through (just as you should be). Both come with generous pats of salted butter that tastes a little odd. It’s best to have it on the side and add tiny bits as wanted.

Anything off the griddle satisfies, but nothing more so than the out-of-this-world potato hash. The outer layer develops a perfect brown crispness that gives way to a fluffy cloud of starch.

Hog Heaven [Philadelphia Weekly]

Marisa McClellan who has been doing a project this summer at the Reading Terminal Market, chronicling people’s stories on the blog Stories from the Reading Terminal. Last week she had lunch with a gentleman named Eric who insisted on talking over his favorite sandwich, the roast pork at DiNic’s.

Folks, you’ve got to try the roast pork with provolone and greens that DiNic’s dishes up. It’s one of the happiest sandwich experiences I’ve had in my life. It’s messy and by the time you get to the end, the bread is starting to lose it’s integrity, but that doesn’t matter. The taste is someplace very close to sandwich perfection.

DiNic’s Roast Pork (with provolone and greens) [Metroblogging Philadelphia]
Stories From The Reading Terminal [Official Site]

Trey Popp tries out the Pho Hua, the month-old fast-food chain that has opened at just south of Washington Avenue on 11th Street.

Pho Hua may be a fast-food chain, but it’s one that plays by its own set of rules. There’s fresh fruit in the smoothies, exotic greens on the garnish plates, and knowledgeable waiters who somehow manage to break speed records without making you feel hurried. I didn’t expect to be won over by Pho Hua, but three visits later, I can actually envision the previously unimaginable possibility of becoming a regular at an eatery offering 60-second service.

Pho King [City Paper]

The Daily News heads north on Delaware Avenue and takes a bite at Johnny’s Hots sandwich stand.

As admirable as Johnny’s Cheesesteak can be, I remain a loyal fan of the Roast Pork with Rabe and Provolone ($5.75) sandwich. However, while Johnny’s rabe has the requisite garlic overkill and you can order sharp provolone, the pork itself could use a little more South Philly influence. It just didn’t have the succulent “pig thing” going on.

2 1/2 Forks, Good – Fabulous

Do you have the hots for a sandwich?  [Daily News]

A few weeks back there were reports of McDonalds going upscale, aiming for more of a Starbucks type atmosphere for their fast food restaurants.Well the first of these upscale McDonalds in the area will of course be in Bristol.

McDonald’s to build upscale restaurant on Bristol Pike [Bucks County Courier Times] via Philadelphia Will Do
Photo via deseretnews.com