Verdad (Spanish for the truth), a tapas and tequila bar opens today in Bryn Mawr at the site of the former Carmine’s Creole Cafe.

Read the rest of this entry »

Sloth Street and The Society of Gluttony go to Amada for the whole suckling pig and do they have a story to tell.

Holy. Mother. Of. Swine.

To be honest, going into this dinner, I thought the pork would be good. I figured it would be more of an event — a curiosity where we got in touch with our inner Cro-Magnon and enjoyed an animal slow cooked over a fire. But it was far, far more than that. It was, quite simply, the best pork I had ever eaten. It reminded me of the first time I went to a great steak house, where I entered with a “I’ve-had-steak-before-so-how-good-could-it-be” attitude and was utterly blown away by the quality and preparation of a simple meat. This pork had a similarly transcendent quality. It was salty, tender and had a lasting flavor that lingered on your palate far more than a supposed white meat ever should be able to.

Amada’s Roast Suckling Pig [Sloth Street]
Amada [Official Site]

Amada is offering whole roasted suckling pig to go! Perfect for Christmas dinner or reenacting Lord of the Flies. The cost is $50 per person with a minimum order of 5 people and the succulent pig comes with four side dishes plus dessert.

Complete release after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

Northern Liberties’ Bar Ferdinand turns two this weekend with quite the party. Saturday night will feature flamenco dancers, drink specials and guests will be treated to free paella until midnight.

Happy Birthday Bar Ferdinand!

Bar Ferdinand [Official Site]

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]

Periodically PhilaFoodie profiles a specific dish in a Philadelphia restaurant, this week he describes Tinto’s Sopa de Castaño, a truffled chestnut soup. And being PhilaFoodie he of course suggests a wine to accompany the soup.

The sweet, velvety soup is poured around a pillow of savory duck and mushroom hash that’s crowned with a fried quail egg. The hash’s chewy royal trumpet mushrooms parallel a delicate whisper of truffle oil to provide deep layers of woodsy and earthy goodness. Flecks of pistachio add texture while simultaneously echoing the soup’s nutty core. So intense, sinfully rich and satisfying on a primal level—one bowl of this soup will make even the most faithful man or woman feel like they just cheated on their spouse.

Plate Profile – Tinto’s Sopa de Castaño [PhilaFoodie]
Tinto [Official Site]

Tonight and every Thursday Bar Ferdinand is offering a 5-course tasting menu for $35.

Bar Ferdinand [Official Site]

Last week we were lucky enough to try out the new seasonal dishes that have been added to the menu at Amada. We struggled with which superlatives to use then and now, but “sensational” and “stupendous” certainly were among them. Short rib ravioli and a lot more after the jump.

Menu additions are after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

Foodzings is obviously someone who plans ahead. How else did they get Restaurant Week reservations to Amada. Read about their hype-worthy time.

Restaurant Week – Amada [Foodzings]

Mac & Cheese tries the vegetarian offerings at Bar Ferdinand in Northern Liberties.

I enjoyed everything at Bar Ferdinand, even though I had small qualms with a few dishes. The Manchego Frito and the eggplant bocadillo were the stand-outs of the night, and will definitely be ordered again. With other vegetarian tapas missed on the first go round, another trip is warranted.

Bar Ferdinand [Mac & Cheese]
Bar Ferdinand [Official Site]