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Great Chefs Event

On June 17, 2009, the fourth annual Great Chefs Event to benefit Alex's Lemonade Stand will be held at Osteria on North Broad Street. The ticket price is a little steep ($250) but it's for a great cause and the list of chefs who will be participating is incredible.

Italian Market Street Festival

If you're looking for something to do this weekend, check out the Italian Market Street Festival on 9th Street this weekend. Rain or shine, the event is sure to draw large crowds and offer plenty of great food.

The Eagle Has Landed

As of 7pm on Friday night, Capogiro is officially open on East Passyunk! Those of you following this blog know that we've been eagerly awaiting the opening of this awesome gelateria. My trusty companion Sweety McGee and I checked out the new establishment around 11:30pm -- one of the best parts of this addition to the area is that it will be open late (1am on Friday and Saturday, 11pm every other day). Why do so many places in this city close so early?

Anyway, I tried the pineapple-mint and papaya, while Sweetie went with the dark chocolate and sweet milk. (You'll notice I've changed the spelling of Sweetie, since Sweety looks too much like Sweaty, and Sweaty McGee does not sound like a fun eating companion) The flavors were great, the service was friendly, and I can't wait to go there every night and gain 30 lbs. Tables were not yet set up, but it looks like there will be several tables inside as well as in a courtyard shared with Michael's Cafe next door.

Dollar Dog Night

PhoodAddict.com's Man on the Street Murph reports that yesterday's Phillies Dollar Dog Night (combined with the College Night promo) was a madhouse. His source at Aramark revealed that 71,200 hot dogs were purchased last night.

Michael's Cafe on Passyunk

PhoodAddict.com is happy to report that Michael's Cafe is a great addition to the burgeoning East Passyunk Restaurant Row. We've been there a couple of times: once for breakfast and once for dinner, and both instances featured good food and friendly service.

On our breakfast visit, I had the eggs benedict, a special. The eggs were poached perfectly and the hollandaise sauce creamy and lemony. My dining companion, let's call her Sweety McGee, had the Spanish omelet with peppers and salsa, which she enjoyed.

Our dinner visit was also a success. I again had the special, calamari stuffed with veal sausage accompanied by grilled radicchio in a balsamic vinegarette (pictured above). Dinner includes a choice of soup or salad -- I had the New England Clam Chowder. I'm not really a big fan of soups but this was a great cup of soup -- not skimpy on the clams and not too heavy like NE Clam Chowder can be. Sweety McGee had the Mac and Cheese, which I sampled -- to be honest I was not that impressed. I felt it needed a little kick or something extra -- the menu description mentions roasted tomatoes, but there was barely even a bite on the plate -- more of a garnish.

The service was prompt and friendly without being intrusive, and our table on the sidewalk was perfect for people watching. We're eager to see Michael's succeed.

Michael's Cafe

1623 East Passyunk Ave

http://michaels-cafe.net/

The scoop on Capogiro

This morning, I spoke to a painter working on the Capogiro on Passyunk who gave me the inside scoop (Get it, scoop? How clever are we.) on the gelataria. The owners were targeting a Wednesday opening, but he thinks it's more likely that it opens next week. We're still holding out hope for a Friday opening.

Around the Web

Unbreaded has a nice preview of the Starr Burger Shack in Franklin Square. We've never heard of a "Philly Dog" (100% Kosher beef hot dog wrapped in Salami) but it sounds delicious.

Fries With That Shake went to Famous Deli recently. It's been so long since we've been there...not many things better than an enormous pastrami sandwich followed by a nap on the couch.

two.one.five has a great interview with James Beard award winner Jose Garces. Nice that he seems proud to call Philly home. And Cantonese via Peruvian sounds amazing.

Free Drink at Fri Sat Sun

Fri Sat Sun is offering a free drink to diners Monday through Friday. Just mention the Barcelona Delusion (recipe below) to your waiter to get the exotic apertif.

1 oz. of fine sherry, amontillado
1 oz. sweet vermouth
2 oz. prosecco1
lemon peel for garnish

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add
the sherry, vermouth and stir rapidly until the outside of the shaker is
frosted. Strain into a flute glass and top off with the prosecco. Add lemon zest
garnish and serve immediately.

Capogiro coming soon!

City Paper's Meal Ticket blog has a first look at Capogiro's new outpost on East Passyunk. They mention a target opening of Tuesday, May 12th, but a waiter at Michael's (the cafe next door) told me it would probably be Friday, May 15th. In any case, we are thrilled that Capogiro is coming soon, and even more excited that it's going to be open until 11pm on weekdays and 1:00am on Fridays and Saturdays!

Inquirer Article

Craig LaBan had an article on the Philadelphia restaurant scene in the Sunday Inquirer. Nice to see East Passyunk included, but no specific restaurants were named. Come on, LaBan, even Girard Ave had some specific places mentioned.

Turkey Burgers Don't Count

Phood Addict Senior Correspondent Murph sent us this great article on a Burger of the Month Club. We were also disgusted yet simultaneously intrigued by Denny's Beer Barrel Pub, home of the World's Largest Burger Challenges.

KFC offers grilled chicken, dogs and cats living together

Loyal Phood Addict contributor Cheesy McStreet Cred notified us that for a limited time KFC is offering a coupon for a free meal of two pieces of grilled chicken, two individual sides and a biscuit. It's a great idea to get people to try their new menu option. We haven't tried it yet, but we're pretty sure it'll hook you since the Colonel, with his wee beady eyes, puts an addictive chemical in his chicken that makes you crave it fortnightly.

The download is only available until 9:59pm CDT today, so act fast.

Around the web

I'll be honest -- there is a sizable backlog of posts to be written. Coming soon -- we promise -- will be a trifecta of Passyunk Ave reviews: Lynda's Mediterranean, Michael's Cafe and Izumi. In the meantime, we'll just post a bunch of links, like the lazy bastards at Foobooz (just kidding, Foobooz is awesome):

• Philly Mag posted its top 50 restaurants list. My main problem with this list is the same problem I have with the magazine: Kennett Square is not in Philadelphia. Berwyn is not in Philadelphia. Birchrunville is not in Philadelphia. If I'm looking at a list of the best restaurants in Philadelphia, I don't want to read about a place that's an hour and a half outside of the city. That said, I can't wait to try Zahav. They have raw lamb!
  
  
• Lucky 13 got a good review from Craig LaBan. We tried the mac and cheese in March and it was delish.

• Capogiro is coming soon to East Passyunk as well as University City. The sign is already up on Passyunk, hopefully it opens soon!

• Philadelphia Weekly notes that August (13th and Reed) hasn't changed much in the past six years, but why fix it if it ain't broke.

• Being the wonderful son that I am, I made Mother's Day Brunch reservations at Le Bec Fin. $50 per person gets you:

First course buffet: Smoked salmon / Fresh fruit / Freshly baked pastries / assorted salads / Omelets prepared by chef George Perrier

Second course (served): Choice of Scottish salmon / Braised, wild striped bass / Leg of lamb quinoa provençal / Organic, white-feathered chicken / 5 oz. petite filet of beef

Third course: Selections from the legendary dessert cart

Of course, I couldn't get a table until 3:30pm, so it'll be more like a really early dinner.

Philly Beer Week moving to June

Next year's Philly Beer Week will be held on June 4 - 13, 2010. In its first two years, it had been held on the first weekend of March. Joe Sixpack opposed the move but outlines the reasons for the change on his site. The move makes sense -- St. Patrick's Day, the weather, competing festivals, the flower show, etc. are all challenges in March, but Phood Addict kind of liked having something to look forward to in March (sadly, we are too old for the Erin Express). Plus, June offers its own challenges (the shore, the Manyunk Bike Race and Arts Festival, etc.)

The World's Largest Cheeto

Gizmodo, our favorite techno-geek blog, recently had a post that caught the attention of PhoodAddict contributor, Murph: someone eating the world's largest Cheeto over the world's most expensive keyboard.



Someday, we at PhoodAddict hope to have the type of pull to do this sort of thing.

$35 Dinner at Le Bec Fin!

So, I got an email from my close personal friend, Georges Perrier, today announcing his Spring 2009 three course Prix Fixe. This menu is the first of four seasonal three course menus, and the beginning of an exciting time at Le Bec-Fin and Bar Lyonnais. A little over a year ago, the famed French chef announced he was giving back his 5 stars in the Mobil Travel Guide and focusing on creating a new Le Bec Fin with a lighter a la carte menu and more casual atmosphere.

This $35 three course is certainly a marked departure from the Le Bec Fin of years past. Here's the dinner menu, available Monday through Friday:

Appetizer
(Choice of 1)

Rabbit Terrine
Rustic Toast, Moutarde Violette

Braised Red Beet Salad
Goat Cheese, Candied Walnuts and Citrus Vinaigrette

Soup du Jour

Field Greens Salad
Tossed in White Balsamic and Walnut oil Vinaigrette

Main Course
(Choice of 1)

Organic White Feathered Chicken
Roasted Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts, Lamb Bacon,
Sherry Vinegar Sauce

8oz Prime Rib Eye
Pomme de Terre, Carrot Confit, Sauce Bordelaise

Olive Oil Poached Scottish Salmon
Braised Belgian Endive, Toasted Farro,
Zinfandel Beurre Rouge


Dessert Cart
Your Choice of one dessert from off our
Award winning dessert cart

Vegetarian Options Available Upon Request


Phood Addict is all over this -- hopefully reservations aren't too hard to get during the week. Keep watching this space for a full review of the new Le Bec Fin -- now affordable for mere mortals!

Abruzzo Earthquake Relief Benefit on East Passyunk

For a long time, I've been wanting to try Le Virtu, a swanky looking Italian restaurant at 1927 East Passyunk that specializes in Abruzzese cuisine. It's pretty close to home and it's gotten a lot of great reviews. This event seems like as good a time as any to check it out: on Tuesday, April 28th, Le Virtu will hold an event to benefit victims of the earthquake in Abruzzo. A $40 minimum admission will be charged with all proceeds going to victims' relief. Guests will be treated to an Abruzzese buffet, including various antipasti, pasta, grilled and roasted meats and one complimentary glass of wine.

Le Virtu

1927 East Passyunk Ave.

Philadelphia, PA 19148

(BETWEEN MIFFLIN & MCKEAN STREETS)

Phone: 215.271.5626

Home of the Fatty

The PhoodAddict Worldwide Headquarters recently received a take out menu that intrigued the entire staff. Pizzi Pizza recently opened at 6th and Oregon. Most of the menu is pretty standard stuff -- pizza, hoagies, cheesesteaks, etc...but the back cover declares Pizzi Pizza as Home of the Fatty and offers a variety of super-gluttonous sandwiches only a true Phood Addict could love. (Check out their website for the complete menu)

After perusing the options, we eventually settled on the Fat Jamie (Chicken or beef cheesesteak with mozzarella, meatballs, mozzarella sticks, tater tots & marinara sauce) and the Fat Reese (Chicken or beef cheese steak with mozzarella sticks, fries & marinara sauce) as our inaugural selections. Everything is chopped up and stuffed in one moderately large sandwich.

My initial impressions: First, the sandwich looks a bit like it was regurgitated. Everything is chopped up and mashed together, which is not what I was expecting. From a practical standpoint, this probably makes it much easier to eat than if all the ingredients were separate, but still, the pre-chewed look might not be for everyone.

Second, the roll was a little stale, but overall the taste was good. Definitely a good option when you're hungover and just want to sit on your couch in your boxers, stuff your face with greasy food, and watch a House marathon on USA...not that I do anything like that.

Third, it's a filling sandwich but not overly so, at least not enough to deserve the Fatty moniker. One PhoodAddict associate, let's call him "Murph," declared that he could easily eat two in one sitting. I don't know that I could do the same, but if you're going to call your sandwich a Fatty, it should be more difficult to finish. Still, $6.25 is a pretty good price for what you get.

One more thing, the website offers the Fatty Challenge: a discounted price of $15 gets you 3 Fattys of your choice. You then have 20 minutes to consume all 3 fatty sandwiches. If you succeed, you will receive:

• 2 Free Large Cheese Pizzas
• One of our own "Home of the Fatty" T-Shirts
• If you choose, your name will be listed on this website

Even Murph didn't think he could do this. Twenty minutes is just not a very long time.

Yum Yum Dim Sum

One of my biggest pet peeves is when people from New York talk about how things there are bigger, better, etc. than in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, dim sum is one instance where they are correct. Dim sum is far superior in New York -- Queens to be specific.

For those who don't know, dim sum is a Chinese meal comprised of many small plates. Typically, carts with various dishes are pushed around the restaurant. When you order, the server marks a card that is on your table. At the end of the meal, the cashier calculates your bill based on the number and size of dishes you ordered. It is a format that is much more enjoyable with a larger group of people, since you get to try a greater variety of dishes. It's also perfect for the true Phood Addict -- they push carts of food to you! You can try endless varieties of Chinese food! You want to have fried squid, shrimp dumplings, pork dumplings, rice porridge, sticky rice, rice noodles, and more all in the same meal? No problem! And it's cheap (a recent dim sum outing for 9 people cost just $74 plus tip)!

Phood Addict recently visited East Ocean Palace in Forest Hills, NY. This restaurant was vastly superior to anything found in Philadelphia as far as quality, variety and service. The picture above is just a small portion of what was ordered. The standards were all there: shrimp dumplings (har gow), rice noodle rolls (cheong fun), sticky rice...but there were also numerous specials, including shrimp dumplings coated in sticky rice (talk about best of both worlds), clams in black bean sauce, and innumerable varieties of dumplings, plus some wackier fare like fried durian dumplings (I know, durian is stinky, and honestly I didn't enjoy this that much but I liked that it was available as an option), and pickled pigs feet (which were meaty and fantastic).

Now compared to East Ocean Palace, Philadelphia's Imperial Inn is just nothing special. Don't get me wrong, it'll do when you need a dim sum fix. But there's not much variety in the dishes and carts can be infrequent. Unfortunately, it's about the best out of the options available in Philly's Chinatown. I've been to Joy Tsin Lau, HK Golden Phoenix, Ocean Harbor, and a couple of places on Washington Ave, but still haven't found anything special. Any PhoodAddict readers out there know of a superior dim sum place in Philly?

New high-energy plankton wafers

Sometimes you're not in the mood for a hot lunch. Sometimes you want to try something completely different. I recently found something new to try at the local grocery store -- these great green wafers made of high-energy plankton. I've tried the red and yellow varieties, which were okay I guess, but this new recipe is delicious! You should definitely check it out.

Lenten Lunch Battle - Fast Food Fish

For some, lunch during Lent can be difficult since meat must be avoided. With that in mind, we are pleased to present the first ever PhoodAddict.com battle -- fast food fish edition. Today's competitors are:

1. McDonald's Filet-O-Fish: This sandwich was actually introduced in 1962 because of declining Friday sales during the Lenten season. It contains a piece of battered fish (mostly Pollock, the same fish used to make imitation crab meat), a slice of cheese, and tartar sauce.


2. Burger King's Big Fish: This is also made of Pollock, and features tartar sauce, lettuce and a corn dusted bun. In Turkey it is called the Fish Royale and in El Salvador it is called the King de Pescado.


PRICE: The Filet-O-Fish costs $2.99, compared to $3.69 for the larger Big Fish. If you learn one thing from this blog, let it be that cheap fish is not worth it.

SIZE: There is a noticeable difference in size (141g per serving for the Filet-O-Fish and 248g for the Big Fish).

NUTRITION: The Filet-O-Fish clocked in at 380 calories, 18g of fat (3.5g saturated), 38g total carbs, and 15g of protein. The Big Fish is 630 calories, 30g of fat (6g saturated), 67g total carbs, and 24g of protein. McDonald's option was much better than I expected, although if you really are paying attention to this stuff, just stay away from both sandwiches.

TASTE: The Filet-O-Fish had a nice soft bun with a tangy tartar sauce. The fish itself was kind of bland and mushy.

The Big Fish bun was much larger and corn dusted, but not as good as the McDonalds bun. The fish was also larger, more crispy and seasoned than the Filet-O-Fish. The lettuce didn't really do anything for me, nor did the tartar sauce, which was pretty bland.

AFTERMATH: A weird thing happened after I finished both sandwiches. I didn't really enjoy either of them -- in fact I felt kind of bloated and sick, with a self-loathing more intense than what normally accompanies my overeating. But I found myself craving one more bite of the Filet-O-Fish. I believe the tartar sauce contains an addictive chemical. I also fear that this blog will cause me to gain 40 pounds and start wearing a muumuu.

WINNER: I guess the Filet-O-Fish was the big winner today, though it may have had an unfair advantage -- I believe the tartar sauce contains performance enhancing drugs. One thing is certain -- I am the big loser in today's battle. Nearly two hours later, I still feel disgusting and disgusted with myself. From now on, no more McDonalds or Burger King posts.

Subpar Sandwiches

Tough day at the PhoodAddict.com headquarters. Pastificio is a beloved lunch option here, as you might have guessed from our earlier post naming it a top contender in the forthcoming Chicken Cutlet Battle. So it pains me to say that we had not one but two disappointing sandwiches today.

The Chicken Cutlet Diablo featured fried long hots and hot pepper cheese on a cutlet. It was way too hot -- I had to remove more than half the peppers just to eat the sandwich. I also felt the sandwich was missing something, maybe some roasted red peppers or a little more cheese...some sort of extra kick to complete the sandwich.

The Sausage Special featured broccoli rabe and sharp provolone over sliced sausage. The sausage was pretty non-descript -- not spicy or sweet, just kind of bland and overcooked. Also, the broccoli rabe was tough and difficult to eat. This led to the awkward situation of having to stuff my mouth with the entire piece of broccoli rabe because I couldn't bite off a smaller piece. (Luckily, I was alone and no one was there to witness this completely unappetizing act.)

It would take a lot more for Pastificio to get the White Thumb of Disgrace -- both sandwiches were decent enough, and let's be honest -- we still finished both sandwiches. They just were not up to the normal standards we've come to expect from Pastificio.

Mac N Cheese at Lucky 13 Pub

II recently had the chance to get back to Lucky 13 Pub and try their Macaroni and Cheese. It was "all hooked up" with gouda and Locatelli (which I had to look up -- it's a famous brand of pecorino romano cheese) and topped with herbed bread crumbs. There was a hint of peppery spiciness which was a nice touch. I give it the Red Thumb of Glory, and will definitely go back for the deconstructed meatball and the mushroom risotto.

Devil's Den Disgrace

Okay, maybe disgrace is a bit harsh. When Devil's Den opened last year, I was excited to have a new pub with a great beer selection in the area. I went a few times, and while the food was nothing special for a place with gastropub aspirations, the beer selection made up for it. But the past couple of times I've been there, it's been overcrowded with horrible service. On one particular night, there was no hostess. I walked towards the dining room where I was greeted by one particularly obnoxious server who I had seen before. He stared at me without saying anything, so I said we wanted a table for two. His one word response: "Okay." So I said, "Is there a long wait?" and he responded again with one word: "Yes." We stared at each other for awhile, until I realized he had no interest in taking our names down or even talking to us and left the place.

So maybe it was just the one server. I'm not opposed to giving the place one more shot, but for now I'm going to give Devil's Den the White Thumb of Disgrace.

Once you go Black N Brew...

Now here is a great breakfast option!

Passyunk Ave. has had a revitalization of sorts over the past few years. Sure, the area still has it's share of wife beater-wearing, unemployed 40 year old dudes who still live with their parents and litter on their own property, but it also has some great restaurants!

One of those places is Black N Brew at 1523 E. Passyunk. It's a great little spot for weekend brunch with tasty food and endless refills on coffee. There are so many reasons why this is a perfect neighborhood cafe: delicious weekly specials, friendly service, wireless Internet, and even artwork from a different local artist every month.

One of those artists is my friend, Heather DiPiazza, who displayed her photos at Black N Brew last July. Check out her website -- she is a fantastic photographer and all around fun chick. (These photos are from her blog)

One of this week's specials was the Mother Earth Omelet. Normally, I don't go for the vegetarian option but this was a particularly delicious omelet, with a nice mix of homemade red sauce, mozzarella, and eggplant along with a side homefries and toast.

I'll try to make future reviews more structured, but for now I am going to award Black N Brew the first ever Phood Addict Red Thumb of Glory:

Free Breakfast at Ikea

True, it's normally only $0.99 anyway (plus another $0.99 for coffee) but IKEA is giving away breakfast this weekend. So head to your local IKEA and have some cafeteria style powdered eggs and soggy bacon before you pick up your $0.99 DROPPAR jars or $19.99 INGOLF bar stools (the other specials of this weekend).

Free Water Ice!

A loyal reader reminded us that it's the first day of spring, which means it's free water ice day at Rita's! From noon to 10pm, Rita's is giving away a free regular size water ice to every guest. Unfortunately, it's a little chilly and not the most spring-like of days here in Philly, but that won't stop me from hitting up my neighborhood Rita's later today.

Battle Chicken coming soon

In honor of March Madness, PhoodAddict.com will soon be holding the Tournament of Chicken Champions. I'm still working on the exact ground rules and format, but I think the basics are going to go something like this:

• It must be a chicken cutlet sandwich.
• It must be within striking distance of South Philly, though I'm flexible if it's a really good sandwich. Basically, I need to be able to get there during my lunch hour.
• All varieties (chicken parm, chicken cutlet Italian, etc) will be accepted, but only one sandwich from each location will be allowed.
• We'll try eight different sandwiches, which will be ranked by me ahead of time.
• They'll face off tournament style.

Desperately want your corner sandwich shop to be nominated? Feel strongly that Chick-fila, while not a traditional chicken cutlet sandwich, is so delicious and addictive that it should be a part of this competition? If you have any nominations, by all means post them.

In the meantime, a preview of a couple of potential participants: the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich and the Chicken Parm from Pastificio located at 1528 Packer Ave (right next to Chickie's and Pete's). Only one can make it, and this is a tough choice: both are big and delicious, not unlike myself. Pastificio makes a bunch of great sandwiches, both hot and cold. (The Prosciutto Special will have to wait for a future battle) They also have great fresh pasta and a variety of Italian specialty items.

I'm leaning towards the Buffalo sandwich (top) because of the homemade sauce and blue cheese.

The Shamrock Shake: Mythical Mint Flavor?

If it's March, it's time for McDonald's Shamrock Shake. I don't normally patronize the Golden Arches very often (I prefer McDowells) but I do enjoy the Shamrock Shake. Apparently, there has been recent debate over whether or not the Shamrock Shake is simply a vanilla shake dyed green or if it is indeed a mint shake. McDonald's site doesn't list mint flavor as an ingredient. However, a public accounting firm conducted a double blind test this month and 98% of participants detected mint flavoring in the Shamrock Shake.

Here's another fun fact from Wikipedia: in conjunction with the release of Shrek the Third, McDonalds released the Minty Mudbath, a Shamrock Shake mixed with chocolate. It was discontinued shortly after it's release because it was discovered that 'Minty Mudbath' has an alternative meaning.

You're going to have to look it up.

Easy Dinners: Leg of Lamb

I cannot stand Sandra Lee, but sometimes a semi-homemade meal can hit the spot. I was in the mood for lamb but didn't plan ahead, marinate, etc. Luckily, Trader Joes has the Seasoned Butterflied Boneless Leg of Lamb. (Around $12 for a little over 2 lbs) It was about 15 minutes of prep time -- all I had to do was throw the lamb in a Pyrex, cut up some Yukon Gold Potatoes and season them with olive oil, rosemary, thyme, and kosher salt.

I put the lamb in the oven at 475 degrees for 10 minutes, then flipped it over and cooked for another 10 minutes. Then I lowered the oven to 325 degrees and put the potatos in. About 35 minutes later it was ready. I let the lamb sit for about 10 minutes, then plated everything along with some packaged salad with ginger dressing. All in all, a reasonably quick and pretty tasty meal.

The perfect hangover breakfast

There are some foods that just hit the spot after a night of drinking. One of those foods is the bacon, egg and cheese burrito from the food truck at 3rd and Pattison. Topped off with mashed potatoes, fried peppers, onions, and homemade hot sauce, this burrito is the perfect cure for the hangover. My meat of choice is bacon, but you can also get the burrito with sausage, chorizo, steak, chicken, and a variety of other ingredients.

My friend actually has the cell phone number of the guy in the truck so that he can call in orders ahead of time. The truck is only around on weekdays until around 2pm, but it is worth a special trip. This picture doesn't do it justice, but trust me -- you will enjoy this burrito.

Venuto's Old World Pizza

I recently had lunch at Venuto's, located across the street from Tony Luke's on Oregon Ave. It was a pretty decent slice of thin crust pizza, so I thought I'd do a little research. Apparently, it's a chain started by the people who brought you Hollywood Tans.

It's been pretty empty the two times I've been there for lunch, but I thought the pizza wasn't bad. I tried the Giotto (pictured below) which had fresh basil, fresh mozzarella, and marinara.

Lucky 13 Pub

After Morimoto, we met some friends at Lucky 13 Pub, located at 13th and Passyunk. To be honest, when we first walked in I was afraid it would be overrun with annoying hipsters but it was actually a pretty cool, laid back hole in the wall type bar. Pretty good beer selection (I had a Young's Double Chocolate Stout) and a sweet Ms. Pac Man table that stuck a little but was fun to play nonetheless. Didn't get to try any of the food but the menu looked delicious -- I'm definitely going to have to make it back for the mac and cheese and the deconstructed meatball.

Philly Beer Week at Morimoto

Morimoto had a specially designed five course dinner tonight with Rogue Beer pairings featuring Morimoto signature beers and Rogue specialty beers. For my friends and me, it was the perfect excuse for a weeknight of drinking and extravagant dining.

When we arrived at the restaurant, Chef Morimoto was near the hostess station, welcoming diners. We sat down at our table and found a menu specially printed for the beer tasting menu and signed by Morimoto and John Maier, brewmaster at Rogue Brewery. Throughout the meal, Morimoto and representatives from Rogue roamed throughout the restaurant checking on diners and thanking them for coming. It was nice to see that Morimoto hasn't completely abandoned us for New York City and still spends a lot of time in Philly.

The meal started off with toro tilla, a piece of tuna with fresh mozzarella and fresh basil, wrapped in a tortilla. It was good, but I would have liked a little more kick. With my last bite I actually got more of the spicy aoli, which made a huge difference.

The toro tilla was paired with Rogue's Mom Hefeweizen, which was a nice Belgian style wheat beer.

The second course was steamed mussels with lemongrass, curry, and Morimoto pilsner broth, paired with the Morimoto Imperial Pilsner. This dish was decidedly underwhelming. My mussels were a little cold and a couple were not even open. My friends all had either empty or closed shells on their plates.

The third course definitely made up for the subpar mussels. It was a Kurobuta pork (kind of the pork equivalent of Kobe beef) with an apple mizuna salad, paired with the Morimoto Hazelnut Ale. The pork was delicious -- there was a perfect crust of panko breadcrumbs and hazelnuts surrounding a tender and tasty slice of pork. It was paired with a delicious hazelnut ale.


The next course was a selection of sushi paired with Morimoto Soba Ale. The beer was nothing special; in fact my friends felt it had a strange aftertaste. However, the sushi was excellent; the yellow tail was particularly good.

The final course was a Rogue Chocolate Stout Ice Cream Float. I really enjoyed this, although one of my friends would have liked to have had the beer separate from the ice cream.


On the way out, we got pictures with Chef Morimoto and Brewmaster Maier!



All in all, it was a fun night out -- we got to enjoy a great meal, have some great beer, and meet a celebrity chef. (We also spotted Stephen Starr, though I didn't get to yell at him for appearing on Top Chef and not mentioning Philly at all) Service was excellent the whole night, and we even got fun little giveaways like Rogue temporary tattoos and a Morimoto magnet. Plus, we got to take part in Philly's Beer Week, the nation's largest beer festival. Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to check out any other beer week events, but there are still a couple of days left!