Going Blonde

This is not a post about a new hair color. Rather, I'm going blonde with my coffee selection. Blonde, Starbucks Blonde.

In the summer Starbucks announced they were introducing a new, light roast coffee. When I heard (read?) this announcement I went to the Starbucks on the ground level of the building in which I work. "I'd like to try your new blonde, please." I was told I'd have to wait for the winter. The promotion had started months before the actual availability.

Blonde became available January 10th so I checked it out. I always drink decaf but - apparently in my excitement - I forgot to ask for decaf so I got the real thing. I had a lot of hopes pinned on this blonde. Would I like it? Could I rely on Starbucks in a pinch when I wanted coffee I could tolerate?

I am not a Starbucks fan. Starbucks fans don't understand how this is possible but Starbucks brews a cup of joe that is just way to strong for me. On occasion, I bite the bullet and have one because sometimes it's the only quick cup around in certain locations. With all of this in mind I sipped the blonde - after I added my cream.

Loved the blonde. I was so happy! I can finally go to Starbucks with one of its devotees, sit there and actually enjoy a cup myself. I can even have work meetings there now!

Unbeknownst to me at the time, blonde comes in three roast styles – Starbucks^® Veranda Blend™, Starbucks^® Willow Blend™ and Starbucks^® Decaf Willow Blend™.  Darn! Which one did I have? Veranda or Willow? I have no idea. I'll have to ask the barista which one they served the first week.

Dunkin' Donuts is where I get my coffee if I don't drink the brew that's free at work. If you like Dunkin's mellow flavor you will like blonde. Unfortunately, the "official" free tasting period of blonde ended on January 14th but I bet you could sample some if you asked nicely. Heck, I even got a free mini-bag when I bought my cup. Maybe you too could make that happen.

Go ahead. Go blonde. You might even have more coffee-fun.

Eden

What visions does "Eden" conjure up for you?  The Eden to which I'm referring can be found in Rehoboth, Delaware.  If you think of "Eden" as a beautiful place serving as a respite from the hustle and bustle, that would relate to this Eden.

Eden is a restaurant that touts "bold American food." It offers great variety in the menu, which includes scallops, tuna, salmon, filet mignon, chicken breast, and wood fired flatbreads, to name a few.  The entree that won my attention was the grilled antelope.  I would say that is certainly bold; wouldn't you?

I have never seen antelope on the menu before. The waiter responded to my question about whether the meat was "gamey" with a resounding "no."  He explained that fear just before death creates that "gamey" taste in animals but that these animals were quickly killed.  He went on to say how but, frankly, it was TMI (too much information).  I think that was the waiter's only miscue.

The antelope come from the Broken Arrow Ranch  in Texas Hill Country.  The ranch sells "truly wild" (roaming, pen-free) animals including - in addition to the antelope - wild boar, venison, and quail.  (An online store is available.)  A quick Google search for the ranch had me thinking it was owned by music legend Neil Young.  Turns out Young owns a ranch with the same name in California.  (Besides, if you know his music, you know he didn't have a lot of respect for "southern men" anyway so I guess I should have been immediately doubtful that he owned a ranch in Texas.)

But back to the antelope...it was delicious.  Not a hint of an unpleasant wild taste, tender, and very much like filet mignon.  It was served with toasted barley/mushroom confit salad, braised local greens, and a cherry chutney.  I strongly recommend it.

There were six of us for dinner and each person was pleased with the food.  We were also pleased with the charming atmosphere.  We had the big round table in the corner at the front window.  The booths have curtain sheers that can be drawn.  Of course, we pulled ours together - well - just because we could.  It helped create a "fog" between ourselves and the rest of the restaurant on this Memorial Day weekend Saturday.  With the muted colors and candlelight, we lingered in this comfort for quite some time.  Although, when the check came, there was some discomfort.

The dining partner who recommended the restaurant told us her two favorite wines were specials that evening and not normally available.  They were not on the menu - mind you - but the waiter confirmed she had read correctly (online, I believe).  We got a bottle of Silver Oaks red (Cabernet, I think) and Cakebread Cellars white (Chardonnay, as I recall).  (Memorial Day weekend feels like a lifetime ago, unfortunately.)  Each wine was very good and I would certainly enjoy drinking them again.  We learned that the white was $70 and the red was $100.  Oops!  Forgot to ask about the price! 

I suppose we should have known that the wine could be pricey as the entrees at Eden average in the high $20's/low $30's.  (My antelope was $29.)  But we were apparently seduced by the atmosphere, interesting menu, and excellent server.  Also, we wanted some wine with our artisinal cheese board appetizer and meals.  The bottom line - with no desserts and tip (not automatically included, surprisingly) - turned out to be $150 per couple.

Eden cost Adam and Eve so don't be surprised if it costs you, too.  If you are willing to pay a little extra for excellent food and service with a special ambiance, you won't go wrong with Eden on Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth Beach, DE.

Philly Updates

Perch Pub
Way back on January 21st of this year I blogged about looking forward to trying Perch Pub for lunch.  This week I flew into this pub, which is perched above Broad and Locust Streets, to meet a friend for lunch. 

The space is warm with exposed brick walls and a nice bar.  The food was good, too - or at least our salads were.  The place was empty on a Tuesday at high noon.  I hope they make it as the pub seems like a great alternative to Sotto Varalli Restaurant, which is immediately downstairs, for the theater and after-work crowds.  And the "perched" perspective provides a great view of the streets below.  In fact, we saw Danny Bonaduce head down Locust Street on his scooter.  It was a bird's eye view of a Partridge!

 



PIFA

On April 1st I blogged about the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts, with a focus on the final event - the Parisian Street Fair - the last day of the festival.  As it turns out, an estimated 150,000 people attended this event.  I believe it, too.  Broad Street between Chestnut and Lombard Streets was like being in a Tokyo subway at rush hour. I read that many of the poor folks going to the orchestra at the Kimmel Center that night were late because they had to work their way through the crowd.

The crowd in the Kimmel Center was deep at 7pm for the lighting of the "Eiffel Tower."  The lighting was coordinated with music.  It was a pleasant experience that left me dreaming of being in Paris. 

After the lighting of the tower was over, the crowd moved like a wave back onto Broad and Locust Streets for the main event - the high-flying La Comagnie Transe Express.  The show was supposed to begin at 7:30pm.  The crowd was getting restless - and some briefly booed - when the show still hadn't started at 8:10pm.  Someone near me had the crowd around us chuckle by screaming out, "Do something French!" 

My "bad" foot and the leg to which it's attached were dreaming of sitting at a Parisian cafe but they - and I -persevered.  And I'm glad I did.  What a show.  It was only 1/2 hour but the musicians - beating drums - and trapeze artists suspended hundreds of feet above Broad Street were a sight to behold.  They were hanging on a giant contraption that flapped up and down and spun them around.  It was a good night in Paris...uh...I mean Philly.

Saffron Indian Restaurant in Bala Cynwyd, PA

Saffron is a Zagat 2011 "Noteworthy Newcomer" and Philadelphia Magazine "Best of Philly 2010" winner.  This restaurant has two locations - one in Bala Cynwyd and another in Ambler.  During a visit to the Bala Cynwyd location, I discovered the food was good but the service and noise level made it not worth the trip.

I visited Saffron yesterday (a Thursday night) during Main Line Restaurant Week.  For $20, I got an appetizer, entree, bread, and dessert.  My dining partner and I shared the Onion Bhajia (marinated, deep-fried vegetables in a chickpea batter; normally $4) and Chatpata Murg Tikka (Chicken tenders, marinated in yogurt spiced with coriander, ginger and cumin powder and baked in a charcoal clay oven;  normally $9) appetizers.  The Onion Bhajia was very crisp and tasty.  The chicken was extremely tender and came on a bed of peppers and onions.  I recommend both appetizers.

For our entrees, we had Murg Korma (Boneless pieces of chicken cooked in a rich almond and cream sauce; normally $14) and Chana Punjabi (more commonly known as Chana Masala - Chickpeas gently cooked with onions, herbs and tomatoes; normally $12).  I didn't sample the korma but my friend liked it.  I enjoyed my chickpeas.  I had the garlic and coriander naan as my bread choice and my friend had the tandoori roti (whole wheat bread with no oil).  These were normally $3 and $2, respectively.  The naan, and its buttery goodness, was more tasty - as you would expect - than the roti.

We ended our meals with rice pudding.  I was tempted to get a mango lassi as a "extra" but I was full.  While the entree portions were standard, I was filled by the appetizers, which I typically don't get when I eat Indian.

Go to Saffron for take-out.  The noise - largely due to a large table of about a dozen college-aged women - was so loud I could barely hold a conversation.  In fact, one couple got up and moved to another side of the small dining room in a desperate (and  probably futile attempt) to get away from the noise.  I suspect, however, that the restaurant is probably loud many nights when it is full.

I was most disappointed with the service.  After our meals were served, no one checked back with us to make sure everything was satisfactory.  Considering the restaurant was not full at that time, that is inexcusable.  Also, my water glass was empty for a 1/2 hour before I finally was able to find someone who could fill it.  I was told "OK" but that didn't happen.  I had to ask again when our check was brought to the table.  Even without these faux pas, I would say the service was chilly at best. 

It's a good thing the food is good - although not fabulous - or Saffron would not be worth a visit at all.  I encourage Zagat and Philly Magazine to visit again.

Chef Jose Garces Guapos Tacos - Find Them if You Can

Chef Garces took his show on the road.  Starting just this month, his fare is now available via truck...if you can find it.  Well, it's really not that hard.  You can follow the truck's whereabouts on Twitter. 

Apparently, seems like as soon as the Tweet goes out the masses arrive.  Hungry Huddlers can spend their time looking at the bottle caps that make up the mural on the side of the truck.  Or, they can focus on the paper menus that are distributed to make the line go faster.  On the menu, you will find:

• Guacamole Con Cotija
• Tacos De Carnitas
• Tacos De Lengua Y Costillas (Remember, lengua = tongue. A dish from Garces' Distrito Restuarant)
• Veggie Tacos

You can book the truck for your own event or party by calling the Garces Restaurant Group at 215-625-2920.  Right now, the website does not have any specifics related to booking the truck.

Sweet Lula's in Pitman, NJ

I love a "proper lunch."  I've been asked what that means so I've had to give it some thought.  My definition is something you wouldn't normally eat during the week when you are at work or on the go.  It's not a run-of-the-mill sandwich.  Instead, it's food that's more creative.  The meal is slow and the atmosphere is relaxed, with no glancing at the watch because you have to be somewhere after lunch.  And, of course, there must be iced tea - with extra lemon.  Linen napkins are a plus but not necessary.  I found exactly this, and was pleasantly surprised at the reasonable prices, a short distance from Rowan University in NJ. 

Pitman, NJ is a throwback to gentler times.  Its little downtown, complete with a theater (and I don't mean movie), has several surprisingly good restaurants.  (One of which I blogged about this past summer.)  Today, I tried Sweet Lula's for the first time.  There were several temptations on the menu from which to choose.  We each started with a $4 cup of soup.  Mine was carrot cumin and it was absolutely delicious.  My friend had a corn chowder with smoked sausage.  Hers was good but we both agreed the carrot cumin was better. 

Next, I ordered a simple tomato stuffed with tuna salad on a bed of field greens.  I added vidalia onion vinaigrette.  This was light and tasty, except the tomato was very cold.  Too bad it wasn't room temperature as that would have helped tremendously.  My meal was a special and I don't know how much it cost but it was probably around $7.  My friend had a Peach Quesadilla (sliced peaches) and a Persian Lime and Honey dipping sauce ($7).

The chef, Anthony Asbury, came out to speak to a table and welcome them.  Ironically, the chef turned out to be the same man who previously came in through the front door with a basket of laundry.  I thought that was odd and mentioned to my friend he should have walked through the back door with his clean towels.

Asbury's personality is big and somewhat loud.  He was very humorous, but would have been funnier if he knew when to stop.  It wasn't hard to overhear him tell the table that he had a movie and dinner night on Valentine's Day.  During the five-course meal ($49), An Affair to Remember was shown.  He said the night was wildly successful - he had two seatings - and he was planning another on March 30th.  The movie will be African Queen.  I'm assuming the $49 price will remain the same.  (Not a bad deal at all at this BYOB.) 

When preparing to blog, I learned that Chef Anthony was a Hollywood puppeteer (including for Henson Productions) and an actor on and (mostly) off-Broadway. (For more on his career, click here and then click the Anthony Asbury blue link.)  That certainly explains the personality - definitely theatrical.  It also explains the many pictures of Asbury with some famous people (Tony Bennett) and some people I didn't recognize.

A brief Google search could not produce any information on Asbury's chef credentials or where he learned to cook.  He didn't prepare lunch for us so I'm assuming he prepares dinner.  I don't think he's at the point where he's simply coming up with the ideas and passing them to an underling.

The "proper lunch" I had at Sweet Lula's is making me lean toward trying this month's movie/dinner night.  Or, according to a February edition of The Gloucester County Times, in April I can go to Sweet Lula's and see the man who played Arthur Weasely in the Harry Potter movie series.  How Chef Anthony will work that in will be interesting.  As a former puppeteer, I'm sure he'll know how to make it good theater.

JG Domestic

Yes, we read reviews stating "you sit under an escalator" and the food was good but pricey.  Even so, we looked forward to trying JG Domestic to see for ourselves.  I was already a fan of the chef and was anxious to see if I still felt that way when I left.

Friends from a former employer took SEPTA in from the Western suburbs on this cold day for a "reunion" over dinner.  Conveniently, they did not have to even go outside as this Iron Chef Jose Garces restaurant is connected to 30th Street Station.  Up one escalator and down another delivers hungry travellers or foodies to this restaurant within a business office building.

It is easy to see how some would fret that the space is "under an escalator."  This criticism seemed much ado about nothing as the dining space that doesn't have an actual ceiling is limited and it looked very comfortable with  overhead beams and lots of plants to soften the space.

Our group followed the hostess to the back, which was most certainly an actual room with walls and a ceiling.  A party of 5, we sat in the back right corner.  As seen in the picture below, this room was obviously for larger parties as there were only 4 tables - 3 for 6 and 1 for 8.  For quite some time we had our own private room.  About mid-way through our meal we were joined by a party of 8.

It did not appear that you needed to have a large party to get a seat away from the hostess stand (read: away from the escalator).  The restaurant does have an open kitchen, so bear that in mind when making a reservation to help you determine if you want to see what's going on or not.  One possibility if you do sit by the kitchen - you may get to see Jose Garces in action.

We didn't sit by the kitchen but our waitress told us that "Chef" was in that night.  We joked that we were going to complain about a dish and demand to see the chef.  Our waitress semi-smiled.  She had either heard that a dozen times or she thought we were complete rubes.  We didn't complain but we did see "Chef" on the way out and he was kind enough to greet us, asked if we enjoyed it, and thanked us for coming in.  We thanked him, as well, for this treat of a dining experience.

When we were first seated we asked some questions about the wine.  Even though our waitress' "favorite" was the $165 bottle, we opted for the $40 bottle of Rosenblum (red) Zinfandel.  The wine was perfectly acceptable - especially after it breathed a little.  (A few days later I saw the exact bottle in a New Jersey wine store for $11.)  One of my friends ordered a drink with Stoli vodka and we were reminded what the "Domestic" means in "JG Domestic."  (Everything is from the US.  While Stoli didn't make the list of exceptions, we were told a few scotches did.  Apparently they make that concession for the older businessmen in the Cira Center, the building in which JG Domestic is housed.)

There is a Chef Tasting Menu every night but the entire table has to order this.  This night one of the two tastings was based on the passion fruit menu Chef used when he retained his Iron Chef title just the week before. (If that's something you want to try, it should be available for quite awhile as I've backdated this blog entry almost three weeks and it is still on the menu.)  We, however, were all anxious to sample a wide variety of dishes.  Since we had some specific ones we wanted to try, we opted not to go for the tasting menu ($65 per person) where the chef chooses what is served. 

And speaking of the menu.  Wow.  We were unanimous that everything was excellent and one dish was "OK."  Fortunately, each of the five of us didn't mind passing dishes and allowing others to try everything.  This is what we ate:

• Maine Lobster Cappuccino - a soup including Butternut squash dumpling and vanilla emulsion
• Kabocha Squash - with black kale, sheep milk cheese candied squash seeds
• Sugar Pumpkin Croquettes - with chevre, baby fennel, orange
• Chef's Garden Crosnes - a tuber with potato dumpling and crispy artichoke (more detail below)
• Chilled Heirloom Baby Beets - with whipped creme fraiche, molasses vinaigrette
• Texas Wild Boar Rack - with mustard glaze and maple grits
• Jidori Chicken - herb roasted with baby carrots, fingerling potatoes, cipollini
• Adobo Rubbed Ribeye - with refried rancho gordo cranberry beans and vidalia onion rings

The precious gems amongst all of these jewels were the lobster cappuccino soup, the pumpkin croquettes, and the crosnes.  The soup had great texture and taste.  The pumpkin croquettes literally melted in your mouth.  And the crosnes?  Quite a discovery for our party!  We asked the waitress questions about this tuber.  She said they had the texture of a water chestnut and were becoming more and more popular in the US.

This root vegetable is pronounced "crones" (one syllable) and was named after the French town of Crosne where they were brought from Japan in 1882, according to The New York Times.  In February 2004, the paper had an informative and amusing article about this unsightly vegetable.  A New York farmer was quoted as saying this one-inch vegetable is difficult to harvest in the late fall when the ground is cold.  For cooks, 

they are impossible to peel and annoying to clean. (Rub them with salt and a little water -- the salt gets the dirt out of nooks and crannies.)

Apparently, much of the flavor resides in the skin.  The article added,

The French variety tastes a bit like potato. The American variety is smaller and nuttier. The delicate flavor suggests jicama or Jerusalem artichoke. Unlike most tubers, crosnes stay crunchy when cooked.

Intrigued by this little vegetable prepared so well at JG Domestic, I did a little more research on chow.com.  It said this tuber is "from the mint family with a nutty, artichoke-like flavor."  This website differed from The New York Times, however, in that it stated crosnes were brought to France from China.  Whatever their origin, I will be on the hunt to try crosnes in other restaurants.  I want to see if they are as fabulous as I think or if they benefited greatly from the wizardly of Chef.

The last two meals listed above (chicken and ribeye) were extremely large portions.  The boar was..well...a bore. It received mostly rave reviews online but our table was very ambivalent about it.  I've had better in several places, including Pumpkin in South Philly.  Also, it was a much smaller serving than the chicken and ribeye.

After discovering the proximity to the escalator is not an issue for JG Domestic and, yes, the food is pricey I still highly recommend it.  If you're going to travel by car, it may be easier to park at 30th Street and walk through the train station than navigate the maze of roads and railroad tracks around the Cira Center.  But if you decide to drive anyway, I certainly understand.  Chef Jose Garces' restaurant is so comfortable and the food so creative that this fan knows you do what you have to do to experience it.

The Persian Grille in Lafayette Hill, PA

Over 20 years.  That's how long it has been since I have wanted to try The Persian Grille just outside the northwest county line separating Philadelphia and Montgomery counties.  I wish I could say it was worth the wait.

Years and years ago I lived in the Germantown and then West Mount Airy sections of Philadelphia.  I also worked in nearby Chestnut Hill for awhile.  During these times, I would often pass this restaurant, which seemed extremely exotic and mysterious in my limited world experience and youth.  I finally stopped there this past weekend as I was heading to a concert in Glenside, PA; this restaurant is only about 7 - 8 miles from the theater.

The dining experience got off to a great start.  The restaurant had quite a few patrons at 6pm and I could tell from the way many interacted with the waitstaff that the patrons were regulars.  That, combined with the intriguing Iranian/Persian art, made for a comfortable and interesting atmosphere.  The food also got off to a good start.

Two of the three appetizers we had were very tasty.  We started with Halim Bademjoon ($6.95), a

special seasoned open flame charcoal grilled eggplant made with shredded chicken, sauteed onions, mint and walnuts.

This was very good.  Next, the waiter brought us complimentary dishes, costing about $9.00 on the menu if we had to pay for them.  These were very reminiscent of starters that accompany papadam at an Indian restaurant.  The tomato, onion, cucumber mixture (Salad-Shirazi) was very good.  The yogurt and cucumber dish tasted sour.

Even though I tried it, I can't remember what my partner ate for an entree.  Chicken-something that apparently did not "wow" me. I had Shereen Polo ($19.95), which is described on the menu as

basmati rice with saffron, slivered almonds, orange peels, slivered carrots and pistachio nuts. We add our special sauce and a generous portion of oven roasted chicken topped with a mild orange sauce. This dish is served at persian wedding (sic).

Sounds great, right?  I wish I could say it was.  It wasn't bad, mind you.  It was just that the orange taste was overwhelming and the chicken was dry.  The portion was huge and, because there was not a great diversity of taste, I wound up with the dreaded "same-taste syndrome."  (Remind me to copyright that phrase.)  I left a lot on my plate. 

We ended the meal with some baklava and I had some tea that came with rock candy on a stick - dunk to add the sweetness! 

Too bad the enjoyable and tasty beginning and end of the meal wasn't accompanied by a strong middle.  Perhaps I unfairly expected more diverse flavor.  Maybe I jinxed myself after the first eggplant appetizer and all of the interesting eye-candy (in the form of decoration) when I said, "I'm definitely coming back here."  All I know that is that I'm glad I tried it after 20+ years of thinking I would get to it.  I'm willing, however, to wait that amount of time again before I re-visit, even if the place did have a large line of eager customers when I left.

Tinto in Philadelphia

I don't like it when a person professes to be a "foodie."  I'm not sure why I don't  like it; maybe because it seems snobby or pretentious?  But if loving food that's creative, unique, a nd beautifully presented makes one a foodie, Tinto has done that to me.

According to this restaurant and wine bar's web site,

Tinto, a colloquial expression used to describe the red wine served in typical pintxos bars throughout Northern Spain, is the ultimate expression of what a Basque wine bar should be.

This pintxos (or pinchos - the Basque version of what more people may know as tapas) bar on 20th Street between Chestnut and Sansom, is a warm (albeit a little dark) space with impeccable service. My experience was very pleasant; my mind was relaxed and my palate was thrilled.

In this Eden of good food, I had a cheese plate as well as an arugula salad with serrano ham, mission figs, and goat cheese to start.  I also had octopus with lemon powder.  My partner also shared her olives, sea bass with cockles (clams) and salsa verde, and a chicken dish.  With the generous tapas portions, we both felt like we had enough to eat.

It's been over week now since we ate there so I can't remember the red wine we had but the server recommended one.  Both were great complements to the food. 

If I were the Lone Ranger I would say, "Go to Tinto, Tonto!"  OK, call me corny.  Just don't call me a foodie.

No Upstares Upstairs

Philadelphians know the corner of Broad and Locust as the location of dual restaurants Sotto Varalli and, just upstairs from Sotto Varalli, the other restaurant called Upstares.  As of today, the 21-year old Upstares is gone and Perch Pub occupies its space.  The menus of Sotto Varalli and Upstares will combine - "Northern Italian seafood with a Mediterranean twist" - in the downstairs restaurant.  In addition, Sotto Varalli is now simply Varalli.

According to City Paper, Perch Pub is

A gastropub of sorts, Perch will pour local craft beer and feature a moderately priced ($1.50-$19) comfort-food-style menu (melts, tacos, braised lamb shank, housemade chips and fries...   

The Varalli website hasn't changed yet so I'm not sure if Perch Pub is open for lunch, but I plan on wandering over there sometime next month to check it out.

Bodhi

Bodhi, per Wikipedia, is "both a Pāli and Sanskrit word traditionally translated as 'enlightenment,' but frequently (and more accurately) translated as 'awakening' or 'to know'." I will take the liberty with this definition and say that Bodhi Coffee is 'to know' excellent Stumptown coffee in an 'enlightened' coffee house.

A few weeks ago when I was working on a weekend I headed down to Philadelphia's Headhouse Square section near South Street.  I didn't know until today that Headhouse Square has been a National Historic Landmark since 1966.  About 200 years prior to that, sheds were erected in 1745 in this area to allow merchants and consumers to meet.  About 55 years later, headhouses, which are fire engine houses, were built on the ends of the rows of sheds.  I learned that "each headhouse had alarm bells and a second-floor fireman's social club." 

Headhouse circa 1960's

Headhouse Today

This charming area is still lined with cobble stones and a market occurs between the headhouses.  You can get your history, your veggies and other wares, and a cup of joe in this great location for Bodhi Coffee. 

The reason I sought out Bodhi Coffee is because my love of Stumptown Coffee.  I haven't had any since I left New York City.  That means it's been almost 8 months.  I was way overdue.  It was a Zen moment when my chilled lips touched that hot coffee.  Goodness that I remembered immediately.  Stumptown and Philly - a beautiful combination.

When I ordered at the counter I was asked the standard, "For here or to go?"  I said, "For here."  Strangely, I was still given a paper cup with a plastic lid.  I was disappointed but not enough to mention it.

I sat in the window and watched the people walking by.  I also watched the people sitting at the two little tables outside.  They were bundled up against the cold but enjoying the late Fall sun.  I read a little bit of the complimentary Sunday newspaper and soaked in the warmth.

When it was time to go I couldn't find the trash can.  When I asked at the counter, I was told they have their own compost and they would take care of it.  I was very appreciative of that answer!  Glad they are trying to make a difference.  Too bad, I thought, they didn't give me a cup they could just wash.

If I lived in the area of Headhouse Square/Society Hill I would be a regular at Bodhi Coffee.  Alas, I'm not a resident of the area.  But I will certainly visit the coffee house whenever I am in the area...or go a little out of my way even if I am not.

According, again, to Wikipedia,

In early Buddhism, bodhi carried a meaning synonymous to nirvana, using only some different metaphors to describe the experience, which implied the extinction of raga (greed)...

The moment I had at Bodhi Coffee - my long sought Stumptown Coffee in a great, "aware" location - was a piece of nirvana.  Even though it is a business, it seems Bodhi Coffee is the antithesis of greed.  I hope it does well as it is watched by the headhouses.



Information regarding Headhouse Square from http://www.ushistory.org/tour/headhouse.htm

Burgers

The place looked fun inside so we walked up to the counter, ordered, and then sat down.  The food came in record time.  But wait...the roll had blood on it...really fresh, red blood.  "Oh well," I thought, "I'll just rip it off and not eat that."  I took a few bites of the burger and showed my dining companion.  A waiter saw me doing this and came over.  I timidly mentioned that I had asked for "medium well."  He quickly took it away and promised to take care of  it.  It was a perfectly pleasant exchange.

That was my start at Bobby's Burger Palace.  Not an upsetting start, just not a smooth one.  But then the second burger came.  Yum. Wow. OMG.

I don't eat a lot of burgers but this burger was amazing.  I ordered the Napa Valley burger with goat cheese and watercress.  It was a wonderful  combination.  My burger had a nice, slightly charred and crisp outside and a juicy inside.

Bobby's Burger Palace is the child of chef and TV food personality Bobby Flay.  This West Philly location, which opened in April of this year, is one of five.  There are two locations in NJ and one each in NY and CT.  I highly recommend a visit, even if you don't eat burgers. The casual restaurant also has other sandwiches, soups and sides as well as beer, wine, and a margarita.  (While the website lists separate menus for each location, Philly's menu shows just one margarita.)  The menu items are under $10. 

If you visit the Philly location at 39th and Walnut, remember that the burgers are always prepared "medium" unless you ask otherwise.  If the burger I got was Bobby's idea of "medium," be prepared to see red...on your roll.  But know that you're getting one mighty good burger.

El Rey - Philadelphia, PA

Stephen Starr, about whom I have blogged in the past, owns 15 restaurants in Philadelphia.  15 restaurants that still create a buzz for many.  After visiting yet another this past Monday, I wondered how many I have visited.  Here's the tally:

1. Alma de Cuba - no
2. Buddakan - yes
3. The Continental - no
4. El Vez - yes
5. Jones - no (But will treat myself to a slow, leisurely lunch for one there in the late winter when my work madness is over)
6. Moriomoto - no
7. Pod - yes
8. Butcher and Singer - yes
9. Tangerine - no
10. Barclay Prime - no
11. Continental - Midtown - yes
12. Parc - no
13. Pizzeria Stella - no
14. El Rey - yes
15. Granite Hill (at Philadelphia Museum of Art) - no

Looks like I've hit a third of the restaurants.  I find that many, while "cool" to visit, are much ado about generally decent but often overpriced food.  El Rey was a case-in-point.  5:30p on a Monday night and no happy hour?  I guess if you're a Stephen Starr restaurant you don't have to do that, although it was empty when I left two hours later.

El Rey (or "king") is at 20th and Market Streets in the old Midtown diner location.  Starr didn't dump a lot of money into a renovation.  Seemingly the same formica, scallop shell counter and vinyl chairs.  Bad-turned-hip kitsch as in the chandeliers, faux rock walls, and black velvet Elvis and Jimi Hendrix.  The food was El Vez-ish.  The chips and salsa were fine - not remarkable - and the ceviche was good but not the best I've had. 

Truth be told, I went to El Rey because it is a Stephen Starr restaurant.  His name obviously draws.  Otherwise this is a diner-turned-cheesy Mexican place that remains in business "just because."  Chances are, El Rey will still be around if and when Starr opens restaurant number 16 in Philadelphia.

The counter at El Rey

(Oh, and Esquire Magazine's 2010 Hostess of the Year, El Rey's

Melissa Calcagni)

Gnocchi Restaurant

This past Tuesday night was a friend's birthday so that meant dinner out.  We headed to 3rd and Passyunk (just near South Street as Passyunk runs diagonally) and went to her choice - Gnocchi.  Of course, when in Gnocchi, I ate gnocchis.  (Does one pluralize this word?  Does a person eat gnocchi or gnocchis?)

The restaurant has been around for awhile and my friend had been there before for the "best gnocchis (she's) ever had."  They were good; apparently they're homemade daily.  Mine came with a light red sauce and beets.  May sound strange but it was very good.  Each gnocchi was small and had good texture.

Gnocchi doesn't seem to have its own website.  I know that because I wanted to check out the menu before we went but I couldn't find the restaurant's site so I had to use menupages.com.  I also read some reviews on yelp.com.  There were definitely some unfavorable ones.  Several concerns were regarding various aspects of service.  My party and a party of two were the only patrons during the time we ordered.  The meals took extraordinarily long to come out.  I can't imagine what it would be like on a Saturday night, unless the kitchen has a lot more help.

I recommend Gnocchi if you're in the Queen Village section of Philly.  Of course, try the gnocchis...on a weeknight.