28 March 2011

Add Sum of this to Your Dining Experience

My experience at Adsum, like a Campbell's soup commercial, was Mmm, Mmm Good!  I have so much praise for the menu/food/ambiance/service, and it was hands down one of the best dinners I have had in quite some time.  Where to begin....

I was surprised (and thankful) by how easy it was to snatch a reservation for 9pm on a Saturday only a day in advance, especially considering how packed and lively the restaurant was when we arrived.  Our table wasn't quite ready when we showed up, but no worries, we were able to enjoy cocktails and wine at the bar with the delightful bartender while we waited briefly.  I was impressed with the cocktail menu which offered an interesting mix and pairing of spirits, but I opted to order my Sapphire Martini with St. Germaine and a twist that I had been craving, and I was even more elated when the good sir made it perfectly.  The upbeat mix of music was just right for the scene and added a balanced liveliness to the space.The lighting was well played and casually seductive.  So far, so good.

At our table we shared and sampled dishes like Chorizo/Grilled Octopus/Oaxaca Cheese Flatbread, Lamb Ribs with Pepper Kimchee, Delicious Diver Scallops served with an equally delicious Meyer Lemon Sauce, and Fluke/Grilled Snails (yum!)/Mushrooms/Garlic Confit....oh, yes.  My only complaint was that the Fluke was a bit overdone, but nonetheless, the food was bursting with flavor and inventiveness with every bite.  For dessert we tried a new addition to the menu, the Tres Leche with Foie Gras Icing and an Oil-Based Sauce was oh-so magnificent (I'm having cravings just thinking about it).  The texture and flavors complimented each other in a superb and fascinating way that I could not have been more satisfied.  The waiters were all too eager to receive our feedback on the dishes, and happily, I shared my favorable opinions making me feel even better about the experience.

I would be very willing to head back to Adsum to sample more of their desirable menu.  We couldn't help but stare at our neighboring tables with big eyes and watering mouths, constantly saying, "Oh, we should have ordered that too!"  Everything smelled/tasted/looked wonderful.  Philly should be proud to have this gem of a restaurant and Matthew Levin's excellent talents.

25 March 2011

Bar à Vins

Philly has some great wine bars which offer some excellent happy hour deals throughout the week.  As you know, I am a big fan/frequenter of Bar Ferdinand on Monday nights which offers their bottles at half-price all night, but if you're looking for a spot in the heart of center city to sip on un verre de vin and enjoy some cheese and light snacks, look no further...

Vintage has a great HH from 4pm - 6pm (a bit on the early side) offering $4 house wines (good selection too!) and small plates at fabulous prices.

And, if you're like me, and it's rare that you're out of the office by 6pm, check-out Tria (12th street location only) for their always reliable HH menu from 5pm - 7pm.  Changing everyday, the menu allows you to choose from 5 (red/white/cheese/2 beers) great options for only $5 each.  Could you possibly need another reason to indulge?

16 March 2011

...Ella, Ella, Hey, Hey

Two words immediately come to mind when I think about the brunch I recently had at Kanella; f'ing fantastic.  And, yes, the "f'ing" is necessary because it puts that much more emphasis on how fabulous the food and experience was.  We only had to wait a few minutes to scoop up a table for two on a Saturday afternoon without a reservation.  The Greek/Cypriot kitchen is BYOB, with a friendly waitstaff, and a simple/well chosen/mouth watering menu.  Everything we tried hit the spot.  From the greek yogurt presented with honey/spices/nuts to the Cyprus Breakfast complete with fried eggs/halloumi/lounza....should I stop teasing you?  I couldn't be happier with this gem, and I am eager to head back ASAP to check-out their dinner menu.  If you're considering trying Kanella, (I strongly encourage it) and, if you're up for a little Opa! (always), snag a bottle (or two) of champagne on your way over, and they will gladly bring you flutes and OJ to accompany the bubbly. 

The End of Al A Carte

Gasp!  Marc Vetri has finally done it.  Yesterday marked the start of a new era for Vetri; no more al a carte menu.  Vetri will only be offering the tasting menu Monday - Thursday at $135 per person and the Grand Tasting Menu, Friday and Saturday.  As an admirer and fan of Vetri's delicious dishes, I personally do not find this to be troublesome in the least bit.  If you've been to Vetri in the past, it doesn't matter if you order al a carte or the tasting menu because you're spending mega bucks either way.  You don't go to Vetri to order a side of pasta.  You go to experience some of the best dishes you could imagine tasting, and one is never enough.  Don't let this new change discourage you from trying possibly the best restaurant in Philadelphia; embrace it!  Mangiamo!

Cake and the Beanstalk

The new coffee shop that replaced Flying Monkey Deuce on Locust street, Cake and the Beanstalk, is finally opened. I had the chance to stop by with a friend who I have not seen in ages to do some catching up.  First of all, the staff is out-of-this-world friendly!  Making me feel welcomed and right at home, I happily ordered my usual non-fat, chai latte, which was delish and almost a whole dollar cheaper than other surrounding coffee shops in the neighborhood.  Cha-ching!  To go along with my latte, I ordered the chocolate covered banana cake, which they claimed was their specialty (all treats are made in-house), and it certainly hit the spot.  The space is perfect for taking a break out of your day to enjoy some treats/catch-up with a friend/do some reading/etc.  There will be outdoor seating for the warmer weather, and the view of the garden next door is an added bonus for stopping at Cake and the Beanstalk.  One last thing, in all my chatting/catching-up with my friend, I mistakenly left my purse next to our table at the shop and did not realize this for well over 3 hours.  In a panic, I ran to the shop and was welcomed with a recognizing smile and a cheerful nod, and voila! my lost purse was found completely intact and with all of its contents accounted for.  If you're in the neighborhood, this coffee shop is a must stop!

11 March 2011

My Big Fat Greek...

My gals and I checked out Opa last night for a few cocktails and some bday celebrating, and let me just say,  I am loving it!  The location/decor/crowd make it a perfect place to grab a drink any night of the week.  The cocktails, while they are tasty, are a tad pricey at around $11 a glass, but they also offer a great beer and wine menu as well at a more moderate price.  The food, oh my...the delicious smells wafting from the plates alone was enough to fill me up.  And, the food menu, despite the cocktail list, was surprisingly reasonable in price.  The bartenders were super friendly/attentive/talkative, and the wrap-around bar is just right for mingling with your favorite company or making new company.  Lively/busy/bright/sexy, the interior space was fabulous and presented just the right amount of Mediterranean flair without going over the top.  It is safe to say that Opa will be a sure, go-to spot for food/drinks, especially with my impending move to the neighborhood!  Opa!

Taco vs. Dog

Tonight, chef Jose Garces has tweeted, that Guapos Tacos will be serving up their late night dishes on 2nd and Poplar in Nolibs.  What does this mean for The Dapper Dog stand?  Will they be able to handle the Iron Chef and his nifty/bedazzled truck?  I smell/already taste a fierce competition tonight.  Having already experienced the tastiness that The Dapper Dog has to offer, I am eager, as always, to find out what Garces has in store for Nolibs, and which late night food truck I prefer!

10 March 2011

Rent It/Wear It/Love It

Ladies, I've recently discovered a site that can make your life more easier/stylish/affordable.  Rent the Runway, allows you to wear the fabulous dresses you long for by the designers you adore for as little as $40.  Other dresses that range in the $1,000 - $3,000 price tag are a bit pricier, around $200 - $300 + to rent, but that's still an unbelievable deal to wear a dress by Dolce and Gabbana/Missoni/Calvin Klein, n'est-ce pas?  Just think, no more re-wearing that same/over-photographed/tiring dress, a new/sexy/stunning dress for every wedding/bachelorette party/formal event can be worn without breaking the bank and taking up valuable closet space.  I fully intend to take advantage of this new found site, and I will most definitely post pictures and fill you in on the process/experience as well.  And please ladies, share your stylish or not so stylish stories with me and the rest of the gals who are reading this post and are curious about checking out Rent the Runway.

03 March 2011

An Affair to Remember?

Last night, after a great work-out at Versa Fit Studio, the class instructor approached a few of us gals to tell us about a show that she'll be in next weekend called, Pink Hair Affair.  Having recently heard of this group of performers I was intrigued, so I took her card to find out some more information.  Pink Hair Affair is a group of young female dancers performing burlesque inspired shows while wearing hot pink wigs...love!  Tickets are just $10 and the event is BYOB.  The venue is located on Cecil B. Moore, just a few blocks north of Nolibs.  I say this sounds like a fantastic idea for a girls' night of dancing/drinking/showing a little skin. Who's ready to take it off?

01 March 2011

Do You Serve Espresso?

I've been wanting to check-out Audrey Claire for a while.  Living in Philly for over 7 years now, and being the big foodie that I am, it's almost sacrilege that it took me this long to visit!  As we know, I am such a big fan of Twenty Manning, that my expectations for Audrey Claire were already set pretty high; perhaps they were set a little too high...

The restaurant is your classic Philadelphia rowhome with a long/narrow/open floor plan converted into a dining area filled with two-tops and a small open kitchen.  Like most smaller restaurants in the city, Audrey Claire is a BYOB, and like a lot of BYOBs the menu had many diverse offerings created for sharing.  My comrade for the evening and I tried our fair share of the menu starting with the Pumpkin Risotto, which was highly recommended by our waiter but fell very flat and lacked the richness I was desiring.  Next up was the Bosc Pear and Goat Cheese Flatbread, which was far better than the Risotto but still not the delightful treat I had hoped for.  For the entrees, the rack of lamb certainly pleased my taste buds; it was quite delicious.  However, the Paparelle with mushrooms was completely boring and tasteless.  And, lastly in the hopes of ending things well, for dessert we shared the lavender creme brulee which was so rich in lavender it tasted like I was literally eating a  bar of soap or a candle.  Tres mauvais!

Overall, the food was a big disappointment, but we made up for it by poking fun at our waiter (he deserved it) and amusing ourselves one way or another as best we could since our taste buds certainly were not.  Oh, and one more point of negativity to note were the wine glasses, which were actually shot glasses and had no shape whatsoever.  We spent more time refilling our glasses than we did lifting our forks.  Oh, one more, hence the title...they do not serve espresso.  Not my favorite Audrey of all time.

Flower Food

One of the city's biggest events of the year, The Philadelphia International Flower Show, has inspired City Food Tours with it's "Spring Time in Paris" theme, to host their own take on the richness of Parisian culture, as well as incorporate some flowerful flavors.  Their walking food tour of the city will run from March 7th - 12th, and will be the perfect way to sample treats, learn a bit about the process of food making, and discover hidden gems of the city.  C'est parfait! 

This Weekend Only

Pig Iron Theater Company, one of my favorite groups of artists, will be entertaining Philadelphia this weekend only at the Perelman Building with their short original work entitled, "One Day I'll be French".  The piece is being presented in conjunction with the exhibition that opens today, Paris Through the Window, Marc Chagall and His Circle, which consists of more than 70 paintings, sculptures, and works on paper from early 20th century French artists.  Having just come back from Paris (more to come on that I promise!) I did not hesitate to scoop up a ticket for the Saturday show at 4pm.  Come join me!

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