Philly - - Page 10

by ML

The Best Birthday Present a Girl Could Ask For

Amidst the farm/Amish/cow shit stereotypes, I’ve come to realize that Pennsylvania really does love food. Bon Appetit recently featured Philadelphia as being a “scrumptious” city. I’m not sure what happened to the “fat” label, I’m thinking maybe they meant Philadelphians are scrumptious rather than the food itself. But now really isn’t the time for technicalities.

Now that we’ve moved from “fat” to “scrumptious,” imagine my shock, surprise, and delight when I stumbled upon the news of the Reading Phillies’ Gluttony Night. The first Gluttony Night was May 19th, 2009, when the Reading Phillies served more food in one night than at any game in the team’s history.

On this night, 2,576 fans participating in the feast set a stadium record by consuming:

in Personal 6 comments

by tvff

Rachael Ray’s Risotto-Free Risotto

Ladies and gentlemen, it has finally happened. After airing 24,685 (approximately) dishes that can be made in less than half an hour, Rachael Ray apparently ran out of good ideas, said “screw it,” and invented what has to be the most ridiculous pasta dish ever to grace the airwaves.

I was having such a good weekend from a culinary standpoint. I was playing tour guide around Philly for an visiting friend and it included a delicious chanterelle and bone marrow ravioli at Osteria and some fantastic gelato from Capogiro, so you can imagine my disappointment when flipped on Food Network Sunday morning and saw Ms. Ray assaulting the proud tradition of the Italian people.

Technically called “Wild Mushroom Broken Spaghetti Risotto with Arugula and Hazelnuts,” it’s basically inch-long shards of long pasta cooked by adding stock like you would to true risotto. If you’re thinking this sounds like a bad idea, you’re right. But why is this seemingly innocent dish attracting my ire?

in Celebs / TV 10 comments

by ML

Easy Drinkin’

Ah, summer. Pool parties, farmers markets, and…tailgates.

At my family’s tailgates, we’re normally more concerned with the quantity than quality of our food, since tailgating is all about surviving a day of drinking. This is a little lot strange to me, considering Philadelphia is supposed to have a lot of really good tailgate food. We do bring enough grub to feed the entire parking lot (30 hot dogs, 30 hamburgers, and four hoagies for 8 people?), but the star of the show is undoubtedly our bar menu.

in Drinks 16 comments

by tvff

Making Peace With Cupcakes

Dear Cupcakes,

Yes, I’ve said some mean things about you in the past, but how can I stay mad at you when I see something like this? Sesame Street makes everything better. Bonus points for adorable use of the cookies.

Love,
TVFF

Found at The Coventry Deli in Philadelphia.

Find more cupcake commentary in Endless Cupcakes

in Endless Cupcakes / Uncategorized 4 comments

by tvff

Cheflebrity Smörgåsbord: When in Rome

When I was asked for my last meal on earth, I immediately went Italian. I have a bit of Italian blood in me, but I’m not the typical New Jersey goombah. No, I’ve never worn a track suit and gold chain and you wouldn’t mistake me for an extra from The Sopranos. But it’s certainly the cuisine with which I most closely identify. I’m actually more Irish than Italian, but you’ve got to be kidding me if you think I’m spending my last moments with potatoes, cabbage and corned beef.

Looking at the list of my fellow ESers, I was struck by how many of them went for simple dishes that undoubtedly remind them of home, family, heritage and the positive memories of life around the dinner table. Nobody picked the twelve course tasting menu at The French Laundry. I briefly toyed with the idea of a star-studded mega-meal, but it just didn’t feel right. If you have one last shot, I think it’s best to go with something that reminds you of all the good stuff in your life.

Another wise choice for a last meal? How about a smörgåsbord?

– Well, if you were going to go high-end for your last dinner, you might want to go Jean-Georges. If he’s good enough to cook for the past four presidents, he’s good enough for you.

– James Beard winner, Philly food rock star and my personal foodie man-crush Jose Garces makes fish tacos on the Today Show. He’s pretty good on camera (hint, hint, Food Network folks!)

After the jump: a politico makes a bold statement on communicable diseases, a food festival as envisioned by William Golding, and the perfect gift for the Giada-stalker in your life.

in Celebs / Politics / TV 1 comments

by tvff

Cheflebrity Smörgåsbord: On the Wings of Love

I’m not a complicated man. I’ve discussed many of my food weaknesses here on the site. For the most part, they’ve been very specific…a particular dish from a particular restaurant or a traditional recipe made in an exact way. But there is a more generic food item that gets me salivating like Pavlov’s Pup as soon as I hear the words.

Buffalo wings.

Dangle the possibility of deep fried chicken wings tossed in hot sauce (side of blue cheese dressing, please), and I’ll pretty much travel to the ends of the earth. Funny…the one place I don’t travel is the owl-mascotted restaurant chain that’s located less than a mile from my house, because Mrs. TVFF doesn’t look kindly on that establishment. Anywhere else buffalo wings appear is a place I’m going.

So when my Twitter reader started BINGing with a tweet from the local bar McGillin’s Olde Ale House — plenty of atmosphere, good food and great local microbrews — mentioning a special offer of $.25 wings, I knew what I’d be doing that evening. McGillin’s may be the oldest continuously operating tavern in Philly (since 1860), but they’re au courant with a Twitter account. Wings, twitter – you got my number, McGillin’s.

OK, enough e-drool. On to the smörg…

in Celebs / TV 7 comments

by tvff

Farewell, Harry

Growing up in South Jersey, both gansie and I are big Phillies fans. And as happy as we were when the Phightin’s took home the trophy last year, we’re both really saddened by the loss of Harry Kalas, the team’s long-time Hall of Fame announcer who was as beloved as anyone in the city.

Even if you’re not from the Delaware Valley, you’ll likely know Harry the K’s work. He has long been the voice of NFL films, providing dramatic voice-overs for countless highlight reels.

So when Campbell’s decided to go with pro football stars as part of their advertising campaign for Chunky Soup, who better to serve as the voice of these commercials than Harry?

in Uncategorized 2 comments