I made PASTA!

I don't have time to give all the details on my time spent kneading the dough but here are a few pics to prove I cranked out my own pasta yesterday;)

 

 

And with my homemade Tomato Florentine Sauce

Jose's Pork Jawn delight!

Behold the amazing sandwich I had on Friday afternoon during our Sly Fox lunch at
Jose Pistolas.
Owner Casey Parker told me not to eat before I got there because there was some pork jawn I had to try.
I am glad I held out....

What was this pork jawn all about?


A breaded pork tenderloin joined by some slaw and mexi aioli of some sort sandwiched on a Le Bus challah roll and served with tater tots for $12.
The tenderloin was downright succulent.
It was the best sandwich I had year to date.

Craft filled S u p e r b o w l-= Swifty's or the P.o.p.e

Still don't have superbowl plans?
And you might not even care...
But if you do- here goes

*SWiFt Half is donating all sales of Sly Fox cans to Doctors without Borders- Haiti Relief!!!
I will be there for a bit.

*P.o.p.e. is hosting their 2nd annual "Stupor Bowl."
Last year pitted Philadelphia Brewing Co vs. YaRDS.



This year it will be Sly Fox vs. Victory.

The P.o.P.e will have 3 of each brewery's beers...and viewers can decide which is their favorite.
the styles won't necessarily be the same from each brewery (they only have one nitro tap).

Management promises food and beer specials-=-

I will also be here-probably the second half.

I saw a couple of the National League play-off games here. It was the perfect place to watch a game without some of the meathead madness.

Green Eggs has Legs- Perhaps South Philly's Best Breakfast

In the popular Childrens' story, Green Eggs and Ham, Sam is trying to get a reluctant boy to try eggs like he's never had them before.  Green! and with Ham!  Regardless of Sam's suggestions...a variety of locations, transportation, and dining companions-nothing can sway him.

When Green Eggs Cafe first opened up by Clarion and Dickinson (13th), I thought I would be in there right away.  As with most new openings, it was "coming soon" for a while.  I don't know if it was a "boy who cried wolf" thing or not (oh- that place is still not open) but when they finally opened- I didn't rush in.

I waited about a month. Last Friday was the day.  Lance Romance had off from work so we were afforded the rare opportunity to meet for a weekday breakfast.  (Many of the places we like to get some good morning grub are just too crowded on Saturday and Sunday with weekend warriors.)

I saw a few pics of it early on via City Paper's Meal Ticket.

I had heard not a lick about the food.
Sometimes that is best.  Zip on the expectations.

I went savory- per  usual.  Lance went sweet.
I was tempted by the Philly Egg's Benedict, which subs Grilled Pork Loin for Canadian Bacon, but considering I actually don't care for the incorporated cream cheese, I went with the "Kitchen Sink."  I sank two eggs with cheese, their signature potato, choice of breakfast meat topped with homemade jumbo biscuit and sausage gravy into my stomach. It was cholesterol-up, hands-down the best breakfast I have had in months.  Rich though. When I thought my gluttony was coming to a close- I looked down at my cast-iron skillet and it looked like I barely touched it.  This was enough food to feed a South Philly family of four--and for only $8.50!

Lance got the Peanut Butter Crunch French Toast-=Brioche Texas toast stuffed with whipped crunchy peanut butter and Philadelphia cream cheese served with blackberry jam coulis.  I probably would never order that myself, so it's nice that we date so I can try one bite of something I never would have experienced otherwise.  (I mean there's other reasons too, he's nice, smart, funny and all-- but that's a list topper).  He's like, "this is the best peanut -butter I've ever had."  I had to agree. This too- only $8.50.

Then comes the bacon.  The heart-stopping, no- world-stopping- fatback of my dreams.  It was h e a v y.  Real heavy. It had a maple accent to it.  It was crunchy and chewy, and it was the best bacon we have ever had. Actually- there was that "bacon on the stick" at the Kennett Square Beer Fest I still think about from time to time.

But this was just as good, and something I can get again and again. ($2.50 for 2 slices)
It even prompted me to stop by the open kitchen next door on my way out and thank the chef.  I didn't meet the chef, but I met owner, Stephen Slaughter, whom told me they cut it the bacon in house.

My only grievance is that the food did take a while.  Which when you're doing breakfast on a Friday- as cliche as it sounds, you really don't have all day.  But- if anything was truly "worth the wait", that kitchen sink skillet, that crunchy peanut butter, and that slab o' bacon certainly were.

The decor isn't as glossy as I thought it might be.  Little plants sit on every table. The toast comes out in this funky metal basket.  The orange juice was delightful.  The service was the same.

My favorite part of the restaurant (there are three rooms) was a back room with a large table.
It screamed to me "Breakfast party with Champers and Sly Fox."  I think we might need to do just that as Green Eggs is a BYO. (But just open for breakfast, lunch and brunch).

Next time I return- which should be VERY soon-
with friends that are many,
perhaps I will get that Philly Eggs Bene.

If Seuss's homeboy can be swayed to the way of green eggs, I can hopefully handle a little dairy-=-

A m i s: Fresh Pasta, Bowie, and a rather nice Bar

I ate well last week. Really well. 
Tuesday was my first visit to Amis.  I was meeting a friend for dinner and he told me to pick the place.
I wasn't going to throw a Marc Vetri establishment at him- heck I would have been happy with a Royal Tavern Burger, but we decided on Vetri's new trattoria.  The Tagliata di Tonno (Tuna) remains as fresh in my mind as it was on the table.

Amis is actually meat heavy- perhaps a bit of a struggle for the vegetarian, but my host always looking on the sunny side- was more than fine with the Tonnarelli with pecorino and black pepper. Tonnarelli is sort of like spaghetti's square cuz.  It's about the same thickness but instead of being circular in the cross-section, it's well-square.

The service was excellent (I actually knew our server so I am biased).  Your server will guide you through the menu and make sure you don't over order or leave hungry.

We sat in the dining room for dinner, but upon running into my old pal Trevor- I moved to the bar following.  It was a well-thought out bottle list, and limited- yet welcome draft options.  All craft- the largest brewery being Sierra Nevada.  Yards Old Bart was on...but it wasn't an Old Bart night for me.  There was also Stoudts Pils which is always nice, and a Brooklyn Backbreaker, an English Strong Ale, which I haven't seen around too much, and didn't try that night.


Sitting at the beaut of a zinc (?) bar flanked by Chefs de cuisine from El Vez and Amada, I had a hunch that this is going to be a spot where the men/ladies head when they hang up their white coats for the night.

Vetri and Chef de Cuisine, Brad Spence, are currently serving the ENTIRE menu until 1 am.  They're testing it out to see how it goes-to see if the night owls will come.

Trevor Budny of El Vez is fist-pumping pumped.  He says this is unheard of in Philly.  Personally, I can think of some great food you can get up until 1am (once again- very lucky to be living right by Royal Tavern), but we're talking fresh made gnocchi with oxtail ragu after midnight??? Amazing!  Budny's hope is that enough industry people and late night diners show interest to keep it going.

The music was a nice surprise as well. A li'l David Bowie, some Stones and Beatles lent a more casual feel than perhaps Vetri's other restaurants.  The bartender, Brian, told me it was Vetri's Ipod.  But- I'm not certain.

I was fortunate enough to learn  a lot more about James Beard's 2005 Best -Chef in the Mid-Atlantic that night. I liked what I had heard. I like the way he runs his business. I like his philanthropic nature, but I really like how his sommelier, Steve Widley, can talk farmhouse ales in the type of restaurant that most people wouldn't expect to get past "Glass or bottle of Bardolino?"

Imponente!

Read more about Amis here and here.

I know my photo is awful. Sorry.

Next Up:
Vetri's Grand Tasting and Green Eggs Cafe

Get Loaded Lunch at Jose Pistolas with Brian O'Reilly tomorrow!

Tomorrow!
Sly Fox joins Jose Pistolas in the on-going
Friday Series "Get Loaded Lunches"
Brian O'Reilly will venture into the city for the afternoon.

The Pours!

Schwarzbier
CANS of Pils and Pale
A Firkin of Chester C ounty Bitter
O'Reillys Stout makes a reappearance on the Tower!

Get there when you can. We'll be hanging around from 12 till 3.

Cheers!

Firkin of OATMEAL STOUT at STANDARD TAP tonight!

No rest for the beer rep after a momentous Ground Hog's Day at the Grey Lodge.
Tonight I'll be hanging out at Standard Tap for a few with a firkin of our brewpub's Oatmeal Stout.
6 pm
I love this beer.
Here's the descript from Sly's Website:

An English sweet stout to compliment our standard Irish dry stout. It is brewed with English pale, caramel, and chocolate malts. All English hops were used: Target for bittering and a small East Kent Goldings addition for aroma. 55 lbs. of flaked oats were added to the mash giving this full-bodied beer its silky texture, smooth taste and delicate finish.

Valenstein's Day @ Hawthornes

Good Monday Morning All.
As you may have already read elsewhere by this point- The Lovebirds of Hawthornes are hosting a Valentines Dinner-=-
How many beer-themed Valentines events are around the city?
This should sell out so get your tix sooner than later.
One seating 6 pm
$60 pp
Three Courses paired with  beer and a special aged Chocolate Stout nightcap to boot.
 RSVP

Tel: 215.627.3012 • www.hawthroneafe.com

The evening's MENU

First Course (Choose One)

* Creamy Mushroom Soup
* Mesculin Orange & Fennel Salad
* Gnocchi with Garlic Cream & Basil Tomato

Second Course (Choose One)

* Braised Beef Short Rib with Artichoke Croquette & Stewed Pigeon Peas
* Butter Braised Halibut with Pork Belly Hash
* Wild Mushroom & Asparagus Risotto

Dessert (Choose One)
* Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse Cake with Chocolate Ganache
* Strawberry Napoleon

Tickets still left for South Philly Tap Room's "Beef and Beer"

Here's what you can look forward to

The Beef

Slow roasted prime rib of beef

            -homemade steak sauce

            -horseradish cream sauce

            -horseradish

            -selection of salts

Smoked beef brisket tacos with fresh tortillas

            -nopale salad

            -salsa verde

            -tomato and arbol chile salsa

            -guacamole with roasted chiles

Classic steak tartar with black pepper sabayon

 Macaroni and cheese

Roasted brussel sprouts with double smoked bacon and apple vinaigrette

Potato salad

Pasta salad

Classic caesar salad

 Assorted rolls with whipped salted butter

The Beer (ALL CASK)

Troeg’s Nugget Nectar

PBC’s  Kilty Pleasure (scotch ale) and Newbold IPA

Sly Fox’s Gang Aft Agley (wee heavy) and Chester County Bitter

Flying Fish’s Hop Fish IPA

Weyerbacher Hops Infusion IPA

Stoudt’s Chocolate Cherry Fat Dof- (imperial oatmeal stout aged with chocolate and cherries in the firkin)

All you can for $50

If you are a Newbold ressie-Only $40.

You can order tickets online here.

This week's Pick Six from Philadelphia Weekly

Just about every two weeks I find 6 noteworthy beers at the Foodery and write about em...

Here's this week.


Coming soon:
*Review on Vetri
*Review on Green Eggs cafe
*Review on Amis
*Recap on IPA's first Potluck