Philadelphia is My Home

03
Dec

It’s All About The Food

Author: Momish, Category: Dining Out, Just Ranting, Philly Finds, Philly Food

Once you hit a certain age, the holidays aren’t really about getting stuff anymore.  Not cool and fun stuff anyway.  No, instead they become more about the food than anything else.

But alas, in my true fashion, I will most likely be a total disappointment in this arena.  Since I rarely cook or bake, I can’t post any terrific mouth watering recipes that will have you running for the kitchen, rolling pin in hand.

So instead, I figured I would just pass along some great foods I have recently eaten.  It’s my little way of sharing the joy.

Let’s see.  Well for starters, I recently ate at Horizons.  A fully vegan restaurant where you can gorge yourself without feeling like a total glutton.  That part is very important to me around this time of year.  So if you are like me and need to feel good about stuffing your face, I suggest you pit stop over to this great restaurant for at least one good meal before New Year’s day.  It will really help, trust me.  Now I don’t feel so bad about all the sugar cookies I have eaten.

The food was so tasty on its own, but knowing it was healthy and good for you, made it that much more enjoyable.  I had the Portobello Trio entree, which had so much flavor, I could eat it everyday for a week straight!  I plan on going back A LOT so I can work my way down the entire menu, because it was only after much painful agony, I settled on the Portobellos.  So I must return.  (I sense a New Year’s resolution in the making!)

What else?  Oh yeah! We had a smashing birthday party for my husband last weekend.  Since it was his birthday and he is the cook in our house, we decided to cater it so he could actually enjoy his day.  After searching endlessly for a reasonable caterer that we could afford without having to sacrifice my daughter’s Christmas presents, we went with Tori’s.

Located on South street, they were able to deliver the food to us right before the party.  They were completely open to letting us order what we needed and what fit our budget.  We had “lollipop” lamb chops, eggplant bruschetta, crab cakes, a cheese and a fruit platter.  Everything was amazing and perfect, with interesting flavors instead of the same old boring trays of food.  

The party was fun, needless to say.  But in the end, it was all about the food and Tori’s really helped to make it a success. Great food without paying for all the stuff you really don’t need or want when having a simple house party.  If you haven’t checked out their new location, you must go. It’s such an amazing building, with a lovely atmosphere that perfectly compliments the great food.

So, that is my brief update on holiday eating.  If you know of any good places around town, fill me in.

In the meantime, I hope you are enjoying the festive season and all that yummy food.  Munch away, people.  Munch away.

17
Aug

A Ruby In The Ruff

Author: Momish, Category: Dining Out, Philly Food

Before the kid, my husband and I would constantly go to BYOB’s in the neighborhood for good food and a wonderful night out.  But those lovely, quaint BYOB’s aren’t exactly the kid friendliest places around, some of them don’t even have high chairs.  Enter the Ruby Buffet on Delaware Ave (I refuse to call it by any other name).

We try to go there at least one Friday a month.  It is very affordable and there is something available to keep everyone in our motley crew happy.  And like I said, it is kid friendly in every way imaginable.

Buffets are great for toddlers mostly due to the fact that you can immediately start shoving food at them and continue to do so the entire time.  Nothing entertains a two year old better than food. 

When my daughter is not thoroughly enthralled by the myriad of noodles dishes, veggies in every kind of sauce, deep fried goodies, fruit perfectly cut up for small fingers and desserts she dreams about nightly,  it still doesn’t matter.  With what seems like a high chair at every other table, my daughter’s meltdowns blend right in with the general noise level of the place. 

Mind you, this is no Chuck E. Cheese.  The Ruby Buffet has a warm and friendly atmosphere where you won’t walk away with a blaring headache.  Well, unless you are at our table and have helped us consume three bottles of wine.

Ah, the wine.  That is the best part about going to buffet because it is a BYOB.  So while the kids are at one end of the table doing all kinds of disgusting things to the jell-o, us adults are blissfully ignorant to their antics, lost in our own conversations as we crack open bottle after bottle of our own wine.  

Oh yeah, and they serve food there too.  I was going to get around to that eventually, trust me. 

I don’t really eat or like sushi, but our friends are crazy about it. They say the sushi is way above average for buffet style, especially for the price.  And I believe them because they devour it as if it were actually food. 

All the dishes are constantly being attended to keep them fresh and hot.  The staff is super friendly with unlimited amounts of patience (they actually smile and play with my daughter as they repeatedly clean up the mounts of debris that ends up around her high chair). 

So if you are looking for a great place to relax, unwind, drink your favorite wine and dine with variety, I highly recommend the Ruby Buffet.  However, if you cannot tolerate a dozen kids under the age of four, then consider yourself warned. 

Ditto for drunk adults.

Ruby Buffet, 1100 South Columbus Ave. (this is official stuff, so I have to put that other name).  215-468-8889

Here is the South Philly Review’s review, in case you don’t trust me.

02
Aug

Reading Market Is Terminal For Rick’s Cheesesteaks

Author: Momish, Category: Current Events, Dining Out, Just Ranting, Local News, Philly Food

I am a traditionalist.  As much as I like change and new things, I also cling to the past like a crab to a big toe.

That is why this whole Rick’s Philly Cheesesteaks eviction from Reading Terminal Market is bothering me.  They are screwing with tradition and history here and I just don’t like that.

On Tuesday, Rick’s lease was up at the market after much controversy and debate.  But as of yesterday, Rick was still there slinging his cheesesteaks around for anyone ordering.  If I worked in Center City, I would head down there and order one myself even though I am not a huge fan of cheesesteaks (probably shouldn’t let that get out, huh?). 

And now there is all this talk of Tony Luke’s being the bad guy.  I don’t honestly think Tony Luke’s is to blame.  I doubt that there is some conspiracy here to oust Rick’s by Tony Luke.  But then again, I often suffer from the Anne Frank syndrome thinking everyone is still good at heart.  

The article states that the Market wanted a “premier” cheesesteak shop and therefore are kicking out Rick Olivieri in favor of Tony Luke.  Um, is it me or are they nuts?  As if any cheesesteak place can be considered “premier”.  It’s cheesesteaks, people! As in wrapped in paper.  As in greasy.  As in destined to give you clogged arteries.  There is nothing premier or classy about cheesesteaks, which is exactly what makes them so popular.

Olivieri claims the cancelled lease is in retaliation to past clashes with management as the head of the market’s merchant association.  Why does that ring more true than the desire to have the oh-so-upscale Tony Luke’s shop?  Obviously, he has the full support of not just his loyal customers, but the other Reading Terminal Market merchants.  According to merchant David Esh, owner-operator of Hatville Deli and a representative of the market’s Amish merchants, the 19th Annual Dutch Festival scheduled for Aug. 8-11 has been canceled in protest of the eviction.  

What do you think?  He and his family have been there since 1982.  That to me is long enough to be considered tradition and history.

Mr. Olivieri is planning on filing a lawsuit against the market.  I say you cling to that big toe with all your might, Mr. Olivieri! There are a lot of people behind you on this one.  It may be your shop and your livelihood, but it is our city and our tradition too.

14
Jun

Sonsie in A.C.

Author: Momish, Category: Atlantic City, Dining Out, Jersey, The Shore

Here’s a little tidbit about me - I was not born in Philly.

<gasp>

No, I was actually born in Atlantic City. My mom’s side of the family is from there. So, naturally, I am one of those people that take off for the shore every weekend I can get away. Considering AC is practically Little-Philly-On-The-Beach and summer is finally here, I thought it would be good to tell you about a great place we ate at last weekend.

I don’t know if you have had a chance to check out the new pier at Caesar’s, but there are tons of great shops and restaurants there. We wondered around for a bit before we decided to eat at Sonsie.

I had never heard of this place before, but apparently the original restaurant is in Boston and has quite a reputation. It ended up being an excellent choice and I will definitely be heading back there again. Here’s why:

First off, the service was exceptional. Everyone was courteous and attentive beyond our needs. And that was despite our jeans and constant queries of “how much is that” or “what does that cost”. They didn’t even scoff when we sulked and pouted like small children because we wanted a booth with a view. (Plus I refused to eat my dinner staring at a blown up picture of some woman’s nostril. If you go there, you will see what a mean. They call it “art work”).

Anyway, dining out is all about the food, right? Well, that and the wine. In both instances, Sonsie shined. The food was great! It was flavorful and different, yet not too fancy to the point where it makes your head spin. I hate walking into a restaurant and agonizing over the menu because all the dishes include some ridiculous combination of flavors that have no business being put together. Why ruin a perfectly good fillet of fish by baking it in a mango and coconut chutney sauce, then drizzling it with olive juice and laying it over a bed of chili basted polenta?

Sonsie’s menu was diverse and unique enough that it was hard to chose a dish, and none of the entrees were the typical foods I would have been able to make in my own home. The wine list was just as impressive. Yet, surprisingly, the prices weren’t jacked up beyond the usual gouging. My husband, the wine snob, left there perfectly content, which speaks volumes (no pun intended).

Finally, let me just say that no one at our table was able to finish their meals. The dishes weren’t piled high diner style, but were hearty enough. If I hadn’t eaten three rolls, a half a pound of calimari and a salad, my main entree would have been just the right amount. Next time we are going to check out their wine and cheese happy hour. It sounds great.  If you’ve tried it, let me know!

Other Info:

• Contemporary American Cuisine 
• Entrees range under $30
• Dress is casual elegant (you can get away with jeans, but probably not sneakers)
• Website: Sonsie 
• Website:  The Pier at Caesar’s