Hansel's Profile
Dinner in Hudson with older relatives
We'll be in Hudson, NY next Sunday night with relatives in their late 70's. We'd like to get a good meal and we understand there are some exciting restaurants in Hudson, but for this crowd it probably shouldn't be anything too trendy or unusual in terms of food. Does anyone have any suggestions for a bit of an older crowd? Thank you for any thoughts!
Gluten free injera in DC?
Does anyone know if any of the great Ethiopian restaurants in Adams Morgan (or anywhere else in DC for that matter) make their injera out of pure teff (or teff and cornmeal, anything but wheat)? I will be visiting DC with a gluten free partner, and we love Ethiopian food. Injera made just with teff, which is gluten free, would be a real plus, but I know a lot of restaurants mix the teff with wheat flour. Thanks for any advice!
Non-restaurant things to eat in philadelphia
If you're looking for sweets/baked stuff, I'd add Market Day canele. But you can only get them in limited places. They are often sold at the year-round Rittenhouse Square farmer's market on Saturdays, at the Headhouse Sunday Market, (but that doesn't begin until May), and I understand the Fair Food Project in the RTM is getting them in on Fridays.
What do you like to cook for yourself when your spouse or family isn't around?
Scrambled eggs with mushrooms, and spinach or other greens or brussels sprouts, all mixed up together. Or a yogurt smoothie with banana and peanut butter. Or, I order a margherita pizza for pick-up. (My partner avoids wheat and dairy, and doesn't like mushrooms or brussels sprouts.)
I am looking for a Winter Farmer's Market for this Saturday March 12th
In Philadelphia: The Rittenhouse Square Market is outdoors, and nice. It's open 10 to 2. There's usually a farmer with some produce and grass fed meat, a mushroom guy, a gluten free bakery person, a cheese person who also carries some pork and chicken, and John & Kira chocolates. Sometimes the Otolith fish people, but I don't think this weekend.
In West Philly, the Clark Park Market (also outdoors) is also fun. Depends on whether you want a center city ambiance, or a West Philly one. I usually go for coffee at the Green Line Cafe across the street when I go to Clark Park. You could also check out Milk and Honey Market a block away, which also carries local foodstuffs.
Of course, no shortage of places to go near Rittenhouse Square. I might make a stop at the nearby Metroplitan Bakery. Or maybe your sister would like to stop by Reading Terminal Market. Though if the Flower Show is still on, it will be a zoo.
Lekvar?
Thanks to Cruz (see above) - I saw the sign in the window of Nuts to You today - they currently have lekvar in stock: prune, cherry, poppy, and one other (apricot? maybe.) I bought the prune - delicious! I have to admit, I've never had it before, just heard of it. Got quark again at RTM, and the two are great together.
Best markets/butchers to buy Grass Fed Beef/Lamb and Pastured Pork in the City
Definitely check out the Fair Food Farmstand at Reading Terminal. They often have shoulder cuts, and I believe they can also order requests from their farm providers.
I have also gotten good pastured meats at the local farmers markets. I bought a duck at the Clark Park (West Philly) year round Saturday market around the holidays, but don't remember who the vendor was. I get grass fed beef at the Saturday Market (year round) at Rittenhouse Square. They seemed to have the more economical cuts, too.
In fact, I'm having a harder time finding a classic (less economical cut) roast beef, (grass fed), in case anyone has seen those. Mostly what I see are pot/rump type roasts/briskets, and while I love them too, I'd like to get a classic beef to roast.
FRESH fish market in Philly?
I second the recommendation of Otolith. Their fish and shellfish are sold frozen, but really, isn't most fish frozen on the boat? The quality is outstanding. Through their CSS program I have gotten halibut, salmon, sablefish, King crab, and prawns. I couldn't be happier and I don't buy seafood anywhere else anymore. Check out their website. You can often catch them (no pun intended) at the Rittenhouse (year-round) Farmer's Market and the Headhouse Market seasonally, where they distribute their CSS shares and also sell their seafood. I think they may also distribute at the Milk and Honey Market in West Philly.
New York Times on Philly Food
I agree with barryg - Philly gets a surprising lot of coverage in the Times' travel pages.
At least they've stopped referring to the city as the sixth borough.
Reviews of La Scalas Restaurant on Walnut Street in Philadelphia?
I agree it's not particularly interesting or innovative Italian food. But...for a group, near the Walnut Street Theater, I don't think it's a terrible choice. It depends what you are looking for/expect. I have only eaten there at lunch, and have actually always enjoyed the meal. Also, the service at lunch has been brisk and efficient. (I have always gone with a group.) Perhaps the dinner meal would be more disappointing, though, I don't know. The prices aren't cheap. But there are not a lot of great choices close to the Walnut Street Theater for a group. (There is another thread on this topic currently - take a look.)
Looking for a quiet, not too expensive restaurant close to Walnut Street Theater
I, too, vote for Aqua, if your group can handle Thai/Malaysian food. I often go there, pre-theater, with friends who go to the Walnut Street Theater. Food is good, prices reasonable, quiet atmosphere, can handle a group easily (there is also a dining room upstairs.) Yes, their homemade tofu is great!
I also like Jones, which has food for everyone, but unfortunately, it is noisy!
Lekvar?
Thanks for all the great suggestions. Looks like I may be able to get my hands on some lekvar.
Keswick Creamery is in Newburg, PA, though I don't actually know where that is. But you can buy their products, including quark, at the Fair Food Project at Reading Terminal Market. Here's their website:
http://keswickcreamery.com/
Though I may have to eat up the quark before I get the lekvar. Any good suggestions for using quark? (Guess I should change the title on this thread, oh, well.)
Lekvar?
Thanks, and how great that your grandfather's company used to make it! I recently bought quark from Keswick Creamery for the first time, and thought it would be good on bread with the prune butter.
Lekvar?
Anyone know where to get prune lekvar in Philadelphia? I know a vendor used to sell it at Reading Terminal Market, but I don't know who, or if they are still there.
Coffee shops in Savannah?
Any cool cafes, places to get good coffee and/or hang out and/or eat?
I'll be staying in the historic district in November, tagging along with someone going to a conference, so I'll have a bit of leisure time. Thanks!
Vrapple
Too bad. It was pretty good, and I liked Sarah. Knew I hadn't seen her in a while. I guess Californians would not go for scrapple ( a substitute OR the real thing.)
ISO: excellent food, good drinks, while sitting at bar
For dinner you could consider Zahav: http://www.zahavrestaurant.com/
They have a regular bar there, but I've also enjoyed eating at the long bar overlooking the kitchen.
Stella Pizzeria - El Salt?
I've been a big fan of Stella's Margherita pizza, but the last time I had it, it was overwhelmed by the salt.. Anyone else notice this?
Stella - are you listening?
Local Bottled Water Question
Believe it or not, promoting awareness of where your water comes from! PWD sometimes has booths at eco-fairs, the Flower Show, and other community events including an annual fishing festival on the Schuylkill for kids. The funny thing is, you can't just bottle tap water, so they had to send the tap water to a bottling plant in the burbs where it received extra treatment. (not that Schuykill Punch needs it!)
Food markets in Savannah?
I'll be in Savannah for five days in November, and we're renting a holiday apartment in the historical district. We'll certainly want to try some good restaurants, but we also really enjoy visiting local markets and being able to buy food to cook at home. Are there any interesting farmers' or other local markets anyone can recommend? I was wondering if there was anything on the order of Pike Place Market in Seattle or Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia. Or, if not, any other good food shopping you could recommend? Thanks for any advice!
Local Bottled Water Question
If you want to get her truly local water, you should try to get a bottle of "Philly Tap." For a while, the Philadelphia Water Department was handing out bottled Philly tap water as a promotional item at events. I don't know if it is still available, but you could try calling someone in Public Affairs with the Water Department or e-mail someone at the Waterworks Interpretive Center:
http://www.fairmountwaterworks.org/
reading terminal, best bets for protein?
P.S. Otolith is also occasionally at the Headhouse Farmers Market, but not every week - only when they are delivering shares, but when they go they do have other fish for sale.
reading terminal, best bets for protein?
I recommend the Fair Food Project in the market if you are interested in grass fed/ pasture raised meat. You have to not mind buying it frozen, though. I have gotten good steaks, lamb, ground beef, bison, etc. there.
As for fish, I recommend Otolith. They have a store in Fishtown (where else?), but it is only open a few days a week - check online. They also have CSS (community sponsored seafood) shares available, which are great if you eat a lot of fish. All their fish comes frozen, is sustainably fished (or as sustainably as possible) in Alaska. You can check out the website: www.otolithonline.com I have just finished a halibut share - it was outstanding.
Used car salesman technique at Buddakan
I haven't eaten at Budakkan often, but in general I find the waitstaff to be a little condescending. I don't know if it's Stephen Starr restaurants, or just upscale restaurants in Philly generally, but I hate it when they ask, "Have you ever eaten here before?," as if eating in these restaurants is so different from eating somewhere else and you couldn't possibly know how to order.
Not sure if anyone else finds this annoying.
Good farm market in the city on Saturday?
I would not make a special trip to the Headhouse Market on Saturday. It's fine if you live in the neighborhood, but it's quite limited this year on Saturdays.
Lunch en route to Ithaca NY from Philadelphia?
Will be driving to Ithaca from Philadelphia this coming Friday. Can anyone recommend a good place to stop for lunch? I figure Wilkes-Barre will be about halfway there, but we could stop anywhere really. Thanks for any advice.
