BucksFoodie's Profile
Vine & Fig Tree in Doylestown
I just found out that there is a new restaurant where McGlinchey's used to be on State Street called The Vine & Fig Tree, or some variation of that sort. Has anyone heard of it and/or been there?
Seafood in Harleysville, PA?
A colleague of mine just asked me if I knew of a restaurant in Harleysville that either serves seafood or is seafood-centric. I don't know Harleysville at all, so I thought I'd turn to Chowhound... anyone know of any place up there?
What not to miss in Bennelux region?
I lived in Belgium, but haven't been back in years, so I'm not good for restaurant recommendations.
Make sure you try the real Belgian waffles, which are completely different than the light dessert type we see here. They have large, yummy carmelized chunks of sugar crystals in them and are found at street vendor carts all over Belgium.
Speaking of street food, I think this is the best way to savor frites alone. Once you've had Belgian frites, you'll wonder why they were ever called French fries here!
Other traditional Belgian dishes to try are waterzooi, a chicken or seafood stew, depending on the region you're in; carbonnade flamande (you can see I lived in the French-speaking part), and of course the ubiquitous moules/frites.
Basically, you can't go wrong with food in Belgium, it's a great foodie place! Enjoy!
What not to miss in Bennelux region?
I grew up in the town next to Beersel, and we used to play in the castle in that town -- funny to see that name as a place to visit... It's been too long for me to recommend a restaurant however, sorry for that.
Anyway, that is Lambic / Gueuze country, so make sure to sample the champagne of beers. I thought Saveur did an article on that region, but I couldn't find a reference to it on their website. Have fun!
Authentic pastrami in Philly burbs?
I second these recommendations. I've used them for business lunches as well as having eaten at both of them for numerous lunches. It's the closest to a NY Jewish deli I've had in the 'burbs. And their portions are very generous, especially on their catering platters.
Looking for a restaurant halfway between Doylestown and Mt Laurel
Thanks or the suggestion; after posting, I thought about it, and just decided to go into the City.We ended up at Rangoon in Chinatown.
I didn't realize that Chickie & Pete's had a Bordentown location; I'll have to keep that in mind for future reference.
Looking for a restaurant halfway between Doylestown and Mt Laurel
An industry friend is coming to town and is staying in Mount Laurel. We live in Doylestown area, and are trying to select a place where we can meet roughly halfway. Any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated!
nice dinner near Willow Grove area
Arpeggio is great, but not as close as one might think from Rte 611. Ristorante Mediterraneo is right around the corner from the Marriott, on Rte 463. I have not been there recently, but they typcially have excellent fresh fish choices. Great for entertaining, as the service is top notch.
I know you said no Asian, but there is a sushi/hibachi place on the other side of the Turnpike called Ooka - very good. Down the road into Willow Grove near the mall is La Vang, a decent Vietnamese-French BYOB.
Sorry to hear about Otto's. I find the comments in this forum about it being bland a bit perplexing; their food is pretty similar to what one orders in most of Germany. Let's face it , German food is bland and heavy, but it can be comfort food if you think of it that way. When keeping the food style in context, one can have a very good homestyle and/or German meal at Otto's. They also have a wonderful selection of imported beers on tap. I'm very sorry to hear they are being sold.
Based in the comments about the Kitchen Bar, I am anxious to try it out as well.
Glenside, PA
Old Town Buffet is not for the faint of heart. Due to the high numbers of people who go to this place, the turnover of dishes is high so the food is always fresh and hot. The Mongolian grill does offer the chance to mix your own stir-fry of sorts, but the sauces are very salty, so be careful. I personally have a hard time watching people stuffing their faces, hoarding the seafood as soon as it hits the buffets; it's a true Gluttony Fest.
I had forgotten about Jonathan's. We had dinner there about a year ago, and enjoyed it very much. We also thought their prices were quite reasonable.
Pistachio Cafe in Maple Glen
Thanks for the update. It does indeed sound like growing pains; good thing it's a soft opening! I think we'll give it a few more weeks then try it on a weeknight -- it's usually a little more low-key which should help with the service issue. Those scallops sure sound good!
Best authentic Mexican in Philadelphia area
There is an outpost of New Britain's Los Serapes in Blue Bell, not far from Norristown. They are on Skippack Pike and 202. Always dependablly good food.
Probably my fave in that area though is Tamarindo's further down Rte 73 towards BroadAxe/Ambler. Fun place and good food.
Pistachio Cafe in Maple Glen
I haven't heard or read anyting about this place, but I welcome any information about a new place in the area!
Glenside, PA
Sorry to hear about the diappointing food experiences in D'town. I agree that there are several overly rated restaurants there, but there are some good bets. Despite G Goo's comments about the Mesquitto Grill, I have eaten there many, many times and can't say I've ever had anyting to complain about. Prices and portions are very good, but don't expect gourmet or true southwest. Siam at the Black Walnut was surprisingly affordable and very good. I prefer the old menu, sans Siam, but that's no longer an option. Had a couple of excellent meals at Chambers, much to my own surprise. Chef and menu completely changed in the past year. The opposite goes for Maxwell's -- a terrible turn for the worse since the new owners took over. Haven't tried Pane e Vino yet; mixed reveiws on that one.
Went to Slate Bleu once; food was quite good, but too pricey for country French. Prices should be lower for what they serve.
A great little Italian in what's probably Chalfont (little strip mall near the Acme on Rte 202) called Tutto Mario. Inexpensive, BYO, owned by a man witha history of impeccable service.
In the other direction, the best burgers in the area are at The Porterhouse in Lahaska.
Glenside, PA
Sorry to hear Glenside hasn't added much of note since I lived there (actually I lived in Wyncote, next door).
If you're willing to venture into the 'burbs a little farther than the inner Montco towns, you will find some gems. Perhaps because the wealth is moving further into the netherlands of the outer burbs, the restaurants are following them there. If you ever want to verturen up to Doylestown, you'd be amazed at what the restaurant scene looks like there.
Athena is decent, but I wouldn't call it outstanding Greek.
Don't forget La Vang's in Willow Grove, on Moreland Road.
Carambola's is a dependably consistent restaurant -- I'v been there many, many times over the years and have never had a bad meal. In Springhouse there is a nice Mediterranean restaurant called Arpeggio's -- probably a 20 minute ride from Glenside. Someone mentioned Ooka (innovative sushi), Mandarin Garden (ALWAYS good, sister of high end Yang Ming in Bryn Mawr), and Los Serapes in Horsham is a new outcrop of the original in New Britain, Bucks Cty. They are known for high quality ingredients in traditional Mexican fare (the family is originally from Mexico City).
If you're headed toward Ambler, go a mile or so farther down Butler Pike to Skippack Pike in Broad Axe. In a tiny little run down plaza behind the inn is a wonderful Mexican called Tamarindo's, which serves complimentary margaritas. They are from Veracruz and make excellent fish dishes among other things. A fun place to go with a group. I hear that the Broad Axe Tavern is being renovated (finally) into a Belgian restaurant -- anyone know aobut this? And finally, another mile or so up Skippack Pike, there is Allison's on the right. Fantastic BYO, cash only place (Alison Barshak of Striped Bass fame). They're adding a liquor license, but are going to continue to allow BYO. She is a big supporter of local farmers and artisanal foods.
Oh, I forgot. in looking at lisaspb's post, I forgot about sandwiches. Don't know if this is still the case, but the Village Deli on Jenkintown Road used to make the most decadent Italian Hoagies I''ve ever tasted. The best meats -- one of them would feed three of us, plus require a liter of water to wash down the salt -- but worth every bite.
Enjoy the adventure...
Movies that revolve around food?
I was first introduced to food in movies through a program called "Sex, Food and Videotape", given by now-retired USC Professor Albert Sonnenfeld. The event was comprised of a lecture accompanied by clips of food scenes from several movies, followed by a meal (varies - brunch, lunch, reception) based on purportedly aphrodisiac foods. A total blast; if you ever hear of this program in your area, I urge you to attend.
There is indeed a movie called "God of Cookery" - it's Chinese and made in 1997. Amazon has it.
Babette's Feast should be mandatory viewing for any food lover, as well as Eat Drink Man Woman. The food prep scenes are worth watching over and over...
Another food related movie is Tortilla Soup, an hispanic version of EDMW - a father chef who loses his sense of taste.
Movies with funny food scenes in them to consider are Tom Jones (Albert Finney), Woody Allen's Bananas and The Sleeper, Diner,...
A link that lists just about every movie with at least one food scene is http://gastronomica.org/foodfilms.html. Some of them are a bit of a stretch, but certainly a very handy list.
Tiny crabs in my clams - WTF?? [moved from Home Cooking]
When I lived in Belgium as a kid, we often had neighborhood parties that included massive quantities of steamed mussels. While it was indeed an occasional event, someone would always find a mussel or two with a crab in it. As kids, we were completely grossed out, but the adults had no problem with it -- they would simply flick out the crab, then eat the mussel.
A possible theory could be that the two animals live symbiotically; perhaps the bivalve shell is a shelter for the crab, who then possibly offers some service such as cleaning or protecting the bivalve itself. Just a thought.
Chow-related Halloween Costume Ideas?
My father once went to a Halloween party dressed in green pants and turleneck, then wore a bright red ski mask that covered the face. He then carried a martini glass, and when asked, said he was an olive looking for a dry martini...
