Chris F.'s Profile

Tried to go here at noon on a Wednesday and despite the posted hours and sign on the window saying they were OPEN, they were not. It's wasn't a holiday. Taking my business elsewhere.

Stopping in with a friend for lunch, we were seated in a booth & chair table. Quick to recognize an establishment that takes a form-over-function approach to its seating, I shot for the booth. My friend sat on oversized rubber bands strung over a wireframe chair.

The tequila selection was modest but enough to keep me happy.

Making my way through the offerings I decided to order the lunch prix-fixe deal and got crab guacamole and queso fundido. The crab guacamole was perfect, not too heavy on citrus or spice, just right. But this did not hold a candle to the queso fundido, which consisted of a braised duck under a layer of cheese on a skillet plate served with tortillas. Every once in a while you might find yourself unable to describe exactly how GOOD something is; this is one of such moments.

My friend ordered a pizza of some sort, it was good but not legendary like my queso fundido.

That on top of the fact that they have imported Mexican Coca-Cola with cane sugar, not high-fructose corn syrup, just made my day. I've been craving it for years!

Stopped in here the other day for a quick lunch and a cheese plate. This time I opted for the Manchego with truffle lavender honey dipping condiment which was quite something to behold. Also after the meal I decided to sample some of the oils and found myself loving the truffle oil, but downright stunned by the cinnamon pear balsamic vinegar, I could buy a bottle and steal a huge straw from 7-11, the logistics of which I've contemplated since.

In reference to the meal I had myself another sandwich, the Spaniard, which was great in every way.

note: This update is pertaining to my list on dishes containing truffles in the Philadelphia area.

Whilst searching for Foster's Homewares, I walked by a building with a simple, handmade sign that read "The Most Unusual Store in Philadelphia". After stopping in my original destination next-door, I decided to indulge my curiosity and moseyed on into this establishment.

And I'm really glad I did.

I can't really describe what you'll see when you first walk in, because no matter what direction you look you'll find something old, dusty, and unique. Strewn around a large single room are an amazing amount of authentic African carvings, idols, tables, beds, and plaques all of which were truly authentic. No reproductions, replicas, or modern-day pieces. There are a few randoms floating around the store though, like an old organ and various other Americana-style items. I nabbed myself a bee in flight on its way to a flower encased in resin inside a 80's style snow globe, just found it too neat to resist. I asked the proprietor, Victor, how often he gets new items into his store, to which he jokingly replied, "Never. They don't make them anymore." He then went on to tell me how the bronze pieces were made using lost-wax moulds, meaning once the original is cast, the mould is destroyed in the process.

The store itself is a bit musty and could use a bit of organization, but it's just neat that you can visit the store more than once and find something you hadn't seen before. It's far more akin to walking in an art exhibition than a shop, which brought me to ask him why he hasn't sold some of his wares to museums. Victor said that he didn't want to sell it to a museum, not even to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. With a beguiling smile he said he might be interested in an collection being named after him, but not a museum, even though he clearly has enough pieces. He wanted it to be appreciated up close, and was comfortable with me handling the pieces.

As he walked me around the store he grabbed selected works, telling me the tribe, whether it was meant for protection, fertility, or otherwise, but most intriguing was the research he had done on the value of his items. For each one that he showed me he had obtained a printout of how auctions of similar items (remember, lost-wax!) that had sold at Sotheby's Auction House for let's just say WELL over what he had wanted for it. The prospect sounded rather interesting, but I myself know little-to-nothing about African art, and certainly not items so dated, but it sounded like this nice old gentleman was sitting on a fortune for somebody with a couple books and some free time/cash. But it isn't the money that matters to him, as he explains the principle of a "jerk" price to me I imagine the little details needn't be discussed.

I think one of the things about this shop that intrigued me the most is that he will barter or trade for certain items. He described how one customer spent all his money he had on items from the store (investment?), but still wanted one last piece, and traded his Jeep for it, to which he jokingly interjected, "Hey, you don't need a Jeep, do'ya?"

Now I have to be honest. My original intention was to visit Bartram's garden and THEN go kayaking, but as I arrived a bit late and wanted to get out on the water, I found their parking lot and called them to see which direction the dock was in.

The location of the garden itself wasn't hard to find from a few blocks away as there was sufficient signage. And the neighborhood wasn't that bad, despite the picture painted by some.

After confirming the direction via phone, I proceeded down the trail past some manmade beehives and eventually down to the water. Reading up on the garden I found that they sell their own honey, so I imagine that's the source. The path I took leads you down to the river and a decrepit, half-submerged dock...perfect! I snapped a few photos and settled in the kayak only to slide down rather fast right into the water.

From the unique vantage point of the middle of the Schuylkill River I was able to see a shiny, NEW dock about 400 feet downriver. I still prefer the old one. The current is confusing at times--it was actually harder to paddle downstream towards the Delaware--so make sure Philadelphia is on your right when you embark.

I found the overall lack of information on this PUBLIC dock (it's one of 2-3 on the lower Schuylkill) so I took the liberty of checking it out for myself, snapping a few pictures, and denoting via Google Maps where they actually are and the paths to reach them.

http://maps.google.com...

I will definitely make a return visit and this time take a more dedicated look at the garden.

Went to The El Bar on a Saturday night. It had a decent amount of people inside when I walked in, as was exhibited when trying to order a drink. It took some time, but at such cheap prices I'm willing to put up with a wait. The bartenders did seem hurried, but in watching them for a few moments they just kept shuffling around the bar to talk to people and not so much in the way of filling drink orders. Leaning in on the bar, money in hand I managed to yell my order into the back of a bartender's head as he was grabbing a drink in the refrigerator below the bar. It worked, and being the smart & courteous man that I am I grabbed 5 beers for me and my friends to save them the wait.

Somewhat of a hipster haven, PBR pounders were aplenty and the words "citywide special" did not fall on deaf ears.

The interior is okay if not a bit small, the pool table dominates one of the two rooms, split by a double-sided bar and a row of tables adorn the other side of the bar. There looked to be a small stage along the back of the room, but music was left up to the jukebox that particular night.

I did see the aforementioned magic pizza but wasn't tempted to grab a slice.

As the evening progressed I, standing in place, wondered how they could let so many people in such a small bar. It wasn't until I saw the sign hanging on the back door that read "Yard Sale" and a few people that walked through it that I realized the true appeal of this place: the yard. After going through the yard sale door and another door you are greeted by some interesting sights. Lights strung in the trees and along the fence encompass the outdoor area, and some tables and chairs are the first things you see. Continuing on there was a cast iron bathtub and what my friends and I dubbed the "bikeplane." While nothing more than 5 bikes affixed to one in front with a long table separating the two it served as a great ongoing joke. At around 1am they move everybody back inside and close the yard and a lot of people tend to leave.

All in all a great experience and definitely going to be on my rounds next time I'm out drinking in the Northern Liberties area.

I stopped in last night for a Thursday evening drink and a small bite to eat. I called up my friend who lives nearby and asked if he wanted to try something new. I had planned to go on the west side of Broad but some construction made it more trouble than it was worth.

He met me outside his apartment and fired up the Yelp app on his iPhone. I don't know what filter he had applied but it didn't show any of the same places I now pull up using the website with the nearest intersection to his apartment (strange?). Regardless he suggested Smokin' Betty's, not more than a few blocks walk. Stepping inside the 11th street entrance (they also have a side entrance with a ramp) the doorway opens up to a nicely decorated interior but more importantly STAIRS.

I don't know about you, but when I get the chance to eat above common folk, I take it one step at a time :)

In all reality they had two bars, but the downstairs was vacant so we sat upstairs at the bar. They had a decent selection on the tap reasonably priced. I had myself the B.B.Q Sliders consisting hickory smoked beef brisket, carolina pulled pork & caribbean pulled chicken served with carolina slaw with a side 'bucket' of sweet potato fries. I'm all about any kind of meat trifecta. The sliders were great, as were the sweet potato fries, but I was slightly disappointed by the lack of anything aside from ketchup to eat the sweet potato fries with; a notion which I find slightly repulsive. When in doubt, chipotle mayo! Goes great on everything, even air.

My only other gripe lies in the design of the back of the bar. It's simply Plexiglas with chain link fence mesh inside. You could see everybody on the other side eating and there were definitely a few that felt like they were being watched. Not trendy, unless your idea of trendy means not knowing how to lock the door at Paradigm.

If all I can complain about is a lack of one condiment and a piece of glass, that sounds like a pretty solid business and one that I'd definitely visit again.

I work in the area and walked by this place as it was being built. Hassling the construction workers supplied me with the name and when it was to open and I checked it out opening day.

Before I waltzed in the door, I peeped a placard in the center window with a menu and the hours. As my gaze went to the weekend hours you can imagine a drinker's delight to see a decent burger place open until 3AM.  

Stepping to the counter I ordered the 500, which consisted of bibb lettuce, tomato, cheddar, bacon & special house sauce. I found myself rather surprised to be asked the desired temperature of my burger (medium rare) as that usually goes out the window when you order standing up.

The fries were a bit of a paradox to me the first time I tried them; they are cut thin, but wide...a potato plank of sorts. They look like curly fries but don't have the same taste. Three options exist, regular, spicy, and truffle. The fries were perfectly prepared and the truffle variety is really something special. Be sure to ask for the fry sauce. I'll ruin it for everyone and tell you it's chipotle mayo.

Check out my list on truffle food in Philadelphia if you're a fan, I've been on the hunt.

The interior is all high chair seating meant for you to eat it & beat it as the seating area isn't too large to begin with. Drinks are at a self-serve fountain and aside from that, the interior is very sparse. I usually take my burger over to Rittenhouse Square to eat it in front of Rouge and revel in my savings. Or if I'm feeling lucky I go to Chestnut Street between 17th & 18th to the fountain there or the bench outside its sometimes-locked gate.

The gentleman in front of me ordered the exact same thing with the addition of one ingredient, mushrooms. As it was their first day open, the staff was new and messed up the order numbers and I received his. The sign of a good burger: he didn't get it back and I didn't care.

Tartufo steak. It comes in a pizza. but more importantly it comes in cheesesteak form. For those of you not familiar with what a truffle is, my first list will explain what it is and where to find them in Philadelphia food. Don't discount it until you've tried it, TRUST ME. The Tartufo is a cheesesteak with truffle cream and caramelized onions.

I've also gotten the Old Smokey on a couple occasions, and while the pizza is great, the toppings are rather spaced out and thin, I remember being disappointed. The sauce, while great, overpowered the other ingredients, that little thing you pay extra for ;)

The sides/appetizers available are really just lame. Not bad, just a real fizzle. With every combination under the sun on their pizzas, an appealing appetizer shouldn't be too difficult. Cheesy garlic bread shouldn't be outside of the realm of possiblity, no? Per favore?  

Don't bother with the fries, they're regular variety and if you ask for cheesefries, it's a 50/50 chance they say they don't sell such a thing; else, you get a softball of fries and cheese rolled up in foil. NO. LIE. More of a speedbump than a roadblock, as I consumed said fried potato mozzarella ball.

The arancine looks awesome on the menu but don't get your hopes up, might as well be fried air. Far too much batter and microscopic flecks of pancetta.

To remedy the weak sides, I will every so often get an order of wings along with something bigger. The wings themselves are not fried, but baked and are of good quality, so no worries there.

So despite the fact that I've never actually made it to Rustica to sit and have a slice, I've picked up food from there before and the establishment is nice. The inside seating is minimal and a couple tables sit outside along the street. I like this part of Northern Liberties, as this particular part of 2nd street is lively. If you plan ahead you can order your pizza, hit up the Foodery just across Poplar Street and grab a beer with plenty of time to spare.

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I usually get my haircut at a place in South Philly but had decided to opt for the stroke of a different brush and went to the Richel D'Ambra Spa & Salon at the Ritz Carlton Philadelphia. Stopped by in the midst of a heatwave and I run a little hot (100° all the time), so I needed my locks lopped. The quickest entrance is on South Penn Square around encircling City Hall, otherwise the entrance on the first block of South Broad. Hop in the elevators to the 3rd floor.

As I sat in the chair, I began telling the stylist how I usually have my hair cut: 4 on the top, 3 on the sides, halve the bangs, and crop at bottom of the ear; I'm particular like that. I even let on to the fact that sometimes I've been known to wing it myself with a combination of mirrors and extreme dexterity, which I'd thought might be blasphemous in such an environment. Nope!

Almost done the haircut, the stylist made one suggestion which I gladly let fly and I really like it to boot! After a quick rinse I was back on the elevator the street and on with my day and even caught a compliment before I left the building. Beat. That.