Eggs
Last year Governor Tom Corbett’s Secretary of Health Eli Avila came under fire for siccing health inspectors on Harrisburg’s Roxy Cafe, after a disagreement with owner Richard Hanna, over the freshness of an egg sandwich. In the dispute, a power-tripping Avila allegedly shouted at the diner owner, “Do you know who I am? I am the secretary of health!" in a threatening tone. Now it looks like there’s a new front in that battle opening up.
Publishing on 4/20, dudePhoto: Chronicle Books
Never ones to beat around the bush, the editors of High Times announce that they'll be publishing The Official High Times Cannabis Cookbook on April 20 (get it?), subtitling it, "More Than 50 Irresistible Recipes That Will Get You High" from "the world's most trusted name when it comes to getting stoned." But we're wondering, what took so long? Did it really take these guys this long to come out with a weed cookbook?
From chicken-nugget diets to an agoraphobic's collection of over 4,500 restaurant menus, this has been yet another banner week for strange food news. For a full roundup, check out the James Weird awards, straight ahead.
• Brian Freedman says the eponymous sandwich at American Sardine Bar, with its “salty and piquant mash of that still-unfortunately-maligned fish” and slices of hard boiled egg, is a “perfect” match for a pint of Fegley’s Brew Works Second Coming English pale ale. Brussels sprouts with oyster sauce and Thai chiles he likens to “a vegetal freebasing of umami” followed by the “the prickle of acid and heat from the chilies.” The “soggy equator of batter” in the onion rings, and the Pittsburgh cheesesteak’s “too-chewy beef” were a “few unexpected shortfalls.” [PW]
• “Minor miscalibrations,” like the missing sweetness in the pepperonata vasi’s stewed peppers and zeppole with the “structure of bubble gum,” Adam Erace writes keeps East Fall’s In Riva from “reaching its full potential.” The pizzas on the other hand are the restaurant’s “main attraction.” [Citypaper]
"Who's up for a Cabernet keg stand!"
• Beer might be the Super Bowl drink of choice in most of the country, but at least some retailers are trying to push box wine, too. [Detroit News, Bloomberg]
• Zinfandel, a quintessentially Californian wine varietal that's fallen out of favor among wine snobs over the last few years, can be found in "styles [that] range from the sublime to the ridiculous," as evidenced at last weekend's ZAP Festival in San Francisco. [HuffPo]
• A cache of mature Bordeaux wines from an anonymous European collector, with vintages between 1953 and 1995, just sold at a London auction for $2.5 million. These prices are said by Sotheby's to "breathe fire" into a flattening market for prestige wine. [Business Week]
Peter McAndrews
Peter McAndrews, chef and owner of Modo Mio, both Paesano’s and Monsu, has another restaurant in the works, and it’s not the still forthcoming suburban pizza and wine bar, Il Porto. It’s another BYOB and it’s going in the former home of Lafayette Bistro at 5th and Fairmount, Zagat reports. The name is Popolino and McAndrews is taking on the cuisines of Rome with it. Expect an antipasti bar, and a heavy emphasis on “quinto quarto” or “fifth quarter” small and larger plates that make use of brains, tails, glands and other offal parts. The opening is slated for spring. [Zagat]
Reserve
Hopefully this week’s run on new restaurants geared toward grown-ups can help turn the tide on the escalating violence and other rampant drunken knuckleheadery that’s plagued Old City in recent years. The steakhouse Reserve took up residency in what was formerly Cebu, which closed back in 2008 shortly after a patron there was shot, at 123 Chestnut. It's Cuba Libre alum Didier LaFontant's baby, and according to the Insider exudes a sense of sexiness with mood lighting and decor. As one commenter is quick to point out, a steakhouse concept in this neighborhood and in this economy could be a tough sell. And with steaks and chops ranging in price from $24 to $38, they might be on to something.
Hey, Pee-wee, if you love those pancakes so much ...Photo: Virginia Sherwood/Bravo
Hi! You may have noticed from the byline that I'm not Alie Martell, the recapper who has been dutifully slogging through this near-endless season of Top Chef. Don't worry. She's fine. But she's sitting this week out so she can take a "trip" to see her "family." I have my suspicions. Anyway, this is actually the first full episode of Top Chef that I've watched this year, but I think I get the gist of it. They set this season in Texas so they can execute the losing contestant each week, right?
• Though it’s been modified and the limits have been increased, the Corbett administration is pushing forward on its controversial plan to impose an assets test on food stamp recipients. [Inquirer]
• Blue Bottle's growth style is slow and steady, and it's working out for them; look for a Blue Bottled drink to hit grocery stores sometime soon. [WSJ]
• Super Bowl Sunday poses an interesting issue for Indiana, which bans liquor sales on Sundays — not to mention all the other towns and counties with some kind of Sunday "blue law." Better stock up! [AP via HuffPo]
• Some researchers are calling for sugar to be regulated just like alcohol and tobacco, claiming it causes just as many premature deaths. [LAT]
• For once, good news from the beef industry: The beef we eat today is more environmentally friendly than the stuff of 30 years ago. [Salt/NPR]
“Pizza is alright”
The food is alright... there honestly is no "atmosphere" since it consists of just an oven, two small tables and a television.
“Everything a restaurant should be!”
Others talk the talk, Derek has always walked the walk.
“My other spot”
When it comes to the generals...(chicken that is) they'll make you sign up for recruitment
