Lobby filled with photographs about voting in the 60's
Friday was a fabulous day in Philadelphia, and since it involved a trip to a "finer diner" it seems suitable to report on as a blog post. Perhaps it might inspire other foodies to make a day trip to Philadelphia and go explore what the city has to offer. We started the day with a visit to the Brandywine Workshop to get a private tour from my aunt's friend. The workshop is all about prints, and supporting and promoting culturally diverse artists. I soaked it all up and was inspired by the talented artists that are connected to the workshop. I left with a conviction that I wanted to invest in some prints in the near future (available on their website) and clutching my prized possession of the day, a beautiful book courtesy of Allan which contained many of the original pieces he showed us.
Next, we headed down the street to Sam's Morning Glory Diner. It was empty, as we arrived an hour before closing. They are a small, vintage diner that caters to a breakfast and lunch crowd. The owner passed away recently and there is a tribute to her on the wall.
My aunt decided to try the warm beet and spinach sala topped with grilled chicken breast. The salad was such a nice combination of flavors, fresh and a HUGE amount of food to get through.
My lunch choice consisted of a warmed wrap stuffed with spanish queso cheese and fresh vegetables. Very tasty. It was accompanied by a side salad (that I wasn't charged for, because they were about to close), and homefries. My bottle of ketchup came in a recycled wine bottle, as they make their ketchup fresh on the premises. Pretty cool.
As soon as we arrived in the diner and I saw the chalkboard with the daily pie specials, I knew that I wanted to try one. I would have been happy skipping lunch entirely and just going straight for the Cherry, Rhubarb and Strawberry pie, but decided it wasn't the healthiest choice, plus I would have let my readers down. Obviously I couldn't stop myself from diving right in and tasting it. I am usually always disappointed by pies, other than my moms (she makes the BEST!) but I have to say this was a close second. And topped with homemade whipped cream?!?
Our server was incredibly sweet and not only gave us each a Cranberry Cream Cheese muffin to take home, but indulged us with our requests for photographs. If you manage to visit here, he is the guy with the great Bulgarian accent...tell him we said hello! Also, this is a cash only establishment, so plan accordingly. Website: http://www.themorningglorydiner.com/
There is nothing sadder for a foodie such as myself to be spending the summer in a new city, chock full of tantalizing restaurants, lounges, and farmers markets, and not being able to indulge my senses because of work commitments. When I began to cringe as I hurridly walked past restaurants advertising happy hour specials, that I knew something had to be done. Luckily, a friend of mine is virtually telepathic and invited me out for a night on the town. First stop, Positano Coast for happy hour. What a beautiful spot! With an organic blood orange cocktail complimented with springs of muddled rosemary, I took in my surroundings. The restaurant was situated on the 2nd floor and I almost felt like I was on the deck of a ship. If it hadn't just rained, my friend informed me that the glass panels would have been thrust open and the entire place bathed in sunlight, with a warm cross breeze. Mmm, I almost forgot I where I was. We took advantage of the happy hour deals and sampled a vegetable slider (yes, just one!) and a trio of spinach and goat cheese bruschetta. Both met with our approval, but we didn't want to ruin our appetite, so we stopped there.
The sun popped out, so we took the opportunity to stroll the 8 or so blocks to Kanella, a Greek Cypriot restaurant. My friend is a big fan of my blog, and wanted me to check out her favorite spot, taking this time to warn me that the chef was a perfectionist of sorts (aren't the best ones?) and that he didn't want anyone to take pictures of his food. (what?!?) However after she explained that he thought that most people's photos didn't do the food justice, I understood. Although I still snuck a photo or two in, to respect his wishes, I am only posting the best one.
Chef Konstantinos Pitsillides from Cyprus
While the interior of the restaurant is inviting with its simple whitewashed walls, with hints of brick and blues, we chose to eat outside along the sidewalk. The restaurant is a BYOB and took the time to chill our wine, and serve us (a surprise from BYOB's that I have visited before, and a nice treat!) We decided to try 2 appetizers and split an entree. First came a cutting board with slices of whole grain bread and a tahini sauce to dip them in. Could be the first time that I have see tahini outside of it's typical partner and my mother's favorite, falafel. Then the food appeared. First up: Mediterranean Red Mullet, pan fried with Cretan rusk salad. We were struck by the appearance of the mini fish filets, sparkling hues of silver and red, delicately placed next to a stacked salad. Sadly we were not won over by the taste, finding it rather bland. This improved however when we added the thin lemon wedges to each bite, maybe we were supposed to do that from the beginning? Next appetizer was Bureki: fillo pastry parcel stuffed with feta and thyme, drizzled with thyme honey, served with roast beets. I am not sure that words will describe how much I loved this dish. Warm feta, flaky fillo, and a bite of herbed beet= small mouthful of bliss. Especially charming was the use of a wooden honey dipper to adorn the fillo!
At this point, we were praising ourselves on how smart we had been to share an entree, because we were getting quite full. Our chosen entree was Pouleriko: Organic baby chicken flattened and cooked under a brick, served with a spinach, rice and raisin pilaf. Our server brought small glass bowls of lemon water for each of us, and perhaps in response to my quizzical look explained that the chicken had alot of bones and we were advised to use our fingers to get all of the meat off. We however, restrained ourselves from doing that. The chicken was so succulent though, it was tempting. And when we reached the sweet pilaf underneath, it was even more of a treat! In deciding what entree we were going to share, we had both intrigued by the special of the night, which was made of beef tongue. Both of us had tasted tongue before, but found that we disliked the texture. We do heartily approve however of the chef's interest in using secondary cuts of meat. Americans are partial to primary cuts of meat, and the remains tend to be wasted. I would like to give a thumbs up to the chef for his philosophy, and encourage all adventurous diners to try and support his efforts. I am quite sad to say that I couldn't make it to dessert. My tastebuds were certainly peaked by the offering of Pistachio and Olive Oil Cake with pistachio ice cream and preserved cherries. Next time! Websites: http://positanocoast.net/ http://kanellarestaurant.com/
So, yes,....it has been said that a new Peruvian place opens in Hartford every other year. But you know what? I have not been impressed by any of them, until now. On a rainy day recently, a friend and I decided that we were in the mood to try a new place called La Kerencya on Franklin Ave in Hartford. Little Italy as the neighborhood is still known, is now becoming a much more diverse neighborhood and is home to ever expanding ethnic cuisine. I hope that this restaurant is here to stay for awhile.
Usually there are three components that I judge a place on; service, food and atmosphere. I have to say that I was pleased across the board. After we emerged from the rain into the bright orange dining room, we were greeted by a friendly server bringing us bread and roasted corn with aji sauce (green, spicy and yummy). There was a stage to in the center of the room that is host to Latin jazz nights, and I was sorry to find out we were dining on an off night. The front of the restaurant is home to an inviting bar, and offers pisco sours (which is on my "must try" list). Then our food emerged.
I had ordered the Perchuga a la Parilla which was grilled and served with rice, fries and salad. The flavors were spot on, and it was delicious. I only wish that I had saved some of my aji sauce to add to my rice. A sauce would have just added that extra touch, not that it needed it. The chicken was well seasoned and tender. I have never understood Peruvian's interest in adding fries to so many of their dishes, someday I am going to have somebody explain that one to me.
My friend ordered the Picante de Mariscos and said that it was perfect. She ate the majority of it, only to discover a fish filet underneath all the other seafood! That needed to be wrapped up for lunch. Obviously, there are HUGE PORTIONS at this place! The servers were very friendly and helpful with food selection choices. The menu is quite accessible and there are many tempting dishes waiting to be ordered. After a few disappointing flavorless meals at other Peruvian places, I am personally psyched by the arrival of La Kerencya and hope that it is here to stay. Check it out and let me know what you think!
Menu can be viewed here: http://www.lakerencya.com/files/Full_Menu.pdf
I read a great story today in "The Day" that I thought might put a smile on some foodie's faces, about a local lobster named Larry, so here it is:
The life of a 17-pound, 80-year-old lobster that was destined for a pot of boiling water was spared on Tuesday and instead of becoming a memorable dinner is now back in the ocean. The lobster was caught somewhere in the waters of New England — where exactly, they won't say — and then purchased by The Dock Restaurant. That's when Don MacKenzie, vice president of Boats Inc. in Niantic, stepped in. "This lobster has seen World War I, World War II, seen the landing on the moon and the Red Sox win the World Series, he's made it this far in life," MacKenzie said. "He deserves to live." When The Dock received the lobster, named "Larry" by the children who came to visit him over the weekend, word got out around town last week that someone had reserved the lobster for dinner.
"There was a price on the guy, but I won't say how much it was," MacKenzie said. "Let's just say that it's the most expensive lobster I never ate." Restaurant manager Kristen Eighme said she spent the weekend holding the lobster for the groups of children who wanted to touch it and take pictures with it. She has the scratches on her arms to prove that she had been cradling it like a baby. "Battle wounds," she said, cracking a smile. "The kids loved him. He brought a lot of smiles here this weekend. He was the star of the show." Thick rubber bands were wrapped around each claw to prevent the lobster from pinching anyone who wanted to get close enough to touch. The rubber bands were cut off before "Larry" was released, and MacKenzie kept them as a memento. While there is no scientific way to determine a lobster's age, Mackenzie said, the most common way is by its size and by estimating how many times it has shed its shell. He estimated the lobster to be between 80 and 100 years old.
Before Mackenzie boarded the boat to get the lobster from the restaurant, a group of children started chanting, "Let Larry live, let Larry live!" Meeting MacKenzie and Boats Inc. head rigger Steve Wilson at the boat was John Baez, 10, who agreed the best place for the lobster was in the water, not on a plate. "He's 70 to 100 years old and he's a bigger lobster so we should see how long he can live," Baez said. He admitted he enjoys a good lobster, but "Larry" wouldn't be an option. "He's too big. The meat would be too tough," Baez said. On the way out to sea, "Larry" also received an official send-off from the Niantic River Bridge operator who sounded the opening and closing siren for the crustacean.
Released in Long Island Sound in an area of water that makes it impossible for draggers to drop their nets, MacKenzie and Wilson said they believed "Larry" would be safe. "They (lobstermen) drag during the day, so if he does venture out of this area, hopefully it will be at night," Wilson said. The exact location of the release point is confidential, Wilson said, so no one will try to catch him. "It takes seven years for him to even become a lobster big enough to keep," MacKenzie said. "For a lobster to live this long and avoid lobster traps, nets, lobster pots ... he doesn't deserve a bib and butter."
Loyal blog followers have been wondering where I have been, and what accounts for the recent lack of posts. Well, trust be told, I am living out of state for the summer, and expanding the depths of my palate in the city of Philadelphia and nearby Delaware. In the midst of torturing myself by working two full time jobs (don't ask!), I have found few free moments to go out exploring new gastronomic sites. However, this past weekend, I did find my way back to a diner that really deserves a post.
Maybe it will inspire some budding culinary entrepreneurs to re-open the former Dishes/Oasis/Comet diner on Farmington Ave to it's former retro fabulous glory. It's certainly in desperate need of some attention. So, Lucky's Coffee Shop is nothing short of a blast from the past. Given the number of qualified "hipsters" in this zip code, it is not at all out of place, and is a welcome dining choice.
On a former visit to my aunt and cousin, a group of us had packed into her small car, huddling together for warmth in the frigid January weather and shuffled into the diner for a surprisingly warm, and funky restaurant. The interior of the diner has retro booths, beautiful retro lamps, servers wearing tee shirts with quotes originating from a generation named "Flo", "Sue" and the like. This time, since I was alone, I strolled up to the counter, one my favorite dining spots in restaurants. Anyplace that has swirling stools, reminds me of going to Friendly's as a kid with my grandfather to order a "cone head" and I am instantly won over.
Sadly, my camera's battery died right after I took a picture of my food (coming up), so this picture was borrowed from "Delaware Today". Regardless, one of the best features of this "diner" is that you can have breakfast, lunch or dinner whenever you want. I immediately thought of my friend who is constantly having to suffer because breakfast stops being served at noon in most places, and that's not even mentioning the challenges of late breakfasts during the week. I settled on a spinach, tomato and feta cheese omelet. I was midway through asking for rye toast when the waitress mentioned that it came with a biscuit. Really? A biscuit? Well, I saw no need to mess with a good thing.
Uhm it was divine! This really is a restaurant, as it is far better fare than you usually are dished out at most diners that I have ever been to. Truly a great experience, and my biscuit? Well that was basically dessert. Now, please somebody re-open my beloved diner in Hartford already!!!!
Link to menu: http://luckyscoffeeshop.com/PDF's/Luckys%20Menu%20may08.pdf
And if you ever find yourself in Delaware, or are passing through to get to your other destination, stop and experience this place, you won't regret it.
I am crazy about summer picnics. Especially if you are a city dweller, what can be better than escaping to a local park, stretching out on a blanket and noshing on some well selected gourmet, or not so gourmet delights? This past Monday afternoon found me enjoying a beautiful sunset in Elizabeth park with friends for a spontaneous birthday celebration. The spread included pate, a trio of cheeses, bruschetta, summer fruits and other tasty morsels.
This summer, I suggest that you grab some friends, raid your local farmers market and whip up an enjoyable picnic to treat yourself to. If you have forgotten the locations of Hartford's numerous outdoor farmers markets, the link is: http://www.hartfordfarmersmarkets.org/. And as an added incentive, and make a day or evening out of it, why not include go see a vintage baseball game match in Colt's Park, or check out the new series, "Free Movies after Dark" being hosted by Hartford's mayor, Pedro Segarra.
Ah Groupon,...the places that you will take us. Tonight's destination of Suso Latino Basket was the result of a Groupon inspired invitation extended to me by a former professor and her husband. So off I trekked to Manchester. After following Middle Turnpike for what seemed like a very long time, and I was about to turn around, I finally caught sight of the restaurant and my friends waiting in the parking lot. Note to readers: if you are coming from I-84, it's a bit further after you pass Manchester center, so don't fret.
The meal started with some complimentary roasted and lightly salted corn, similar to the kind that I have seen offered in Peruvian restaurants. However those were served with an accompanying light green sauce to dip in. After speaking with the chef, we decided to try the Tilapia Asada and the Lomo Saltado dishes. My friends are Filipino and appreciated seeing the Asian influence in the menu.
Delia's entree, called Lomo Saltado was described as a stir fried beef saute with onions, tomatoes, soy sauce and served with french fries and white rice. She said that it was very similar to a dish that she prepares at home. The portion was huge and there was enough to pack up for lunch.
My dish was the Tilapia Asada, which was baked with a shrimp cajun parmesan sauce, served with mashed potatoes and sauteed broccoli. I quickly realized that the fish was meant to be scooped up with the potatoes in one flavorful bite, instead of enjoyed separately. The sauce was delicious and I had no problem devouring this dish. Infact, I jumped in so quickly that I had to stop because I realized I hadn't taken a picture of it! It was around this time that I started to notice guitar music playing and I looked around and noticed that a musician had somehow snuck by us and was quietly strumming some lovely tunes in the background. Nice touch! I have to give thumbs up to this restaurant for the thoughtful touches like that.
We couldn't resist trying one of the desserts, and decided to share the Mazamorra Morada which is a warm pudding that was made out of purple corn and fruit. I have to say, it was delicious. Kind of reminded me of warm plum jelly doused in cinnamon. Really, you need to try it!!
Dinner for 3 people turned out to only be $32.00. Quite affordable, and with live music? I will be returning soon to Suso!!!!
Address:534 Middle Turnpike East East Manchester, CT Telephone: 860-649-9100
