Eating

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22
Jan 10

A Quick Word on Philly Pizza

The Philadelphia pizza scene is horrible. I know Doug Wallen dedicated a small part of his life to assessing the Philly pizza culture and I’m sorry to not have taken part. I have, however, sampled more than my fair share of pizza and, contrary to popular belief, never favored any particular spot just out of dumb neighborhood loyalty.

Part of the problem is that people will settle for bad pizza. I would not. I tried pizzas all over town in a quest to find something I could honestly endorse without reservation. It was impossible. People would recommend their favorite spots and I’d bring a pie home only to discover their favorite wasn’t up to snuff.

Helen and I had been feasting on Gianfranco’s pizza, which I would pick up down at 3rd and Market. It wasn’t bad and was a far cry better than most of the delivery spots that serve Port Fishington. (I’m sorry Rustica, but your pizzas are all too smoky and soggy for my personal taste. Santucci’s isn’t bad, actually, but outside the delivery range.)

We decided enough was a enough and driving that distance for pizza was just silly. We searched the neighborhood for something decent, but Cassizzi’s wasn’t cutting it. We finally had to break down and take the nuclear option: calling ahead for pickup at Tacconelli’s.

I’ve put this off for some time. We know it by reputation and had even tried it a couple times, but weren’t so blown away that it seemed worth placing a pizza order at 11 a.m. Pizza is a spontaneous dinner!

Well, after two consecutive nights of Tacconelli’s pizza, I can safely say we’ve been converted. It’s worth the hassle, especially if you live within five minutes drive of Tacconelli’s like we do. We’re no longer pizza nomads, wandering Philly’s desert.

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1
Jan 10

Starting 2010 Right

Osso buco, originally uploaded by J T. Ramsay.

The iPhone photo doesn’t do it justice, but Helen’s osso buco was nothing short of amazing. That risotto was divine and the meat fell right off the bone. Recipes like this one are what wintertime is all about: slow-cooked food that gets you right where you live.

The homemade tiramisu we had for dessert was to die for. I washed it all down with a delicious Rogue Chocolate Stout and it was time to call it a night.

Happy 2010, everybody!

Eating — Comments
13
Mar 09

Food: It’s All Good in the ‘Hood

When Helen and I left our Mummer’s Row apartment for our house here on Letterly St. in December 2006, it was a sad affair. We left behind a delicious world of Italian bakeries and restaurants, as well as some great sandwiches, too, for a new neighborhood where the most obvious food options were Jovan’s Place, a quaint Yugoslav restaurant around the corner, and Key Foods Pizza across the street. It pains me to tell you that one evening we were so desperate for dinner we got takeout from — gasp — Applebee’s. It was probably our culinary rock bottom.

But there was light at the end of the tunnel. In the two years we’ve lived up here we’ve found some great food, whether it’s Memphis Taproom around the corner when we’re just looking for a quick bite and something to drink, or Bistro Juliana for the delightful Italian food we loved so much in our old neighborhood. But that’s not all! I recently made an early morning run to Czerw’s on Tilton St. for several pounds of smoked kielbasa and fresh-made pierogies. If there is a heaven, I hope it smells like Czerw’s. There’s great Mexican at Las Cazuelas, or quick Mexican at Taco Riendo. We’ve even found some decent pizza, having recently tried Santucci’s upside-down square pie. Now we feel like we have more options than we ever did back in old Pennsport.

We’re not alone. Our neighborhood has recently been a new focal point in local cuisine, featuring both newcomers and old. The amazing Rick Nichols recently ventured up Richmond St. in Port Richmond, highlighting all the wondeful Polish food the neighborhood offers. Think that sounds delicious? Then you should spend a Saturday afternoon with him on his Edible World Food Tour that’s being organized by First Person Arts! (I’ll add that you should check out the other New Wave Cafe up on Allegheny Avenue for a few rounds of strong Polish beer and more than your fair share of kielbasa and pierogies.)

Metro contributor and Foobooz writer Arthur Etchells also reps for our ‘hood in his recent article, “River Ward Steps Up.” He talks about some of the restaurants I mentioned above, as well as The Pickled Heron, a restaurant that will bring finer dining to Frankford Avenue later this spring. They also hope to take part in River Ward Restaurant Week! That’s really exciting, especially since there was some speculation about whether or not they would still be opening as the economy took the plunge. I can’t wait to try their menu!

When our friends Rick and Grace recently moved up to Letterly St. just two doors up the block, we assured them it was a great neighborhood that we’d been beta-testing for over two years. It’s a great area that blends old favorites like Jovan’s Place and Memphis Taproom. We have Greensgrow Farms and Philadelphia Brewing Company around the corner, too! Now when you think of Port Fishington, think food!