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Celtics Game and the Night Market: Northern Liberties

Last week was busy but we managed to fit in a few extracurriculars as well. 

Wednesday night Thomas shot up from DC to join me for game 6 of the Celtics/76'ers Eastern Semi's.  The Celts couldn't close the series out that night, but we did have a great time and of course dipped over to South Philly for a post game cheesesteak.  Always great to hang out with OD as well! 

     

 

Kel landed at around 7:15pm on Thursday night from a few days up at the mother-ship in Beantown and we were in Northern Liberties by around 7:45p for the much anticipated Night Market!  Unfortunately we weren't the only ones...the place was packed!  We met up with Patrick, Kristin, and her girls and set out to get some grub.  Some of the lines were really long but we ended up at a truck run by Los Taquitos De Puebla and had some of the most amazing tacos we've ever had!  So tasty, so spicy!  I couldn't feel my lips at one point! 

     

     

After a few beers I found the Footruck and got my very first Foowich!  Ho-Lee-Crap.  It was awesome.  I got some Thia flavored, egg, tomato, and rice thing that was perhaps the  best sangwich I've ever tasted.  I now follow the Footruck on Twitter and will be trying to snag another one at lunch very soon!  If you haven't checked it out...you need to visit the next Night Market!

No Smoking Please.

Kel and I stopped into Panera Bread for a quick lunch over the weekend, as we often do when we're out running errands and whatnot, but this weekend I happened to notice the most perplexing "No Smoking" sign I've ever seen: 

  

Bizzare, right?  So do they not care about the various health issues that come along with second hand smoke?  Or never mind it's actually against the law to smoke indoors!  Nope...they just don't want that pesky smoke to interfere with a quality soup or sandwich. 

Just put up the "No Smoking" and end it...you don't even need the "please" in there if you ask me. 

Garden Owl.

Last week Kelly showed me a Facebook post of one of her college girlfriends who had just purchased and set up a solar powered garden owl in her garden.  Say no more.  $29 bucks and free shipping...my owl was on it's way!

  

We've had lots of problems with birds and other varmints eating our veggies, so hopefully this will rectify that problem.  [we didn't get one tomato last year!]  I still need to put some sand in the base to keep it steady, but it's already in the garden and on watch. 

  

I'm still trying to decide on a name for the owl and normally I'd ask you for suggestions, but since you gave us ZERO advice on baby names from this post, I'm not going to hold my breath. 

Amada.

This past weekend Kelly and I finally got over to Amada to try what we've been told are the best tapas in town.  It certainly didn't disappoint!

     

Some tuna caper spread with toasted garlic flatbread that they put on the table...

     

The first dish out of the kitchen...some aged manchego cheese with truffled lavender honey.  I of course had a few glasses of wine...sorry Kel!

     

A plate of artisanal Spanish olives and some chorizo pamplona.

     

Of course we had to get some patatas bravas!  Not as good as the real thing in Spain, but pretty tasty nonetheless.

     

The ham croquettes were amazing!  ...and the pernil asado.  [roasted pork with white beans and arugula]

     

And our final dish...the crab stuffed peppers.  I think we had 7 plates in total.

      

A few shots of the interior of the place...

     

of course we saved some room for dessert!  The las frutas [golden delicious apple, almond milk jam, and creme fraiche sorbet], and the pastel de chocolate [flourless choc cake, choc ice cream, and choc-hazelnut caramel].  Both were outstanding!

Bottom line...check this place out.  Some great food and a nice setting.

Fish & Chips.

While our good friends across the pond aren't known for their culinary delights...they do know how to make one dish extremely well, fish & chips!  I had a hankering for some a few weeks ago, and it was a Friday during Lent, so why not!  We checked out the British Chip Shop just down the road and it didn't disappoint. 

     

We started out with a Scotch Egg appetizer, a hard-boiled egg wrapped in sausage.  I didn't really know what to expect when we ordered it, but hey, why not.  They asked if we wanted it hot or cold, we said cold...should have said hot.  It was still pretty good though. 

Of course for the main dish I got the fish and chips, while Kel went with the fish sandwich.  The fish and chips were perfect! Buttery, flaky...perfectly cooked.   Throw on some vinegar and tarter sauce...oh man!

     

We'll be heading back for sure!

 

Valentine's Day.

Most jabronies out there come home from the office on Valentine's Day with an overpriced bouquet of crappy flowers...but not this guy.  I pre-ordered a few crustaceans and 2 dozen steamers from our local fish monger to bring home and prepare for our annual Valentine's Day meal.  [and a few greens to even it out]  We've been doing this for a few years now and it's a great way to celebrate the day and not get hosed with one of those pre-fixed menus at all the restaurants.  Half the price and you don't have to worry about making a mess in-front of other people at the restaurant!

     

  

     

  

     

     

Oh yes...it all tasted just as good as it looks! 

We'll be back at it again next year...

A happy Valentine's Day to you and yours as well.

New England Cupcakes.

Today being Big Game #46 Day [for legal reasons the NFL says we can't write/use SuperBowl XLVI] Kelly and I decided to make some festive cupcakes to support our team.  [my team and her adopted team]. 

Check these out.  Red velvet cupcakes with a cream cheese icing and some Patriots logos atop. Kelly handled the baking part and I worked the arts and crafts department to create the logos on toothpicks.  

  

     

  

     

They look mighty tasty, no?  I hope people like them at the party we're going to this evening!  

  

Go Patriots!

Breakfast.

I saw this recipe for some simple eggs a few weeks ago on Tony Bourdains newest show, The Layover and figured I'd give them a try. 

  

So simple, but so tasty!  Bacon, eggs, scallions, and a dallop of sour cream.  The fine china of paper plates really adds a nice touch too!

Mac-Off.

Last night we attended the 3rd Annual Mac-Off to benefit the South Jersey Food Bank.  For 10  bucks you get to sample all the macaroni and cheese you wanted from about 12 different local restaurants.  My kind of deal...good, cheap food, and plenty of it.  Plus, we were helping people out at the same time with all of the proceeds going to the SJ Food Bank.  All of the pasta was donated as was the time and efforts of the various chefs.  Some of the chefs went all out in creating special types of mac and cheese just for the event.  Some traditional, one that had a bbq twist to it, and even one from an Indian restaurant that was amazing.  I may or may not have gone back for seconds at that place!  Of course, since this is Philly, one guy had a Cheese Steak version of mac and cheese...it wasn't half bad. 

As you went around the ballroom from station to station each of the restaurants handed out a small cup of mac and cheese.  We started out too strong though and didn't pace ourselves...should have eaten just a few bites of each cup, not the entire thing.  By the time we made it around to the 11th and 12th tables we were stuffed, but we found a way to make some extra room. 

     

     

     

     

     

Here was the ultimate winner of the evening...mac and cheese baked into a panzarotti from a place called the Blue Plate.  Very, very tasty!  [they had real judges and everything...2 were from the Food Bank but one of the guys was a quasi celebrity chef who claims he has a show on ABC.  Who knows....]

  

I only found out about this thing last week on my Twitter feed as I "follow" a few of the restaurants in the area and they were all starting to hype it up.  You better believe we'll be back next year!

Christmas Eve Dinner.

Doesn't look like it will be a white Christmas here in Beantown, but it sure will be a Polish one!  Kel and I ordered up 12 dozen perogies from the Little Servant Sisters near our house and brought 4 doz of them with us for Christmas Eve dinner.  These little Polish ladies work all year round to crank out this amazing food and we're certainly happy to enjoy it!  I can't wait for Saturday night!

     

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!