FYI – HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT RIVER PARK PUB NO LONG HAS CHEF GILHAM OR CREOLE FOOD, THEY ARE JUST A BAR MENU AGAIN 03-2018
River Park Pub – Gloucester City, NJ
Had a fantastic Creole inspired meal at The Mansion House in Gloucester City, NJ from Chef Jeff Gilham formerly of Creole Cafe. Delicious crawfish bisque, Creole pieroge, beer battered onion rings, and seafood jambalaya. Yummy! They will be a guest on Small Bites Radio Show on January 8th.
11-13-2016
Small Bites with Glenn Gross and Derek Timm of Bluejeanfood.com on Wildfire Radio has another great show lineup even though Mr. Bluejeanfood.com will not be there. Tom Bera of Philly Blind Pig BBQ and Jill Gilber of Gilber Travel are the guest co-hosts and are ready to help. They will have Kathy Gold, the owner of In The Kitchen Cooking School in Downtown Haddonfield to talk all things culinary. Then Moshulu which is near The Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing and Spruce Street Harbor Park and is a restaurant literally sitting in the Delaware River Waterfront and it is the world’s oldest and largest square rigged sailing vessel still afloat as well as the ONLY restaurant venue on a Tall ship today in the WORLD to chat about why you need to visit a landmark and eat there. Still want more? They also have Jim Adams of Levante Brewing to chat all things beer, and they will still have the weekly segments from Chef Barbie Marshall and Courier-Post nightlife contributor and The New York Times recognized John Howard-Fusco calling in with hot tips and news. Enough now? Well with Glenn Gross of Fat Jack’s BBQ at the helm (did you like that ship pun) with Derek Timm away playing in Times Square, New York City at Night Times Square and enjoying Radio City Music Hall Rockettes #ChristmasSpectacular this week, just anything could be possible so you certainly don’t want to miss it. So TuneIn or catch on iTunes.
Nha Hang Xelua Pho Viet-Thai Restaurant – (Chinatown) Philadelphia, PA
Better known as the restaurant with a train on the sign is quite a mouthful to say and a mouthful to things to choose from on the extensive menu. The interior could use a little bit of a spruce up, but the food was delicious. I had the bbq pork chop on white rice and the pan fired egg noodles with shrimp and vegetables. Everything was cooked nicely, very affordable, and service was top notch and friendly. They have a very intriguing menu that I am interested to try, so I will definitely be back.
11-06-16
We have Kory Aversa, the owner of Aversa PR & events one of Philadelphia’s premier boutique pr firms, then Kurt Beecher Dammeier the author of Pure Food: A Chef’s Handbook for Eating Clean, with Healthy, Delicious Recipes and owner of Beecher’s Handmade Cheese and Beecher’s Handmade Cheese – NY. Thirsty yet??? Well you are in luck as one of reasons to Visit South Jersey, Eight & Sand Beer Co a very popular new brewery out of Woodbury, New Jersey from owners Chris Burke and Chris Mazzone will be stopping by to talk beer. Still not enough!! OK, OK, well we will also be joined by Kory Aversa or one of Aversa PR & Events hot clients to see what is happening in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. You still want more??? Well Courier-Post nightlife correspondent and The New York Times recognized John Howard-Fusco will be stopping by the studio this week and don’t forget we will still have our weekly segment from Chef Barbie Marshall who was named Pennsylvania’s most influential chef by Cooking Light, our monthly segment from NBC News/NBC Latino recognized Chef Hugo Campos of Philabundance PCK, and joke of the week from legendary joke teller Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling of The Howard Stern Show fame. Bluejeanfood.com and Fat Jack’s BBQ are hoping you TuneIn or catch on iTunes. Link to show below.
http://wildfireradio.com/food/small-bites/small-bites-episode-31/
David’s Mai Lai Wah – Philadelphia, PA
There are so many great places to eat in and around Philadelphia, yet Philly Chinatown always draws me in. For my next destination it would be to David’s Mai Lai Wah (DMLW) which has been known to have Iron Chef Jose Garces dine there many times and has been named by Esquire Magazine as the Best Late Night Restaurant in America as DMLW is open until 3am. I was hungry and gave DMLW a quick visit for what else, a late night snack to go.
I would have a simple order of pork fried rice which was very nice and one of the better versions of this dish in Chinatown, and their Salt and Pepper chicken wings which were tasty as well, but not the best around, but very good for a place that serves you late at night. DMLW is a decent location with friendly service, a diverse menu and bar if you want something to drink, as well as being one of the best options around to dine late night, so I can see why so many celebrities dined here since they tend to live a later lifestyle and the awards are well deserved.
A.P. J. Texas Weiner – Philadelphia, PA
Sitting a few steps from the Pennsylvania Convention Center and a block away from the Reading Terminal Market sits A.P.J. Texas Weiner (APJ). Make no mistakes, APJ is not high-end, let even medium-end cuisine, they are an old style lowbrow affordable luncheonette with very friendly (even though are little rough around the edges staff) efficient, and likeable service. What would I get? Hot dogs of course.
The hot dogs and the especially the special sauce topping hit all the right notes and was a delicious and cheap lunch. Many other places around the area may be much fancier or have higher quality food, but sometimes a lowly old tasty hot dog cooked well and spruced up nicely with a few special touches can be all you need sometimes. If in the area APJ is certainly an option and they won’t break your wallet.
10-23-16
Small Bites with Glenn Gross and Derek Timm of Bluejeanfood.com on Wildfire Radio has a GREAT lineup! This week we have Jill Wagner of Insp to talk about her new show Handcrafted America. She is also former host of ABC Television Network show Wipeout and a model who was named a Maxim Hot 100 woman. Then we have Chef Michelle R. Spell owner of Ava’s Cupcakes and winner of Food Network show Cupcake Wars and named best cupcake in America by The Daily Meal and we will talk about American Cancer Society Taste of Hope NJ event at Cherry Valley Country Club and at the event she will be joined by amazing chefs such as Chef Eric B LeVine, Chef Patty Caneda, Pig & Prince Restaurant, Claremont Distillery, Chef John G. Grifo, Chef Diane Cannito-Henderiks, Chef Geoff Johnson, Jesse Chef Jones, Chef George Mandakas, and many more. Also on the show we have Chef Ryan Scott author of One to Five: One Shortcut Recipe Transformed Into Five Easy Dishes to talk about his new book as well as being a former Top Chef contestant on Bravo and being the owner of Finn Town restaurant in San Francisco, California. More you ask? We will also talk to Anthony Hamilton Russell owner of Hamilton Russell Vineyards in South Africa to talk about his upcoming arrival in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and promote Philly Pours (phillypours.com) at The Navy Yard supporting Resources for Human Development. I know you are hungry now, so we will have Ed Willis the owner of Lumpy’s BBQ and Glenn Gross of Fat Jack’s BBQ former business associate for 25 years bringing some delicious bbq in studio for us to try and he will be joined by Bill Knowles of “Around Town” on Bluejeanfood.com. STILL NOT ENOUGH!!! OK, OK we also have JoAnn Wager the author of Sir Pigglesworth Adventure Series books for children, and don’t forget we will still have our regular weekly segments from Chef Barbie Marshall who was named Pennsylvania’s most influential chef by Cooking Light and a Hell’s Kitchen on FOX finalist, Courier-Post nightlife correspondent and The New York Times recognized John Howard-Fusco, and joke of the week from legendary joke teller Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling. Be sure to TuneIn or catch on iTunes.
Parada Maimon – Philadelphia, PA
So many parts of Philadelphia change so quickly it is hard to keep up any longer. Where Parada Maimon (PM), a Dominican restaurant sits is one such area. What used to be abandoned factories are now thriving condos, apartments, businesses, bars, and the Underground Arts center. PM was very vibrant, festive, and employees happy the day I stopped by for a visit. I would go with half rotisserie chicken with yellow rice and beans.
I was extremely pleased with not only meal as the chicken was moist, beans tasty, and rice cooked perfectly, but the price point was very affordable. PM is certainly not for everyone as the majority of food offerings at PM is nowhere near mainstream enough for the masses, but if you are in the area and wanted a little something different with a smile I certainly recommend giving them a try. I know I will again.
10-16-16
This week we have American Idol on FOX Season 5 winner Taylor Hicks to talk about his new show State Plate on Insp which has its Series Premiere October 21st at 9p ET where he travels Wisconsin and enjoys foods from Saxon Creamery, Schwai’s Meat and Sausage, Glk Foods, Hannon’s, O&H Danish Bakery, and more. Then we have Gervase Peterson of Survivor on CBS, owner of Burnz Cigar Vault & Lounge, and part of the Partynerdz LIVE Podcast crew with Darnell Hicks, Aubrey Johnson, Angela Cottone, Kenneth Hicks, Nick DiGuglielmo, Edward Figueroa, Devinwade Robinson, Leonardo Herrera, Jorge Vergara, and many more talented people. Jersey Foodies know how lucky they are to have great diners, but have you ever heard of a good diner in Paris, France? Well we have Craig Carlson the author of Pancakes in Paris: Living the American Dream in France from Sourcebooks to tell us how Pancakes in Paris is doing and chat about his new book. Getting hungry? Lucky us we have one of Philly’s most talented BBQ Competitors Tom Bera of Philly Blind Pig BBQ which sets up a special BBQ menu quite regular at David Wilby’s Dawson Street Pub coming in studio. STILL NOT ENOUGH!!!!! OK, OK, we have Kevin Gross co-owner and VP of operations for Fat Jacks BBQ joining us as well don’t forget we will still have segments from our weekly contributors Chef Barbie Marshall who was named Pennsylvania’s most influential chef by Cooking Light and a Hell’s Kitchen finalist, Courier-Post nightlife correspondent and The New York Times recognized John Howard-Fusco, and joke of the week from Jackie Martling. Bluejeanfood.com and Fat Jack’s BBQ can’t wait and hope you will join us.
Mike’s Steaks Comcast Center – Philadelphia, PA
The market and shops and the Comcast Center provide a diversified picture of what Philadelphia has to offer. It may not be the greatest selection of what we have to offer, but a decent showing and possibly the best food court in town. At one of the far ends of the market sits Mike’s Steaks (MS). MS is a no frills sort of operation, with higher than normal menu prices for their basic offerings, but I am sure the rent is not cheap in this part of town. The service was nothing more than herding the lunch crowd through taking an order, giving a receipt, and waiting for your name to be called. With my turn in line finally, I would go with a cheesesteak with fried onions, American cheese, ketchup, and a side order of spicy Cajun fries with a cup of melted American cheese.
MS provides food for the masses, and they do it quickly like a well-oiled machine. Cheesesteaks are the original fast-casual food and MS has that part down to a science. The fries were tasty and cheese hit all the right notes, but fries were not fresh and cheese I am sure probably came out of a can. They fill a niche for the office workers who do not want to take a chance on a food cart or have a sub-par cheesesteak from an average pizza-joint, so for that I commend them.
BlueJeanFood 