Revolution Taco

Posted on January 14, 2016 by Bluejeanfood

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(The following is a special series on Bluejeanfoodcritic.com written by guest contributing writer William Knowles. He highlights his passions of of trying something new whenever the opportunity presents itself, or possibly something old, but new again since it has been a while. I hope you enjoy his very special perspective that I am sure many of you can relate to. Follow him on his exciting journey “Around Town”)

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Last week marked the official grand opening of Revolution Taco, a new eatery at 2015 Walnut Street in Philadelphia, in the shadow of Rittenhouse Square.  Our friends at Aversa PR & Events invited us along for a sampling of the unique offerings that the eatery will have in store.

Specializing in tacos, empanadas and burritos, the restaurant is the result of a partnership between three food truck entrepreneurs uniting their product and brands.  Mike Sultan, operator of Street Food Philly;  Alan Krawitz, who runs Say Cheese; and Carolyn Nguyen, proprietor of Taco Mondo, all share in the creation of Revolution Taco.  The offerings were impressive, and there is much to choose from the menu.  The beef, brisket and chicken tacos were delicious.  For vegetarians, there are mushroom and tofu tacos; as well as roast duck.  The empanada we sampled was out of this world…the chips and guac fresh with flavor.

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The food truck industry has seen a surge in recent years, particularly in our area.  The success that led to the formation of Revolution Taco comes on the heels of this boom, and it’s interesting to see those with different visions unite their talents.  It’s also refreshing to see more and more smaller eateries opening, and thriving, in the city.  Competition with chain restaurants and their popularity can be a difficult thing to encounter, but most will find the quality at a local neighborhood joint to be above those of said chains.  If you presently frequent a well known taco or Mexican theme restaurant, you may find this new option to be superior to them, in many ways…

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Revolution Taco celebrated its grand opening this week, and you should visit soon to enjoy a nice atmosphere and great food. Happy New Year, and see you around town…

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Lazaro’s Pizzeria and Grill – Philadelphia, PA

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Bluejeanfood

Lazaro’s Pizzeria and Grill – Philadelphia, PA

They may be known around Philadelphia for their jumbo twenty-six inch pizzas, but on the day I stopped by Lazaro’s Pizzeria and Grill (LPG) I would go with a chicken parmigiana sandwich. LPG has your standard pizza joint menu and dated pizzeria décor that could use a little bit of a freshening up. The staff was very busy as the place was packed on a weekday lunch rush and this created a very impersonal feeling to service.

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The sandwich was of your standard variety. Frozen chicken cutlet deep fried, with prepackaged sauce and cheese with a roll that was over toasted and burnt. LPG is an affordable destination for something to eat around an area that there are not many budget options available. They will not surprise you with their menu or what you served, but sometimes the saying of “you get you pay for” rings true here.

Overall

Two out of Five Stars

 

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Cafe Mai Vy – Philadelphia, PA

Posted on December 29, 2015 by Bluejeanfood

Cafe Mai Vy – Philadelphia, PA – NOW CLOSED –

With all of the Banh Mi options around Washington Ave in South Philly it can be overwhelming, especially with half of them not even having things to read in English. I decided to give Café Mai Vy (CMV) a try and it was a worthwhile trip.

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I ordered the spicy bbq pork banh mi and it was not only one of cheaper ones around, it was one of the better ones as well. The freshness of the roll, carrots, cilantro and nice fatty pieces of barbequed pork in every bite were wonderful. The service was very minimal as the language barrier made things a bit difficult, but they were friendly and gracious. The décor is very dated and a little mish mash of trinkets and do-dads, but for the quality and price CMV will be seeing much more of me.

Overall

Four out of Five Stars

 

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Silk City Diner Bar & Lounge – Philadelphia, PA

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Bluejeanfood

Silk City Diner Bar & Lounge – Philadelphia, PA

Working your way up Spring Garden from the Delaware River, the first place to grab your attention (besides Delilah’s) is sure to be Silk City Diner Bar & Lounge (SCDB). The outside beer garden looks and feels like an outpost of South Street Magic Gardens, the old school dining car from the 50’s transports you back to another time, and the lounge has some really nice entertainment options with almost something for everyone at least one day on the schedule. Owner Mark Bee who also runs N.3rd Bar & Restaurant and Frank Bradley’s has a flair for visual stimulation. That is all fine and well, but it is my belly that needs to be stimulated the most to make me happy.  I would go with their Italian Dip with hand cut fries.

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The Italian Dip may look ordinary in the picture, but it was the opposite of visual stimulation, as it was its inner beauty that counted the most. Underneath the ciabatta roll was thin sliced roast beef, sharp provolone, marinated peppers and onions, roasted garlic aioli, arugula and rosemary jus. I really liked the combination of ingredients it the serving size was generous. The ciabatta was of nice quality and it held up well throughout the meal. The one thing I noticed immediately was that the peppers were raw. They were fresh and throughout the sandwich, but I prefer cooked marinated peppers as was stated in the menu in my sandwiches and the peppers being raw distracted me from my full enjoyment. The hand cut fries were pretty good and enhanced the overall experience as a good French fry should do; I just wish I had a larger serving of jus to dip them into. SCDB is probably the most eclectic diner I have ever visited, and sometimes the “show” overshadows the food in these sort of hipster havens. With superb service, a decent meal at an affordable price, and plenty to look at and experience at SCDB they are more than just a gimmick, they are gastronomic gem as well.

Overall

Four out of Five Stars

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Philadelphia Christmas Village

Posted on December 12, 2015 by Bluejeanfood

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(The following is a special series on Bluejeanfoodcritic.com written by guest contributing writer William Knowles. He highlights his passions of of trying something new whenever the opportunity presents itself, or possibly something old, but new again since it has been a while. I hope you enjoy his very special perspective that I am sure many of you can relate to. Follow him on his exciting journey “Around Town”)

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The Christmas Village, located in Love Park at JFK Plaza in the heart of Center City Philadelphia, has become as much a part holiday tradition in the town as the famed light show at Macy’s (formerly Wanamaker’s).  Modeling itself after German open market style villages, it serves as a destination for families, shoppers, tourists and passerby who will immediately feel the holiday spirit.
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There is much to see, with over 60 wooden booths serving food, drink, gifts and novelties.  Pick up a delicious strudel at Helmut’s, authentic from Austria.  Or homemade chocolate from John & Kira’s.  Buy genuine hand crafted ornaments and objects from Kathe Wohlfahrt.  Take your picture with the giant Christmas tree in the park fountain, or with Santa himself.

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The German Society of Philadelphia has done a wonderful job of creating an atmosphere that truly makes you feel you are transported to Christmastime in Europe.  Kory Aversa of Aversa PR & Events, a friend to Bluejeanfoodcritic.com and Around Town, took us on a tour of the village and provided samples of many of the food offerings.  Kory and his team handle the marketing and advertising for many events in the region, with the Village being their crowning jewel for the year…

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Check out the Christmas Village between now and December 27th for great food and drink, unique gift ideas and seasonal cheer.  Happy Holidays to everyone “around town”…

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Buffalo Bills Barbecue – Sicklerville, NJ

Posted on December 8, 2015 by Bluejeanfood

Buffalo Bills Barbecue – Sicklerville, NJ

I find critiquing barbeque one of the more difficult genres to be objective about since I am a Kansas City Barbeque Society Certified Judge. Eating barbeque from teams with dreams of winning hundreds of thousands of dollars for just one serving of food they labored over for days with recipes perfected over the years and then eating barbeque from a retail location setup to feed the masses is like night and day. With keeping this in mind I decided to try Buffalo Bills Barbecue (BBB) as I was seeing a lot of things posted about them on the internet. BBB is strictly a no frills take-out location. When I picked up the menu, I was a little hesitant as their menu was more on line with a pizza joint than a barbeque location and a little all over the place. I would go with a full rib combo.

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The meal consisted of a full rack of baby back ribs, mac and cheese, and collard greens. BBB is nowhere near championship caliber barbeque, but I must admit I was impressed for what is readily available barbeque in South Jersey. The ribs were cooked nicely and were tender throughout. I enjoyed the rub they used and the mild sauce painted on with just the right amount of sauce, unlike some places that pour the sauce on to hide an inferior product. Each bite was juicy and meaty as well. The collard greens really shined as hidden inside each forkful were tiny pieces of pulled chicken that enhanced the overall flavor profile and add a special surprise. The mac and cheese was not too impressive, but I have had worse and it held its own as a decent side.

BBB was enjoyable and I would be happy to try more things on their very large menu and hope everything is as good as what I had my first visit there. The staff was very personable and friendly. The woman behind the counter said she thought she recognized me and had I been to BBB before. With me responding I had not, she replied, “Well darling, I guarantee you are going to love your meal and if you don’t, come back and I’ll give you something else you like instead.” I respect a dining establishment who has confidence in what they are serving. I will be going back to BBB. Not to return what I ordered, but to order some more!

Overall

Four out of Five Stars

 

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Royal Mandarin Chinese Restaurant & Sushi Bar – Deptford, NJ

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Bluejeanfood

Royal Mandarin Chinese Restaurant & Sushi Bar – Deptford, NJ

The Deptford Mall area is surrounded by restaurants, but sadly the vast majority of them are chains. Now Royal Mandarin Chinese Restaurant & Sushi Bar (RMC) has quite a few restaurants of their own, but they are mostly all located in South Jersey. In an unassuming strip mall sits RMC, and walking inside they really don’t have a lot character, but it gets the job done nicely and staff was friendly. I would go with a Chicken Teriyaki lunch special.

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The meal was good, just not great, but it was affordable. The chicken was a generous sized piece, but was a little dry from being overcooked. The sauce and rice was just your standard variety, but the veggies were nice and fresh and crisp. RMC is a nice change of pace around the area they serve; I just do not see myself rushing to visit them on their own without a pre-planned visit to this shopping area. If the next time I visit them, if their sushi selection knocks my socks off, then I will reconsider making them a destination.

Overall

Two and half out of Five Stars

 

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Little Spoon Café – Philadelphia, PA

Posted on November 24, 2015 by Bluejeanfood

Little Spoon Café – Philadelphia, PA

It is well documented that people go “GAGA” for Little Spoon Café (LSC) breakfast and brunch. I am not a huge fan of either, so of course I would try them for lunch. LSC is a very quaint dining destination, but they pack people in to every spot available while a line to order was long, yet calm and quiet. I would order their Braised Pork Sandwich with chips and homemade dip.

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Let me start out by singing the praises of LSC’s homemade French onion dip. I could easily eat this stuff buy the bucket load and be pleasantly plump and happy. You are sorely missing out on a delicious treat if you do not order the dip on any visit to LSC. I cannot believe they are not pairing the dip with homemade chips to go with it. The braised pork sandwich on the other hand was good, just not great. It was braised pork shoulder, with fontina and braised greens on grilled artisan bread. The combination was nice, but was much too salty, greens were bitter, and bread was very greasy. These are all things that are easily fixed, and as busy as LSC is they just need to take the time to execute a little better. I enjoyed the LSC experience; it just did not “WOW” me. Maybe next time I will try them from breakfast or brunch.

Overall

Three out of Five Stars

 

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Ginza Japanese & Asian Restaurant – Runnemede, NJ

Posted on November 17, 2015 by Bluejeanfood

Ginza Japanese & Asian Restaurant – Runnemede, NJ

While driving on the Black Horse Pike many times, I passed Ginza Japanese and Asian Restaurant (GJA) many times not thinking much of an unassuming looking restaurant in an old and well-worn strip mall. One day stuck in bumper to bumper rush hour traffic, I decided to give GJA a try. I pulled their website up on my phone and ordered in advance for a take-out lunch order. Well GJA certainly fits the bill of do not judge a book by its cover. Stepping inside, GJA is a nicely decorated, clean, and a stylish little gem in this part of Jersey. The staff was beyond friendly and talkative, service superb, and lunch prices were very affordable. I would order Unagi, Philly Roll, Red Snapper, and Yellowtail.

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Everything was fresh and delicious, and even though this order was the basics of sushi, I usually make sure a place can do the basics well before I put my trust in them to try other things. Next time I am near GJA I will keep in mind how nice my take-out meal was and make sure that I dine there instead to try a little something more than the basics.

Overall

Three and a half out of Five Stars

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Penn Jersey Roller Derby

Posted on November 13, 2015 by Bluejeanfood

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(The following is a special series on Bluejeanfoodcritic.com written by guest contributing writer William Knowles. He highlights his passions of of trying something new whenever the opportunity presents itself, or possibly something old, but new again since it has been a while. I hope you enjoy his very special perspective that I am sure many of you can relate to. Follow him on his exciting journey “Around Town”)

The Penn Jersey Roller Derby is a spirited organization based in North Philadelphia that features co-ed skaters competing in a league with both flat and banked roller tracks.  On Sunday, November 8th, an open house and skate was held at the home warehouse of the league, and I got to check out the action…

Located just a stones throw away from the Temple University campus, the warehouse will soon hold two large tracks to host all of the league skates.  On this day, a scrimmage between the She-Devils and the Hooligans was taking place, in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the organization.  The “Donut Rollers” event served coffee and donuts to all guests who came out for the event, followed by an open skate.

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Many times when you live in a sports crazed town such as Philadelphia, you can take for granted all of the different kinds of club sport that actually exist besides the big four.  One of the most impressive things I took from my visit was the sheer athleticism that the skaters of both genders showed, along with some incredible grit and toughness.  The participants are willing to completely sacrifice their bodies to not only compete, but to win.  In a world where sports has become a war over contracts and stature, these athletes are simply having the time of their lives, and the results are very entertaining.

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The members of the PJRD show great pride in their venture.  Jamyra Perry, better known in the local skating universe as Kandi Krush, explained the game and operation to me glowingly.  Dudley Do-Wrong, the club president, was thrilled with the turnout for something that he helped to launch a decade ago (and obviously proud to see it grow as it has).  The derby events are held roughly every month, and the full schedule of upcoming games can be found at pennjerseyrollerderby.com.  If you are a sports fan, think outside the box and attend a game soon to see a fast paced alternative to a day at the ballpark or a football Sunday.

See you there, and around town…

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