The Bakeshop on Twentieth

The Bakeshop on Twentieth – Philadelphia, PA

I am always on the lookout for something new and exciting to eat. Even when I am not hungry, I somehow can always find room for a snack or treat along the way. That is what happened to me one day while strolling around Rittenhouse Square, I stumbled upon The Bakeshop on Twentieth (BOT). Very small, yet big on smiles and friendliness inside I decided to go with the neighborhood treat “The Rittenhouse Square”.

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This incarnation of brownie consisted of fudge chunks, pretzel crust, and caramel topping. It was good, and a chocolate lovers dream come true. I would have preferred if it was a little on the fluffier side and a tab bit less gooey, but I know I am probably in the minority on this thought. I enjoyed BOT and would not hesitate to go back and try a few other treats there.

Overall

Three and half stars out of Five

Under The C Seafood – Philadelphia, PA

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Under The C Seafood – Philadelphia, PA

There is no doubt about who the king of Philadelphia is. COMCAST! With their larger than life skyscraper sitting at 17th and Arch Streets and another skyscraper in the works, the Philadelphia skyline leaves no doubt who the force to be reckoned with is. With such a large presence, someone has to feed all the people who work there. Well sitting in the belly of the Comcast Center building sits a nice dining hall of all sorts of tasty places to try. My visit would take me to Under The C Seafood (UTC). Their display cases are things of beauty to look at and I wanted to try everything there as it all looked fresh and delicious. I would choose their very affordable for fresh seafood lunch special teriyaki salmon steak, green beans, mac and cheese, and a side order of soft shell crab.

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Things started out really well with the very tasty and meaty soft shell crab. It was cooked nicely and each bite was moist. The salmon was really nice as well and the teriyaki sauce complimented it perfectly. The downside of the meal were the sides. The mac and cheese was to me almost flavorless and the green beans were way too much on the crunchy side, almost seemly borderline like raw green beans. UTC specializes in seafood and they seemed to do that portion of the meal admirably to go along with an amazing display of seafood shown. IF UTC can get some good sides going, they may go from under the c to on top of the world.

Overall

Three out of Five Stars.

 

Don Peppe’s – Ozone Park, NY

Don Peppe’s – Ozone Park, NY

With windows on the outside tinted completely dark, it took the “open” and “cash only” signs in the window to convince to even try to see if the door was unlocked. The door opened and after stepping into the actual restaurant I was transported to a quasi-Godfather/horse racing mecca mix called Don Peppe’s (DP). I was seated and instead of being given a menu or told about specials, all you have to do is look at the back wall as DP’s menu is hanging there and does not change daily. In this day and age, you have to have pretty good stuff not to have a rotating or seasonal menu. DP certainly played the part in ambiance, but it is the food that matters to me. The waiter was polite, but stoic. Friendly, but someone I would not want to get on their bad side. Absent at times, but always showing up exactly when needed or expected. I would start things out with their stuffed mushrooms.

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These were no ordinary stuffed mushrooms. They were fresh, gigantic, flavorful, and meaty. Cooked just right and juicy throughout I really liked them and one of the better stuffed mushrooms I have had. I think I would die and go to heaven if they ever thought of adding a little lump crab meat to these gems. Next up would be fettuccine al prosciutto

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This dish would be amazing. The nice pieces of prosciutto floating throughout added a beautiful salty punch to a nice sweet tomato sauce with pasta that was spot on. I have never had fettuccine al prosciutto and will be on the lookout for this in the future, but whoever serves it to me with have a high standard to live up to. As if that was not enough, next would be a dish of chicken lemon and butter.

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What sounded like a possible plain platter ended being a highlight of the night. The chicken served to me was cooked perfectly and sautéed in a lemon and butter sauce that I soaked up each and every drop of with the Italian bread provided. The chicken was just the right size as it was not too thick or thin and was able to cut through each piece with just my fork. I was stuffed, but left just enough room for dessert. I would get the pistachio Tartufo.

The dessert consisted of a ball of ice cream with pistachios and covered in a delicious chocolate shell. It was the perfect way to end a perfect meal in each and every way. DP provided an Italian meal that excited me from start to finish and did not miss a beat. DP is said to have strong ties to the mob, but as I stated early on, all I care about is the food and I will call anyone that eats at DP a wiseguy for knowing where good Italian food is.

Overall

Five out of Five Stars

 

Where to avoid the crowds, park for free, and have a great view of the Tall Ships Festival

GCBA Parade of Tall Ships Press Release

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Press Release

June 19. 2015

Freedom Pier Best Place to View Parade of Tall Ships

The Gloucester City Business Association (GCBA) believes Freedom Pier is South Jersey’s best vantage point to view the Parade of Tall Ships on Thursday, June 25.  Freedom Pier is an awesome 2 acre facility jutting into the Delaware River where you Visitors will be able to watch 12 majestic tall ships plus the world’s largest rubber duck (6 stories high) sail by.  Best of all the vantage point and parking are free thanks to Gloucester City Mayor & Council.

The Grand Parade of Tall Ships is scheduled to begin at 1 PM on the opening day of The Philadelphia – Camden Tall Ships Festival (June 25–28) which is the largest sailing event in North America.  Ship arrival times are subject to change with information updates available through Twitter @TallShipsPC.  Additional information can also be found on the event website –http://tallshipsphiladelphia.com/.

Freedom Pier located is located at the foot of Monmouth Street and is home berth to Gloucester City’s 75 foot schooner Northwind which will also participate in the Tall Ships Festival.  The pier is outlined by a 1,200 foot public access walkway complete with teak benches but visitors should probably bring their own lawn chairs/blankets.  Two GCBA members, Art’s Deli and the King Street Pub will provide reasonably priced food and soft drinks during the Parade of Tall Ships.  If visitors wish to stretch their legs, Freedom Pier connects to Proprietor’s Park and the Gloucester City Marina via a brick promenade along the Delaware River.

After the Tall Ships pass by, visitors are welcome to stop by nearby restaurants and bars such as the King Street Pub, Max’s Seafood Café, McMichael’s, the Whiskey Barrel, Tavern on the Edge and Bayer’s Tavern that are within walking distance of Freedom Pier and Proprietor’s Park.  Many GCBA members will be offering post Parade dining and happy hour specials.

The Gloucester City Business Association (GCBA) is composed of 80+ businesses that employ local workers and continually invest in Gloucester City projects and organizations.. GCBA can be reached at (856) 742-8011 and gcba@comcast.net.

Banh Mi Cali – Philadelphia, PA

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Banh Mi Cali – Philadelphia, PA
Sitting on the corner of 9th and Arch Streets is Banh Mi Cali (BMC). The interior of BMC is the size of a walk-in closet, but has an unmeasurable charm. The service was very friendly and homely. I would go with an order of Bbq pork with crispy onions, steamed white rice, fresh veggies, spring rolls, and Vietnamese yogurt.
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The sauce was sweet and tangy, pork sliced thin with a decent amount in the platter, and rice was nice. The spring roll was better than most places, but have had better. The yogurt was slightly below average flavor wise, but everything was very tasty and fresh. They offer quite a nice variety of menu items and I would glady give BMC another visit.

Overall

Three and Half Stars

Steve’s Prince of Steaks – Philadelphia, PA

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Steve’s Prince of Steaks – Philadelphia, PA

The word Philadelphia to many people around the world just means to them cheesesteak. They may not know where in America Philadelphia is or its history, because to them, all we are is just a cheesesteak. I know this for a fact by the many people around the world I have met. The only thing they know about where I am from is this sandwich. With this being said, competition is tight and everyone claims to have the best cheesesteak. Strolling around City Hall one day had me stop by Steve’s Prince of Steaks (SPS). I found the name to be amusing, as you would assume they would want to be king, but who I am to argue. The interior is a basic as it comes, crowded the day I visited, and music was loud.

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I would go with a cheesesteak with fried onions, mushrooms, and American cheese with an order of spicy fries. The one thing that threw me for a whirl were the different windows to order sandwiches and French fries. I ordered my sandwich and then had to wait in line again to get fries. This caused my steak to be called first and then had to wait a few minutes longer for my fries. Why not just have one order and pick-up window. As far as the meal went,  the meat was sliced not chopped and a decent serving size was given. It was a tad thick and had a chewy spot or too, but for the most part the meat was nice. The roll did not stand up well though. It got pretty soggy, pretty fast and started to fall apart causing the meat to fall out of the bottom. The fries were cooked nicely,  seasoned well, and were good. Just not great.

SPS was better than average, but by far not the best around Philly. With this being said, I guess being a Prince is not a bad position to be in a city with such high standards for cheesesteaks. The search for a King continues.

Overall

Two and half out of Five Stars

Square 1682

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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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Square 1682, located in the lobby of Philadelphia’s Hotel Palomar at 17th and Sansom Streets, celebrated the return of spring with an outdoor party that featured food, drink and games.

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The head chef, Caitlin Mateo, unveiled her seasonal menu with hors d’oeuvres for everyone to enjoy.  Among the items on the menu were deviled duck eggs, crab and avocado toast, calamari and mushroom pate.  Head bartender Daniel Kulisek enjoyed making an eclectic group of cocktails for the attendees, and there were numerous wine offerings for us to sample.  Larger than life sized versions of our favorite games that we played as kids also were onsite to keep the crowd entertained.

Square 1682 seems to lean towards fresher and healthier foods, as well as having steak, poultry and seafood.  Brunch and breakfast choices, such as the omelette of the day and chicken and waffles, will attract the early crowd and hotel patrons.  Some of the more unique selections for lunch and dinner include a vegan chili, black bean chickpea burgers, mushroom ravioli and even a raw juice selection.

This location is becoming an increasingly popular area within the city and  I would recommend trying Square 1682 to experience something new and hip, as the just the menu in itself is very intriguing.  See you soon “around town”…

IMunch Café – Philadelphia, PA

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IMunch Café – Philadelphia, PA

On the outskirts of Philly in the Brewerytown Section sits Imunch Café (IC). They are a nice break in between North and West Philly and at the perfect location for a quick meal or drink before reaching the Philadelphia Zoo, Fairmount Park, or Please Teach Museum destinations. I needed something to munch, so where better to stop then a place that calls itself just that IC. IC is two stories and very warm and cozy. The staff was welcoming and efficient in helping everyone. I would start out with the crab bisque.

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I must say I was pleasantly surprised at the flavor, generous amount, and decent sized chunks of crab throughout the bisque. I did not have any hopes for quality bisque here, but I was proven wrong and I will certainly keep in mind to try whatever soup of the day is at IC again. After a grand beginning I would then try their Ruben.

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The Ruben was your standard cornbeef, swiss cheese, and sauerkraut on ciabatta bread, but they executed exceptionally. I walked into IC with thoughts of just getting a quick bite with low expectations on my way to somewhere else. I left thinking I would be back to IC with them being my sole reason for going. They are a shining star in a less than bright area.

Overall

Three and half stars out of Five

 

Bites of Brigantine

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Bites of Brigantine

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I was fortunate enough to stay in an oceanfront suite in the tiny town of Brigantine, New Jersey with my two year old son for a few days. I really enjoyed their pristine beaches and figured what better way to find out about a town then to eat my way around it. Each stop had not only my critiques, but also my son’s as well. This is why you see two entrees in each picture. It was my first visit to this tiny beach destination and I have a feeling after enjoying my time there, it will not be my last.

 

Yuki Hana

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They claim “Best Food in Town” on their menu. I wouldn’t go that far. What they did provide was better than average “Americanized Chinese Food”, a cozy dining atmosphere, very friendly service and a really nice looking sushi bar that I would not mind to try the next time I stop in.

 

The Pirate’s Den

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Very eclectic with decorations from a variety of different themes. The place is dated, but has that nostalgic dining beachy feel to it that resonates warmly in my heart from my youth. They served a really great breakfast. A for sale sign outside the restaurant so they may not be there much longer, which would be a sad day in my opinion.

 

Yianni’s Cafe

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The service here was outstanding. The food was slightly better than average and I liked the fresh fruit brought out for my son’s platter. They have the word “fresh” on their sign. I would have enjoyed the meal more if the fries were indeed fresh-cut fries and the roasted peppers in my sandwich not of the canned variety and fresh instead. Food was good, just not great.

 

Andres Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar

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One of the worst meals I have been served in a long time. I should have known better and leave immediately when I asked if they had any specials for the night and the waitress told me that main chef who does the specials was not in yet even though it was five o’clock at night. I think they may not have had any chef at all back in the kitchen. I took a bite out of two different pieces of veal and they both literally tasted rotten. The only saving grace was that I was able to eat the mushrooms and sliced onions if that is any consolation for spending twenty some odd dollars on this dish. I was also able to eat the bread that they served with the meal. The bread was warm and perfect for soaking up the sauce that sadly did not seem homemade either. I am sure the server knew something was up with not a single piece of veal was eaten from the plate when she took it away.

 

Mad Dog Morgan’s

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One of the best retrofits of what looks like a former Wawa to me. Also, there must be something with breakfast joints and pirates on this island. Again another outstanding breakfast, with service that was just above and beyond personable and efficient. They even gave my son a little pirate cloth bag as a present for stopping by.

 

St. George’s Pub

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A really nice, tasty, and affordable lunch with a phenomenal clams casino appetizer. The clams casino wasn hands down a reason to drive down to Brigantine alone if they are this good every time there. The restaurant is connected to a bar that was hopping with patrons and music was pumping. If the little guy was not with me, I could see enjoying a decent meal with a couple cold adult beverages here.

 

Red Owl Tavern

(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”)

red owl sign

On Wednesday evening, April 22nd, I attended an open house at the Red Owl Tavern at 433 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia,  spotlighting the debut of new menus by Chef Jorge Chicas.  The new establishment situated at the Hotel Monaco in the heart of Independence Mall featured live music, samplings of numerous dishes and drink for those attending.

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The food offerings at Red Owl are across the board, from seafood options, steaks and burgers to finger foods and standard pub fare.  The restaurant opens early and serves breakfast from 7-11 AM, with a unique menu offering that is refreshing to see.  The ambiance is one of the main selling points – with large dining and bar space downstairs, more quaint seating on a balcony upstairs, and outdoor seating when the season permits.  Whether it’s a party to watch a game, or just a quiet date night, you can find either at this locale…

The Red Owl will soon find its niche in the city with its fantastic location and casual approach to fine dining.  Stop in to try their new menu items, have a craft beer, or enjoy a happy hour after leaving the office after a hard day.  I will see you soon “Around Town”…