Sunday Supper

Recently I took a class that kept me away from home on Sunday evenings for eight weeks in a row. The first Sunday I was home again, my boyfriend informed me that in my absence he had developed a Sunday routine, and he was going to teach me how to enjoy Sundays in the new style. He told me that this included a beer-filled trip to the Foodery and a good dose of mindless TV, but that the whole evening begins with a sandwich from the Cornerstone Market. I was a little surprised--I had always viewed Cornerstone with a suspicious eye. Oh, it's cute, and it has a nice selection of gourmet groceries, but I feel like gourmet corner stores like that exist primarily to carve a deep gouge in my wallet the moment I'm too lazy to walk the extra 10 minutes to an actual supermarket. But oh, the sandwiches. The sandwiches are so worth it. Like this guy here: he's mozzarella, tomato, pesto and artichokes served on fluffy multigrain bread. The Italian hoagie comes with basil leaves criss-crossing the top. Guys, listen: get a Cornerstone sandwich. They've made Sunday my favorite day of the week.

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Shopping , Supermarkets • Northern Liberties

The OG of Northern Liberties

Allow me to present the Olive Garden of Northern Liberties--a restaurant for people who are scared of restaurants. It's the only reason I can think of to explain why people would go to a mediocre restaurant marooned in a sea of delicious ones. Of course, the service I received when I visited didn't help. When I asked the waiter about a particular wine, he replied by describing the differences between reds and whites (if you didn't know, whites are lighter!). The guy might've just been nervous..but come on, the place is named Vino. Meg, say something positive. Okay: even though I would never tout the Olive Garden chain as a paragon of culinary excellence, they know how to make food taste good, if overly buttery. Similarly, my pizza at Vino was good--it was the special, with duck. But I rarely order meat, and I was disappointed that the delicious duck was overpowered by pungent (if delicious) cheese. Look: if you want to eat at the Olive Garden, go ahead. But if you want to go to a wine bar in Northern Liberties, wait for a table across the street at Bar Ferdinand.

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Restaurants • Northern Liberties

Bounty of the Middle East

Despite the name of the store--Jerusalem--I always just assumed that this was just another mini mart. I mean, when I passed by on the street and looked in the window, all I saw was Vitamin Water. But internet-people, I am (occasionally) humble, and this is why I can admit something to you: I WAS WRONG. I recently discovered that if I looked above that Vitamin Water window, there was a big sign proclaiming the store to have Middle Eastern food (I can also admit that I am occasionally dense). So I went in to Jerusalem with my dinner already half-prepared, and it took all of my will power to not throw out my existing food and replace it with reasonably priced hummus, feta, and a jar of olives larger than my head. Because, really, is there anyone in the world that wouldn't consider eating their head-weight in olives for dinner? If there is, I don't want to meet that person.

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Shopping • Northern Liberties

Now Mac 'n' Cheesier

It's a sad thing when a restaurant gets a good amount of blog buzz for reinventing itself, decides to sell comfort food at a decent price, and still has a hard time getting people into its seats. But when my friend and I visited Swallow on a recent (and albeit rainy) evening, we were the only folks in there. The new concept of the place is this: macaroni and cheese in all its glorious, filling forms. You can make your own mixture with various meats, cheeses, vegetables, and herbs, or pick one of the combinations that the chef recommends. Sure, you have to make sure that everyone you're going out to eat with wants mac 'n' cheese as their main meal, but after you jump that hurdle, the food is warm and filling and satisfying. Is it worth visiting? Yes. Will people actually go there? We'll see.

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Restaurants • Northern Liberties

Pondering the Piazza

Before we start delving into individual shops and restaurants, let's just talk about the new Piazza at Schmidt's as its own entity. I walk by the ol' Piazza almost every day, and even though there's been construction happening for months, it feels like the whole thing suddenly sprung out of nowhere, like a child that pops out of the womb already 18 and ready to date. And just as I feel creepy admitting that a just-born 18-year-old could be attractive, I feel a little weird admitting that the Piazza looks neat. There's the big open area, the giant TV, and the new bar from the Good Dog folks. But, on the other hand, there's also the guys protesting Vino, the bar named PYT that promises (SURPIZE) 80's music and (most likely) a terribly annoying clientele, and all of these stores that I can only assume were offered cheap rent, because really, who is opening a store in this economy that has a 5:1 glass-vase-to-clothing ratio? To sum up the Piazza: one day I saw a man walk out of it wearing a lab coat and holding a teddy bear. Like the Piazza itself, this made me excited, disturbed, and hopeful.

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Landmarks • Northern Liberties

Double Dating

El Camino Real, you confuse me. At lunch, you've been harsh. You've given me disinterested waitstaff and a seitan sandwich that wasn't worth whatever salt went into it some little bits of wheat-meat and cabbage shoved between massive pieces of Texas toast. I literally thought you were one of the worst new restaurants I had been to in a while. But like a spurned lover who tries to win back her beau, you seduced me at night. You liquored me up with pitchers of whiskey-spiked lemonade and hilarious pink cans of champagne, then presented me with supple tortillas and smoky salsa. Oh, it was good. But I'll tell you right now, El Camino Real--I am not getting exclusive with you. I am going to keep seeing other Mexican restaurants, because, baby, like and trust are two different things.

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Restaurants • Northern Liberties

Serious Vinyl

Store owner, Anthony, is patient, great and Encyclopedia Brown when it comes to music--letting us spin quite a few records before we could make up our minds. We didn't let him down though, and made some good purchases--I picked up Ben Frost's Theory of Machines. My favorite thing about the place: the pink slips attached to each album (nope, nothing got fired), just snippets of reviews and descriptions to help you make your choice and discover something new.

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Shopping • Northern Liberties

Feast on This

Even though we had a beautiful hot streak in April, the rain of the last few days has me trapped in winter mode. For me, winter mode consists of three basic elements: wondering if I should put on long underwear in the morning (thankfully, no), eating a big bowl of oatmeal for breakfast (hell yes), and not wanting to venture far from my house to eat and drink. Which is why, as a dweller of the Fishtownish area, I am very pleased to note that it's River Ward Restaurant Week! That means that twelve restaurants in Fishtown, Kensington, and Port Richmond are offering up awesome fixed-price menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, from the perfectly Polish New Wave Cafe to the seafood savvy of Bistro Juliana to Ida Mae's brunching best. The event only goes through May 6, so if you're still in winter mode and you're not living in the River Ward area, break out of your slump and go. And, PS, if you went to Shadfest late in the day last weekend like I did and discovered that there were NO SHAD LEFT, Johnny Brenda's restaurant week special is shad-oriented. YES.

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Events • Northern Liberties

Fish Is Good Food

When purchasing fish to cook, there's a lot to consider. Does your fish have good amounts of OMEGA-3 fatty acids? Could your fish possibly be poisoned with mercury? And, oh yeah, is your fish contributing to THE DEATH OF ALL THE OCEANS? Some scientists have reported that our oceans could be fished dry in forty years if commercial fishing keeps up at current rates. Enter: Otolith. This spot, nestled in the old Lou's Crab Shack building on Girard, hocks sustainable frozen seafood, including prawns, cod, scallops, salmon, and more. I can't tell you that Otolith is cheap: making sure your seafood is sustainable can add $10 or more per pound to the price. But I can tell you that Otolith is doing something good, and I recommend shopping there.

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Restaurants • Northern Liberties

Valentine's Day Miracle

Aimlessly wandering the gusty streets of Northern Liberties on Valentine's Day sans reservation, we thought maybe we'd screwed the pooch. Bar Ferdinand all but laughed in our faces when we asked if we'd be able to get a table at some point that evening. Fine, we said. Whatever. And we turned on our heels and marched right into El Camino Real, which was flat out packed. However, our group of four was seated in less than five minutes--it was a Valentine's miracle! Given the overabundance of Mexican eateries in Philly, everyone at our table opted to try out El Camino Real's Texan fare. I went for the BBQ seitan sandwich and I'm still not sure which was more overwhelming: the size of the sandwich's Texas Toast or the dragon-breath-spiciness of the sauce. Overall, the food and atmosphere were laid back and fun. And the margaritas were just what the doctor ordered to wash all the comfort food--like fried pickle chips--down.

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Restaurants • Northern Liberties

All in the Family

The cozy little corner BYOB at Lawrence and Girard Streets is often looked over for the better dressed and more social eateries. As all of us non-tourists know, publicity and shiny new paint don't a good restaurant make; the food does. Las Cazuelas specializes in family recipes from Pueblo, Mexico. The Aguilar family also own sister-cafe, Taco Riendo. Recipes like the Shrimp and Oyster Ceviche and Enchiladas de Mole, with a sauce prepared hours on end (infused with chocolate and guajillo pepper) and house-made Tres Leches ("three milk cake," a traditional Mexican desert) gives this little guy huge taste. Bring your own tequila and rest assured that they've got the rest.

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Restaurants • Northern Liberties

Sandwich Shop Rebirth

The bad news: Senka, the obvious drug-front cheesesteak shop that was open from 10 pm-5 am, is gone. That means no more spying on the clientele, drunken conversations with the owners about helicopters, or being told that chicken is the only vegetarian option. What it does mean, however, is that Paesano's has moved in. And what this new shop lacks in late-night hours and (I'm assuming) helicopter stories, it makes up for with PURE TASTE. Opened by the folks who started Modo Mio, the Italian restaurant that has the power to bring middle-aged suburbanites (barely) north of Northern Liberties. Paesano's has advertised itself as having "Philly-style [read: super-meaty] sandwiches with Italian inspiration." While I'm told by a dear friend that these super-meaty sandwiches are fantastic, I got the vegetarian Panelle. Now, when I love the food I am eating, I do this thing where I save what I deem to be the perfect bite for my last bite. But I couldn't figure out which side had the perfect bite. Was it the chickpea pancake side? Was it the roasted tomato and fennel side? Answer: both. These are good sandwiches.

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Restaurants • Northern Liberties

Dream By Day

National Park Service sites are, by any practical measure, tourist-driven. That said, their second biggest demographic of visitor is the 'dweebus." If you fit the description, as I do, then why haven't you been to Poe's House yet? He lived in Philly for 6 years in the mid-1800s (and wrote some of his best stuff) but his only surviving residence is this rowhouse on 7th and Spring Garden. The tour is pretty sparse, save for the basement with the half-chimney that inspired The Black Cat. Even my tour guide noted that they'd like to have furniture or something more--and it looks like the day has come! In honor of Edgar’s 100th birthday in January, they're closing down through December to construct all-new exhibits! Take that, Baltimore! You can have his body, but Philly's going to throw the biggest party!

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Landmarks • Northern Liberties

Curioser and Curioser

The Random Tea Room might slip your eye. It's small... very small, but has a wealth of treasures for the discerning tea lover. Boasting over 40 artisanal teas, including Assam, Darjeeling, Keemun, Chinese Greens, Chinese whites, and Oolongs just to name a few, you will find yourself taking as much time looking over the menu as the quaint and comfortable decor. All teas can be bought loose or by the cup or pot. There are also several wonderful pieces of art and jewelry to buy as well. The Random Tea Room is available for special occasions and has a host of scheduled events (check out their online calendar). Sit and enjoy a cup while watching the world go by the windows or with a thick book.

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Coffee , Shopping • Northern Liberties

Pizza Review: Fill-in-the-Blanks

I love pizza more than a middle school boy loves having one of those little puberty mustaches, and according to the middle school boys I've seen lately, they love those things a lot. But reviews of pizza places, unless the spots are wildly different or hideously bad, can get boring. This is why, even though Home Slice is one of the more unique pizza spots I've been to in a while, I am providing this fill-in-the-blank pizza review: Home Slice is a pizza place in Northern Liberties. The pizza is good because Home Slice offers whole wheat crust, has fancy toppings like capers and feta and will provide vegan cheese on request. However, the service can be mediocre. We watched our pizza sitting on the counter for about five minutes before someone brought it over. But I trust that Home Slice will get that kink worked out because the pizza is worth it. All-in-all, Home Slice was incredibly tasty, definitely better than other gourmet-type pizza places in Philly. I would would not recommend.

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Restaurants • Northern Liberties

It's Magic!

I still haven't figured out why there weren't more people dining here midweek. I know we’re in a recession, but you can bring your own booze, so its basically like cutting half off the bill. Plus, you get pita slices with hummus and olive tapenade, gratis, which makes it easy for you and your dinner to be spoiled. For $30, you can enjoy a three course meal where you can choose from any of the menu's salads, main courses, and desserts. There's no worry about being forced to eat chicken or something vegetarian! It's difficult to prepare this caliber of dinner at home this inexpensively, aside from the time it takes to do it. The open kitchen and exposed brick walls create the perfect atmosphere to forget about our crumbling economy and warming seas. Go ahead and order dessert; after all, you can charge it!

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Restaurants • Northern Liberties

Jazz Babies

The last time I was in Ortlieb's I saw Bootsy Barnes make love to his sax. It was a beautiful thing and the place was packed. If you want to get a feel for the jazz scene in all its Philly glory, then come by Ortlieb's. You can easily pass it by because there is minimal signage (almost always a good sign--pun intended), but find a parking spot and tumble in. You won't be disappointed in either the food (think N’Orleans, think Southern... think polenta fries!), the bar or the atmosphere. The folks who come to Ortlieb's know their chops and to add, there is a jam session every Sunday and Tuesday. There is a cover charge on Friday and Saturday night and they are closed on Monday. Dinner (served 5 pm-1 am) reservations are recommended.

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Nightlife • Northern Liberties

If By Food You Mean Drink

The name's Foodery. And it does have food...sandwiches, chips, sodas, blah, blah. But it also has BEER! Lots and lots of it! In fact, half the place is filled with shelves and shelves of the beautiful stuff. They claim (and there is absolutely no reason for me to argue) they have 700+ different brands in their coolers. You can get your standards, even (God forbid) Bud, Coors Light...but you can also get Speak Easy, Spaten, Flying Fish, even HeBrew! You can also mix and match four and six packs, though it will likely cost you somewhere between $10 and $30 depending on how exotic the brand. The rarity and the cost increase from left to right, just to give you a heads up but you'll probably spend an hour just looking at the cool labels if you're someone like me. Grab a sandwich and a brew (but please, not Bud Light!)

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Liquor Stores , Restaurants , Shopping • Northern Liberties

With An Emphasis on the Lounge

I don't know what the hell North Bowl is... I mean, it's bowling, of course, but not Lebowski bowling, na' mean? At NB you can order food, and it's even good... but does bowling go with Thai beef skewers? Or, miso soup for that matter? Sure it does! And anyway, the interior is amazing and very chic, with all sorts of color and light and, well, beautiful people. Bowling is there, but it's really takes a backseat to the very fabulous bar and polished wood, brick and exposed beams. Still, it's fun if a bit much for bowling, but, hey, someone had to do it first, right? Chic bowling is just to prepare us for chic Fuss ball and we all know it. But a word of warning: My wife and I went to drop in on a Friday night and were told that the wait was four hours! Nobody, I mean nobody who really just wants to bowl will wait four hours for that. Go over to Jersey if that's all you want to do. You won't find Fred and Barney here.

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Bowling , Nightlife • Northern Liberties

No Complex Here

Genos, Pats, Jims... you can navigate your way around the city, gulping grease and cheese wiz in search of the perfect Philly cheese steak, but nobody does it quite like the Abbaye. No, your food is not served on paper plates that grease through and through the second the steak hits the plate. No, you don't need to speak perfect English to be served. And no, you won't get the experience of consuming in the company of drunken slobs at 2 a.m. (well, maybe...) The Abbaye modestly serves the best steak in the city (Chimay marinated steak, grilled tomato and onion, gruyere cheese and roasted garlic aoli $8) pair it with one of the imported selections chalked up on the board or, if you're feeling adventurous, the "No, You're Not Hallucinating" Absinthe ($15/glass). Down a glass and you might become an interesting conversation piece for years to come (just ask an Abbayean what "DYG" stands for).

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Nightlife , Restaurants • Northern Liberties