Thursday, March 28, 2013

JG Domestic Review

This is for a series of posts related to Iron Chef Jose Garces including:

Of the legion of Iron Chef Jose Garces' restaurants, which includes Tinto and Village Whiskey, JG Domestic was one of the first I tried when I came to Philly a few years ago. Offering locally sourced premium pastured meats and farm fresh vegetables, this is one of those restos that offer a true 'farm to table' experience. So recently, I decided to give the tasting menu another try.


It takes a bit to reach your destination however. Unless you enter the maze of 30th street station to get through to the northern overpass, you'll need to navigate under a scary overpass and some construction to get to your desired location, on the ground level of the beautiful Cira Center.


Little did I know - Iron Chef Garces' Garces Group office is located here as well! In fact, we caught a glimpse of the chef right as he was leaving. 


Once you enter the gorgeous Cira Center, you're transported into a clean environment, unlike outside the building. To your direct left, you'll see the beautifully designed JG Domestic.


As you wait for the rest of your party - feel free to lounge and admire the space. Or head further into the center and you'll find a little nook which has lunchtime sandwiches and other goods on proffer from Garces Trading Company. This includes their deliciously fruity olive oils.


But I had to save my appetite, because the GF and I were here to indulge in their tasting menu. Dinner started off a bit rocky as the hostess proceeded to sit us at a small table for two in the front of the restaurant. When I made my reservation, I had asked for a comfortable table as we would be indulging in the tasting. I reiterated this once I saw where she had planned on seating us.


Unfortunately, despite the available space in the back by the kitchen, out hostess said it was an impossibility. Ultimately though, our server Lenny was a gem and realized that the sheer quantity of dishes was impossible to stack at our tiny table for two. After a few courses, he commandeered an empty 2-top next to ours and proceeded to make extra space for us. Much appreciated! 

Tasting Menu ($55 pp)

I've noted the a la carte pricing for those who may think this tasting is simply too gluttonous. 

Parker House Rolls

But on with our tasting! As with all meals at JG Domestic, you start with delicious Parker House rolls. These come fresh out of the oven in a cast iron pan, topped with sea salt. Apple thyme jelly and whipped butter accompanied the quartet of rolls, of which I gladly ate three. Sorry babe!


Hickory Smoked Georgia Pecans ($7)
Maple, Bacon


These are the perfect bar snack. The smoky bacon, the sweet maple, and some cayenne added a hint of spiciness to the delicious molasses-y nuggets. 


Landaff Cheese ($7)


The Landaff was sourced from New Hampshire and offered a tart creaminess which was complemented well by the accompanying mango raisin chutney and accentuated by the tart Granny smith apple slices. The requisite baguette slices were fresh and appreciated. 

GTC Salami ($9)


The house-made salumi had a gaminess with prototypical highlights of fennel. But the real star here? The egg salad - creamy with textural accents of raw onion, which offset the intensity of the salami. And who can say no to more bread?

Roasted Beets ($13)
Whipped ricotta, smoked maple syrup, micro arugula, pistachio


The GF can't say no to any beet salad and was happy this was included in our tasting. I usually find them pedestrian, but this was a nice iteration. There was a mix of sweet purple and yellow beets, with highlights of smoked maple syrup. The slightly tangy fruit and the subtly sweet ricotta melded the dish together nicely. The pistachios added a nice textural element as well. 

Wood Oven Flatbread ($14)
Hen of the woods, egg yolk, black truffle, cheddar
 

While many can say that flatbread with an egg and truffle is also commonplace, it's hard to say it's pedestrian. It's easy to see why this is a favorite and a house specialty at JG Domestic. With a bechamel base and a crispy, buttery crust, the additions of maitake mushrooms, or hen of the woods, is a substantial addition. The umami of the egg yolk, black truffle oil, and cheddar push it over the top. A must-order.

Day Boat Scallops ($24)


Sourced from New Bedford, MA, these scallops were sweet, with a slight chew. The outer crust was cooked well, though slightly salty for my taste, though the spritz of the lemon wedge served to temper this. Simple, but delicious.


Jumbo Shrimp ($22)


One of my favorite dishes at Tinto was the gambas. So natch, I was excited when I saw these bad boys from the Gulf Coast of LA. Smoky with a nice snap to the tail/torso end, which the GF indulged in, I was happy with the heads. Creamy and deliciously savory - most people don't know what they're missing. Another must-order, provided you know what to do with the heads.

Organic Poussin ($21)


Sourced from Grisstown Farm in Jersey, these young chickens were expectedly moist and juicy, with a nice outer char. From top to bottom, the accompanying trio of sauces included a herbaceous chimichurri, a creamy jalapeƱo aioli, and a romesco sauce. My favorite of the three was the aioli, which had a nice spicy kick to it on the finish.

Brussels Sprouts ($10)
La Quercia proscuitto, Allagash honey, roasted chestnut, orange
 

It's hard for the GF and I to ever pass up brussel sprouts, so we were happy with this inclusion. The proscuitto added the smokey undertone that is usually offered by bacon, but in contrast, the proscuitto had a sweet undertone. The contrast between the bright orange and the raw red onion was nice. The greens themselves were slightly charred and offered a bright accompaniment to the aforementioned poussin. The sauce was highly reminiscent of what us Koreans dip roasted pork belly in - a soy/sugar sauce with raw onions.

Bourbon ($9)
Beignets, bourbon vanilla mousseline, Maker's Mark butterscotch


For the finale, we had a French Quarter staple - crusty beignets with fluffy innards, meant to be dipped in that delicious bourbon butterscotch (in place of coffee). Powdered vanilla bean stems topped a mousseline, which was thick, with nice undertones of bourbon and subtle hints of bourbon.


JG Domestic is a great option if you're looking to try some of Iron Chef Garces' dishes through his tasting menu gauntlet. It's nice to see fresh ingredients that can be rendered into inventive and more importantly, delicious dishes. The location could be better, but I guess it makes sense to have one of your restaurants below your main offices. What better way to keep a pulse on food that is being put out under your name? 


JG Domestic on Urbanspoon  
www.jgdomestic.com

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Del Rossi's Cheesesteak Co. Review

The GF and I didn't feel like cooking one night so we checked out GrubHub and settled on Del Rossi's Cheesesteak Co, in an attempt to find Philly's best Philly cheese steak.

Cheese Steak ($6.65)
American Cheese, 'wit onions
 

While this was certainly one of the cheaper cheese steaks I've had, the rib-eye meat was chewy and grainy. Ordering online, provolone wasn't a standard option so I had to settle for American. The cheese was nicely interspersed and the onions were plentiful. But really, it all starts with the meat, which was pretty lackluster. Certainly not the best Philly cheese steak I've had.

Eggplant Parmigiana ($6.25)


I love a good eggplant parm sub, but this was soggy and bland. The highlight of the sandwich? The nicely seeded roll. 

Chicken Cutlet Romano ($6.75)
Broccoli rabe, provolone


This was the best of the trio. The chicken cutlet was nicely seasoned and not heavily breaded. The broccoli rabe was nicely bitter, serving as a counterpoint to the funky provolone. Still, the greens could have benefited from more garlic. 

Chili Cheese Fries ($3.95)


We had asked for the chili and the sauce to be on the side for obvious reasons. Unfortunately, they apparently weren't able to accommodate us. The result? Extremely soggy fries. 
The sweet chili was imbued with a lot of brown sugar and cinnamon and unfortunately, there wasn't much cheese. Pretty lackluster.

Onion Rings ($2.95)


The onion rings were actually decent - while the onion within wasn't very substantial, the breading was extremely crunchy. 


Overall, the one thing Del Rossi's has going for it is its price point - the portions are decent and the prices are low. However, I think I'll save my money for Campo's the next time I'm in the mood for specialty sandwiches and subs! 


Del Rossi's Cheesesteak Co. on Urbanspoon
http://www.delrossischeesesteaks.com/

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Wursthaus Schmitz Review

This is for a series of posts for Reading Terminal Market including: The Rib Stand, Hatville Deli, By George! Pizza, Pasta & Cheesesteaks, Olympic Gyro, Iovine Brothers Produce, DiNic's Pork and Beef, Meltkraft, and Wursthaus Schmitz.    

When I heard that Brahaus Schmitz, that bastion of German comfort fare on South Street, was opening up an outpost in Reading Terminal Market, I was excited! So I moseyed on over to the back center of RTM, and drooled at the offerings at Wursthaus Schmitz.


In addition to sandwiches, various meats and sides were offered for sale by weight.


On a Saturday at 1PM, there was not much of a line - I don't know if people are simply still clueless, but I'm sure that soon enough, there will be a line similar to Dinic's!


They've got someone manning the grill, churning out delicious sausages with snap and spice.


And in case you need condiments, they've got plenty, 
including curry ketchup and Bavarian sweet mustard!


For my first visit, I ordered two rolls, and attempted to order potato pancakes, but unfortunately, the fryer was down so I couldn't get my buds to taste this particular side. But that's OK, because as you can see, the sausage rolls are immense!


The Bavarian ($8)
Smoked bauernwurst, bavarian cole slaw, horseradish sauce, fried onions 


The Bavarian had copious amounts of crunchy fried onions that were not the least bit greasy. They offered some great texture to the bauernwurst, which had really nice spice. The sausage itself had nice snap and the horseradish provided a nice pungent kick in my mouth. The creamy cole slaw brought everything together, while the roll stood up well to the entirety of this particular sandwich.


The Hungarian ($8)
Smoked Hungarian bratwurst, beef goulash, roasted hot Hungarian peppers


The Hungarian had a beef goulash topping it - deep and savory, which is a smoky spiciness that lingered. In fact, I could have easily eaten a sandwich from the goulash alone.  The bratwurst itself was saltier than the bauernwurst, but just as flavorful. This was a heavier sandwich with a deep spice that lingers, underscored by the vinegary hot pepper.


An added bonus is that Wursthaus Schmitz offer payment through Level Up - a great way to accumulate free credit to be applied to current and future meals.


In fact, currently Level Up offers a $3 credit for new customers! Sign up through this link, and you'll get an additional $5 credit to use! 


Overall, Wursthaus definitely gets the job done by offering delicious, snappy sausages paired with the perfect accoutrements to blend into phenomenal sandwiches. I'm hoping to try the potato pancakes and the Schmitz, which I believe Wursthaus is waiting on the perfect pretzel roll before offering. In the meantime, there are a slew of other offerings you should try!


Wursthaus Schmitz on Urbanspoon
http://new.wursthausschmitz.com/wursthaus-schmitz/

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Iovine Brothers Produce Review

This is for a series of posts for Reading Terminal Market including: The Rib Stand, Hatville Deli, By George! Pizza, Pasta & Cheesesteaks, Olympic Gyro, Iovine Brothers Produce, DiNic's Pork and Beef, Meltkraft, and Wursthaus Schmitz.    

If you're looking for fresh produce at a great price - make sure you check out the one-stop shop at Iovine Brother's Produce. Just head to the southeastern most corner of Reading Terminal Market and you're there! And added bonus for any of you students? 10% off on Wednesdays and Sundays!


Need ripe avocados? Oranges? Apples? Aubergine? Rutabaga? Parsnips? Swiss Chard? The list figuratively goes on and on ...


If you've ever need a specific type of onion or potato - it's a pretty good bet they've got it!


Heck, you could even say they're nuts for nuts!


And they even offer the convenience of shopping with Level Up! Sign up with this link and you'll get $5 to spend immediately. So if you live near Reading Terminal Market, there really is no reason you shouldn't shop for your produce at Iovine Brother's.


Iovine Brother's Produce
1136 Arch St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 928-4366
www.iovine.com

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Urbani Truffle Oil & Fungus Among Us Salt Product Review

Truffles emanate an earthy umami that brings most foodies to their knees. But unless you're at a restaurant and paying the supplement to elevate your dish and spoil yourself, it's hard to get that earthy richness in your pastas and soups at home.

That is ... unless you're Macau casino magnate Stanley Ho and willing to spend several hundred thousands dollars on truffles. 


So, most of us normal people typically resort to truffle oil as an add on for soups and pastas. There are the synthetic oils and olive oils with tiny bits of truffles. Celebrity chefs and extreme foodies may sniff at this. Regardless, Urbani gets it right with their white truffle oil. Just a few dabs and the entirety of your dish will emanate white truffle.


And if you're simply looking for a bit of flavor sprinkled on top - be sure to try a bit of Fungus Amongus' truffle salt! For the price, it can't be beat. This truffle salt contains naturally dried sea salt form the Mediterranean and is combined with finely ground truffles. Its ability to retain the aroma and more importantly, the flavor of truffles is what caused Food and Wine Magazine to call this salt the "most coveted new ingredient."


Both products are a great addition to hearty soups, mac n cheese, pastas, and heck - I even add it to my own version of Philly cheese steak. Who needs the $100 truffle cheese steak at Barclay Prime when you can make truffle cheese steak at home (granted I'm missing the foie and the champagne here)? Just a few dribbles of the truffle oil or a few sprinkles of truffle salt and you're closing your eyes while enjoying the rich umami of truffles.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Shank's Original Review

Those who read the blog regularly know that I can't get enough of DiningIn. Sure, GrubHub and Seamless are great too - but what sets DiningIn apart from others is the variety of high quality options and great customer service.

This time around, I felt like resuming my search for a decent Philly cheese steak. For those of you who aren't regular readers - that's ok. Just know that the best Philly cheese steak ironically resides in Chicago, at a place called Philly's Best. In any case, I decided to give Shank's a try.

Cheese Steak ($8.25)
Provolone, 'wit onions


This was a decent iteration of the cheese steak, but the meat was frankly a bit dry. The provolone could have been more plentiful and better interspersed. I'll give Shank's this though - there was a lot of chopped steak and the onions were nicely sized rather than being indiscernably chopped.

Chicken Cutlet Tropea ($8.45)
Chicken cutlet, sharp provolone, marinated roasted peppers


The GF felt like chicken cutlets and she got some juicy ones (that's what he said?)! The sharp provolone provided a nice nutty contrast to the sweet roasted peppers. However, the bread was the disappointing element in this sandwich - pretty flimsy if you ask me.

Eggplant Parmigiana Sub ($6.95)


I love a good eggplant parm sub, but this version was limp. The eggplant was soggy and 'helped' to make the bread drenched in what I assume is residual oil. There was some seasoning, but the sub could not be saved.

Crispy French Fries ($2.95)
 

Granted $3 is not much for fries. But I expected a bit more than 15-20 thin fries. These were barely seasoned, nor were they hot or crisp (as advertised).

Overall, Shank's does a decent version of a Philly cheese steak. But for the most part, their other items leave something to be desired. I'd be willing to give them another chance, but in a town with Campo's, Dinic's and their delicious specialty sandwiches - I'm not so sure that will be anytime soon. Don't let that deter you from checking out DiningIn though! 


Shanks Pier 40 on Urbanspoon
http://www.shanksoriginal.com