Trattoria Carina Review

From the folks that brought you the acclaimed Pub & Kitchen, Trattoria Carina is a casual Italian gem found in the Fitler Square-Rittenhouse area. And it may be our new go-to spot, right on the corner of 22nd and Spruce. This "Little Darling" has a small menu, but it's big on flavor and execution, all under the execution of Chef Melissa McGrath. And recently, Trattoria Carina has expanded to include brunch on the weekends! 

Fitler Square-Rittenhouse gem Trattoria Carina has added brunch!

To start our day, the GF and I enjoyed a citrusy-bitter Aperol Spritz and a sweet-and-spicy Bloody Mary, complete with a solid antipasti skewer! And including its bar program, Trattoria Carina is reportedly BYO (no corkage!). 

Gold Rush Apple Cake [$6]

 The apple cake is a must. Moist, soft, and buttery within, the grilled exterior helped to provide a nicely crisp textural contrast. Perfect to drape with some of that salted butter. 

Warm Castle Valley Polenta [$9]

Honey mascarpone, walnut granola, Concord grape

A unique take on typically savory polenta, we enjoyed the sweet acidity afforded by the Concord grape jam. Studded with plenty of the walnut granola and a bit of the honey mascarpone, this is a nice reprieve from any savory items you might order during brunch! 

Bucatini Carbonara [$23]
Bacon, Parmesan 

Savory, you say? How do you come to Trattoria Carina and not order the carbonara? Thick bucatini noodles are appropriately coated in egg yolk, plenty of Parm, and with a nice hit of black pepper. Interspersed throughout are salty nuggets of slab bacon. No need for any heavy cream here, folks. Trattoria Carina is doing it right.

Baked Eggs All'Amatriciana [$14]

Guanciale, Parmesan, Lost Bread Co. focaccia 

The smell emanating from this dish almost made me put my camera away. Almost. But as the GF likes to joke, the camera eats first. In a spiced up take on shakshuka, the savoriness of the "gravy" was perfect to dip the Lost Bread co. focaccia in. And as my fellow Master of None fans might say, "it's all bout that guanciale." The salty, fatty hits of the cured meat really made each bite. If only I could have had more bread (not that I asked!). 

So if you're looking for a new spot to hit up for brunch, please check out Trattoria Carina. Along with the delicious dishes, you'll get great service. In fact, ask for Bill if he's available. I know I'll be back soon for dinner! The angry crab pasta Craig LaBan raved about it is already calling my name. 

FTC Disclaimer: Special thanks to Trattoria Carina for having us in. Regardless, my opinions are mine alone and, therefore, unbiased. 

Trattoria Carina
2201 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 732-5818
www.trattoriacarina.com

Davios Philadelphia Brunch

Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse goes beyond simple steaks. Regional Italian dishes abound on the menu, with a focus on quality ingredients and unique pasta creations. With ten locations in Massachusetts, Atlanta, Manhattan, and of course, Philadelphia, Davio's emphasizes their well-executed dishes, along with attentive service. They also go beyond lunch and dinner, offering up breakfast and weekend brunch service as well.  

I was able to enjoy a taste of their brunch menu, hosted by Sembat from PhillyFoodLove. Expect your meal to start off with one of my favorite pastries - the popover. A wonderful crust emanates the sharpness of gruyere and reveals soft, warm bread within. Easily enjoyed with a pat of butter. A build-your-own-bloody bar is also on offer. With vodka, gin, or tequila as your base, feel free to pair it up with the spicy kick of their house-made bloody mix, along with stuffed olives, celery, citrus, cucumber, and yes, crisp, thick-cut bacon!

Clockwise from Top Right: Caramel Pecan Waffles | Creme Brulee French Toast | Philly Cheesesteak Rolls | Cannoli Pancakes

Whether it's happy hour or brunch - the must-order at Davio's has to be the Philly cheesesteak rolls. Think cheesy, well-seasoned beef encased within an egg roll. It's then topped with crispy onion strings and a housemade spicy ketchup and mayo. Davio's amps up brunch with the sweetness of creme brulee french toast and caramel pecan waffles. Cannoli pancakes are a stunner - artfully plated with a mini cannoli on top.

For your mains, you have a range of frittatas, including preparations with either lobster or Kennett Square mushrooms. Enjoy a rich pasta carbonara, with an egg yolk ready to be mixed right alongside the pancetta. You'll be hard-pressed not to order the crab cake eggs benedict. But if you want a showstopper, go for the grilled filet mignon - it comes topped with poached eggs and hollandaise, surrounded by a popover shell.

And if you have room for it - Davio's has got your sweet tooth covered with their dessert cart. Enjoy port or limoncello, along with tiramisu, creme brulee, panna cotta, or a chocolate mousse. If you need some caffeine to perk you up, perhaps an affogato to end your meal.

So if you're looking to up your brunch game, look beyond Sabrina's or Green Eggs and head over to Davio's. I know I'll have to stop by again to check out more of their pastas and steaks for dinner. 

FTC Disclaimer: Thanks to Davios Restaurant and PhillyFoodLove for inviting me in. Regardless, my opinions are mine alone and, therefore, unbiased. 

Moshulu Brunch Review

As the world's oldest and largest floating square-rigged sailing vessel, the Moshulu has been a stalwart backdrop to the Delaware Waterfront. It's the only restaurant venue on a Tall ship and has been serving diners since 1975, though with a well-executed and modernized menu. Other claims to fame? After being confiscated by the U.S. Navy during WWI, Mrs. Woodrow Wilson herself re-named the ship, the Moshulu. And nearer and dearer to Philly's heart? It's featured during one of Rocky's workout sequences! 

Moshulu's well-known for its holiday brunches, where you'll find a myriad of options to satisfying any diner's cravings, from carving to omelette stations. And during the summer, the deck is where it's at. There's no better spot to enjoy a cocktail or a glass of champagne a la Andy Samberg because, yes you're on a boat.

Champagne 

Speaking of champagne, I stopped by with the GF to check out Executive Chef Anthony Bonett's new spring brunch menu and were greeted with a few flutes of bubbly. I've got to say that service is top notch here as I saw several tables celebrating special occasions, with the managers and servers similarly elevating their experience.

Bread Service

During brunch, expect a sweeter touch for bread service. The housemade coffee crumb cake is crumbly indeed, served with a pat of whipped butter. Butter + coffee cake. Who knew? The Moshulu did and I'm glad. Great texture and buttery, yet with a nice lightness from within.

Shrimp & Crab Bloody Mary Cocktail [$13]
Cucumber, avocado, tortilla chips 

The GF started off with the shrimp and crab cocktail, enhanced with a bit of kick from the Moshulu's Bloody Mary recipe. The sweetness of the crab and the snappy shrimp was contrasted nicely by the texture of the ripe avocado and the crispness of some shredded lettuce underneath. Easily enjoyed with some of their just-fried tortilla chips. 

Crab Mac n Cheese [$12]
Truffle bread crumbs

If mac n cheese is on the menu, you know I've got to order it. And I'm so glad I did. Moshulu's version was especially creamy, with the base of the cheese sauce coating the al dente cavatappi noodles. There were wonderfully sharp notes from the cheddar, along with an innate sweetness from the bits of crab studded throughout. Loved that Chef Bonett didn't inundate the actual mac with truffle oil and deftly accented it with truffled bread crumbs instead. Long story short? Get the crab mac. Hopefully it'll make an appearance on a Happy Hour deck menu! 

Bloody Mary [$10]

Brunch is always better with the punch of a good Bloody Mary. And Moshulu's got three iterations to cater to your inner lush. The GF went with the regular vodka Bloody, which showcased their house-made mix - clearly fresh and had a spicy kick that didn't uncomfortably linger. Definitely not the sugary tomato juice mix from the store. I enjoyed the sweet smoke that came from the bourbon in my Kentucky Bloody. And for fans of tequila, check out their Bloody Maria! 

Pro tip: For $14, the Moshulu offers bottomless Bloodies and mimosas. There aren't many places in Philly that can say that - or at that price! 

Charcuterie & Cheese 

Chef also sent out a gorgeous charcuterie plate, which included house-cured salumi - coppa, bresoala, and luxurious duck prosciutto that simply melted upon mastication. Adorned with pickled pearl onions and carrots, crostini, mustard, and pickles, the smorgasbord was paired with a half-wheel of baked brie with roasted golden raisins, honey, and Marcona almonds. I know I'll be baking my brie at home with golden raisins from here on out! 

Crab Cake Eggs Benedict [$24]
Creamed spinach, chive hollandaise, Canadian bacon, English muffin 

For my main, I went with the crab cake benedict. I'd highly recommend you do the same. A healthy portion of lump crab cake is without much, if any, filler. It sits atop a crisp English muffin and Canadian bacon, with the heft of the dish amplified by creamed spinach, perfectly poached eggs and a rich, creamy hollandaise. Served with Moshulu's tender hash potatoes and some acid provided by well-dressed greens, you can't go wrong with this dish if you're a fan of eggs bennies.

Multigrain Banana Pancakes [$16]
Peanut butter, toasted peanuts, chocolate chips, double cut bacon, maple syrup

The GF opted for a bit of sweet with their hearty multi-grain banana pancakes, which were studded with ripe banana slices, chocolate chips, and dusted with powdered sugar. It was also served with amazingly thick and crisp bacon to provide that perfect marriage between salty and sweet. The only way to enhance the bite? A healthy drizzle of maple syrup. 

Moshulu Hash Potato [$5]

 For you carb lovers out there, try their potato hash - lightly crisped on the griddle and creamy within, topped with chives. 

Chocolate Lux Layer Cake [$12]
Dark chocolate mousse, cherry vanilla chocolate chunk ice cream 

Don't neglect the dessert menu! If you're looking to end your meal with chocolaty decadence,  my money's on the luxe cake. Adorned with a disc of milk chocolate and gold leaf, the moist cake has a dark chocolate ganache and chocolate butter cream. The accompanying cherry vanilla ice cream had a great mouth-feel and broke up the richness of the cake. 

Along with the great food and execution by Chef Bonett's kitchen, the service was top notch. Unsurprising because this is a Marty Grims / Fearless Restaurants operation. So if you're looking for the perfect venue for a riverside brunch, look no further than the Moshulu. They recently renovated the deck, with plans to offer a la carte dining up top. There's even got a retractable roof for inclement weather. Be sure to be on the look out for their Happy Hours as well!   

FTC Disclaimer: Thanks to the Fearless Restaurants and Moshulu for hosting us. Regardless, my opinions are mine alone and, therefore, unbiased. 

The Commoner Review

This is for a 2015 trip to Pittsburgh including: 

The Commoner, Hotel Monaco, Meat & Potatoes, Primanti Brothers, Steel Cactus, and Waffles Incaffeinated.

After a wonderful 2 nights at the Hotel Monaco, the GF and I had reservations for brunch at the in-house Commoner before flying back to Philly. The beautifully designed gastropub is a homage to the Steel City's industrial history, with steel beams and gold highlights throughout. It's not your typical "hotel restaurant," to be sure, as it's on par, if not exceeds other Kimpton property restaurants I've visited (think: Red Owl Tavern and Square 1682). 

Bringing more than 20 years of experience, Executive Chef Dennis Marron was brought in last year from D.C.'s Poste Modern Brasserie. It's clear from the dishes we tried, execution and quality are important to Chef Marron. But what sold us? The Bloody Mary bar we kept hearing about! 

Bloody Mary [$12]
Bacon-infused vodka
  

If a restaurant has its own Bloody Mary bar, there's no reason to get the standard Bloody. What does the Commoner's entail? A huge lineup for everything you need. First, you pick the type of vodka you want. The GF went with the celery-infused vodka, which had great herbaceous notes. I went with the smoky bacon-infused iteration, obviously. After you server brings the alcohol, you take a trip to the bar. 

For toppers and mixers, they've got every hot sauce you've dreamed of including meats, cheeses, pickled everything, infused tomato juices, bacon, and yes, grilled cheese.

As you can see, I had more than just a little fun with my creation. 

Pierogi & Eggs [$12]
Sour cream hollandaise, grilled scallions 

For the meal proper, the GF went with the pierogi and eggs, much to my delight. While the poached egg was slightly over, the sour cream hollandaise was the perfect rich and tangy balance to the starch of the creamy, well-seasoned pierogis. The dumplings were spot on and had a crisp outer shell. The grilled scallions imparted some bite and the home fries were great - well seasoned, slightly crisp, yet creamy within, with roasted red peppers and onions studded throughout. 

Bacon Beni [$13]

Crispy house-cured bacon, pork belly, house-made English muffin, onion soubise

I went with the bacon beni which was one of my favorite dishes of the weekend. Amazingly crisp bacon sat atop of gorgeously braised, then crisped thick-cut pork belly. The housemade muffin maintained its toasted texture with a perfectly poached egg on top.

The soubise was the right sauce to provide some bright acidic counterbalance to each bite from the onion puree, while providing some additional heft from the rich bechamel. This dish is a must order in my mind.

Roots & Tubers [$7]
Roasted baby carrots, beets, sunchokes, parsnips, celery root puree
  

We had plenty of starch with our mains, but when I saw the roots and tubers go out to another table, I knew I had to order this as well. A gorgeous plate of carrots, beets, sunchokes, and parsnips came atop a roasted celery root puree. The innate sweetness came out from this beautiful melange of perfectly roasted and lightly seasoned veg.

Sticky Toffee Puddings [$8]
Steamed date cake, toffee sauce, rye vanilla ice cream
 

And with this, the kitchen sent out some sticky toffee pudding. And despite being full, we finished this with no problem - it was that good. We were sold from the house-made ice cream which was clearly not just vanilla. It had a surprisingly light bite from the whiskey, which really complemented the richness of the perfectly made cake, with the macerated portions with toffee really standing out. Rich, bitter, sweet, salty - it was all there.

So if you're in Pittsburgh, there's no reason why you shouldn't stop by the Commoner for a meal or a drink. And if you're staying at the Hotel Monaco? It should be part of your itinerary. Well-executed, and thoughtfully delicious dishes with quality ingredients await.

Crow and the Pitcher Review

The GF and I were meeting up with our newly engaged couple friends J & C. So in the spirit of all things brunch-related, we decided to meet up at Crow and the Pitcher to catch up on all the excitement while imbibing in some Bloody's and champagne.

Pro tip? For brunch, Crow and the Pitcher is BYO - perfect to bring some champs. Better yet? They offer a Facebook check-in special which gifts you a free Bloody Mary with your meal. Fair warning, the restaurant is packed before 1PM, but luckily, it wasn't that much of a wait past our reservation time.

Bloody Mary [$10]

 

The comped Bloody Mary was a great rendition - not overly spiced, but had a nice kick that was tempered by some citrus. It came topped with an olive and pickle. I believe the regular Bloody's even come with bacon on top! 

Breakfast Sandwich [$9]
Brioche, fennel salami, pan-seared tomato, fried egg, caramelized onions, goat cheese, fries 

The GF went with the breakfast sandwich, which was rich with the fried egg and savory with the caramelized onions and salami. The tang of the goat cheese and the acidity of the pan-seared tomato really made it. This was all housed in a nicely toasted brioche bun. The fries were well-seasoned and crisp.

Brunch Burger [$18]
Battered brioche, maple sausage, applewood smoked heritage bacon, clothbound cheddar, fried egg 
  

I had to go with the brunch burger, which was a monster. While the cheddar wasn't as pronounced as I wanted it to be, the sweet and savory flavors were all there. The smokiness of the crisp bacon and the well-seasoned, juicy burger was the perfect balance to the sweetness of the maple sausage and that battered french toast brioche bun. Definitely a fork and knife burger if you're looking to be somewhat civilized. 

Crow and the Pitcher is definitely a place I'd like to stop by for dinner sometime. Based on brunch, it seems promising. From what I hear, they have Le Bec-Fin's Christofle cheese cart as well. Service was also very good and our champagne flutes were constantly topped off.

Most importantly, congrats to J & C - may you both have a wonderful life together! 

www.crowandthepitcher.com

Bottlefork Review

This is for a series of posts for a 2014 Chicago trip including Alinea, Giordano's, Bottlefork, Bub City, Portillo's Hot Dogs, Doubletree Hilton: Magnificent Mile, and Garrett Popcorn Shops. 

As I was researching restaurants to check out during my recent trip back to Chicago (Go Wildcats!), I knew I had to check out Alinea, Giordano's, and Portillo's. But when considering brunch with some Chi-town friends, Bottlefork was at the top of the list. I'm glad it was.

There seems to be some innate hate for Rockit Ranch Productions, which is known for it's "Guy Fieri"-esque restaurants and nightclubs. But it's clear that they knew what they were doing when they decided to go down the route of bringing in Chef Kevin Hickey, who received four stars as the chef at the late Ritz-Carlton Dining Room. Once I saw that Chef Hickey was quoted in the Chicago Tribune as respecting the Le Bec-Fin's of the world, I knew I had to check it out.

Located between Rick Bayless' Frontera Grill and Bub City (review to come!), the space is sleek, yet comfortable. There are a few counter seats to watch the action in the kitchen as well.

White Sangria Special [$6]

For brunch, Bottlefork offered a $6 white sangria, which was a good bet for easy drinking - bright and refreshing. 

Bottlefork Bloody Mary [$12]
Starlite vodka, house bloody mix, plum/San Marzano puree, lemon juice
 

The GF and I decided to go down the route of Blood Mary's. Bottlefork offers three and she went went with the middle of pack. The Starlite vodka went well with the house mix and the San Marzano and plum tomato puree offered some tart, bright flavors accentuated by the lemon juice. The toppers included what I believe was a pickled quail egg and radish - wholesome brunch indeed!

Slaughterhouse Mary [$18]
Northshore Aquavit, veal stock, pork stock, chicken stock, house bloody mix, plum/San Marzano puree, lemon
  

Obviously, I went over the top with the premium offering - the Slaughterhouse Mary. North Shore Brewery's Aquavit had hints of caraway which paired well with the slaughterhouse stock. The plum and San Marzano mix helped to temper the savoriness of this tipple. Topped with a smorgasbord of salumi, sausage, chicharron, and pickled quail egg, this was clearly meant for the belly of this pig.

It didn't end there though - both Blood Mary's were accompanied by a sidecar shorty of Rhinelander - light and smooth.

Maple Slab Bacon [$5]
 

At this point in the meal, the kitchen sent out a complimentary slab of maple bacon, proclaiming it was for the "belly of the pig."Whether it's brunch or dinner, you should order the bacon if it's on the menu. It's done right - thick cut, crispy, yet almost braised within - it's worthy of a steakhouse menu. Simply delicious.

Bag of Sour Cream Donut Holes [$6]
Bourbon "old fashioned" jam 

As a sweet starter, our group went with the donut holes, which were decadent, yet light. Creamy and moist within, with a caked glaze exterior, perfectly accented by the slightly tart jam.

Crisps & Eggs [$5]
Malt vinegar powder, sea salt
 

With our Yelp check-in, we also received the popular crisps and eggs - and rightly so. Our server brought a paper bag filled with house-made chips and a lightly poached egg and shook the contents table-side - a nice, interactive touch.

Courtesy of Yelp

The chips themselves were crispy indeed with a creamy dressing adding some richness. But the real star here? The malt vinegar powder which had some pop to each bite.

Richie's Mom's Cast Iron Baked French Toast [$12]
Strawberry rhubarb compote, sweet cream 

Our friend Alex went with the baked french toast, which was served from the cast-iron skillet table-side, so as to scrape off any excess drizzle. If you've got a sweet tooth or any taste buds at all, you need to get a bite of this dish.

It was so decadent it ate like cake - the richness of the syrupy glaze was tempered (ever so slightly) by the strawberry rhubarb compote, with the rhubarb adding the necessary tartness to each bite. Good thing Alex ran 7 miles the night before!

Breakfast Sope [$16]
Ranchera sauce, fried egg, chorizo black beans, cotija cheese, guacamole 
  

The GF felt like going a little south of the border so she went with the sope, which I typically find to be a bit dry. While I appreciate that the toppings are meant to add the oomph to each bite, I appreciated that Bottlefork's sope was moister than most. The chorizo provided some heat to complement the ranchera sauce, with the fresh guacamole and cilantro adding some herbal notes to each bite. Of course, the fried egg adding additional richness to complement the salt of the cotija.

Rich Man Po' Boy [$25]
Lobster, foie, crispy oysters 

I'm not sure what made me order the dish more - the sheer oxymoronic phrasing of this dish or the fact that it had foie, lobster, and oysters in a po' boy. Either way, I'm glad I did. The crusty, buttery roll encased a bounty from both land and sea. The creamy richness of the foie acted as the mayo component to most lobster rolls, and complemented the perfectly cooked crustacean quite well. The crispy oysters added some additional briny richness, with the scallion accents adding some bite.

I occasionally have thoughts of returning to one of my favorite cities in America. The service and, more importantly, the food at Bottlefork helps to underscore the fact that Chicago is not only about deep dish pizza's, hot dogs, and Italian beef sandwiches. Not every restaurant needs to be Alinea to put Chicago on the map, but if Bottlefork and Chef Hickey have a say in it, it's clear that Chicago chefs are proud of what they put out. 

FTC Disclaimer: A portion of this meal was provided by the restaurant. All opinions are unbiased and mine alone.

www.bottlefork.com