Khyber Pass Review [2]

The first review  can be found at Khyber Pass [1].

When the GF and I are in Old City and get a hankering for some pub grub, it's a safe bet that we'll end up at Khyber Pass. So after a few drinks at 2nd Story Brewing Company, we decided to stop by Khyber Pass for dinner with a friend. Apologies in advance for the pics that were taken on a Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge as we were out and about!

Mint Julep [$9]

Our friend decided to bring a bit of the Derby into the night. This mint julep was quite bourbon-forward, which isn't such a bad thing! The accents of mint and sugar were understated, but came through a bit on the finish.

Pimm's Cup $[7] 

It's a safe bet that the GF will always get the Pimm's. Theirs was refreshingly light, citrusy, and deceptively boozy.

Bell's Kalamazoo Stout [$6]

Regular readers know I don't regularly drink beer. But when I do, I prefer the dark stuff, especially if it's bourbon barrel aged. From Bell's Brewery, the Kalamazoo Stout is a great Michigan craft brew offering creamy chocolate, bourbon, and caramel notes. 

Fried Buttermilk Catfish [$14]
Black-eyed peas
 

Our friend went with the special of buttermilk catfish with black-eyed peas. The marinade helped to ensure the moistness of the fish, which was encrusted with a gorgeously light, yet crisp cornmeal batter. The stewed black-eyed peas came with well-seasoned and spicy collards, which really made each bite. 

Fried Green Tomato BLT [$13]
Benton's bacon, mayo, tabasco pepper remoulade, mac n cheese
 

With each of Khyber Pass' sandwiches, you get a choice of one of their spectacular sides. The GF chose the fried green tomato BLT with some of their awesome mac, much to my satisfaction! Let's start with the mac, because it's pretty spot on.

Creamy, yet al dente, the cheesy mac is well-seasoned and sharp. It's all hidden underneath a crusty layer of cheese and bread crumbs that showcases a great juxtaposition in textures and tastes. It's a pretty hefty portion for a side as well!

Their BLT is nothing to scoff at either! Especially if you've got smoky, crispy Benton's bacon on offer. And with tangy green tomatoes fried with a great cornmeal crust, you've got some extra texture there as well. Fresh tomatoes, lettuce, and a generous spread of mayo and spicy remoulade round out each bite nicely. And the bread? Fresh and grilled, it's hard to fault anything about this sandwich.

BBQ Brisket Sandwich [$12]
BBQ sauce, horseradish, "Big Ass" biscuit

Clearly I was carbo-loading fby ordering a brisket sandwich with a side of the "big ass" biscuit. It came with a pat of butter to spread on the biscuit and some fresh horseradish to top the brisket sandwich.

The sandwich was certainly hefty and savory. And while it was tasty, the brisket was a bit tough and I usually prefer less sauce, if any, on my BBQ (granted it was advertised with BBQ sauce). Regardless, it wasn't that bad because I finished it all!

And the biscuit? That was something else. Fluffy, pillowy, and buttery on its own, I couldn't help but spread some more butter on there like the glutton that I am. I was just imaging some honey, fried chicken, and cheddar in between the folds, but that would just be silly, right? (By the way, you're not imagining the extra side of fries I ordered in the background).

Clearly, Khyber Pass was the right move for pub grub after drinks. They've got the beers, the cocktails, and the food to boot. The servers are friendly, knowledgeable about the menu, and not looking to rush you out while you're catching up with friends. It's a bit dive-y, but in the best sense of the word.

Shady Maple Smorgasbord Lunch Review

The last time around at Shady Maple Smorgasbord, the GF and I stopped by the Lancaster area to brunch on down-home Pennsylvania Dutch breakfast eats. This time, we brought her folks out to the area to show that Pennsylvania isn't just Philly city living. In addition to actual greenery (farms, pastures, cows, and the like), we were able to enjoy some lunch at Shady Maple. And by some lunch, I mean troughs full of it. Perfect for the belly of this pig.  

You know the deal with buffets. Endless lines of including carving stations for your meats, grilled items, seafood, sides, and desserts. It still amazes me how quickly they turn around each item - you rarely find that anything has been sitting our for long. Perhaps it's a testament to the number of people  that come here on a weekend or the quality of their grub. In any case, I give you my 4+ plates on this particular visit. And no, I don't know how it all fit. And yes, there's a reason why there's one common thread throughout all the non-dessert platters (the mac was just that good!). 

Plate 1

My first plate featured broasted chicken - a new term for me, though I can't believe I've been missing this all my life. Incredibly crisp and wonderfully moist, the fried chicken was on point. The mac n cheese was nicely creamy, featuring sharp cheddar. While the shredded roast beef was tender, it could have been seasoned a bit more. But I'm nit picking here - it's a freakin' buffet! 

Plate 2

Plate 2 is what I call my surf and more turf plate. I had a huge slab of sirloin, along with some moist country ham and a crisp crab cake. And yes, some more of that mac! 

Brisket

For plate 3, I finally realized there was brisket on offer so I obviously had to get some of that! 

Plate 3

The brisket was wonderfully tender and unctuous, cutting like butter. Along with some fried shrimp and some more of that broasted chicken and mac, I was set with my savory dishes! 

Apple Dumpling

Shady Maple features Turkey Hill ice cream and they typically have vanilla, cookies and cream (with real Oreo chunks!), as well as seasonal varieties like pumpkin since it's the Fall. They've also got a number of other desserts from pies and cakes to this apple dumpling, which I topped with vanilla soft serve. Homemade, crusty, buttery, and filled with baked apples, this wasn't a bad way to end a glut of a meal.

Look. Haute cuisine this is not. We're talking about stretchy pants and gym kicks here. But that doesn't mean the food can't be good. Most of it is "low and slow" down-home cooking. And you can always find me in line for that. 

Mackinaw Brewing Company Review

This is for a 2015 Michigan Trip including:

The Filling Station Microbrewery, Morning at Maggies Omelette Shoppe, Mackinaw Brewing Company, and Tony's I-75.

While exploring Traverse City, we saw a line out the door for Mackinaw Brewing Company. So after some shopping, we decided to grab some lunch when the crowds dissipated.

MBC was actually the first brewpub to open up in downtown Traverse City, specializing in hand-crafted brews (Michigan is known for those!) and smoked meats. So let's get on with it - apologies for the cell phone pics!

Smoked Whitefish Bake [$8.99]
Smoked whitefish, cheese, green onion, garlic, MBC garlic rounds
 

Seemingly a specialty of most places in Michigan, you'll find whitefish on pretty much every menu. This dip was smoky, cheesy, creamy, and delicious. With a spritz of lemon for acidity and spread on the toast points, this was a nice bite.

Dill Havarti Cheese Sticks [$8.59]

Another crowd favorite? Just some of the best mozzarella sticks ever. The brininess of the dill came on slightly through the creaminess of the cheese, with a crisp homemade crust. Ranch accompanied these bad boys. 

Whitefish Sandwich [$9.99]
Great Lakes whitefish, deep fried, lettuce, tartar sauce
 

The GF was in the mood for a fish sandwich, so went with the whitefish sandwich. I think she thought it ate more like cod, but unfortunately, the fishiness of the whitefish really came through. Should've went with the mahi special like I hinted! In any case, it was well-fried with a crunchy batter, but fair warning on the inherent fishiness. Can't fault the fries though - beer-battered and deliciously creamy within.

Beef Brisket Sandwich [$9.99]
BBQ brisket, grilled onions, cheddar cheeese
 

I went with the beef brisket, which was smoky, sweet, and tender, with a great heaping of melted cheddar and savory onions piled on high. This was all within a toasted, but pillowy brioche bun. Ad you can't forget about those killer fries! 

Overall, MBC really hit the spot with their great apps and smoked meats. I'd definitely stop by again if I were in town.

Cheu Noodle Bar Review

The melange of all things Jewish and Asian isn't just with relationships (yes, I went there!). The juxtaposition of cuisines is offered from the mind of Chef Ben Puchowitz, who previously helmed the kitchen of the recently shuttered, but reknowned BYO Matyson. And in 2013, he put his global approach on display by opening up Cheu Noodle Bar.

This isn't Philly's version of Chef Andy Ricker of Pok Pok fame. In other words, this isn't just a non-Asian chef who's simply doing great Asian food. It's a true melange of cuisines. And why not? There are common and, more importantly, complementary elements from both ends of the culinary spectrum.

And with the newly opened Bing Bing Dim Sum from the partnership of Chef Puchowitz and Shawn Darragh, I thought it was high time I finished up this review of the original Puchowitz-Darragh production!

White Peach Mint Iced Tea [$3]

While the mint could have been more pronounced, I appreciated the unsweetened and subtly saccharine approach of the white peach iced tea.

Cheu Fries [$8]
Miso truffle aioli, fish flake
  

The Cheu fries featured smoky bonito fish flakes on top. Asian poutine? Count me in! While the oft-decried combo of cheese and fish wasn't in this dish, an umami-laden blend of miso truffle aioli replaced the curds. Perhaps a nod to the way the Japanese love mayo with pretty much everything? The fries could have been a bit more crisp, but each bite offered the epitome of umami.

Black Garlic Wings [$10]
Shisito peppers, lime, cilantro
  

If there's one dish to try besides the ramen, it's the black garlic wings. There's a bright punch of flavor from the juicy wings - spicy, sweet, salty, and savory - it's all there. The black garlic definitely emphasizes the sweet and savory elements, but it's the combination of cilantro and lime that really makes the dish. There's some additional texture coming from the sesame seeds and the accompanying shishito peppers are nicely smoky. 

Pork Belly Bun [$3]

We decided to try one of each of their buns as well. Obviously the pork belly is always a must order for me. Realistically though, this was not the best iteration I've had. The pork was definitely gluttonous and had heft, but there was a lack of seasoning that rendered the flavor and texture of the pork rather one note. I definitely prefer the traditional bun as well.

Cheeseburger Bun [$3]
 

To their credit, this was a decently moist slider. However, for $3, it seemed rather lackluster.

Mushroom Bun [$3]
 

The shiitake mushroom bun was nice and offered prototypical flavors founded in most Asian mushroom-based dishes. 

Yakisoba 2.0 [$13]
Shrimp, shiso verde, charred corn, radish 
  

The GF really enjoyed the yakisoba, especially with the addition of the charred corn and thinly sliced radish. The shiso verde and scallions helped to cut through the richness of the well-coated and al dente noodles, with juicy bits of shrimp studded throughout.

Brisket Ramen [$13] with Pork Belly [$3]
Matzo ball, kimchi, sesame chili broth
  

If there's something to get at Cheu Noodle Bar, I would recommend the brisket ramen, with the added addition of pork belly. Might be going overboard on my end, but come on now, does it get better than this marriage of Jew-Asian cuisine. You've got pungent kimchi providing some balance to the weight of the matzo ball. The richness of the pork belly and the broth is punched up by the textural beefiness of the brisket. The noodles have good bite and seem to soak up the umami of the broth.

The vibe of Cheu Noodle Bar is a bit hipster-Brooklyn-too-cool-for-school, with fairly perfunctory service. But with creative takes on comfort cuisine, who cares? Do try the black garlic wings and definitely slurp down that ramen!

Lo Spiedo Review

This is for a series of posts for the Vetri family of restaurants including: Lo Spiedo, Pizzeria Vetri [1], Pizzeria Vetri [2], Pizzeria Vetri [3], Alla Spina, Amis, Vetri Ristorante [1], and Vetri Ristorante [2].  

Late last year, Chef Marc Vetri's burgeoning Philly empire expanded further south into the Navy Yard. Vetri & Family have a penchant for helping to develop areas not previously known for great food (think: Alla Spina). Along this vein, Lo Spiedo is certainly a bright spot amidst the Philly sports stadiums.

Chef Vetri tapped the former sous at Osteria, Scott Calhoun, to be Chef de Cuisine of Lo Spiedo. And his kitchen churns out an array of spit-roasted meats and veggies. There's plenty of seating and Lo Spiedo is apparently doing quite well, catering to the Navy Yard business campus for lunch with additional patronage coming in from those looking to grab dinner before a concert or game.

Tuna Spiedini [$8]
 

They've got several spiedini, or skewers. We started off with the tuna, which was served nicely rare within, with a light dressing that rendered a lusciousness to the moist fish.

Chicken Thigh Spiedini [$4]
 

Do get the the chicken thigh spiedini, which were juicy. The charred pieces were the best, with the added bonus of caramelized onions and crunchy bits of smoky bacon. Be sure to get a few orders because the low price point is certainly commensurate with the amount of chicken!

Pumpkin Salad [$10]
Pumpkin seed vinaigrette, aged goat cheese

There was a pumpkin salad on offer when we went in January. The raw and thinly sliced pumpkin wasn't overly seasoned, but nicely dressed in vinaigrette. The much-needed punch of flavor came from the accents of aged goat cheese. 

Ricotta & Artichoke Grilled Focaccia [$6]

The artichokes were an acidic foil for the creamy, luscious ricotta. A trio of grilled toast points offered a nice vessel to scoop it all up. 

Special Panini [$14]
BBQ ribs, beer-battered onion rings

There was a special that day, featuring sweet and smoky BBQ ribs - off the bone and piled high, with some crispy beer battered onion rings towering over it all. Now THAT's how you "crunchify" Bobby Flay! The accompanying french fries were thin, well-seasoned, and crisply fried.

Chopped Pork Shoulder Sandwich [$12]
French fries
  

The pulled pork was moist, juicy, and had crisp bits studded throughout. The acidic bite of some vinegar helped to make each bite, with the crunch of the pickle offering even more balance to the meaty pork. 

Brisket Sandwich [$15]
Horseradish, Italian coleslaw
  

The heft of the moist, smoky brisket was balanced by the sharpness of the horseradish. The Italian coleslaw offered some texture to each bite. This was all house within some great bread - fresh, buttered, and well-toasted.

Buccatini alla Gricia [$16]
Guanciale, pecorino
  

You can't go to a Vetri production without checking out some pasta. Guanciale was calling my name and I wasn't disappointed with its appearance in the buccatini. The pasta was nicely thick and cooked perfectly with some bite. Sans egg, lest we have a carbonara, the pasta still offered some richness with the addition of the pork jowl and the salty pecorino. 

1/2 Chicken with Lemon & Olive Oil [$18]

You've got to try some spit-roasted meat at a place called Lo Spiedo. The bird was crisply charred on the outside and perfectly seasoned with lemon and salt. The meat was juicy and moist. Chicken doesn't get much better than this. Simple seasoning and quality cooking. 

Cast Iron Skillet Mac & Cheese [$8]
 

Mac & cheese is always a must order and this rendition was especially creamy and rich. The large macaroni noodles offered the perfect vessel for the cheese sauce, with a dusting of crispness up top. 

Whole Roasted Cabbage with Gorgonzola [$7]
 

Do try the whole roasted cabbage. Yes, Lo Spiedo even spit roasts its veggies. The head of cabbage is roasted tender and layered into a cast iron skillet amidst the funk of gorgonzola. While each bite was screaming for some textural contrast, it was a welcome punch of flavor to accompany the spit-roasted meats on the menu. 

Birthday Peppermint Ice Cream

We actually stopped by for my sister's b-day lunch and the kitchen was kind enough to send out some seasonal - at the time! - peppermint ice cream. 

Nutella Devil Dog [$6]
 

We also opted for the nutella devil dog. Soft, creamy and light, this definitely echoed the dollar dogs from the candy aisle. 

Cast Iron Apple Pie [$10]
Cinnamon semifreddo
  

The cast iron apple pie offered a crust that was chewier than I would have expected, but I appreciated that the flavors weren't overly saccharine. The tender apples were heightened by the cinnamon, with an even brighter punch of favor from the cinnamon semifreddo. I loved the contrast in temp - nothing beats pie a la mode.

Lo Spiedo is a different beast of a Vetri restaurant. It's more casual than Vetri, Osteria, and even Amis. But as COO Jeff Benjamin likes to say, casual doesn't mean service or the quality of each dish is compromised. Our server Jonathan was knowledgeable about each dish and service itself was flawless. The dishes were fairly straightforward, but that's not such a bad thing. Especially when the spit-roasted meats and sides are finger-licking good.