Amada Brunch

If you haven't been to Amada by now, you're missing out on a classic Jose Garces destination restaurant. Beyond being the long-standing bastions of tapas cuisine in the city, the kitchen's ability to execute on classic dishes, with a creative twist, keeps me coming back for more. 

Clockwise from Top Right: Ensalada Verde, Pan con Tomate, Law of Desire Cocktail, Pastry Basket

For brunch, the $27pp prix fixe is the way to go. Coffee or tea, along with a killer pastry basket is included. Think warm, flaky, buttery croissants and olive oil cake, paired with fig jam and whipped butter. I also enjoyed the Law of Desire, featuring Jim Beam Honey Whiskey, Iced Coffee, and Cinnamon - easy drinking. From there, the prix fixe allows you to order 3 items per person off their sectioned brunch menu. My sister was in town for the holidays and to start, she had the ensalada verde and I went with the classic - pan con tomate. First off, I need to order more salads at restaurants, especially if they're at Amada. Here, diced green beans, favas, asparagus, and avocado are perfectly seasoned and dressed, with plenty of shaved manchego on top. And what can I say about the pan con tomate - it's a must. Juicy diced tomato, olive oil, and garlic is atop crusty bread ... if you come to Amada for just Happy Hour, do get this. 

Clockwise from Top Right: Sangria Pancakes, Revuelto, Panceta, Patatas Rosti

For our mains, we went with the Reveulto and sangria pancakes for a savory and sweet combo. Soft-scrambled eggs, shrimp, and truffle-butter toast was on point. And the sangria pancakes? Plenty of texture from apple, pear, figs, and the pancakes themselves, to be drizzled with that sangria syrup. For sides, we paired the Patatas Rosti which were essentially hockey-puck sized fluffy potatoes, crisped on the exterior. And obviously the smoked bacon really hit the spot for me. 

Not that anyone needs a reason to go to brunch, but Amada clearly has plenty to reach those #BrunchGoals for your squad. 

Amada

217-219 Chestnut Street

Philadelphia, PA 19106

(215) 398-6968

https://philadelphia.amadarestaurant.com/

Pizzeria Vetri: Spring 2018 Menu Review

This is part of a series of posts related to Pizzeria Vetri: [1], [2], [3]. 

I've always been a fan of Pizzeria Vetri. And there's no shame in my eating game - it's part of the reason why we decided to move to the apartment complex that houses PV Callowhill on its ground level. You likely know about the shift in ownership, but under the clearly capable hands of Head Chef John Sidoti (previously Chef de Cuisine at Osteria), the tastes and tenets that started with Chefs Vetri, Michaud, and Spence remain in place. We stopped by to check out the new spring additions to the menu and judging by the crowds on an early Thursday evening, Pizzeria Vetri remains as popular as ever!

Italian Derby [$12]
Bulleit rye whiskey, Fernet Branca, lemon, mint

Regular readers know I'm a fan of rye and Fernet respectively, so the Italian Derby seemed like a match made perfectly for me. Fernet acted as the bitters, with the bright citrus from the lemon coming on through, along with the freshness of the mint. Easy spring drinking. 

Strawberry Fennel Salad [$12]
Strawberries, shaved fennel, sunflower seed granola, watercress, banyuls vinaigrette

Strawberry fennel salad had fresh flavors coming through from the sweet strawberries and the crisp fennel. I enjoyed the bitterness from the watercress, which was nicely balanced by the texture of the sweet sunflower seed granola and the acid from the oak barrel-aged banyuls vinaigrette. 

Roasted Beets [$8]
Beets, robiolina, pistachios, parsley

Chef Sidoti was killing it with the execution on something as simple as the beet salad. Salt-compressed for 6 hours, the beets had an intensely sweet earthiness from having the moisture pulled out. Paired with the nutty texture of the pistachios, the creaminess of the super-smooth robiolina, olive oil, and parsley, this is a must-order, especially at $8! 

Wood Oven Salad [$12]
Asparagus, snap peas, spring onions, baby carrots, radishes, pecorino, lemon butter dressing

The wood-oven salad was seasonally spring - a cornucopia of roasted asparagus, spring onion, and sweet snap peas, along with sweet baby carrots and a nice bite from the radish. I enjoyed the salty funk from the pecorino, with the lemon-butter dressing tying everything together. 

Asparago [$16]
Shaved asparagus, fried egg yolk, Meyer lemon, mozzarella, parmigiana 

At the Callowhill location, the asparagus pie is a welcome spring addition to the pizza menu. Chef Sidoti is killing it with a fried egg yolk, designed to be picked up and drizzled all of your pie. Talk about yolk porn! The shaved asparagus provides some heft to each bite, with the Meyer lemon providing a punch of bright acidity. 

Funghi Calzone [$14]
Roasted mushrooms, garlic, scallions, ricotta, mozzarella, parsley

The calzones are always a winner at PV. Perfect leoparding on the crust, with a substantial glut of roasted mushrooms, garlic, and scallions, interspersed with creamy ricotta and fresh mozzarella within. 

Agnello [$18]
Roasted lamb, English peas, pickled red onion, young pecorino, parmigiana, mint, oregano

If you're at the Chancellor Street location in Rittenhouse, look out for the Agnello. Beautifully marbled lamb shoulder is roasted and pulled apart all over your pie. English peas and mint are the natural complement to the sweet grassy lamb, with the pickled red onion really making each bite. 

Here's hoping the wonderful weather continues and we're truly done with winter. There's no better way to enjoy it than stopping by for a drink and some good eats at your nearby Pizzeria Vetri. And even if the chill returns, you can certainly enjoy the tastes of spring. 

FTC Disclaimer: Thanks to Pizzeria Vetri and Urbn Food & Beverage for inviting me in. Regardless, my opinions are mine alone and, therefore, unbiased.

The Good King Tavern Review

Looking for modern takes on French comfort fare from Provence to Alsace? Look no further than The Good King Tavern. The Bella Vista tavern is cozy, personable, and inviting. There's no pretense here. Indulge in the wine list or explore French house wines ranging from "good" to "better" to "best." On this particular night, we indulged in some of their best - Burgundy Chardonnay and a Cote de Rhone Syrah-Grench blend. 

Sazerac [$12]
Rye whiskey, Demerera, bitters, absinthe

Properly made cocktails abound here as well. I enjoyed my sazerac, with the sweet demerera and absinthe balancing out the hit of rye.

Cheese Board [$16]

Fresh baguette, grapes, crisp apple slices, and quince paste were paired with a wide array of delectable cheeses, from the funk of earthy blues to semi-soft cow's milk cheeses. 

Red Endive Salad [$12]
Pistachio-pepper pesto, Parmesan

The endive salad provided the perfect bitter notes to whet our appetites. Plenty of shaved Parmesan and a creamy pistachio pepper pesto provided a burst of flavor for each bite. 

Escargot Anchoiade [$11]
Butter, lemon, capers

The earthy gastropods were deliciously doused in butter, garlic, and parsley, with the salty hit of capers offering a counterpoint. Believe you me, the crusty baguettes were a welcome vessel to mop up any remaining sauce.

Steak Tartare [$15]
Salad, pomme frites

TGK's steak tartare was a standout. Beautiful texture on the beef, with chopped red onion, mustard, and capers interspersed throughout. I appreciated the citrus zest for a burst of freshness. Added bonus? Some of the best pommes frites in the city. Well-seasoned, crispy, but with plenty of chew within.Who needs crostini for your tartare when you have fries?

Socca [$12]
Chickpea pancake, ratatouille

If there's a must-order at TGK, it's the socca. These chickpea pancakes are crisp, yet pliant and are an obvious vessel for the frisee and ratatouille. The latter was nicely stewed, with an enjoyable hit of acid from the tomatoes.  

Duck of the Day - Duck Wings

TGK sources the majority of their ingredients from local farms. And with the ducks they receive, they creatively execute a "duck of the day" dish. Whether it's confit, breasts, or wings - look out for their daily special. We were able to enjoy the crispy wings, with a delectable sauce that you may be licking off your fingers. 

Steak Frites [$21]
Bordelaise, maitre d'butter

Classic steak frites are well-executed, with a house butter offering up richness alongside the bordelaise sauce. 

Brussels Sprouts [$8]
Pumpkin seed aioli, black currants

Do get the crispy, roasted brussels here - seasonality from the pumpkin seed aioli and a bit of sweetness from the black currants.

Creme Brulee

Creme brulee hit all the sweet notes you'd be looking for from the vanilla custard, with sweet and bitter flavors and texture from the bruleed sugar top. 

Almond Cake
Chocolate sauce, hazelnuts

The almond cake was moist and rustic, with a decadent chocolate sauce that deserves to have every spoonful sopped up.

I'd highly recommend the Good King Tavern as a stop from wherever you are in the city. Expect a convivial atmosphere with wonderful French fare without any of the fussiness.

FTC Disclaimer: Thanks to The Good King Tavern and Zipkick for hosting me. Regardless, my opinions are mine alone and, therefore, unbiased. 

Yakitori Boy 10th Anniversary Party

Regular readers know I'm a fan of Yakitori Boy. Where else in Philly can you get your inner karaoke diva on, coupled with premium drinks, sushi, and yakitori skewers? This past Wednesday, Yakitori Boy celebrated their #EatDrinkSing mentality with a 10th Anniversary Party! 

Gregarious owner Jimmy Shen welcomed guests with traditional Lion Dancing, fire dancers, open karaoke rooms, live music, and dancers, Yakitori Boy's 2nd floor lounge was positively popping. A 10th Anniversary ice sculpture was surrounded by Effen Vodka, right by the open bar/

Reps from Suntory Whiskey, Avion Tequila, Johnnie Walker, and Jameson were on hand!

Beverage Manager Carlos Orellana organized various tasting rooms throughout the venue. Over the past few months, I've really taken to Japanese whiskies, with Suntory's offerings being an easy favorite. Harmony and Toki were being poured, as well as Hibiki 12 - smooth with great caramel notes. You've also got to have Johnnie if you're mustering up the courage for karaoke. And the boys from Avion Tequila and Jameson were also on hand to pour a nice Reposado and Caskmates, respectively.

Sushi, Dumplings, Marinated Ribeye, Sashimi, and Tuna Tartare were a few of the tastes available!

And this being Yakitori Boy, we had to indulge in tasty bites. Sushi and sashimi were beautifully presented, with plenty of passed dishes. Think pork dumplings, tuna tartare crisps, marinated ribeye, and takoyaki octopus balls, to name a few.

As usual, Jimmy & Carlos put out all the stops to celebrate a successful ten years in Philly. A stalwart contributor to the community and one of the city's top destinations for Happy Hour and karaoke, here's to another 10 years!

FTC Disclaimer: Thanks to Philly PR Girl & Yakitori Boy for inviting us. Regardless, my opinions are mine alone and, therefore, unbiased.

Destination Dogs: Philadelphia

There are some that say a traditional American hot dog shouldn't be adulterated or a simple brat with mustard and kraut can't be improved. I heartily disagree. But it's not as simple as piling on a myriad of toppings that don't make sense. It's all about creating that perfect marriage of flavors to ensure a flavor bomb. Jimmy Cronk and Sean Hosty of Destination Dogs may have deciphered the road map to the perfect haute dog.

Owners and Co-Creators Jimmy Cronk & Sean Hosty

Jimmy & Sean clearly have a passion for both food and travel. Whether it's the drinks or dogs, everything has an airport symbol tagged to it. Looking for flavor from Spain? Head to Barcelona (BCN) for a taste of their Conquistadog, featuring chorizo and patatas brava. Francophiles will delight by arriving at Charles dog Gaulle (CDG), with duck confit, shaved foie gras, and cornichons. The bar and restaurant space is a destination in itself, with plenty of folks coming in for happy hour and easily staying late into the night. A retro game room is ever expanding (think pool, foosball, and 90's arcade games) and it's a bi-level establishment with plenty of room for private events and a good HH group. 

Clockwise from Top Right: La Zona Rosa [Mex] | Town & Country [DFW] | Brazillionaire [GIG] | Cucumber Gimlet [LHR]

And while you can expect great HH deals at the bar, the great thing about Destination Dogs is that they've definitely gone beyond any of the typical haute dog joints we've seen come and go in Philly. Case in point - expect hand-crafted cocktails. I was a big fan of the Town & Country hailing from Texas. A subtly sweet take on a Manhattan, the maple syrup and Carpano Antica brought forth the undertones of the bourbon nicely. Check out the large format ice cubes - clearly not your typical HH joint. GF's taken to gimlets lately and was enamored with their cucumber iteration. Properly emanating Heathrow, this was light with pressed cucumber, mint, and elderflower, there's a bit of citrus kick from the lime. They're constantly trying out new concoctions as well so be on the look out for the La Zona Rosa & Brazillionaire. La Zona Rosa features the depth of reposado tequila, matching up with the smokiness of mezcal. Bitter citrus notes from the aperol and the angosutra, orange, and spanish bitters really come through, further mellowed out by the sweet caramel notes from the Amaro Meletti. The GF was a fan of the Brazillionaire, a creative take on Brazil's Caiprinha, with the requisite cachaca showcased, along with Soursop, brazil nut, and lime. 

Deviled Eggs [$3]

Again - not just about the dogs here. Deviled eggs were some of the best I've had in recent memory. The whites trembling with the yolk custard really made by the hit of mustard. 

Scotch Egg [$5]
Pickled red onion, cornichon, Dijon honey mustard

Scotch egg was beautifully presented, with a fried breakfast sausage encasing a perfectly set soft-boiled egg. Nicely paired with pickled red onions and cornichon for acid and Dijon honey mustard if you're destined for a sweeter route.

Pretzel [$3.50]
Cheese sauce, spicy mustard

Their large-format pretzel is perfect at the bar and comes with both cheese sauce and some spicy mustard. 

Half-Dozen Wings [$6]

Their buffalo wings are also right up HH's alley. Crispy on the outside and juicy within, you'll be happy with half a dozen of these. 

Patatas Ridiculas [$9.50]
Fried potatoes, duck confit, pork belly, bacon, two cheeses, brown gravy, jalapeno, sour cream, scallion

For obvious reasons, I'd recommend going ridiculas with their patatas. You can't go wrong when you have fried potatoes topped with rich duck confit, unctuous pork belly, and crisp bacon. This is all topped with brown gravy and two cheese to create a gustatory bomb that will pair with a beer nicely. 

Of course in the end ... it's all about their haute dogs. Delineated as domestic and international dogs on the menu, it's easy to get lost, but it's delicious delightful where you'll end up. 

The Oscar - LAX [$7.50]
Chicken sausage, avocado, cabbage, tomato, chipotle mayo, scallion

Cali health nuts won't be lacking any flavor with the Oscar. Definitely a winner with the GF with the chicken sausage, with heft coming from the avocado and chipotle mayo. The bread housing their dogs is a winner - light, fluffy, and nicely toasted. Pto-tip: Surprisingly holds up well as next day leftovers too! 

One Bite in Bangkok - BKK
Python sausage, cucumber salad, pepper jelly, crushed peanuts, cilantro

Destination Dogs also feature a bevy of unique sausages as well. Python sausage wasn't gamey at all and clearly lean. Pepper jelly provided a hit of flavor, with freshness from the crisp cucumbers and cilantro.

Kansas City Beefs - MCI [$9]
All beef dog, BBQ beef short ribs, coleslaw, scallion

Few carnivores will be unhappy with the Kansas City Beefs. Tender, sweet BBQ beef short ribs are piled high with coleslaw on top of a grilled all-beef dog with good snap. I'll easily order this again.

Achilles Meal - ATH [$11]
Lamb sausage, tzatziki, red onion, tomatoes

Achilles Meal does Greece proud with the sweet, fragrant lamb coming through on the sausage. Tzatziki, tomatoes, and red onion provide freshness. 

Andouille Armstrong - MSY [$12.50]
Alligator and shrimp sausage, cabbage, tomatoes, jalapeno remoulade, scallions, lemon wedge

Cajun bites can be had with the Andouille Armstrong's gator and shrimp sausage. But it's the jalapeno remoulade that really kicked it up a notch. 

The Cleo McDowell - LGA [$7.50]
All beef dog, cheese sauce, secret sauce, cabbage, onions, pickle, sesame seed

Looking for Bic Mac flavors coming at you from Queens, NY? Cleo McDowell's got you covered with the cheese and secret sauce nostalgically melding together with a pickle spear.  

Charles Dog Gaulle - CDG [$12.50]
Duck sausage, duck confit, shaved foie gras, red onion, cornichon, Dijon mustard

French tastes abound with the foie and duck coming together for rich melange of richness. Red onion and cornichon provide that needed counterbalance. Pinkies up for this dog! 

The Conquistadog - BCN [$7.50]
Chorizo, fried potatoes, brava sauce, scallion

The Consquistadog will easily be a favorite, with the spicy chorizo buttressed with fried potato cubes and a killer brava sauce. 

Pig Trouble in China 
Cantonese sausage, pork belly, hoisin sauce, scallion, sesame seeds

Jimmy & Sean are rolling out a few new dogs as well. I was clearly a fan of the Pig Trouble in China. Cantonese sausage is topped with a nicely lacquered and crisp pork belly. Scallions and some texture from the sesame seeds bring each bite together. 

Chairman of the Board
Boar sausage, marinara, Parmesan, fried cheese curds, parlsey 

Chairman of the Board is their homage to South Philly. Boar sausage is topped with marinara, Parmesan, parsley, and even fried cheese curds. Sweet, rich, acidic - all the flavors are there. 

Whether you're looking for a proper spot to bring a group for Happy Hour or if you're just seeking out a wide range of great flavors, head to Destination Dogs. Also, be on the look out for travel flights of dogs and even a passport card you can stamp once you've tried each of their creations! 

FTC Disclaimer: I was invited by Destination Dogs & Breslow Partners. Regardless, my opinions are mine alone and, therefore, unbiased. 

Destination Dogs Philadelphia
1111 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(267) 773-7750
www.destinationdogs.com

Twisted Tail: Whiskey Bonanza 2017

This past Thursday night, Twisted Tail hosted their fourth Whiskey Bonanza. Featuring over 70 whiskies, including bourbons, scotches, wine, and brandies, it was clearly a big draw. In fact, the restaurant had plenty of folks stopping by for the VIP hour from 6-7PM, with the main event running until 10PM. 

What was available during the VIP hour? Chef Leo Forneas executed a Southern pig roast, with several de-boned suckling pigs served to order. In addition, select whiskies were offered up during the hour. And throughout the night, local bartenders were serving up three specialty whiskey cocktails for Bonanza attendees to vote on.

I spent much of the night indulging in a wide array of whiskies, ranging from Maker's and Jim Beam to Stitzell-Weller & Buffalo Trace favorites, W.L Weller, Rebel Yell, and Eagle Rare. My favorite tastes of the night had to be Suntory's Hibiki Harmony whiskey and Jefferson's Presidential Select aged bourbon. Each unique in its own right, I appreciated that they were especially smooth and had a wonderful finish.

And of course, I kept coming back to Chef Leo's fantastic pork. Coupling the crisp cracklings with the porchetta-esque belly was pure heaven. So if you missed this year's Bonanza, be sure to subscribe to Twisted Tail's mailing list for all of their whiskey events. Better yet, stop by to try the select whiskies on their list and their seasonal menu. 

Pro-Tip: They've got a cask-strength Maker's batch that's being specially aged in-house. It should be available for purchase in December! 

FTC Disclaimer: Thanks to Twisted Tail for inviting me to the 2017 Whiskey Bonanza. Regardless, my opinions are mine alone and, therefore, unbiased.

Maison 208 Review

The GF and I have been fans of Chef Sylva Senat since his Tashan days. His impressive resume includes Aquavit and Jean-Georges. Senat also helped to open Buddakan in NYC. Subsequently, Stephen Starr lured him to Philly with the 2nd Buddakan outpost. It was at Tashan though that we truly enjoyed the coupling of Senat's French technique with Asian flavors. Certainly a sad day when he departed the modern Indian restaurant. It closed a few years after, with owner Munish Narula emphasizing a decision to focus on his Tiffin empire. For Senat though, and true of most talents, it was on to bigger and better things. After his deep run on Top Chef Season 14 did Philly proud, Senat partnered up with proprietor Herb Reid and operations director Stephen Yaeger to bring us Maison 208, a bi-level New American restaurant with French influences.

Before our 8 o'clock reservation with friends, The GF and I stopped by the sleek second floor lounge, which features Philly's first-ever retractable roof. How retractable? On the night we stopped by, there were a few rogue rain clouds resulting in trace amounts of rainwater by the bar! 

Tequila Mockingbird [$13]
Hornitos, Boardroom beet, lime, agave, peppercorn

Understandably, the GF couldn't help but be tickled by her drink's name. Better yet was its taste - the tequila was tempered by the sweet undertones of the agave, which really came through. The Boardroom Beet liqueur had grassy notes, with a light, peppery finish that was accented by the peppercorn. Really easy drinking for the summer nights. 

R.R. Cigar [$23]
Lagavulin 16, smoked vermouth, tobacco, smoked brandy cherry

Shouldn't be a surprise that I opted for the R.R. Cigar, which features a foundation of Lagavulin 16 year. Not that I needed an excuse, but it was also National Scotch Day (there's a day for everything these ... days)! Even if you're not used to smoky Islay, if you're interested in a drink with a bit of pomp and circumstance, this is the one for you. You'll get quite a few head-turns, what with a dome of smoke immersing your drink before you even have a taste.  

The perfume of tobacco smoke accents the nose from the whiskey, with malt and sherry coming through on the palate and balancing nicely with the smoked vermouth. Really smooth, with a great finish of sweet figs and vanilla. And yes, it comes with a mini-cigar from Cappelli Bros. Cigar Co. across the street. But alas no, you can't smoke it within the confines of Maison 208. 

A testament to how busy the restaurant was, we were more than half an hour past our reservation. But no matter, we were all enjoying Yaeger's creations. Ultimately, the friendly hostess stopped by and escorted us to our four-top on the first level where we met our server, Bryant. Engaging and personable, he didn't hesitate to provide recommendations and let us know that for much of the menu, the intent is to share. Perfect for our night's crew. 

Rimbert Cousin Oscar Cinsauit [$52]

Languedoc, France 2015

Seeking some vino with dinner, we settled upon the Cinsauit upon Bryant's rec. Redolent with red plum and cherries, this was highly reminiscent of Pinot Noir or Grenache. Easy summer quaffing.

Island Kobe Beef Pate Lollipops [$9]
Gold, sweet potato, Haitian beef curry

For the meal proper, we started off with the lollipops, which are sure to be popular in the lounge. Deftly fried, the crispy exterior yielded a blend of Yukon and sweet potato housing a Kobe beef curry center. Feel free to dip into the light, yet heady truffle foam, with "gold" puffed rice offering additional texture. These typically come three to an order, but the kitchen was able to accommodate for four. (Note that actual menu pricing is provided throughout the post). 

Pan-Seared Diver Scallops [$18]
Hush-Beignet, Pancetta, Brown Butter Sauce

Diver scallops were also customized for four, with a light sear providing a salty contrast to emphasize the innate sweetness of the bivalves. Sweet, crispy hush-puppy beignets provided additional substance to the dish, with the bits of crispy pancetta and brown butter sauce offering some savory, nutty richness to tie everything together. 

"Griote & Pikilis" Pork Belly [$13]
12 hr belly, scotch bonnet sea salt, spicy slaw

Pork Griot is a popular Haitian dish, with citrus and Scotch Bonnet-marinated pork simmered until tender, and finally fried. Maison 208's iteration features the belly in a 12 hour braise, expectedly tender and unctuous. The pork itself was more sweet than spicy, with a spoon of Scotch Bonnet sea salt on offer if you're looking to amp up the salt and spice level. The "Pikilis" pickled slaw offered some countervailing relief from the heft of the belly. I will say that I was missing a bit of finesse and texture. Also unsure why four pieces couldn't be accommodated here as well (to be fair, we didn't ask, but wasn't offered).

Whole Frenched Dorade [$36]

Pan-fried, petit vegetables, consomme 

Our table couldn't help but want to order the Chef-recommended sea bream aka dorade. It's beautifully crusted and pan-fried, with a light seasoning on the exterior to emphasize the clean, meaty fish and the light consomee. As you might expect, there will be more than a few bones to pick out here and there, but certainly manageable. A gorgeous kaleidoscope of purple root vegetables, pearl onions, and tomatoes rounded out this beautiful dish. 

Black Hog Pork Shank [$26]
Double cut, Herb de Provence haricot verts, natural pork jus 

The pork shank is a show stopper and a must order in my mind. Porcine flavors and textures are allowed to shine and to stunning effect. I appreciate the dichotomy in textures with the crispy skin yielding to a flavorful, gelatinous layer which further falls away away to tender strands of pork. I did miss the haricot verts, though we did order plenty of sides to complement the shank. 

Corn Pudding [$6]
White sweet corn, heirloom tomatoes, aged sherry vinaigrette 

The sweetness of the corn pudding could not be denied, but helped to provide some balance to the pork dish. The sweet acidity from both the fresh heirloom tomatoes and aged sherry vinaigrette helped to round out this dish. 

Maison Pomme Frites [$6]
Gruyere, garlic truffle oil

You need veggies with your meal, right? In my mind, french fries count! And when they're perfectly done, why not? Fries were crisp on the exterior and tender within. The garlic truffle oil was certainly present, but complemented the shaved Gruyere rather than overpowering.

I'll be interested to see how Maison 208 continues to progress as it's only been about a month since opening. Based on his Instagram, I suspect there's constant tweaking and development coming from Chef Senat. In the meantime, a bottle of wine, the pork shank, and an order of fries seems like the perfect meal to me. The lounge is already hopping and will likely continue being a hotspot for drinks and smaller bites. 

Maison 208
208 S. 13th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
www.maison208.com