wedge + fig

This review was written by Lauren Doney - manager at Sláinte Pub in University City & baker extraordinaire. 

My fiancé Buddy and I decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather on Saturday morning and have brunch at wedge + fig in Old City.  The menu looked fabulous online and we just happened to have an extra bottle of champagne lying around, so why not?  At first glance, wedge + fig looks like a small café with maybe seven tables inside and a small counter area stocked with yummy pastries & a large variety of cheeses.  We asked the gentleman at the counter if we could sit outside (referring to the small solo table we saw on our way in).  He replied, “Sure, the entrance to the secret garden is on the side.”  To our delight, there was a narrow cobblestone walkway that led to a small backyard seating area complete with hanging flowers and a small fountain.  What a nice surprise!

Secret Door

There were maybe eight tables total, but all of them were filled with young couples and friends chatting over impressive looking plates that made us anxious to order.  Even with already having looked at the menu online, it was difficult to decide what to order.  Everything looked and sounded so good.   Our server, Amy, told us about the specials & brought us some fresh squeezed OJ for mimosas.  Buddy also ordered some french pressed coffee, which he really enjoyed. 

One of the reasons we chose this restaurant was the extensive list of gourmet cheeses.  We started our meal with a cheese plate.  As Amy suggested, we chose one goat, one cow & one sheep’s milk cheese.  A few moments later, she returned with a slate board of our three selected cheeses, crostini and a small piece of jam & fig cake (which is amazing and tastes like a gourmet fig newton).   The board also acted as a guide, with the names of each cheese & an arrow (directing you from mild to sharp) written in chalk. 

Cheese!

Moving on, Buddy ordered the special.  A panini of bacon, pork roll, sopressata, sharp cheddar, fried egg & pesto with a side of greens tossed lightly in a house vinaigrette.  He loved it.  A creature of habit, I ordered the “3 eggs your way”. My fried eggs game with lemon-parmesan roasted potatoes (yum!), crispy bacon, mixed greens & wheat toast.  The presentation & the meal itself were outstanding.

Would eat this every day

Throughout the meal, we were served by everyone on the small staff, including the owner.  They worked very well together as a team and all of them really seemed to enjoy working there.  As a restaurant manager, this is one of the things i always take notice of and later remember about a place.  Our experience at wedge + fig was wonderful.  The service was helpful & friendly.  The menu was executed well and thought-out.  We can’t wait to go back. 

wedge + fig

160 N. 3rd Street

Philadelphia, PA 19106

267 603 3090

www.wedgeandfig.com

Reviewed and Written by Lauren Doney

Loco Pez!

This review was written by Stefany Stuber - best friend, beach-lover, veteran bartender (in the industry for 15+ years)

Yum

I've had my 3rd date with Loco Pez last night, and I have to say we are off to a great start.  This little Mexi pub located at the intersection of East Norris, Susquehanna, and Cedar is the former Crazy Fish, which in jest was translated perfectly. The place itself has a 70's decor, wallpaper featuring collages of Mexican comics, a vintage sign over the bar's fish tank, and a "Family Guy" pinball machine. Beware though, the sign does happen to say, "cash only bitches." 

Margaritas!

That brings me to my first concern, I had a feeling I was about to walk into a "hipster haven."  Alas, I was only quasi-correct. I've been there on a Friday night which was a bit on the hipster side, and I've been there twice on Sundays. There I fell for the bartender Rasheed, he is a super friendly guy who has been in the industry for quite some time. He takes a lot of pride in freshly squeezing the lime juice and cracking jokes at my expense. Last night I had a Regal Margarita, it was Milagro blanco tequila, fresh lime juice, and grapefruit soda, with a salted rim. My friend Dave had a Monte Carlo, it was a chipotle infused tequila, hibiscus water, fresh lime juice, and a sugar rim. Trust me he did not skimp on the tequila, Rasheed and Dave started looking better by the hour. Onto the food, the tacos range from $1.75-2.50. They are sold individually, which is great for exploring a variety of flavors. I've had the al pastor, potato and chorizo, fish, beef, and chicken tacos. I will say the tacos are small, but heavier on the meat. In my opinion I'd rather have a smaller shell, and more meat, then vice versa anyway. The burritos range from $9-10 and were a decent, delicious size.

The buzz about this place is that the food is about authentic to west coast Mexican as it comes. If that's true, then I'd love to live on the west coast and know this was the standard. Last night we had the sweetest server, she was on the ball when it came to service. She was quick on filling our glasses, I think she heard tequila makes my clothes come off. She was also knowledgeable about the menu and was happy to offer suggestions. Gracious Loco Pez, I will be frequenting your cute little restaurant , especially on Sundays. 


Loco Pez
2401 E. Norris St.
Philadelphia, PA 19125
267-886-8061
http://www.locopez.com/

Reviewed & Written by Stefany Stuber

Manhattan, Brooklyn & Goat Cheese

Manhattan

Southwark is at the corner of 4th & Bainbridge, smack in the middle of my favorite neighborhood in Philly - Queen Village.  From Nov. 2010-Sept. 2011, I lived about 15 steps from Southwark and although didn't frequent it when I lived there - I should have.  I went in a few times, met the owner and bartender, Kip, and would enjoy a cocktail and always get the Goat Cheese appetizer - so, so good.  Baked Shellbark farms goat cheese topped with an herb and parmesan crust, accompanied by pepper-rosemary lavash (flatbread crackers), buckwheat honey and poached apple slices. So you take a piece of lavash, spread some honey on it, top that with a poached apple slice, top that with the oozing, warm goat cheese and insert into your mouth.  Amazing.  I would probably spend $15 on this dish, but it's only $8, and a fabulous snack.

Meeting my great friend Emily (yep, two Emily's) at Southwark for a drink and a nibble last week was cozy, elegant and unpretentious.  The beautiful dark wooden bar dotted with candles and mirrored back wall made me feel like I was back in time and should be smoking a cigarette with a long holder like Cruella DeVille. But I don't smoke.  So that was random.  Anyway.  We were greeted happily by Kip and snagged the last two seats at the packed bar.

Shaking Our Drinks

While Southwark has a fully stocked bar, they specialize in classic cocktails and have a vast selection of rye whiskey and gin.  They have eight draft beers, twenty-six in bottles and a great wine selection.  Their food menu isn't massive, but their ingredients are locally sourced and each plate is carefully crafted. Emily ordered a Manhattan and my first choice was the Pisco Sour - made with Pisco (a South American grape brandy), lime juice, egg whites and bitters.  It was, well, sour and deliciously refreshing.  Em was in love with her Manhattan and of course we shared the Goat Cheese app. I asked Kip's recommendation for my next cocktail and he suggested the Brooklyn, similar to a Manhattan yet made with dry vermouth (as opposed to sweet), rye whiskey of course, Torani Amer (an orange-flavored aperitif) and maraschino liqueur.  As I consider myself a "vodka girl," I don't usually drink cocktails like this but it was outstanding.  The kind of drink you crave and go back for.  It was pouring rain outside but inside was warm and buzzing.  Emily and I enjoyed much needed catching-up time while sipping on our Manhattan's and Brooklyn's in Philadelphia.

Southwark Restaurant
701 S. 4th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
215-238-1888
http://www.southwarkrestaurant.com/

Pisco Sour

First Review! Nomad Pizza

Receiving a text message from Keith on a Friday afternoon which asks "surprise dinner tomorrow night?" is a great way to end the week.  I really had no idea but as we were driving from Northern Liberties heading south, an inkling came over me that we may be trying a new pizza place.  As we made the left onto 8th off of Walnut, he finally told me we were on our way to Nomad Pizza, on 7th, between South and Bainbridge.  Earlier in the week Keith told me his boss raved about it and I had read a blog about their recent addition of movie nights so I was very excited to sink my teeth into some hot, fresh pizza, or "za" as we affectionately refer to the amazing culinary masterpiece.

Walking in on the first floor, there is a small dining area and beautiful copper pizza oven with three to four guys rolling dough, adding toppings and sliding the circle of love into the oven with speed and precision. The host was extremely friendly, asking if we wanted to sit at a communal dining table or private, I chose private and we were taken upstairs.  A long bar with candles, many wine bottles, a shiny new tap system and a relatively extensive bottle beer selection was attractive and my immediate "judging, searching, scanning bartender eye" did the once-over and it was clean, crisp and charming.

Working Hard!

Upstairs Bar

Want one in my kitchen

Margherita

I ordered an Allagash White, one of my favorite wheat beers brewed in Maine, and it came out in an ice-cold frosted glass - a nice surprise for me as I do enjoy freezing cold beer.  Keith selected the Birra Moretti, an Italian lager that's been around for over 150 years.  The menu was simple - beer, wine, salads, pizza.  No liquor, no side dishes.  We started with the Arugula Salad, consisting of fresh arugula, toasted pecans, organic cherry tomatoes, organic goat cheese and finished with a lovely lemon-thyme dressing.  It wasn't huge but was plenty to share and a great start.  Now for the za!!  Of course, we ordered our all-time favorite, Margherita, with San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, aged parmesan, fresh organic basil, organic olive oil and sea salt.  Absolutely delicious.  You could taste the freshness and the sauce had a slight sweetness which was very, very yummy.  Next up was the Spicy Sausage with all of the above ingredients plus "Simply Grazin' Sausage" and caramelized onions.  This was the hit.  The sausage comes from Renaissance Sausage - all-natural and handmade in South Philly.  Not too spicy, not too greasy, just plain good.  Nomad Pizza was open for one week when we went and they also have a location in Hopewell, NJ and have a very successful food truck.  Renaissance Sausage is also a hit food truck roaming the streets of Philly which Keith and I are going to hunt down in the near future.  Nomad Pizza utilizes organic, local farmers, grow their own produce when the weather permits, use bioplastic and compost their waste.

We finished up with sharing a glass of red - in a stemless wine glass for $6 - while the table next to us were digging in to their dessert pizza - nutella and banana!  The service was great, atmosphere warm and the great location between Queen Village and Washington Square West will serve them well.  The dining room upstairs has a large white wall used to show movies on Sunday nights - and honestly, who doesn't love pizza and a movie?

Note the wall in the back used for movies!

Nomad Pizza Company
611 S. 7th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
215-238-0900

Apéritif

bar·tend·er  (bärtndr)

n.

One who mixes and serves alcoholic drinks at a bar. Also called barkeeper.

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bartend v.

My name is Emily and I am a bartender living and working in Philadelphia.  I am studying Geography and Urban Studies at Temple University.


I want to make one thing clear: I am not formally educated on food and I don't own a restaurant.  I love food and cooking and am hungry (sorry, couldn't resist) to learn more about both.  I have worked in restaurants for over ten years - a lifetime to some and a hiccup to others - and feel I know a little bit about the way things work and the service industry in general.  I am fairly educated on craft beers and liquor, while much is to be desired in the vino department (I love wine, I just can't pretend to know the facts).  


Philadelphia has been home to me for nine years and during that time the food and drink scene has absolutely exploded.  From the vast array of BYOB's to the unbelievable selection of quality, local craft beers to farm-to-table concepts to the delicious brunch culture to the nationally ranked prohibition-style bars and of course some of the best sandwiches and pizza around. This city loves to eat, talk about eating, drink, talk about drinking, review where they've been, pick apart dishes, gush about cocktails and my friends and I are no different.  This is is where I'll talk about where I've been, where service industry friends (bartenders, servers, managers, barbacks, cooks and even alum) have been, the food, the drinks, the service - from our point of view while on the other side of the bar.


Cheers!!