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Feast of the Seven Fishes Contest

 
icon for podpress  Feast of the Seven Fishes [10:58m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Bill Reading Feast of the Seven FishesWith the holidays upon us, including the Italian tradition of the Feast of the Seven Fishes , we thought we’d do something different after stumbling upon a unique opportunity: A Contest.

Author and Feast Freak Bob Tinnell contacted us about two upcoming events in Philly promoting his book, Feast of the Seven Fishes. A chronicle of an Italian-American family’s preparation and celebration of the traditional Christmas Eve seafood feast, the book is the combination of a graphic novel and cook book. Uh, when I say “graphic novel” I mean the type of illustrated artwork often found in comic books, not the stuff wrapped in brown paper at the newsstand.

Chaikhana: Russian Food in Northeast Philly

 
icon for podpress  Chaikhana Uzbekistan [9:30m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Denis Enjoying LepyoshkaCurious about Russian food? Chaikhana Uzbekistan in Northeast Philly is a good choice for the adventurous diner. Featuring cuisine from Uzbekistan, a Central Asian province of the former Soviet Union, Chaikhana offers an assortment of traditional foods designed to remind area expatriates of home. Thankfully the rest of us can get a “taste of home” too.

We would never have found Chaikhana Uzbekistan if it wasn’t for our Russian culinary guide Denis, who gave us the 411 on good Russian food in Philly. Having emigrated from Ukraine and now living in the area, we couldn’t have found a better source. It doesn’t hurt that his family used to run a restaurant just a few blocks away, either.

Spring Garden’s Silk City Diner Bar & Lounge

 
icon for podpress  Silk City Diner Bar and Lounge [8:09m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Inside Silk City DinerWhat do you get when you combine the best parts of a diner and a cool club? Spring Garden’s Silk City Diner Bar & Lounge. That’s what.

A long time favorite, The Silk City Diner was reopened in June after falling on hard times. Owner Mark Bee took some of the best parts of the original, added a heavy dose of renovation and a sprinkle of the magic that made his first project great (Northern Liberties’ North 3rd) to produce a hipster hot spot that everyone will enjoy. Any questions? Silk Citys MySpace page says it all.

Indian Lunch Buffet Roundup: Episode # 1

 
icon for podpress  Karma [9:31m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Karma's AwningIndian lunch buffets can offer some of the best food around, so in honor of Diwali we set out to sample some of the better Indian lunch buffets in Philadelphia to find our favorite. With Tushar at the helm (God save us), we’ve chosen a few promising candidates to investigate.

“What’s Diwali?” Trust me, don’t ask. Answers vary, so be satisfied with learning more about Diwali at Wikipedia.

Low Key Center City Lunch: Mama’s

 
icon for podpress  Mama's Vegetarian [9:20m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Outside MamasIf you’re hot for a good, quick lunch in Center City, then you may want to give Mama’s Vegetarian a try. Located near Rittenhouse Square, Mama’s offers a limited menu of kosher vegetarian foods. By the looks of the people that make up the constant flow of traffic, you don’t have to be Jewish or vegetarian to enjoy this food.

NoLib’s Brunch Bonanza: Honey’s Sit ‘n Eat

 
icon for podpress  Honey's Sit 'n Eat [10:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

A Crowd for Honeys Sunday BrunchHoney’s Sit ‘n Eat may not be obscure, but this Northern Liberties’ standard offers an eclectic menu, rustic atmosphere and great service. Situated on the corner of North 4th and Brown Streets, Honey’s serves breakfast and lunch all day and bills itself as a blend of Jewish and Southern food. All I know is that it’s pretty damn good.

Tampopo 2: Pan Asian on Jeweler’s Row

 
icon for podpress  Tampopo 2 [6:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tucked among the storefronts, jewelry designers and diamond merchants of Philly’s Jewelers’ Row, Tampopo 2 offers Pan Asian food perfect for lunch or dinner. Spawned from a successful sister restaurant located on South 21st street, Tampopo 2 offers primarily Japanese and Korean food in a clean, comfortable environment.

After a few aborted attempts to find this inconspicuous spot, Tushar and I stumbled into Tampopo 2 on a recent weekday afternoon for lunch. Once seated, we found the menu offers variety without being overwhelming. Check out Tampopo 2’s Menu Here Thankfully, our server was well prepared to fill in the blanks when menu descriptions and our knowledge came up short. - Oh yeah, and when Tushar wanted to play “Grill the Food Server.”

Mustard Greens: Fresh Chinese Food in Queen Village

 
icon for podpress  Mustard Greens [8:04m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Mustard Green's Chinese RestaurantLooking for some fresh, delicately flavored Chinese food in Philly? Queen Village’s Mustard Greens just may fit the bill. Located on 2nd Street, Mustard Greens offers a clean, contemporary atmosphere just steps away from the hustle and bustle of South Street.

On a recent Friday evening, three of us were looking for a quick, unplanned meal when we thought of Mustard Greens. Although parking in the area can sometimes be difficult, luck presented us with a spot just steps from the front door.

Food from Trinidad: Brown Sugar Bakery & Cafe

 
icon for podpress  Brown Sugar Bakery and Cafe [10:03m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Marco and his Shrimp RotiIf you’re searching for a dose of Caribbean flavor, we’ve found a great spot for you, Brown Sugar Bakery & Cafe. Situated in a bustling area of West Philly, Brown Sugar serves a wide variety of foods from Trinidad, as well as baked items and assorted treats. Tushar stumbled into this cross between a retail bakery and restaurant some time ago, while I became familiar with Brown Sugar Bakery & Cafe through a video posted by Philadelphia Weekly’s Liz Spikol.

Franklin Fountain: Treats from a Bygone Era

 
icon for podpress  Franklin Fountain [11:03m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Franklin FountainAs the hot and steamy days of summer draw to a close, we finally made it to Old City’s Franklin Fountain, and it was really worth the wait. Situated on a corner adjacent to the Market Street walkway to Penn’s Landing, the Franklin Fountain replicates a turn-of-the-century soda fountain and ice cream parlor.

“Wait a minute, that spot is well known!” some may say. And I’d say “You’re right.” Of course I’ve known about it for a couple years, but it’s taken this long for me to give it a try. Let’s just say that I’ve cast off my veil of ignorance to find a fun spot that I’d like to share. OK?

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