I tried these spots today at lunch. The first is on the second floor of the newly reimagined City Food Hall. the second is near 50 in that new development on the east side.
Chez les Copains - Open for a few months. They do brunch on Sa/Sn. Happy hour menu too. I think I heard half off oysters ($4 to $2). The menu was right up my alley. Tartare, lobster benedict, steak frites, raw bar. I chose the cheapest thing (listed as $16 - $17 on the bill) because I didn't want to be disappointed. I needn't (sp?) have worried. It was excellent. I don't order them a ton, but, maybe best ever. The brioche toast was thick and of perfect earthly properties. The gruyere and (they said) serrano ham were excellent if penuriously applied (one thin slice). The mornay sauce was maybe the best component. It came with home made chips that (they admitted) they screwed up. Fried in tallow. Nevertheless, I'll give them a Favorite ranking. I'll trust the rest of the bistro fare is up to snuff. It from the Collantes guy (Taglish, etc). I guess he did his time learning French techniques. He's not in the kitchen. The place is cute. Around ten tables of 4 to 6 inside and the same on the patio. Four seat bar at the end. A few shades of blue and white color scheme. Framed posters. Golden chandelier lights on the table. Edgy silver ware. Cloth napkins. Uni'd staff (2). They have a glass wall on the left into the kitchen. The seat backs are a plastic lattice weave. Two other couples of women there. There was a scent of desperation in how often they pimped the drinks, etc. The music was a bit too loud. They add 20% to the bill. Not stuffy. I'd tell you to go if only because we have lost almost every alternative. It must suck to be a Gallic-ly trained chef in this city/country at this point in time. The stuff at the stalls on the first floor is the stuff has become passe to my mind. Everything old is new again. If you really want to be avant garde, stop trying to be.
Tiger Sugar - Seems to be a world wide chain. Taiwanese. A few sweets like eclairs ($6). A few savories like mini pies ($4). A few kaleidoscopic drinks. Maybe tea and coffee? And some damn great fried chicken. They had them ($9 or $10) in patties in a sleeve or popcorned in a cup. I had those for $7. Black pepper flavor. Came out in seconds. Not oily. Perfect crunch. Tender, juicy chicken. Around ten nuggets. I think Chick Fila charges that for eight. McDonald's charges $6+ for six ever thinning sawdust nuggets. Small store. Spartan. White. Counter. No parking. Opens at noon. Open for a few weeks. Maybe a Fav? Surprised me. The baked goods seemed meh. The chicken was a complete shocker.
*Travel Notes - Pennsylvania and New York: I flew to Philadelphia on afternoon flights on Frontier for $124. I locked in some Bizfare rate that gave me choice of seats, carry one and group one seating. Return was one hour late because we had to circle around Charlotte due to MCO caterwauling. God help us this summer. They can't operate in a drizzle anymore. Some real jerk offs running the show. No TSA lines. I rented a car from Hertz for the week at $368. Saved again by rebooking day before. I'll interject here that this trip was a make up for Fiji and that rain scuttled most of the original agenda (minor league baseball games). First stop was Dalessandro's in Germantown. It was on that PBS special I saw ages ago about famous food items across the country. Before I left, I learned that anything with a 76 in PA was a toll road. Those were the quickest ways there. Some guy at Dalessandro's told me that they were free that close to the city. I didn't double check. I took 95S to what was listed as 252N (but really 352) at the Widener University exit to 1E past St Joesph's University to Henry Ave. You had to merge right towards the end and go over a river/gorge. There didn't seem to be an exit for Henry Ave. I had to double back to find it. I had a great (big) cheesesteak for $15 (cash). I drove back the way I came to 30W (Lincoln Highway). Past Haverford University and Villanova. Through Lancaster. Onto 283NW to Harrisburg. I stayed at a Sleep Inn off 83 for $84 (rack rate). I drove through downtown to find the stadium on City Island and back to the hotel. Once again, assume any missing meal was $5 meal at McD or Wendy's or BK.
The day game was rained out. I moved on down 83S to 30W to Pittsburgh. Through York, Gettysburg, Latrobe (thought there would be a sign to Rolling Rock Brewery). Because of tolls, I took a complicated way into Church Brew Works. I saw that on Bizarre Foods, I think. I went through some town I think is called Wilksboro to Penn Ave. I passed a Frick Museum. Around Denny St I went a block left to CBW. It opens at 4pm. I had the cheese pierogis (didn't have the snake anymore) and their average beer. It's in a big church. Down a few streets and over a bridge to 20. I took this to where the stadiums are because I had done that before and knew they had some hotels there. It was pouring too. Stayed at the Hyatt Place again for $159 (rack rate) plus $26 parking. Ate a chicken and shrimp po boy and had beer at Voodoo Brewing Co.
In the morning I took 19N to West View. It looked different on the map. I was really on 19 Business. Had to move a few streets left. I was there for Islay's. Also on the PBS show. They are chipped ham people. It's just thinly sliced ham. No big whoop. Had that as a sandwich for $7 and eggs with sausage, etc for $10. Back onto 279N to 79N to Erie. I moved past because it looked like that game was to be rained out (it wasn't) and it was only noon. I took an old road (not toll road 90) 20 to Buffalo. It was slow in the beginning and then opened up to 55mph through many vineyards on the Lake Erie Wine Trail. Through a town (Portland NY) that claimed to be where the home of Marmaduke. Around Orchard Park NY (the Bills stadium is half up). I got a bit lost. Took 219N to 400E and maybe got off on the wrong exit. I had to double back to find Schwabl's. This was on the PBS show and Anthony Bourdain, etc. Beef on Weck for $21. Good. Back on 400 (Schawabl's street was an entry point) to 219S to Salamanca NY. Onto 86E. I should have bailed earlier, but, I ended up in Corning. I tried a few towns before and their options were shit or overpriced. The cheapest place was Quality Inn at $144 (rack rate) because of some glass festival.
The next day I went to the Corning Glass Museum. Didn't pay the $20+. The streets were blocked off, so, I just headed up to Watkins Glen and the wineries around Seneca Lake. Ate a "lobster and shrimp" roll that was really surimi (they claimed it was a product that they buy that is part lobster) and baby shrimp from a can and good home made chips at Seneca Harbor Station. Drove up the west side of the lake. Stopped at Lakewood Vineyards (no rhyme or reason for which ones I chose). A flight of six was only $5. Up to Fox Run Vineyards in Penn Yan. $10 for flight of 6. I had had their Arctic Fox before. Around the top and over to the other side. A flight of six or eight at Idol Ridge Winery in Lodi for $10. They were doing some kooky things. Like pet/nat and their own yeast blend. Back to Corning and past Binghampton (I forfeited that game) to Hallstead PA on 81S. Stayed at the Colonial Brick Inn (Booking 7.1) for $68. Had a meatball schmutz sub at Tedeschi's.
The next day I drove 81S to 80W to Lewisburg PA on 15. I was here to try the wineries of Susquehanna River Valley per that stupid Food Traveler magazine. I first tried Fero Vineyards. $16 for four two ouncers. I then drove up north a few miles to Four Friends Vineyard in Montgomery (mostly terrible NVs) and had eight or so for $4. Nice views. Back to Lewisburg and stopped at Bucknell University and on to the Relax Inn (Expedia 7.2) for $78. South to Sudbury (other side of the river) to Spyglass Ridge Winery. $10 for large servings of four. I also had a great pepperoni pizza to go for $16. This place has hosted some big (older) bands in the summer. Surprising. Onto Whispering Oaks Vineyard. $10 for four or six. They were hosting a wedding. Back to the hotel.
The next day I drove to downtown and had an excellent sesame bagel with cc at All Star Bagels. Then over the river to May's Drive In. Pretty good grilled cheese and a cb. Back to 15S to Harrisburg. It was early and they said I could reuse the parking ticket for the baseball game, so, I parked at the FNB Field (was there to get a ticket) and crossed the bridge to the festival. Did that. Up to the Capitol. Walked around that. Over to the State Museum (too $) and Archives and back. Stayed at the Sleep Inn (Expedia 8.2) again for $84. Back to the stadium. Saw Senators (AA) play Chesapeake Baysox for $24 (row 3 almost home plate).
The next day I took 83S to York to 30W to Exton to 202/100S to 1E to Chadd's Ford PA. Got there way too fast. Had lunch at Chadds Ford Tavern. Fried chicken thighs with tons of Yukon Gold mp and spinach for $11. The menu said $22. Guess the waitress liked me. Stayed at the Brandywine River Hotel (Expedia 9.0) for $104. Near some battle that Washington lost. Also a garden and museum (too $). It was Memorial Day, so, alot was closed. Just sacked out. Had a hot dog and chicken cheesesteak at Jimmy John's Pipin Hot Sandwiches on 202/100 in West Chester. That whole area was quaint. A little east was the town of Wawa where the gas station started on a dairy farm.
The last day I drove 1E to 352S to 95N across a bridge to the street Wells Fargo Center (Broad St?) is on St to Christian to 9th to George's. Also on that PBS special and Andrew Zimmern. Had a pork and broccoli rabe with sharp provolone. Excellent. To the airport.
I have only two restaurants on that PBS list to go now. Spent $748 on hotels. $116 on gas. $381 on the rest. $17 (should have been $136 but I used a free week coupon) on airport parking. $1386 total. I guess it was an ok outing. Found out there is a SEPTA train that stops in six or so places in Philadelphia from the airport. Watched alot of The Last of Us.
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