Friday Blog Lovin' - It’s Great Pumpkin Fudge, Charlie Brown!

Blog: Confections of a Foodie Bride

Check out this recipe for sweet and delicious (not to mention seasonally-appropriate) Pumpkin Pie Fudge. And check out some of the other entries on this "Confections of a Foodie Bride" blog, especially their photos; the author is as talented a food photographer as she is a cook!


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Parc: the Bistro Experience

Photo from Parc's website: http://www.parc-restaurant.com/

As you walk down Market Street, the first thing that really catches your attention is Rittenhouse Square, with its bright flowers and dapper old people lounging on park benches. As my friends and I plopped ourselves on the grass, only on an afterthought did we notice the restaurants that lined the sunny green paradise. Parc is one of these restaurants. From the outside, the restaurant looks deceptively low-key. Tables that face onto the park sit outside the restaurant, and the windows are accented by wood that gives the place a light, casual feel. We ate early, around six on a Wednesday, so the restaurant was nearly empty. A considerable amount of effort was put into making the restaurant resemble a ritzy French bistro--the vaunted ceiling, open lighting, the long oak wooden bar, and the images of 'French' life on walls. Sure, the setting was a little contrived, but the view of the park and the elegant ambience sets you at ease immediately.

The main courses ranged from cheeseburgers to beef bourguignon, and most of the twelve main dishes would fall into the category of French-American gourmet. Over the course of the evening I tried the Trout Amandine, Shrimp and Linguine, and the Pan Roasted Salmon. The meats were very tender and flavorful. The linguine has a light buttery sauce that balanced the shrimp, and the salmon was flaky and moist, as it always should be. On the down side, the portions were tiny and very pricey. So was the food good? Very. Overpriced? Unfortunately. Thankfully, the service was quick and my waiter friendly, so when the bill arrived I didn't cringe (too much). All in all, this was a great place to dine. Whenever you're meeting up with friends to commemorate a big occasion (or you just have cash to spare) head down to Parc for a good meal in a setting that can't be beat.

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Slithering vegetables

I came across this snake gourd at the Clark Park Farmers' Market on 43rd and Baltimore Ave last weekend and then again along 22nd and South St. Not sure how it tastes but certainly makes for a fashionable accessory or a floral arrangement for some!

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Fresh Basil and Tomato Sauce

This recipe comes straight from my grandfather's collection.

1/3 cup olive oil
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 sprig parsley, chopped
1 28 oz. can tomatoes, chopped
3 oz tomato paste
1 big handful basil leaves
salt and pepper, to taste
red cayenne pepper (optional)

In saucepan, add olive oil, garlic, onion, parsley, salt and pepper. Saute until onion is golden and soft. Add tomatoes, paste and basil leaves. Bring to simmer. Cook about 3-4 minutes. Taste for salt and pepper. Pinch red pepper optional. Serve.

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Local Food for Penn Dining

Meredith Aska McBride wrote an interesting opinion piece for the Daily Pennsylvanian today about the push to get Penn Dining to source their food locally. How likely do you think it is that Penn Dining will shift towards using local food? Will students be willing to give up their pineapple at the fruit bar?

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Answers to our Quiz

Answers to Sunday's quiz: 1.d) 2.b) 3.d) 4.b) 5.c)

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Test Your Culinary Clout!

1) How many rows does an ear of corn have?

a) 12
b) 15
c) Always an odd number
d) Always an even number

2) What kind of meat is Coq au vin made with?

a) Pork
b) Chicken
c) Beef
d) Veal

3) This dish takes its name from the pan it is cooked in, which in turn comes from the Latin word for 'pan' or 'dish.' The name of this Spanish dish is...?

a) Pilaf
b) Jambalaya
c) Risotto
d) Paella

4) It is called 'mahi-mahi' in Hawaii, but what is another common name for this delicious sea fish?

a) Porpoisefish
b) Dolphinfish
c) Whalefish
d) Swordfish

5) This tropical tree and its fruit is native to India, and is actually part of the cashew family. The name of this fruit is...?

a) Cantaloupe
b) Pineapple
c) Mango
d) Papaya

Answers will be posted tomorrow!

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Peeping Peas

Peas peeping out of their pods. Photo by Alyssa Birnbaum.

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Friday Blog Lovin' - So Here it is Home Made Ice Cream

Blog: Fullblown Technicolor

There's just something about Friday nights that lend themselves to ice cream cravings. Why not try out this no frills, super editable ice cream recipe to curb your hunger? No ice cream maker required!



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The skinny on late night dining - New Deck Tavern

It’s hard to believe, but some people may not know about New Deck Tavern’s phenomenal late-night food and drink specials. Here’s the lowdown: from 10 PM to 12 AM six nights a week there’s a second happy hour with drink specials. Then, from 11pm to 1 am, the entire food menu is half price. If you don’t mind acting Spanish and putting off dinner, this means two people can easily eat for $15 or less, including drinks. Just make sure you don’t put your food order in until 11, or they’ll be more than happy to charge you full price. I recommend the outstanding County Cork Chili ($3.50), served piping hot with a dollop of sour cream, and the enormous Chicken Spinach Salad ($8.25) which is loaded with veggies (hold the bacon bits – they just get in the way) and served with a spicy ranch dressing. The Nachos Supreme ($7.25) are another great appetizer. And obviously, everything tastes better when it’s half price!

Here are the drink specials for the late night happy hour:

• Sunday: $2 Domestic Pints
• Tuesday: $5 PBR Pounders + Shot of Jack; $2 Well Drinks; $3 Miller High Life & Miller High Life Light Bottles
• Wednesday: $6 F-Bombs; $4 Guinness, Harp & Smithwick's Pints; $2 Domestic Pints
• Thursday: $2 Miller Lite Pints; $3 Miller Lite Bottles; $3 MGD Bottles
• Friday: $3 Blue Moon Pints
• Saturday: $2 Coors Light Pints; $3 Coors Light Bottles; $4 Absolut Vodka Drinks

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