June 24th, 2011
Peruvian and Cantonese fusion found in Peru; Latin and Asian influences.
“Chifa is the phonetic pronunciation of the Chinese character that represents this shared cuisine. It also refers to the restaurants that serve it.”
Some months ago I visited a restaurant by the name of Amada in Philadelphia. All tapas and very Spanish. I really enjoyed it, so much so that I wrote a post on AboutMyBeaches on 3/7/11. All you have to do is click on the month of March 2011 and scroll down to the date. I wanted to try some of the other restaurants owned by the Garces Group.
Jose Garces is the main event; Ecuadorian heritage, winner of the most recent The Next Iron Chef. Not too many chefs hold that title; only 6 chefs in the country.
Philadelphia is really not that far from the Delaware beaches; about 2 hours and 20 minutes depending on traffic.
Michael and I decided to have a late dinner. I thought that the restaurant was going to be closed by the time we got there. Let’s say we closed Chifa.
Chifa is located at 707 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel. 215-925-5555. Website? http://www.chifarestaurant.com.
Latin and Asian; the decoration reflected those influences. As you entered Latin is the style; tiles, woods, pottery. The bar is located in this room.
Next room? Asian; reds and oranges. Long tables ready for Dim Sum.
Kristin was our server and she had been with Chifa since it opened a couple of years ago. Her knowledge and expertise helped us make the best choices.
She brought us bread to the table. This bread is called Pandebono. It is made out of Yuca flour and Manchego cheese. A little dipping sauce on the side; a hint of sweetness. Very good.
Chifa serves most of their food as “tapas” and “family” style. Sharing is a key word. Tapas are small plates. A taste here or there; a teasing. You want more.
Our first choice was the Ceviche, cooked Peruvian style. The fish? Kingfish.
The most likely origin of “ceviche” lies in the area of present-day Peru and it is part of its national heritage.
This ceviche was probably one of the best I have tasted. So fresh. The marinade is Leche de Tigre, which is composed of key lime or bitter orange juice, sliced pickled onions, chili, salt and pepper and served with small slices of cooked sweet potato. Roasted corn or “mote” on the side. Excellent combination of flavors.
Kristin told us the Duck Tacos were so popular. After trying different recipes, finally the winner was the one on the menu. Duck confit, house kimchi, sliced radish, cracklins on flour tortillas. Remember when I said that tapas are a teaser? This is a good example. Could have had more; too bad I had to share them. He was thinking the same thing.
I love octupus, or pulpo in Spanish. I see them on the menu and I don’t even have to think. They were rock octupus, garlic-ginger, purple potatoes, ginger gastrique. Roasted and perfectly seasoned.
I wasn’t sure if I was going to like the Thai sausage but it was served with an aromatic rice, tamarind chile sauce and papaya salad. The sauce was excellent; a little thick; the tamarind was a predominant flavor in the sauce.
The Red Curry had jumbo lump crab, coconut, jasmin rice, tofu and eggplant. Not too spicy. We actually enjoyed it so much.
We even had dessert, but no picture. It was a mango mousse with mango sherbert. This is the time of the year for this much loved fruit in tropical climates. So many shapes and flavors, as well.
Thank you Kristin for the service you gave us. The combination of unusual and unique ingredients was tops.
Note: Chifa is open for lunch Mondays through Fridays 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. It is open for dinner Sundays through Thursdays from 5:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays it opens from 5:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.
Have a great day!!…Food trucks are next!!
June 22nd, 2011
Away from the Beaches for 24 hours. Back already. A road trip. I am getting to know Philadelphia, but I still have a long ways to go. Having worked and lived in Baltimore, Maryland, I really never went much to Phildelphia. Now, I am going full steam ahead; way into walking the streets, checking the neighborhoods and experiencing its restaurants….all the way to the food trucks.
After driving for a couple of hours it was time for a walk. Just like I enjoy seeing the roadhouses in Baltimore, Philadelphia has beautiful ones, as well. At this time of the year some looked so amazing.
It was around 2 p.m. and not having eaten, Michael and I decided to walk in the direction of Rittenhouse Square.
Rittenhouse Square was named for astronomer/clockmaker, David Rittenhouse. He was a descendant of William Rittenhouse, who built the first paper mill in America in Germantown. He was also the President of the American Philosophical Society and the first Director of the United States Mint.
Rittenhouse Square has always denoted quality. And, to have lived near or on the Square was a mark of prestige.
Fountains, trees, and benches for people to sit and relax. At that time of the day, the heat was getting up there and just to be under the canopy of those trees was instant relief.
The Parc Brasserie, a Bistro and Cafe. Usually, I would sit outside, if available, but after walking so much; air condition was what I wanted.
The Parc Brasserie is located at 227 South 18th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103. Tel. 215-646-2262. Website? www.parc-restaurant.com. Parc is part of the famility of restaurants owned by Starr Restaurants.
Ornate ceilings, the restaurant pays hommage to the French Cafe culture. We had a perfect seat; looking over Rittenhouse Square and checking the passersby; some walking their four legged friends and others just enjoying a beautiful day in the city.
The bread was to die for; baguettes are made in-house daily.
We shared an appetizer of Chicken Liver Mousse with pickled shallots and grain mustard. Again, this bread was thick, warm and oh, so good. Perfect appetizer for a hot day.
Then Michael ordered the Lamb Sandwich, with Harissa aioli and arugula. Pomme frites? Of course, how could you not? Took a bite; very good.
Just in case you did not know what Harissa is; I did not know either. It is a condiment from North Africa and the Middle East. It is made from chiles, oil, garlic and cilantro, pounded with cumin or ground coriander and sometimes dried mint or verbena leaves.
I ordered the Nicoise Salad with seared tuna, shaved vegetables and lemon vinaigrette. It had been some time since I had a Nicoise Salad; fresh and light. The tuna, the white anchovies and the combination of the veggies with the lemon vinaigrette, made it so special. The lettuce? Buttery comes to mind.
A leisure afternoon with great food, great service, and the perfect view, as well.
No sweet ending at this time of the day. But an espresso we did have. We still had dinner in mind and some more walking to do.
Note: Some info. for my post was taken from www.ushistory.org.
Talk to you later….
June 18th, 2011
I was ready for GreenMan. New season and new expectations. Breakfast with Jody. She is a foodie and ready to try anything. She held back a bit when I asked for a shot of wheat grass. Come on, I said, you have to tried it. I was telling her this, knowing that I had never had it myself. I expected a very earthy taste. It was somewhat earthy but what gave it a sweetness was a small piece of apple which was put through the juicer. About 3 bunches of the wheat grass make just a couple of ounces. Jody tried it and thought the same thing; not bad at all. I sipped my wheat grass through my breakfast and felt totally “green”.
 Green shot of wheat grass with a sliver of apple I have written about GreenMan in the past. If you want to, check my post, written on 12/17/10. Just go on the left hand side of this blog and click on the month of December and then scroll down to the 17th.
GreenMan is located at 12 Wilmington Avenue. Tel. 302-227-4901. On Facebook, just like everyone else is. The restaurant opens Wednesdays through Mondays from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
It has an extensive menu and I have had delicious breakfasts while sitting in this quaint house. At times I have sat outside, on their porch, depending on the weather. GreenMan is simple, and small. It is popular and can get crowded easily.
Fresh fruit juices, smoothies, quiches, organic coffees, paninis, salads and bison burgers, among some of their offerings. The grits with sausage and cheese is a favorite. So is the creme brulee French toast, which I will have some day. Right now, only in my dreams.
Jody and I sat around and started to catch on our lives. We both can talk. When it was time to order Jody chose the tomato and basil quiche. GreenMan’s quiches are well known. You can also order full quiches, which is great to know in case you have unexpected guests. Just give them a call.
In keeping with my “green” attitude of the day I ordered a tofu wrap. It was very good. Chopped potatoes, tofu, spinach and just enough seasoning for breakfast.
If you are in Rehoboth Beach or surrounding areas and want to have a good breakfast or lunch, you should give GreenMan a try. Let me know how you like it.
Hope you have a nice week-end…..see you….
February 27th, 2011
By early afternoon, yesterday, we knew we were going to eat crabs. Years ago there was a small crab house in Ocean City, Maryland that we loved to go. As it happens, it was falling all around them. Anyway, that’s what Nolan, the owner, told me last night. In the past few years it was rebuilt into one amazing crab house. You can smell Old Bay seasoning as you approach the restaurant.
The Crab Bag is located at 13005 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD. Tel. is 410-250-3337. It opens at 9:00 a.m. serving breakfast and even though it is a full crab house, they offer so many other things to eat; seafood, steaks, hamburgers, sandwiches and salads. Their website is www.occrabbag.com but it is under construction at the moment. You can still go on it and download their menu. You can also find them on Facebook.
I really go there for the crabs. It has been quite some time since I had been there. Crabs, at this time of the year, are coming pretty much from Louisiana. Last night they were offering all you can eat or you could order by the dozen. I ordered by the dozen; only the biggest ones. Crabs are also expensive during these months, but every single table was taken at the Crab Bag.
The Crab Bag has two floors with decks and outdoor dining, as well. It is February so everyone was indoors.
There is nothing better than picking crabs in a crab house. It is loud, people are hammering away, drinking; a constant chatter. It is the perfect way to establish conversation. Your hands are fast working, grabbing those lumps of crab meat.
But then, of course, if you are a true Baltimorean, then there is no better way to accompany those steamed, extra large crabs than with a Natty Boh. It has to be very cold too. Frosted glass, the best!!
Natty Bohs (National Bohemian) is back in Baltimore after a 15 year absence. Steamed crabs and Natty Bohs define Baltimore. It has always been a tradition.
We sat on the second level and that had another full bar but not as many tables. Mike was our waiter and he was busy. He was very good; attentive and fast.
We started with some steamed clams; middle necks, chargrilled with fresh shallots, celery, green peppers, spices, Parmesan cheese and bacon. They were tasty and went fast.
Then our crabs arrived, steaming hot. Mike asked us if we wanted vinegar, melted butter, and Old Bay. My answer? All of the above.
We dug into the crabs; they were heavy, juicy and sweet!! Perfection. To me, there is nothing like the Maryland blue crab. Not in season? Then, this is the next best thing.
Some steamed corn complemented the crabs. The corn was nice and sweet for this time of the year. Don’t know where it was coming from, though.
Nolan, the owner, stopped by to see how everything was. It really was very good and the service was the best. No complaints.
We left the Crab Bag, still full of customers enjoying what the Delmarva Peninsula is known for. We told Nolan that we had come to get our crab fix for the week-end. He in turn told us that there are people that stop by 2 times a week for crabs. Cannot get enough!!! I agree because I can’t either.
 See you later... Talk to you soon….you know I will….
February 24th, 2011
It was late in the day and Michael and I were doing some errands in Rehoboth Beach. We got hungry and stopped at Lily Thai Cuisine. This Thai restaurant is located at 10 North 1st St. in Rehoboth Beach. Tel. 302-227-3348.
Ever since I found this restaurant I have been enjoying Lily’s great cuisine. I do. I really like it. When I first started going there you could bring your own bottle (BYOB). Then, they went through the process of applying for a liquor license and no bottles were allowed in the premises. Therefore, it has been somewhat slow.
Next week, might be the week where they will be able to serve beer and wine. They will start with that; see what their customers will be requesting and take it from there. If you want to make sure they are serving beer and wine, please give them a call to 302-227-3348. They open for lunch and dinner. Closed on Mondays, though.
They have great lunch specials for $8.95. Salad and half size entrees.
Michael and I ordered the Larb Gai. I order this dish all the time. It has ground chicken breast, tossed in lime juice, red onions, Thai herbs and fresh mint. It is spicy and a favorite. Michael liked it but not as much as I did.
The salad that came with the lunch specials had a very interesting dressing. It was somewhat sweet but the concentration was cilantro. Refreshing after the spicy Larb Gai.
Michael had the Green Curry which was hot hot and spicy. This dish is traditionally made with green curry paste, coconut milk, Thai eggplants, and hints of Rhizome and basil. Got good reviews from Michael.
A rhizome is the horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nods; ginger being a good example.
Mine was a Crispy Duck Ginger. It was crispy honey duck with young ginger, onions, mushrooms, celery, garlic, ground peppers and scallions. It had just the right amount of spice and the duck was nice and crispy.
Lily Thai is a quiet place for lunch. I think people forget that it is there. Anyway, I am passing the word around because I really do enjoy it.
Note: Carry out is available.
See you…..talk to you later…
February 21st, 2011
We did not know what the weather was going to do today, but Paula and I did not care. All we wanted to do was sit, have a cup of coffee and probably a bite to eat for breakfast. Yes, we had to catch up. She is part of that group of friends that are considered my “partners in crime”.
We decided to go to The Gallery Espresso. Neither Paula nor I had been there. Downtown Rehoboth was crowded. Long week-ends are usually pretty busy this time of the year even if it is cold.
The Gallery Espresso is located at 70 Rehoboth Ave., in the 1st Street Station. Tel. 302-231-2113. There is a website, http://www.thegalleryespresso.com. I tried to visit the website but did not open up. They could be working on it so I am going to confirm that it is the right one.
This is a coffee shop but it has an added twist; an art gallery and retail items. That side of the coffee shop is being set up so not everything was in place. They are going into their 3rd year in this location.
During the warmer months you can enjoy outdoor seating; a few tables are available. Please note that they serve all day breakfast and lunch.
The coffee shop is owned by John and Judy. John took care of us this morning. I did not know what to order. They had burritos, egg sandwiches, crepes, hot sandwiches, grilled wraps, salads and grilled paninis. For the young at heart they have oatmeal, grilled cheese, grilled peanut butter, peanut butter and jelly and peanut butter and fluff.
At first I wanted a crepe but they were dessert crepes. John suggested the grilled panini. I had an Egg’n Cheese Panini; swiss and ham on herbed grilled multigrain panini. It was pretty big. I don’t know why I say this because I really ate the whole thing. It was nicely grilled and the combination of swiss cheese, ham and eggs, well, you know how it is…good!!
Paula was not that far behind because she chose the French Toast. These were big slices of French bread with buttered maple syrup. She did not have any problems eating this either. I love French toast when is made with French bread; a different flavor and consistency.
Coffee and chatting. My coffee was bold, served in a large cup. Their espresso is imported from Italy. You can buy their brand of coffee right there, as well.
I could not believe we were there for over 3 hours solving the world problems, and also our own.
Then we took a look at a dish going by. They were beautiful crepes. I just got up and went to the next door table and asked them if I could take a picture of the Banana Caramel Crepes. There were 2 crepes filled with fresh bananas, Ghiradelli caramel sauce and whipped cream. They really did look delicious.
I always approach the gluten free factor and John told me that this summer they are planning to offer some gluten free items.
The Gallery Espresso was relaxing; perfect place to work on your computer, read the paper; or just enjoy another day at the beach.
Talk to you later…..soon….
January 18th, 2011
I don’t know what comes to my mind first, the craving for a particular food that takes me to that restaurant to review it, or that I pick a restaurant because it is time to review a restaurant.
I think it is the former. I don’t give it too much thought. It is like wanting pizza, or a good juicy hamburger, Indian food, Thai, or, Oh, I feel like having a crepe. For example, yesterday I was driving and stopped at Eming’s Chicken, which is closer to Bethany Beach, Delaware, but away from the beaches. Well, I will probably be there Friday because they are having a pig roast starting at 11:00 a.m. I got that craving. If I do go, believe me, that will be a post in the making.
I thought about this particular post a few times. Already you know that I like sushi, and sashimi. I feel good after I eat it; satisfied but not overly full.
I was having dinner in Delray Beach back in December with Anita and my husband. We were at Lemongrass, which I have written about a few times, and one of my favorite restaurants in Delray. Talking and chatting away, interjecting in Spanish with Anita; back to English. The tables were close to each other so you could really see what other patrons were eating and some times even hear what they were talking about.
Our entrees arrived and out came my camera. A couple next to us, started a friendly chat. Of course, I told them what I was doing. They, actually, ordered my fish, since they saw how gorgeous it looked. Then, the gentleman proceeded to tell me that I needed to try a sushi restaurant in Boyton Beach called Sushi Simon. That it had very innovative combinations in their sushi. That’s all I needed to hear so, yes, we went there the next day and one other time after that. Here is my personal opinion and review.
Sushi Simon is located at 1614 S. Federal Highway, Boyton Beach, Florida 33435. The actual location is at the SE corner of Woolbright Rd. and Federal Hwy., right on that shopping center. Tel. 561-731-1819. No website but you can find them on Facebook. Their business hours are Mondays – Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. and Sundays from 12:00 – 10:00 p.m. They also have lunch specials Mondays through Fridays. Carry out is available, as well.
Boyton Beach is located just north of Delray Beach and South of Palm Beach. Not far; easy to get to.
When I first entered the restaurant I thought I smelled fish, which usually turns me off, but that dissipated and did not happen again. The restaurant was small, and not very wide; plenty of tables and a sushi bar, though. A couple of tables outdoors too. It was cozy and people were friendly.
Looking through the menu I thought it looked good, even though I do not like imitation crab. It seemed that it was used a lot in their rolls. Also, cream cheese was used a lot.
The rolls I decided to try were:
Little Havana which had eel, avocado, cream cheese, plantains, and mango. I will tell you that it was delicious and perfect for a South Florida roll. The plantain and mango combination was great. Loved it. That was what the gentleman told me at Lemongrass. Innovative combinations.
 Little Havana and Ichigo Roll Ichigo Roll was delicious, as well. It had also eel, masago, avocado, cream cheese, strawberries, and macadamia nuts on top. I had not had a roll with macadamia nuts. It was a first and really liked that crunchiness and fruit together with the eel.
My husband had the Kawaii Maui Roll with coconut shrimp, avocado, cream cheese, pineapple, papaya, with mixed macadamia nuts on top. He thought it was the best roll he had had in a very long time. Could not stop talking about it. We had taken our own gluten free soy sauce. The restaurant had not had anyone ask for something like that in the past.
 Kawaii Maui Roll Next visit came about because my husband could not stop talking about the Kawaii Maui Roll. Tommy and Michael came with us and it got a little tricky because Sushi Simon, practically, does not have too much for the person that does not like sushi, or seafood, for that matter. The only thing he could have was Gyoza which were steamed or deep fried pork and vegetable dumplings.
 Gyoza But, wait, he decided to try the roll my husband was raving about. I could see it in his face, it was a no go, as he was trying to eat it. The other ones finished that roll for him. Happy, yes, they were.
We ordered pretty much the same thing. I added the Crazy Lucy soup, which was a special soup of the day. I really liked it. It was a Miso soup but with different fish added to it. Tasty.
 Crazy Lucy I again, ordered that Little Havana roll and then tried another roll that was on their special that evening. I cannot remember its name but it did have the avocado on top. It was good, but not memorable like Little Havana and Ichigo Roll.
The concensus was that it was good, but for the size of the rolls, it was expensive. I would go again for that Little Havana Roll and the Ichigo Roll. My husband will go again for the Kawaii Maui Roll. I thought his roll was small; a few more pieces were needed.
It is great to have choices…..talk to you later…and have a great day!!
 Simon
January 15th, 2011
I am on a roll. Oh, yes, I have been on an ethnic food kick. Besides the Indian restaurant I reviewed yesterday I also went to see how Lily was doing. Lily is a restaurant that opened a couple of years ago. I only found out about it this past year. Have gone several times and will keep on going because I enjoy it Thai food very much.
Thai cooking incorporates all 5 tastes; sweet, sour, bitter, salty and spicy. Definitely, there is a sense of balance in Thai food.
A Thai meal consists of a single dish or it will be rice with other dishes served at the same time to be shared by all. A lot of times there are more dishes than guests at a table.
Lily is located at 10 N. 1st Street, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. The tel. is 302-227-3348. If you have been to Rehoboth then you will find the restaurant right between Nicola Pizza and Adriatico. Lily opens 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.
I decided to go the other night and have dinner because I really did not feel like cooking. It was one of those nights. Cold and I was lazy.
Up until recently you could bring a bottle of wine and they would cork it for you. At the moment, you cannot do that anymore. The reason? They were approved for the liquor license but the restaurant still has to go through some formalities. Therefore, not now but in the next few months they will be ready.
I started with the Larb Gai. I always order this dish because I have had it in Boulder and in Florida, but at Lily’s is where I like it the best. It consisted of ground chicken breasts tossed in lime juice, red onion, Thai herbs and fresh mint. It was spicy and perfect for 2 people.
My husband ordered a Roasted Duck Curry. It was a slow roasted honey boneless duck, pineapple chunks, tomatoes, young bamboo strips, hot peppers in red coconut curry and basil. It was spicy, just like he likes his curries.
I really loved my dish. I had never had it and I can venture to say that it has been one of the best. It was Sweet & Spicy Chili Crusted Eggplant. The dish had lightly fried Thai eggplants, flavored with smoked sweet and spicy roasted chili sauce. Then, topped with chopped chicken, tiger shrimp, and cilantro. It truly was delicious with that sweetness and heat complementing each other so well.
I forgot to take a picture of our dessert, which was a mango over sticky rice topped with a coconut cream sauce.
It was a casual dinner on a cold and quiet night in Rehoboth Beach…..talk to you later…..
Note: Lily also has carry out.
 
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