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12:21

Philly.com - Craig LaBan will be here at 2 p.m. for your questions and comments. Please type your contributions below.

2:01

Craig - Good afternoon, my hungry friends, and welcome back to Philly Food Chat Central. What’s been on your plates and in your glasses this pat week? It’s been a tasty few days for me, as you can tell from this week’s return of the Crumb Tracker Quiz. Name all three places in order where I ate these dishes and win a prize: 1) Tuscan Tony; 2) Thai curried mussels (with a firkin-poured cup of Yards Love Oyster Stout; 3) reuben fritters. Ready, set…start crumbing!

2:04

Craig -

Also, I want to issue this important reminder on chat room etiquette here (...etiquette!? Who knew there was such a thing in cyberspace!) Well, some of you may know I’ve requested in the past that anyone wishing to criticize a place do so using their actual name, with some real specifics to make their case. That hasn’t always worked out as seamlessly as I’d hoped in the land of anonymous on-screen names - but I’d like you all to try hard. More recently, though, I’ve had some issues with restaurant workers/owners not disclosing their affiliations in comments. Especially if I’m being asked to comment on the place they own or work at, I’d much appreciate a little up front disclosure. Not that it will change my opinions of things, but I’m trying to be frank and honest in these chats, so you should, too.

2:05	[Comment From AMO] Now that you've reviewed Butcher and Singer, what's your pick for number 1 steakhouse? How about best BYO?

2:07

Craig - It's still a little early for that pronouncement, Amo. I'm still only half-way through the four big new offerings (with T-31 and B&S reviewed, and Del Frisco's and Union Trust yet to be completed). So let's wait until those two get reviewed before we decide if Barclay Prime (the reigning red meat champ) gets dethroned....

2:08	[Comment From Guest] What do you think of del frisco's i received a gift certificate for christmas? I heard about a new steak house that opened UnionTrust? Any thoughts?

2:11

Craig - Well, a gift certificate might come in handy, though if it isn't triple digits, it might not get you far at Del Frisco's, which isn't shy about the prices. (They were offering lobster tails the other night for something like $120; appetizer anyone?)
As for Union Trust, wll it just opened, like, last week, so I have absolutely no first-hand experiences to comment on there, though I did see a copy of their menu, and it's so pricey (a vertical tasting of four 18 oz. dry-aged ribsteaks - $550!?) you might want to start collecting gift certificates for that one, too. I know, I know. I'm thinking the same thing: What is going on in Philadelphia? I thought we were in the midst of a recession?

2:12	[Comment From nick] is number 2 pub and kitchen?

2:12	[Comment From nick] rustica, standard tap, north bowl?

2:12	Craig - No. Nay. Nyet. Non. Nein.

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