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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.

2:12	[Comment From Todd] 1. Paesano's (no surprise after last week)

2:19

Craig - Yeah, todd. Number 1 was the freebee today. Just got a chance to eat there, thanks to you folks drooling over this lunch counter last week. I have to say....THANK YOU!! What an awesome place, a revived little lunch counter across the street from owner Peter McAndrew's other place, Modo Mio. Reminds me of a sort of 2009 update of Shank's and Evelyn's, with the bold-flavored sandwiches to go with it. I tried the roast suckling pig sandwich that was moaned about so much last week ("the arista") and it was excellent - a little hot on the peppers, but a superb and juicy pork. That said, there are a lot of great pork sandwiches in town. The "Tuscan Tony" is the first great, irresistable hot dog sandwich I've had around here in a long time. It is an Italianized version of a Texas Tommy (which, really, doesn't even compare), and I knew I was in trouble when the chef put soppressata in the pan where she was frying up the all-beef hot dog. (For that matter, I had a good idea things were headed in the right direction when they distributed wet-naps BEFORE the meal!) Add a ladel of bolognese sauce love on top, a little long hot pepper heat, and you have the best messy dog I've eaten since my Coney Island days in Detroit. My only complaint? The place closes at 7 p.m., and if ever there was an idol for late-night post-bar munchie cravings, the Tuscan Tony is it.

2:20

[Comment From Django Fett]
Been to the revamped White Dog yet? We made it a week or so ago and it was hopping. I would recommend the Mac n' Cheese, which is made with a lobster bisque base at the bar. The rest of the dishes were hit or miss, but things are looking fresh there. There are rumors of a brick oven being built where the bar grill used to be, which is exciting.

2:22

Craig -

Thanks for this report on the new crew over at White Dog. I enjoyed my colleague, Melissa Dribben's profile today on the departing Judy Wicks, but I have to wonder how the W. Dog will evolve under the new owners. It was definitely losing its grip in the kitchen in the past few years, so perhaps some new blood is exactly what this local institution needs.

2:23	[Comment From Tony] #2 London grill

2:23	[Comment From liz] is number 2 monk's?

2:23	Craig - No and no...

2:23	[Comment From NJA] Al Morganti was ripping you yesterday on WIP for your criticizing the manager at Butcher and Singer for interrupting your meal in your recent review, your response to Mr. Morganti?

2:24	Craig - No, I didn't hear Morganti's comments, but I'm sorry I missed it. Me and the WIP morning show go waaaaay back. I'm like their favorite critic.

2:25

[Comment From Steve G]
Hi Craig, I went to to the Little Fish Sunday night prix-fixe over the weekend. Your review nailed it when describing how he manages to incorporate so many subtle flavors into his dishes. I loved the suzuki dish, the fennel flavor infused into the crispy crust on the fish was delicious.

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