Before talking about three new places I've seen during the past couple of weeks, I owe my loyal readers an apology for being away so long. (Too long.) Between a length family vacation and the harried pace at Spark before and after the time off, I'm finally getting the time to tend to important matters again. (By the way, if you're ever fortunate enough to be in charming city of Charleston, S.C., you simply must find time to eat at Jestine's Kitchen for incredible soul food. The pecan whiting, collard greens and butter beans are out of this world. The atmosphere is friendly and authentic.)
OK, back to those three new places that are on my target list. I've just noticed or heard about them recently. I have not stepped inside. (I'd welcome comments from anyone who has.)
Since I mentioned soul food, it's only appropriate to start with Southern Kitchen. It's on 4th Street in Allentown about one block south of Central Catholic High School. It appears to occupy the end of a series of row homes. I have a penchant for the comforting, simple preparation and presentation of soul food. Devoid of pretentiousness or gourmet influences, it is there to satisfy hunger and reconnect you to the simple side of life. My expectations are set high; here's hoping Southern Kitchen can meet them.
Thanks to Kurt Blumenau at The Morning Call for sending me a note about The Sun, which he covered in his July 4 Retail Watch column. Kurt reports that The Sun is on MacArthur Road just south of Home Depot. The Jamaican menu includes oxtail stew, jerk chicken and several preparations of snapper. I imagine it's BYO, so I may have to bring a couple Red Stripe beers for the entire effect. (Political note: please contact your state senator and tell him/her to support the bill that would permit the sale of six packs in beverage stores. This state's liquor laws are so antiquated and backward.)
Finally, I noticed a restaurant called Tokyo Do on Easton Avenue in Bethlehem about 1/2 mile east of the Stefko Blvd. intersection. The sign read sushi and Japanese cuisine. I was unable to tell whether the place has the pseudo-Japanese "hibachi" style entertainment-dining that has become all to common in the Lehigh Valley. Five years ago, Robata in downtown Allentown owned the genre. Now there must be 7-8 different places: A-1 in South Mall, Teppan on Cedar Crest/Hamilton, Ichiban (I think) on Catasauqua Road -- the others are escaping me now. My kids enjoy the knife-wielding chefs, onion volcano and shrimp toss, all which become cliche after the second time you've witnessed them. The only redeeming factor is the ability to place one's sake either on or adjacent to the heated stir-fry table, thus maintaining the sake's warmth. Hot sake makes life itself more tolerable.
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Tokyo Do is an excellent, authentic sushi restaurant. No flying shrimp or faux volcanoes. I highly recommend it and their red bean and green ice cream, which actually comes from a nearby establishment called Nuts about Ice Cream, one of the best kept secrets of the valley.
Thanks, Robin, for the note. I'll check out Tokyo Do soon. I tried The Other Fish yesterday on Broad Street and will post a review soon (Preview: I'm still looking for really good sushi in Bethlehem after my visit.)
And thanks for bringing Nuts about Ice Cream (http://www.nutsabouticecream.com/) to everyone's attention. I've been there dozens of times and have always been impressed by the quality and, even more, the variety. (Where else can you get saffron pistachio and cardamon kulfi? And the mango is rich and luscious.) I'm a huge ice cream fan. I may need to break away from ethnic foods for a week and do an ice cream binge/report.
Actually, it's called Island In The Sun.
Tokyo Do has been there for a little while now. The building use to be a Holiday Hair (I think).
I love Japanese style foods, but I still haven't gone. Since the Kobe Grille in Palmer went under (or up depending on how you view it) a few years ago, I haven't been eating too much Japanese cuisine. Though, that A-1 eatery in the South Mall is excellent!
But, I really should check out Toyoko Do. It's only about a mile from my house and I could easily ride my bike there - though, if it's as good as the some say it is, I won't want to ride home!
Does anyone know if they accept credit cards?
Island in the Sun is excellent. the main dishes they had the day we went were oxtail, curried goat and jerk chicken. we tried all of them. each came with a side of cooked cabbage and your choice of rice or rice with peas/beans and fried plantains. the jerk chicken wasn't too spicy but very flavorful. strong notes of thyme and, surprisingly, tomato paste. oxtail was rich and meaty. curried goat was the best though. very tender meat and excellent, greenish, curry sauce. service is down to earth and extremely helpful and kind. they also had authentic Jamaican juices and sodas. not sure if they allow alcohol though. there was a sign on the door asking customers not to curse. we had to watch ourselves a few times :) highly recommended
Tokyo Do is by far my favorite sushi in the Lehigh Valley, and I am quite the critic. I live literally next door to Sogo in Easton (which I might add is wonderful as well), so making the trip to Tokyo Do may seem to be unnecesary, but I really do appreciate Tokyo Do's style of preparation and consistency. I've gotten one or two less than standard rolls from Sogo, but never once have I received sub-par fish from Tokyo Do.
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