Tuesday, September 25, 2007
More soul food
Kurt Blumenau from The Morning Call notified me that Jaffe's Soul Food opened in the former Southampton Fish and Chips restaurant in Easton. I'm not exactly sure where this is, so I'd welcome word from any feet on the Easton streets. Similarly, I noticed that the fish and chips place (also Southampton?) on E. Fourth Street, Southside Bethlehem (just east of Nawab) appeared closed when I walked by two weeks ago. Anyone know the skinny?
Sunday, September 23, 2007
MIA, but still eating
Dear loyal readers, foodies and friends,
Despite my prolonged absence from posting, I've still been monitoring and sampling the Lehigh Valley's ethnic food scene. I hope you enjoy these four new posts:
Despite my prolonged absence from posting, I've still been monitoring and sampling the Lehigh Valley's ethnic food scene. I hope you enjoy these four new posts:
- A rant about the Readers' Choice Awards in The Morning Call
- Assorted news and notes from the restaurant scene
- Reviews of Francisco's and Cali Burrito.
(Stupid) Readers' Choice
The Morning Call's "2007 Readers' Choice" insert in Sunday's paper again showed how ignorant and unsophisticated the Lehigh Valley can be despite the progress in the area's restaurant scene. Among the top vote-getters:
- Dessert: Friendly's. As if it's tough to scoop ice cream, douse it with high-fructose-corn-syrup-ladened toppings and candy chunks, then cover it in whipped cream. Everything else there is massed produced. Real original.
- Ethnic Cuisine: Don Pablo's. It's a chain, people. It's as American as McDonald's. Runner up: Wegman's. An "A" for breadth, a "C+" for quality. And could The Morning Call list a more ambiguous category anyway?
- Indian Restaurant, One of the best: Aladdin. It's not even Indian! It's Middle Eastern. Duh! This is the second year in a row that Aladdin has won this dubious honor despite serving no tandoori, vindaloo, or tikka masala!
- Mexican Restaurant (local): Don Pablo's. See two entries up. To me, local means locally owned, not the fact that it's in Whitehall. With all the good authentic options (Mexicana Grill, Blue Cactus, Amigo Mio, La Lupita and others), it's a damn shame that Don Pablo's is even considered.
- Salads: Applebee's. Maybe Applebee's should win this category in every major market it operates. Pistachio would have been a logical choice here -- best salad selection in the Valley.
- Vegetarian Cuisine, One of the best: Olive Garden. Granted, there aren't a lot of vegetarian options since The Green Cafe closed. Why even list Olive Garden when any other Italian place would qualify and serve better, healthier food?
Ethnic restaurant news
Here are some updates on various restaurant locations in the Lehigh Valley.
- The Rock, which I wrote about here, appears to be closed. A note on the door thanks patrons for their support, but offers no guidance as to the establishment's future.
- I've been told that the Southside Bethlehem site formerly inhabited by The Dancing Fish has been reincarnated as a new sushi restaurant. My informant (thanks, Tracey!) said the decor was updated and the sushi was average -- nothing creative like Sogo or Robata. Still, it's worth a lunchtime jaunt across the Fahy Bridge to check out.
- An Irish restaurant, Molly Brannigans , is slated to open on the ground level of Farr's, Broad and New in Bethlehem. (Read Matt Assad's story here.) Molly's is an Erie-based chain. The Bethlehem location will be its sixth. Get ready for some corned beef boil and fisherman's pie! (Hey, everything tastes good with a Guinness.)
Salvadorian in Bethlehem
Francisco's Salvadoreno Restaurant
100 East Broad Street, Bethlehem
(610) 866-3556
With the demise of the Kim Chee Express on the corner of Broad and Center streets, downtown Bethlehem has been down a quality ethnic eatery. The most recent iteration at this venue, Francisco's, brings a new genre of food in the Lehigh Valley -- Salvadorian. As you might expect from the Central American location of San Salvador, Salvadorian cuisine has much in common with the Latin-style restaurants that have become prominent in our region.
My recent lunchtime visit to Franscisco's was acceptable, but not great. The owner and staff were friendly and attentive. I ordered fish filet with rice red beans. The white fish, lightly floured and sauteed, was slightly overcooked and had lost some of its flakiness. The rice and means more than compensated. I believe the rice was spiked with butter, though my server claimed it was not. (I know butter when I taste it, though!) And the beans were tender and tasty, served amid a succulent sauce that complemented the rice.
Other menu items appear appetizing. A traditional breakfast (two eggs, mixed rice/beans, plaintain, sour cream, grilled beef and tortillas) would likely satisfy my hunger for days. Several dishes feature pupusas, a stuffed, handmade tortilla that's as Salvadorian as the hot dog is American. Several steak, shrimp and pork options round out the entrees, as well as Mexican-style items like burritos and fajitas.
On an encouraging note: the restaurant filled to about 2/3 of its 10-12 table capacity during my visit. It's good to see people supporting locally owned ethnic eateries. I hope to support Francisco's again and try something that will be worthy of praise.
100 East Broad Street, Bethlehem
(610) 866-3556
With the demise of the Kim Chee Express on the corner of Broad and Center streets, downtown Bethlehem has been down a quality ethnic eatery. The most recent iteration at this venue, Francisco's, brings a new genre of food in the Lehigh Valley -- Salvadorian. As you might expect from the Central American location of San Salvador, Salvadorian cuisine has much in common with the Latin-style restaurants that have become prominent in our region.
My recent lunchtime visit to Franscisco's was acceptable, but not great. The owner and staff were friendly and attentive. I ordered fish filet with rice red beans. The white fish, lightly floured and sauteed, was slightly overcooked and had lost some of its flakiness. The rice and means more than compensated. I believe the rice was spiked with butter, though my server claimed it was not. (I know butter when I taste it, though!) And the beans were tender and tasty, served amid a succulent sauce that complemented the rice.
Other menu items appear appetizing. A traditional breakfast (two eggs, mixed rice/beans, plaintain, sour cream, grilled beef and tortillas) would likely satisfy my hunger for days. Several dishes feature pupusas, a stuffed, handmade tortilla that's as Salvadorian as the hot dog is American. Several steak, shrimp and pork options round out the entrees, as well as Mexican-style items like burritos and fajitas.
On an encouraging note: the restaurant filled to about 2/3 of its 10-12 table capacity during my visit. It's good to see people supporting locally owned ethnic eateries. I hope to support Francisco's again and try something that will be worthy of praise.
Goodness wrapped in a tortilla
Cali Burrito (website)
3104 Hamilton Blvd., Allentown
(610) 351-1791
The online Urban Dictionary refers to a Cali Burrito as a "delicious and mythical burrito found in Mexican eateries." After two experiences at this new Allentown establishment, I can attest that the fare is anything but mythical and certainly qualifies as delicious. (Perhaps transcendent?)
The ambiance of Cali Burrito calls to mind the casual and laid-back attitude of the Golden State's surfing scene. (In fact, the take out menu features a stylized burrito coolly navigating a wave.) There's no pretense here; just good food served quickly.
I've tried the Cambria (grilled veggies, black beans, brown rice, guac and cheese) and the Old Monterey (chicken black beans, rice, cheese and guac.) Both were chock full of goodness -- an entire meal wrapped in a steamed tortilla. The Humboldt, another vegetarian option, has smoked tofu. Steak, pork and ground beef round out the available meats. Accompaniments -- free with any burrito or taco -- include pico de gallo, lettuce, cabbage, jalepenos, cilantro and fire roasted ranchero sauce. In addition, three homemade salsas were available: tomatillo, tomato and a wonderful mango salsa. Homemade chips were toothsome and fulfilling.
Also worth noting is the restaurant's focus on sustainability. They claim to use environmentally friendly sugar cane plates and "plasticware," local organic produce in season and organic coffee. As if I needed something more to like.
3104 Hamilton Blvd., Allentown
(610) 351-1791
The online Urban Dictionary refers to a Cali Burrito as a "delicious and mythical burrito found in Mexican eateries." After two experiences at this new Allentown establishment, I can attest that the fare is anything but mythical and certainly qualifies as delicious. (Perhaps transcendent?)
The ambiance of Cali Burrito calls to mind the casual and laid-back attitude of the Golden State's surfing scene. (In fact, the take out menu features a stylized burrito coolly navigating a wave.) There's no pretense here; just good food served quickly.
I've tried the Cambria (grilled veggies, black beans, brown rice, guac and cheese) and the Old Monterey (chicken black beans, rice, cheese and guac.) Both were chock full of goodness -- an entire meal wrapped in a steamed tortilla. The Humboldt, another vegetarian option, has smoked tofu. Steak, pork and ground beef round out the available meats. Accompaniments -- free with any burrito or taco -- include pico de gallo, lettuce, cabbage, jalepenos, cilantro and fire roasted ranchero sauce. In addition, three homemade salsas were available: tomatillo, tomato and a wonderful mango salsa. Homemade chips were toothsome and fulfilling.
Also worth noting is the restaurant's focus on sustainability. They claim to use environmentally friendly sugar cane plates and "plasticware," local organic produce in season and organic coffee. As if I needed something more to like.
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