Philly in a day... Photo Essay

Reading Terminal Market

Dutching Eating Place's Apple Turn Over

Dutch Eating Place's Open Face Turkey Sandwich

Dinic's Oven Roasted Pork

Dinic's Pulled Pork Sandwich with Broccoli Rabe

Independence Hall

 Liberty Bell

Frozen yogurt on a cold day

 Jim's Philly Cheesesteak

 

Townhall

Veselka

My favorite movie about New York City before I moved east was definitely Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. A quintessential coming-of-age movie that is as much about the city as it is about the characters. The perspective of the shots, how New York looks from the inside of a taxi cab or conversations on a sidewalk with endless people passing by, make the city as much a character as Kat Dennings or Michael Cera.

The city gives the characters a whooping before all conflicts come to a resolution... where? Veselka Restaurant (where the story was originally penned) on the corner of 9th and 2nd. This eastern European diner, open 24 hours a day, is cranking out great breakfast foods as well as Ukrainian specialties like pierogis and borscht. 

On my visit, I obviously had to get what Norah got! "Another meat plate! Keep them coming!"

MEAT PLATE $13.95 - 2 Meat, 2 Potato Pierogi; 1 Meat Stuffed Cabbage w/ sour cream, beet & horseradish salad, caramelized onions

The meat plate was very delicious, especially after a late night. Meaty stuffed cabbage and pierogis smothered in sour cream, spicy beet spread and caramelized onions really hit the spot on a late sunday breakfast. While everyone around us enjoyed french toast and pancakes, three messy haired smudged eyed girls stuffed their face with protein, carbs, and cream.

 Matzoh Ball Soup & Ukrainian Borscht

Each plate comes with salad and soup; I had the borscht because of my obsession with beets. No brainer in my opinion. My friend had the matzoh ball soup which I thought wasn't as good as Katz's Delicatessen matzoh ball soup but still tasty. Veselka and another famous greasy diner, Eisenberg's Sandwich Shop in the Flatiron district, both use chicken stock as the base to their matzoh ball soup. Katz's uses a darker beef stock I believe. I prefer the heavy stock with my fluffy light matzoh balls.

'wichcraft

It's lunchtime in New York and the daily turmoil of choosing what to eat is a true dilemma. Dozens of restaurants are within walking distance and even more are willing to deliver straight to your office. A favorite of mine would have to be 'wichcraft.

Though probably not the biggest bang for your buck, 'wichcraft makes up for it in the quality of their ingredients and the consistently good flavors in their food. It's no wonder 'wichcraft produces delicious food with Tom Colicchio as a co-owner of the sandwich shop with partners Sisha Ortuzar and Jeffrey Zurofsky. Top Chef is one of my favorite shows and I've been to a couple of Tom's restaurants in NYC already. Now I'm waiting for the weather to warm up so I can eat at Riverpark, Tom's farm-to-table restaurant along the east river (post to come in Spring/Summer). Now nine years since they started 'wichcraft, there are over a dozen 'wichcraft locations in New York as well as storefronts in San Francisco and Las Vegas.

'wichcraft sandwiches ($5-10)

Their slow-roasted pork sandwich is fantastic. The fatty pork is balanced by the slightly crisp sour red cabbage slaw. With the heat from the jalapeno and the sharpness of the mustard, it is just a delicious and deceivingly filling sandwich for it's size. Finish off lunch with a little creamwich ($1); a dollop of flavored cream sandwiched between two crisp little cookie wafers. With several flavors to choose from, mine was chocolate chip cookie with vanilla bean cream, one will definitely fit your taste.

Margon Restaurant

There are more than 20,000 restaurants in New York City. Some are really great; they usually come with a hefty price tag. That doesn't always have to be the case.  If you look carefully, there are great places to eat in New York all the time. Times Square is not a neighborhood synonymous with good food. It's filled with the usually chain restaurants and tourist traps that we try to avoid. But tucked away mere meters away from the hustle and bustle of Broadway and the glowing lights and crowded sidewalks of Times Square is Margon.

Margon Restaurant on 46th St between 6th and 7th Avenues

This tiny Cuban restaurant caters to the lunchtime rush. The fast service and low prices has no influence on the food. Their flavorful daily specials and amazing sandwiches are a testament to their continual effort to produce great affordable food for the fast-paced New York lunch crowd. I had the Cubano during my visit and could not have been more happy or satisfied. The ham was salty goodnes, the juicy roasted pork was perfectly complemented with the melted Swiss cheese and the sour crunch of the pickles. I've had a few cuban sandwiches in my time and Margon's easily tops the list.

Margon's Cubano Sandwich ($5.50)