Top Chef Throwdown: Mike Isabella’s Graffiato vs. Spike Mendelsohn’s We, The Pizza
Washington, DC is the home to restaurants belonging to two of Top Chef’s most popular former contestants, Mike Isabella and Spike Mendelsohn, and a recent visit to the chefs’ eateries proved that one may need to pack his knives and go (sorry, I couldn’t resist). I dined at Mendelsohn’s We, The Pizza and Good Stuff Eatery and Isabella’s Graffiato and how they measured up against each other was an outcome even I hadn’t predicted. I will make the following disclaimers up front: 1. There are, obviously, a lot of variables that can factor into a...
Read MoreOff to the Races! Point-to-Point 2013
It just so happened that this year Delaware’s most elite horse race and Cinco de Mayo fell on the same day. Though seemingly unrelated, it was an excellent excuse to celebrate two traditions at once. (It is quite the sight seeing genteel, nattily dressed partygoers throwing back margaritas in the tailgating area.) For the uninitiated, there’s nothing like Point-to-Point–well, with the exception of the Kentucky Derby. Acres upon acres of Winterthur Museum’s grounds are dotted with hospitality tents (often hosted by major corporations like Mercedes-Benz and...
Read MoreTaste of the Nation Recap
True food enthusiasts are more than just eaters–they are doers and among the most generous and caring people on the planet. Sunday’s Taste of the Nation event brought foodies, chefs, philanthropists, and all-around do-gooders together in the name of ending childhood hunger. More than 16 million children live in households that struggle to put food on the table–that’s an unbelievable 1 out of 5 children. Hunger directly affects children’s academic performance and prevents them from living up to their full potential. No child in this country should be...
Read MoreThe Spring Garden Takeover: Bufad Review
In the same way Marcie Turney and partner Valerie Safran dominate 13th Street, Michael and Jeniphur Pasquarello seem poised to take over Spring Garden. The pair already own Cafe Lift and the always-busting-at-the-seams Prohibition Taproom and, now, along comes their newest venture–a pizza spot called Bufad that sits on a corner a few steps from Prohibition Taproom. Above all else, the duo should be congratulated for the ingenious idea of snagging the once-vacant spot where Bufad is now housed and creating a space to catch the overflow of patrons from Prohibition where it’s...
Read MoreFlavors of the Avenue Preview
One of the major perks of being a food writer is the scores of media passes, tickets, and invitations I get on a regular basis. Obviously, I cannot attend all of the culinary events to which I get invited, but every now and then an event so epic comes along that saying no isn’t an option. When I received an invite from Philly PR whiz Kory Aversa (of Aversa PR) to attend the Flavors of the Avenue preview, I jumped at the chance. Flavors of the Avenue is one of East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District’s (EPABID) signature events that highlights the many eateries that...
Read MoreErnest & Scott: A Downtown Gastropub with Uptown Flair
Photo courtesy of Ernest & Scott Wine lovers looking to enjoy a glass or two of vino in an elegant setting have their pick of restaurants, including Wilmington’s popular Domaine Hudson, from which to choose. But what about the discerning beer enthusiast who wishes for the same type of swank environs and upscale experience? Enter Ernest & Scott—a gastropub named for celebrated American writers and bon vivantes Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald—located in the lobby of the former Delaware Trust Building in the Rodney Square area. With much of its architectural integrity...
Read MoreWho is The Palate Princess?
Iris McCarthy is a food writer and author of the popular book Food Lovers' Guide to Philadelphia. This website is where she gets to sound off on all things culinary.