I like to write. I like food. I like to write about food. This is where you’ll find the rantings of a true food enthusiast.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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)...
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...
read moreA Pro Kitchen Store for the Amateur Home Cook
Dave McCormick is one of those food enthusiasts with whom you can get lost in an hour-long conversation about everything from the proper sweetness-to-acidity ratio of balsamic vinegar to his personal love of cookware. His store, Pro Kitchen Gear, is located in tony Greenville—just minutes from Wilmington and is equivalent to foodie nirvana. Geared toward the discerning home cook, the store’s carefully curated shelves are stocked with renowned brands like Emile Henry and Mauviel—brands that send any gastronome’s heart into...
read moreOn the Road to Damascus with True Blue Mediterranean Cafe
As a true food enthusiast, I’m always on the hunt for interesting places to eat. Holes-in-the-wall, dive-y spots, hidden gems–those are the kinds of places I’m drawn to. A couple of weeks ago, the most intense craving for Mediterranean food hit me and, for me, once a craving hits there’s no satiating it with a substitute. It was Mediterranean I craved so it was Mediterranean I sought. As I sat in the car debating to which one of my tried-and-true spots I should head, I decided that I didn’t want to trek all the...
read moreOn the Road Again: A Weekend at Fairville Inn
As I mentioned in an earlier post, this weekend was about food, food and more food. I was in town for the MidAtlantic Wine and Food Festival and had the opportunity to stay at Fairville Inn in Chadds Ford, PA not far from Delaware’s border. In the true spirit of confessing, I must admit I am a bit obsessed with B&Bs; I much prefer them over standard hotels. It may be a combination of the intimate service and the often times interesting backstories of the properties themselves that make me swoon. Whatever it is, I have found a new...
read moreMidAtlantic Wine and Food Festival Recap
This weekend was an embarrassment of riches; it was one of those truly indulgent weekends in which all my activities–and I mean all–centered around food. Needless to say, there is no other way I’d care to spend my time. As a native Delawarean, I was thrilled to attend the MidAtlantic Wine and Food Festival—a 4-day event with over 40 demos, lectures, and dinners that span the entire length of the state. While there were plenty of celebrity chef appearances and collaborations, the festival focused on local chefs who are...
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.