Midtown Lunch

• A compliation of turkey frying gone wild videos [I09]
• Luke’s lobster grilled cheese is appropriately lobster filled [22nd and Philly]
• Cucina Zapata truck is still delivering quality fusion food [Penn Appetit]
• Turbacon vs turducken sandwich at Jake’s Sandwich board [Serious Eats]

The Shining Star restaurant serves Puerto Rican food in North Philly. I couldn’t help comparing this visit to when I ate at Freddy and Tony’s, who serve amazing Puerto Rican food one mile north, especially since we ordered similarly (fried things +pork). Note that there are two menus, one in English and one in Spanish. If your food Spanish is halfway decent, stick with that menu, since the English translations were confusing.

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• Laban approves of the chicken and vegetable stew served by Le Pain Quotidien but wishes it was bigger [Philly.com]
• Bacon cube topped burgers are available in Tokyo, like as a sushi palatte cleanser [A Hamburger Today]
• Curry chicken banh mi is a winner at Street Food Philly Struck [Penn Appetit]
• A taco comparison betwen Shifty’s Taco and Union Taco [Foobooz]

My favorite little sister moved to Atlanta for grad school this year. I got to visit her recently, and was able to rekindle my love for fattening, Southern food. Philly has so much to offer, but we really haven’t nailed that Southern thing yet.

This first picture was taken at The Silver Skillet (200 14th St NW), which looks essentially like how I picture all old Southern diners.

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Though we have been lacking volunteers lately, on certain Tuesdays we turn over the site to a different lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Philadelphia. This week it’s Josh, author and playwright of No Reservations.

Name: Josh

Age: 42

Occupation: Macho survival dude and all around cool guy (also author of the Worst-Case Scenario Survial handbook series, and most recetly, playwright-No Reservations)

Where in Philly do you Work?: Penn/University City

Favorite Kind of Food: Japanese

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Anything I didn’t kill myself. Also, beets.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Philly:  When I’m not wrestling alligators or fighting off sharks, I tend to swing by Mama’s Falafel and Honeygrow. I also stopped by Agno at 21st and Chestnut two weeks ago and really liked it: the wild-caught local hummus was great. And quinoa builds muscle mass.

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Today Luncher John is having Ethiopian for Lunch 

On 20th Street, between Walnut and Sansom, is the rather unassuming Almaz Café. Nothing from its exterior or even the inside would immediately indicate that Almaz was anything more than just a small coffee shop. And it’s certainly true that Almaz, open from 8 a.m. during weekdays, has a wide selection of coffee, espresso, and mocha drinks. But it’s not until you check out the menu that you realize that Almaz offers a whole lot more, from breakfast dishes, to sandwiches, to some solid Ethiopian food.

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Photo Courtesy of Penn Appetit

• BrazBQ truck’s steak sandwich impresses red meat lovers [Penn Appetit]
• Zagat has a guide to their favorite 8 Asian noodle soups, perfect for winter [Zagat]
• I think this might actually work out for the doomed spot, Aqua is coming to 15th and Sansom [The Inquirer]
• Sassafras has a new, affordable weekday lunch menu i.e. ostrich burgers [Foobooz]
• Luke’s lobster now has a lobster grilled cheese [Foobooz]