The Detroit Foodie

Lemme preface this posting by saying this will be one of my longest (but definitely worth reading) reviews, and hopefully it’ll get you in the roadtrip spirit!

What started off as an awesome idea for a roadtrip, came to fruition this past weekend as my friend and i took a 10+ hour drive thru the rain, construction zones, mountains, farmland and traffic on our foodie quest to Philadelphia!

This walkable city is filled with historic landmarks, beautiful parks, modern architecture, lovely museums, reliable public transit, and most importantly: fantastic food finds!

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Halfway thru our trip, we stopped in Pittsburgh for lunch at La Gourmandine - a fantastic French Bakery & Pastry Shop located in the eclectic neighborhood of Lawrenceville. I almost gave up finding this place after getting lost in the plethora of intersecting dowtown streets, crossing the wrong bridge and having a difficult time navigating thru the pouring rain. Was it worth it? Most definitely!

La Gourmandine sells AMAZING little sweets (just look at the pics of the chocolate mousse, cream puff, and pear tart above), fresh baked breads, and lovely sandwiches! I ordered the Le Montagnard sandwich made with excellent prosciutto, crunchy cornichons and a perfect spread of butter, all served on a fresh baked baguette!

Excellent sandwich + lovely desserts = a deeeeeelish lunch!

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By the time we got to Philly it was already time for dinner. The city has soooo many dining choices, but which one to choose? Zahav for Israeli cuisine or maybe Amada for some Spanish inspired tapas? We decided to check out Buddakan, an Asian fusion restaurant & lounge (pictured above) with lovely decor & great food!

Edamame Ravioli: This dim sum inspired dish was all around scrumptious!

Hot & Sour Scallops: Nicely seared with a great harmony of bold flavors - loved it!

Vegetable Rice: A tasty medley of veggies & rice, with a somewhat overpowering coconut curry cream foam.

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After recovering from the previous day’s sedentary journey, we spent nearly all of Day 2 on our feet exploring the City of Brotherly Love!

We started out by the riverwalk (aka Penn’s Landing), then taking the subway over to Penn Museum (four floors of Anthropological exhibits - including a full sized Egyptian temple), going on a walking tour of the city and taking in sites like the LIberty Bell, Independence Hall, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Christ Church, Elfreth’s Alley and….drum roll please….dining at some fabulous food finds along the way.

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Lunch at Reading Terminal: Sensory overload! This indoor market is crammed with a medley of vendors selling everything from Philly cheese steaks to freshly cured meats, cheeses, produce, seafood, Amish baked goods, and much more.

Termini Bros - From a distance i saw them filling the Cannolis with freshly made ricotta, so i figured i HAD to order one. The verdict: just okay!

Salumeria - Go here either for a freshly made Italian sandwich or a sampling of some of their cheeses & cured meats!

Hershel’s Eastside Deli - Fresh hunks of juicy smoked corned beef filled the air as i anxiously waited for my order. The guys behind the counter were working with utmost precision in cutting, stacking and wrapping the countless orders of pastrami sandwiches. The result, an overall tasty & satisfying sandwich (see below)!

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Dinner at Morimoto: This was the main reason for our Philly roadtrip & it was worth every mile getting here & every dollar spent - one of the best meals of my life!

Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto definitely lives up to his name. The whole dining experience exceeded my expectations, between the amazing decor, excellent service, lovely drinks, and incredible food!

To truly immerse myself in the Morimoto experience, i decided to go the Iron Chef tasting route where i ordered hot & cold appetizers, an entree, dessert, & a drink!

Cilantro Gimlet: Citron + Lime + Cilantro = a refreshing & lovely dinner cocktail!

Kakuni: 10 hour braised pork belly with hot rice porridge -absolutely phenomenal!

Inaniwa Udon: Chilled wheat noodles with grated ginger and dashi-shoyu sauce for dipping - all around perfection!

Black Cod Miso: Perfectly cooked, deliciously crispy skin, with complex & delicate layers of flavor - the Su Miso mustard, licorice, & sweet beans created a surprising and well balanced harmony of flavors, masterfully done!

Yuzu Meringue Tart: Yuzu custard, fresh mangos, and raspberries made this Pagoda looking dessert a perfect ending to our Iron Chef dining experience!

Bonus: Morimoto’s second floor serves as a sushi lounge for informal dining!

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Sadly our foodie journey was coming to a close, and our final day in Philly could not have ended any better: sunny skies, comfortable temperatures, and great food finds!

Lunch at Kanella: This Cypriotic restaurant was a definite highlight on our foodie trip! The cuisine of Cyprus is a cross between Middle Eastern & Greek, using ingredients such as Lamb, Peppers, Zatar, Pistachios, and Haloumi in many signature dishes.

Soumada: A cold & refreshing almond based drink - lovely!

Smoked Mackerel: Perfectly tender & smokey - overall fantastic!!!

Pikla: Pickled medley of vegetables in a mustard based brine - really tasty!

Shaksouka: Two eggs poached in a cumin scented tomato and pepper stew served with grilled bread - a great hearty dish!

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Capogiro Gelato = Buonisimo! Magnifico! Delicioso!

If you hear me speaking Italian, it’s def THAT authentic! I’m willing to say Capogiro sells THE BEST GELATO!!! After sampling about 10 different gelatos (i couldn’t make up my mind & the toasted pistachio was a close call) i finally decided on the Pesca Bianca & Yellow Plum - refreshing, delicate, and tasty! Capogiro captures the essence and flavor of each ingredient, all in an creamy gelato form.

This was a perfect ending to our foodie inspired Philly roadtrip, grazie mille!

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