Christine Olmsted's Page

We’re Gonna Come Right Out And Say It: BOBBY FLAY GO HOME

“Hey guys, are you sure? Because I’d REALLY like to bro down with all of my cool bros on the Penn campus. Gimme some up top!” There are those among us who would say that Bobby Flay, celebrity chef and probable inspiration for the male half of the “Two A-Holes” skits on Saturday Night Live, knows [...]

Village Whiskey

Bourbon and burgers have long been two of my favorite food groups. But when I behold them side-by-side in their highest forms, posed on the zinc bar-top at Village Whiskey, it's clear this duo is the ultimate height of low-down American decadence.

Drink

Gazing among the many spirit wonders at Village Whiskey, my eyes settle on the smallest of bottles and a curious pedigree: bourbon from New York?

O Christmas cookies!

At 33d and Arch one afternoon last week, in the sixth-floor precincts of Drexel University's student-run Academic Bistro (can someone please hotten up that name?), the platters of Christmas cookies - chocolate stars and pliable brittles and blond men redolent of ginger - reposed patiently, awaiting their audience.

Village Whiskey

Star chef Jose Garces has raised the "bar" high, with a corner saloon that turns out Philly's best burger in a drinker's paradise outfitted with a stunning wall of whiskey and serious mixologists working cocktail magic. But good luck getting in. The oddly designed little space coupled with the no-reservation policy makes it convenient only for small parties at off hours. At other times, expect hour-plus waits for what is otherwise a singular burger-bourbon fix.

Joe Sixpack: Holiday cheer with some wintry beer?

ENTERTAIN at home? What could I have been thinking about in last week's column when I shared all those cockamamie tips for celebrating the holidays at home?

Make The Most Of That Meal

Let’s face it, with the holiday season in full swing, our wallets are feeling a little tight. A great way to stretch those dollars even further is to create meals with leftovers in mind. This flank steak two ways from goodLife {eats} will not only help you woo that Friday night date, but makes for [...]

Sandwich Bites: Flay throws down at UPenn, Ampersandwich, Torta Dinners, and Smoked Pastrami

• Last year rumors swirled of Bobby Flay officially throwing down his fast casual burger joint at the University of Pennsylvania. In a recent interview Flay confirms that his next location will indeed take root at a Pennsylvania university. [Grub Street Philadelphia] • Stuff this in our stocking: Ampersandwich Tee [Simplebits] • El Camino Real’s new chef [...]

Serious About Sandwiches? Unbreaded Is Looking For Contributors

Are you passionate about sandwiches?  Do you love making them, discovering them, debating them, and telling your friends about them?  If you have a deep and abiding love for sandwiches that just can’t be contained, we’ve got a spot on the Unbreaded team with your name on it. As Unbreaded continues to grow, we need people [...]

Avoid Bagel Related Injuries

The bagel can be eaten many ways, with a nice schmear of cream cheese, or a delicious bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich. It’s almost as if the bagel is a spiritual food, always a mainstay along with lox and whitefish at parties celebrating a new birth, and those that bring grieving families together after a [...]

No Matter How You Cut It…

When building that perfect sandwich, the one that fills you up and satisfies you like no other, the last thing one might think twice about is cutting it in half. Most people are programmed based on how their sandwiches were cut for them at a young age. But we’ve pondered this for a long time; [...]