Snitch

Yea I did it. Know why? Because when you steal from the Liacouras Center, you steal from the ATrain. And that don't fly. This investigation is on-going so I will have to be as vague as possible, without giving up the CSI like details.

A couple months ago some guys were going around and scamming sweet innocent food & beverage purveyors like ourselves; posing as delivery men they said some of our products were expired on our last delivery and they were taking them back to replace during our next one. The two gentleman were amiable, dressed in uniform, and I didn't give it another thought. I only found out two weeks later when I called Accounts Receivable and we did not have a credit of any sort on our account. I smell something fishy.

We report it to la policia what had happened. About a week later some detectives come by (just like in the movies!) and my boss and I look through mugshots of some mean-muggin' individuals. They take note and go on their way.

Last week another detective comes by. Fat, sloven, donut-caked-mustache Detective Chub. We looked at some more mugshots and I accurately identified one of the perps. Turns out he confessed and they were just cross referencing the data of the DNA and projectile weapons used to commit the criminal offense...or something like that.

Needless to say it was cool to help nab 'em and I may even get to testify in court. Stay tuned.

Snitch, check.

Paesano's

I can hear the belittling jokes now..."Adam all you do is eat new types of food and write about it!" "Eww you're so fat it's disgusting!" Okay I swear I do other things besides eat at new restaurants, it's just I've been lonely after Valentine's Day and food always knows how to say I love you.

Paesano's. 152 W. Girard Ave. Another place not more than a stones throw away from my new pad, and another restaurant I've heard good things. Before I even moved into my apt. my landlord told me they make the best sandwiches he's ever eaten. Now if you've ever seen my landlord, he just has this aura about him that he's a dude who knows his sammmiches! So I trust him and eat there one day as I'm walking by.

I ordered the Gustaio which I believe had cherry tomatoes, onions, gorgonzola, lamb, and spinach. Again it was amazing! You can tell the ingredients are as fresh as they come, the spinach and tomatoes lighting up through the greasy wax paper surrounding the sammy. Quantity was perfect not too fulling but just enough to keep you upright while walking out the door.

A pleasant surprise were the staff on hand. The cook was a rough looking Italian dude who looked like he wanted to hate me, or already did. But he was as friendly as people say south philly italians usually are (juries out on this one). Made some hilarious small talk about about root beer and cream soda, and whipped up my sandwhich in less than 5 minutes.

I'm not lying to you. Every place I've eaten is fantastic and I would be happy to go back to any of them to prove it to you.

Paesano's, check.

Indian Cuisine

I admit it. I have never had anything close to authentic Indian cuisine. The closest I might've had was a Samosa here and there. It was good but nothing compared to what I experienced over the past week as I feasted on almost nothing but takeout from a spot next door called Ekta.

It started during the crazy snowstorm that many have dubbed Snopocalypse. There was nothing open (not even McDonald's) and I didn't feel like eating rigatoni with no sauce. So I checked out Ekta's review on yelp.com to see what was up. After reading many positive reviews I opted to try out the most popular dish on the site, Chicken Tikka Masala.

I cannot remember the last time I ate something this good. Of course it being Indian food, it was new and fresh to me, but it could've tasted like poo. It didn't. Coupled with rice as well as some mango chutney and raita on the side, the flavors were so rich and strong without being overpowering. The chicken was cut into thick juicy pieces and smothered in creamy tomato and onion sauce. Nothing short of amazing.

So amazing in fact that I ate there again the next night (Now I understand why you ate Indian almost every night Kenny). This time I opted for a vegetarian option to try to mix things up a bit. Upon further yelp recommendations I tried the Saag Aur Paneer. Also accompanied with rice, this homemade cottage cheese is cooked with spinach and a whole bunch of tasty. This dish wasn't as spicy as the masala but it was still creamy and delicious.

I honestly feel like trying to pick the weirdest sounding thing on their menu to see if they even know how to cook something disgusting. I doubt it though. Either way I am worried that I will now be eating there every meal until it gets warm enough for me to trek out into the snow and go grocery shopping.

Indian Cuisine, check.

Sketch Burger

Oh My Dear Lord! OMDL! I have never eaten anything that has wrestled me to the ground and forced me into submission. This burger from Sketch was the second best I have ever eaten (first belongs to Good Dog). I opted for the basics to start my cuisine career here.

An 8 oz. sirloin beef burger, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, bacon, and wasabi mayo. The toppings were endless and Sketch definitely has the upper hand when it comes to burger accessories. 7 different types of cheeses, countless toppings and exotic sauces that would make Mickey D's thousand island envious. Throw in hand cut french fries and a milk shake and you have now sealed your destiny of lying in bed motionless for three hours.

The shop itself is unassuming and quaint. Bright, multi-colored walls are practically hidden beneath patrons' drawings taped from top to bottom. The service was funny and friendly. The ideal setting for a small, build-it-yourself burger joint.

I cannot wait to go back to try the Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork sandwhich, Smashed Onion Burger, and even the vegetarian options. Albeit safely timed apart by thousands of crunches and a couple triple bypasses.

Sketch Burger, check.

Ride a Trolley

It was inevitable. No matter my direction, I had to cross her to get to work. She was old, rough, and green, much like the Irish workers she picked up every morning. Every day I was able to slip by her unnoticed, but not this day. There she was, waiting for me. And I had no choice but to step aboard.

Once inside the beast, all of my ill-conceived notions melted away. Wide walkways, roomy seats, and friendly commuters lounged this way and that. The driver even provided everyone with a stack of Metros in the front of the car. Delightful!

Now I'm not sure if it was the large coffee and Acai Berry smoothie I drank upon boarding or just the knowing feeling that every car driving by us wondered who the celebrities were upon this majestic chariot, but I had the giggles. I felt like Stephanie Tanner riding home from school to hang out with her crazy Uncle Joey.

Sadly the trip was short lived, as I exited on Broad & Girard. Before exiting I turned back to face my new found friends and saluted them. We were not regular public transportation riders, huddling in the dank underbelly of the city. No. We were a different breed. A classier breed. A trolley-er breed.

Ride a Trolley, check.

Single Living

Roughly a week ago I took the plunge. For almost every one of my 24 years on this Earth I have had a roommate. Whether it was my brother, Amy, or one of the countless college roommates, I've never been able to do naked push ups in peace and quiet. Now the time has come!

I was curious to live by myself. I had heard good things from people who had done it before and I felt that I would enjoy it as well. Not to mention my time may be running out for single living (as I am a hot commodity on the hot-philly-celeb-singles list).

I found a 1 bedroom in Fishtown, on Girard Ave. A couple blocks East of the Girard el stop, the apt. is convenient, cheap (650 a month, including utilities & internet), and in a more low key location than my previous homes in the Gayborhood and Chinatown.

The only conceivable downside so far is that I don't have a lot of things. For example I brought zero groceries from my old place, 1 set of cutlery, 1 old Jewish woman's plate, and a red spatula my grandmother put in my Christmas stocking. Now this isn't necessarily bad, and I have been able to get around this issue by having roommates before, but now my simple living style and it's flaws have been exposed.

The lack of dinnerware forced me to get creative, or desperate depending on how you look at it. Pots have become my cereal bowls and to make pancakes I needed to use 16 tablespoons in place of a measuring cup. But dammit if I didn't make some good flapjacks.

Sure my apartment needs a few more items, but on the bright side I have a whole lot of floor space for my naked push ups.

Single living, check.