Music Issue: Eats and Cheats

Columnist Caitlin Weigel explores the marriage of mealtime and music at places like Johnny Brenda’s. In my mind, food and music seem to be linked together, like Mary Kate and Ashley circa 1993 when they were still singing about selling their brother. In many major aspects of my life, food and music combine and provide [...]

Pretzels become newfound love

Columnist Caitlin Weigel explores a passion for iconic soft pretzels. I don’t consider myself a soft pretzel-lover. I’m never going to list it under “interests” on any social-media profile. In an ice-breaker game, I will never claim it as my favorite food. Should my life take a dramatic turn and I end up on death row, [...]

Scouting sweet treats

The only mushy aspect of my Valentine’s Day is going to be moist cake and icing blending together in my mouth. Despite your feelings on the “big V,” I think we can all get behind an excuse to eat sweets. Whether you chose to feed it to your beau while listening to Marvin Gaye, sob [...]

Handheld foods eaten with ease

Columnist Caitlin Weigel enjoys eating with her hands during a trip to Abyssinia. Does anyone else ever think about how violent forks are? They have all those spiky prongs jutting out, just waiting to puncture an upper thigh or stake an eyeball. Knives fall into that category, too. And spoons, though they look innocent compared [...]

Starr power

Restauranteer Stephen Starr said he doesn’t plan to open any more restaurants in Philadelphia. Last year, Starr opened six restaurants, and now operates a total of 19 in the city. Granite Hill September 2011 Stephen Starr’s upscale Granite Hill eatery sits on the ground floor of the Philadelphia Art Museum, providing a French dining option [...]

Sustainable eats

Slow Food Philly released its first batch of “Snail Approved” restaurants, breweries and markets that are furthering Slow Food’s mission. Jennifer Prensky and her husband Mitch Prensky follow the food supply chain to their restaurant on South Street, Supper, pretty closely. Each weekday, Mitch Prensky travels to their farm in Newtown Square, approximately 20 miles [...]

Gelato gains global recognition as No. 1 ice cream spot

Capogiro, a four-store gelato chain in Philadelphia, was dubbed the No. 1 place for ice cream in the world by “National Geographic.” According to “National Geographic,” Philadelphia should be celebrated for more than just its cheesesteaks. Among Argentina, Jamaica and nine other hot spots around the world, the magazine recently gave Philly’s Capogiro Gelato the [...]

Comfort foods satisfy

A trip to Stephen Starr’s Jones induces a nostalgic realization about comfort food. Comfort is defined as something that soothes or consoles us–that brings us reassurance, relief or consolation. Comfort is a state of ease and satisfaction of bodily wants, unconstrained by pain or anxiety. And though there are some things that stray from this [...]

Sketch burger satisfies

Columnist Caitlin Weigel checks out Sketch Burger, and describes her long overdue reunion with meat. Welcome back dear reader to the Philly foodie kitchen adventure known as “Eats & Cheats.” I hope your summer was superb, full of prosciutto wrapped melon balls, watermelon, feta salads and never-ending pitchers of sangria. But there are things far [...]

Cheating restaurant prices with cheap homemade recipes

Columnist Caitlin Weigel is back with her guide to  recreating restaurant dishes in the comfort of your own home. Before we go any further in this column, there are a few things you should know about me right off the bat. No. 1: While the old adage says diamonds are a girl’s best friend, I [...]

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