Goodbye Pif

Pif is one of our favorite restaurants in the city. We first went just over a year ago for my birthday. I loved the food and atmosphere so much both at Pif and Ansill (where we ate a few weeks later for Karen’s birthday) that I decided I wanted to work in either. I introduced myself to some of the people at both restaurants and soon after got a call to see if I could start work.

I started off at Ansill but soon after I started help was needed at Pif and I moved down there. Very convenient because it’s just a half-block away from my apartment. Over the past year I’ve been learning what I can about french food and getting to know the regulars. It’s pretty amazing how many regulars there are for a restaurant so small. I’m sure they’re all very dissapointed to find out that it’s closing after 6 years.

The short version is that David Ansill (the chef) wants to focus more on Ansill, his newer restaurant. I’m not going to get maudlin and spend the rest of the post being sad, but instead point you to my collection of Pif photos (click on the photo to the left). Enjoy and goodbye Pif!

Italian Bakeries in South Philly

I’ve been promising this post for a long time. It was pretty damn annoying to write the whole thing and have wordpress somehow lose it in the ether between here and there. So this post, while written with love and tenderness, is going to be a bit shorter than originally planned. What follows are some personal experiences and photos about four amazing bakeries right here in South Philly…

(that’s my mom outside of Termini, HI MOM!)

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Café Lutécia

The distance between Matt’s place and 23rd and Lombard is quite a hike (especially in this ongoing winter weather). But I only had one thing on my mind when i woke up on my day off. Cafe Lutecia!


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Over the Horizons Philadelphia

Horizons Philadelphia
611 S. 7th Street
Philadelphia, Pa 19147
215·923·6117

Vegan just got a lot cooler. Looking for a way to get gourmet with your vegan lifestyle? Check out Horizons Philadelphia. Appetizers that take you on a journey from simple olive tasting in Northern Italy to an exquisite Yucatan chopped spinach salad tantalizing the taste buds and perfectly presented. My first 3 visits allowed me the opportunity to sample almost the entire menu. Portions are medium sized but packed with flavor and zest. The staff is warm and inviting and the setting is simple yet attractive.

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Vietnamese Hoagies

Vietnamese Hoagies (wikipedia) are one of my favorite sandwiches. I’m lucky enough to live in a location central to the three South Philly cafés that make them!

More info and pics after the jump!

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Shank’s and Evelyn’s

Shank’s and Evelyn’s (google maps) is the quintessential South Philly Experience.

I’d heard about it from a couple of people a while back but didn’t know exactly where it was. When i was recently reminded of it and realized it was just two short blocks away i decided to stop in with Karen for some breakfast. As you can see in the photo Shank’s has a sweet old RC Cola sign outside and not much more.

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New Harmony Bakery

It was bitter cold today in Philly but Karen and I decided to have an adventurous day anyhoo. We walked straight north with our minds set on visiting Chinatown. Just as it was getting too cold to talk we ducked into The Curtis Center to check out the Dream Garden Mosaic, a famous piece of Philadelphia art that chef made reference to a while back. It was gorgeous and intricate as promised, but most importantly a brief respite from the cold.

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