There's lots to love about the City of Brotherly Love.
I'm surprised it's taken me so long to visit Philadelphia, especially considering the drive from New York is a mere two hours. Ryan and I were itching to get away for a couple days, and we decided the Sunday and Monday of Labor Day weekend would be a good time.
We arrived in Philly around 1 p.m., checked into our hotel and headed to Reading Terminal. Since it was a Sunday, a number of the vendors were closed, but we still got a good glimpse of the market. Tempted by the freshly-sliced corned beef, we opted for a reuben from Hershel's Deli and then grabbed a cone from Bassetts. The cinnamon ice cream reminded me of making it at home when I was younger.
That night, we had reservations at Morimoto and ordered the omakase menu, or the chef's multi-course tasting option. Wow. I dined at the chef's New York restaurant three years ago and was blown away. The plates were just as beautiful and tasted just as good.
On Labor Day, I suppose we were feeling a bit patriotic after touring Independence Hall, so we stopped by City Tavern, a restaurant that maintains the customs and food of 18th Century America. I tried shrub (a fruit vinegar) mixed with rum, and Ryan went for a Thomas Jefferson 1774 ale.
Of course, we couldn't leave Philadelphia without eating the obvious: a cheesesteak. Bypassing the Geno's and Pat's rivalry, we traveled to the city's outskirts and visited Dalessandro's. If I'm being completely honest, I have to admit that I prefer 99 Miles to Philly in New York. I'm all about authenticity, but good food is good food, right?
Glad there's such a thing as free speech. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to Phil you in.
