Pub and Kitchen

Pub and Kitchen is a very interesting restaurant. I've walked by it a few times and you can tell it's a restaurant because there are tables outside and often the windows are wide open so you can see the bar inside, but there is no sign with a name or information about the restaurant.

J ran a 10 mile race that day and I had just returned from NYC and we were both very hungry. We both just wanted to sit outside and enjoy the weather and some comfort food. We decided to just walk around the city and stumpled upon Pub and Kitchen.

Their menu is simple, but includes items like potted duck mouse, welsh rarebit and mussels. They also pride themselves on having local and organic ingredients whenever possible, which I always like to see.

Pub and Kitchen is located at 20th and Lombard Street. It's in a somewhat residential area of the city, but only a few blocks from Rittenhouse Square and all the shopping action on Walnut and Chestnut Streets. It's definitely not off the beaten path and worth a visit. They seem to be pretty busy when I walk by and have an extensive bar.

So we just had a simple lunch while sitting outside.

 J ordered a simple hamburger with house cured bacon. The bun was nicely toasted and he said the meat was cooked to perfection. I did enjoy the french fries, which were nice, warm and crisp.

 I ordered the roasted chicken with fingerling potatoes,  sauteed broccolini and chicken jus. I'm not a huge fan of chicken or meat in general. I can go weeks without eating chicken. However, this was probably some of the best chicken I've ever had. The chicken was so moist and the jus was absolutely perfect. I've never wanted more chicken in my life. I was happy to actually have some to take home, but it didn't even last until the next day as I ate it a couple of hours later.

The only type of signage on the outside of the restaurant. I have yet to find the history of why there is no sign or where the name came from.

Tequilas

J had a very long day at work and I didn't feel like cooking, so we were spontaneous and decided to check out Tequilas Restaurant. A few months ago we were eating at Misconduct Tavern and looked over and saw a man serving flights of tequila on his head. We knew we had to check it out sometime. It is located right in Center City at 15th and Locust St., near the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood.

Although Tequilas has an extensive drink menu, we decided we both just wanted a classic, well made margarita.

We were contemplating ordering an appetizer, but house made tortilla chips with salsa verde, mild salsa and a variety of peppers arrived, so we quickly settled for those. The salsa was flavorful and fresh. The tortilla chips were a little thicker than I like them, but they were warm and crispy so that didn't stop me from piling the salsa on them.

As a seafood lover I couldn't pass up the Enchiladas Playa. They were freshly made flour tortillas filled with shrimp and crabmeat. It was served with a sauce made of creamy poblano and chiptole peppers. On the side was rice and strips of vegetables. I would definitely order this meal again as it was filling, but not too heavy and was plentiful with the shrimp and crabmeat.

J ordered the Molcajete de Pollo. The server suggested this meal when J mentioned that he was very hungry because he hadn't eaten lunch. The meal was chicken breast served in a lava rock bowl that is heated in the oven. The chicken is topped with a spicy salsa that has chile de arbol. It is served with warm flour tortillas so J was able to make tortillas. It also was accompanied by guacomole, beans and rice. I'm a wimp and not a fan or spicy food, so I didn't try the main dish, but J said it was very good and he ate the entire thing. I did eat most of his guacomole though and it very creamy and fresh. I wish I could've had more of that guacomole.

I wish I could've gotten more pictures of the decor, but it was dark and my camera was dying. It was a very interesting mix between rustic, quirky and festive. Not quite like any other Mexican restaurants I've visited.

Welcome...back!

Hopefully there are some people out there still reading :) J and I had great summer experiences and I have been overwhelming busy. I spent 9 days in Port Au Prince, Haiti in June and J spent 2 months in Capetown, South Africa from June until August. We both enjoyed our experiences so much that I'm going to back to Haiti in March and J is going back to South Africa in June. Life is good!

School has started back up for both of us and we're trying to balance it all. We're still loving Philly and finding new activities and restaurants to try all the time.

Clearly I have some catching up to do with the blogging...both reading others' blogs and updating my own. Stay tuned!

Here are some of my favorite pictures from Haiti. The children brought me so much joy and I can't wait to see them again.  Every time I was outside (which was 90% of the time) they would be for me to take their photo, over and over again. They loved seeing themselves on my digital camera.