Notes from the Weekend: December 16

Notes from the Weekend is a feature that sees the members of Team Meal Ticket compiling all the food/drink highlights uncovered during prime eatin' time, Friday to Sunday. We'd love to hear all about YOUR weekend eating adventures in the comments. Go for it! (View past NFTW installments at citypaper.net/notes.)

Adam Erace: AE

Caroline Russock: CR

You know it must be Christmas... Friday I found myself at the Deptford Mall, Saturday at the Cherry Hill Mall, which meant, after not having an Auntie Ann's pretzel in, like, 11 years, I had two in two nights. No cinnamon sugar shit. Just butter and salt. I forgot how frigging delicious they are, and now those greasy, doughy twists are all I can think about. Also copped a Red Mango smoothie, which was frosty and fruity and only like 200 calories, offsetting my pretzel binge.—AE

After a late lunch at Peppercorn in Wayne I wasn't really feeling dinner. Instead I
played at home bartender with a few rounds of bourbon cocktails including a take on a Gold Rush with fresh tangerine juice, Heaven Hill and honey and a few bourbon Negronis.—CR

Saturday I also managed dinner at Uncle Oogie's down the West Passyunk way. The minestrone was legit, the pizzazz too doughy, the Boli Buns awesome as usual and the wax paper sack of sugar cookies (baked by the cashier) were no lie, the best cookies I think I've ever eaten. Someone promote that woman.—AE

Cravings are oftentimes inexplicable, like, say, the time when you wake up the only thing that makes sense is mediocre sushi.Thanks so the wonderful enabler that is Grub Hub there was no need to get off the couch to make those Philadelphia rolls a reality with delivery from Habachi 2 Go. After hibernating all day we got it together and headed up to Voyeur to see Factory Floor. The fact that Sailor Jerry cocktails were on special was (as it always it) a treacherous situation because does anyone really need to have that many rum and cokes?—CR

After not having cooked in like two weeks, I finally checked into the kitchen for dinner on Sunday. I grilled off some Border Springs lamb chops I'd been marinated in garlic, sage, olive oil, red wine vinegar and tangerine, and paired them up with roasted cauliflower drizzled with lemon vinaigrette and a sick salad of heirlooms, persimmon, celery and blue cheese. It felt healthy and satisfying. My body was confused.—AE

Rum and coke recovery Sunday involved not too much during the day. Come dinner time we made our way out to Distrito for a couple of micheladas, queso fundido with braised duck, al pastor tacos and an order of their always amazing nachos.—CR