Notes from the Weekend: January 28

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. Adam took the weekend off so it's just caroline chiming in this week. 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

After a work party at Dave & Busters (why not have a mai tai, a beer and a gin and tonic, right?) I made my way down an absolutely freezing Columbus Boulevard to family dinner at Fork. As usual the Fork crew made the meal more than memorable with tiny bialys, smoked trout caviar, chicken nuggets, stuffed quail, plate after plate of gorgeous pastas, a killer ribeye, a deconstructed root beer float and an amazing sticky date pudding from the dessert menu at High Street. Honestly, I cannot wait to see what's going to happen at a.bar and a.kitchen.—CR

With a family viewing/funeral this weekend, I didn't get out a whole lot, but this did make it up to Northeast Philly — have you read editor CR's chronicle of hidden restaurants there? — to meet C's parents and bros at Los Margaritas, a divey Mexican joint with decent food and drinks in fishbowls. The highlight was the 32-ounce Michelada I ordered at the bar; amigo bartender seemed impressed/perplexed I knew what one was and hooked it up with Dos Equis, lime, salt and tons of hot sauce. It was much more awesome that my serviceable tamale/chile relleno combo plate — even if it cost a whopping $16.50.—AE

I spent Saturday being lazy on the couch with a few mimosas before heading to PhilaMOCA to see Pizza Underground, you know, Macaulay Caulkin's pizza-themed Velvet Underground cover band. There were plenty of pickle-topped slices from Rustica floating around the show.—CR

Sunday I checked into Rosa Blanca for a quickie brunch, forgetting it was bane of my existence Restaurant Week and the full menu was unavailable. You'll here more about it in details in next week's paper, but it was ups and downs, from an artless cocktail to a perfect dessert (pictured).—AE

At the risk of losing any and all credibility, on Sunday I made my way over the bridge to eat at The Cheesecake Factory, a place that endlessly fascinates me. The meal was all about ridiculous martinis and all over the board menu choices from avocado egg rolls to burgers and gumbo.—CR