Getting back to it!

It had been almost 10 months since I had been to a new Triple D place and I really wanted to get back to it. I was scheduled to have some training for work in Southern Maryland, so I decided to take a few extra days and go to some places in Phiadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware. I left work at Dulles about 9a arriving at my first stop at noon in South Philly. Parking, which I thought would be a nightmare was actually pretty easy. "Hardena" is a small Indonesian place run by an older couple. I got there just as they was rasing the front door/gate. Hardena is decorated with pictures and memorbilia from Indonesia. I decided to try their plate lunch, which is the most popular lunch item. The food was on a hot table and there were at least a dozen items to choose from, all came with white rice, infact, while I was deciding they were prepearing my plate with the rice. I decided to try the "fish of the day" and a vegetable fritter. The fritter was crunchy and tasty. The white fish was very mild in a mild curry sauce, perfect for me. Additional spices were offered. The owner was excited to see that there was a Triple D book, after looking it over they were happy to sign it for me!

As I was walking back to the car I saw that the next place was only a short walk away so after feedng the meter I walked along the famous Passyunk Avenue to the next place. Passyunk is known for many restaurants and shops, the two most well known are Pat's King of Steaks (purported to be where the Cheesesteak was invented) and it's well known competitor, Geno's. I have been to both, and they are okay, but once is enough for me. "Stogie Joe's Tavern" is on a corner of Passyunk and had a good lunch business. I took a seat at the bar. I noticed a number of patrons wearing Phillies jerseys as they were getting ready for a Philadephia Phillies baseball playoff game. I noticed that Stogie Joe's had all kinds of Philly favorites on their menu. I decided to get a small appetizer; Clams Casino. There were 5 clam shells loaded with clams, bread crumbs and cheese. They were very good. I found out from my server that Guy had just revisited Stogie Joe's for a Triple D Nation Episode. Damn, I wold have loved to have been there for that!

Streets in Philadelphia is very interesting. Most streets are one way and very narrow with enough space to drive between cars parked on both sides of the street. You need to have the attitude of "if you see a spot, grab it!". My next stop was in the Port Richmond section of Philly, northeast of Center City. "Gaul and Compnay Malthouse" is a very unique place. It is in an old church building. Originally it was located at a street corner on Gaul Street a few blocks away, but they outgrew it and added another location. It's a very big space, very popular for watching Philadelphia sporting events. There is a big bar and several rooms of seating. They also have a lower level for more seating and private functions. I took a seat at the main bar and decided to get one of their small plate meals. I chose the Mussels in a red broth. The meals was accompanied with a small loaf of crusty bread. The broth was very spicy and I shucked all the mussels to lighten th spiciness. They were deicious and the bread was great, too. After finishing I explored the place, very impressive. My server not only signed my book but took a picture to send to Gaul's owner. I hope to get back to try some different Philly specialties.

The Phillies were playing a Major League playoff game and I wanted no part of ball game traffic, so I called it a day. The Phils ended up beating Miami to win their Wild Card playoff series. Back in South Philly, not too far from the Passyunk area, "Woodrow's Sandwich Shop" is in a very cool neighborhood with restaurants and shopping. I noticed a lot of cool street art on the walls of buildings near Woodrow's. I arrived when they opened and knew I had to try the unofficial sandwich of the city, the Cheeseteak. Woodrow's has a code on each table where you scan and order. I got to meet and talk with the owner, he told me that they stayed open throughout the pandemic. He wanted to keep the business open and his employees employed. He told me that some of the other restaurants in the area closed and have had problems rehiring staff. Woodrow's has an open kitchen and it was cool to see my sandwich being made. The sandwich was unreal, the best I have ever had. A delicious Philly style roll with sliced beef and topped with Cheese Whiz, that is not canned but made in house with Truffle Oil. He told me that not only would it be the best I have ever eaten (very true) but he makes up to 16 batches of whiz everyday! It was messy deliciousness! I highly recommend Woodrow's if you're in Philly!

Wododrow's was my last stop in Philly so I headed south to try a couple of places in Wilmington, Delaware. After I settled into a hotel I headed out to a couple of places. My first stop was at "Stoney's British Pub". The sign out front said "Eat Here or We Both Starve"! Outside there is a lot of British flags and signs and inside, there are all kinds of British memorbilia and decorations. They even had a table with a dedication to the late Queen Elzabeth II. I decided to try thier specialty appetizer, fried fish nuggets and sausage rolls. Both were delcious. The fish were fried in a nice light batter with tartar sauce on the side. The sausage rolls were a mild sausage ball with a delcious pastry crust. On the table was a jar of Brithis Horserdish based mustard and the popular British HP sauce. HP Sauce was a bit too sweet but the mustard was a great accompaniement for both the fish and sausage. Stoney was not there during my visit but his wife, known to all as Mrs. Stoney was there, she signed my book and wanted to get a picture of me for their website. She is a fun and gracious lady. I really liked Stoney's and hope to get there again.

My last stop on this short Triple D trip was in the Little Italy section of Wilmington. One time this was a thriving area but it has seen hard times in recent years. The place I tried "Luigi Vitrone's Pastabilities" is the last Italian restaurant in the area. Luigi and his wife operate this place and it is almost like you're going to dinner in their home. The entrance takes you through the kitchen where you can see Luigi do his magic. After a short wait in the foyer area I was seated at a side table, next to a whimsical wine waiter model. I chose one of my favorite Italian dishes, Cheese Ravioli (my grandmother made the BEST ravioli). It had a Tomato Vodka sauce and had a slice of Tomato Bread on the side. The ravioli pockets were large with a smooth ricotta cheese fillng. I really liked the entire experience, being in a homey Italian house setting having a hearty meal, what more can you ask for?

I am so glad to have been able to get back on the road on my Triple D adventure. My Triple D count is at 917, 1000 is not too far away!