Quisqueya

345 N 12th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 366-1063

And so, after that disappointing not-lunch/one taco at aforementioned Union Taco up on Girard, my buddy and I still had a hunger for something, anything more, and because they wouldn't let us BUY anything until after their opening charade that ended after 2pm that afternoon, we didn't have a choice but to go elsewhere.

A quick drive down 7th, a right on Callowhill and 5 blocks west put us at Quisqueya.

It was one of those "what's that, let's try it," slam-on-the-breaks sort of deal, and there we were - inside this bizarre, empty diner that serves 'Spanish + American' food. Which apparently equals Latin American food.

The chafing trays at the buffet counter were pretty much empty. There was one dude at a booth not eating and another dude across the expansive dining room in mesh shorts and a hoodie looking pretty content with his rice, bean and meat platter.

The lunch special is whatever they have available in those trays for $8 from 11-3, M-F and so we heard what he had to offer. Today there was chicken, pork, beef and fish - which, I imagine is the every day selection, but there was no way to know because there is technically no lunch menu cooked to order, only dinner.

Anyway, it's a pretty good deal because you get a ton of rice, some beans, the protein, fried plantains and a side salad.

I went with the beef, my companion the fish - tilapia I think. The beef was ready to go in a scoop, but the fish took some extra prep time, fresh off the flat top I assume, and then we were on our way.

The proportions were a bit off, there was A LOT of rice and very little meat & beans to match the pile.

That said, the beef was meltingly tender, lean and delicious. It didn't look that appetizing, but it was full of flavor and tasted like some Peruvian spiced, slow-cooked short rib meat.

It fell apart with the slightest touch of my fork, with no strange bits or gristle to interfere with the meat itself. I imagine they cook it for hours to render any fat because this was spot on.

The plaintains were there too. Not much to be said of them other than they added another gritty texture, same as the beans. They had a little sweetness, but I'm not a huge fan, so they just sat on the side.

Just like the salad. If you can even call it that. I thought maybe there was a burger hidden somewhere and these were the toppings. But alas, they supplied a little container of creamy Italian dressing that also went untouched. A not unfortunate loss.

Here's the fish. I heard it was good, but he had the same complaints with regard to the ratio of rice to everything else.

All in all, if you're in a pinch, in the neighborhood and have a hankerin' for some Latin American comfort food at the right price, give it a try. You (probably) won't regret it?

Quince

209 West Girard Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 232-3425
Website

Quince is a Spanish shop that offers packaged goods, sandwiches, coffee, and imported gourmet foods. You know, from Spain.

They also have an awesome lunch combo.

As you can see, the interior is quite nice, and well kept.

They offer things like handmade Spanish pottery and entire legs of prosciutto. Which I am obviously a fan of – the latter, of course.

Unless you are eating at one of the tables they have set up outside, you will need to get your order to go. Which works out to be a hell of a boxed lunch, with a sandwich, bag of chips and an iced coffee for $8.

One of the things not to be missed is the dolmas. These are an excellent healthy snack food. I am addicted.

Grape leaves stuffed with rice, onion, dill, and lemon juice. Damn good.

The real star at Quince, which by the way, means this, are the baguettes. These sandwiches will take you back to that summer you spent in Spain, or at fat camp wishing you were in Europe, or make you feel like you have been to Europe. One of my personal favorites is the prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, roasted pepper, and pesto. Simple perfection. The salty ham is a perfect match for the billowy cheese, and the peppers give it a burst of freshness, while the pesto adds a punch of umami. The bread (Metropolitan bakery representing) is also fantastic, a tough exterior with a soft, airy inside (much like the author) makes for a perfect Euro-style lunch.

The other top pick, in my opinion (and there is some decent competition among these baguettes), is the Cambozola. My God, this cheese is good. A combination of brie and gorgonzola, this is a smooth, super tangy cow's milk cheese. It takes everything good about each cheese, and blends it into a singular masterpiece. At least for this sandwich. If you are ever planning a picnic, you would be a fool not to stop in here and grab some food. Reasonably priced, exotic, and classy, you will almost definitely get to make a move while sitting on a blanket in the woods if you get one of their baguette sandwiches, or two.

So this baguette is even more simple, and just as good. If not better. It contains a healthy spread of Cambozola cheese, walnuts, and a Vidalia onion and fig spread. It does not sound like much, but it packs quite a punch.

The mix of the sweet spread with the pungent sharp cheese and the fatty crunch of walnuts is too good to resist. This was a big surprise to me when it was recommended to me years ago by the owner. I thought there was no way something so simple could be so satisfying. I guess it goes to show I WAS wrong – that one time.

Quince is a fantastic place to have in the neighborhood, and definitely worth a trip, especially if you like Spanish style sandwiches, cheeses, meats, sides, or housewares.

Garces Trading Company

1111 Locust Street
Philadelphia, Pa
(215)-574-1099
Website

When I heard about Jose Garces' new cafe/market/wine store, I knew I needed go check it out as soon as possible. Well, that being said, I have been slacking - the Trading Co. has been open for a couple of months now. What do you want me to say? Anyway, I recently had the opportunity for lunch there, and I was not disappointed.
The market is open 8am-1opm EVERY DAY. I could easily spend hundreds of dollars there in a matter of minutes. Unfortunately, I don't have hundreds of dollars to spend. That's okay though, because you can get a seriously good deal and do some sampling, simply by having a meal in the cafe.



Almost immediately after being seated, the server came by and chatted about the menu, the wine store, and food in general. A big plus right there. Following that conversation, a box consisting of about half of a loaf of sliced artisan bread and a dish of house olive oil were brought to the table, accompanied by a pepper grinder, and some seriously tasty coarse salt. What's more, you can sneak up to the olive oil and vinegar bar and sample some expensive, aged, aromatic dipping liquids. They apparently have bread out to sample them when you are in the market section sometimes, but this was not the case on the Friday afternoon when I was there.



After much deliberation, it was decided that the "Spaniard" and the "Italian" were the sandwiches to try. An order of the "chef's choice olives" rounded out the order. I LOVE the olives at all of the Garces' places, and these were equally delicious.

The Spaniard was served on a crisp, crunchy baguette with grilled chicken, bacon, almond romesco aioli, manchego cheese, romaine and tomato. The bacon was thick and smoky, the chicken nicely charred, and the aioli was nutty and rich, bringing the flavor profile full circle. I absolutely loved this sandwich, however my dining partner was much more impressed with the Italian.



The Italian housed bresaola, hot coppa, melted taleggio, arugula, and lemon confit inside of soft brioche. The bread was light, airy and soft, a perfect delivery vehicle for the salty, savory meats, and the refreshing citrus dressing on the peppery arugula. I had never eaten bresaola before, and I must admit I was quite impressed. This sandwich really stuck out, because it started with a soft bite of bread that was followed by a generous portion of salty, warm, delicious meat and melted cheese. All sandwiches are also served with a spicy roasted pepper bruschetta, that goes perfectly with the remaining bread in your basket (assuming any survived that long).


Overall, I was VERY impressed with the food, atmosphere and prices at the Trading Co. I cannot wait to go back, and next time I plan on grabbing a bottle of wine to indulge in with the delicious food available at the cafe.