Ham-ing It Up In Bon App

West Philly's beloved Marigold Kitchen just landed on Bon Appetit's top 10 brunch list. "Enjoying Southern dishes...in a converted Victorian home, you'd think you were somewhere in Dixie," says author and BA restaurant editor Andrew Knowlton. "But no: It's just Sunday at this lovely University City BYOB." Congrats to chef Erin O'Shea. If this nod does for Marigold what it did for Little Fish, expect every critic in town (present company included) to be re-reviewing in the coming months.

Photo: DogBreedInfo

Ivy Envy

On those days we wish we were still in college, we cross the Schuylkill and wander around the old alma matter. As you might expect, food is usually involved.

First stop: the MexiPhilly cart on Spruce Street just west 36th Street. Back when this lunch truck used to make us run late for out Food & Culture class in the far-flung Archaeology Museum, it was called MexiCali, but the sweet potato burritos are still exactly as we remember: soft, warm sweets topped with refried beans and queso and hot sauce. So are the lines. Pick your spice threshold: mild (salsa fresca), medium (smoky chipotle) or hot (habanero), and the owners tuck and roll the filling into a neat tortilla bundle that’s thrown on the flattop. A few minutes later, he slides the grill-blistered burrito onto a waiting sheet on tin foil with a long spatula, and his partner gives it a quick wrap. The sweet potato burrito is still among the best deals on campus: $3—$3.50 if you splurge for sour cream.



Afterward, we hit the new outpost of Naked Chocolate Café. The front window faces Walnut Street, affording glimpses into the frosting stage, where naked cupcakes on wire racks await icing in lavender ganache and Venezuelan chocolate fudge. Dad-and-daughter owners Tom and Sara Block make it seem easy. Open bottle. Insert lightening. The University branch is just as busy—hmm, maybe busier—than the Midtown Village flagship chocolaterie they opened two years ago. And what’s this new drinking chocolate we spy… Hawaiian? Swirled with caramel and dusted with black volcanic sea salt. We are all over that, yo. Un petit, please, Euro-style, of course. And yeah, we’ll take one of those flaky, squash-and-mushroom puffs too. Bummer Naked Chocolate wasn’t around when we matriculated. Then, again we might never have graduated.

Photo: blogalicious

Breaking: A Fourth Capogiro

You already know John and Stephanie Reitano are setting up a third gelato emporium on Penn’s campus this winter, but did you know this: A fourth location is coming to Mount Airy in the spring. Stephanie told us this week that the north-by-northwest outpost will be outside their 14,000-square-foot wholesale production facility and include an entire hot kitchen. We, in turn, replied that was nice and begged for them to drop #5 on Passyunk Avenue. Please.

Photo: GoPhila

Momentouness

Holy udon, Batman, our prayers have been answered! Now we don’t want to start the hype machine and jinx it, but according to Friday’s Philadelphia Business Journal, Wagamama might be coming to town. Happy dance. Happy dance. Happy dance. In an article detailing the rise of University City’s attractiveness to retailers, Larry Steinberg of Michael Salove Company (the big orange signs you see all around town) says that the UK-based noodle bar are scouting for a University City loc. Well, he doesn’t say that exactly, but if we think it hard enough perhaps it will happen. We first fell for Wagamama on holiday in London three years ago and have been missing their cheap, tasty noodle bowls ever since. The first stateside location opened in Boston last year, and we’ve always said a Wagamama would be a gold mine on Penn’s campus. Sometimes it’s scary how smart we are. Another potential tenant scouting the left-of-center: Bobby Flay’s gourmet burger joint, Bobby’s Burger Palace. If you’ve ever had a burger at his Bar Americain in New York, you know this is a good thing, a very good thing.

Photo: Bentheim