When we sat down with chef Rich Landau of Horizons, we knew what to expect: incredibly current, creative, fresh, full and layered flavors in food that just so happens to be vegan. The only thing we didn’t know is how exactly we’d be tickled.  If you don’t know Rich and Horizons, you need to get yourself an education.  Rich is a pioneer in the vegan scene, but is also breaking ground among the top chefs ever in America, earning the historic distinction of being the first chef honored to cook a full vegan menu for the James Beard House. That’s why we were so excited when Rich accepted our invitation to create a burger for National Hamburger Month.

Full Disclosure:  I am a recovering (relapsed?) vegetarian that is currently considering the transition back to plates of beans and grains, greens and roasted tomatoes.  See, the problem that I have is the same one that inspired Rich’s culinary journey into ethical food.  Vegetarian food at restaurants is usually so very bland, utilitarian and lacking in character.  Rich didn’t choose not to eat meat because of his disgust for flavor, in fact he still is inspired by meat dishes that he encounters during weekly discovery at local restaurants.  He and his wife pastry chef Kate Jacoby are always devouring new food knowledge and encouraging one another to push flavor and creativity further.  He certainly flexed his culinary muscles for us with his Seitan Banh Mi Sliders.

The sandwich starts with seitan made especially for the restaurant by Ray’s Seitan, which the chef infuses with lemongrass and kafir lime stock and red chili.  The seitan is browned on a flat-top grill before being ground and formed into burger patties.  After griddling the burger, it’s topped with a pickled diakon slaw made with carrot, green chili, cilantro and scallions with a bit of rice-wine vinegar.  The burger is served on baguette rounds spread with vegan sriracha-infused mayonnaise and a bit of cumin oil.

Together the sharp spice of Sriracha and fresh green chili, the sweet of lemongrass and cilantro, the crunch and oil brought by the grilled Seitan, the tangy daikon slaw and my “carnivorous” ripping into the chewy homemade baguette left me grinning that food smile from the first bite.  In my mind I’m not eating vegan food, and I’m not necessarily eating a burger: I’m eating a delicious flavor and texture combination that I wish there were more of (perhaps it’s the free glutamates/Umami in Seitan?).  In essence, my reaction is exactly what Rich is going for, as evidenced with his proclamation that “it’s all about reaching out to the mainstream.  I want the suit and tie wearing, motorcycle riding, family raising, aspiring, thriving community to eat these ingredients and enjoy fresh food.”  While everything that goes into Horizon’s food is ethical, environmental and healthy – none of it works unless the food is this dang good.

The Banh Mi Sliders will appear on the weekday, weather permitting Happy Hour menu which starts Tuesday, 5/18, served between 5-6 pm outside and are an absolute bargain at $4 for two.  We expect this to become one of Philly’s staple happy hour foods.  Go here. Eat this. Expand your horizons with some food that does no harm and tastes so fine.  With meals this delicious, I could definitely look past meat again, even with all the ridiculous meaty treats Philadelphia has to offer.

Horizons
611 South 7th Street – Philadelphia, PA 19147 (Google Map)

In celebration of our relaunch, Untossed teamed up with PYT’s Tommy Up to introduce what might just be the finest salad creation Philly has ever seen. It’s the PYT Bacon Cheeseburger Slider Salad and we had a chance to stop in yesterday for an exclusive bite.

The basis for this salad is fresh, never frozen, chopped iceberg lettuce. Mixed into the greens are diced onions, pickles and tomatoes, with shredded cheddar cheese and plentiful crispy bites of bacon. All of this is topped with miniature versions of PYT’s signature burger, cooked to a perfect medium-well and draped in melted cheddar. A drizzle of the housemade mustard vinaigrette, seals the deal; but next time around, I think I’ll add some ketchup to really round off that burger experience.

“This salad is pretty healthy” said Up, standing alongside Kimberly Malcolm, who helped develop the dish. PYT has really done it again and with a salad offering like this, we’re expecting to see a Up tweeting about a “Salad of the Week” in no time.

PYT
1050 N. Hancock Street – Philadelphia, PA 19123 (Google Map)

We’ve just discovered why sous chef Ann Suk Miller’s Korean Short Rib Tacos are much talked-about. Under the guise of an unpretentious name, they’re now on special at Meritage in Philly’s Graduate Hospital area, having found their way from the now-closed Ansill in Queen Village. The practicality in the dish’s name is where the simplicity stops. The tacos are extraordinarily delicious.

Made from braised beef short ribs lathered in a spicy Korean chili sauce and topped with kimchi (spicy pickled cabbage) and served on a crispy flour tortilla, these Korean tacos are nothing short of amazing. Pleasantly spiced, the tacos go well with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc for the ultimate experience. What’s also unbelievable is the fact that they’re at the absurdly affordable price of only three dollars a piece. Ordering two or three or even half a dozen is still an absolute steal. While only on special for two weeks, we can only hope they become recurring characters alongside Meritage’s already-impressive cast.

We doubled up on our order of pork bites and went with the BBQ Pork Sliders, the same juicy pulled pork but in a more neutral barbecue sauce. They’re served on toasted brioche buns and Asian coleslaw. Unfortunately absent from creating a triple-header of pork goodness during our visit were the also-new Steamed Pork Buns with pickled Napa cabbage, Hoisin sauce and scallion.

Located on the southwest corner of 20th & Lombard, Meritage is open for dinner Tuesday through Thursday 5-10pm, and Friday through Saturday 5-11pm. Aside from the delectable pork bites we feasted upon, they feature a full menu of Asian-fusion goodness with a wine selection to support it.

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Meritage Restaurant & Wine Bar
500 S. 20th St. Philadelphia, PA 19103 (Google Map)
(215) 985-1922
Twitter: @MeritagePHL

While many of us are unfortunately unable to attend this year’s 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, we can still participate in competition and Canadian-esque celebrations. Five local bars in five neighborhoods (Smiths Restaurant and Lounge, the Kite and Key, the New Wave Café, the South Philly Bar & Grill and the Swift Half Pub) are participating in selling $3 bottles of Vancouver’s Molson Canadian throughout this month in the “Barstool Olympics” with proceeds to benefit the Fraternal Order of Police Survivors Fund.

The Barstool Olympics is the brainchild of Smiths Restaurant executive chef and owner, Brendan Smith. “Last year was a particularly hard year for the Philadelphia police and we are honored to be able to support them through a little friendly neighborhood competition,” says Smith. “We encourage everyone to visit one of the participating Barstool Olympics bars during the 2010 Winter Olympics to root for the USA, drink some Molsons and raise funds for the families of fallen officers. Adds Ken Brownell, owner of South Philly Bar & Grill, “We’d also like to thank our partners, the Molson Coors company and Origlio Beverage for their support and generosity.”

We had a chance to stop in at Smiths Restaurant and Lounge during their kickoff and sample some of the Canadian-themed food specials. The Canadian Bacon Sliders featured fresh miniature rolls, grill-toasted with ground beef, Canadian bacon and cheese blissfully combining the two, topped with lettuce and tomato. The seafood inclined will be pleased with the Maple-Glazed Salmon, served as either a salad or a sandwich. We of course opted the for sandwich, a hearty portion of grilled salmon covered with creamy fresh guacamole containing large chunks of avocado. Both sandwiches went very well paired with Canada’s premium lager.

Be sure to stop into Smiths or any of the other participating venues from now through Sunday, February 28th, watch the 2010 Winter Olympics and help raise money for the FOP Survivors Fund. The announcement of the three winning bars (Gold, Silver and Bronze) and check presentation of the proceeds to the FOP will be held in early March.

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Smiths Restaurant and Lounge (representing Rittenhouse Square)
39-41 S. 19th St., Philadelphia PA 19103

The Kite and Key (representing the Art Museum area)
1836 Callowhill St., Philadelphia, PA 19130

New Wave Café (representing Queen Village)
784 South 3rd St., Philadelphia, PA 19147

South Philly Bar & Grill (representing South Philadelphia)
1235-37 East Passyunk Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19147

Swift Half Pub (representing Northern Liberties)
1001 North 2nd St., Philadelphia, PA 19123

It is fitting that on a street as rich with history as Philadelphia’s Camac Street that Terra’s Chef Eric Paraskevas channels his own history in the form of a trio of miniature sandwiches.

The Cubano represents his background in Latin cuisine from his time at Lolita.  It features sliced house-roasted turkey, pulled pork carnitas in Chef’s own chipotles, and adobo seasoning with a pickle and cheese, on a buttery crisp toasted ciabatta.  The local beef burger, which speaks to his support of the local foods movement, is served simply with tangy cheddar on a brioche bun.  As a nod to Chef’s Greek heritage, a lamb burger is paired with fig aioli, and served on a Parker House dinner roll.

And now, bursting with World Series excitement, Chef Paraskevas has added a plate of mini Schmitters to the menu; though in our experience, when it comes to Schmitters, bigger is better.

Terra
243 S Camac St Philadelphia, PA 19107 (Google Map)

Barclay Prime is no stranger to decadent sandwiches, with its $100 cheesesteak and buttery kobe sliders, but the new pub menu’s dry aged burger may very well surpass them all.

Served as a couplet of square mini burgers, slightly larger than the sliders, the burger patties consist of ground NY strip, kobe strip, ribeye and kobe filet.  The result is by far, the most flavorful burger we’ve ever tasted. And though we are loath to part with $19 plus whatever else from the overpriced beer list, we would, in fact, go back for the deeply satisfying, explosive flavor.

The firm but soft twin burgers are plated on homemade bread with translucent onions sauteed with mustard and just a bit of aged cheddar that did not overpower the meat.  A light smear of Russian dressing on the bottom bread offers a hint of creamy sweetness that balances the rich and juicy medium-rare burger.

Rather than fries, the pub burger is served with a dish of homemade mini tater tots that were as fun to eat as they were delicious.  Also on the plate were sliced pickles, tomatoes and iceberg lettuce, which we believe was a statement of humor and irony as opposed to a genuine culinary pairing.

Aside from lightening the wallet a bit more than we’d like, our only complaint was that the burger came presented wrapped in paper, perhaps a tongue-in-cheek reference to the White Castle sliders it somewhat resembles.  It was more of a detractor and an annoyance than an enhancer, a speed bump on the road to an otherwise brilliant burger.

Barclay Prime
237 S 18th St Philadelphia, PA 19103 (Google Map)