John’s Roast Pork (May 2014)

Couldn’t resist! Had to go back to an old favorite, namely John’s Roast Pork in Philadelphia. This is the best joint for a roast pork sandwich or a cheesesteak in Philadelphia. Be sure to following the signs when you arrive:

Follow the signs at John's Roast Pork, Philadelphia.

Follow the signs at John’s Roast Pork, Philadelphia.

And here’s a look at the many tasty options you’ll find inside:

The tasty options at John's Roast Pork, Philadelphia.

The tasty options at John’s Roast Pork, Philadelphia.

Inside you’ll find a line, but it moves fairly quickly as they people behind the counter crank out the culinary hits:

Inside John's Roast Pork, Philadelphia.

Inside John’s Roast Pork, Philadelphia.

I enjoy the cheesesteaks here as well as the roast pork. Hard to tell you which is best. This time I had a large roast pork and put some hot peppers on. It isn’t pretty, but it is tasty, as you see in the next photo:

Large roast pork sandwich at John's Roast Pork, Philadelphia.

Large roast pork sandwich at John’s Roast Pork, Philadelphia.

And if you don’t know where this place is, here’s a map to show you exactly:

Map showing location of John's Roast Pork, Philadelphia.

Map showing location of John’s Roast Pork, Philadelphia.

Easy to find. Bring a hearty appetite because there’s always plenty to eat!

La Porta (restaurant, 2014)

La Porta is a new find for me, a little place in the Philadelphia suburbs that I wish I had stumbled into sooner. The restaurant has a Media, PA address, and is located on Route 352 on the way to Edgemont. Not hard to find and exploring is half the fun. So, let’s talk about the food. Well, started with a couple of appetizers, one being this portabello mushroom topped with a fried egg that was a creative and tasty treat. Take a look:

"Portafoglio"… a crispy portobello mushroom with fried egge, sharp provolone, and caper butter.

“Portafoglio”… a crispy portobello mushroom with fried egge, sharp provolone, and caper butter.

Also had a delicious and varied chop salad with all my favorite ingredients including golden raisins, almonds, and more! Here it is:

Chopped salad with all the good stuff at La Porta, Media, PA.

Chopped salad with all the good stuff at La Porta, Media, PA.

Greens are good for you. Eat them often! Next we enjoyed a couple of entrees, one being this salmon over various greens:

Salmon over arugula and radicchio at La Porta.

Salmon over arugula and radicchio at La Porta.

Yes, that salmon was cooked perfectly. Then there was a pizza, which had to be tried because this place is known for pizza. Take a look:

Pizza special at La Porta, Media, PA.

Pizza special at La Porta, Media, PA.

This pizza was a special. It included caramelized onions, some exotic cheeses, and a great sauce. AND, it was baked to absolute perfection with just a touch of char on the bottom. Really, some of the best pizza I’ve had in a decade. Here’s the menu for a look at the selections and prices:

Current menu (spring 2014) at La Porta, Media, PA.

Current menu (spring 2014) at La Porta, Media, PA.

La Porta is worth your visit. Service is good, wine selection plentiful, and the food terrific. If you’re in the area, give it a try, or make the journey. Enjoy every meal!

Bavaria Restaurant, Aruba (Feb. 2014)

Bavaria Restaurant is a unique spot in Aruba, a rare German restaurant among all the other eateries. I’ve been here several times before. The food, hospitality, and beer selection are all consistent. Let me repeat, if you like German beer, you’ll find it here, such as this example:

German beer selection at Bavaria Restaurant, Aruba.

German beer selection at Bavaria Restaurant, Aruba.

As mentioned above, the food is authentically German, such as a potato pancake appetizer.

Potato pancakes at Bavaria Restaurant, Aruba. (apple dipping sauce on the side)

Potato pancakes at Bavaria Restaurant, Aruba. (apple dipping sauce on the side)

Or maybe you’d like to have a real pretzel with mustard like this one:

Pretzel with mustard at Bavaria Restaurant, Aruba.

Pretzel with mustard at Bavaria Restaurant, Aruba.

There are a nice selection of entrees, including this mixed sausage platter with red cabbage and mashed potatoes.

Mixed sausage platter at Bavaria Restaurant, Aruba.

Mixed sausage platter at Bavaria Restaurant, Aruba.

So, when you’re on the island and hankering for the different, give Bavaria a try. The people are friendly, the food good, and the prices very reasonable. You’ll also find some zany decor, including cuckoo clocks and various scenes from Bavaria. Enjoy!

:30 Chicken Shoarma Platter (Aruba)

I’ve posted about Sultan restaurant in Aruba several times before. This place has been very consistent over the years. Furthermore, in keeping with my shorter videos, I made this :30 one showing you my favorite dish, the chicken shoarma platter.

I’ve heard this place will be under new ownership soon, but with the same kitchen staff. If there are any major changes, I’ll update with another video, hopefully with an interview to gain some insight. Bon dia.