Spraga

Spraga
521 SOUTH BROAD STREET #303, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19147
215.735.1913

Spraga, it has been too long my friend. Having eaten here a few times I decided it was high time for  a review.  This is located along Broad St in perfect proximity to the Kimmel Center and Academy of Music. If you are seeing a show at 8pm, a 5:30pm reservation here would be a great bet. Service is usually impeccable albeit a bit pretentious.  Portions are medium sized--not enough to leave you stuffed to the brim but enough that you are full after the meal.

Foie gras soup was served as the amuse bouche. Pumpernickel croutons with rose flower petals.

Next on the agenda was the hamachi: honeydew, coconut, jicama salad.  Japanese amberjack or yellowtail, Seriola quinqueradiata, is a bony fish in the family Carangidae. It is native to the northwest Pacific Ocean, from Japan to Hawaii. It is greatly appreciated in Japan, where it is called hamachi.  Pachyrhizus erosus, commonly known as jicama, Mexican yam bean, or Mexican turnip, is the name of a native Mexican vine, although the name most commonly refers to the plant's edible tuberous root.

Lamb tartare: cumin yogurt, gem lettuce, dill.  Cumin is native to the Levant and Upper Egypt. It now grows in most hot countries, especially India, North Africa, China and the Americas. The spice is especially associated with Morocco, where it is often the fragrance of the abundant street cookery of the medinas.

Mushroom risotto: fava beans, asparagus pesto, enoki.  Enokitake, also Enokidake or Enoki, is a long, thin white mushroom used in East Asian cuisine.

Corn agnoloti: charred scallion, cilantro, queso fresco. Queso fresco — "fresh cheese" — is a Mexican cheese, traditionally made from raw cow milk or a combination of cow and goat milk. In the States, we'll most likely find pasteurized versions. The flavor is pretty innocuous — fresh, bright, milky, and mild — but is a perfect complement to a variety of dishes.

PORK CHOP (FOR 2): grilled peach, cherries, black eyed peas, swiss chard. Fantastic dish.  Immaculately prepared, tender, and tasty to finish.

Of Note:

French pressed coffee

Dessert almost seemed an afterthought.  It appeared like someone smeared the contents of the dessert onto the side of the plate.

Macaroons never hurt to end the meal.