Wine Tasting in Aisle 36, Jumbo Shrimp in Aisle 1218 and Serrano Ham in Aisle 52

No breakfast today. It’s Day 3 of the Fancy Food Show and we are ready to nosh and compare. There’s so much foodology waiting for us up and down each aisle. Photos, raves and rants tomorrow. If this is work, work, work.....Life is good, good, good.

So many guilty pleasures to enjoy and so little time.........

Summer has arrived and late June is one of our favorite times of the year. No, not because Michael’s Hawaiian shirt collection is now back in fashion and not because the school buses have been thankfully parked for the next ten weeks. It’s because the Fancy Food Show is well underway in New York City this week and like the great explorer Marco Polo, our staff has descended upon the Jacob Javits Center looking to discover new foods and guilty pleasures from Texas to Tunisia, from Vermont to Vietnam. With multiple floors to survey, thousands of vendors to meet and countless gourmet products to sample, we have a very ambitious agenda.

Over the next six to eight months we will be doing extensive product research to bring you the best of the best. If there is a guilty pleasure to be found, our crack culinary connoisseurs will have a story to share and recipe to post. That includes tasting remarkable cheeses around the globe, comparing secret sauces that have been handed down for centuries, savoring a sublime masterpiece like a Balsamic Vinegar from the 1600’s, discovering that Kobi Beef has a first cousin and worthy rival in Wagyu beef from Chile, nibbling on the finest smoked meats from the legendary charcuteries throughout Europe, enjoying the most decadent ice creams anywhere and realizing that organic chocolates make going green a kingly ambition.

This is going to be a fantastically fun and rewarding epicurean education. We welcome your participation. And yes, we will be announcing tasting events for club members as well later in this summer and fall. Stay tuned for more details.

Cheesesteaks.............No guilty pleasures diploma here, but definitely a Master's Degree candidate in "Guy Foodology.

Cheesesteaks are not a guilty pleasure, but rather the backbone of “Guy Food” cuisine throughout the Delaware Valley and especially Philadelphia. While Pat’s and Geno’s play a key role in the history of this local delight, these Washington Street landmarks and publicity seekers have been surpassed many times by griddle masters from South Jersey to South Philadelphia. Fellow Boston University graduate and WIP 610 mid-day talk show co-host Glen Macnow is an expert in Philadelphia Cheesesteak evolution and eateries. Last year “The Prof” conducted a exhaustive search for the most delicious Philadelphia Cheesesteaks in the area and the results are indisputable. His comprehensive report cites John’s House of Pork as the best Cheesesteaks on the planet followed closely by Steve’s Prince of Steaks.

You can read Glen’s PhD worthy report here.

Steaks!

-Perfect works just fine- is so right here! I still question her taste in fudge but the cheesesteaks are right on! Not only is the sandwich the best, the generosity is amazing. The owner, Joey Vento, supports the community, cares about his city, and loves life & people.

My second choice is Chubby's!

I encourage our readers to give a vote for their favorite fudge:

Steels vs. Fudge Kitchen

Write to jessa13.guiltypleasures@blogger.com to vote!

Geno's!

The age old question: Which cheesesteak place is better in Philly -- Pats or Genos?

I'm a Geno's girl! I love the slices of meat, gobs of cheese, and awesome cheese fries. Plus its always fun to look at the pictures of celebrities on the tables and see if you can name all of them. Might have to take a late night trip down there soon!

Fudge, Incredible Fudge!

In response to a previous posting, I must respectfully disagree. The Gold Standard is Steels Fudge in Atlantic City & Ocean City. Check them out -- you can even order online. Since the early part of the 1900's Steels Fudge has created masterpiece fudge flavors & has become a tourist destination in itself!

Do not sell yourself short! Try Steels's Fudge! The family with strong Philadelphia ties has been making news & gourmet foods for generations! I assure you, you will go back for more!

Aussie Fries

I love a huge plate of cheese fries sprinkled with bacon! Outback's Aussie Fries are amazing. The fries are hot. The cheese is gooey. The ranch has an awesome spiciness to it. The bacon is crisp. Put it all together... masterpiece!

Fudge Kitchen

The BEST fudge on the boardwalk in Ocean City, New Jersey is Fudge Kitchen! Whenever I'm down at the shore, I always stop by and get a quarter pound of peanut butter and a quarter pound of vanilla or snickers. It just melts in your mouth!

Ribs, Glorious Ribs........Tender, Meaty & Delicious

Is there any Father's Day Feast more appropriate than meaty baby back pork ribs slowly-smoked for eight hours to perfection? I had a secret recipe prepared by Provence Catering yesterday called "Ochos Ribos." It's their culinary fusion merging of Jamaican Jerk spices and southern sauces lovingly prepared by Chefs Greg and Rocco.

While the Provence version is truly unique, ribs are a regional masterpiece. Nothing says more about your hosts than their painstaking efforts to achieve barbecue bliss. The dry-rubbed "little piggies" in Carolina are fantastic when they fall off the bone. St. Louis style ribs slathered in secret sauce require a case of napkins and a two six packs of of IBC Black Cherry soda. On the other hand, Memphis style ribs combine a localized dry rub and tangy homemade barbecue sauce(Memphians don't mess around with a lot of sugary sauces. Instead, they favor dry rubs-full-flavored mixtures of paprika, black pepper and cayenne, with just a touch of brown sugar for sweetness.) and our personal favorite is Texas style barbecue pork ribs. They combine the best of the best and rule Planet Piggy with with an iron hand and red hot coals. No one does barbecue in the Lone Star state better than Rudy's in San Antonio. Their pork ribs and smoked brisket have made a lasting impression in my taste buds' Hall of Fame.

Apple Fritters from Am-E-Lyn's Donuts

This apple fritter from Am-E-Lyn's Donuts in West Norriton melted in my mouth! Delish!

Lilly Pulitzer

It is certainly not my Guilty Pleasure but from the showing of incredible pastels & floral patterns at last nights Appleford Summer Solstice it is certainly this seasons fashion guilty pleasure. What a great event. Our thanks to everyone who assisted with this great event and a great wedding and event site.

If you are looking for an incredible wedding venue complete with rose gardens, a willow tree & garden check out Appleford in Villanova.

Bananas Foster

Rocco, Sous Chef of Provence Catering, was the master of the rich, decadant BANANAS FOSTER at the Appleford event last night. So sweet and gooey, the combination makes your tastebuds jump!

Also a delight were the flowers donated by Hairy Mary's Inc. Hairy Mary's sits on 6 acres in Bucks County where they grow many of their own flowers. Their arrangements are always stunning. Also check out their antiques and accessories in their shop!

Monkey Bread

Renee Grande at Events by Monroe sent us her favorite guilty pleasure... a sticky, sweet, moist concoction called Monkey Bread in Ocean City, New Jersey. The treat even has two kinds of icing! I have to agree with her. It is awesome!

A Maryland Favorite!

Sweet corn crab cakes! These were prepared by Provence last night for an Albert Einstein event. Yum!

Crunchy, Cheesy Chip

Doritos are one of those weird cravings I get when I'm not expecting it. Licking the cheese off my fingers might be my favorite part.

Pair it with Provence's wonderful mango salsa and you have a creation made in heaven.

Mac and cheese

I absolutely love a really great, creamy, buttery, oozing with cheese mac and cheese. Not the boxed variety, but a great blending of cheeses served piping hot! Yum!!! Sometimes the server makes this recommendation falsely. I have found "it's better than Mom's" means it really isn't and in actuality the server's mom is not a good cook. What a let down.

Babka, Babka, Babka......Just the smell can make you weak.

Nothing is more enticing then the smell of freshly made Babka at the Town Crier Bakery at Peddler's Village in Lahaska, PA. As a young boy growing up in Lawrenceville, I can remember the excitement of walking through their doors with my mom to heaven on earth, Babka Town. Your mouth smiles, your eyes gleam and your taste buds dance with excitement as you await this warm Eastern European delicacy. Grandma would be proud to call this scrumptious dessert her own. If you cannot make it Peddler's Village for Babka, why not try baking some at home. There's a great recipe on RecipeZaar.com for Chocolate Babka. Let us know how yours turns out.

Kentucky Fried Chicken!

Greasy, fried chicken! Everything from KFC is a guilty pleasure!

From their website, "KFC is world famous for its Original Recipe® fried chicken -- made with the same secret blend of 11 herbs and spices Colonel Harland Sanders perfected more than a half-century ago."

I found the recipe to their Kentucky biscuits that I love so much!

KENTUCKY BISCUITS
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder
2/3 cup milk
1/3 cup vegetable shortening

INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 425ºF. Sift together flour, salt, sugar and baking powder into mixing bowl. Make a well in the flour mix and add the milk. Add shortening and begin kneading with hands (to cut in) the vegetable shortening and flour in the milk until thoroughly mixed. Add milk, if needed to form, and mix. Turn onto floured board, and knead gently 6 to 8 times. Pat dough to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut into biscuits. Place on baking sheet and brown in oven 10-13 minutes. Makes about 9 biscuits.

Don't forget the honey!!! The biscuits won't taste the same without the sticky, gooey honey.

Dancing with the Stars

We received a Guilty Pleasure in our mailbox from Bob Tomasso, the Facility & Events Director at the Phoenixville Foundry! He reluctantly admitted that he and his wife watch the reality TV show, "Dancing with the Stars," on a regular basis. What makes him continue to watch? The outfits!

Bob, don't feel too guilty about it... its one of Provence Catering's pleasures as well!


A little info about the Phoenixville Foundry:
Phoenixville Foundry offers 18,000 square feet of event space with all of the modern amenities and rich tradition befitting the town's illustrious past and future. The sweeping open spaces, intimate entrances, a private hospitality suite, and a full special event kitchen, the Foundry can accommodate events of every size, budget and taste. Check out the website!

Salt Water Taffy

Salt water taffy could be the best present to bring back with you from vacation. If you are like me, you could eat 75 pieces of gooey taffy in one sitting without realizing it.

One of the best places to get salt water taffy is Shrivers in Ocean City, New Jersey. Being the oldest business on the boardwalk, it's a tradition to stop by, watch the taffy being made, and hand-pick some favorite flavors.

Try one of each: Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry, Grape, Peanut Butter, Licorice, Banana, Molasses, Molasses Mint, Orange, Lemon, Lime, Peppermint, Wintergreen, Teaberry, Spearmint, Cinnamon, Creamsicle, Watermelon, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Sour Cherry, Root Beer, Blue Raspberry, Strawberry Banana, Coconut, Sour Apple, Black Currant, Peach, White Cranberry, White Chocolate, White Chocolate Strawberry, French Vanilla, and Blueberry.

Boardwalk Eating Survey!

What is your Favorite Beach or Boardwalk for eating? Let us know!

My personable Favorite is Seaside Heights
Start at the Sawmill for Pizza & Good Ice Cold Mugs of Draft Beer

Continue to the Beachcomber for the Raw Bar

Walk Across to the Steakhouse for a Great Cheesesteak ( Yes they do exist outside of Philly) Don't ask for Whiz here

Walk down to the Lemonade & Sausage stand in the Middle of the Boardwalk

Do not forget the Fudge just past that

Finish the trip with Kohrs Brothers

Bacon & Egg Ice Cream, A True Guilty Pleasure

Is there truly anything bacon cannot make better! One of my favorite Guilty Pleasures is my homemade bacon & egg ice cream. It is nothing more than a very rich custard (EGG) that is blended with incredible bacon that I top with Brown Sugar & bake crisp then pop it in my ice cream maker!

Bacon Explosion

Loosen your belt buckle... here comes the Bacon Explosion! It consists of 2 pounds of thick cut bacon, 2 pounds of Italian sausage, 1 jar of your favorite barbeque sauce, and 1 jar of your favorite barbeque rub. This meaty goodness is one for the books! Find the recipe and how-to: here.

Cupcakes Galore!

Hats off to Chef Pam! These cupcakes were made in our very own kitchen at Provence Catering and they look awesome! Talk about a guilty pleasure!

Summertime Sweets

One of my favorite things about the Jersey Shore is Kohr Brothers frozen custard. A little history from the Kohr Brothers website about the delicious cones that we enjoy every summer...

"Sylvester Kohr, their uncle, urged the brothers, Archie and Elton, to take their new machine and frozen dessert to the shore. Following his advice, the Kohr brothers set up a small booth on the bustling boardwalk of Coney Island in 1919. On their very first weekend, they sold more than 18,000 cones at a nickel each. They knew they were on to something great!

To prevent the "Frozen Dessert" from melting too fast in the salt air at the beach, Archie, Elton and Lester added eggs to the recipe which stiffened the product - it worked perfectly. Incorporating the improved recipe with the use of their new machine, they created a light and fluffy product that "tasted just like a custard" - the first and the Original frozen custard."

Next time you go to the shore, try the Kohr Brothers vanilla and chocolate twist - it's one of my guilty pleasures!

Kitchen Must Haves

What are your 5 must have kitchen indulgences? Email jessa13.guiltypleasures@blogger.com with your list!

5 is a small number I know!

1. A Great Whisk Or Whip ( Depends on whether its a naughty dessert)
2. A Creme Burlee Torch
3. Real Quality Saffron
4. Maple Sugar
5. An antique ( Preferably owned by someones grandmother) knife. Perfect when you need a bit of inspiration. Does not need to be quality just filled with a history of great meals prepared with love

More Indulgences!

Those who know me will say Wawa Coffee, but it truly is a great cup of Old City Coffee! Ask about the history of the place! They do coffee just right! For the true Caffiene Junkie, Great Website too!

Harry Ochs Meats from the Terminal, Build a dinner around the display case items!

Lychee Nuts in season! Another Reason to visit Chinatown!

Fresh Chocolate Licorace

I confess & am happy to. Foie Gras !!!!!!!

Pistachios!!! White of course

Fresh Made ( Right from the warm water) Mozzarella

Most Triple Cream Cheeses

Shooting Horseshoes & having ice cold rolling rock ponies! I think I showed my age.

Fresh Asian Prawns or crawfish, steamed & those lovely juices from the heads

Scrapple

Some of My Personal Indulgences

1. Driving to Chinatown no what the hour for real Chinese Food (Jellyfish Salad) YUM!
2. Grilled Stickies & Creamery Ice Cream at State College! WE ARE PENN STATE! Everyone needs to make the trip & try both.
3. Deliah Winders Mac & Cheese!
4. Ron's Roast Pork Italiano Sandwiches from South Philly (Gotta Be Ron's)
5. Any of Robert Bennetts Sorbets & Gelato's
6. Josephs Pizza in Fox Chase! The Sister Restaurant To Moonstruck which is a destination for true Italian Food!
7. I Truly Hate Chocolate Fountains & Hate is a Strong Word but OMG would Bathe in Robert Bennets Chocolate with his Homemade Marshmellow & Rice Crispie Treats!
8. Great REAL Snapper Soup
9. The Experience of Eating Anything that comes with Joe Poons comedy, insight, energy & passion for food & life! Gotta go to Joe Poons!
10. Homemade Pierogies made by the Russian Woman at the churches!
11. Blantons 12 Year old or older small batch Burbon
12. The Amazing Butter Pecan Cheesecake Augustos
13. The late Night Happy Hour Clams & Oysters at The Old Ebbit in Washington DC
14. The Almighty Pig!!! WE all need to pay homage to Ida Jambone. She truly gave herself to our love of all things pork! Remember in relationships with people & our dining desires the the hen is involved the pig is committed
15. The BBQ from the vendor outside of the yatch center in Glouster Mass. He is amazing!

Today's Lunch

Yum. Rocco made us delicious sausage flatbread pizza and tomato & portobello mushroom pasta.