[You know what irks me about Rachael Ray? She's too damn happy. No one should be that ebullient with all that happens in the course of the day! Rachel, your omelet is burning! Still smiling?...end tangent]
Actually, Rachael Ray's personality is equally compelling as it is cloyingly glum - and it's why I always wind up watching at least a few minutes of her programs ($40 a Day and 30-Minute Meals..."That means (boys and girls), in the time it takes you to watch this..."). So when I found out that she was going to air an episode of $40 a Day centered in Philadelphia, the calendar was marked.
[...Parallel narrative ahead...] Consequentially, I've had a hankering for a good ol' breakfast (or a suave brunch...don't ask) of late. Quality breakfast items are difficult to come upon - at least that's been my excuse - so I concluded that someone else had to cook one up for me. As you can see from my archives, I did have a breakfast/brunch at Morning Glory Diner, but for some reason my compulsion remained. [...End narrative (are you following me?)...]
Rachael's first stop was Down Home Diner at the Reading Terminal Market, where she had some fantastic looking cornmeal pancakes and a meaty maple, turkey, and sage sausage patty (of course she thought it was delicious; she always does). [Now the story is coming together!] I remembered reading an article that talked about the Diner's owner Jack McDavid, the chef de cuisine if you will, and his former role as a Le Bec Fin chef. Perfect! So off I went, Friday morning, October 29th, to the Reading Terminal.
Since I have already digressed enough, I won't bother you with my parking ticket story (although it's quite a wry tale). Just know that the city of Philadelphia has robbed me of an Andrew Jackson. Anyway...
I was running a bit behind, so I arrived at Down Home around 11:20AM and was asked, not very courteously I might add, to hurry up and order so the cook's could finish up with breakfast. Although it usually takes me a good two perusings to choose a dish, when pressed I go with my first instinct. "I'll take the Pumpkin Pancakes please, with grapefruit juice. Oh...and I can I get a buttermilk biscuit? (heard they're famous in these parts)"
In no time I was munching on a fresh biscuit: not too buttery, just right for some of their freshly pressed jam (the biscuits wouldn't have stood up alone). Soon after, I was treated to three wonderful plate sized Pumpkin Spice Pancakes. The pumpkin flavor was so strong, though not overwhelming, that maple syrup could have been optional - I opted. I couldn't finish the three, but I wanted to do so. With the freshly squeezed grapefruit juice ($2.00), my total bill was $6.40. Not bad. I would certainly return to the Diner, being impartial to the waitstaff. Sitting at the counter, with the bustling market around you, is a unique experience.
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Posted by: Laptops on sale | October 02, 2011 at 07:57 AM
The only time we tried the Down Home Diner was when the Dutch Eating Place (our regular haunt at Reading Terminal Market) was closed on a Saturday after Christmas (apparently an Amish holiday). We would've been better off skipping breakfast. I wonder how Rachael Ray would react to the crisp-skinned dry pancakes, the undercooked bacon (or the toothless server). You know she'd say "mmmmmm...I love the way this...) but seriously she must be gagging to herself and would need a drink later. Place the Down Home Diner on the "do not call" list if you ask me!
Posted by: Bluehensfan | August 18, 2005 at 08:46 AM
Before I forget, I came across Down Home Diner's web page http://www.downhomediner.com/,
Therein you can find some sample menus and "about us"-type information.
Posted by: Minor Gourmand | November 03, 2004 at 10:24 AM
[Sorry] I know my parentheses were excessive on this post. Basically I was in a rush and had to compensate for a lack of time to develop a narrative with some quick paranthetical asides.
Posted by: Minor Gourmand | November 03, 2004 at 10:19 AM
Stop with the brackets and parentheses (enough already)!! Try writing one paragraph without relying on them (bet you can't).
Posted by: wotmecook? | November 02, 2004 at 07:48 PM