Author Archives: BZ Maestro

Hitting the Road for the Big Five Oh (part one)

All hell broke loose in Philadelphia during late September of 2015. That’s when Pope Francis visited town. To say his arrival upended the normal routine of those of us who worked in Center City – Philly’s downtown area – would be an understatement. Driving into town wasn’t an option and public transit would be overflowing.Continue reading “Hitting the Road for the Big Five Oh (part one)”

Old School Burgers: Willow Grove, PA

Yesterday I wrote about a place called The Hot Dog Stand that has better burgers than hot dogs. Today I am posting on Old School Burgers, which has better cheesesteaks than burgers. Actually, their full name is Old School Burgers, Dogs & Shakes, but that’s a bit much to put in a title and I’m notContinue reading “Old School Burgers: Willow Grove, PA”

Ten Most Memorable Orchestral Performances I’ve Attended

I’ve attended between 200 and 300 orchestra concerts since the mid 1980s, with my busiest concert-going period beginning in the late 1990s and lasting about a decade. My home orchestra, the Philadelphia, were on stage for most of those performances, but I also began traveling up to New York to see other elite orchestras fromContinue reading “Ten Most Memorable Orchestral Performances I’ve Attended”

Texas: 2016 (Conclusion)

We were stuffed and ready to walk off a few calories with some Texas-style sightseeing following our early-day stops at Stiles Switch BBQ and Nau’s Enfield Drug. If you’ve read my previous trip reports, you know that my wife and I seek out state capitol buildings while traveling. As Austin is the capital of Texas,Continue reading “Texas: 2016 (Conclusion)”

Texas: 2016

Whether from actual experience or drooling over online photos, the area surrounding Austin, Texas, known as Hill Country, has a special place in the heart of many of us roadfooders. It’s a hub of Texas’ most celebrated old-school barbecue joints, while Austin itself is home to some of the state’s best smoked meat houses amongContinue reading “Texas: 2016”

Last Minute Audible Scores Big

I had big plans for lunch today. My friend Andy and I were meeting at a suburban Chinese restaurant with a menu that looks like it’s out of the 1970s. They even have foil-wrapped chicken, which is a favorite of mine and extremely difficult to find in this region. I had worked out our entireContinue reading “Last Minute Audible Scores Big”

My Great-Grandmother’s Fried Lox Recipe

Calling this dish “fried lox” may conjure up visions of smoked salmon slices going into a deep-fryer. But I doubt my great-grandmother ever saw one of those. These lox get pan-fried in butter; a lot of butter. Actually, I wouldn’t be surprised if she used schmaltz. I’m not prepared to get quite that authentic. AndContinue reading “My Great-Grandmother’s Fried Lox Recipe”

A New Favorite: Cafe Carmela of Northeast Philly

Cafe Carmela first came to my attention on the Cheesesteak Guru Facebook page. That group has over 50,000 members and is almost certainly the best source for well-informed opinions on which Philly area establishments offer the best steaks. It’s a common occurrence to see members list their top five cheesesteaks, and one of the placesContinue reading “A New Favorite: Cafe Carmela of Northeast Philly”