A peek inside our stocking this holiday season...

December 2006

Wheatgrass thick and lush for a pair of local establishments helping set the bar for healthier, sustainable consumables in our area, restaurant Drazil in Egg Harbor Township and Luna Sea market in Ocean City.

Drazil opened at the site of what was formerly one of the area’s raunchiest, badass bars, the 1400, just West of the old Tilton Circle area. And while we haven’t dined in-house as yet, the take-out sampler we opted for one perfect Saturday afternoon proved to be as spot-on as it was certifiably organic. We tried: portobella mushroom with oddly-piquant walnut bbq sauce, a savory dish of chicken strips over arugula with lemon pepper pesto, Brazilian shrimp atop wild rice with coconut and mango chutney, and a spectacular, creamy serving of black bean soup.

Flavored subtly with banana and cilantro, this pureed broth was worth the trip alone, and one of best versions of the classic Latino favorite we’ve ever tried. Luna Sea is a full-service organic and natural food store, at the corner of 10th and West, offering an astonishing array of great products. Whole grains, protein substitutes, teas, and vitamin supplements share the tiny multi-room space with fresh and frozen foodstuffs, gourmet sodas, fruit smoothies, cookies, and snacks.

This little market that could, in its third full season, appears to have captured the most opportune moment to ride the crest of the growing organic wave. A long, pleasant winter’s nap for our favorite Italian-American restaurant at the Jersey shore, Sea Isle City’s superlative Basilico’s.

Since opening in 1999, owners Scott Oliver and Vinson Powell have built their business the old-fashioned way; by providing creative, quality food in abundant quantities at price points that are closer to chain restaurants than most upscale eateries they compete with. It’s also worth mentioning that in our humble opinion - and we are certifiable Pizza Snobs - Basilico’s presently offers the finest pies to be found anywhere in the region.

Their pizza oven, imported from Italy, is by itself worth a trip, with rotating multiple levels that produce a perfectly crisp authentic product. In addition, Chef Oliver’s version of polenta, blended with figs, is the best we’ve ever sampled, anywhere. His rustic brick of baked cornmeal, studded with diced, sweet fruit, gets finished with a fabulously sweet walnut Romesco sauce.

There is a bit of irony with the name, too. Sea Isle City old-timers will remember that Basilico’s was originally an Italian family restaurant called Romano’s, which operated, successfully at the same location for nearly two decades in the 1970’s and’80’s. Perhaps the chef was offering a quiet, respectful homage to the facility’s dining history when selecting the accompaniment to this signature dish? Either way, the pairing is nothing short of spectacular.

Other highlights at Basilico’s include a superb chicken entrée, pollo ruscello, featuring proscuitto-wrapped breast meat stuffed with a spinach/golden raisin blend and Agnello Desiderio, rack of lamb with bourbon sweet potato puree. (In case you are wondering about the appellation, this item is named in honor of Len Desiderio, Sea Isle’s popular Mayor and also a Cape May County Freeholder.)

Like most barrier-island restaurants, Basilico’s will remain open until late-December and then darken its doors for six weeks or so, reopening in time for Valentine’s Day.

Sleep well, my friends, we’ll look forward to enjoying your victuals again in ’07.

Finally, for the Philadelphia Eagles, a new head coach, preferably not another one so closely resembling Santa Claus.

We’ll start by giving Andy Reid huge props. He played an enormous role in revitalizing football in this area. The decision to draft Donovan McNabb - whether #5 returns successfully from his most recent season-ending injury, or not - ahead of everyone else’s choice, Texas running back/walking disaster Ricky Williams, will absolutely be regarded as one of the best Draft Day gambles ever. Reid has also kept the team afloat through some admittedly arduous circumstances. Yes, the Eagles, presently sitting with a 6-6 record at the time of this column, are still alive for the playoffs in the laughably weak NFC.

However, the fact that they are still even contending after painful, reeking losses to Tampa Bay and Tennessee, only serves to illustrate how the original league has truly become the Junior Varsity conference.

Making the playoffs ceased to be the goal for Philadelphia after their Super Bowl trip just two short years ago. This team should be vying for home field advantage throughout the playoffs, not struggling to be better than .500. Worse yet, the window is quickly closing on much of their original core of players.

Reid continues to seem baffled by mid-game decisions and adjustments, a recurring issue that has plagued the team during his tenure. This year, the Eagles have displayed undisciplined, sloppy football, and that is the responsibility of a coaching staff.

To illustrate my point, three of their five losses were directly precipitated by awful, stupid penalties, one each to Trent Cole, Hank Gaithers and Jerome McDougle. (We’d really like to defend the final of those three, but can’t. The original call on McDougle, for a flagrant face mask, was one of the most atrocious calls ever. But the Miami grad’s antics after the call - including drop kicking the flag - were unprofessional, inexcusable and certainly helped cost Philly the game.)

Perhaps the only saving grace in this sorry season will be the fact that neither of our most hated rivals, the Cowboys and Giants, shall venture far in the playoffs. Someone has to win the NFC East, but they will be bounced very quickly by either Chicago or New Orleans or perhaps Seattle, provided All Pro running back Shawn Alexander does in fact return in full health. Football - the sport most closely resembling organized warfare - sometime requires a new direction. Doesn’t that thought sound familiar, following the latest midterm elections?

This holiday season, bid a hearty fare-thee-well to Andy Reid, who will easily find himself a head-coaching job with another franchise in need of extensive rehab. (Are you listening, Matt Millen and the Detroit Lions?) To you and yours, a happy, healthy, fruitful holiday season.

Frank Gabriel may be reached at Thaibasil@AOL.com