The way to Raman's Heart.... Breweries and Baseball...

I can't recall when i agreed to this, but at some point in July Raman convinced me that he only had one and only one opportunity to see the SF Giants play this season, since we moved.  Seeing his excitement and not wanting to break his heart, i nodding my head, didn't mention the games in SF he had already been too, and packed up a day bag for philly.

The Giants were playing the Phillies in Philadelphia which is advertised as 99 miles from NYC.  With a slogan like 99 miles to Philly, how could anyone really pass up the opportunity to see Citizen's Bank Park and the SF Giants on the East Coast (some of you may ask, has Raman brainwashed me - and the answer is possibly)...

Se we packed up another rental and hit the road around 1pm (we left later since we didn't want to leave Chester for too long).

Philly here we come:

So after about two hours on the New Jersey Turnpike, we arrived.  (quick side note, the New Jersey Turnpike is exactly like the I-5 to LA but green).

Upon arrival, it was about 3 and Raman had surprised me with reservations to a restaurant called Amada.  This is one of Chef Jose Garces (known as one of the Iron Chefs!).  Reservations were not until 5 so we pulled out our iPhones and started the search for what to do in Philly for two hours.

Now you would probably think, 2 hours in Philly they'll probably hit up the Liberty Bell, the Rocky Steps, some of the historical highlights of the city, but if you thought that, then maybe you should get to know Raman and I a little better......

Raman is all about maximizing time and i'm all about leisurely strolling, so we decided to enjoy our afternoon and instead of packing in as many sites as we could, we choose to find the nearest Brewery and take in an afternoon beer sampler.

We ended up at a Brewery call Triumph Brewery.  We had the 8 samples of their beer which were delicious.  There were three particularly that make a memorable mark on me (the Brunch Stout which was a beautiful combination of espresso and chocolate, an Apple Weiss, cause we all know i love Weisses, and a Raspberry Blonde, which had such a fresh taste from the Raspberries that Raman will be trying this as his next batch!).

We even met an adorable older couple who happen to 1) go to Raman's high school Lowell in the 70s and 2) the gentlemen has been brewing for the past 30 years.  Let's just say, Raman utilized the time to ask 20 questions to that guy.

From there, we packed up and headed to Dinner.  Which was amazing.  We enjoyed the tasting menu (which for Spanish Tapas, was enough food to feed an army) but was all very delicious.  After 2 hours of octopus, salads, scallops, oysters, flatbreads, steaks, and they most delicate chocolate cake, we left the restaurant full and happy and on to the game!

Getting to the game, Raman can tell you i was a bit nervous as I was entering enemy territory and I didn't know just how we could be perceived.  Like for me, people are nice enough to not yell at a girl, so we left there pretty well untouched.

We made it up to our seats, enjoyed the Giants beating the Phillies and then headed back to the city of NYC, but oh wait.......  One last stop as you know it's Raman and we're in Philly....  You ask what?  but most of you already know....  Yes, Raman had to stop at Pat's King of Steaks for a Cheesesteak for the road...


All and all, thanks philly for a great 6 hours.  We'll be back for a proper weekend to see the history behind your great city, but until then, we bid you a'du.