The Fearless Restaurant

Continuing the "anything and everything" ditcum Jared gave me, I give you Moshulu:

You've seen it before, you just don't remember it. It's in the Academy Award winning movie Rocky, during a training montage. It also plays a small but significant role in another Oscar winner, The Godfather, Part 2- a young Vito Corleone arrives in New York City on the Moshulu. Note to filmmakers- including this ship in your movie guarantees you a major award and financial success. The current Moshulu commercial running on Philly TV has already been nominated for an Academy Award in the Documentary, Short Subject division, and will undoubtedly win.

Go back and pause that video at 18 seconds. That, dear blog follower, is the Grand Chocolate Tasting, and it is the best dessert human hands have ever sculpted. You don't eat it, you experience it. If you don't like chocolate, it will turn your life into a pale shadow for the rest of your years, because vanilla will never be used in such an artful way. It's best to share it with someone, not because it's too large a portion (get the Sharkfin Pie at Mitchell's Fish Market for an example), but rather to have another person be able to confirm your story once you go proselytize later. Sadly, the GCT is not on the current menu, but since it is an ever changing selection, the chances of a return are always optimistic.

The history of the boat is almost as impressive as the food served inside it. Constructed in 1904, Kirk was a 4 masted cargo vessel. Renamed by Woodrow Wilson's second wife Edith after the US pressed it into service in WWI, Kirk became Moshulu, the Seneca word for "without fear". After the war, it resumed it's shipping duties until the outbreak of WWII, where it found itself claimed by German forces while docked in Norway. After being used as a floating warehouse by the Nazi's for the duration of the war, it was fitted for the sea life again and made numerous grain runs around Cape Horn (that's faaaar South America, for you non-geographers). It ran a last voyage in 1949 after which it spent a long time in Europe doing nothing interesting. It was finally purchased, brought to Philadelphia, and permanently anchored on the river at 401 South Columbus, in the Penn's Landing area, having made the mentioned cameo in Godfather 2 during trip back to America.

Reservations are recommended. So is using the hilariously tiny Men's Room- apparently they quit trying when it came to the bathroom. I've been told the Women's side is much nicer. If you dine in summer, inquire about eating on the upper deck, located outside and with a beautiful view (there are canopies to shield the sun). Dress nicely, show up on time, and order the Diver's Scallops. Even if you don' t like scallops, you will like these. Or the Filet Mignon Medallions. The Fennel Crusted Ahi Tuna is also perfect. So are the Truffle Smashed Potatoes. Honestly, everything is probably better than what you've eaten in the last month. Portions are a little on the light side, but filling; cost is a little on the heavy side, but worth it. As a final note, if you wear a t-shirt or polo, they will still gladly serve you, but you'll be seated off to the side and away from the other patrons. It's a nice way to get a private table, since apparently no one else has a friend who tells him "Oh, no, a polo is fine, no need for a button-down" on his first visit.