Eat This: Hot Diggity's Tamarind Coconut Wings

I should have hopped on these tamarind coconut wings, a monthly special from Hot Diggity, a few weeks ago when they debuted, instead of waiting until today. Now that there's only a little more than a week left before they're gone, I'm kicking myself.

Always accommodating us vegetarians and vegans, Hot Diggity's vegan seitan wings (available in real chicken, too) coated in a sweet and mildly spicy tamarind sauce with coconut flakes, cilantro, sesame seeds, tomatoes, and chilis tastes like a blend of Indian and Chinese — an Indo-Chinese General Tso's, if you will.

I liked these wings so much, I put in an extra order to-go. Add rice and broccoli, and it's called dinner. Get on this before it's gone!

Hot Diggity
630 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
267-886-9253

Tasting Party

A friend of mine held a "tasting" party the other weekend, which was absolutely fabulous and about as much fun as adults can have without partaking in illegal substances.

After devouring a table full of snacks, we moved on to the "tasting" part of the night. The first part of the tasting was a game to test our palates. We were handed cups filled with food items, and ask to determine what the food was without looking.

After about twenty or so rounds, we tallied our points for correct guesses. I was only slightly upset that I did not win. My downfall, apparently, is identifying cheese and dairy products. Thanks to some second guessing and just plain not knowing, I thought Greek yogurt was sour cream, goat cheese was cream cheese, Cheddar was Gouda, Pecorino Romano was Parmesan, and Cheez Whiz was Velveeta. I am utterly ashamed — apart from the Cheez Whiz / Velveeta mix-up, because who eats that crap!Then we moved on to popping miracle fruit, a small fruit from a tropical shrub that, when eaten, causes sour foods to taste sweet. I've been dying to try miracle fruit for six years now, since I first heard about them, but never actually got around to it. (I did buy the plant about five years ago, and, damn, if it hasn't grown more than an inch since then due to the fact that it's just not hot or humid enough in Philly more than two months out of the year for the plant to truly be happy.)