Craig LaBan: Good afternoon, my hungry friends, and welcome back to the Philly food chat that puts the sizzle in your summer dining. Sorry about my unexpected absence from the chat last week - I was covering the Fancy Food Show in New York. It's a fun, but overwhelming event, what with five miles of olive oils, cheese, truffled butters, jams, miracle waters and salted caramels lining the Jacob Javitz Center. Still, I found some great things to nibble on, like a chile-spiced pineapple marmalade from Mauritius (made by Poivre d'Or), and some amazingly decadent lobster macaroni and cheeses from the Hancock Goumet Lobster Co. in Maine. One piece of good news there, those mac 'n' cheeses have plummeted in price on the company's website since it won an award at the show, from $48 (for two) to $33.95. Still a splurge for a "frozen" dinner, but that's more like it.

Craig: In the meanwhile, I'm getting back into my Philly dining groove since my hiatus down the Shore (Part 2 of which - all Italians - is coming out this weekend). Take a peak at this Crumb Tracker quiz and see if you've been eating (and drinking) in my wake. Be the first to name all three in order and win a signed copy of my book: (1) an absinthe fountain, (2) eggplant beignets dusted with powdered sugar, (3) Poori bhajee. (Hint: this place is pretty new). Ready, set ... start crumbing!

Gerry: Craig - Is Farmicia still open? I went when it first opened and it was great, seemed to downhill after that. Haven't heard anything about it in a while though.

Craig: Yes, Gerry, Farmicia is still open. It's not a place I hear a tremendous buzz about - I know it didn't start off so well with me. But still, I'm glad to see it has survived for so long in Old City, which is a tough, martini-driven market.

Julie: (1) Apothecary (2) Les Bon Temps (3) Ashoka Palace

Craig: Julie, you've got one of them. I'm not yet saying which.

Dombino: Craig, ate at Inlet this weekend, not bad. You been there yet?

Craig: Dombino - The Inlet was one of last year's big openings. It's part of the Mary Grims group of restaurants (Moshulu, Plantation, Daddy O). Certainly worth a visit for stylish New American small plates - but I don't recall liking it quite as much as either Plantation or the Moshulu. It has a great Bayside (liquor license) view of the OC.

Chris: Do you remember a restaurant called Clayton's Log Cabin that was located on the ride to Long Beach Island? If so, was it a memerable spot? I've heard many old stories of the place. Thank you!

Craig: Clayton's must have been before my time, Chris. If it was anything like Allen's Clam Bar, another seafood shack just off Rooute 9 near LBI, I probably would have liked it. Anyone out there with Clayton's memories?

Mike R: #1 must be the Absinthe Lounge at Time Restaurant, right?

Craig: OK, OK, that was the easy one! Yes, everyone's doing the absinthe fountains at Time, which are essentially elegant, retro-looking glass tanks filled with ice water that trickle down through tiny spigots over sugar cubes on slotted spoons perched over your glass of absinthe. Absinthe, fyi, is legal again, and is making a serious comeback. Time has the best collection in town - Swiss kuebler, Absente, the new Lucid, which I really like. There are no hallucinations with the modern day absinthe, but they're pretty powerful, alchohol-wise, so one glass will do the trick.

Julie: (1) Time (2) Les Bon Temps (3) Palace at the Ben?

Craig: You were right, of course, about No. 2. Those fried eggplant beignets at Les Bons Temps are straight out of an old line NOLA menu. Nothing like a little powdered sugar with your Southern-fried veggies.

Dana Aversa: Hi, Craig. You reviewed Javier in Haddonfield, NJ, this past April and gave it "No Bells." I dined there this evening and it was amazing. The food was superb and the atmosphere was inviting. The owner was passing out articles, fighting back if you will, regarding your review. Since then he has fired the chef and starting cooking again himself. He originally only wasn't cooking himself because he was taking care of his sick wife. I would like to ask you to go back to Javier's to review again. You won't be disappointed and you certainly won't give it "No Bells." Thanks.

Craig: Hi, Dana. Thanks for writing in with this recent report on Javier. I understand the owner has made some serious changes since the No Bell review, and has jumped back into the kitchen. I have heard some seriously mixed reports, though, on how it's going. Glad your experience was a good one. Javier will definitely get a second shot before year's end to improve on its first review.

Django Fett: Hey Craig, long time no chat. Thought you would be interested in an early report from Michael Schulson's Izakaya at the Borgata. My wife and I went Saturday night. It was only the second day but in a word - outstanding. Great menu, great drinks, cool atmosphere, etc. Everything we ate was great, but our favorites were the cold smoked hamachi and the kobe beef fried rice. It's great to have Chef Schulson back in the area.

Craig: Wow! Now that's an early report on Izakaya, which was supposed to have its official opening ... today. Glad to hear Michael Schulson's already off to a fast start. He is a seriously talented chef - a Starr protege who really made his name at the NYC Buddakan. I am excited to see what he can do on his own. Maybe AC will finally get that serious destination restaurant it keeps searching for. (Not that Sea Blue or Bobby Flay or Ombra are mince meat, but I think of them as "gambling plus ..." not "dinner plus gambling").

Todd: #3- Cafe Spice?

Craig: No.