Fondled
Fond
1617 East Passyunk Ave.
215-551-5000
I’ve been watching the progression of Fond since the only thing in the space was four letters on a paper sign taped to the window. GBF (gay boyfriend) and I made plans to go before it had even opened. Last month, he made it into the city and we finally had our gay date.
It’s been attracting quite a crowd, so I reserved a table well ahead of time. They weren’t quite ready for us when we arrived, but suggested we could wait at Paradiso’s bar two doors down and they would come and let us know when the table was ready. So, we headed back to Paradiso, where we met earlier for cocktails. 
Our table was ready only a few minutes later.
The narrow space is full with tables, yet not overcrowded once you sit down. The soft lighting helps create an intimate feel and the high ceilings open things up a bit. Our waiter had already chilled the wine I dropped off earlier and had it waiting at our table. After we ordered, he brought us a lovely amuse bouche, a tiny shot glass filled with rosemary-scented mushroom soup. It really did whet the appetite and give us a sense of the seduction in store!
I worked my ass off that week, so don’t judge when I tell you I ordered the chicken liver mousse to start. It was served with sliced green apple, tiny pickles, kim chi and their signature olive bread. I shared with GBF and we savored every salty bite. I was also surprised to find how much I liked the butternut squash ravioli he had ordered. Accompanied by toasted pecans and brown butter, it was the perfect balance of sweet and savory.
For the main course, I went with the chicken breast with roasted fingerling potatoes, each one fanned deliberately, and surrounded by roasted garlic sherry jus. It was superb, brown and crusty, yet super succulent. GBF seemed equally pleased with his selection of the beef strip loin, with charred onion, gorgonzola and bordelaise sauce. When I picked up my knife to try a piece, he told I didn’t need it and he was right. It pulled away with just a little tug from my fork and was just delicious. I think it was somewhere around this time, we cracked our second bottle of wine and lingered, talking and laughing as old friends often do.
Our coffee couldn’t have been fresher. Our waiter pressed it at the table and delivered our dessert. I think it was a result of the selections they were offering that night, but this was out least favorite course. I got the malted ice cream with peanut brittle and chocolate sauce, which was ok and served beautifully. GBF went with the cheesecake, which was a little too citrusy for my tastes. We didn’t have a problem finishing either, mind you. And when we did, we quickly realized we were the only customers left in the place. It was just about midnight so we paid the bill – OK, GBF paid the bill. Isn’t he the best? – and got out of their hair.
Despite the lackluster dessert this time around, I would absolutely go back to this foodie paradise!! Thinking about it now, I just checked out their current menu and they’ve changed up their dessert offerings. Sounds like a perfect excuse to get Fondled again!
SPF