Kanella

I've visited Kanella several times since starting this blog, but have always had some hesitation about writing it up- almost for fear of breaking some kind of spell. I'm almost out of fingers to count the number of times I've eaten there, and that is saying A LOT. We don't frequent specific restaurants on principle. As you can imagine, Kanella holds a special place in my heart (and stomach) as my favorite place to eat. A & I debated on where...

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Sweetgreen

We're lucky (really!) to have parents who- while they live quite far away- like to visit Philadelphia as much as possible. Here for an extended weekend on their annual Easter pilgrimage to the Northeast, we made a single request of them: join us on the west side of the Schuylkill for lunch during our workday. They tend to stick to Center City, so I was almost surprised when they agreed. I wanted to pick a spot in University City to minimize their...

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Ali Baba

This past weekend we met up with some family in Newark, DE for a meal postponed from the last time we ate in this cute little college town. Ali Baba Middle Eastern Cuisine came highly recommended from a foodie friend, so we had lofty expectations.Arriving in the middle of a monsoon, we snagged a metered spot on the street- parking is somewhat spotty in the area. The front entrance to the restaurant is less than inviting- a somewhat tacky bright...

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Marathon on the Square

Restaurants belonging to a chain sometimes benefit, sometimes suffer, from their association with the larger group. During our undergrad years, we frequented Marathon- a cornerstone to the northwest corner of campus and a good spot to get brunch, a "fancier" sit-down dinner, or a place to take your parents. Since then, we've tried to shed our college eating habits, and since Marathon is distinctly associated with those years, we tend to avoid it's...

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Challah Stuffed French Toast Waffles

Don't be frightened by the title of this recipe. It may sound super complex, but really, it's just a fancy name to impress your friends. Since we make pancakes on the regular, a rare late morning weekend brunch called for something a little different.Step 1: Purchase a loaf of challah bread. Or make your own. Step 2: Cut challah into thick slices, about 1.5 inches. Cut these slices in half as if you were making a sandwich.Step 3: Carefully cut...

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Meritage KFC Revisited

It's been nearly a year since J ventured to Meritage for their specialty dish- Korean Fried Chicken. It was a much hyped meal that lived up to its publicity, and we were definitely part of a larger group who was disappointed to see it taken off the menu. Apparently, we made such a big stink that chef Anne Coll realized she had to bring it back- but compromised with a two-night-a-week return. Word is that the kitchen at Meritage is too small to...

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Strip Mall Eats

We readily admit we're pretty spoiled with our access to so many ridiculously good restaurants in walking distance- a major perk of living in the middle of a city. Most of these places are built into the block or take up the ground floor of a larger building. Truly separate space for an eatery is pretty rare, and I have started thinking it is odd when I see a stand-alone restaurant. However, in the suburbs and rural areas, the only "built-in"...

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