Graffiato

As much as we like going out and enjoying the culinary creations of others, we're also suckers for really knowing the story behind the food. There aren't many opportunities to get the inside scoop on a chef or a restaurant concept, which sometimes prevents a real connection from being formed with the eating experience. However, after following the "characters" on Top Chef All-Stars, it was impossible not to feel a vested interest in our favorite chefs careers. While we felt a love-hate relationship with Mike Isabella, there was no doubt we were drooling over his food after every Quickfire Challenge.



Source



Two months ago, Mike opened a casual Italian-inspired restaurant in Washington, DC. When A & I got wind of this, we immediately started plotting a trip of our own. A quick search of our calendars and a few clicks on megabus.com and we were set- a day trip to DC planned in a matter of minutes.







After an afternoon of memorials and art museums, we arrived at our final destination- Graffiato. Located near the Verizon Center in "Chinatown," the two-story restaurant has a hip, urban feel to it- nothing overdone. We were seated upstairs near the window, and our waiter immediately launched into an explanation of the restaurant concept (small plates) and commitment to local, seasonal ingredients. We were also served complimentary "filtered" water and some sweet and spicy roasted pistachios coated in smoky paprika and a touch of chili.









Our waiter suggested 3 to 4 plates per person- we ended up with 6 (including a pizza) plus a dessert, and it was the perfect amount. Our first was a cold vegetable dish, the sweet and sour eggplant ($7). For some reason I was expecting a Chinese sweet and sour dish, so I was definitely surprised by the "bread and butter pickles" element. Chunks of baby purple eggplant and a few pearl onions are marinated in a sugary vinegar concoction until soft, then tossed with fresh zucchini and green pattypan squash. A few pinenuts for crunch (and the beginning of an Isabella pinenut obsession...) and voila! A unique take on pickled vegetables, and a fun way to start the meal.







Out next was a highly anticipated dish from the "wood oven" section of the menu- the chicken thighs ($10). Three firm chunks of surprisingly white colored meat, skin intact, had a slightly crispy outside, very succulent inside thanks to the perfect amount of time in a perfectly temperature controlled oven. The skin somehow seemed fused to the meat, making each bite a rich, extremely flavorful little piece of chicken. However, the obvious winning component of this dish is the "pepperoni sauce" that made Gail Simmons throw an absolute fit of joy on Top Chef. You can imagine what it tastes like- a literal pepperoni puree that makes you think of pizza and calzones and other delicious things. A spicy intenseness that paired well with the simply done chicken. We wiped the plate clean.







Our third dish was probably the most complex of the evening- a "kaleidoscope" baby carrot salad ($8). The base of the salad was actually a grain- farro- tossed in a light mint vinaigrette. A subtle sweetness from chopped dates infused the grains, pairing well with the herby mint. Tiny baby carrots of varying colors (white, orange, purple) were roasted whole, tops on, until caramelized and soft. A bit of roasted radicchio is also added to the mix, offering some bitterness to counteract the sweet roots. Crunchy shavings of raw white and orange carrots lay atop the salad, and on top of THAT is the best part- thin slivers of lardo- a cured fat that was like a melt-in-your-mouth flour and butter candy. Almost like a shortbread. We loved everything about this "salad", from the firm grains to the sweet dates to the buttery lardo- the carrots were almost an afterthought.







Served at the same time as the salad was my absolute favorite dish of the night- the roasted potato gnocchi ($12). While the gnocchi itself was fine- fluffy, creamy, and a bit buttery, the pool of pork shank ragu on which it sat was absolutely ah.may.zing. I definitely have a problem when it comes to slow cooked pork, but this really raised the bar. I literally sat for a solid three minutes with a mouthful of tender shredded meat, refusing to swallow in fear of never tasting something so good again. Any description of flavor won't begin to do it justice, so I'll leave it at that. Shaved parmesan, enormous fresh peas, and a few sprigs of spicy arugula were icing on the cake.







We're always seeking out good pizza (we inherited the pizza gene directly from our dad), so we chose the Jersey Shore ($15), a somewhat ridiculous combination of fried calamari and cherry pepper aioli atop a more traditional tomato and provolone base. Six small-ish slices of thin crust pizza were definitely floppy under the load. There wasn't much crispiness, leaving the outer crust chewy and doughy.







The calamari, on the other hand, was super crispy with a thick breading, though without being overly greasy. The aioli was exactly like the spicy sauce you might find drizzled over your favorite sushi roll, it would also serve well as a dipping sauce for calamari. While we loved the concept- something unique and over-the-top- I can't say calamari really belongs on a pizza. The toppings and the underlying pizza itself didn't "marry" well, it was more like two separate dishes. Additionally, the pizza sauce itself is a tad too sweet for our standards, which somehow blended with the aioli to form a slightly unpleasant sourness.







Out of the kitchen last (it required a reminder to our waiter) was the sweet corn agnolotti ($11). Fellow diners raved about this dish, but it wasn't my favorite. The lasagna noodles were soft and slippery- a great texture for sure. I must be used to eating whole grain pasta, but I didn't think it had much in the way of flavor. Seven noodles encased small pockets of sugary creamed corn that pooled out onto the tongue with each bite. A few chanterelle mushrooms, an additional drizzle of sweet corn sauce, and a few pine nuts for crunch finished the dish. The dish definitely needed a crunchy element, but the slight saltiness of the pine nuts was completely drowned out by the corn. I think you get the point- this dish is sweet! A little too one-note for me to really get behind it.







Though the majority of our plates came out all at once towards the beginning, a moderate wait for the last pasta dish, paired with the fact that the dishes are on the small side (plus two pieces of pizza boxed up), allowed us room to split dessert. Options are limited, but the chocolate tart ($8) sounded great. Chocolate, salt, and olive oil are a tried and true combination, and this was no exception. A pine nut crust was a nice twist (yes, more pine nuts), the olive oil had the high quality aftertaste of lemon, and the creamy sea salt gelato perfectly complemented the fudgy chocolate of the tart. I enjoy eating my desserts in small bites, so I do wish the chocolate was a little darker to make each bite a bit richer, but it just forced me to take big bites.







During our meal, Mike Isabella came out of the kitchen several times to greet and speak with diners (mostly women..). By the end, we had to track him down right outside the kitchen downstairs. We complimented him on his two-month-old baby (the restaurant..) and suggested the pepperoni sauce be used to make buffalo wings (he claims that was the original plan). We also told him we had made the trek down from Philly- he said that Philly is "too small" for him to consider opening a restaurant here (really???) Overall, the trip down was absolutely worth it. Does Isabella's stint on Top Chef probably add unnecessary hype to Graffiato? Absolutely. While this certainly wasn't the best meal of our lives, it was pretty darn good, hype or not.







Graffiato

Washington, DC

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Grilled Sweet Potato Salad

This summer has been full of great eats (I mean, welcome to our lives), but particularly so since we've been taking advantage of a friend's nearby urban backyard, complete with grill. We made a classic potato salad for our first barbecue at her house, and collaborated to make our first homemade grilled pizzas on another occasion. We were recently invited back, and planned a grill-only dinner focused on a few select ingredients. Our assigned ingredient was "potatoes," and J dutifully perused the internet and found a unique sweet potato based dish that is cooked solely on the grill.



Known as "Grilled Sweet Potato Salad," I hesitate to actually call it a potato salad. Rid yourself of thoughts of cool red potatoes, or mayonnaise, or even anything savory. This creation, originating from the great Emeril Lagasse (who, incidentally, was perhaps our gateway into the world of combining cooking and media). A sweet and spicy mixture of mango, sweet potato, bell pepper, and a variety of spices lends this dish a laid back, island quality.



Oh, hey! Source



Grilled Sweet Potato 'Salad' (Serves 8 as a side dish)



Salad Components:

3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed (1")

2 large sweet onions (Vidalia), peeled and cubed (1")

1.5 mangos, peeled, seeded, and diced (1")

1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced (1")







The hardest part of this recipe? Peeling, seeding and dicing the above ingredients. You will eventually end up with a gigantic bowl of fresh fruit and vegetables, hopefully all of which are cut to approximately the same size large-ish chunks.



First: Sweet Potatoes





Then: Onions





Next: Red Bell Pepper





Finally: Mango (the surprise ingredient)





Yes, this salad is full of red, orange, and yellow- something that didn't appeal to my need for green, but is oddly beautiful. The next step is to add the "dressing," a mix of the following.



Dressing Components:

1/4 c. olive oil

juice of 1/2 lime

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground cumin

1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp. salt

pinch ground cayenne (BAM! Sorry, had to.)



Once these are combined, pour over salad and mix well.







We then carted the 15 pound bowl over to the location of the grill, and prepared the dish for cooking. At this point I realized an important, and slightly sad detail: this doesn't NEED to be grilled. You could prepare it just as easily in an oven, set at 450 degrees. Regardless, we were there for the grill, and forged on. We laid out two squares of aluminum foil and piled half of the mixture onto each. Then, we covered the piles with another piece of foil and wrapped up the edges, like so.







These pouches were then arranged over the pre-heated charcoals, and cooked with the grill closed for 30 minutes. Once the veggies are tender (don't overcook, or the vegetables lining the bottom layer of foil will burn!), remove from heat. You can serve this immediately, if you want a piping hot dish, or allow it to cool to room temperature.







The final ingredients can now be added, as they are essentially garnishes: peanuts and chopped cilantro. Since we're not huge fans of the herb, we went with peanuts only, although I think the cilantro would lend an additional element of crispness and coolness that this dish was lacking.







We served the potato mix with amazing Corn and Cheese Cakes made by my other Food Network fave, Giada de Laurentiis. Smoked cheese is mixed with fat breadcrumbs, corn kernels, sour cream and chives, and then grilled just like little meatless burgers of my dreams. The smoked cheese made everything melt together into one solid, yet soft patty and lent the cakes an almost bacon flavor. I will be making these again.. at home.. without a grill.







The potato salad was an interesting mix of flavors, with a direct syrupy sweetness coming from the warm mangoes, complemented by the cumin, cayenne, and cinnamon. The size and color of the ingredients left each bite a surprise- one taste-tester was confused after an expected piece of soft sweet potato was in fact a chunk of fruit.



If I had to make one change, it would be to leave out the cinnamon- I was craving something salty, but instead was met with a mouthful of an almost dessert-like flavor. I must say though, eaten cold as leftovers the following day, the flavors were much more pleasant- I think the heat of the ingredients emphasizes certain flavor aspects which are absent once cold. I can't imagine a better side dish for a beach grill-out or a Caribbean themed party- and grilled or not, you should end up with the same sweet outcome!

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Fathom Seafood House

While Garces and Vetri are strongholds in the Philly restaurant scene, there are certainly other chefs that hold their own and successfully manage multiple restaurants around the city. This past February, Mike Stollenwerk added a more casual gastropub to his mini-empire, forming a seafood triumvirate. Though we weren't entirely fond of Fish, the stiff and awkward atmosphere was the primary turn-off. Of course we always want to give chefs a chance to redeem themselves, so while A was tucked away in the Poconos, I planned a weekend adventure to Northern Liberties, complete with a visit to Fathom Seafood House.



The place is small, with about half the indoor seating along a bar that stretches the length of the narrow space. Picnic tables outside allowed us to sit comfortably and enjoy the last bits of daylight while we waited for an indoor table. Note: There was a bit of impending rain, otherwise we would have been just fine eating outside.



After about a 40 minute wait, we were seated at a small table near the door. While the restaurant was bustling with waitstaff and diners alike, the small capacity kept the noise levels to a busy hum. The menu is a compilation of seafood-oriented bar food- lots of fried things and sandwiches, though they do have several "plates" if you're in the mood for a formal entree. However, my dining mate and I were embracing the casual atmosphere and ended up ordering a few snacks to share and some sandwiches. However, I first had to test the most basic element of seafood- oysters.







Two East Coast oysters ($2/ea) were served on a rather large bed of ice, complete with lemon, a classic mignonette, and cocktail sauce. A jar of giant oyster crackers and horseradish also adorned the table, available for consumption at any time. I keep my oysters simple, adding just a dash of mignonette. While the oyster was on the small side, it was a little bubble of salty joy on my tongue, slipping down my throat and leaving a trace of the sea behind. Definitely fresh, and well complimented by the splash of vinegar.







My choice from the snacks menu was the calamari ($10), a seafood standard by which a restaurant can be assessed. I've had my fair share of calamari, and I can honestly say this is the my favorite rendition yet. The squid is thinly sliced, with a few tentacles thrown in for good measure. Incredibly tender, neatly coated with a whisper thin breading, and piping hot after a quick dip in the fryer. You know how young vegetables have a baby softness to them? That's how the calamari felt, except at full size and with full flavor. The squid were mixed with such a unique combination of accoutrements- plump yellow raisins, pickly capers, crunchy toasted pine nuts, kalamata olives, a few tufts of baby arugula and a drizzle of creamy rouille sauce- an olive oil based concoction made with breadcrumbs, garlic, saffron, and chili. Somehow all of these elements seemed to infuse right into that delicate squid meat to make for an absolute orchestra performance in my mouth. If you go to Fathom and get only one thing, make it this calamari.









I also suggested ordering the "Fathom Fries," a code name for seafood poutine ($7). In my opinion, thick cut potatoes drenched in gravy and cheese curds are a true treat. Fathom kicks this dish into high gear with the addition of Old Bay seasoning, large cubes of salty, firm cheese curds, lump crab meat, and a rich but not-too-thick gravy made with crab stock to punch up the essence of seafood. The crab meat was less "lumps" and more "bits" which allowed a little bit of meat to stick to each fry. The fries themselves were hand-cut with remnants of skin, giving them a rustic appearance and a bit more substance. By all means, this dish is over the top, but definitely a good one to split for the table.







Last up for the appetizers was a newer item on the menu- the crab, corn, and bacon fritters ($8). Seven hush puppy type fried nuggets per order, all a mass fluffy dough encasing whole kernels of corn. The outer layer was quite dark, which I usually turn my nose up at (a sign of old frying oil), but here it added a sharp crispness to counter the soft innards. Bits of crab studded the cross section, with the smoky flavor of bacon firmly infused in every bite, but without being overwhelming. A spicy, drippy whole grain mustard sauce added another element of smoky meat, cut by a bit of vinegar. Another great app to share.







As absurd as it is, I couldn't resist the lobster grilled cheese ($15). Crispy, butter soaked sourdough; stringy, melted slightly sharp fontina cheese; fat pieces of sweet lobster meat; a few tart green tomato chunks; and, just for good measure, a creamy truffle aioli for dipping. Tell me that doesn't sound fantastic... and I'll call you crazy. I'm a big fan of grilled cheese, and a big fan of lobster, and I wasn't shocked that the marriage of the two was so wonderful. I was a little concerned that the lobster would be lost in the midst of the other components, but Fathom is in no way stingy with their application of the sweet meat. The high fat content of the fontina keeps it mild and ensures perfect meltage. Though the sandwich came with fries, I fulfilled my fry quota with those of the crab and cheese curd variety.









My friend ordered the crab cake sandwich ($13), a thick patty of peekytoe crab served on a brioche bun and topped with roasted tomato and a frizzy tuft of frisee. He barely got through a bite of it after our appetizer affair, but took it home for next-day consumption. He declared it his "least favorite" of the night, but I'm sure its status as leftovers played a role in the ranking.







Although Fathom certainly can't be directly compared to Fish, or even Little Fish, this no-frills, comfy, "down home" corner seafood restaurant is right up my alley, especially on a summer weekend evening after an afternoon in the sun. I have to make once concession- the food took an unusually long time to come to the table. As time has passed, this bothers me less and less, but I was definitely annoyed at the time. We were eating after the dinner rush, and the place (and menu for that matter) isn't all that big. Hopefully this isn't a recurring issue, but I can only hope our return visit will involve more prompt service.



Fathom Seafood House

200 E. Girard Avenue

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Watkins Drinkery

After returning from a glorious week long vacation in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, we were looking for somewhere low-key to get dinner. I gave my boyfriend a few options of gastropubs in South Philly that we've been meaning to check out, and he immediately chose Watkins Drinkery "because they have a sweet shield in their logo." They also had rabbit poutine among other interesting-sounding dishes on their MenuPages menu and the prices looked perfectly reasonable. A somewhat long and sweaty hike later, we were enveloped into a cool and dark bar.



The space is small and dive-y, but the service was spot on right from the beginning. We were the only ones eating food the entire time we were there- most patrons were far more interested in the beer offerings (OK, it is a bar, but still!). The menu takes some creative and interesting liberties on standard pub fare- several vegan/veg options as well as a wide range of atypical and adventurous choices for the carnivores.

We started out with two appetizers- the first being a major hit- the kangaroo nachos ($9.95). An enormous plate of super crispy house cut tortilla chips were smothered with slices of tallegio cheese. This type of cheese is soft with a rind, similar to a brie but not quite as mild- slightly sweet with a bit of a tang. I loved having chunks of rind on my chips- its my favorite part of the cheese! The kangaroo meat was crumbled and resembled a well-seasoned, slightly smoky ground beef sausage. Chopped apple, poblano peppers, and fennel "salsa" constructed a sweet, spicy, and earthy trifecta that didn't sog up the chips like normal salsa can. We literally ate every bite of this- the combination of flavors was just so new to the tongue, it was impossible to deny even the stray chip crumbs at the end.


Check out the cheese on that one!

The other app was much less of a hit- the conch fritters ($8.95)- but was more reasonably sized- four half-dollar sized fritters could serve as an app for one. As A & I are Floridians, we've had our fair share of conch, even boiling a live one out of its shell at the beach when we were kids (all in the name of science, right?). The conch in these fritters was practically nonexistent. Though the peppery cornmeal-tinted breading was great, these could have passed as flat hush puppies. A tequila-lime aioli was superb- creamy and sour- I just wish there were bigger chunks of conch to take a swim in it.



Though there are a few "large plates" entrees, the sandwich offerings were all calling our names- it was tough to choose only three from the list. I made the last minute decision to get the House-Smoked Boar Belly LT (their take on a BLT, $8.95), which was somewhat of a surprise since pork belly is not my favorite. However, the extra twists to the sandwich piqued my curiosity- fried green tomatoes for the T, mustard greens for the L. The strips of pork belly were slightly chewy with a decidedly barbecued flavor- like super thick cut bacon or pancetta dipped in barbecue sauce.



A smear of the sriracha tinted mayo served alongside kicked things up a notch, while the lightly toasted sourdough bread brought it back to its BLT roots. No doubt, this was a terrific sandwich. Thin-cut, super fresh and crispy fries doused with fresh ground pepper came with each of our sandwiches, which probably contributing to the eventual gut-busting feeling we attained by the end of the meal. I can usually stop after just a few, but the salt and pepper combo was irresistible (I sense a trend for WD here).



A chose a fancier sandwich- the house smoked salmon ($9.95) served on a dark pumpernickel which was unfortunately dry. The salmon didn't seem traditionally smoked, more of a thinly sliced cooked fish feel and taste. Generous amount of pea shoots added a nice fresh crunch, while a tzatziki counterbalanced a bit of the dryness of the bread. Candied onions were lost to the other dominant flavors of the sandwich. Overall a somewhat strange combination that didn't quite hit the mark.



One of the specials of the evening was a fried oyster po' boy. A opted out of ordering it because she knew she'd have to share (c'mon, you know the feeling), leaving it as an easy choice for my boyfriend. Huge, crunchy fried oysters peeked out from inside a toasted ciabatta roll (a bit too toasty in our opinion) and just oozed flavor between layers of buttery Bibb and juicy tomato slices. A bit of the sriracha mayo didn't hurt either, but the oysters provided plenty of savory salty goodness to hold up the sandwich on their own. The peppery breading gave structure and texture to the otherwise slippery oysters without being overwhelming. Another spot-on sandwich.



Obviously after all this deliciousness we were at maximum capacity, so I didn't even take a look at the dessert menu. Considering the oddities of the main menu, let's hope they keep the sweets a little more normal. Our meal at Watkins was certainly not without flaws, but with such unique offerings and great South Philly prices, we're sure to return.

Watkins Drinkery
1712 S. 10th Street

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Healthy Living: Philly Style

A few things are blatantly apparent when you first look at our blog: there are two of us, we love to eat, and we primarily do this in Philly. However, the kinds of foods we eat sometimes seem all over the board (although recently my dad told me we were getting too "vegan" for him, whatever that means). For the most part, we're showing you weekend meals out- the times when we explore restaurants around the city and take advantage of what they have to offer. But, during the week, as I've mentioned several times before, we like to cook our own foods, incorporate lots of fresh vegetables and whole grains, and fuel our bodies with the natural goodness they need.

In just a few weeks, a conglomerate of "healthy living" bloggers will be descending on our city, ready to learn the latest and greatest about health, fitness, and blogging, as well as explore what Philly has to offer. Taking part in the Healthy Living Summit, an annual meet-up of bloggers from across the country, they probably won't be interested in the Philly Five Pound Challenge or an all-you-can-eat brunch. However, Attune Foods is offering a ticket for the event to one more blogger- and in order to be in the running, I'd like to share just how much Philly (and in turn, myself as a resident of this great city) has to offer to this fantastic group of bloggers.



There's no arguing that Philly has one of the best, most interesting food scenes in the country, but this in no way means it is just full of gourmet steakhouses and Iron Chef style burgers. We also have too-many-to-count spots to enjoy seasonal, fresh, ridiculously high quality healthy food.

Not healthy living??

For example, we have long-standing, upscale restaurants in hip Old City with a clear dedication to "eat(ing), drink(ing), and live(ing) better." With a menu chock-full of organic, local, but even more important, delicious eats, FARMiCIA offers ingredients you rarely see elsewhere (think lentil salads and sauteed kale) with years of solid critics' reviews. Our trip there provided a Tuscan grain salad, a hearty yet refreshing mix of whole spelt berries and baby greens.

FARMiCIA Tuscan Salad

There are also a multitude of little, intimate BYOs, focused on producing the most beautiful plates bursting with seasonal produce- including Pumpkin, representing the quieter span of South Street. The Sunday five course tasting menu is not to be missed, especially when it includes a perfect portion of meaty pork belly accompanied by pickled green tomatoes and local white peaches.

Pumpkin's Pork Belly

I'm also happy to say that we have a diverse offering of quick take-out spots to get an easy, tasty, nutritious lunch (or breakfast.. or dinner..). Our new favorite is definitely Pure Fare, conveniently located in Center City West, where we've enjoyed kale smoothies (really!), avocado-chocolate cookies, and magical cool cucumber soup (absolutely perfect for summer).

Pure Fare's Cool Cucumber Soup

And, to add fuel to my father's fire, we mourn the loss of one of Philly's first- and most certainly best- vegan restaurants, Horizons, which recently closed after almost twenty years of service (thankfully, the owners have new plans for an even more veggie-ful spot!). Located smack in the middle of the more hipster South Street scene, it was a restaurant even the meat-and-potatoes kind has to love. Somehow they could turn eggplant into a deeply earthy, smoked braciole- no animal products necessary.

Horizon's Eggplant Braciole

Beyond enjoying the fruits of Philly's health-conscious restaurant scene, we also embrace our own healthy living lifestyle on a daily basis. We enjoy thinking of food as fuel, creating post-workout snacks at home, replicating (and improving upon) some of the commercial protein bars available. Nothing beats a dense blend of almonds and coconut to meet you after a hard 10K trail race.

Homemade Protein Bars

Post-Race

We also produced a peanut-flour based snack to enjoy after a 15K road race, refueling ourselves on the short drive home from Wilmington, Delaware.

Peanut Scones

We also know when enough is enough when it comes to indulgences, voluntarily participating in a whole-foods-only "detox" for a week last spring. The foods we ate weren't "rabbit food" or even vegetarian, but a week of no added sugars and lots of veggies did us good. We even based most of our breakfast-eats off of meals shared on well-known "Healthy Living Blogs." Our dinners were mostly recipes produced by us, perhaps my favorite being a Maple-Tofu Barley Bowl with Tahini Dressing (long name, awesome meal).



We also fell in love with our Community Supported Agriculture program- receiving weekly boxes of organic, local produce from Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative. Throughout the late spring, summer, and early fall, almost all of our homemade dinners incorporate one or more of the items we receive through the program. Not only does it ensure we're eating well (and supporting local farmers), it also forces us to branch out in terms of ingredients and cooking styles. One of my favorite CSA-inspired meals was vegan (sorry, Dad) quesadillas- before, I wouldn't have thought of this dish without cheese, but now I can't stop making these sweet potato filled pockets.



In a city like Philly, healthy living is almost simple- access to so many farmers markets, the ability to walk miles a day and not even blink an eye, tons of outdoor activities, famous running paths, a million nearby athletic events (of course, we're partial to running), and of course, more fun, healthy restaurants than you can count. I'm glad to say we take full advantage, cooking up tasty, nutritious meals during the week and constantly finding new favorite bites from food trucks in West Philly to classy Steven Starr joints on Rittenhouse Square. We embrace our city, with a mindfulness of health but of course, always a treat now and again.

Disclaimer: This post is intended as an entry in Attune Food's Healthy Living Summit ticket contest. We realize there are two of us, but we are entering for a single ticket (only one of us will be in town during the event!)

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