The Emerald Isle of Northern Liberties
We want to point out a color we've been noticing a lot more lately in Northern Liberties:
Green.
Two new businesses in the neighborhood have taken on a green approach. One is Green Eggs Cafe, which has opened its doors at 719 N. 2nd St. Catering to the brunch crowd during the weekends and coffee and lunch scene during the week, the cafe will pack its take-out in earth-friendly packaging and to-go cups and serves up quinoa porridge and creative comfort food like the Kitchen Sink Skillet and a Philly Style Eggs Benedict made with Philadelphia Cream Cheese.
Another green-moniker-ed lunch stop is Green Olives Market, a Mediterranean olive bar and grocery store located at 992 N. 2nd St. across from the Piazza. Inside you'll find friendly owners, a nice selection of gourmet olives at the olive bar, a variety of prepared foods and falafel sandwiches, and health food items such as various oats, flours, dried fruits, and fresh fruit and vegetables. We stopped in for a tour and the owner was kind enough to hold up the sign for us:
Catering is available and we can't wait to try a Mediterranean platter. Hours are:
Monday - Closed.
Tuesday - Thursday: 10am - 8pm
Friday - Sunday: 10am - 10pm
Welcome to our own Emerald Isle.
Sonata – A Northern Liberties Delight !
Sonata - A Northern Liberties Delight !
If you have not been to Sonata yet in Northern Liberties, you are in for a treat ! This BYOB has all you can ask for: a great atmosphere, terrific service and delicious food ! When we were dining outside, folks walked by and exclaimed "It is in the best food in Northern Liberties ! " And you know what ? They may be right !
Stephanie and I definitely plan on going back to test other items on the menu. The night we went we had the blackened tuna and the sirloin steak for entrees and a wonderful clams casino soup for an appetizer. The sirloin was so tender I could have sworn it was a filet ! Did I mention they also have a great brunch menu for Saturday and Sunday ?
We’re Getting Sauced at A Full Plate’s Annual Rib Cook-Off
Come September, Northern Liberties begins to smell a little bit like Memphis. Barbecue smells bombard the air.
We blame A Full Plate's Annual Rib Cook-Off for the invasion.
It's a neighborhood that is quite proud of its smoky food: Folks dig in over saucy plates at El Camino Real on Liberties Walk, further down it's barbecue syrup being drizzled over waffles at A Full Plate, a rack of ribs at N. 3rd. Everyone gets in on the action, with vegetarians who have plenty of options, local restaurants who claim they do it best, and amateur BBQ-lovers who are convinced their recipe will rule the judges' stomachs.
Wanna compete? Deadline for entry this year is September 4th, so there is still time to perfect your rub recipe. Teams of 4 (one head griller and 3 assistants) will compete in 3 categories: Whole Chicken, Pork Ribs, and Vegetarian. A Full Plate will provide 20 racks of ribs and 8 chickens for each team. You can read the rules and regulations on the website.
A Full Plate Annual Rib Cook-Off
September 11, 12 pm - 4pm, followed by the NLNA Music Festival
Liberty Lands Park, 3rd and Wildey Sts.
Please e-mail afullplateribcookoff@gmail.com with questions
Taste the Nation with Rybread Cafe’s Multi-City Sandwich Menu
With a name like Rybread Cafe, you can practically taste the dark strong bread. The 23rd and Fairmount sandwich shop is new to the Fairmount and Brewerytown neighborhoods and it comes with a story that has some backbone to it. Owner Ryan has a background in architecture, a set of skills that we like to think is closely related to how well you can build a sandwich. That would make sense, right? After losing his job during the changing economy, Ryan set off for a road trip across the country for 7 weeks.
He ate quite a few sandwiches and then it hit him. With the cities he visited as sandwich creations on his menu, he developed Rybread Cafe. Which locations inspired his sandwiches?
The NOLA with shrimp salad and greens
The Hollywood with hummus, cucumber, red onion, and shaved carrot
The Philadelphia with genoa salami, hot cappi, prosciutto, sharp provolone, greens, tomato, onions, and vinaigrette.
The bread is such an important base that Rybread stocks the right breads for every occasion, with specific sandwiches calling for a soft sandwich bun, a thoughtful sourdough or a wholesome multigrain, or even a crisp baguette to carry the flavors. There are soups, salads, and breakfast sandwiches to round out the offerings. Then there's the panini menu, that tributes such cities as San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, New York, and the Alexandria. The latter two are both pressed on rye bread.
So next time you're biking through and lunch time is swiftly approaching, brake for some rye bread to bolster your afternoon ride.
Rybread Cafe
2319 Fairmount Ave.
215-769-0603
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Plan Your Trip to Italy in Northern Liberties
The servers at Modo Mio BYO will tell you how much the Northern Liberties neighborhood has changed.
"None of this was here a few years ago", gestures the server in response to a couple of out-of-towners who have inquired about the in-progress shopping center, The Shops at Schmidts, being built on Girard Avenue.
And years ago, we wouldn't have imagined we'd be sitting at an outdoor table on the corner of Girard and Hancock Street, eating some of the best Italian cuisine in the city.
Before we go any further with the intensity and excellence of the meal, I should warn you that Modo Mio is currently closed until July 12, as chef Peter McAndrews has taken the staff on a trip to....Italy.
The cash-only BYO is consistently packed with regulars, but the trick is to go snag an outdoor table which are available on a first-come basis. That's how we lucked out, after failing to secure a reservation countless times. So this was our first experience at Modo Mio. The sea salt crusted bread was the start of things, with a whipped ricotta butter. Juicy fresh figs arrived balancing on mozzarella and bruschetta. The crispy artichokes were a thing of love, with roasted tomatoes and capers.
Next, we tried the Mezza Rigatoni for our pasta course, with green olives, eggplant, fresh mozzarella, tomato, and basil in a small, reasonable portion. We were ready for more eggplant with the Tomato Braised Stuffed Eggplant and then finished with a Tiramisu for dessert. Everything was balanced and prepared expertly with delicate flavors and fine ingredients. It may have been a challenge to get a reservation at Modo Mio, but the real challenge is taking it all in.
It's no trip to Italy, but it's the next best thing.
Modo Mio
161 West Girard Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19123
215-203-8707
Philadelphia Chutney Company Coming Along on Sansom Street
Workers are keeping busy at the soon-to-open Philadelphia Chutney Company, which is taking over the old Remedy Tea Bar space at 1628 Sansom Street in Center City. Will the green paint and black awning be the next changes?
What will set this Indian restaurant apart from others is its focus on organic ingredients and Southern Indian cuisine. There are plenty of Northern Indian curry houses in Philadelphia, and this will bring something new to the table. What can you expect from South Indian cooking? A greater emphasis on rice, a heavy dose of coconut and coconut oil, and plenty of curries and pickles.
The Chutney Company also plans a location on Temple's campus. Bring on the chutney.
A Little Bit of Mexico on the Square
You're considering your lunch options in Rittenhouse Square when it hits you. Tacos. A nice, sunny spot in the Square. An hour of pure contentment. You drag your coworker to Mexico on the Square. They grumble that it better be worth it. You know it will be, so you just smile.
The former owners of Savoy Mexican Grill (the odder than odd taqueria/deli/flower shop that used to be at 18th and Spruce Streets) have moved over to 15th and Pine. They're calling it Mexico on the Square, and while it isn't exactly as close as their old location, the tacos are just a worthwhile. The free delivery and takeout only shop make their own tortillas in-store, and if you've ever had fresh tortillas, you know that the difference is major. You can also get your hands on burritos, tortas, sopes, tostadas, and flautas. Is your gang no on the board with Mexican food? They can choose from burgers, hoagies, and cheesesteaks, which are also on the menu. It's tiny, but the bright red bannered shop will not disappoint you.
Midtown Lunch Philadelphia recently took a look at the made-to-order goodness going on at Mexico on the Square. As though you needed further convincing.
Mexico on the Square
1511 Pine Street
215-732-1907
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Wrenches, Saws, and 24 Taps: Visit Kraftwork in Fishtown
If eating is the plan, then dinner and drinks at Kraftwork is one of the finest projects to take on in Fishtown. At the corner of Girard and Montgomery, Kraftwork has the makings of a real neighborhood bar with elevated food, from owner Adam Ritter and chef Michael Thomas. Ritter also owns the Sidecar Bar in Graduate Hospital.
On a recent Saturday evening, we headed over to Kraftwork and waited for a table at the bar. The place was packed with locals, immediately drawn to the center wraparound bar. The giant saw hanging over the bar? That's just a tribute to the working man. The rest of the space was decked out with industrial and tool inspired objects. It felt airy and inventive, and the volume was exciting. The kitchen doors swung open behind the bar every now and then, with the smells of awesome wafting out and plates of shareables and things that are too delicious to share carried forth by servers.
The drinks menu was laid out in a schedule with all of the particulars, making it a breeze to select your beverage. Selections from Flying Dog, Slyfox, and Founders, and maybe any beer you've ever loved, they're all here.
Oysters, ricotta dumplings, vegetable or charcuterie boards, and sandwiches like the Beer Can Chicken and the Falafel are on the agenda. For the finish? Pork Krispy Treats with chocolate, marshmallow, and bacon. Communal-style wooden tables make eating here a group effort, rewarded in deliciousness.
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You Have to Kiss a Lot of Frogs Before You Find a Love Burger
Get ready for another outdoor burger shack. Frog Burger opens on the Parkway in June, from Frog Commissary Catering. It will be outside of the Franklin Institute in the Art Museum area.
This isn't just any burger joint, however. Expect items like chilled gazpacho and grilled sweet corn with chili lime butter, in addition to burgers such as the Love Burger, which comes smashed between two grilled cheese sandwiches and special sauce. Whoa. Or go with a regular burger or a healthier turkey burger. Hot dogs and Chesapeake crab rolls are also up for grabs. Desserts include shakes with Philadelphia Bassett's ice cream or cake shakes made with Frog Commissary's legendary carrot cake or their chocolate "killer" cake.
Care for a beverage? Local beers like Fleur de Lehigh and Kenzinger will be available, along with red or white wine, as well as red or white sangria.
The burger shack warns that its burgers are so juicy, you may need a bib, but don't worry, because they'll be selling them for customers who want to keep neat. Or take a silly photo. They'll also use recyclable products and green alternatives in their packaging.
If you're coming in from out of town, the Franklin Institute parking garage will offer discounted parking after 5 pm for Frog Burger customers.
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[photo credit: Frog Burger]
Mexican BYO Heating Up in Brewerytown
MM Partners reveals that they've just signed a Letter of Intent with an unnamed chef for a Mexican restaurant at 2711 W Girard Avenue in Brewerytown. The BYO will offer cocktail mixers and authentic Mexican cuisine. Plans include a a communal table in the 40-seat space and prices in the $20-25 per person range. Tentative hours are: 4 pm to 10 pm, Tuesday through Saturday.
Explore more about Life in Brewerytown.
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