Wood-Oven Bagels

Spread Bagelry

Yes, you heard me correctly, wood-oven bagels! Spread Bagelry located in Rittenhouse is a great local find to go to for breakfast and lunch. My mom and I discovered this place a while ago and we are so glad that we did! They offer Montreal-style wood-oven bagels, sandwiches, coffee, brunch drinks and artisan sodas.

What are Montreal-style wood-oven bagels? They are bagels are hand-rolled, boiled in honey water and baked in a custom built wood-fired brick oven. Spread Bagelry also offers homemade spreads to accompany the bagels. My  favorite is their peanut butter and Amish Jam.

My mom and I went here after my annual CHOP doctor’s appointment for lunch because we were craving a comforting lunch! We both got the “Inside Out Sandwich” which is their version of a grilled cheese. The bagel is served inside out with Swiss cheese, tomato and bacon! It was definitely the perfect and comforting meal for a cold day. I want to go back to try breakfast sandwiches!

Pizza + Gelato = Italian Lover's Dream

Capofitto Forno

Everyone and anyone in Philly knows the famous artisan gelato, Capogiro. The Capogiro Family has come up with their best combination yet- pizza and gelato. This new Italian restaurant called Capofitto Forno is located in Old City. Their focus is the two Italian favorites:  Neapolitan pizza which has a light, crisp and airy crust made in their wood-burning pizza oven and sweet gelato for an after dinner treat.

My mom, sister, Catherine and I recently went here to eat for dinner to check it out and we are glad that we did! Capofitto is a great place to go to when you’re with your family and want to dine "family-style" or to share. To start off, we shared  two appetizers. First was the Arancini Gialle which is fried risotto, pecorino, fontina, saffron “balls”.  They were served warm on a bed of parmesan cheese and were absolutely delicious.

Second, we got the cheese plate. It’s great, you get to choose 5 different cheeses and it comes with a lot! To accompany your selection of cheeses, you get a selection of candied fruit and nuts came with it. We've never got a cheese plate with candied fruit before, so it was a nice spin on it!

For our entrée, we had to get pizza! Wood-burning pizza is the best because it so fresh and cooked right in front of your eyes. The pizza we shared included gorgonzola cheese, mushrooms, red onion and truffle oil. The crisp flaky crust and cheese really made the flavors stand out. The size of the pizza was perfect because we each had two slices each. We were very satisfied.

For dessert, Capofitto has a variety of desserts, gelato and sorberto since it is a gelataria. What made me love the atmosphere of this restaurant is when you first walk in, it is like a little gelato cafe with small tables and a counter to sit at. It reminds me of a place I went to get gelato when I was visiting Italy in Sienna. My mom got the tangerine sorbet, Catherine got the pistachio gelato and I got the Irish coffee gelato. It was the perfect end to the meal!

Home-Cooked Meal Out

Schlesinger’s Deli

This Center City deli is one of the best places to go for an authentic meal. This deli’s traditional dishes including home-cooked meals, cured meats and fresh pastries that will have you coming back for more. This staple to Philly is one of my sister, Catherine and mine’s favorite restaurants to go for a good, comfort meal.

I had the chocolate chip pancakes that were very filling and comforting.It came with three big pancakes. Catherine had the potato pancakes because she said she hasn’t had them in a while. She loved the consistency of flavor in them.

What’s great about Schlesinger’s is that they have work week breakfast specials on Monday-Friday, 7-10:30 AM. They include:

     The Harvey – 2 Eggs, Home Fries, Toast & Coffee 4.50

     The Smokey – 2 Eggs with Turkey Bacon or Turkey

     Sausage, Home Fries, Toast & Coffee 5.95

     Nova, Eggs & Onions – with Home Fries, Toast or Bagel &Coffee 8.95

     Peter’s Pancakes – with Coffee 5.95

I recommend coming here for a relaxing, home-cooked meal that you can sit back and indulge before starting a long day at work!

Happy Birthday and Hour on a Saturday

Varga Bar

My family and I recently went to Varga Bar to celebrate my sister, Catherine’s birthday. Varga is one of our favorite bar/restaurants to go to in Midtown Village of Philadelphia because of its delicious food and wonderful staff. We went on Saturday at 5pm which was great because they offer Happy Hour (half off drinks) from 4pm-6pm. I don’t know of many places that do that on a Saturday.

 Varga Bar features All-American craft beers and comfort food in a casual, pin-up themed bar/restaurant. It’s nice because if you’re indecisive of which brew you would like to drink, the staff recommends an acquired taste and lets you try. Catherine didn’t know if she would like the Smuttynose Smoked Peach Short Weisse, so she got a sample and loved it! She decided to go with it. My dad got the Captain Lawrence IPA and I got the Susquehanna 6^th Generation Stock Ale. My mom got one the special drinks, “Miss March” which is a grapefruit margarita! Of course, my brother Matthew had water because he’s only 13!

To accompany our drinks, for an appetizer, we ordered the Beer Battered Pickles which come with a smoked paprika aioli. These pickles are so delicious that you could eat a whole serving yourself!

My dad ordered the sausage sandwich which was one of the specials for the night, my mom ordered the Varga Salad, Catherine ordered the cheese plate where you can choose your pick of three cheeses, Matthew ordered the Kobe Burger and I ordered the Eggplant Sandwich.

Since I gave up meat for lent, I decided to go with the Eggplant Sandwich. Now this isn’t your typical eggplant parmesan sandwich. This meal included: manchego, parmesan, sprouts, pickled red onion, organic greens, heirloom tomato, rosemary aioli, marinara, mixed green salad. I loved the twist of having manchego cheese and the sandwich being on a ciabatta roll. The bread really soaked up all the flavors.

Varga Bar never fails to disappoint. The atmosphere, drinks, food and staff are simply amazing. Varga is also great for brunch, so be sure to check them out!