Eat Clean

Pure Sweets & Co.

Wednesday came, so you readers know what that means- my weekly breakfast tradition with my sister, Catherine! We went to Pure Sweets & Co. because we both have been meaning and wanting to try it.

Pure Sweets & Co. is located in Rittenhouse two blocks away from the park. It is an all-day vegan, kosher parve café/bakery with gluten-free and organic dishes and sweets. They specialize in healthy and delicious food by using unrefined ingredients. Pure Sweets & Co. allows their customers to eat clean and feel good about what they’re consuming.

To start off we both ordered coffee which is from Philly’s own, Green Street Roasters. At the “coffee bar” and milk station, you can choose Brazilian Nut Milk and/or Coconut Sugar to accompany your coffee. A unique taste and way to spice up your morning rituals of coffee!

To eat, Catherine ordered the Vegetable Quiche which consisted of three layers: vegetable, egg and sweet potato. My sister loved the sweet potato flavor because you are not used to seeing that food item in a quiche.

I ordered the pancakes with shitake mushroom “bacon”. This dish came with three   quinoa   pancakes that were the perfect amount and size. Since Pure Sweets & Co. is vegan, the pancakes were served with a side of shitake mushroom “bacon” that were crisp and a substitute for actual bacon.  Everything from the presentation of this breakfast to the flavors was incredible.

The two things that I look for whenever I am trying a new café, restaurant or bar is the atmosphere and helpfulness of staff and this café passed the test! The atmosphere is very homey and relaxing. It portrays as if you are sitting on the patio of your backyard and you’re pulling the fresh vegetables from your own garden. The space was very comfortable and spacious. The staff is very helpful and friendly by bringing your meal right out to you.

Everything looked so good to eat! Inside there is a “to-go” case if you are on the go, or if you would like to dine in, you are more than happy to do so. Pure Sweets & Co. also specializes in cold-pressed juices, smoothies, soups, salads and snacks! Be sure to stop in for a healthy treat! Catherine and I will definitely be back!

Healthy & Local

Square One Coffee 

For this week's Wednesday breakfast tradition, my sister, Catherine and I chose Square One Coffee. Located in Midtown Village, this local, micro-roaster takes pride in their knowledge and specialty in coffee. They use a handcrafted approach of serving coffee to ensure their customers start the day off or have that afternoon pick me up just right.

Catherine and I both got the Yogurt Parfait which was a great way to start the morning! The granola and yogurt were very delicious and nutritious. It was the perfect amount. I got a regular coffee to accompany my breakfast and Catherine got a chai latte, which she said was absolutely perfect.

The atmosphere inside is very bright, modern and relaxing. It's a wonderful escape to go to from the busy city and enjoy good company.

Square One Coffee is based out of Lancaster, PA but also has a second location in Philly. So next time you're trying to searh for and try a new coffee shop, check this place out!

Family-Friendly Happy Hour

Nomad Roman 

My family was in the city and we needed a place to go for dinner. I have a mom, dad, 28 year old sister and a 13 year old brother. My brother can be a picky eater, which 13 year old isn’t? So we have a joke in our family, that the restaurant has to be “BF” or “bubby friendly” because “bubby” is one of our nicknames for my brother, Matthew.

Families who are dining out in Philly: if you’re looking for a great restaurant with an amazing deal, dine at Nomad Roman. I know finding places in the city can be tough to bring children, but Nomad is the place to be.

Nomad Roman offers locally grown, organic produce and all natural meats. The pizza is prepared in a wood-fired brick oven and cooked right in front of your eyes. Who wouldn’t love a delicious meal like that, something with fresh with local ingredients?

The best time to go is during their happy hour which is 4:30pm-6:30pm. During this time, all pizzas are $5 and $7, which is basically half-priced and beer is $4 and wine is $5. My family was in sort of a rush because my parents and brother still had to drive home from the city because my brother had an early morning at school. The service couldn’t have been more helpful and quick.

What’s great about the pies here are that they’re personal-sized and just the right amount. Matthew is a pizza connoisseur and loves their margherita pizza, so he ordered that. Both my sister, Catherine and my dad got the Spicy Soppressata which included: Italian tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, soppressata, oregano, garlic, red pepper flakes, parmesan, honey and sea salt. They loved the heat from the spicy soppressata. My mom got the Pepperoni Pizza which included: Italian tomatoes, mozzarella, Applegate Farms Pepperoni, parmesan and sea salt. She loved the size and flavor of the pepperoni. I ordered the Trenton Tomato Pie which was an “upside down” pizza which included: Italian tomatoes, mozzarella, oregano, garlic, crushed red pepper, parmigiano and basil. I loved how the pizza had a little “kick” to it due to the crushed red pepper.

Five personal pizzas for only for $35! Which family of five can say that they dine out in Philly for $35? I’m telling you next time you’re in Philly, try Nomad Roman for happy hour! It’s a great and affordable place to go with family or friends! Definitely will return.

It's Peach Season All Around!

Cake and Beanstalk & Eat a Pita

August not only means that summer is coming to an end, but it also means it’s the last chance to savor nature’s sweetest fruits, peaches! I feel like everywhere I go, peaches are being featured within the item of the month.

I recently went to two of my favorite places to indulge in their delicious peach items: Cake and the Beanstalk and Eat a Pita.

Cake and the Beanstalk is my go to place for a quick pick me up of coffee or to stop in for a delicious, homemade treat! I went the other afternoon when my mom came to visit because I wanted to try their new peach cake. This slice of cake was so refreshing with the taste of fresh peaches paired with peach cream cheese frosting! My mom got a bagel with cream cheese. But when she tried the cake, we both agreed that the icing was amazing and tasted just right with the amount of cream cheese flavor!

The second day of my mom visiting, we went to one of our favorite places for lunch, Eat a Pita. My mom built her own pita of chicken curry salad, but I tried the August special which was the grilled peach salad. This salad included: grilled peaches, “all the veggies”, bleu cheese, watercress and toasted pistachios. This was honestly the best salad I have ever had! I loved the unique blend of all the ingredients and it was the perfect summer salad. What really made this salad was the bleu cheese!

August has just begun, so make sure you stop by your local spots to see their incorporation of peaches this month!

I can’t wait to go home this weekend for the Peach Festival in Peddler’s Village! If you are around in Bucks County, the Peach Festival & Sidewalk Sale is August 9th-10h from 10AM-6PM. I am looking forward to live entertainment, summer sales and fresh local peaches with homemade treats! I am also going to Manoff Market Gardens for their peaches & black berries! Blog post to follow : )

Who says you're too old for PB&J?

Elixr Coffee

Elixr Coffee is a local, coffee shop located near Rittenhouse Square. Elixr’s staff offers the expertise and knowledge of the world’s best coffee to enhance your coffee experience! The coffee is served  hand-poured which makes it nice and fresh.

I have been to Elixr Coffee numerous times for either a quick pick me up, or afternoon lunch breaks. I recently met up with my sister, Catherine for lunch. I’ve been dying to try their PB&J Sandwich there, so we met up and went.

What I love about Elixr is that they support offer local businesses within the city. That is why I wanted to try the PB&J Sandwich because it featured crunchy peanut butter from PB&Jams Philadelphia and blueberry, bourbon infused jam from Spruce Hill Preserves.

The combination of these two spreads on grilled bread was probably the best PB&J I’ve ever had! The peanut butter is hand-crafted nut butter with local ingredients such as honey and maple syrup! And the jam comes from homemade preserves which are big on flavor and fresh!

Catherine got the grilled cheese sandwich which included: gouda, sharp cheddar and tomatoes in between grilled bread. She loved the combination between the two cheeses and the freshness with the tomatoes.

You can find either the PB&Jams Philadelphia or Spruce Hill Preserves online or at local markets or shops.

Definitely go to Elixr Coffee for these two sandwiches or their amazing coffee and other menu items such as pastries and yogurt parfaits (which are all delicious if I do say so myself)!

4 Course Meal

Ela

Ever since my dad, sister and I went to the restaurant Ela on our bacon and beer tour, we've been wanting to go back to try a full meal there!

Ela is located in Philly's Queen Village that offers new American cuisine using local and seasonal ingredients. The menu is always changing with the chefs, creative twists on the fresh ingredients.

Ela is very affordable getting a great deal of both quality and quantity of food. This restaurant offers 4 courses for $45, 5 courses for $55 and 6 course chef's tasting for $65. My sister and I both decided on having the 4 course meal, which there are a lot of "bites" to choose from!

For starters, my sister and I thought we enjoy our dinner with "elixirs". My sister, Catherine got the "180 by Summer" which is white wine, watermelon and Thai basil. I got "We Were Younger Then" which is dark rum, smoked pineapple, lime, falernum, and mint. These drinks were perfect for a hot, summer day!

For my first bite I got the Gazpacho which was made up of mangoes and hibiscus. I never had gazpacho with mangoes before, so it was nice and refreshing for a cold soup! Catherine got the Hiramasa Crudo which featured au poivre, fig, black truffle and concord vinegar. She loved the black truffle sauce!

For our second course, I got the Gnocchi which was served in crispy potato skins, sour cream and onion. It tasted just like a baked potato! My sister got the Porcini Pasta which had fava beans and saffron ricotta. The saffron ricotta was so fresh and something you're not used to having, so it was a treat!

For the third meal, I got the Lancaster Chicken which was tender cuts of chicken wrapped in ham served with parisian potatoes and asparagus. This was probably the best chicken dish I've ever tasted! It tasted like chicken pot pie without the crust. Catherine got the Rohan Duck Thigh which was served with goat cheese grits, romaine and blueberries. Now Catherine love grits and she said this was the best she's ever had, especially paired with the blueberries!

Surprisingly we had room for the "final bite" or known as dessert! I got the Cookie Dough which was warm cookie dough topped with vanilla ice-cream. This was so rich and delicious in flavor, it was one of my favorite desserts I've ever had! Catherine had the Strawberry Rhubarb Soup which had angel food cake and coconut mascarpone. It was a unique dish being served in a cold sauce, but she enjoyed it very much.

As you can see, this is a lot of food! But it's definitely worth $45, and I highly suggest going to Ela to see what it's all about!

Healthy on the Go

Eat a Pita

Eat a Pita in Midtown Village of Philadelphia is a great place to go for a healthy, quick meal made right in front of your eyes. Their specialties include pitas and salads. The fun part to it all is you can order an item already with select ingredients or you can “Pick Your Own Pita” or Pick Your Own Salad”. This includes choosing your own produce, protein and pour. Eat a Pita has a whole list to choose from.

I’ve been here numerous times for a quick bite for lunch or to just to have dinner. Each month Eat a Pita features both a pita and salad. This is why I recently went. I wanted to try the pita of the month which is the Black Bean Burger Pita.

This pita contained black beans, quinoa, brown rice and “all the veggies” mixed in Harissa sauce. The ingredients were so fresh and the black bean quinoa burger was very flavorful. The Harissa sauce had a nice kick and red pepper taste to it.

For a side, I got the Farro which had butternut squash, dried cranberries and spinach in a maple vinaigrette. This was simply perfect.

Eat a Pita is a great Philly local to go to if you’re on the go and want something healthy. Their special salad is the Winter Kale Salad which includes roasted beets, “all the veggies”, toasted pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries in a lemon tahina dressing. February is coming to an end, so make sure you try!

Healthy Lunch on the Go!

Honey Grow

Are you ever in a rush for a quick lunch or dinner break, but tired of getting fast food? Honey Grow in Center City whose motto is "healthy eating & growing local" should be where you are going! They use fresh and local ingredients to create what they specialize in most: stir-fry, salads, smoothies and a honey bar all in a timely fashion!

I pass this place on my way to work every day and I finally got to see what it's all about. When you go in, there are screens to place your order. You can also pay with a credit card yourself attached to the screen. So if you have in mind what you want before you get there, that's even better!

I knew I wanted to try the honey bar because that's what Honey Grow is known for. What the honey bar includes is your pick of 4 fruits, 2 toppings and choice of honey all in one. I got strawberries, pears, Fuji apples, bananas, honey roasted cashews and sunflower seeds and raisins topped with wildflower honey. Everything tasted so fresh, that I truly felt I was eating clean. You are what you eat, right?

Honey Grow was rated #1 Healthiest Lunch of Philadelphia! I definitely want to go back to try a stir-fry or salad and I highly suggest you do as well!