Russet - Restaurant Week

Russet

Restaurant Week in Philadelphia occurred early this summer, which is never a bad thing! My friend, Caitlin and I went to Russet, which is in a cute little walk-up town home near Rittenhouse Square. This restaurant is owned by a husband and wife who are the chef/owners. They offer daily changing Italian and French cuisine with a comforting style.

Restaurant Week offers three courses for dinner at $35. And what’s nice about Russet, is that it is BYOB, so you can bring your wine of choice.

To start, Caitlin got the Potato Gnocchi which was topped with arugula pistachio pesto, peas and bacon. I had the Roasted Vegetable Salad which included corn, zucchini, fennel, eggplant, tomatoes and salsa verde. They were both great starts to our meals.

For our second course, Caitlin got the Slow Roasted Beef Shoulder and I had the Eggplant Parmiagiano. Caitlin loved the grilled and roasted vegetables that were served with the beef. Eggplant Parm is one of my favorite dishes, and I loved the unique twist that Russet made to this traditional meal:  polenta. The eggplant was served around polenta in marinara  sauce and it was delicious.

For dessert, Caitlin got the Lemon Panna Cotta with Mixed Berries and I ordered the Brown Buttered Peach Cake. She loved how refreshing hers tasted with the lemon flavor and the cake I had was so sweet between the combination of flavors of brown butter and peach.

Russet was delicious and Caitlin and I enjoyed most (other than the food) is the atmosphere! It feels like you’re stepping into the living room of a home and it was very comforting. We definitely will be back!

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!

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)!

Comfort Food Meets Barbecue

Devil's Alley

Ever have the cravings of a childhood favorite known as chicken tenders? I recently went to Devil’s Alley and had a dish that brought back those memories.

One day after work, my family surprised me and took me out to dinner. It was such a nice treat after a long week of work! We went to Devil’s Alley, because it is near my work and my younger brother loves it there because of their burgers.

Since the restaurant is located near Rittenhouse Square, the interior incorporates the look of the park with an edgy feel to it. The cuisine includes American comfort food mixed with barbecue type food. This is how I got my chicken tenders. But not ordinary chicken tenders!

The entrée I got was Walnut Breaded Chicken Tenders which is crispy tenders with spicy fries, coleslaw and jalapeno apple jelly. The chicken was cooked just right and very tender. What made this dish out of the ordinary are the spicy fries and the jelly to dip them in. Both fries and jalapeno apple jelly had a nice kick to it.

Next time you’re in the mood for some comfort food, definitely go to Devil’s Alley!

Restaurant Week: Rouge

Rouge

I am so fortunate to have gone out for Restaurant Week twice for dinner this season! I had the pleasure to go to the impeccable restaurant, Rouge with my mom and sister. Rouge is a fine dining restaurant located right on Rittenhouse Square known for its quality of food and service. It is also known for its beautiful views overlooking the park. This is a great place for restaurant week to take advantage of the 3 courses for $35 deal.

For my appetizer, I got the French Onion Soup, and it had to be the best French Onion Soup I have ever had! What made it so unique was the bread was a garlic crostini and it consisted of the two cheeses: gruyere and provolone. You never see this soup with that type of creation! My sister got the Spicy Duck Soup and she said it was rich in flavor. My mom got the Bibb & Endive Salad and she said the key ingredient was the Roquefort cheese.

For our entrees, both my mom and I got the Rouge Burger which includes: caramelized onion, gruyere, bibb lettuce, tomato, dill pickle, challah roll and pommes frites! The burger was very flavorful and huge in size. So if you do order it, make sure you have a big appetite! My sister ordered the Herb Roasted Chicken because it was voted the Best Dish of Philly. Her favorite part was the garlic spinach the chicken was served on. She sees why it was voted the best dish!

And now for the final course, dessert! I got the Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding which was served with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream. Between the warmth of the bread pudding and the fresh taste of the homemade ice-cream, this dessert melted in my mouth! My sister got the Crème Brulee which was the perfect end to the meal. My mom got the Caramel Apple Pie. What she loved most was the cinnamon homemade ice-cream on top.

Everything was so delicious and I am glad I got to share this dining experience with the people I love. 

Philly Tradition

4^th Street Deli

Everyone of Philadelphia knows the Famous 4^th Street Deli. They have been known as Philly’s best delicatessen for over 80 years! The original location is still located at 700 S 4^th Street, yet they have a location in Rittenhouse (38 S 19^th Street) and the famous cookie stand in Reading Terminal Market. I've only been to the location in Rittenhouse because it is right near my work.

I recently got into liking matzo ball soup and have been dying to try 4^th Street’s because it’s one of their main items that they are well known for. Now, if you never been, just to make you aware that the portion sizes are very large so make sure you go hungry!

The matzo soup is a perfect fit on a cold winter day! It is very hearty and filling that will satisfy you during these cold winter months. The matzo ball was huge and very flavorful. The broth was also very tasty because it had big pieces of shredded chicken. What made the whole dish taste fresh was the dill seasoning.

The best part of the meal is when you receive the bill, you receive two chocolate chip cookies complimentary. They are warm and fresh and make the perfect treat.

So next time you have a huge appetite and are in for a traditional, home-style cooked meal, stop in to 4^th Street Deli and treat yourself!

Comfort Food

Devil's Alley

Up near Rittenhouse Square on a weekend looking for a restaurant to dine for brunch? Devil's Alley is a great place to bring any age! My mom, sister, brother and I went after we attended the Pompeii Exhibit at the Franklin Institute. Devil's Alley offers American, barbecue, comfort food. Anyone could find anything they would enjoy off the menu.

I got the Baked Skillet Chili of the Day & Eggs and everything about it was amazing from the presentation to the taste of the food. On a large plate was a small skillet full of chili and eggs, with a bowl of salsa and sour cream served with two soft tortillas to accompany it. I loved how you can prepare the food yourself to how you'll really like it. The taste was unique yet delicious! The idea of homemade chili with baked egg mixed in is such a genius idea.

The atmosphere is great too. When you walk inside, you feel as if you're about to attend a barbecue with family friends. The restaurant has an open, lofty feel to it with brick walls to imagine you're looking down on a backyard or park at a picnic. The open kitchen adds the finishing touch to the theme.

Devil's Alley is a great restaurant for anyone to enjoy! My 12 year old brother loved his burger ad fries and he's a picky eater and can be a tough critic!

California Dreamin'

Underdogs

Every once in a while, my sister and I venture out to Rittenhouse Square to go to our favorite hot dog joint, Underdogs restaurant!  Known as Philly’s “finest hot dogs and sausages”, Underdogs is the best place to come with a big appetite!

The best thing about this restaurant is that each hot dog or sausage is a combo ranging from $6.50-$8.00. With this combo, you get your menu item of choice, a drink and french fries with a dipping sauce!

On the left is my hot dog. I got the “California Dreamin’” which is served with avocado, tomato, lemon mustard vinaigrette. For my fries, I got the spicy peanut sauce for dipping. if you love peanut butter, then you’ll be in your glory because its smooth and creamy with a kick to it.  On the right, my sister ordered “The Michigan” which is served with beef chili, onions, cheddar cheese and mustard. I had that one before and it is very good!

Lastly, what makes the hot dog is the roll. The bread is so fresh and the key asset to the meal. The bun acts as the balance beam and holds the ingredients together without the bread getting soggy!

When you walk in the restaurant, all you see is painted hands on the wall with names or businesses inside them. Underdogs has a cool contest going on. If one tries all the hot dogs or sausages on the menu, you can get your name on the wall!

Do you have what it takes to be an underdog and try all the dogs? All Dogs are 100% Beef Big Boys on Cacia’s rolls. Vegan hot dogs and gluten-free rolls are available upon request, so anyone can eat here!