Comfort Food - Latin Style

Rosa Blanca  

I recently went to Jose Garces’ new restaurant, Rosa Blanca which offers Cuban inspired cuisine. This establishment is open daily for breakfast, lunch, dinner and take-out. What I loved most about this restaurant was the décor and the food of course!

The theme of Rosa Blanca is that it’s a diner with booths welcoming you as you enter. But when you head towards the back of the restaurant, it’s more of a sit down setting. Jose Garces tried to incorporate a place where you can enjoy some of his favorite Latin dishes in the comfort of a diner or intimate setting.

I went with my friend Caitlin because we always love venturing out and trying new places! To start out, we each got a mojito and split the Guacamole Cubano. Mojitos are a signature drink to Rosa Blanca, so we had to try! They were very good. The Guacamole Cubano was amazing too. It wasn't your typical guacamole and chips. The guacamole was made with smoked pineapple and the chips were plantain chips. This was definitely a nice change up because everything tasted so fresh!

For my entrée, I got the classic Cubano Sandwich which includes: roast pork, smoked ham, swiss cheese, pickles and mustard served with the plantain chips. Caitlin got the Pan Con Bistec which had grilled sirloin, pickled red onions, crispy potatoes and criollo mayonnaise. We were both happy with our selections!

Rosa Blanca is a great place to dine if you’re looking to try something new and fun. I definitely will return to try their breakfast!

Step into Greece

Kanella

I recently found my new favorite restaurant of Philly! I’ve wanted to try this place ever since I moved into the city this past March. Located right in Washington Square, Kanella is a Greek Cypriot Kitchen that offers authentic, yet modern Greek cuisine.

When you first enter the restaurant, you almost feel as if you are stepping into the country of Greece. Between the brick walls with hanging copper pots and blue and white décor, you get the illusion that you’re in Greece looking at the beautiful ocean.

Kanella is a great place to eat and share great company with friends. It is BYOB and has unique offerings if you’re willing to try! My sister and our family friend went to catch up because we heard great reviews! For our appetizer, we split the “Dips of the Day” served with grilled pita. The “dips” were beets, eggplant, and garlic. They each had their own taste to it, but I think my favorite was the beet one because how often do you see that on the menu?

For my entrée, I got the Stuffed Pepper. This included rice, lentil, raisin, pine nut, dill and feta served with tomato coulis and Greek yogurt.  My dad always makes stuffed peppers with chopped meat, Spanish rice and tomatoes so I wanted to try something different. What made this dish was the melted feta cheese and Greek yogurt. I could really taste the Mediterranean traditions come out.

For dessert, I got a salted crème tart served with a scoop of pumpkin ice-cream and a cup of coffee which you use the French press right at your table! The crème tart melted in your mouth the coffee was definitely fresh and a great compliment to the dessert.

                

I can’t wait to go back to Kanella soon for brunch! They were voted one of Philly’s best brunches for their Cyprus Brunch!

Breakfast with a Phillies Sighting

Talula's Daily Market 

If you’re a true Philly foodie, then you know the famous Philadelphia restaurateur, Stephen Starr and two of his famous restaurants, Talula’s Garden, which is a “farm to table” restaurant or Talula’s Table which is a “fresh country market”.   Aimee Oxley who is teamed with Stephen Starr owner of Talula’s Table, recently opened Talula’s Daily Market, which is café and market located on Washington Square Park!

If you haven’t heard, Talula’s Table which is located in Kennett Square, only does one nightly seating for one group. Reservations are very difficult to come by and there is a yearly wait!  That’s why Talula’s Daily Market is a perfect substitute where you’re still getting the quality of service and food!

Talula’s Daily Market will be selling breakfast items such as, breakfast sandwiches, frittatas and scones, lunch items such as quick sandwiches and salads or, cheese plates!  La Colombe coffee, juices and other drink options are served all day. At night, the café and market will be serving a seasonal, home-style menu with table service which will be serving beer and wine.

Talula’s Daily Mission is: “At Talula’s, we believe our food should mirror our lives & beliefs. The future of farming, the environment and family traditions depends on the choices we make about what we eat”.

All menu items are homemade and give you that sense of comfort food and family tradition. I went to Talula’s Daily Market for breakfast and it was so cozy inside!  The restaurant teamed up with Anthropologie so the café doesn’t even feel like a café.  It feels like you’re stepping into your second home! There is even a long table in the center of the restaurant to make it feel like you’re in a dining room of a home.

That’s how I felt when I went to Talula’s Daily Market! I felt as if I fit right in.  Most people think a restaurant on Washington Square Park maybe “stuffy” or too high end, but not here!  I felt so comfortable being here and very open to all different markets of people to offer such a high quality product!

Everything looked so delicious that it was a hard decision to make for what to eat!  I ended up going with an iced coffee and a piave cheese, arugula and mushroom frittata!  It was so hearty and comforting!  I definitely want to go back to try all types or one of the delectable scones! I even saw one of my favorite Phillies players, so I think I have found my new favorite breakfast places.