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!

A New Take On Breakfast

Toast

My sister, Catherine and I have a weekly tradition together when we meet for breakfast every Wednesday before work. It’s a great thing to look forward to and be the highlight of our weeks. We always choose one of our favorite, local spots to go to. This week, we chose Toast Philly.

Toast is located right in Midtown Village, on 12^th and Spruce Street. This contemporary cafe features coffee & tea drinks plus specialty sandwiches for breakfast & lunch. They are most known for their “egg toasts” which are poached eggs on top of a homemade English muffin served with a side salad.

Catherine and I have been here numerous times, but we each wanted to try something different. She got the Mushroom, Shallot and Thyme Egg Toast and she loved the combination of flavors between the portobello mushrooms and thyme. I ordered the Avocado Egg Toast which included: roasted tomatoes and sprouts. I loved the freshness of ingredients and how healthy I felt eating it. The side salad served with both egg toasts has fresh fruit such as blackberries, blueberries and strawberries and fresh vegetables in a balsamic dressing that is just refreshing!

Toast Philly has a great, relaxing atmosphere if you want to share with company or to go and get work done. The staff is knowledgeable of their coffee and products and is generous by bringing your coffee and food out to you. Toast is great to go during any time of day: breakfast, lunch or weekend brunch : )

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.

January Special

Eat a Pita

A new month means new specials at one of my favorite local restaurants, Eat a Pita! Eat a Pita in Midtown Village 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 (dressing).

Every beginning of the month, Eat a Pita offers two specials consisting of either a salad or a pita. January’s specials include a Winter Cous-Cous Salad or a Sweet Potato and Brown Rice Burger.  I decided to try the salad because it sounded delicious! I went with my sister Catherine and she “built her own pita” because that’s her go to whenever we go (we are regulars here, haha).

The Winter Cous-Cous Salad consisted of roasted broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant and crimini mushrooms, served over baby spinach with herb vinaigrette. This winter salad was definitely the healthy and perfect choice. What made the salad was the roasted vegetables and herb vinaigrette served with the cous-cous.

Catherine loves selecting her own fresh ingredients to put into her pita. She always gets the lemon-thyme vinaigrette though to pour over her pita. There is a variety to choose from.

We both love the quality of food and service when we dine at Eat a Pita. There is nothing than a better feeling when you walk into your local favorite restaurant/shop and they know you by name and you become friends with the owners. As always, we will definitely be back.