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Inside the cozy Silverspoon Restaurant

Tucked away on Lancaster Avenue is a little place known as The Silverspoon. This restaurant is family-owned and operated by the Silverbergs, Rich and Ruth, and their son Ron is the Executive Chef. This is a family-run business, and you can tell. All the work that’s gone into the little details throughout the restaurant, make you feel at home.

The restaurant is very cozy, only housing about 36 seats inside. There is also an outdoor space that opens up when the weather is nice. Any restaurant that has outdoor seating is a winner in my book, because there is nothing better than enjoying a meal outside on a lovely day.

The main focus of the menu is on sustainable, local ingredients. The menu changes often based on what is available and what is in season. I love places that change their menu because it’s always fun to try new, fresh food, and at The Silverspoon fresh is exactly what you get. I had the chance to speak with Chef Ron and it was so comforting in knowing that he was so knowledgeable in exactly where his food was coming from. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Delicious Selection of Appetizers @ the Silverspoon

One of my favorite parts about visiting The Silverspoon was learning about their theme night – World Tour Wednesday. Every Wednesday the restaurant features a four course World Tour menu. Each Wednesday is different and each course comes from another place around the world.

Tasty Entrees at Silverspoon

When you get there on Wednesday you are given a fun passport to keep and after you come to 3 World Tours your 4th is FREE! $35 prix fix for 4 different destinations featuring two appetizers a main course and dessert. That is a fabulous deal on the Main Line!

The Silverspoon is open for breakfast and lunch Monday – Saturday from 9-3, dinner from Tuesday – Saturday from 5-10 and brunch on Sunday from 10-3. It is also a BYO facility so bring your favorite bottle of wine and enjoy an evening filled with great food in a wonderful restaurant.

The Silverspoon
503 W. Lancaster Ave, Wayne, PA 19087
(610) 688-7646
www.silverspoonwayne.com

The Trax Restaurant & Cafe in Ambler

The Trax Cafe is a quaint little restaurant that used to be the home of an old train station, and is now the location of a warm and cozy spot where people come to enjoy great food and take in the old town feel of Ambler. One unique feature that the Trax cafe offers is that the restaurant is right next to the R-5 train tracks, which are still active. I enjoyed my meal outside on a lovely Thursday evening and got to see the trains go by full of people coming home from work and going back into the city.

Aside from the history of the location, the food at Trax is definitely something worth talking about too. Executive Chef Steve Waxman creates a menu filled with classic American favorites like Barbecued Baby Back Ribs as well as popular selections like Crab Cakes, Rack of Lamb and Veal Chops. There is something for everyone on this menu with new specials added regularly.

Inside Trax

With the recent lovely weather and summer right around the corner, I love a restaurant that offers indoor and outdoor seating options. I opt to sit outside whenever possible, but the inside of Trax Restaurant is just as unique as the outside seats.

Sitting outside you get more of the train-rushing-by-you experience. Sitting inside, you get dim lights, a massive fireplace and romantic nooks to sit with a friend or date, and enjoy a great meal after a long day.

Crab Cakes

For dinner I enjoyed the crab cakes, which were amazing, the sauce was out of this world! My date enjoyed the Barbecued Baby Back Ribs, but at our server’s suggestion for the nightly special, the ribs were topped over a piece of chicken!

It was a meal full of delicious meat. As a rule of dining out – always listen to your servers suggestions. I’ve never been led astray.

Delicious Desserts @ Trax

Our evening ended with some delicious desserts, which were just as good as the rest of the meal.

Trax is a BYO establishment so make sure to hit up the Wine & Spirits store for a nice bottle of wine before you come for dinner. Everything on the menu goes splendidly with wine!

Trax Restaurant & Cafe
27 W Butler Pike, Ambler, PA 19002
(215) 591-9777
www.traxcafe.com

Outside 500 Degrees, the 500 Degrees Burger

When I think of summer, a few things come to mind: enjoying the hot summer sun, ice cold lemonade, and grilling up some hamburgers. If you’re like me and currently grill-less in Philadelphia, finding an awesome burger joint is high on your priority list. Have no fear, I have done some serious research and found the perfect place to get your burger on this summer – 500 Degrees.

500 degrees is a relatively new burger joint located right in the middle of Center City. It offers a variety of well seasoned beef burgers with golden brioche buns.

The 500 Degrees Burger & Truffle Fries

Can I just take a moment of your time to talk about the truffle fries? I feel like they need their own paragraph because they are just THAT amazing. There are three different fry choices – plain, spicy and truffle. I had the truffle fries and I can honestly say that they changed my life. They were so good and so full of flavor, I am a truffle fry convert! I really don’t know if I can go back to just regular fries. You must go to 500 Degrees if only for the fries!

Aside from the fresh ingredients and great tasting food, 500 degrees has a gourmet touch without the price tag. They make a better burger, for less! You can get a burger, fries and a drink for under $10.00 ( $1-2 more if you get a milkshake), which is SO affordable in the city. Especially when taken into account that you are getting food with really high quality ingredients.

Chomp!

If you are ever by Sansom Street in Center City and find yourself hungry, stop by 500 degrees and taste how a burger should be. You won’t be disappointed.

500 Degrees
1504 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19102
(215) 568-5000
twitter.com/500_Degrees

Pouring Wine @ Savona

Like many people I know, I love wine. I love white wine, I love red wine, I am an equal opportunity wine drinker. Trying new types of wine from various places is one of my favorite things to do.

I first heard about Friday night Wine Tastings at Savona from a friend and immediately put it on my radar. When I was given the opportunity go to check it out myself, I couldn’t have been more excited to spend an evening sampling wine. Is there really any better way to spend a Friday evening after a long week at work? I think not.

The weekly class starts at 5:30pm and each week features a different theme. When I went the focus was on the Mediterranean.

Sampling Different Wines @ Savona's Friday Night Tasting

The tasting was taught by Master Sommelier, Melissa Monosoff who does an outstanding job. She touched upon various wine drinking tips and tricks, and she also filled us in on some wine secrets. I learned more about wine in that hour and a half with Melissa than I have on any wine tour before.

She added a fantastic personal touch to the tasting and her excitement about her craft was infectious. Along with sipping some fabulous wines from around the globe, we learned some wine tasting techniques and experienced how wine changes with food.

Every Friday night, Master Sommelier, Melissa Monosoff hosts a wine tasting for up to 18 guests. The tasting costs $35 plus tax and service charge.

Savona Restaurant
100 Old Gulph Road, Gulph Mills, PA 19428
(610) 520-1200
www.savonarestaurant.com

Pennsylvania Convention Center, Photo by B. Krist for GPTMC

Be sure to check out the Paradise City Arts Festival happening in Center City, this weekend. Friday through Sunday, the PA Convention Center will feature award winning crafts, paintings and sculptures for show and for sale. There will be over 125 exhibitors from different states showcasing a wide variety of art, sculpture, fashion, jewelry, furniture and home furnishings.

This year’s special themed exhibit, The Art of Love, will touch upon the various types of love that have inspired artists to create their greatest works. This exhibition will take place in the Sculpture Court and Café. It will also feature a set on the theme of love by different jazz bands.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors. Three day passes are available for $15. For more information, visit Paradise City Arts’ official website.

Philadelphia City Arts Festival
Friday, April 30th – Sunday, May 2nd
www.paradisecityarts.com

Pennsylvania Convention Center
1101 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 418-4700
www.paconvention.com

Guests on the tour can watch movie clips on large, plasma televisions

Saturday, April 10th marks the fifth season of the Philadelphia Movie Sites Tour in the City of Brotherly Love. I was lucky enough to get a sneak peak of the movie action before the new season beings. This tour visits more than 40 movie sites all around Philadelphia in 2.5 hours, roughly the same time as a feature-length film. Guests can enjoy the sites, scenes and secrets of movies made in the city.

Most of the movie sites we visited on the tour, I had no idea the shows were even filmed in Philadelphia! It was very interesting to see how many movies Philadelphia has actually helped make. It was fun to see all the various movie clips, by driving by the exact location where the movie was shot and then hear from the tour guide some secrets about the filming itself. This is a great tour for both locals and visitors because the tour covers so much of the city in a short time. You get to see all the big sites!

The Movie Sites Tour stops at a variety of iconic movie sites in Philadelphia such as: Famous 4th Street Deli, Reading Terminal Market, City Hall, Eastern State Penitentiary and many more. Guests enjoy the tour in a rolling movie theater – a luxury bus which features multiple plasma television screens, surround sound stereo and air conditioning – each bus can hold up to 21 people.

New this season is Date Night, which happens every second Saturday of the month. This twist offers the addition of a personal wine and cheese pack for each guest. Tours depart from the Independence Visitor Center, 6th and Market Streets at 10:00 am (Date Night at 6:00pm) and travel throughout Philadelphia. Tickets cost $35 for adults, $30 for seniors and children and $45 for date night.

Philadelphia Movie Sites Tour
(215) 625-7980
www.moviesitestour.com

Rich desserts at Le Bar Lyonnais

I hit the food blogger lottery the day I found out I was being assigned to dine at Le Bar Lyonnais. It was almost as if the clouds parted and the foodie gods were smiling down at me. I may have done a little dance. Just a little one.

Le Bar is located downstairs in the beautiful Le-Bec Fin, one of Philadelphia’s premier fine dining establishments. The best part of Le Bar is that you get the amazing dining experience of Le-Bec Fin but in a cozier environment, tucked away from the busy streets of Philadelphia.

Sun-dried tomatoes and olive oil prosciutto / bread basket at Le Bar Lyonnais

When I went to Le Bar for dinner, I was so excited, I didn’t know what to get. Everything looked and sounded so incredible, I knew I couldn’t make a bad choice. When I sat down to eat, immediately a beautiful spread of sun-dried tomatoes and olive oil prosciutto and bread was brought to the table. It was lovely to nibble on while I was making my menu selections.

Wild Mushroom Ravioli at Le Bar Lyonnais

We started off the evening with a the Wild Mushroom Ravoili and a Belgian Endive salad for the table. The salad came with walnuts, apples and bleu d’Auvergne cheese. It was such a great blend of flavors and textures.I knew that if the entree was half as good as the appetizers, I was in for a real treat!

For the main course I talked with the waitress and upon her suggestion I decided upon one of Le-Bec Fin’s classic signature dishes – the Gallette de Crabe – aka, crabcakes! These crabcakes were unlike anything I have ever seen before. There was no filler at all, and it was sitting on top of a bed of onions, green beans, red peppers and whole grain mustard sauce. It did not disappoint!

It is no wonder that Le Bar Lyonnais is known as one of Philadelphia’s “best kept secrets.” It’s a wonderful spot to enjoy a happy hour cocktail with friends, a romantic glass of champagne prior to dining upstairs, or to event to try a signature menu for lunch on Fridays and Saturdays and for dinner Monday through Saturdays. Happy hour at Le Bar is from 5:00pm – 7:00pm, with select $5 cocktails and appetizers.

Le Bar Lyonnais
1523 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 567-1000
www.lebecfin.com/lbf_lyonnais.asp

The Bar @ Cafe Spice

If you want to spice up your lunch or dinner, you need to check out Cafe Spice on 2nd Street in Philadelphia. Cafe Spice features authentic Indian cuisine with some flair. The second you walk in the door you are greeted with bright, welcoming colors throughout the entire restaurant. Once surrounded by the vibrant orange, red and yellow colors, you immediately crave curry and naan.

With a variety of chicken, lamb, seafood, vegetarian or other entrees from the tandoor, there is something sweet or spicy for everyone. You can sit outside and enjoy a lovely evening, or have a romantic meal in one of Cafe Spice’s secluded booths. I suggest stopping by Friday nights for dinner and drinks, where you can also enjoy live Indian music while you dine.

Warm lighting in Cafe Spice

Cafe Spice offers two course meals from their regular menu plus a glass of wine for $22 per person on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evenings. “Wine Down” Wednesdays offers a three course meal for $45 per couple and along with 1/2 price bottles from the wine list. Happy hour specials are offered daily.

Cafe Spice
35 S. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 627-6273
www.cafespicephilly.net

I sampled all five burgers from the menu, as sliders! Yum!

If you are looking for a spot to kick back, relax and enjoy a nice big 1/2 pound burger with a ice cold beer, then Bridget Foy’s on Wednesday night is just the place for you! The middle of the week is the perfect time to meet up with friends and enjoy a relaxing night on the town. For only $10, a burger and a brew is the perfect way to take the edge off mid-week! I was lucky enough to try out all five of Bridget Foy’s burger options in slider form. It was amazing to get to try each of the five burger options, because they each have a very unique taste.

At Bridget Foy’s there is a burger and a beer option for everyone! I tried a standard burger with Wisconsin cheddar, romaine lettuce, tomato and red onion topped with a dill pickle. If you are craving a little Mexican then I suggest the New Mexico burger, which comes with roasted green chilies, spicy pepperjack cheese and a wonderful chipotle aioli sauce. For the vegetarian there is a veggie burger, it comes with a house-made, black bean veggie patty, mushrooms, peto aioli, spinach and Gruyere cheese. If you want a little Thanksgiving in March then go for the Turkey Burger which is covered with cranberry relish, avocado aioli, gruyere and alfalfa sprouts. Last up is the Head House Market burger which comes with herb mayo, Gruyere, mushroom and fried egg.

All five burgers were incredible. I can’t really pick a favorite because they were all so mouth-watering and delicious! Each of the regular burgers on the menu are made with 1/2 lb. fresh ground Angus sirloin. All the sauces are made in house, which explains why they were so tasty.

Stout's Scarlet Lady and Dogfish Head 60 Min IPA

To go along with the different burgers, there is also a wide variety of beer choices too. I got to taste the Dogfish Head 60 Min. IPA and the Stout’s Scarlet lady. Other beer choices include Philadelphia Brewing Co. Kenzinger, Yunegling Lager and two seasonal rotating taps.

It was the perfect meal for a Wednesday evening! Stop and check it out for yourself this week!

Bridget Foy’s
200 South Street, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 922-1813
www.bridgetfoys.com

Inside the Couch Tomato Cafe

My favorite pizza place is Manayunk is a little spot known as The Couch Tomato Cafe. I have visited The Couch Tomato many times since I have been living in Philadelphia, and let me tell you, it never disappoints. I am always impressed with the wide variety of options available. There are so many gourmet pizza choices and an even bigger salad selection. I always go there with the goal of trying something new!

With over 40 topping choices and 10 homemade sauces the options are a bit overwhelming, but I am doing my best to try all the different pizza’s available. During this trip I had a Garden of Eating pizza slice. This masterpiece includes white pizza, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, feta cheese and mozzarella. It was pure pizza bliss.

Pear-Fection Salad / The 'Garden of Eating' Pizza

The salad selections are also out of this world! There is a wide variety of toppings to make your own salad or if you wanted to go a different route there are specialty vegetarian and meaty selections available too. Anything you could ever want in your salad, The Couch Tomato has it! Along with my pizza slice I had a nice Pear-Fection salad. It contained sliced pears, Gorgonzola, walnuts and sun dried cranberries with balsamic dressing. It was fresh, fruity and delicious!

All the produce is fresh and the food prepared daily. Stop in!

The Couch Tomato
102 Rector St, Philadelphia, PA 19127
(215) 483- 2233
www.thecouchtomato.com