December 13, 2010
The glamorous Hill Burger (top) at Granite Hill at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. (Photos courtesy Starr Events and the Art Museum)
Back in September, Starr Events — the catering division of Starr Restaurants — opened Granite Hill, the new main restaurant at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Since then, museum-goers have been able to sample Granite Hill’s offerings of upscale yet approachable French fare.
Some examples of said fare: Le Hot Dog on Brioche, a D’Angelo Bros. chicken, veal and pork sausage with toasted gruyere and onion confit, served on a Brioche Bun with twice-fried Kennebec potatoes fries for $12; and the Tuna Salad “Parisian” on Black Russian Bread, a tuna salad sandwich with European tuna, Gaeta olives, lemon aioli and twice-fried Kennebec potatoes fries for $12.
And then, of course, there’s the Hill Burger, pictured above, a delicious charbroiled burger made with a special beef blend and topped with melted fontina and fried onion. The burger is served on a truffled sesame bun and comes with a side of the restaurant’s signature twice-fried Kennebec potatoes fries; cost is $14. Add a can of Boddington’s and you have yourself a very proper European lunch.
On the appetizer front, you can order the Fried Wianno Oysters, with Madras curry remoulade and petit vegetable slaw ($10), pictured below next to one of the entrées from the menu, the Potato-Fried Chicken Schnitzel, which is served with a fried egg, lemon, caper, heirloom tomato and watercress ($19).
The Potato-Fried Chicken Schnitzel and the Fried Wianno Oysters at Granite Hill. (Photos courtesy Starr Events)
Moral of the story: the Art Museum now has an impressive destination restaurant that gives you a new reason to plan a visit to one of Philadelphia’s most popular attractions.
Granite Hill is open for lunch: Tuesday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; brunch: Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Of course, Granite Hill also serves dinner Friday from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. to coincide with the Museum’s popular Art After 5 series on Friday evenings.
Check out the full menu below.
November 18, 2010
Le Castagne, on Chestnut Street, means "chestnut" in Italian. (Photo courtesy Le Castagne)
Executive Chef Brian Wilson’s new Sunday brunch at Le Castagne spotlights the more laid-back side of this posh, glass-clinky Italian mainstay.
The restaurant is offering both a brunch buffet—$20 per person, $10 for children—and an à la carte menu that is half price with the purchase of the buffet option.
The brunch is still elegant, but family-friendly: kids receive an activity kit filled with coloring pages, crayons and make-and-take pasta necklaces. Children can enjoy Italian chocolate milk or hot chocolate alongside adults’ mimosas, Bloody Marys, and wine pairings.
Brunch menu highlights include: spinach and goat cheese frittata, eggs Benedict with prosciutto cotto on Italian bread, brioche Nutella French toast with caramelized bananas, apple glazed braised pork sandwich, breaded veal cutlet sandwich topped with mozzarella, and assorted homemade scones, muffins and pastries.
Le Castagne has received a slew of accolades for Chef Wilson’s housemade pasta, and his gnocchi sorrentino with tomato sauce, fresh basil and mozzarella will be a staple on the brunch menu. It’s never too early in the day for homemade gnocchi, right? And a newly added flatscreen HD TV at the bar will be tuned to Philadelphia sporting events and news programming—so if the Eagles are playing, you’re good to go.
Le Castagne
1920 Chestnut Street
www.lecastagne.com
November 3, 2010
Get cooking with First Person Arts at the 9th Annual First Person Festival of Memoir and Documentary Art. Join popular cookbook author Joan Nathan for brunch at Quiches, Kugels and Couscous on Saturday, November 13.
You won’t have to travel to France to experience Jewish-French cooking this November. Hear Joan Nathan share about her travels through the French county-side while researching the history of Jewish-French cooking for her newest cookbook, Quiches, Kugels and Couscous. Nosh on brunch from Argan Moroccan Cuisine, Hershel’s East Side Deli and Zahav. Learn about Jewish cuisine in France as well as Jewish food heritage right here in the states.
Click here to read more about this event and other great Festival programs at First Person Arts festival website. Oh, and make sure to come hungry!
All events take place at the Painted Bride Art Center (230 Vine Street, Philadelphia), unless otherwise noted.
August 5, 2010
Chalkboard Outside Cooper's
Located in the heart of Manayunk on Main Street, Jake’s and Cooper’s is the perfect spot for people watching and fine dining. I enjoyed a lovely Sunday Brunch sitting at one of their many outdoor tables, nibbling on food crafted with quality local ingredients.
Soups @ Jakes & Coopers
We started our meal with two chilled soups, a yogurt-based cucumber soup and a tomato gazpacho. Both were delicious. The cucumber soup had was topped with a smoked salmon cream cheese dollop that was fantastic. The tomato gazpacho was topped with jumbo lump crab and made with local tomatoes.
Our next course was my favorite, barbeque pulled pork topped with a poached egg nestled in a goat cheese polenta. The pulled pork is cooked for twenty-four hours, creating a perfect tender meat. The poached egg was a fantastic topping for the warm goat cheese polenta.
Cheesecake Stuffed French Toast
On to the next course . . . cheesecake stuffed french toast topped with strawberries. This was not a course for the calorie counter. It was decadent and rich, but not over the top. It was the perfect sweet ending to our lovely meal.
We also sampled some of Jake’s and Cooper’s creative cocktails while we dined. We started with the plum blossom, which was a refreshing summer drink, perfect for the recent heat. The pear raspberry sangria was the standout though. The sangria here is a bit unusual as it has a wheat beer, rather than wine, base. This makes for one fantastic sangria that is not to be missed. I would return to Jake’s just for this sangria!
Head to Jake’s and Cooper’s for a lovely Sunday brunch!
Jake’s & Cooper’s Wine Bar
4367 Main Street, Philadelphia, PA 19127
(215) 483-2750
www.jakesrestaurant.com
July 23, 2010
Blueberry French Toast @ Garces Trading Co.
The Iron Chef’s vibrant gourmet market/cafe hybrid just got even tastier with the introduction of Weekend Brunch offered Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
In addition to the GTC dishes you’ve come to love (deep dish pizza anyone?), the menu also includes a three-course $25 prix fixe option featuring 2 dishes of your choice, dessert and a non-alcoholic beverage.
Fresh Summer Melon @ Garces Trading Co.
Firsts include Fresh Summer Melon with mint labneh and spiced pecans (to die for!), Chef’s Cheese Selection served with housemade condiment, Cured Salmon Tartar with pea shoots, fresh sourdough bread and creme fraiche, as well as Baby Artichokes with preserved lemon, honey, dates and walnuts.
For the Second Course, choose from classic Blueberry Muffin French Toast served with Lancaster County maple syrup and goat butter, or Organic Poached Eggs with hot smoked pastrami, pain au lait, and whole grain mustard hollandaise.
Shirred Egg with Soft Polenta @ Garces Trading Co.
Quiche prepared with roasted tomato, housemade bacon and bucherondin and an Omelette du Jour are also options, although a personal favorite is the Shirred Egg with soft polenta and red chile marinara.
As for dessert, make sure you ask for the daily specials- we enjoyed fresh blueberry panna cotta with lemon curd, rich chocolate bouchon and a cheery green pistachio macaroon. Drinks include Rosemary Lemonade, Virgin Bloody Mary, and the must-have smooth GTC Reserva Coffee. The light, cheery atmosphere inside the Trading Company makes for a highly enjoyable, relaxed experience. And don’t be surprised if you find yourself browsing the shelves stoked with gourmet items post-brunch to stock up on some of the Iron Chef’s favorite ingredients!
Garces Trading Company
111 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 574-1099
www.garcestradingcompany.com
June 4, 2010
Eggs Benedict at the 10th Street Pourhouse
My taste buds are still recovering from one of the best brunches I’ve had in some time. The Tenth Street PourHouse, an unassuming cafe tucked into a side street near Washington Square, has the perfect laid-back vibe for a weekend morning meal. The wooden tavern-like benches and bright, funky local artwork are the perfect backdrop for freshly prepared comfort food with a Southern twist.
The neighborhood favorite, Eggs Benedict, comes with two plump poached eggs smothered in creamy hollandaise sauce with ham, bacon, or turkey bacon on a toasted English muffin. Order it Cajun style, with Andouille sausage and creole spice, or Mississippi style, with fried catfish. The veggie omelette is equally delicious, packed with fresh peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes and onions and folded almost like a burrito, served with nutty multigrain toast. Watching your bank account balance? The two eggs, home fries, toast, and choice of breakfast meat for $5.99 is an unbeatable bargain.
Supplement your meal with a creative coffee drink – Milky Way latte (cappuccino with caramel, vanilla and chocolate syrup) or Almond Mochacchino. Or order a side, like the crispy housemade breakfast potatoes or one-of-a-kind fruit plate: bananas laden with blueberries and light syrup. Your first time at the Tenth Street PourHouse won’t be your last.
Tenth Street PourHouse
262 South 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107-5750
(215) 922-5626
www.phillypourhouse.com
May 28, 2010
Omelet & Sweet Potato Home Fries @ Mi Lah
“Mi Lah” comes from a Buddhist word denoting nature, harmony, happiness and kindness… expect to be treated genially, fed well, and be thanked by your friends for introducing them to one of Philly’s most under-the-radar restaurants. Mi Lah.
It’s the rare breed of vegetarian restaurant that can satisfy both your carnivore dining companions and veggie loving friends, but Mi Lah pulls it off. The food is locally sourced and seasonal, and the menu includes plenty of options to satisfy both parties
The Sunday vegan brunch is a good place to start. A beautiful plate of fresh fruit is complimentary with every meal. Mi Lah is a BYOB, so plan accordingly if you want to order the mimosa mix or sangria. Then challenge your palate with any of the wide-ranging food options. The creamy omelet, served with roasted-just-right red bliss and sweet potato home fries, plus toast, is made-to-order from a creamy egg-and-tofu base with your choice of wild or white mushrooms, American or Cheddar soy cheeses (can’t taste the difference!), spinach, tomatoes, red pepper, veggie sausage or veggie bacon.
The end result is a light concoction that satiates without giving you that about-to-pop feeling. The tofu Benedict is another popular option, served on a toasted English muffin with velvety hollandaise, kale and oven-roasted tomatoes. All the fresh vegetables give each dish the kick it needs. To satisfy a sweet tooth, go for the pancakes, made simply from soy, water and flour- it’s remarkable how cuisine that avoids the overdone pizazz in favor of clean classic flavors can often trump in taste. They’re served with garden-fresh blueberry butter, rich organic maple syrup, and strips of veggie bacon whose believably beefy taste belies their artificial appearance.
For a change of pace, try this alternative-style brunch in a convenient Center City location.
Mi Lah Vegetarian Restaurant
218 South 16th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 732-8888
www.milahvegetarian.com
May 21, 2010
Kennett Square Omelette @ White Dog Cafe
The White Dog Cafe was founded in 1983 by social activist Judy Wicks as a coffee and muffin take-out shop. Their mission: “serving our customers, serving our community, serving our earth and serving each other.”
Over 25 years later, nothing has changed, except for its expansion into a full-service restaurant housed in three Victorian brownstones. The commitment to civic engagement and environmental awareness is as strong as ever, from kitchen to front-of-house.
White Dog’s chefs serve contemporary American food made from local sustainable farms’ pasture-fed livestock, American vineyards’ wine, and sustainable seafood. The walls, tables and bathrooms are adorned with the trappings of snarky political and social wit. And the food, as well, is prepared with that extra flair that sets White Dog cafe apart from its culinary competitors.
White Dog’s brunch is perhaps the meal most exemplary of this singular dining experience. Start with the Harvest Bread Basket, a generous assortment of house made pastries and breads (think sugary blueberry scones and cushy sourdough) served with local honey, apple butter and pear butter. You might as well continue the carbo-load with the Big Stack of Buttermilk Pancakes, complete with caramelized local heirloom apples, cinnamon spiced candied pecans, vanilla bourbon mascarpone (so unique and so delicious) and gooey warm local maple syrup.
Another sure bet is the Kennett Square Omelette, made with three large organic eggs, wild local mushrooms, caramelized onions, spinach, sharp Lancaster smoked cheddar, and served with fresh-from-the-garden baby greens and and salty fingerling potatoes.
White Dog, true to its mission, is vegan and vegetarian friendly, with asterisks highlighting dishes that fit the bill. The prices are right, the staff is pleasant, and the occasional wait (best to come at noon or before) just makes the meal that much more scrumptious.
When just reading a brunch menu makes your mouth water, you know it’s going to be a good one.
White Dog Cafe
3420 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3404
(215) 386-9224
www.whitedog.com
May 14, 2010
Breakfast Quesadillas at Devil's Alley
You may know and love Devil’s Alley for their happy hour, beer selection, or “devilishly good wings.” But Devil’s Alley’s brunch is my favorite offering from the crew that also helms Smokin’ Betty’s. The heavy black-and-red decor is offset by the high ceilings and expansive windows that flood the two floors with fresh air. Ask for a balcony or streetside seat, weather permitting.
Classic brunch grub is given a contemporary twist: think bread pudding french toast with apples and cinnamon, steak and eggs served with lump crab and corn hash, and skillet-baked chili with eggs. Order a side of cornbread muffins, and slather them with butter, to pay homage to Devil’s Alley’s BBQ roots, or else go whole hog and order the St. Louis ribs or BBQ chicken salad sandwich- it’s never too early in the morning for some good smoked meat.
The Alley Salad @ Devil's Alley
A lighter option is the Alley Salad (order it with chicken), piled with roasted season vegetables and smattered with creamy goat cheese in a refreshing red wine dijon vinaigrette. If you’re a breakfast-for-brunch type, go with the breakfast quesadilla: toasted-just-right multigrain tortillas with scrambled eggs, chorizo, cheddar, potatoes and jalapenos. True to Devil’s Alley form, the drinks menu is as impressive as the food selection. Raspberry mojito? Pomegranate sangria? Don’t mind if you do.
Prices are reasonable, waitstaff is friendly, and the off-Rittenhouse location is just right for the scenery.
Devil’s Alley Bar & Grill
1907 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 751-0707
www.devilsalleybarandgrill.com
May 7, 2010
Inside Noble
If you’re in search of a new brunch spot, swing by Noble on Sundays between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. when tasty, sustainable fare is served in this modern Rittenhouse cookery designed by restaurateurs Todd Rodgers and Bruno Pouget. The welcoming interior features exposed ceiling rafters, beautifully restored skylights, white brick walls, and sidewalk dining with seating facing into the restaurant over a granite counter
Choose from “Firsts” including fresh Bibb Lettuce (fresh herbs, local goat cheese, $9), Chickpea Fries (preserved tomatoes, $6) or delicious Market Oysters (green apple, celery mignonette, $9) to kick things off. House favorites include Grilled Housemade Chorizo (piperade, potatoes, fried eggs, $11), Brioche French Toast (strawberries, whipped ricotta) and Jumbo Lump Crab Eggs Benedict (country ham, romaine lettuce, $14).
Noble's Veggie Burger w/ Cheddar & Potato Fries
Or go with the deliciously sweet Stuffed Crepes with Nutella cream and fresh berries, or the juicy Noble (Veggie) Burger on a housemade bun, with beets, cheddar and potato fries. And of course, no Sunday brunch is complete without Mimosas, especially when they’re mixed with fresh-squeezed OJ, so go ahead and treat yourself.
Noble
2025 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 568-7000
www.noblecookery.com
