Coffee shops making a buzz around Philadelphia, other FYI Philly featured businesses
PHILADELPHIA -- Rowhome Coffee puts twist on Philly soft pretzel with new breakfast sandwich
If you see long lines on weekend mornings at 26th and Pine Streets in Philadelphia's Fitler Square neighborhood, it is people lining up for Rowhome Coffee's new breakfast phenomenon: Philly Pretzel Sandwich.
A soft pretzel sliced and used as the vehicle for all kinds of breakfast sandwiches both sweet and savory, like bacon or sausage eggs and cheese sandwiches.
The owners, Hugh Morretta and Eli Shaika, have been friends since high school, and have wanted to open a business together for years.
Once Morretta went to work for La Colombe and perfected his roasting skills, they thought his coffee pedigree would be the draw. For right now, at least, it's those pretzel sandwiches.
Rowhome Coffee | Facebook | Instagram
2536 Pine Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19103
Herman's Coffee creating hub for Pennsport's foodie pop-ups
Herman's Coffee sounds like a caffeine stop but it looks much more like a mechanic's garage
Husband and wife owners Mat and Amy Falco took an an old auto shop and gas station and turned it into a small-batch-coffee-roaster, and specialty-foods-market, stocked with locally-made cheeses, artisan sweets, and Mat's obsession with unique tinned fish that you can't find elsewhere.
The couple also bought a food cart for rotating restaurant pop-ups. Mondays and Fridays feature dinners, on weekends, food trucks pull up during brunch hours with burritos, Brazilian cake rolls, ice cream and artisan finds.
There's no phone so don't try calling; just pop over and experience the scene.
Herman's Coffee | Facebook | Instagram
1313 S. 3rd Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19147
All aboard for Gilben's Bakery's Po'Boy sandwiches
A former Amtrak conductor is all-aboard his family's black-owned and operated bakery and sandwich shop in Mount Airy, Pennsylvania.
Head Chef Joshua Coston joined forces with his cousin and co-owner Crystal Brown and her fiancé Kevin Paulhill in bringing a taste of New Orleans to Philly with their special Po Boys sandwiches.
The shop is known for large portions, special sauces and a full-service bakery.
Gilbens Bakery and Specialty Sandwich Shop| Facebook
7405 Stenton Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19150
Order early for Soul Food Sundays
Two old restaurant favorites find a new home at MUSI
In South Philadelphia, two chefs who got engaged during the pandemic are pivoting in all kinds of ways to survive.
Ari Miller, closed his restaurant Musi BYOB in Pennsport due to the pandemic and is now using it as a ghost kitchen for the Frizwit, a cheesesteak made with high-quality ingredients.
Miller's fiancé Kiki Aranita recently shuttered her own restaurant, Poi Dog in Rittenhouse, also due to the pandemic. She is now bottling her Hawaiian-inspired sauces for people to use at home, available for purchase at Musi's. online and at various locations around the city.
Together, the couple incorporates the sauce collection into the set menu that includes a vegan shroomsteak and hummus.
Hours: Thurs-Sun 11am-7pm, pickup & delivery available
The Commodore brings Irish cuisine, to Mount Airy
The Irish Center has been a gathering place for social, educational, and musical activities that promote the culture and arts of Ireland for more than 60 years.
And while the social scene has been temporarily lost due to the pandemic, the club added a new restaurant that is open to both members and the public.
It's called The Commodore and it features the award-winning pizzas of co-owner Daniel Gutter, along with lots of comfort bar food and Irish staples like corned beef and cabbage -- available for takeout and delivery.
Dine-in is for members only, but anyone can join at any time. It's only $15 for the year, or $25 for a family.
The Irish Center has been economically devastated by the loss of activities the past 12 months so club members are hoping to boost membership this year.
The Commodore Inside The Irish Center | Mt. Airy Irish Center
6815 Emlen Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19119
215-842-8051
How to make Caponata Alla Napoletana Italian salad
Cicala at the Divine Lorraine is closed temporarily due to the pandemic but throughout the month of March, chef/owners Angela and Joe Cicala are sharing recipes you can make at home.
It's a partnership with the new Portofino Italian-style tuna.
Enter for a chance to win Portofino products + a $50 gift card to Cicala at the Divine Lorraine.
ENTER HERE: Portofino Tuna sweepstakes
Caponata Alla Napoletana (Neapolitan-style Panzanella Salad) -- Serves 4
Dressing ingredients:
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 TBSP red wine vinegar
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 pinch of red pepper flake
Salad ingredients:
- 3 cups tomatoes, diced
- cup olives pitted
- 1 small red onion, sliced
- 2 stalks of celery, sliced
- 1 cucumber diced
- 6 leaves of basil
- 2 cups of diced rustic bread
- 1 can Portofino tuna
- salt & cracked black pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS
+ Whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano and red pepper flake.
+ Season with salt and pepper.
+ Set aside.
+ In a large bowl, add the tomatoes, olives, onion, celery, cucumber, and basil.
+ Pour the dressing over the mixture and toss until fully incorporated.
+ Season with salt and pepper to taste.
+ Add the diced rustic bread and toss again.
+ Refrigerate for 30m or until the bread has soaked up the juice from the tomatoes and dressing. Place on a serving platter and crumble the Portofino tuna over the top.
Portofino Tuna Recipes | Facebook | Instagram
You can find Portofino in the canned tuna aisle at your Acme, ShopRite or Weis Markets. It's also available online at Amazon.
Cicala at the Divine Lorraine | Instagram
699 N Broad St, Philadelphia, Pa. 19123
267-886-9334
Some of Philly's best bread is baked at this South Philly hardware store
At Metuka Freshly Baked, old World bread meets old school hardware store, with a new baker popping up at one of the oldest hardware stores in the country.
Ran Betite moved to here from Tel Aviv. His bread-making skills were just a hobby he picked up in college, but he began baking more seriously during the pandemic and decided to open a bakery.
He started Metuka Freshly Baked in September 2020.
Mitchell Cohen is the fourth generation owner of Cohen & Co. Hardware. The store has been in Philadelphia since 1913. He invited Betite to sell bread at the hardware store. The pop-up has been so successful Cohen & Co. has become the only place to buy Metuka Bread.
Metuka Freshly Baked | Facebook | Instagram
Cohen & Co. Hardware Store | Facebook | Instagram
615 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19147
West Philly boutique offers fresh looks for nearly 50 years
Entrepreneur Tedd Hall says he always had a passion for business and a keen sense for knowing what people want in fashion. This led him and his wife, Miriam, to open Babe, a fashion boutique for women, in 1972 on 52nd Street in West Philadelphia.
Hall says he saw the need for a quality clothing store in the neighborhood where his wife was born and raised.
He says he was able to open the store with just a handful of money and be successful.
The store now carries a variety of women's clothing for all ages, making it a one-stop shop for fashion. He has shoes, dresses, coats, and handbags, among other items.
Babe Botique | Facebook
110 S 52nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19139
FYI Philly Loves the Arts
The Asian Arts initiative is premiering a major exhibition showcasing art by queer and trans artists of color
The exhibition is called Unity at the Initiative, and it was inspired by the artwork of Jeffrey Cheung, working with an Oakland, California-based queer skate collective called UNITY..
The project's overarching intention is to increase representation of queer and trans bodies of color.
1219 Vine Street, Philadelphia, Pa 19107
Through May 1st, reservations required
