On the menu this week - sandwiches at Huda, cocktails at the Rose Garden and more for fall

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Thursday, October 29, 2020
The pivot helps keep them in business through shutdowns, and customers can buy the same ingredients the chefs use.

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Gourmet restaurants pivot to markets to stay afloat during the pandemic

Some of the top restaurants in the city are reinventing their spaces as gourmet markets.

From Italian at Gran Caffe L'Aquila, to French at Bibou, or Mexican at La Bodega and Thai at Kalaya Thai market, authentic ingredients from around the world are now available to help you cook like the pros.

The pivot helps keep them in business through shutdowns, and customers can buy many of the same ingredients the chefs use.

They are still cooking up menu items as well, for pre-order and pickup.

Gran Caffe L'Aquila | Facebook | Instagram

1716 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia PA 19103

215-568-5600

Kalaya Thai Market | Facebook | Instagram

922 S. 9th Street, Philadelphia PA 19147

215-385-3777

Bibou Boutique | Facebook | Instagram

1009 S. 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147

215-965-8290

La Bodega at Distrito | Facebook | instagram

3945 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104

215-222-1657

Worried about eating outdoors this winter? Don't worry, there are igloos and greenhouses for that.

Harper's Garden, Vesper Dayclub redefine outdoor dining with igloos, greenhouses

Two restaurants have upgraded the outdoor dining experience in Philadelphia, with creative ways to dine in heated, socially distant experiences.

At Germantown Grill in Northern Liberties, the Vesper DayClub has converted their poolside dining into a grill with an entree-forward menu that features steaks, seafood and creative cocktails.

The outdoor dining area includes more than a dozen "igloos" for dining that can hold up to six people.

At Harper's Garden in Center City, greenhouses have popped up on the patio.

it's their way of keeping guests warm while staying outside. The greenhouses have a heater, windows and a door to keep air fresh and plenty of room for a table of six diners. The new outdoor scene sets perfectly with the seasonal menu of food and drink.

Germantown Garden Grill | Facebook | Instagram

1029 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19123

Harper's Garden | Facebook | Instagram

31 South 18th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

After a hiatus from the kitchen and some experimenting during the pandemic, Jacob Trinh is back with Trinh Eats, his line of Chinese condiments.

Aspiring chef rediscovers his love of cooking with Trinh Eats

Jacob Trinh likes to dance in the kitchen. A year ago he was an aspiring chef hoping to earn a Michelin star during his career.

After helping open Vernick at the Four Seasons, Trinh stepped away from the kitchen for the first time in nearly a decade.

He worked at his parent's Auto Tag store until the pandemic shut down that business.

During his time at home, he reignited his passion for cooking by making xo sauce, a luxury Chinese condiment.

After positive feedback from friends and family, he has turned it into a business making sauces.

He sells a traditional xo sauce made with dried seafood ingredients and a vegan version made with New Jersey mushrooms. He also makes a variety of fermented hot sauces, with his items available for purchase on his Instagram page.

Trinh Eats | Facebook | Instagram

One cookie equals one vote. Democracy is pretty sweet at Lochel's Bakery, where the cookies have correctly picked the last three Presidents.

This Pa bakery has accurately predicted the last 3 elections

It's a heated election season and political conversations can get a little tricky.

But in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, a bakery is adding a little levity by making the race more fun and delicious.

Political cookies are flying off the shelves at Lochel's Bakery in Hatboro. They feature the name and party colors of each candidate.

The bakery tallies the sales like votes in an unofficial, tasty little poll that's now sweeping the nation. But this is an election year and that means everyone's picking their cookie on party lines.

For the past three elections, the sugary sales have accurately predicted the presidential winner.

Each cookie counts for one vote. At last check, the red cookies were in the lead.

The ingredients are also unbiased and bipartisan, from the dough to the icing. They're making and selling hundreds a day and shipping them across the states.

Lochel's Bakery| Facebook | Instagram

57 S York Rd, Hatboro, PA 19040

There's an assortment of beers at Human Robot, drinks for the ladies at the Rose Garden and amazing decor and drinks at Artesano Café.

Get cozy with these new drink spots in Philly

The Human Robot in Kensington is a brand-new brewery that incorporates old-school style beers with newer styles, like sours and hops.

They brew all of their beer on-site, as well as seltzer and cider.

Inside the brewery is Poe's Sandwich Joint, where you can get inventive, home-made subs with a South Philly flair.

Outdoor seating and take-out is available.

Human Robot | Instagram

1710 N 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122

The Rose Garden is a whimsical place with the purpose of making women feel relaxed and pampered.

Their mixologist brings dreamy and sparkly drinks to complement the seasonal menu.

They have Instagram-able friendly locations throughout with props such as rose petals and life-size roses, perfect for a photo-op.

Upstairs is a rooftop and Hookah bar called the Whiskey Garden, which brings a night-time city vibe.

The Rose Garden | Instagram

1437 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146

Weekend Brunch, 12pm-10pm, call for details

Artesano Café is a European style café in the art district of Manayunk.

The space used to be an award-winning wedding venue and is part of the Artesano Ironworks.

The owners decided to transform the building into a unique place where people can come, relax and find peace, especially during the Pandemic.

The outdoor courtyard is surrounded by luscious green plants, some of which are hard to find, and are available for purchase.

There's also fine art all throughout, as well as a gallery next door.

The art is from artists from Colombia, where the owners are originally from.

All of their pastries are hand-made as well, and you can find top-notch coffee along with intricate dishes.

Artesano Café | Instagram

109 Green Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19127

Hours: Tues-Wed 8-3 and Thurs-Sun 8-5

And after more than a decade in the kitchens of Cook N' Solo, Chef Yehuda Sichel has opened Huda in Center City.

Huda has great sandwiches from all over the world

November 3rd is not only Election Day, it's also National Sandwich Day. So there's no better time to try Huda, Center City's new sandwich spot.

And after more than a decade in the kitchens of Cook N' Solo, Chef Yehuda 'Huda' Sichel finally has a place to call his own.

He takes the same approach to sandwiches as he does to more elevated dining saying it's all about the flavors and layering.

He spent quarantine perfecting his bread. Some of the sandwiches are served open-faced on sourdough and some on Japanese style milk buns.

Yehuda says the menu reflects his lifelong food journey of cooking, eating and traveling so you'll find Jewish, South American, Asian, Californian, Middle Eastern and European influences with a focus on seasonal and locally sourced ingredients.

He recommends you try the brisket with garlic pickles and the crispy Maitake mushroom, which he says happens to be vegetarian.

Huda | Instagram

Tuesday-Saturday 11:00am-6pm

32 South 18th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

445-544-8025

Unite Fitness is one of our 4 local gyms offering workouts to keep you in shape while keeping you safe.

COVID-safe workouts for the winter

If you've been playing it safe during the pandemic, avoiding the gym and taking your workout outdoors, you might be worrying about what to do as the weather turns colder.

So we rounded up some workouts to take you through the winter; some indoors, some outside and some a hybrid -- but all with a strong focus on keeping you safe.

Unite Fitness

Unite at the Armory

23rd and Ranstead Streets, Philadelphia, Pa. 19103

Unite One-on-One Personal Training

26 S. 20th Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19103

267-534-3230

Unite Live & On-Demand Virtual Classes

Commit to a year and it's $300 for unlimited live and on-demand virtual classes.

SPECIAL DEAL FOR FYI PHILLY VIEWERS
*Select Streaming Intro Trial and enter the code FYIPHILLY at checkout to receive complimentary 14 days full access to Unite Live and On-Demand, plus two Guest Live Class Reservations.

Amrita Yoga & Wellness

Offering Sculpture Courtyard & Barn Classes that are also live-streamed and available on-demand

1717 N. Hancock Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19122

JP Sneed Personal Fitness Studio

One-on-one & small group training in Sculpture Courtyard & Barn

1714 N. Mascher Street (entrance also on 1717 N. Hancock Street ), Philadelphia, Pa. 19122

The Training Station | 5 Part Pandemic Plan | Workout Reservations

533 Spring Garden Street, #D1, Philadelphia, Pa. 19123

215-964-9558

You can now hear one of the most iconic sounds of the island of Puerto Rico on the streets of North Philadelphia. It's a creative art installation that invites residents to reconnect with their roots.

FYI Philly Loves the Arts

You can now hear one of the most iconic sounds of the island of Puerto Rico on the streets of North Philadelphia. It's a creative art installation that invites residents to reconnect with their roots.

It's called Onomono-poetics of a Puerto Rican landscape and you can experience it along the 5th Street corridor known as El Centro de Oro.

Raúl Romero: Onomonopoetics of a Puerto Rican Landscape

The installation runs through January 10th and gallery visits are by appointment

SHOW EXTRAS

Nourish, a plant-based cafe and juice bar, has just moved into a new location in the Italian Market after the original restaurant was gutted by fire in September.

The new spot on South 9th Street is bigger with more space for distanced indoor dining to enjoy the healthy juices, smoothies and vegan soul food specialties like the fried Chick'un sandwich, made of mushroom and chickpeas and stacked super high. Rumor has it even meat-eaters claim it's the best chicken sandwich they've ever had.

Nourish Plant-Based Cafe & Juice Bar | Instagram | Facebook

943 S 9th st Phila, Pa 19147

267-761-9242

The Rosenbach in Center City has reopened its doors.

Tickets are timed with visitors admitted every half hour to control crowds.

There are two new exhibitions. One examines the life of the first Japanese person to live in the United States, the other explores the cultural impact of Herman Melville, in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the writer's birth.

The Rosenbach has also opened its 1,600-square-foot garden for the first time in more than 20 years.

The Rosenbach | Facebook | Instagram

2008-2010 Delancey Place, Philadelphia, PA 19103

215-732-1600

The Michener Art Museum in Doylestown has a new exhibition called Syd Carpenter: Portraits of our Places.
It features 11 large-scale pieces that showcase the connection the artist made between sculpture and gardening.

It's the museum's first solo exhibition of Carpenter's work, and it runs through February.

Michener Art Museum | Facebook

Syd Carpenter: Portraits of our Places, through February 28, 2021

138 S Pine St, Doylestown, PA 18901

215-340-9800

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