The Spring Garden Takeover: Bufad Review
In the same way Marcie Turney and partner Valerie Safran dominate 13th Street, Michael and Jeniphur Pasquarello seem poised to take over Spring Garden. The pair already own Cafe Lift and the always-busting-at-the-seams Prohibition Taproom and, now, along comes their newest venture–a pizza spot called Bufad that sits on a corner a few steps from Prohibition Taproom. Above all else, the duo should be congratulated for the ingenious idea of snagging the once-vacant spot where Bufad is now housed and creating a space to catch the overflow of patrons from Prohibition where it’s...
Read MoreA Burger Worth Traveling For
The MOINK burger, fries, and an old-fashioned Boylan soda Ottsville. Ever heard of it? Probably not, but it’s a town worth plugging into your GPS. Why? Because it’s home of one of the best burgers on the planet. Those of us who have stood in line at the MOO truck on the grounds of the Ottsville Farmers Market know just how delicious the burgers–crafted from local ingredients–are. Now, as seems the fashion, the MOO truck has morphed into a bona-fide 46-seat brick-and-mortar restaurant (don’t fret–the food truck will still be available for private events...
Read MoreA NoBL Effort: The Reopening
There’s nothing better than the opening of a suburban restaurant whose menu could very well rival those of its city-dwelling counterparts. When NoBL (an acronym that nods to its geographic North of Baltimore & Lansdowne location; pronounced “noble”) arrived on the scene, it signaled a much-needed change for an area known more for its hair and nail salons and takeout joints than anything else. But were Delco diners ready for Mediterranean small plates and a wildly eclectic, offal-heavy ”midnight special” staff meal? Like a suitor trying to win the...
Read MoreAmbler Donuts: Should FedNuts Be Worried?
Federal Donuts picture (right): Courtesy of foobooz First it was cake pops, then came the cupcake craze followed by that wretched phase of turning perfectly good food into lollipops. (Hey chefs, I’m sick of seeing lamb “lollipops” and tiny, precious little chicken drumsticks frenched to Hell on your menus–enough already.) Now it’s the donut’s turn to enjoy its 15 minutes of saturated fame. As with most food trends, the culinary world has helped ignite the general public’s interest–effectively elevating the humble donut to rock star...
Read MoreNomad Pizza Wanders Into Philly
There’s good news for Philly pizza lovers–you no longer have to trek to Hopewell, NJ or rent their super-tricked out REO Speedwagon to snag a pie from Nomad Pizza. Owners Tom Grim and Stalin Boden have opened an additional physical location in the city, taking over the former Horizons. The bi-level pizzeria features a cozy downstairs with a couple of communal tables where you can catch a glimpse of all the pie-making magic and a full bar and larger eating area upstairs (complete with a movie projector and screen). While heading upstairs to await your pie order and have a...
Read MoreRun for the Border: Mad Mex Comes to Willow Grove
University City students have known for years that burritos, chips and salsa make for the perfect grub and Mad Mex–a local eatery–has been dutifully dishing up an eclectic mix of ‘funky fresh Cal-Mex’ fare to burrito and ‘rita lovers who are more likely associate Mexico with spring break than a place where cuisine has centered around the use of fresh, local ingredients for centuries. With locations in Pennsylvania and Ohio, Mad Mex has decided once again to expand its territory and open shop in Willow Grove (its second Philadelphia-area location). Perhaps...
Read MoreWho is The Palate Princess?
Iris McCarthy is a food writer and author of the popular book Food Lovers' Guide to Philadelphia. This website is where she gets to sound off on all things culinary.