Sushi Thai

Lets talk sushi. If you love these flavorful bundles of joy like Jessica and I love do, you need, neeeed to try Sushi Thai in Dunmore. I was a sushi-scardy-cat a year ago, but have since been an addict thanks to the fine creations of Sushi Thai. We’ve dined in and out here many’a times. Yes, we’re regulars. Their Asian cuisine includes (the obvious) sushi, seafood, grilled specialties, and noodles dishes. They also have a stocked bar and bubble teas which are amaaazing. We love to take new people to sushi thai too, because its obviously delicious but an unexpected find based on the outside physique. Lets just say, don’t judge a book by its cover…its super quaint and comfortable inside. Sushi Thai brings more diversity to the fashionable strip of Dunkin’ Donuts, and Giovanni’s. Even better, they’re located right off the highway for convenient take out service on our way home from daily activities.

Ok lets talk fav’s: I always order this one roll that I came up with that I call the “California supreme” its just a California roll with spicy kani on top. Really is a… match made in heaven. [please don’t judge me because I am a foodie and like/love krab (with a k)]. I also usually get one of their special sushi rolls. All have been outstanding. The angel, and dragon roll are two default favorites. Jessica adores the spicy girl roll. Because she’s a spicy girl of course. Jk. No but really. Our other Sushi Thai fan, Jenna, loves the veggie dumplings. I always have the best meals here when we order a bunch of different things and share it all. My sushi is your sushi is our philosophy.

The thing that sets their sushi apart from other sushi restaurants around is that they don’t skimp with filling the rolls. Each meticulously created masterpiece is a serious mouthful. Worth. Every. Penny. And we all know sushi can be a little…..$$$.

Bottom line: go here. Try sushi!!! And if you like krab, try the ‘California supreme.’ It’s a really cute date night place (if that’s your thing), but an even better ‘bring your friend out to dinner place.’ Enjoyyyy!!!!

http://www.sushithaidunmore.com/

Evening of Fine Food and Wine

So mom has made her food blog debut #3 after attending our very first Evening of Fine Food and Wine at the Scranton Cultural Center last Sunday. We learned this is one of the cultural center's largest fundraisers! It was essentially a food bloggers dreamhouse with the plethora of food to try, all from LOCAL restaurants, and catering businesses.If any of you are interested in a night of great food, meeting great people, touring our very own cultural center, and supporting a large operation that needs our support...GO to the this event! Mark your calendars for next year (April 29th 2012).

Mom and I started the evening by walking into the ballroom, greeted with a glass of wine and an array of appetizers. We tried to "pace" ourselves, but good food, good wine? Please, we dug right in. Mom's favorite appetizer: assortment of spreads, pita, and bean salads from City Cafe (love them), ONE of my favorites was from State Street Grill. They had a wonderful cold Asian pasta salad. Other choices included ravioli, vegetable kabob, soup, stuffed mushrooms (those were fantastic too), and so much more.

For the "entree," we broke into groups and the real fun began. We were on our food/wine adventure to 5 different rooms, each of which housed a chef with their team, a glass of wine specially paired with each dish (thank you sommelier), and a demo kitchen. We watched each chef prepare their dish (I know..crazy fun). Then we tried each dish! I swear I felt like I was a judge on Top Chef (minus the critiquing). The restaurants that provided the entrees were Carmen's at the Radisson, Fire and Ice on Toby Creek, The French Manor, the Hilton, and Patsel's. Yes that means Jean had 5 glasses of wine. More importantly, that means mom had 5 glasses of wine. By the time we hit Patsel's mom couldn't tell what she was eating. She thought the tuna was "very soft steak."

My favorite entree was from Fire and Ice. The chef prepared a Cabernet marinated NY strip steak bruchetta. Oh my gosh. This is totally up my ally. The steak was cooked perfectly, the bread was soft (and freshly baked), and the wine it was served with gave me an appreciation for the art of pairing food with wine. I tried a sip of the wine before the brushetta was in sight and, yuck-o was written all over my face. Tasted like the wine was "smoked." However, once paired with this dish I loved it. Loooved it. The chef from Fire and Ice was also great. You could tell he loves what he does, and loves sharing his knowledge. When he started talking about mallard reaction on steak I got excited. Props to all the chefs and teams for the entrees.

So dessert time came. Mom and I were deffinetly full of food, and wine, but a couple desserts never hurt anything (I am a 30 day-to-be dietitian I swear). I was so happy to see Zummo's offering desserts! I enjoyed their trail-mix biscotti. Mom is a fan of the hard, crunchy, break your teeth, biscotti, but this one was pretty soft (some may say, a little 'dry'), and filled with dried fruit. Their coffee is also fantastic, obviously. Other than forgetting to ask for decaf and staying up until 2 am that night, no complaints! Unfortunately I was so incredibly loopy by the time dessert came around so I have no idea who else was sponsoring the desserts. I tried a great red velvet cake, and a delicious poached pear, but where they were from? I need help with that.

Going out and supporting our community feels great. Meeting people is even better. And doing all the above while learning about the greatest restaurants in our very own backyard that have not a cinch of commercialism is what it's all about. Most of all, I cannot wait for Jessica and I to take a trip to Fire and Ice for a full meal!

Your LIfe is About to Change.

What if you found out that you had to quit gluten and dairy right now- like, this instant? Your health depends on it.  If you are like me and love you some crusty delicious bread (and I have no doubt that you ARE, what being a loyal foodie/reader of this silly little pet blog) this could be the challenge of a lifetime.  You might feel like your life is going to change drastically- and you'd be right.  You couldn't just saunter into all of the fantastic restaurants listed on this blog and order whatever you crave that day... you have to be careful, you have to be that dreaded consumer- particular.

Celiac disease is the name of the game- and according to Pubmed health it is a condition that damages the lining of the small intestine and prevents it from absorbing parts of food that are important for staying healthy. The damage is due to a reaction to eating gluten, which is found in wheat, barley, rye, and possibly oats. But, for many with this disorder it doesn't end with those foods, very often you need to lose the dairy too.  This disorder was largely un-catered to in this area, and there was very little knowledge until recently.  Others, who don't have Celiac disease, may chose to forgo the gluten and dairy for holistic or ethical reasons or ( to finally get to the personalized reason), to help internally heal and fight other types of infection that feed and thrive on those delicious little wheat germs.  Mark Hyman, MD is a practitioner of “functional medicine” (a holistic branch of medicine), the founder of the UltraWellness Center in Lenox, Massachusetts, and the guru behind the series of best-selling “Ultra” self-help books. He argues that the cause and the solution for many psychiatric disorders begins with what we are putting in our bodies. I won't list all the details on our blog (snore!) nor will I say whether or not to get you should get holistic (I'm a stinkin' music teacher!, but you should check it out his thoughts here. 

Getting to the POINT (you know I like to drag my feet) Someone who I love very dearly has recently had to adopt this diet because of a late-stage lyme disease diagnosis and in a moment of less-than clarity I declared I would try it too- to encourage and support him.  Scary right? I'm easing into it- but he doesn't have that luxury.  So, we're trying out new meals and learning about some of the alternative flours and cooking aids.  Check out Manifest Vegan once you get the itch to cook outside the box- I just made their yummy Basil Gnocchi- (I've never made homemade pasta EVER and being me, I choose to start with gluten free!) Check it out! (Also pictured nutritional yeast which adds a tasty flavor and packs a punch nutritionally, and some of the alt flours).

I have to give a shout out to Everything Natural in Clarkes Summit and Wegman's too- they do a great job with providing our community with gluten-free alternatives.  Also, if you're jonesin for some delicious gluten and dairy free treats we have The Grainless Baker right in Lake Ariel. 

Eataly

Take a trip with me to Italy…excuse me, I mean EATaly in the heart of Manhattan. As you know Jessica and I blog to enjoy and support local businesses in our surrounding NEPA area, however I am taking a hall pass (or EZpass…haha) to NYC and am going to share with all of you my experience at this fantastic Italian market.

While in NYC yesterday my mom and I decided to eat dinner at Eataly. My mother, born in Sicily, naturally loves Italian food and clean, fresh flavors. We experienced a food dream that gave me a different appreciation for the diversity of Italian cuisine and brought mom back to her roots. After a cab drive from hell we entered our Italian heaven and were immediately immersed in parmiagiano reggiano, pizza, pasta, pancetta, fish, basil, tomatoes, gelato, biscotti, and chocolate. I would describe Eataly as an authentic Italian market that stays true to traditional Italian cuisine in their 5 different eateries and allows for customers to purchase traditional grocery items such as pasta, fruit, vegetables, cheese, fresh/cured meats, fish, oil, vinegar, herbs, baked goods, and other items diehard Italians just “couldn’t live without.”

No one could experience ALL Eataly has to offer in one visit, but mom and I tried to soak in as much as we could by spreading our dinner out amongst 2 of the 5 eateries as well as a special stop at the gelato stand for dessert. First we ate at “Il Pesce,” or The Fish. I had a bowl of “zuppa de pesce,” fish soup with spicy tomato crostini, and mom ordered “crudo di congole,” stuffed clams, basically. Both our dishes were outstanding. The fish tasted incredibly fresh. Fresh fish tastes so clean, and pure. Ah, delicious. The couple next to us ordered a whole fish each, which also looked outstanding. But, instead of a whole fish, mom and I continued our food crawl and had to visit a second eatery “La pizza & pasta,” where we shared a 10” pizza called La Verace TSG.

La Verace had tomato sauce, buffalo mozzarella, parmigiano reggiano, imported olive oil from Sorrento, and fresh basil leaves. This pizza had a very thin crust, and tasted like burned toast with the texture of perfectly cooked dough. Ok, that doesn’t sound terribly appetizing but it tasted great. Quick cooking in high heat allows the dough to stay soft whereas the outside achieves a charred flavor. The picture doesn’t give the favor justice (thank you iPhone). Out of the 5 eateries La pizza & pasta was the busiest! Naturally, this is America, pizza/pasta hungry hungry hippos. Plus, this is probably the most affordable.

Our waiter at La pizza & pasta was straight from Sicily. After he and mom had a little Italian conversation I learned (in English) that he moved to Brooklyn to work for Eataly for one year. So, as my mom said…"they import the olive oil…AND the people!” Authentic, thick Italian accent absolutely made me feel one step closer to Italy. So, kudos to you, Eataly…you’ve thought of everything.

Okay, gelato time. While waiting on line deciding what flavor to order I heard mom say, “ah, they have brioche jean!” These brioche looked like dinner rolls to me, but “brioche” is a sweet egg bread that is traditionally served with gelato or sorbet inside. So gelato on a brioche is like our ice cream cone here in America. Who would have known? Mom ordered pistachio gelato and enjoyed it in her brioche (which I tired and was delicious!) and I decided on lemon sorbet. Very nice ending to our meal. I posed a picture of other desserts you could enjoy.

After we ate, we shopped. Foccocha bread, olive bread, homemade ravioli, Lidia Bastianich’s sauce, Italian candies, chocolate, and porchetta for my brother Louis. A trip to Eataly is a gift that keeps on giving with the ability to enjoy special items that are difficult to find elsewhere. I really wanted to buy this t-shirt that says, “you are what you EATaly." Guess how much it was…$58. For a t-shirt. That I would wear to the supermarket. No thanks.

I made the spinach and ricotta ravioli with Lidia’s sauce for dinner tonight. So delicious!

When we visit Eataly again, I think we’d love to try the vegetarian eatery, and the wine/cheese bar, buy more foccochia and fresh pasta…but most of all just enjoy a little Italian escape from mom’s childhood, to my love for this culture and food.

Mom and I are making our next stop back in PA on Sunday to “An Evening of wine and food” at the Scranton Cultural Center, where we’ll try foods from all our local restaurants in Scranton. Looking forward to sharing our favorites with all of you!

Patsel's

ATTN world- my mother has made her food blog debut! This afternoon we shared a fabulous lunch at Patsel’s, located in Clarks Summit. We haven’t given Clarks Summit the food love it deserves (as Jessica would say), so here is the first of many remarkable restaurants that deserve our fine attention. Patsel’s is owned by a couple from Waverly, PA and opened in August of 1999.

I’ve always heard people say, “cooking is a form of art,” which I think is absolutely true! Well, not only is the food at Patsel’s art work in plating, texture, and taste, but the restaurant itself is a piece of art. Mom has been to Patsel’s with her lady friends once before and she just raved and raved about it, so of course we made a trip to the infamous Patsel’s ourselves. I was definitely the youngest customer, but was in great company of tables filled with polyester suit wearing ‘adults.’ Just kidding, but really Patsel’s screams “Grandma lunch date” all over it.

A once meat market is now a uniquely designed restaurant. 11 years in the making of floral wallpaper patterns I would never, ever put together, hand carved doorframes, hand painted window frames, bold colors, polka dot walls, beading, tool, and frog statues in every other corner and window. Initially I had thought the owners had gone to every elderly person’s home in the tri-state area and incorporated all the inspiration from these homes into one place for a throw up of gaudiness. That thought only lasted about 7 seconds. After the initial shock, I was in love with the attention-to-detail design. It’s the definition of commitment, because for this type of design, you can’t sort of…fudge, or half do it. The design was committed from the front door to the plates I ate off of. If I haven’t sold it already, Patsel’s is a place to visit to see art in its most whimsical state.

As for the food…we both ordered off the special’s menu (which for me is a rule of thumb on a no-brainer good meal). Mom ordered cup of Asian vegetable soup, and an eggplant parm sandwich with a side salad and fresh fruit. I had the shrimp risotto. All the food was great! Absolutely no complaints. Not sure if my father (or other men I know) would be satisfied with the portion of the meals (i.e two jumbo-4-bite-shrimp in my risotto), but the portions were perfect for us ladies. More importantly, we had room for dessert, which mom and I accomplished quite well. List of desserts tried (yes I need bullets for this):

· Key lime crème brulee with coconut biscotti

· Warm pear strudel

· Sticky toffee pudding****my favorite

· Lemon ricotta cannoli**** mom’s favorite

We got the sample platter of desserts, so don’t worry…we’re not 500 lb (yet). All desserts were SO good.

At the end of the day, our lunch at Patsel’s was fun! We shared great company, fun environment, fun atmosphere, and fun food (wish I got a drink…I’m sure they’re fun too though). If you go: firstly, take your mom, make sure you go to the bathroom (just do it), order a special and the sticky toffee pudding, and finally, try a martini…and let me know how they are.

PS: get a coupon for Patsel's from restaurant.com :)

Palazzo 53

Happy belated Thanksgiving- I hope and trust that we all filled ourselves to the breaking point, and then added a little more for good measure. If you ask me, the turkey and gravy are just there to justify the ritualistic gorging on my mother's chocolate cream pie with homemade whipped cream-  but to each his own.
There's a new Italian show in town friends- so, in true Jessica fashion, I also overate on Wednesday night with my good friend, Candice, and my new friend Brooke at the newly opened Palazzo 53 in Pittston. 
Palazzo is the foodchild of Chef Chris Barcia (Formerly of Bazil, Pazzo, Gelpiaz & Christopher's).  Candice knows Chris from when he was the head chef at Bazil (Clarkes Summit), and so she gets credit for this find. I will say this, I really really loved Bazil when it first opened- fresh, delicious, wholesome pasta with homemade sauces- great seafood, good wine, good service- the whole deal.  The only problem for me was that as a mere mortal teacher, the prices were a little (or a lot) steep.  It's one of the "special occasion" stops.  That said, I was disappointed to hear that the head chef had left, because I was such a fan.  Enter Palazzo 53.
The restaurant is brand spanking new- if you've read the blog, you know commentary on decor isn't my forte- but I will say this, it seems to pull off a variety of things- It's inviting, and still quite stylish - and thank you food gods, the music isn't awful like the majority of local hotspots (Blu Wasabi, I'm calling you out).
The menu is essentially what you found at Bazil (Sorry Chris, gotta call a spade a spade).  However, all of the pasta portions are available in half sizes, which I think is just delightful because it of course allowed for a larger sampling pool.  The prices are appropriate for what you're being served, but still probably will fall under the "special night out" category for the majority of our readers. 
Lets get to the food!

Brooke and I  started our meals with the special soup of the evening- a cream basil seafood bisque, think amped up New England chowder.  The seafood chowder head in me loved loved loved this soup.  It was a delicious pairing of ingredients, and most importantly it was loaded with garlic, which to me is an instantaneous  upgrade.  Next on the list, the baked clams.  Served with a light breading- these clams were prepared well- the real treat on this dish (as I think is often the case for Chef Barcia) was the white buttter garlic sauce which really hit the nail on the head.

Next- a half portion of Spaghetti Carbonara.  Recipes for Carbonara can vary, however- traditionally, carbonara sauce is made with a grated Italian cheese (often Pecorino or Parmesan) egg yolks, a fatty pork and black pepper.  In the United States (although not in Italy) it is quite normal to see the addition of cream and vegetables.  What's very cool about Carbonara is that the egg yolks are added at the end, to the pasta and cooked by the heat from the pasta.  Now- the point of that diatribe is that, this Carbonara was ridiculous. Ridiculously good! It was cooked without the cream, but with peas, pancetta and onion- and the pasta was served al dente (if you ask me, the perfect way). Highly recommended!

Finally, main course time.  Brooke and Candice- being the more reasonably minded pair at the table split the Chicken Francaise entree and I ordered the Linguine Calamari Fra Diavlo half portion. In all honesty, I'm a Fra Diavlo head- if it's available, I'll order it. I like the spicy plum sauce, the basil, the GARLIC- and it's a slam dunk for me generally.  That said, it wasn't the highlight of the evening for me.  I did mention to the server that I would like it spicy, and it wasn't.... and the sauce seemed to be lacking something- it was good, it just wasn't great.  The Francaise was really good- the chicken was tender and juicy and the sauce was spot on.  However, when the plate was split, they seem to have lost the sides.... I think.  In all honesty, Candice did ask if it came with a side and our server said she didn't think so.  I'm betting they were plated separately and didn't find their way out- but who knows.  In all fairness, the server is still learning the menu- and I feel certain that once things are buzzing along, little things like this will be cleared up.
Dessert time.  Being as stuffed as we were, we thought it was only reasonable to order the "light" dessert to share.  All of the desserts are made in house at Palazzo 53, and we decided on Strawberry Zabaglione.  Zabaglione is a whipped cream, with egg and dry marsala wine- served with fresh strawberries.  It is a light, delicious, creamy treat.  Again, there are many variations- and it can be served hot or cold- if hot, it skips the cream- but ours was chilled and quite delicious.  As we were finishing up, Chef Barcia brought us out a few more treats to sample- Chocolate Cake, Cappuccino Crème Brulee,  and Tiramisu.  Truly stuffed, we couldn't work our way through the majority of these desserts- but, I did sample each one.  The cake was moist and rich, the tiramisu was made traditionally with the ladyfingers dipped in coffee, layered with a whipped mixture of egg yolks and mascarpone and flavored with liquor and cocoa.  The Crème Brulee was excellent- with a thin crisp top and a rich cappuccino flavored cream inside.
Overall, it was a great experience.  Once they find their legs, I think this will be one of the most buzzed about restaurants.  It's not far from Scranton, the food is good, the people are good- and it's definitely worth checking out.  I don't know about you, but I could really go for some Spaghetti Carbonara right about now....

Palazzo 53

53 South Main Street

Pittston PA, 18640

(570)299-7571

Hours

Tues - Thurs: 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Fri - Sat: 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm

The Alpine Restaurant

Okay- call off the hounds. I'm alive- I'm well, I'm just... swamped! Life caught up, my summer in the sun ended abruptly and the real world came knocking.  Trust me, this doesn't mean I stopped eating copious amounts of locally produced food, it just means that I've been resembling some sort of sloth-like creature in my "free" time.... working for a living is HARD, sheesh :-) 

Enough about me! Now that I want to write a blog, I'm not sure which place to write about- after all, I've been to quite a few newbies (for the blog at least).  I think that The Alpine is a good place to get back on the food-blog horse though.

Located in my lovely home away from home (H to the Onesdale), the Alpine is the area's Premier German-American Restaurant.  My family has been going to The Alpine ever since we moved to NEPA from NY, and it is a particular favorite of the men in my family.  That said- it has something for everyone... almost everyone- if you are a Vegan or Vegetarian, you might want to skip right to the dessert menu.  Which as a vegetarian for many years, I did- and that was alright by me! For the more carnivorous of our readers though, check this: all of their sausages and prime meats are home made, and cured on site, and they are mega delicious. 

For my meal, I opted for the bratwurst lunch special, served with (go on, guess...) mashed potatoes (bliss!) and a side of apple sauce (cole slaw is a choice too).  But- if you need holding over, they also offer tasty appetizers such as Baked Brie with Fruit, and Smoked Salmon with Capers, Cream Cheese and Toast, among others.  Before the meal, warm homemade rye and pumpernickel bread was served, and as a girl that likes an excuse to eat butter and carbs- this was a great start to my meal.  The bratwurst was grilled (I had the option to broil, but come on...) and really tasty- moist and flavorful, and mild. Yum! But, as always- the main event for me were those mashed potatoes.  They were buttery and sweet, and I don't know if I've mentioned this... but I really think mashed potatoes done right are the food of... well, at least my potato loving/Irish gods.  When I finished tearing through that, I was good and full.  But anyone who's anyone knows that you can't visit The Alpine without eating dessert, because it's Ridiculous.  Some examples include Krocant Baskets which are Honey Almond baskets painted with dark chocolate filled with assorted mousses and Eclairs which they describe as traditional pate a choux baked to golden brown, filed with creamy vanilla custard. But what did I have? Only the world's most outrageous peanut butter pie.  Seriously people.  With a graham cracker crust, a layer of rich chocolate gnash, and a peanut butter mousse that is topped with whipped cream and a chocolate drizzle- this peanut butter pie cannot be duplicated or recycled (big thanks to Missy Elliot for her coining of that epic lyrical set). 

So my suggestion? Bring your man here if you want to show him who really loves him! Bring your lady here if she needs a chocolate intervention- Single? Bring yourself and/or a friend here because you love yourself! It's good stuff!

Business Hours:

Monday                 Closed

Tuesday           11:30-4PM

Wed/Thurs      11:30-8PM

Fri/Sat             11:30-9PM

Sunday            11:30-5PM

1106 Texas Palmyra Highway
Route 6 East of Honesdale
Honesdale, PA 18431

Downtown Deli

The Downtown Deli sits on the corner of Spruce, and Penn Ave, and interestingly enough, the sole appearance of this eatery is what drew me in like a magnet to metal…or (more realistically) an Italian girl to the smell of baked bread. I come from a house where I could hardly fit my mouth around some of the sandwiches my father would concoct, so each deli I visit has much to live up to. I’ve visited the Downtown Deli several times in the past couple of weeks, and not only would I single handedly write vows and marry each of the sandwiches I’ve ordered, but the sense of warmth from the staff and owner is none like any other.

Options are the name of the game at this deli. Homemade roast beef or turkey, or the traditional Boar’s Head? Dining inside, outside, or delivery? Hungry for breakfast, lunch, or dinner? Sandwich, salad, or (get this) eggplant lasagna?! Yes, clearly this deli is much more than “ham and swiss on a Kaiser.”

Close family friends from Italy are visiting the States this month, and what better way to say “hello America” than a good ‘ol thick juicy hero. The boys ordered two of the specialty sandwiches: Buffalo Bill (chicken cutlet with buffalo sauce, and bleu cheese dressing), and (interestingly enough) The Godfather (basic Italian hero). I ordered the tuna melt, done very well.

After only opening three months ago, there are still some folds to iron out. Such as, not serving only breakfast food on Sundays, please! If we demand it, they’ll grant it.

So, since I cant marry a sandwich…maybe they could cater my wedding? Buffalo Bill for all!!!

Downtown Deli, 300 Spruce Street, Scranton PA

570-871-4137

Café Beignet

The most delightful treats are sometimes the most unexpected ones. I decided to go for a bike ride one Saturday morning, but after a mere 3 blocks from home I felt hungry. Surprise surprise. Saturday morning bike ride turned snack time real fast. I decided to scoot up to Café Beignet, for my very first beignet experience. When I initially moved to Scranton I would admire this bright blue building and say…what is a beignet (or ‘big-net’ as I would say…horrible I know). After hearing friends pronounce the name correctly, a light switched on and the “aha” moment happened…“ohhh beignet” (or my phonetic pronunciation: ben-yay. I’m Italian, not French). Beignet is literally translated to “fried dough” in French. Here in America, beignets are almost always associated with New Orleans, specifically at Café Du Monde, and are the official state doughnut (why a state has an official doughnut I’m not exactly sure but regardless…). Scranton is no New Orleans, but the beignet magic that happens at this local eatery is out of this world. So, as I’m out of breath from biking slightly up hill, and my helmet still on, I dished out a whopping $0.75, waited about 30 seconds for a freshly fried made-to-order beignet and was soon in complete fantasy world. Once I took my first bite of this fluffy fried dough the first words that came out of my mouth were (forgive me Lord), “oh-my-God,” along with a cloud of powdered sugar. SO good. I don’t know what more to say. Super cheep, delicious, cultural (if you will), and most importantly a convenient bike ride from my house! Best quick-stop-for-breakfast place around. A beignet would be my choice, but they offer breakfast sandwiches, muffins, cookies, bagels, and of course…coffee.

Café Beignet is open from 6:45am – noon, where the next-door Pizzeria (Gabriele’s Pizza) opens from noon – 10pm. Most interestingly, The Milk Saving Starving Children Foundation (MiSSC) formed Café Beignet, where all proceeds generated will benefit the foundation. The purpose of this foundation is to provide vitamin-fortified powdered milk to starving children locally and around the world. For more insider look as to how Café Beignet is helping this foundation check out their website in our links section.

Support a local business, support an inspiring foundation.

The Tea Bar

   You know that feeling when you have a HUGE meal, and your whole body feels like it's bursting? Your stomach swells and gets heavy, you feel lethargic (at the very best) and you can actually see your hips widening and jean size climbing? I'm sad (and slightly, strangely proud) to admit that during the summer, this tends to be a trend with me.  Out of work (the reward for a year of teaching I suppose) and anxious for something to do, I generally fill my idle hours with the consumption of too much food- and whenever possible, sweets.  So when a friend told me of a recent eating expedition to Scranton's (relatively) new Tea Bar, and described it as "food that feels like it's nourishing your body, but doesn't make you feel heavy"- I knew I needed to go.  I told Jean about it- she needed to go too, and then life, as it often does, took hold, and we both ended up going separately, and loving it separately.  However, because I am the part-time glutton of the blog, I get to write about it since I had WAY more than my co-pilot.  I would like to note at this time that when you google Synonyms of Glutton the result is quite enjoyable: epicure, gorger, gormandizer, gourmand, hefty eater, hog, pig, sensualist, stuffer... I like hefty eater the best. 

I brought Rose with me, because no one likes to eat it up (quite literally) like me except for Rose (oh- and Candice... and now that you mention it, Jenna.... okay- foodies beget foodies I suppose).  The Tea Bar is quite inauspicious outside- a small sign notes it's presence, declaring it The Healthiest food in NEPA- quite unassuming and demure.  The inside is equally calm- quite zen if you will, lots of greens and glasstop tables and the delightful Vysotsky family as our hosts and servers for the meal.  Little do they know that Rose and I are about to eat them out of house and home.  If anyone can make super healthy food gluttonous it's the two of us.  We begin with each of the soup offered - Butternut Squash and a Vegetable Medley soup- which, Alex (the owner) tells us are both Vegan. Yum! They are both full of flavor, but the natural flavors of the ingredients rather than a dash of this or that- as a nice addition there is a dash of fresh dill on the Butternut squash- we of course end up combining the two by the conclusion of our soup indulgence, and that is delicious too.
   Next- we each ordered a sandwich- both served on Sprouted Bread served by the family's daughter.  The benefits of Sprouted bread have been espoused by many- including, probably most notably, the Raw Foods community in addition to people who have diabetes, and those who follow a Gluten free diet.  Sprouted Bread is made from whole grains that have sprouted (or germinated says the ever-helpful wikipedia) and is cooked at a very low temperature or not at all.  Our bodies tend to process this type of bread like a plant, and the grains retain their natural enzymes. The tea bar also uses Organic ingredients, which is always a nice benefit- avoiding pesticides and genetically modified food sources.  I ordered a  Portabella Mushroom sandwich served with dill, hummus, and melted cheese. Rose ordered Chicken salad sandwich with sweet, dried cranberries.  There was very little mayonnaise, only enough to bond the ingredients together.  We each ate one half of each sandwich.  Pause to note that I fall deeply in love at this moment, and as such the portabella sandwich has been recreated at my house every single day since I went to the tea bar (although, I switched the cheese to Goat Cheese, because- well come on, Goat Cheese is unbelievable). The Chicken Salad was light and delicious- filling but, just like my friend said, left us feeling nourished not stuffed. *As a side note, if you want to get thoroughly confused look up the spelling/debate about Portobello vs Portabella, geez louise!
   And because we weren't stuffed, and found this confusing, we thought we'd go for dessert while we were at it.  The younger son of the family took over our service at this time, and he is delightful, just like his sister and father.  He tells us the family is from Russia, and has such a nice air about him- reminding you of all the nice bits of childhood.  I tell you this, because it really adds to the experience- it's comforting and homey. We order one of each the desserts,  a mixed berry mixed berry zabaglione and tiramiso and also a loose leaf Chai tea to share (it is afterall, The Tea Bar, with over 30 teas to choose from).  Rose, the authority on Tiramiso, loves it- and I (the authority on sweets) LOVE the zabaglione- a light custard, whipped and filled with air, with delicious berries- perfecto. The tea is also organic and very nice, and one order is enough even for the two of us. Just for good measure, Rose picks up some of their delicious whole-grain cookies on the way out for the family. By the way, we spent less than $30 on SO MUCH FOOD.
   Realization: Wow, I love this place.  Seriously- I LOVE it.  I have anxiety about how to explain how fabulous it is, but I'll try to sum it up.
   Go early- eat well- feel fabulous knowing you're doing right by your body while supporting a great effort by local merchants!

The Tea Bar 

431 Lackawanna Ave., Scranton. 

570.941.3333

Mon-Thurs: 10am-4pm

Friday: 10am-8pm

Basil 101

One of my favorite things about summer is growing herbs. As a child my mother would grow the most outstanding basil plants that I’m sure would have won awards for producing as much as they did. Today I am venturing into the art of “basil mothering” on my own, and as they say “like mother like daughter…” my basil plant is growing at a pace my taste buds can’t seem to keep up with. Basil is such a versatile herb that seems to be hinting each dish I make lately. A couple days ago when I visited the Scranton Farmer’s Market I noticed bunches of herbs (including basil) sold for only $0.75. And these bunches were generous enough to keep any basil fanatic satisfied for at least a week and a half. I thought to myself…why pluck, water, and talk to a plant if I could buy the same thing for $0.75 a week? I don’t really know, maybe next year I will. Only the more reason to trot yourself up to Scranton’s Farmer’s Market, I guess.

So, I’d love to share my favorite basil pesto recipe with all of you:

3 cups basil leaves (I usually take a 3-cup measuring cup outside with me and just start plucking away until the cup is filled)

A couple springs of parsley (this is optional…about ¼ cup, if you’re measuring)

½ cup olive oil (good olive oil, please)

½ cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (the good stuff, please)

1-teaspoon salt (a generous sprinkle)

½ teaspoon black pepper

Juice from 1 whole lemon

2-3 cloves of garlic (crushed)

3 tablespoons of toasted pine nuts or walnuts (completely optional)

Put all ingredients except the olive oil in a blender or food processor and put that baby on high speed while slowly drizzling in the olive oil. Let ‘er rip until she’s smooth and delicious.

This pesto is not a dip…it’s not really meant to be eaten by the spoonful, rather it’s best used as a spread on bread with mozzarella cheese and diced tomatoes (pesto bruschetta, if you will), or as a sauce for pasta (simple enough), an addition to a regular grilled cheese sandwich, a substitution for butter with corn on the cob (as you can see the one and only Jenna enjoying in the photograph), or my personal favorite- as a marinade for chicken or fish. Clearly there are few ingredients in pesto, but they should all be high quality or else you’re left with a pesto that tastes more like a mess-o project in your mouth.

[If you do have a basil plant, or wish to grow your own I have a few tips for sustaining the vivacious herb. Firstly, basil likes to be treated like a fine Italian woman. It likes the sun; it likes to bake in the sun until the soil (or skin on a woman) is dry, then after a long day of baking…it likes to be soaked with water to sustain perfect hydration…and talk to her every now and again. Also, a hair cut at least every other day is mandatory. When the basil starts to flower, (little white buds come out of the top) pluck them off right away so the plant continues to produce new leaves. Or…you could always go to the Scranton Farmer’s Market and buy a bundle.]

Amber Indian Restaurant

My favorite time of day is to get up and eat 

leftovers from dinner, especially spicy food- 

David Byrne.

     I grew up in a hot dogs and mac and cheese type of family. When I was in Elementary School, my big sister Amanda  left for college, and looking back, with 9 years between us she seemed to morph in my mind to an amalgamation of  part reality, part big-sister/superhero idealization (don't get me wrong, she is still part superhero).  I tell you this because had ANYONE tried to get me to eat something off my tried and true All-American path other than her, I probably would have thought they were trying to inflict bodily harm, blown a raspberry in their face and given them a swift kick in the shins (this is a dramatization, please do not judge the child-version of me). She made us an Indian cuisine inspired dinner that night, modeled after a meal she had at a professors home.  I wish I could remember exactly what it was that she served us- but I do know this: It had cumin.  I really believe that was the moment that my foodie love began- I didn't know what else was out there, but I knew that I wanted to try it- Who knew that spicy could be hot and still savory or that a licorice flavor (in the form of anise or thai-basil) could make a meal come to life? Who knew that coconut milk was so delectable? Who knew that a meal could be delicious and filling without any meat? Who knew? 

     Amber Indian Restaurant for one, they knew.  Again, my introduction to this Scranton hot-spot came from my trusted all-things-Scranton authority and best friend, Rose.  Truth be told, I've been going to Amber for years- and I have yet to turn down an invite to this place.  If a new acquaintance or possible romantic interest says to you, "How about Amber" I would argue that they have passed the "good character" challenge.  My Co-Pilot Jean though, wasn't sure it would be her cup of tea- she is, after all, what i lovingly refer to as a purist- she likes fresh flavors and spicy isn't her thing and to be honest, I was nervous too.  Never fear though Scranton- Amber didn't disappoint- in fact, I even heard the word "phenomenal" used!  Jean ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala after our server told her it was "the best thing on the menu" (lucky!), and apparently feeling somewhat subconsciously spiteful, I requested something spicy from the vegetarian dishes, and was directed to Navrattan Korma.  Additionally we ordered some Naan (leavened, smoky bread) and a side of Raita (very similiar to tatziki- this is yogurt with shredded cucumber served chilled).  

The Chicken Tikka Masala is a boneless chicken broiled in a tandoor (a clay oven that reaches temperatures of 900°F, heated by charcoal or wood fire, the Naan is also cooked here). The color is a vibrant orange-red, which traditionally is achieved through spices such as Cayenne, red chili powder, or Tumeric, which produces the vibrant hue. The menu at Amber simply lists green spices and tomato with a light cream sauce.  This dish was not spicy- it was sweet with a taste of garlic and oh yes, cream.  It was quite delicious, and as a bonus paired nicely with the basmati rice and the cool yogurt sauce. I don't doubt that it's one of the best dishes on the menu- I know I couldn't abide a single taste, and kept sneaking in for more.

     Now on the other hand, the Navratan Korma had some major heat. "Navratan" translated means: Nine Gems- so it featured nine garden vegetables cooked in spices (best guess: ground pepper, tumeric, cumin) with, you guessed it, a tomato cream sauce.  What I love about spicy Indian food, is what I said before- it's hot- but with purpose.  The heat isn't about pain, it's about extracting all the flavors and they really did this well. Jean was a trooper, trying the dish, and even finishing the whole bite (thadda girl!). Mega tasty- I'd risk a runny nose any day to eat this stuff! At the risk of making myself even less cool- check out that photo opp! That's a girl and her food if I ever saw it!
     Amber never lets me down... well, except when they leave the Palak Paneer out of the lunch buffet... But, really, I've never had a bad meal there. They're good people, it's good food. Simple enough- so, you know what I'm going to tell you now-if you haven't already, get there! And if you have, now's a good time to get reacquainted!

Amber Indian Restaurant

3505 Birney Avenue

Moosic, PA 18507

Hours

Open 7 days/week

Lunch: 11AM-3PM

Dinner: 5PM-10PM

Scranton Co-Op (Farmer's) Market

After spending a weekend at the beach in Delaware, I came home and was ready to bake. Ready to bake something with PEACHES, that is. Because over the weekend we had some of the sweetest, juiciest, best peaches I've ever eaten. Peaches are in season, right? So, no wonder they're absolutely delicious.

(I now suggest googling or you-tubing “Peaches-Presidents of the USA” for your listening pleasure as you continue reading)

Next stop on a sunny Monday afternoon: Scranton Co-Op (farmer’s) Market to get myself some fresh peaches! As anticipated, I was overwhelmed with the plethora of produce and baked goods, therefore accompanying the peaches (from Heller’s Farm in NY) in my basket were empire apples, hickory smoked pepper crusted bacon (BLT for lunch…delish) and fresh eggs. I felt stocked and ready to go. Friendly people, variety, space, freshness…a farmer’s market fantasy.

So what did I make with the peaches? Peach bread pudding. Soo delicious! Here’s the recipe:

3 cups fresh peaches – pealed and chopped

1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk

3 eggs

1 ¼ cups hot water

¼ cup butter

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon lemon zest

2 generous handfuls of fresh blueberries

1 loaf French bread torn into small pieces (one of those skinny loaves from the bakery section of the grocery store)

Mix peaches, condensed milk, and eggs together. Add hot water, butter, cinnamon, lemon zest, and vanilla extract. Stir in the bread and plop the whole mixture in a greased 13 x 9” baking pan. Bake at 325 degrees for about an hour, until the little peaks of bread on the top of the pudding are golden brown. Let cool for about 2 hours.

I would personally eat the pudding as is but if you want to fancy it up a bit you could drizzle caramel sauce over the top and call it gourmet.

To make the caramel sauce bring ½ cup brown sugar, ½ cup butter, 2 tablespoons corn syrup, and 1-tablespoon rum to a boil. Boil for at least 4 minutes, then let cool slightly before serving.

My roommates enjoyed a dollop of vanilla ice cream on top of their pudding. Clearly the photo you see is not the most flattering, but I can only do so much with a phone camera and an already half consumed dessert.

All in all, seasonal is better, local is best, and cooking is what I adore. What a lovely day.

Scranton Co-Op Farmer's Market - 356 Barring Ave (off Providence Rd and Albright Ave)

Open Monday, Wednesday, Friday noon - 7(ish)

Alfredo's Pizza Cafe

I love the justification for food consumption that this blog has provided.  On Tuesday, I called my friend Rose and said, "I need to eat somewhere awesome so I can update the blog".  Sounds reasonable to me, and she was a more than willing participant.  Rose is a great resource for delicious eats in Scranton- but I insisted that it needed to be somewhere new to me- and believe it or not, I'm starting to require some major insider tips! We started a haphazard cruise and saw a little Mexican joint on Cedar that was illuminated by a curious blue light, but when the lady inside showed us a day old "buffet" consisting primarily of beef gruel, I mumbled something about not eating meat and moved on. Thank goodness that Rose remembered Alfredo's! Nothing like a little Italian grub to help one eradicate the vision of "meat-product".

Alfredo's is located in South Side, right on North Washington. Thank goodness it was close, because a hungry Jessica is a not fun Jessica.  Visually, it's a nice place- a pretty outdoor eating patio, with plenty of foliage to create a little space from the road.  Upon entering the restaurant, the bartender checked us out- and then ignored us.... and then another server looked up and quickly looked down and walked away, like a less stealthy version of spy, I was actually surprised she didn't hold her hand up to hide her face.  Eventually (and I do mean in no less than 5 minutes) someone came and sat us.  We ordered a tasty appetizer as soon as possible- An oven roasted butternut squash with sage pasta, and a sinfully sweet brown sugar brandy cream sauce with walnuts.  It was as good as it sounds- the sauce especially worked well- the touch of brandy added a rich note to the sauce, while still allowing the other flavors room to work their magic. For our meals Rosaleen ordered a Caesar salad with grilled chicken, and I ordered gnocchi with pesto sauce.  Rosaleen's salad was a good portion, and the dressing was a traditional Caesar.  My gnocchi portion was humongous and delicious! Rather than a thick pesto sauce that seems favored by some of the other Italian eatery's I've visited locally, this sauce was light while still flavorful.  The gnocchi were also cocked correctly- which ultimately means that yes, I gorged myself. Rosaleen's husband Michael joined us about halfway through the meal- and thankfully they both helped me with my meal.
The good things: They're open late on week nights and the pasta dishes are tasty and highly recommended, the lighting and ambiance are all well done. The bad: On this particular night, the service was disappointing.  Our server forgot my salad, served me clearly burnt coffee and the bowl of soup we ordered for Michael ended up being a cup.  I can and often do excuse a server for silly mistakes, because I've served tables for over 10 years and we all have those nights- it isn't a life crisis.  However, what did put a bad taste in my mouth was that although they are open late, the waitstaff made it clear they'd prefer not to be.
Still- that butternut squash was pretty outrageous.

Alfredo's Pizza Cafe
1040 S Washington Ave
Scranton, PA 18505 

Hours
Monday - Thursday
11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Friday - Saturday
11 a.m. - midnight

Sunday
11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

AV

As a birthday celebration for my dearest Jessica, I wanted to take her someplace nice. Very nice. After days of pondering, brainstorming, and acquiring suggestions from local foodies, I consulted with my counterpart, Jenna, and ultimately decided on AV (located on Birney Ave in Moosic). Approaching AV’s parking lot (via GPS) was horrifying. I thought I was entering a slum Motel, which is conveniently attached to the restaurant, AV. Visually the outside of AV is in need of some serious TLC. A hanging plant, bench, candle in the window…anything?! My thought process went from “oh no, where did I take you, Jessica” to…the skies opening and a choir belting “halleluiah” as I walked in the front door. The interior of AV is absolutely beautiful. Clean design; warm and cozy. Great bar area, and most importantly clean, clean bathrooms. I was relieved.

This is an interior decorating blog isn’t it? Oh right, we talk food here. Okay, so here we go: We started with wonderful drinks from the bar. The birthday girl had frozen grapes floating in her martini. My first impression was “oh…how interactive…and tasty.” The appetizers we decided to order included the highly recommended sweet potato gnocchi, which was outstanding. The gnocchi was very soft with crunchy walnuts on top, mmm, delicious. We also ordered fig puree on a crostini topped with prosciutto. Sweet and salty, a flavor combination Jessica and I both seem to favor. Jenna ordered a seared swordfish as her entrée, which was just that…seared swordfish. Fresh tasting with a great sauce (but clearly not memorable). Jessica ordered skate (which is the fin of a stingray fish), served with mashed sweet potatoes. The skate struck our attention because it is a type of fish rarely seen on a menu. Skate is a light fish, and prepared in a way that easily flaked from the bone. This too, was fresh tasting, and had a great sauce. I ordered the “diver scallops.” If you like scallops I would absolutely recommend ordering this dish. They were truly seared to perfection, and were also served with a great sauce and mashed parsnips. I have to say, however, that when my plate was put in front of me and I saw three dainty scallops staring back at me, with a dollop of mashed parsnips with about five string beans, I almost laughed and said, “I didn’t ask you to box up the other half of my meal…” I quickly got back to reality and said, “this is fiiiiiiiine dining, Jean…don’t be a glutton.” I savored every bite of those scallops (not that there were too many bites…but they were all savored). Looking back on this meal, we all seemed to have been in the mood for seafood, hmm. However, there were many different proteins on the menu.

Chocolate lava cake, and classic cheesecake were our desserts. And the very attractive wait staff included a candle for Jessica. How thoughtful.

All in all, this is a restaurant I would go to impress someone (not that you would ever need to impress anyone…but if you ever did…). The inside décor is outstanding, the food is…good…but wouldn’t be the subject of your conversation, which is good, I guess? And the menu has a variety to choose from.

Recommendation? Wear something nice, don’t forget your wallet, and order the gnocchi.

AV

4134 Birney Ave

Moosic, PA18507

Zummo's Café

Zummo’s Café is a perfect location for a meet and greet chitchat with friends, or as a solo visit to escape from the world. Not only is the atmosphere relaxed (indoors or out), but just the smell of Zummo’s freshly brewed coffee will brighten your day. Fortunately Jessica and I are only a short bike ride to Zummo’s, convenient for an instant craving fix.

Zummo’s buys their coffee from Electric City Roasting, which stands on their fair trade principles. Most of the coffee is from Costa Rica and Guatemala, and yes, the coffee sold to Electric City Roasting is sold directly from the farmer. So, yeah sure, the coffee is pure. Yeah sure, the coffee is FAIR TRADE. Yeah sure, the coffee is absolutely without a doubt smooth and DELICIOUS.

On this particular visit, Jessica enjoyed a classic iced coffee with a nice slice of chocolate cake, while I chomped away on a mixed berry scone and a biscotti cookie. The baked goods at Zummo’s are made on site, and are outstanding! Fresh tasting treats, nice sip of coffee, great atmosphere…sounds like a dreamy Saturday morning to me.

Now, Zummo’s is currently looking for a part-time pastry chef (as advertised by a sign on their front door). This my friends, makes it extremely tempting for me to drop out of school, and bake…all-day-long. Realistically speaking, all I really want to know is how those scones are just so fluffy…

Zummo’s Café

918 Marion St. Scranton, PA

Mon – Sat: 6:30 am – 6 pm

Sun: 6:30 am – 2 pm

Eden

Jean and I both REALLY like Eden.  So, when Christian Pilosi (the owner) posted on our wall (via facebook) to come check it out- it was a no-brainer.  Honestly, I probably could have written a thorough glowing review about Scranton's only Vegan eatery without actually stepping foot in the restaurant, but I'm not about to turn down the opportunity to grab a bite there.  So, Jean and I hopped on our bike's and cruised over to Eden.
Eden is, as I mentioned, a Vegan restaurant.  Meat-happy diner's don't run for the hills yet-stay put! What the crew at Eden has managed to do is make this lifestyle choice accessible for the average Scranton'ian.  The menu features steak and cheese, salmon wraps, hamburgers, and a slew of carnivorous options- only, without the actual meat.  The meat substitutes are generally made from soy protein or wheat gluten, and they are overwhelmingly meat-like in texture. The flavors are remarkably spot on in my many cases- achieved primarily through seasoning.  Another cool feature is that, the meals are lighter- and in many cases low in fat and cholesterol.  In addition to a full-menu, the staff at Eden whips up an expansive specials menu each day- including soups, salads, and sandwiches! So- let's get to the food!

Jean and I both opted for specials today- both without any vegan meat, although- let me say however that if you're looking for an outrageous chicken cheese steak, this should be your first stop! Jean beat me to the chase and ordered The Foxy Lady Panini- which is served on fresh Tuscany Italian bread with portabello mushrooms, roasted red peppers, (vegan) mozzarella cheese, Italian dressing and leafy greens which is than panini'ized (pressed and melted!).  I had the black bean wrap, served cold with avocado, cilantro, carrot and greens. Each sandwich comes with a side and a pickle- Jean ordered the notorious "smashed potato's" (the overwhelmingly Irish girl in me gives them 2 ma-jah(!) thumbs up) and I had the veggie side. We split our bounty, each of us taking one half of both sandwiches.  I inhaled the foxy lady- so delicious and fresh! The mozzarella cheese is really tasty, and I promise you as a world-renowed cheese lover,  I'm speaking the truth! The bread was perfectly toasty and crisp, really giving this light summer meal a nice burst of texture.  The black bean wrap was really delicious!  It had a little Latin flaire with the fresh avocado, cilantro and as a former vegetarian, I cannot espouse the wonders carrot can do for a veggie wrap! The simple addition of carrot give the wrap that crunch it needed tying it all together.
It is the attention to detail that impresses me so much at Eden.  Meals are not simply thrown together- rather they are well-crafted, well-thought-out, fully formed meals.  The flavour combinations will impress even the most picky eater.  Seasonal flavors are utilized regularly in scrumtous and inventive ways (check out the soup selection!) while still catering, quite thoughtfully, to the tastes of Scranton!

Eden- A Vegan Cafe

344 Adams Ave.
Scranton, PA 18503

Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Wednesday 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday noon-4:30 p.m.