Federal Donuts, Philadelphia PA

Serving donuts, coffee, chicken, and tee-shirts, Federal Donuts has landed. Despite being a new kid on the block, Federal Donuts is iconic South Philadelphia and feels like it could have been here for years. Down the block from the Mummers Museum, it's a great stop for tourists, old-school neighbors and new-school hipsters alike.





If you want to try the fancy donuts, there will be no sleeping in. While it depends on how many early-risers there are, most days the Fancy Donuts ($2 each or $20 for a dozen) are gone by 10 or 11am. Flavors change, but the combinations are always bizarrely delicious.






On a recent visit I tried Razzberry Balsamic, which oddly reminded me of sweet & sour chicken. It probably would have tasted even more like sweet & sour chicken had I had paired it with some of their actual chicken.





The S'mores was super sweet, with bits of marshmallow actually baked into the donuts and then topped with graham cracker and chocolate sauce.






The Grapefruit and Brown Sugar had a sublet hint of coffee flavor to it and, while not my taste, seemed extremely popular with only one left by the time I arrived.






Caramel Banana has a gentle caramel flavor. The bite-sized crunchy banana chips create an interesting mix of textures. The Halvah Pistachio combines two unlikely nutty flavors into an old-world/new-world donut explosion.



Surprisingly, my personal favorite was the Pina Colada. The sweetness of the coconut and the tartness of the pineapple create a perfect mix. While all of the Fancy Donuts are super sweet, the Pina Colada is more mature in flavor. The older sibling of S'mores and Razzberry Balsamic.




All the fuss is on the Fancy Donuts, but I found the true hero to be the hot donuts: moist, warm, melt in your mouth airy goodness. They come in three flavors: Indian Cinnamon, Appolonia Spice, and Vanilla Lavender. All three are reminiscence of home cooked meals, imagined holidays, and big bear hugs. In other words, total comfort junk food. Perfect for dunking in coffee.







If you go, get there early before they sell out. If you're going for chicken they start taking orders just before noon. Chicken is served either dry or glazed ($9 for 6 wings, $17 for 12). Flavors include Za'atar, Buttermilk Ranch, Chile-Garlic, Honey-Ginger, and Harissa.

Whether you're going for donuts, chicken, or both, unless it's a tee-shirt you want plan to arrive early.

If you go:

• 1219 South 2nd Street Philadelphia, PA 19147
• Phone: (267) 687-8258
• They accept credit cards.
• Open 7am-3pm weekdays, 7am-7pm weekends or until they sell out.
  
• Federal Donuts

Portabella Stir Fry

This woodsy, crunchy, stir fry is super easy to make and even easier to eat. Serve it as is, or over rice or quinoa.






Ingredients:

1 clove of garlic, finely chopped
1 tablespoon of ghee or coconut oil
1 portabella mushroom (with stem), cleaned & gently salted
1 carrot
1 teaspoon of soy sauce
1/2 cup of shelled edamame


Chop the carrot into small pieces and set aside in the soy sauce.
Heat the ghee or oil in a frying pan over medium heat until melted. Add the chopped garlic, stirring often.
Chop the mushroom into small pieces and add to the pan, continuing to stir. Once mushrooms darken in color and begin to shrink in size, add the carrots in soy sauce & the edamame. Continue to stir. When cooked, the mushrooms will be a very dark brown, almost black color throughout. Remove from heat and serve.

Serving size: 1.

Oasis Living Cuisine, Frazer PA (Part II)

While the shop at Oasis Living Cuisine is quite simple, the products are unique and competitively priced. They offer everything from raw "ice creams" made from nut-milk, to honeycomb, maca powder, hemp-seed spreads, and chocolate-covered kale chips. They also have an array of books available about eating & living a raw lifestyle.



In addition to their eclectic selection from others, Oasis offers their own product line of flavored raw nuts (from cinnamon to ranch), nut-based crackers, sprouted granola, "cheese" and more.



Their dehydrated kale chips have an airy crunch to them. I tried the coconut curry flavor, which is a playful mix of sweet & spicy. The lingering aroma of curry mixed with a hint of apple cider vinegar, evokes an old world melting with new. I could could see these pairing nicely with a curry chicken or sagg paneer. Or perhaps as the base for a raw foods version of a classic Indian dish.



Oasis also has a wide-array of raw chocolates. Some are sweetened with honey, others with agave. All of the chocolates are dark. It is clear that they use a high quality cocoa source that produces a decent consistency & flavor. That said, the texture is not as smooth as what you would find in a traditionally-made high quality dark chocolate.



Many of the truffles that I tasted had an almost crumbly texture, resulting from the combination of honey and nut fillings. I was underwhelmed by the fruit flavors (cherry, raspberry), but the coconut, mint, and ginger truly shined.







With Valentine's Day just around the corner, vegan & raw food chocoholics will be delighted to know that Oasis will have holiday themed, hand-crafted, raw, vegan chocolate truffles.






Their 2012 Valentine Truffle Collection includes flavors such as raspberry, blackberry, mint-to-be, burnin' love, and coconut cream--all crafted into beautiful hearts of different shapes. I especially like the blackberry: a beautifully dusted, oblong purple heart with a tart bite to it.




If you go:

• 134 Lancaster Ave, Frazer PA 19355
• Phone: (610) 647-9797
• They accept credit cards.
• Oasis Chocolate
• Oasis Online Store
  

Oasis Living Cuisine, Frazer PA (Part I)

In a classic case of "you can't tell a book by its cover," Oasis Living Cuisine is located in an older looking stretch of shops across from an empty field in Frazer, PA. Its neon 'open' sign and plastic seating does not scream "healthy brunch here," but it is in fact a mecca for raw foodies.




Oasis Living Cuisine offers a selection of raw pizzas, shakes, salads, desserts, organic juices and both raw & traditional wraps. Additionally they have a small shop of raw items that are difficult to find elsewhere (including indulgent raw chocolate truffles!).

On a recent visit I tried the Stuffed Avocado, with carrots, Brazil nut pate, and cashew sauce ($5.75).



A subtle hint of spice, creamy nut sauce, and perfectly ripe avocados make for a delicious mix of flavor and texture.


My brunchmate ordered a traditional Cheddar Avocado Wrap, with cheddar cheese, avocado, lettuce, tomato, and hummus spread on your choice of wrap (including a gluten-free option) and choice of chips or carrot sticks ($7.50). The wrap was quite tasty, and nicely complemented by the crunch of chips, but unfortunately it lacked avocado in one half.



On another visit, I tried the Avocado Flax Wrap ($7.50), which is very similar to the traditional wrap except for the cheese & wrap itself. The flax wrap has a chewy texture to it, with an intense "flaxy" flavor.




While its a bit of an acquired taste, it is a welcome option for creating wraps for both raw food and gluten-free diners alike. Oasis Living Cuisine also sells the wraps to go in their shop.





The Chocolate Banana Shake is made with nutmilk, raw cocoa powder, banana, and agave ($5.75). The shake has a good consistency with a strong banana flavor and an understated touch of chocolate.



In my next post I will explore the shop at Oasis Living Cuisine as well as their raw chocolates. Stay Tuned!

If you go:

• 134 Lancaster Ave, Frazer, PA 19355
• Phone: (610) 647-9797
• They accept credit cards
• Open Mon-Sat
  
• Oasis Living Cuisine

Cafette, Philadelphia PA

Tucked away in the heart of Chestnut Hill you will find the tiny dining gem: Cafette. On what otherwise looks like a residential street, you are not extremely likely to happen upon Cafette accidentally. But it's a treasure to seek out, close enough to reach by train, bus or car. It is an ideal brunch spot on a day when you plan to explore the shops along Chestnut Hill's Germantown Ave.


It was much too cold and snowy to sit outside this past weekend, but in nicer weather Cafette offers a patio for bunching. Inside is perfectly cozy and the front room we sat in had nice acoustics even when it got a little crowded. Although, where I sat got a little too cozy--some consumable items I had in a bag hanging off my chair melted from the heat of the floor heater!



I ordered the Apple and Candied Walnut Salad, served with greens, bleu cheese, dried cranberries and lemon citronette ($9). The greens were fresh and the lemon citronette was tart without becoming acidic. The bleu cheese was incredibly strong, lingering for hours. I remembered why I'm not always a big fan of bleu cheese, but that said, it was clearly a high quality bleu.


My brunchmate tried the Homemade Flapjacks, "double-stack served with your choice of blueberry, bananas Foster or peach cobbler toppings and Vermont maple syrup"($9). The peach cobbler was a good choice, as that alone would make for a delicious brunch! The peaches were nicely accented by a cinnamon-maple flavor.



The flapjacks were light & airy, just a bit thicker than a crepe, without turning tough. They had a delicate hint of lemon to them. And, something I always love, the toppings are served on the side so you can choose how much to add.




My brunchmate tried the fresh squeezed orange juice (of the not-so-pulpy variety)and I tried a Sipp Ginger Blossom soda, "spicy ginger and tart lime infused with vanilla." Both fine; nothing overly outstanding about either beverage.




For dessert, I ordered a chocolate chip cookie. Topped with chocolate shavings it was quite pretty to look at. If they had served it warm, it would have melted my heart. But it was still delicious at room temperature. If it was not a Famous 4th Street Cookie, it may as well have been since it was basically identical in taste and texture.



A delightful place to brunch in the winter, but from the looks of it I think Cafette probably hits their real stride in warmer weather. But anytime of year it is worth stepping off the main drag of Chestnut Hill to brunch at Cafette.


If you go:

• 8136 Ardleigh Street, Philadelphia, PA 19118
• Phone: (215) 242-4220
• They accept credit cards.
• Cafette

Sauteed Portobello with Mashed Rutabaga and Orange Cranberry Sauce

Sauteed Portobello with Rutabaga Mash & Orange Cranberry sauce is a delicious wintertime meal.
It is hearty enough to stick to your bones, but not so caloric as to ruin any New Year's Resolutions.

Mashed Rutabaga is a nice change from traditional mashed potatoes. Flavor-wise they are slightly sweeter than white potatoes but not as sweet as yams.


Orange Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients:

1 bag of fresh cranberries
about 1 cup of orange juice
1-4 tablespoons of maple syrup


Rinse cranberries & put into pot. Add enough orange juice to cover about half-way (about 1 cup). Add sweetener to taste (keep in mind that as the sauce reduces, the flavors become a bit sweeter, so you can always add more at the end too!) . Cover and heat on simmer for about 30minutes, stirring occasionally and keeping an eye that it does not boil over. Once thick, side aside to cool. Or serve warm over ice cream.

Rutabaga Mash

Ingredients:

3 medium sized fresh rutabaga
about 1/3 cup of So Delicious Unsweetened Coconut Milk
1/2 cup of sour cream (or vegan alternative if desired)
sea salt
lemon pepper
cheddar cheese (or other) as desired

Clean rutabata and cut off any rough parts. Slice into 1/2" chunks. Simmer, covered, in salt water until soft throughout. Transfer to blender or food processor. Add sour cream & milk, as needed, to blend.



Add salt & lemon pepper to taste. Once smooth, transfer back to pot. If desired, add cheese. Heat over low until warm & melted.


Sauteed Portobello

Ingredients:

1 yellow onion, chopped
1 tablespoon of ghee (or vegan alternative)
2 portobello mushrooms
sea salt



Melt ghee (ghee is clarified butter--it can withstand high heat cooking and adds a great flavor!). Add the onions and cook over low heat, stirring often, until onions start to turn clear & caramelize.

Clean the mushrooms and gently salt them. If there are stems, slice them off and add to the onions (they taste really good!) Add mushrooms to pan, stem side down, keeping heat low. Stir occasionally, to keep onions & mushrooms from burning. Turn once.



As mushrooms cook, they will start to brown & release water. Turn heat up a bit to burn off the water, stirring constantly. The center of the mushroom will go from white to brown once cooked.



Rutabaga mash & cranberry sauce serves 4.
Portobello Saute serves 2.

Kitchenette Uptown, New York NY

Kitchenette Uptown is filled with charm. Our table is made from a pastel painted wooden door, covered in glass. The decor reminds me a bit of Sabrina's in Philadelphia. And like Sabrina's, you can order brunch food any day of the week. On an early Sunday evening, Kitchenette Uptown was fairly empty but I imagine that is probably not the case earlier in the day. The waitstaff is friendly and prompt, and the food is delicious.





While tempted by their unusually flavored shakes (Red Velvet and Campfire S'more are among the options) I stick with a traditional chocolate milkshake ($6). Sadly the whipped cream is clearly from a can and not fresh, but the consistency of the shake is perfect. I could do with it being a bit more dark chocolatey, but for most palates they have it about right. And it is served in a mason jar!



I try the Chick Pea Burger, made with mashed chickpeas, carrots and roasted red onions and served on pita with side of tahini ($13.50). Really delicious, but also really messy to eat since the chickpea consistency is slightly closer to hummus than burger. The mild tahini compliments the burger nicely while not overwhelming it. The burger comes with a side and I ordered the butternut-squash. It lacked flavor and needed a bit of salt and perhaps some maple syrup to brighten it up.

Coming off of a week of eating totally raw, this meal was overwhelmingly filling.



My brunchmate orders the Shepherd's Pie – with ground beef, carrots and mashed potato crust ($14.00). Total comfort food, the beef is tender and the overall dish has a gentle sweetness that pulls the flavors together.



Prices are quite reasonable for New York, the vibe is fun and friendly, and the desserts look delicious (if only we had room!).


If you go:

• 1272 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027
• Phone: (212) 531-7600
• They accept credit cards, but offer a discount if you pay with cash.
• Kitchenette Restaurant