Northportfishington Cookiefactory, Philadelphia PA

Cookies for brunch? Probably not the best idea, but Cinnamon Buns, Monkey Bars (banana bread & cream cheese delights), and apple cider donuts certainly are!

Before I continue, full disclosure: I am acquainted with Mike Landers, the master baker & owner of Northportfishington Cookiefactory. In fact, I was lucky enough to be one of the early taste testers back before the company even existed. That said, Mike does not know that I am writing this review (well, at least not yet anyway), and in fact he may not even be aware of brunchphilly.com, so in order words: I am receiving nothing in exchange for writing this. Okay, now back to your irregularly scheduled review:

For starters, the Cinnamon Buns. I never really liked cinnamon buns until I tasted these. They remain the only ones I have ever truly enjoyed.

They have a perfect cinnamon-to-topping ratio, are not too sweet, and pretty much float across your tastebuds. One of these is the perfect companion to any morning beverage. The only drawback is that if you don’t eat them within a day, they go stale. You can partially revive them by heating—which, even when they are fresh they taste best warmed for a minute or two-- but the day olds just can’t compete with the fresh ones.

Next, another surprised for me, the Oatmeal Cranberry Cashew Cookie. It’s usually a requirement for my cookies to have chocolate. While I don’t think an additional of chocolate chips would hurt these babies (hint, hint), they are perfectly fantastic just the way they are. The cashew bits are small enough that you’re not overwhelmed, and the cranberry adds a deliciously tart flavor. These cookies have a nice crisp edge, but are totally soft in the center.

Seasonally, you can sometimes find the mini Apple Cider Donuts. These also surprised me, because I’ve never been huge on donuts. But these babies are perfect to dunk into a mug of hot cider—that is, if you can wait long enough for the cider to warm up before devouring all of them. They are moist and covered with a gentle dusting of cinnamon and sugar.

If there is anything on the Northportfishington Cookiefactory’s bakery list that I’m not crazy about, it would be the brownies. They’re fine, but not outstanding. And personally I find them to be a bit too cakey and lacking the super crispy edges that a perfect brownie requires.



That said, if you’re all about cakey brownies, you might love these.

Final verdict? Even if I knew no one at Northportfishington Cookiefactory, I would still be to the moon about their yummy products!

While there are several coffee shops around town that stock some of the items, the one place I know I can always find the perfect Cinnamonbun brunch is at Greensgrow Farmers Market. Grab a bun, and perhaps a pint of fresh berries or a plant or two while you're there, and it’s a perfect start to a spring weekend!

If you go:

• Click for a full list of where to find Northportfishington Cookiefactory’s products

• Greensgrow is located at:

  2501 E. Cumberland Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125

• Most options are cash only.

• NPFCF Facebook

A Full Plate, Philadelphia PA

Everything that I’ve ordered from A Full Plate has been quite good. Most offerings have more than a hint of a southern flare, which is a bit surprising given how many vegan/veg friendly items show up on the menu; the words “Southern food” and “vegan” do not usually go hand-in-hand. The décor is busy and funky. As one brunchmate put it, “I’m not sure if I’m hip enough to eat here.”

On my most recent visit (one where unfortunately I forgot to take photos), I order the Vegetarian Sausage w/Biscuits and Gravy ($10), served with a heaping pile of home fries. The fries are a mix of regular and sweet potatoes, which is a nice surprise. The sausage is properly spiced, and thoroughly smothered in a delicious onion-gravy. The biscuits are good, but they could stand to be a bit flakier.

A brunchmate orders the Toads in a Hole ($10), multigrain bread filled with scrambled eggs, either turkey or veggie sausage, onions, peppers, mushrooms and cheddar cheese and also served with home fries. Delicious and filling, it’s a twist on the traditional English dish.

While I would like to give A Full Plate a full endorsement, my brunchmates have not always fared quite as well as I. It could be a matter of taste, but it seems that the menu itself is a bit of a hit or miss.

The Vegan French Toast ($10), is exceedingly bready and, while the granola crust is a nice touch, it could use a little help in the flavor department. Perhaps some berries or a vegan cream-cheese filling?

The pancakes are so dense that they "taste vegan.” Which, unfortunately in this case, is not a compliment. Vegan pancakes can be fluffy, it’s not impossible!

And while not unlikable, both the Hush Puppies ($3.50) and the Fried Pickles ($3.50) would be much improved with a little less grease.

On the upside, the Fried Green Tomato Salad ($7.50) offers a fantastic mix of flavors, combining Southern-style friend tomatoes with an Italian-style caprice salad of basil and fresh mozzarella.

While it is not always on the money, A Full Plate is one of the best choices in town when you’re trying to please a wide variety of palates. There are enough options that both your rib-eating uncle and your vegan best friend will be satisfied. Just make sure that your uncle doesn’t order the Brussels Sprout Salad ($7.50) and that your friend stays away from the Catfish Po’ Boy ($8).

If you go:

• 1009 N. Bodine St (On Liberties Walk), Philadelphia PA 19123
• Phone: (215) 627-4068
• Be sure to stop in the bathrooms where you can leave your mark on the walls (in chalk).
• A Full Plate

Cafe Estelle, Philadelphia PA

This jem of a breakfast nook is tucked away inside the lobby of the 444 Lofts. While not the most convinent location for those on foot, if you drive there is both ample on-the-street metered parking as well as a few free spots reserved for the cafe in the loft's parking lot.

Inside, the walls are covered with art for sale by local artists. Tables, couch, or counter seating is available. On the tables are fresh flowers and under the tabletops are recipes from vintage magazines and cookbooks. The chairs have thick comfy cushions, encouraging guests to stay awhile.

Cafe Estelle's menu is rather eclectic ranging from Bagels with Vegan Butter Spread ($2.00) and Homemade Granola with local yogurt ($6.50) to Duck & Gorgonzola Flatbread Pizza ($8.50) and Braised Lamb Sandwich ($10.50). The unifying theme seems to be local and fare-trade menu options.

I decide to be decadent and order the Chocolate Banana Peanutbutter Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast with warm maple syrup and fresh fruit ($9.50). The first thing that I notice about the french toast is how clean the presentation is for something stuffed. I am used to filling pouring out over the sides when ordering stuffed creations and there is always a mess involved!


At Cafe Estelle, the chef cuts a hole in the middle of the bread, stuffs it and covers it back up. This creates not only a very clean look but makes the toast much easier to eat! The bread is thick yet airy, the filling has just a hint of peanut butter, and the cream cheese is blended perfectly. The Stuffed French Toast does sit a bit heavy, but is much lighter than most.

Cafe Estelle's coffee is fair-trade, organic, and from a local vendor. You can order a “Bottomless Cup” for $2.75. According to my brunch-mate it is “strong but very good.”

My brunch-mate orders the Smoked Salmon, Scallion & Cream Cheese Omelet ($9.00) which comes with homefries and toast. The toast is made with a sourdough baguette that is baked on the premises. Our server informs us that the salmon is also smoked on premises. My brunch-mate, who was on the fence about ordering the omelet, is thrilled with her decision. The gentle smoke flavor of the salmon pairs beautifully with the cream cheese—it is not overwhelming as feared. The homefries are nicely seasoned and crispy.


Cafe Estelle makes all of their baked goods onsite. The chocolate chip cookies ($0.75 each or 3 for $2.00) are soft but also have a delightful crunch to them around the edges. The chocolate cannot really be called “chips” but rather are big globs that spread throughout the cookie.


If you plan to go before the new year, call ahead because the sign on the entrance says they will be closed from December 22-January 1.

If you go:

• 444 N. 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123
  Between Callowhill and Spring Garden Streets
  
• Phone: (215) 925-5080
• They accept credit cards. BYOB.
  
• Cafe Estelle Website