Brunch Philly 2013: Whole30 and more!

Welcome to 2013. With all the New Year's Resolutions and new starts going around, it seems like January is as good a time as any to experiment with new foods. Last year, I tried eating only raw foods for a week. You can read about it here: Brunch Philly's Raw Food Experiment 2012.

This year, I've embarked on something much longer and personally bigger. But let me back up a minute. For health reasons, I've unfortunately had to eliminate gluten from my diet. It's not something that was easy to do and not something that I would be doing if I could avoid it. But after (finally) following my doctor's advice to remove gluten from my diet for 30 days, the results were obvious. I'm hoping that with enough time, someday I may be successfully able to incorporate it again.  But for the time being, I've been eating wheat-free since August.

This makes brunch a bit different, since my favorite brunch foods are the sweet ones: stuffed french toast, pancakes, crepes.... yet you may have noticed that in my most recent reviews I've ordered the eggs. But 2013 has brought an even bigger change.

Some additional health issues have lead me to a place where my body just doesn't feel like me. I needed a "reset" button. Through the wonder of the internet, I stumbled across Whole30. It's a fairly specific plan for 30 days that promises renewed energy levels, no more food cravings, and more.

Brunchmates can attest to my love of all things dark chocolate. The idea of removing it almost entirely from my diet for 30 days (with the except of baking cocoa to be used as a spice), was bittersweet. Cravings gone? Sign me up. Dealing with cravings until they're gone? No fun.

But the need for a reset was strong. So I signed up for Whole30 a week ago today.

I considered doing it as a vegetarian. I had been one for 9 years. But ultimately I decided that if I was going to do this, I was all in. So, yes, I've started eating some limited meat again. This has reminded me why I became vegetarian to begin with: I'm not really a fan. That said, I've decided to stick with it for 30 days and then reassess because so far my body is a lot happier.

This blog entry has gone on long enough, and without enough photos, but a few final things:

1. After the first 3 days of eating only foods approved on the Whole30 list, I am happy to report that indeed, food cravings are gone. And along with it the urge for late night snacking.   While I do really look forward to Day31 when I can eat some chocolate again, I'm already planning to include it on a much more limited basis.

2.  I will be updating Brunch Philly with photos & recipes that I'm trying. Similar to the Raw Foods Diet, one of the best things I find about these food experiments is that it challenges me to cook with new ingredients and expand my horizons in the kitchen. Take for instance tonight, I cooked swordfish for the first time ever along with an amazing creamed cauliflower dish and some homemade pineapple-avocado salsa! I promise that I'll be sharing recipes soon.

3. There are some much bigger things in the works for Brunch Philly. I cannot say more about it just yet, but we (yes, I've lured some brunchmates to join me in this project) have some pretty big things in store for 2013. So if all goes according to plan I'll have some pretty exciting news to share in a few months time.... Stay Tuned!

Down Home Diner in RTM, Philadelphia PA

In August 2012, some brunchmates and I enjoyed a laid back, delicious week-day brunch at The Down Home Diner.  Here is the previously unpublished review:

In the mood for a southern-style breakfast? Looking for a child-friendly dining experience? Looking for a good starting point as a tourist? Look no further than the Down Home Diner located in Philadelphia's Reading Terminal Market.

Asparagus & Mushroom Scram

On a recent visit, I order the Asparagus and Mushroom Scram ($6.99), "barnyard fresh eggs scrambled with asparagus and mushrooms." Deciding that I was in the mood for some decadence, I  added cheddar cheese as well. The asparagus was fresh and cooked to a perfect consistency.  Overall an A+ omelet with the surprise bonus of a slice of watermelon! The potato hash-browns had a nice crispy edge-to-soft middle ratio, but otherwise did not stand out.

Country French Toast

 One brunchmate tried the Country French Toast ($6.99). It's nothing fancy, and could have probably used the addition of some fresh fruit or berries, but the thick yet airy slices are a good quality toast.







Another brunchmate tried the Corn Hoe Cakes with Turkey Sausage ($7.99). The sausage was flavorful and "far more substantial that other turkey sausages I've met. In fact, I might not have been able to tell the difference if I hadn't know. " The corn hoe cakes were very light, similar to a buttermilk, but had sweet corn throughout!

Corn Hoe Cakes with Turkey Sausage

My youngest brunchmate shared her parent's meal, but had her own glass of water. Our server was thoughtful enough to bring a glass for her that was only partially full so there were no fear of spills!

If you're looking for a quality diner experience in the heart of center city, look no further than the Down Home Diner!


If you go:

• 51 North 12th Street  Philadelphia, PA 19107
• Phone: (215) 627-1955
• They accept credit cards.
• Down Home Diner Website

White Pumpkin Pie

Cooked White Pumpkins

I've been on a pumpkin pie kick lately. I've also been eating gluten-free. I'm not the biggest fan of gluten-free crusts, but I found a recipe for a pretty mean crust-less pumpkin pie.  I played around with the recipe a bit and my latest version is made with white pumpkin. That's right, they're not just decorative, white pumpkins are edible.

Ingredients 

 2 cups of cooked white pumpkin (or 1 can of regular pumpkin)
1/2 cup of unsweetened coconut milk 
1/2 cup of condensed milk
3 eggs
1 tablespoon of pumpkin pie spice
4 tablespoons of flour (either gluten-free, rice, spelt, or regular)
4 tablespoons of maple syrup (or more if you like your pie super sweet)
optional: 1 small slice of fresh ginger (about size of top part of pinky finger)

Directions

If using a raw pumpkin, slice it in half. Remove the seeds and rise them in cool water.

You can cook the pumpkin seeds too --toss them with salt, pepper, and coconut oil and place on cookie sheet. They take about 15minutes to brown and crisp up and are super tasty!

Be sure to cook open side down so they don't dry out!

Pie Before Baking

Remove all the stringy parts and throw them out. Cover the pumpkin with oil or butter and place open side down on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for about 30-45minutes, until the pumpkin is soft and the skin peels easy. Remove the skin. 

In a high powered blender, mixer or vitamix combine all ingredients and blend until smooth. Pour into greased pie pan.  Cook at 350F for 1 hour, turning once.







Cool & serve with fresh whipped cream.

Looks a little like cheesecake, but tastes like pumpkin!

Spring Rolls

Spring Roll with Peanut Sauce

I've never made spring rolls before, but we had some rice paper waiting to be used. 

Turns out, rice paper is a lot easier to work with than I had imagined. These spring rolls take about 20minutes to make, but if you're faster at wrapping than I am, it could probably be done in less time. This recipe makes eating raw cabbage actually enjoyable.

Ingredients

• Rice Paper
• Warm Water (in a pan)
• 1/4 head of cabbage
• 1/4 fresh mango
• 2 tablespoons of chopped onion
• 1 carrot, julienned
• splash of soy sauce
• dipping sauce (peanut or sweet chili)
  

  
  
  
  Directions

  
  
  1. Julianne the carrot, chop the onion & the cabbage.
     
     
     
     

     

     Julianne a carrot

     
     

     
     
     
     

     

     Combine carrot, cabbage & onion with soy sauce

     
     

  2.  Combine in bowl and toss with a splash of soy sauce. Set aside.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
  3.  Slice avocado and mango into thin strips. 
  
  

  

  avocado and mango strips

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  Rice Paper

  

  Dip rice paper in water

  
  
  4. Take the rice paper and dip into water. Keep under water for 15-30sec.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  5. Remove the rice paper from the water and place on a plate. Allow a few seconds for it to continue to soften & become a little sticky before adding your filling. Add a small handful of the carrot-cabbage slaw and then 3-4 slices of mango and avocado on top. 
  
  
  
  

  

  Add your filling in the middle

  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  Fold one side over

  

  Fold the two ends ups

  
  
  6.  Fold one side over, like in the photo.
  
  7. Fold the two ends up. and then fold the remaining side up and over like a package.
  
  
  
  
  
  
   8. Place on a plate in the refrigerator. 
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  Prepared spring rolls can keep for a few hours in the fridge

  
  
   9. Serve with dipping sauce. I recommend either peanut (pictured) or sweet chili dipping sauce.
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  Spring Roll with Dipping Sauce

  
  This recipe makes approximately 10 spring rolls. You can either eat immediately or store in the fridge for up to 24hours.  Enjoy!
  
  
  
  

Plate, Ardmore PA

Plate Restaurant is tucked away in the heart of Ardmore's Suburban Square. With a dark wood interior and several rooms for dining, the atmosphere is cozy and inviting. If only the food were as nice.

On a recent Sunday, my brunchmates and I settled in for what we hoped would be an amazing meal. Thankfully we were in no rush, because while the place had maybe 4 other tables filled with people, it took almost an hour before our meals were served.



While we were waiting, our delightful sever brought us a basket of pastries to munch on. They ranged from delicious to not-worth-the-carbs  (Sorry, I forgot to take a photo but it was a random mix of mini cinnamon buns, chocolate chip scones, muffins and more).

House Smoked Salmon Omelet

 Deciding to try something a little different, I ordered the House Smoked Salmon Omelet ($12.95). It came with toast, hash browns, and cantaloupe. Sadly I found salmon and eggs to be a pretty terrible combination, not only while dining but a few hours later with heartburn as well.  The cantaloupe was delicious but the hash browns were a bit dry and unseasoned. I had requested no toast, but it came with some anyway.

Make Your Own Omelet

 One brunchmate tried the Make Your Own Omelet ($9.95 for 3 choices, $1.50 for each additional). He asked if he could add bacon to his omelet and was told "yes, for an upcharge" but something clearly was lost in translation because his bacon arrived on the side.

Egg White Omelet

Another brunchmate had the Egg White Omelet ($11.95), served with grilled veggies and a baby greens salad. I think the grilled veggies were inside the omelet, but I did not see the baby greens salad. It was "fine," but not better than what you could probably make at home.





While it may appear that omelets alone are the problem, another brunchmate tried the Orange Chicken Salad Sandwich ($10.95), served with red grapes, seasoned aioli, baby mache greens on a toasted brioche Le Bus roll.  It looked very pretty and the grapes were a nice addition, but the chicken salad was dry and lacked any hint of orange flavor. The bun was so small that only half the salad fit on it, and I gave my brunchmate my bread for the rest of it.  The chips, which took up most the plate, were oily and lacked flavor and the coleslaw was basic at best.

Orange Chicken Salad Sandwich

While the atmosphere was nice, the location delightful, and the service pleasant, unfortunately the kitchen at Plate will not have me rushing back anytime soon.  

If you go:

• 105 Coulter Avenue  Ardmore, PA 19003
• Phone: (610) 642-5900
• They accept credit cards. 
• Sunday Only Brunch
• Plate Restaurant

Tasting Table's Cocoa-Bean Smoothie

In the mood for something sweet but trying to eat healthy? Try this amazing Cocoa-Bean Smoothie recipe from the Tasting Table. It's so richly super chocolatey that it's hard to believe it's filled with beans!


For an added kick, add a teaspoon of chili powder before blending and a dusting of cinnamon on top.

• INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1 ripe banana, peeled (preferably frozen or semi-frozen)
½ cup canned black beans, rinsed
⅓ cup chocolate-flavored rice milk  (Brunch Philly used coconut milk instead)
2 teaspoons honey
3 ice cubes

DIRECTIONS

In a small bowl, stir together the cocoa powder and 1 tablespoon water until smooth. To a blender jar, add the banana, black beans, rice milk, honey, ice cubes and cocoa-water mixture. Blend on medium speed to incorporate, then increase the speed to high and blend until smooth and frothy, about 2 minutes. Pour into a tall glass and serve. 
Calories per Serving: 327; Sodium: 34mg; Total Carbohydrate: 73g; Fiber: 12g; Fat: 3g

401 Diner, Conshohocken PA

Olympic Pride at the 401 Diner

 

It's been a long time since I last visited the 401 Diner in  Conshohocken. 

Last time I was there the staff was rude, the seats were sticky, and the food was sub-par. No surprise, it closed not long after.





But the 401 is back and better than ever. In fact, it is unrecognizable.  The sticky plastic booths have been replaced by wooden ones. Harsh florescent lights are now beautiful glass lamps over each table. And the staff who called you "hon" while spilling drinks on your friends have been replaced by one of the nicest and most thoughtful servers ever. 


And the menu. Well, let's just say that it's a foodies' version of your typical diner fare.

Veggie Burger

On a recent visit, I had a Veggie Burger ($10). While a little messy to eat, the burger was delicious in its own right and did not need to try and pretend to be fake meat. It consisted of quinoa and black beans along with a nice mix of veggies and just the right amount of herbs. It comes with a side salad or fries. I ordered mine on a lettuce wrap instead of a bun.





The burger pairs nicely with the super delicious Truffle Frites ($7), which are coated with a generous and tasty mix of parmesan, herbs and truffle oil.

Truffle Frites

Hummus Platter

My brunchmate tried the Hummus and Feta ($8), which was fine but the hummus lacked the typical punch of garlic. In fact, we couldn't taste any garlic at all.

Southwestern Egg Rolls

The Southwestern Egg Rolls ($8), filled with black beans, corn, pepper jack cheese, chopped peppers and onions, were good but needed more cheese.

Chocolate Milkshake

The chocolate milkshake (ordered off the menu) had a good chocolate-to-milk ratio, but its consistency was closer to chocolate milk than a true milkshake.













One thing that the 401 has plenty of is charm. From the beautiful realistic looking wooden roses at each table (and available to purchase by the dozen at the counter), to the amazing service, you cannot go wrong.









Our server even labeled the leftover boxes for us so that we knew what was inside and when it was from! Now that's a first.

If you go:

• 401 Fayette Street, Conshohocken, PA 19428
• Phone: (484) 351-8029
• They accept credit cards.
• 401 Diner Website