Jeffersonville Diner – Norristown, PA

The Jeffersonville Diner on Egypt Rd. in the Jeffersonville/Audubon/Norristown area has long been a local breakfast and lunch establishment in that neighborhood. It was closed down for quite a while, and just within the last few weeks has opened under new ownership. I remember this place from when we lived in this area years ago, although I never ate there, and I was sort of surprised when we moved back here last year to learn that it had closed. The wife and I had spotted a full parking lot and a “Grand Opening” sign out front while we were Christmas shopping nearby a couple of weeks ago, and decided we  should check them out some time. Well, the day after Christmas, when the rest of the family took a trip to the Adventure Aquarium in Camden, we headed here for a quick breakfast before going to see Rogue One.

The dining room was sort of quiet, despite the day being a day off for a lot of people. Although to be fair, we stopped in here right between breakfast and lunch. The restaurant was pretty clean and the tables were roomy. Lots of neutral tones going on here decorating-wise, with a couple of big windows to let in some natural light.

Jeffersonville Diner’s breakfast menu takes up two full pages of their rather large menu (both in physical size and variety). Page one features over 30 different omelettes as well as egg platters, specialty dishes and a la cart items. Page two is a full smorgasbord of waffles, pancakes and french toast.

The service we received at Jeffersonville Diner was great. Our waitress was very friendly and when we asked a couple of questions about some of the dishes, she was happy to go check with the kitchen to get answers for us. Our cups were kept full of diner brown coffee, the creamer packets were plentiful and our food arrived fairly quickly to our table.

Mrs. Grub Guy debated between several options, but decided upon the Quiche of the Day special ($6.95), which included her choice of bread and fresh fruit.

She was told they had two quiches to choose from – a bacon quiche, and a sausage AND bacon quiche. The wife, being the meat-lover she is, opted for the latter. However, when the plate came to the table, it appeared that they had given her a totally different quiche altogether. It definitely had some veggies in there, and she said it may or may not have had some bacon pieces on top. Whatever it was, she actually really enjoyed it. She chose an English muffin as her bread and said it was fresh and chewy. Both good things.

I really didn’t have a clue what I was in the mood for…which is rare. I scoured the menu for several minutes before finding a dish that I had never seen before, the Eggs “Pancake Style” with pastrami brisket ($8.75). It was buried deep in the middle of the Omelette section of the menu.

Going off of the name of the dish only, I surmised that it could possibly be some sort of open-faced omelette, which was confirmed by our server. When my plate came out to the table, I was really intrigued with my meal. It was actually a stack of three medium-sized “pancakes” – simply just layers of scrambled egg with diced pastrami added. It came with my choice of toast and some really delicious home fries.

The pastrami was really tasty and pretty plentiful. It was an interesting twist on breakfast, as opposed to just offering a pastrami omelette. I would have liked to see maybe a sprinkle of shredded cheddar on top or something, but overall it was filling and we were very satisfied.

Jeffersonville Diner was a great start to our day without the kiddo. Breakfast was hot and filling, and we both enjoyed our food. With many, many places around to satisfy a diner-food craving, at least this spot seems to be trying to stand out a little with some simple twists on typical breakfast meals.

Jeffersonville Diner is located at 236 Egypt Rd, Norristown, PA 19403 (MAP). They’re open Monday – Sunday, 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM. For more info, check out their Facebook page HERE.

Honest Tom’s Taco Shop – Philadelphia, PA

I can’t tell you how long I’ve been searching for a really good breakfast burrito. Way before I started this blog in 2012. Breakfast burritos are not something I usually order on a breakfast or brunch menu any more because unfortunately I’ve just been disappointed by them too many times. Most of them haven’t been bad, per se, just not…satisfying. I always leave thinking, “Man, I really wanted to like that, but it just seemed like it was missing something.” They always somehow miss the mark. Until now. And it’s not because all Honest Tom’s Taco Shop serves are burritos and tacos, although it certainly doesn’t hurt, but because they’re just really…really good at it.

Honest Tom’s is located in the University City section of West Philly, near Penn’s campus. Their charming little shop is tucked away near the corner of 44th and Spruce, and is a favorite of locals. The shop was opened back in 2012 by owner Tom McCusker, when he decided to expand his business from his breakfast taco food truck into a full-fledged brick and mortar. Tom used to primarily serve his breakfast tacos around the Drexel University area and at local farmer’s markets, and eventually gained a huge following. While he’s added a lunch and dinner menu since opening the shop, Tom has never abandoned what brought him to the dance: breakfast.

The cozy little space is just big enough for a few tables and some bar stools at the counter, but during the warmer months and into the Fall they do have some outdoor seating available too, which is always a nice way to enjoy a meal. It can feel a little cramped inside, especially on weekends, so my recommendation is to visit during the week or right when they open. That’s what we did on our most recent visit, arriving at around 9:15 on a Saturday morning. There were only two other customers eating inside when we got there, but within minutes of ordering and after we picked a table, the floodgates opened and soon there was a line out the door.

One of my favorite things about Honest Tom’s (besides the food, of course) is their open kitchen area right behind the counter. I’m always a big fan of the open kitchen set-up because it not only demonstrates to customers that a shop is confident about the cleanliness of their kitchen area, but it’s also just cool to sit and watch your mega-huge burrito or taco fillings being slung around on the flat top and stuffed into fresh tortillas.

The menu is very simple. For breakfast, there are 2 choices: Breakfast tacos or a Breakfast Burrito, and the option of adding either bacon or sausage to both. Both are excellent. The lunch and dinner menu offers a few more options with chicken, beef, pork, or sweet potatoes and veggies for you veggie nuts. Sometimes they will throw in a special like a beef barbacoa taco or a mushroom quesadilla. They have a few sides like fresh tortilla chips with pico or their unbelievably delicious guac, and rice & beans. I honestly can’t think of anything else this place needs to sell to make it more awesome than it already is. Except maybe margaritas. 🙂

Oh, and they make their own sauces, too! We are all familiar with mild and medium, the “Halloween” sauce is a blend of garlic and jalapenos, and hot is a fiery habanero sauce. You know what they say…once you go green, it’s always Halloween! (actually, no one has ever really said that…I just made it up. But be sure to try the Halloween sauce. You’ll be hooked.)

Once you place your order at the counter and find yourself a seat, someone brings your food out to your table. Grub Boy and I didn’t have to wait long before our breakfast arrived. The sight of that giant burrito wrapped in white paper and a hot cup of coffee was enough to bring a tear to my eyes. Almost. Grub Boy was pretty excited about his tacos, too.

We do breakfast tacos a lot at home. But Honest Tom’s Breakfast Tacos (2/$6.50 + .50 for bacon or sausage) are just better. They’re served in fresh corn tortillas and filled with scrambled egg, home fries, pico, guacamole and cheese. Again, the freshness of these tacos cannot be overstated. GB wasn’t into the breakfast meat that day. He finished one taco and was full. Oh gee…I wonder who’s going to get that other one?? (Yeah, he wanted to take it home to Mommy 😦 )

Remember a few minutes ago when I said that pretty much all breakfast burritos I’ve tried have been epic failures? I can never make that statement again. Without a doubt, Honest Tom’s Breakfast Burrito ($8.00 + 1.00 for bacon or sausage) is the best breakfast burrito I have ever had. Period. This thing is absolutely huge, and the levels of flavor and freshness leave me speechless. It’s a large flour tortilla jam packed with scrambled eggs, home fries, black beans, pico, guacamole, cheese, and a chipotle sour cream. Oh, did I mention that this place doesn’t charge extra for guac?? Yep, it’s included in the price! And as if I weren’t fat enough already, I added sausage to my burrito. You guys, this thing was EPIC. I doused it with Halloween sauce and finished the whole thing off. No shame.

Ok, so…if you’re really into breakfast burritos or breakfast tacos…or fast-casual Mexican food…or heck, just food in general…you need to eat here. I know it kind of sounds like I’m really hyping this place up, but honestly it’s not just hype. They deliver. Our food was outstanding. Their staff was very friendly. The atmosphere is hip and cozy. The parking sucks, but hey…you can’t have everything.

Honest Tom’s Taco Shop is located at 261 S. 44th St, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (MAP). They’re open Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM, Saturday, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM and Sunday, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM. For more info, follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Brunchfest at Bainbridge Green

This past Sunday was the inaugural Brunchfest in the Queen Village neighborhood of Philly, organized by The Friends of Bainbridge Green, Queen Village Neighbors Association and South Street Headhouse District. These organizations hosted some of the neighborhood’s best chefs and restaurants in a gathering to raise money and awareness of the ongoing project to build a multi-purpose, open park area on Bainbridge St., between 3rd and 5th streets, called Bainbridge Green.

The public space would bring a wonderful and vibrant green park area to Center City which would benefit local businesses, visitors and residents alike.

The fundraiser drew a huge crowd of hungry brunch fans who were all ready to sample the goods of some of the popular eateries in the area, but it wasn’t all about the grub. The festival had some fun, family-friendly activities too…

Like a silent auction for some really awesome photos, prints, and original artwork.

But of course the main attraction of Brunchfest had to be the brunch, right? The Friends of Bainbridge Green invited me to come and sample…an offer which I was more than happy to agree to. I mean, I had to, right? It’s research!

So, as I arrived, I determined that the best method of conquering the multitude of brunch booths would be to simply start at one end and work my way down. Yeah…that method went out the window as soon as I saw the The Good King Tavern‘s offering. Now, I have a confession to make: I am not a salmon person. I just don’t care for it any way that I’ve eaten it. In fact, I have never been brave enough to order smoked salmon for brunch (GASP…a breakfast/brunch blogger who’s never had smoked salmon before!!), but I’ve always been curious. I knew I was going to try this so I headed straight here first! GKTavern served their Mint Cured Salmon with preserved lemon, black pepper creme fraiche and crispy shallots. I did have a bite but I guess it’s just a matter of personal taste, and unfortunately salmon still just isn’t my thing. It was really fresh though and from what I observed and gathered from talking with other folks, the texture was just right and flavors were vibrant and mixed well. It definitely seemed to be one of the most popular dishes of the afternoon!

As I gathered my first round o’ samples, I noticed that there was no lack of seating at the festival, which was much appreciated by this out of shape dude (I mean me…not the guy in the picture). However, this standing table caught my eye as part of the offered amenities. I’d LOVE to have this in my kitchen!!

Chef Scott Schroeder of The Hungry Pigeon blew me away with this unique sample of what their server called a “deconstructed ham, egg and cheese biscuit”. Actually, I’d consider this a totally reinvented breakfast sandwich. It was a very, very light and airy biscuit which was baked with egg and gruyere cheese. The ham component was a really  fascinating and tasty rendering of the protein blended with dill and other seasonings. The guy who was eating next to me probably described it best…like a savory cream puff.

Ox Coffee was brewing their Ox Signature Line with bottomless refills of their Ethiopia Yabitu Koba coffee. It’s vibrant and dynamic profile enhanced the brunch samples perfectly. They were quite busy.

Equally as popular was 13th Street Cocktails with their Bloody Mary and Mimosa station.

Round two of brunch bites delivered a dish I had never heard of, much less eaten before. Kanella served their fresh-made Flaouna – a traditional cheese, mint, raisin Cypriot Pie served with Labneh. Ok, with all due respect, I’m going to say that this was basically a really good cheesy bread and a side of whipped yogurt w/ cinnamon, honey, and nuts. And it was sooo good! The Flaouna was really flavorful, and I’m not sure if the labneh was meant to be eaten with the bread (it was originally served in a separate cup), but I put it on top of each bite and they were delicious together. Good job, Kanella!

One of the consistently longest lines of the entire festival belonged to one of Philly’s favorite brunch spots, Sabrina’s Cafe. They were here serving a couple different versions of their famous brioche Stuffed French Toast!

Before I grabbed my spot in line, I snuck around to the back of the tent to capture the magic in action. They were offering two versions,  banana and pumpkin.

I opted for the pumpkin stuffed French toast, and if you’ve been to Sabrina’s and had this, I don’t even need to explain. If you haven’t…go there. Now. I didn’t even realize until I was writing this that I didn’t even have syrup on this. I didn’t need it. It was so good.

One of the other features of Brunchfest was this awesome pumpkin painting station for the kiddies. I mean, how awesome is this?

And local favorite band, Sweetbriar Rose, entertained the masses as we ate and mingled. Good stuff!

Ok, for the final round it was go big or go home. I headed over to Ela‘s booth to see what Chef Jason Chiconski had in store for me. What I found was one of the tastiest samples of the afternoon. His Country Chicken Gravy and Buttermilk Biscuits was a home run for this biscuits and gravy fan. The gravy was creamy, chunky and seasoned perfectly, and the biscuit was moist and fresh. I heard many folks praising this dish and rightfully so.

Chef Jeremy Nolan from Whetstone Tavern was offering some delicious Buckwheat silver dollar pancakes with cinnamon-maple syrup and cardamom sugar. Yeah, these were as delicious as they look. I’ll be looking for a full-sized order of these soon when I visit Whetstone for brunch!

One of my favorites of the fest in terms of both presentation and flavor was the New Orleans Crostini Sandwich from Plenty Cafe. It was simple yet delicious. House cured and smoked tasso ham, fresh apple, gruyere, and fig jam topped a crusty, grilled bread as a mini open-faced, bite-sized sample. The combination of flavors were expertly assembled. I actually had two of these 🙂

My final savory sample of the afternoon just so happened to be my absolute favorite bite of the day. The Potato and Egg Torta with a spicy aioli from Chef Chris D’Ambro at Southwark was tremendous. It was a perfectly cooked slice of tender egg and potato layers, and the spicy aioli enhanced every bite. It came with a little croissant which really was unnecessary, but generous nonetheless. All I can say is that I’m glad I tried this last, because if I had gone here first, I would have used up all of my food tickets on plate after plate of this torta and would not have gotten to try anything else!

For as full as I was, when I saw what The Little Bird Bakery & Cafe was serving for dessert, I knew I couldn’t leave without it. Their Pumpkin Pie spiced cinnamon roll with cream cheese icing was seriously To. Die. For. It wasn’t just a pumpkin dough, they actually had pumpkin pie filling swirled into the cinnamon roll, and then covered it in a deliciously sweet icing with chopped nuts. I cannot even explain to you how good this was. Just go to The Little Bird and ask them to make you one. They’re contemplating putting it on their fall menu. You can be the reason they do! My wife was mad at me that I didn’t bring two or ten of these home for her.

The first annual Brunchfest, by all observations, was a big success..at least for brunch fans. I hope funding continues and that the park is built soon so that more events like this, and many others, are available to the folks and the businesses in Queen Village to enjoy. Open space is always a good thing – a positive. I know it’s one that many people who live and work in this area are looking forward to. I’d like to extend a HUGE “thank you” to the Friends of Bainbridge Green for their generosity and I’ll be looking forward to checking out Brunchfest next year at the newly expanded site of Bainbridge Green!

This post was sponsored by the folks who made Brunchfest possible. All opinions are my own.

 

Corner Bakery Cafe – Bala Cynwyd, PA

Mrs. Grub Guy and I usually prefer to do our fancier brunching on Saturday because of the smaller crowds, which leaves Sunday as our day for more of a relaxing, leisurely breakfast together. So when the kind folks at Corner Bakery Cafe recently invited us to stop in to one of their several area locations to sample their breakfast, we were happy to make that our Sunday morning time together. Corner Bakery Cafe is what I consider to be a “micro chain” – it’s a brand that’s familiar and easily recognized by fans of the restaurant, which has stores located in several states across the country, but it’s also a place that’s not difficult for people who live and work in the neighborhoods that feature a CBC shop to consider them “their spot”. CBC has about nine locations throughout the Southeastern PA and South Jersey area, but honestly I had never visited any of them before this trip. I’m a huge supporter of the “shop local” mindset, which I whole-heartedly translate into eating locally as well. So when I discovered that each shop is franchised – owned and operated by local restaurateurs – it made me even more eager to check them out!

We visited their Bala Cynwyd shop at around 10:30 am on a recent Sunday morning, and found the dining area to be about half filled, with nearly all of their outside patio tables occupied as well. The store was bright and clean, and felt very comfortable. The structure of the restaurant is set up so that you enter and head directly up to the counter, where you order, pay, and take a number. Your food is brought to your table based on the number card you are given. Coffee and drinks are self serve.

Just inside the door was a small display detailing their catering services. It seems they offer fresh, made-to-order catering options with everything from complete meals and build-you-own platters to box lunches. Sounds perfect to me. I can easily see someone setting up a huge sandwich variety basket for baby showers, birthday parties, company functions, lunch meetings, etc.

The wife and I were greeted by a very friendly, smiling lady behind the counter who was ready to take our order. The breakfast menu at CBC isn’t huge, but covers many of the basics. It consists of a handful of all-inclusive platters, a nice variety of sandwiches and pita flatbreads, healthy things like oatmeal, muesli and yogurt, and of course, delicious baked goods. We each went with one of their larger platter meals (hey, we love breakfast), along with coffee and some bottled oj.

Based on the recommendation of Sam (the super friendly corporate guy who was there taking customer surveys on the day we visited), I ordered the Buttermilk Pancakes & Eggs with Bacon ($7.99). Sam promised me that their pancakes were better than any National breakfast chain could ever hope to make. I love a good stack of flapjacks so I took him up on the challenge. Let’s start with the other components of the meal: the scrambled eggs tasted like they may have been the pre-mixed kind from a carton, but I actually don’t mind that all that much as long as they come out cooked well and taste decent. These did, so I was pretty happy with them. The bacon was almost perfect for me. Definitely no complaints there. And the pancakes……

I could have eaten two or twenty more of those dudes. Sam didn’t steer me wrong. They were a little small in diameter, but huge in flavor. They were light, fluffy, and had the perfect level of chew to them, even after being saturated in maple syrup. Actually, the little stack of 4 pretty much completed the meal, and definitely satisfied me without making me too full to move (which is a good thing).

The wife opted for the Anaheim Scrambler ($7.99), a mixture of scrambled eggs, applewood smoked bacon, tomatoes, green onions and cheddar cheese topped with avocado. It came with her choice of either breakfast potatoes or fresh fruit, and some nice multigrain toast. She enjoyed the scrambler quite a bit and her only critique was that she wished it included more avocado on top. The fruit was a nice, vibrant mixture of all kinds of berries and Summer favorites, as opposed to the sad cup of grapes and melon you get at most places.

After breakfast, we decided to end our visit with something sweet from the pastry case up front. True to their namesake, Corner Bakery Cafe offers a nice variety of baked goods and treats such as cookies, brownies, cakes, hand pies, dessert bars, rugalach (a rolled and filled Jewish pastry), and more!

They also offer whole Cinnamon Creme Cakes, which is their signature dessert, to take with you. It’s a rich, golden cake swirled with ribbons of cinnamon, topped with crumbly cinnamon streusel and powdered sugar.

We went with a classic favorite, the Cinnamon Roll ($3.09). It was big enough for the two of us to share and was warm, gooey and delicious!

We were both pretty pleased with breakfast at CBC. The Bala Cynwyd shop offers a spacious, relaxing atmosphere with a hint of a chain cafe feel but not enough to scare you away, and really friendly people. I think if this experience is any indication of the way the other local shops operate, I wouldn’t hesitate to stop in at any one of them for a good breakfast or to try a soup, salad or sandwich for lunch.

Our friends at Corner Bakery Cafe would like to give you the opportunity to enjoy a meal on them! They’ve provided $20 in gift cards to one lucky reader of TBGG, and winning is easy – simply leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite bakery treat is. That’s it! I’ll choose a winner this Thursday evening (9/1) at 11:00 pm, and will post their name here Friday morning!!

A big thanks to Corner Bakery Cafe for providing our meal. All opinions are my own.

We visited the Corner Bakery Cafe at 153 East City Ave, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 (MAP). They’re open Monday – Sunday, 6:30 am – 9:00 pm. For more info, check them on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, or have a look at their website HERE.

 

 

So….What’s The Difference?? Americano vs. Cortado

I love coffee. You love coffee. We ALL love coffee.

But for some folks, walking into a coffee shop can be a little intimidating. But it doesn’t have to be. While learning about coffee from the people who source it, roast it and brew it is extremely fascinating to me, and I have no problems asking all kinds of questions while I’m at the counter, I can see where it could be confusing, and even downright scary, for someone just branching out from their Keurig machine.

If you’re one of those people, this week’s “So….What’s the Difference??” post is totally intended to give you the information you need, and the confidence to order your next caffeinated drink like a boss!

Photo by Square One Coffee

This week: Square One Coffee (2 locations in PHL) – 249 S. 13th St  & 1811 JFK Blvd.

“Square One Coffee is an award-winning micro-roaster based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with retail locations in Lancaster and Philadelphia. As a small, family-owned business, we take pride in our small batch, handcrafted approach to roasting and serving the highest quality specialty coffee.

We believe that people matter, so we do our best to respect every person involved in the process of getting coffee from the seed to your cup—from the farmers, to our roasters, to our baristas, to our customers. At the farm level, this means that we partner with coffee producers and farming communities, paying premium prices for their hard work and reinvesting into those communities whenever possible. It also means paying all of our employees a living wage with opportunities to learn and grow in their craft (which includes traveling to coffee-producing countries to meet the farmers we partner with and see the entire process for themselves).

Put simply: We are passionate about coffee, and we believe that people matter.”

Q: What’s the difference between an Americano and a Cortado?

“What’s the difference between the Americano and Cortado? Everything!

Both beverages are espresso-based drinks, but that is where the similarities end.

The Cortado (or Gibraltar as we call it) is typically 1 part espresso to 2 parts milk. This beverage is for those who are looking for a bit more coffee presence and less milk. This beverage is also typically served at a slightly cooler temperature than a latte would be, therefore the creaminess of the beverage tends to be easily perceivable.

The Americano is at it’s most basic interpretation simply an espresso that has been watered down. It’s believed by many, but not exactly evidenced, that this beverage was created during World War 2. The story is that American soldiers weren’t down for the strong and viscous espresso so they would request for the espresso to be topped off with water so that it would more closely resemble the brewed coffee they were familiar with. Hence the name “Americano”.

While the Cortado exemplifies a creamy yet very espresso-forward beverage, the Americano offers a version of espresso that is very open, much like adding ice to your scotch. Despite their differences, these beverages offer extreme drinkability.

Cheers to that!”

Daddypops – Hatboro, PA

If I visited a different diner for breakfast every weekend for the next 147 years, I might come close to sitting at most of the diner counters in the Delaware Valley. Seriously. We all know that diners are a dime a dozen in our area, and diner food is unfortunately just diner food at a lot of them. But sometimes you discover a place that is extra special, and I’m not just talking about the food, but also in the charm and appeal factor. I’ve eaten quite a few diner breakfasts in the last 10 months since moving here, and it’s always a treat to find a place that’s just a little bit unique. That’s what I found when I recently had breakfast on a Tuesday morning at Daddypops in Hatboro.

When you think about old school diners, Daddypops is probably just the kind of place that immediately comes to mind. It’s truly the most “diner-ish” diner I’ve encountered so far. But it’s also very different. Sure, the shiny chrome exterior screams classic diner, but the funky wishing well out front and the surroundings of main-drag Hatboro are a little out of the ordinary. Inside is the long, narrow dining area with the tight booths on one side and a long counter & stools on the other.

But then they mix in the crazy barbershop chairs at the corners of the counter, and beyond that is a collection of coffee mugs brought in by the regulars, so that they can sip coffee from their own mug every time they visit.

There’s also all kinds of nostalgia going on, a lot of which you might expect from a place like this…antique cash registers, a working jukebox, and lots more! Oh, and you can’t miss the auto’d Guy Fieri poster from when he filmed a segment for Diner’s, Drive-In’s and Dives here back in 2008 (watch the whole segment HERE)!!

I have to be fair and honest, and tell you that Daddypops breakfast menu is certainly not the largest or most creative I’ve ever seen, by far. But for what they lack in originality in their menu, I feel that they certainly make up for in execution of their food. That being said, there was one item on the menu that I can honestly say I have NEVER seen on a breakfast menu: the option of a side of baked beans. Seriously, you can substitute your fried potatoes or grits for a bowl of baked beans. I wasn’t brave enough to do it, but was certainly intrigued.

First up was the Brioche French Toast w/ eggs & sausage ($8.45). There were several different options for this platter (different meats, eggs/no eggs, etc.) so it was sort of like a build-your-own. It started as 3 big slices of cinnamon-vanilla french toast, which were grilled nicely on the flat top and sprinkled with powdered sugar. We added scrambled eggs and sausage for an extra cost. I hate it when a restaurant serves butter and syrup in those little disposable packets, so I’ll have to ding them a little for that, but honestly everything was solid and well-cooked.

The sausage links were really, really delicious. When they came out, you could tell immediately that they were not your run-of-the-mill links. I’m not sure where they get them, but they were really plump and meaty, with very little filler. The casings were tight and popped when you cut or bit into them, and the inside was really flavorful.

The Sausage Gravy & Biscuit ($7.10) breakfast was a big plate of classic breakfast goodness. The split biscuit was topped with a huge portion of creamy gravy, and it came with my choice of either some really yummy fried potatoes or beans.

The menu doesn’t specify how many biscuits come with an order, so I was a little sad when it arrived  with one biscuit on the plate. However, looking back, I don’t know if I could have finished a second biscuit after all. The gravy was pretty thick and hardy, and the potatoes made up for whatever might have been missing. The gravy was perfectly peppery and really flavorful, and consistency was good, although I prefer it a little chunkier.

The biscuit itself was fresh and moist, and held up really well under all of that gravy. It was breakfast comfort food in all its glory. Overall, certainly a solid dish that I wouldn’t hesitate to order again.

Pro Tip: Daddypops is a cash only diner, but don’t worry…if you walk in without some greens, they have an ATM on site.

One more thing about Daddypops that I cannot overlook mentioning: The staff here was probably some of the nicest folks I’ve encountered at an eatery in a while. Our waitress (I can’t remember her name for the life of me) was extremely friendly and courteous, and provided some of the most efficient service I’ve had in ages. One of the cooks, who left the kitchen to use the restroom, stopped on his way back to ask if everything was just how we liked it (and I don’t think this guy had a clue I was there taking pictures and reviewing the food). Even the other patrons – the regulars who sat at the counter and joked with the servers – were friendly and welcoming, including us in a few laughs. I’m tempted to say that even if the food was just “meh” (which it certainly wasn’t), I would come back again just for the atmosphere and the service. That’s how good it was.

Daddypops is located at 232 N. York Rd, Hatboro, PA 19040 (MAP). They’re open Monday – Sunday from 6:00am – 2:00pm. For more info, check them on Facebook or TripAdvisor.

Sun’z Up Cafe – Wildwood Crest, NJ

We recently took a family day trip to the sandy shores of Wildwood Crest, NJ to soak up some sun and have some beach fun. It was our first chance to visit the ocean this summer, and my first time in about 14 years! We just so happened to pick the absolute hottest day of the season so far, so we knew we’d need to start the day with a good breakfast to keep our energy up. Since I hadn’t been to the shore in forever, I had no idea about the breakfast scene there, so I turned to Yelp for assistance. I discovered that The Wildwoods have absolutely no shortage of great local breakfast places to choose from. Ultimately, we decided to begin our day with some morning grub from Sun’z Up Cafe in Wildwood Crest, which was just a few blocks from our beach destination.

Sun’z Up Cafe is a great little spot along New Jersey Ave, sort of on the outskirts of all the hustle and bustle that is Wildwood and Wildwood Crest. It was a bright and cheerful place, just what you’d expect from a breakfast and brunch cafe near the shore. The beach-themed decor was nicely done without being too tacky. Even though the space was small (the picture above is 1/2 of the entire restaurant), it didn’t feel closed in, thanks to one whole wall being large windows that looked out over their outdoor patio area, in addition to the big windows in the front and on the opposite wall, too. Lots of sunshine!

The outdoor covered patio was a really nice space as well, but it was just too darn hot for us, and for most folks, on this particular day. Otherwise, I can imagine that this area is probably prime real estate most mornings and especially on weekends.

We started with some coffee and iced tea. I’m not sure what it is, but I really dig the whole drinking from mason jars thing. The boy said it made his chocolate milk taste better too. It’s magic!

One of the things that drew me to this place when searching online was the fact that their menu included some pretty great-sounding specialties. Don’t get me wrong, I love a nice plate of fried eggs & bacon as much as any breakfast-loving fool does, but sometimes it’s nice to venture off the standard diner breakfast page of the menu.

When all was said and done, we ended up with a nice mix of specialty dishes and classic breakfast.

The wife ordered something called The Bliss ($7.95), which honestly was indeed oh so blissful! I really wish I would have grabbed a closeup photo of this dish so you could truly appreciate it for what it was. It consisted of 3 scrambled eggs, diced bacon, chives and cream cheese that were whipped together until it created a light and airy whip – almost like a fancy spread – atop a toasted English muffin. I really have never tasted anything like it. The wife raved about it until I had to try a bite. It was absolutely amazing! It was creamy and light, and yet very filling and hardy. We decided that we’ve got to try to make this at home! It was excellent on the muffin. Her meal also came with a side of fried potatoes that were done nicely. She also got a side of toast, which was sort of weird; I think our server may have been new or just filling in, because I don’t believe the dish usually comes with extra carbs.

We also ordered a Short Stack of Cornmeal Pancakes ($4.95). This was my idea, because I was sort of in a pancake mood, but I didn’t want just pancakes for breakfast, so the wife agreed to split a short stack (2) with me. Cornmeal pancakes are just something we never really order when we go out, but something we both enjoy. These were light and yummy. I missed the crispy edges that I’m accustomed to when Mrs. Grub Guy makes these at home though.

For second breakfast (this is becoming a bad habit for me), I ordered the Huevos Rancheros ($8.25). It was a huge portion that could have probably fed two people (the picture doesn’t capture the true girth of the entree). It was a pretty tasty and satisfying version made up of layered crispy corn tortillas, a big helping of a refried bean medley which was really quite good, two over easy eggs, cheddar jack cheese, sour cream, salsa and jalapenos. I’d score this dish a triple…had I been offered some Sriracha to top it off, and maybe thought to add some avocado, it would have been a home run for sure. Overall, a really good breakfast, though.

Our boy, Steven, is a creature of habit. It doesn’t matter where we go, we can always figure on him ordering his favorite breakfast dish, the French Toast (Full Stack – $6.45). He chugged down his jar of milk before the food arrived at our table, so his belly was pretty full – thus Dad had to help him a little bit with this (third breakfast?!?). It came as three big slices of cinnamon and vanilla-battered, Texas-style toast, and sprinkled with powdered sugar. There were no complaints out of the boy, or me. It was really very tasty.

I wouldn’t hesitate to return to Sun’z Up Cafe for breakfast the next time we plan a trip to the shore. The food was really, really good, the prices were reasonable, and the staff was friendly. The only critique I might give was that our server was really kind of slow and seemed not to know the menu very well at all (she didn’t know they served cornmeal pancakes), but again, that would certainly be understandable if she were new. It could also be because the cafe was packed and really busy during our entire visit. Either way, it didn’t detract from the overall enjoyment of the meal.

Anybody who knows the Wildwoods knows that there are literally dozens of little cafe’s, diners, bars and other eateries all up and down the shore. And while you could probably pick any of them and have a decent breakfast experience, make sure you keep Sun’z Up Cafe in mind next time you make the trip.

Sun’z Up Cafe is located at 6708 New Jersey Ave, Wildwood Crest, NJ 08260 (MAP). They’re open Monday – Sunday, 7:00 am – 3:00 pm. For more info, check them out on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

 

Golden Valley Farms Coffee Roasters – West Chester, PA

This past weekend I drove out to West Chester to check out the Artisan Exchange market. For those who don’t know, the Artisan Exchange is a collaboration of like-minded entrepreneurs who gather every Saturday, year round, to promote business and sell their hand-crafted, sustainable foods and other artisan goods. The market typically includes over 50 vendors and is open to the public. One of the main attractions at the market is Golden Valley Farms Coffee Roasters, whose roasting facility is attached to the market’s main corridor.

Frank and Maryann Baldassarre have owned and operated Golden Valley Farms for the last 30 years. I met them both at the market when I visited and got a chance to talk with them quite a bit about their business, their roasting process, their coffee and tea, and the market itself. Maryann and their daughter, Jackie, were manning the booth on the day we were there, offering samples of their shade-grown coffees, including their new cold brew.

Maryann offered to give me a tour of their roasting facility, which is located right next to the market. It was a pretty large space which included their roaster and equipment (obviously) and a bottling/production area. She said that her sons, one of whom studied and mastered his craft in Vermont and the other on the west coast, do most of GVF’s small-batch roasting. The rest of the family works in sales, national distribution, and company branding and advertising.

Golden Valley Farms is one of the few roasters who are triple certified as a USDA Organic, Fair Trade, and Bird-Friendly roaster. I had never even heard of that last one, but Maryann explained that their coffees come from farms that are certified Bird-Friendly by the Smithsonian Institution’s Migratory Bird Center. These farms guarantee not to chop down their canopy of trees growing naturally over their coffee plants. This preserves the habitat of birds that would otherwise fly to their seasonal homes only to find them decimated by deforestation. Without this safekeeping, birds die every year by the thousands. Golden Valley Farms partners with the Smithsonian to support this environmentally critical program by purchasing many of their coffees from farms that have achieved this coveted Bird-Friendly seal. Pretty sweet!

They offer quite the extensive lineup of blends in medium, dark and French roasts. They also offer their coffees in single serve cups (K-cups). Their beans (whole and ground) are available to both wholesale and retail customers and can be found in our area at many area Whole Foods stores, specialty shops, and of course, at the Artisan Exchange market.

They also recently started bottling their new cold brew coffee. Based on the nearly empty ice bucket I found when I visited their booth at the market, I’d say it’s catching on quite nicely. They also offer Cold Brew Pouches for at-home brewing.

The Baldassarre’s offered me a couple of samples to take home and try, including this bag of Guatemalan blend. It’s a medium roast with flavors of brown sugar, maple and figs. I haven’t ground any yet, but I’m eagerly anticipating this delicious bag-o-beans.

I also got to try some of their bottled cold brew which was excellent! Smooth and strong, it’s a delightful drink to sip with breakfast or any time of the day really, especially when it’s hot outside.

It was really refreshing. It’s a bold, dark blend that can be sweetened if you’d like, which is the way Mrs. Grub Guy enjoyed it. But if you’re a black coffee drinker, you’ll love it, too!

I’d like to thank Maryann, Frank and Jackie for their hospitality and for taking the time to show me around and talk with me about their product. Seriously guys, if you’re looking for a really great, local coffee roaster who cares about their coffee – both in origin and end result – then give Golden Valley Farms a try. You can find them at the Artisan Exchange market all year round!

Golden Valley Farms Coffee Roasters is located at 208 Carter Dr, Ste 13B, West Chester, PA, 19382(Map). You can find them at the Artisan Exchange market every Saturday, from 10:00am – 2:00pm. For more info, feel free to visit their website, or check them out of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Avenue Eatz – Wayne, PA

In our family, we do birthdays big…especially for the boy. Every year, in addition to all of the regular cake and gifts stuff, it’s a tradition that the Saturday before or after his birthday we do a family day out together, which seems to always include breakfast and a movie. This year, we knew that we were in store for Captain America: Civil War, but he didn’t really have a preference when it came to breakfast. We wanted to stay close to the theater, so after a quick internet search I came across Avenue Eatz in Wayne. The menu was full of what sounded like really interesting meal options for the wife and me, and a couple of dishes that I knew the boy would enjoy, so we made the short drive over to Lancaster Ave. to check them out.

Avenue Eatz is located at the end of a tiny strip mall right on the main drag of this artsy and picturesque little town. The parking lot is pretty small, but thankfully they have additional parking available in the rear of the building. The shop itself is a small, cafe-style space with about 6 booths along the wall and the front windows, and a couple of 4-seater tables in the center. It was simple, clean and bright. We were surprised to learn after talking to the owner, Joey, that they recently had been closed for quite a stretch due to a roof fire that caused all kinds of damage to the ceiling, the electrical wiring system, and did tons of smoke and water damage to the interior as well. They actually just reopened a couple of weeks ago, but they did such a great job with the repair/remodel that you’d never know anything had ever happened.

The fresh, hand-squeezed orange juice was one of the first things that caught my eye as I initially took a look around the shop. It’s a pretty fun thing that they do, and the boy loved watching it. They give the same treatment to the lemons for their fresh-squeezed lemonade, too (one of my faves!). We were offered a sample of the juice, which was perfectly sweet and delicious. You don’t see too many places doing this, and I’m really not sure why not. The good thing for Avenue Eatz is that it’s memorable, and it sets them apart from everyone else. It also gives the customer the impression that this place really cares about giving me the freshest food (more on that in a second) and drink available. Very smart.

Another cool thing is that they use bread that’s baked fresh in-house daily, including the Babka that they were offering in one of their current specials (the Cinnamon Walnut Babka French Toast). They had loaves of the Cinnamon Walnut, and also Chocolate Babka on the counter for sale. Now I don’t know much about Babka, but I know that chocolate baked into bread cannot be a bad thing!!

Inside the deli case along the front counter are several quiches that looked absolutely gorgeous and fresh. Local and imported meats, veggies and cheeses loaded these beauties. The quiche is a regular item on the breakfast menu so I WILL be back for some of this!

There were also some beautifully sweet pies on display. The homemade pies are actually one of the things that this shop is known for. We were offered a sample of their Coconut Cream Pie, and I kid you not you guys, I was amazed at how delicious it was. I don’t think I’ve ever had coconut cream pie that was as good as this before (and I LOVE coconut cream pie!). It was too bad that we were headed to the movies after breakfast to gorge ourselves for two and a half hours on M&M’s and Milk Duds, because I would have loved to have had a piece (or two) of these.

As I said earlier, the creativeness of the menu is what originally attracted me to this place. To start with, Avenue Eatz offers a “Bacon of the Month” option to all of their dishes. Apparently any dish that uses regular bacon, you can substitute the special bacon for. You can  also order it as a side. More bacon, special bacon, different bacon…whatever. If it’s bacon, I’m in. They were offering several other specials that day, including something called the Ron Burgundy (“What? You pooped in the refrigerator? And you ate the whole wheel of cheese? How’d you do that? Heck, I’m not even mad; that’s amazing.”….nevermind). You guys, this thing is serious….a bacon & egg-topped burger with coffee-flavored ketchup and cheddar cheese all cradled inside of a warm, buttermilk cinnamon roll.

Mind. Blown.

I didn’t think I could handle all of that on this morning, so I moved on to the regular menu.

The regular menu is full of many other unique (albeit a bit less eccentric) breakfast sandwiches, big fluffy omelettes, and some “Specialties” like Pancakes, French toast, an egg combo breakfast and a huge burrito. If this place had biscuits & sausage gravy, I don’t think I’d ever leave. (Pro Tip: Avenue Eatz uses fresh, seasonal ingredients which means that their menu and specials change occasionally. Keep an eye on their website and their social media accounts for updates.)

Our server was a cheerful and extremely pleasant young lady who took very good care of us. She invited us to help ourselves to the self-serve coffee bar (they serve Gold Peak Coffee…a product of the Coca-Cola company) which was fully stocked and kept full the whole time we were there. It would make a whole lot of sense for a great little local spot like to this to feature some great locally roasted coffee, but overall the java was ok. Our food came out pretty quickly even though the restaurant was packed. I was impressed. The wife and boy were too embarrassed to allow me to stand on my chair, but I got this money shot anyway.

Mrs. Grub Guy zeroed in on the Crab Oscar ($6.50), which was a delicious blend of crab meat, cheddar and Old English cheeses melted with tomatoes and a fried egg and seasoned with Old Bay seasoning. It was served on their house-made pretzel roll. She said the crab & cheese blend was sooo yummy. She compared it to a really good crab salad, only hot. She said the Old Bay added some spice to cut the sweetness of the cheese and crab, and it really tied it all together well. The pretzel roll was fresh, had a good chew, and was really flavorful. She also ordered a side of potatoes ($3.00) which were good but got cold really quickly, which might have my fault because I wouldn’t let them eat until I was done taking photos.

Steven almost went with the Breakfast Burrito, but ultimately decided upon his old stand-by. The House-made Brioche French Toast comes in two sizes, the Tall Order (3 for $8.00) and the Short Stack (2 for $6.50), and came with some yummy cinnamon-sugar whipped butter and maple syrup. Obviously, he loved this because…well, what’s not to love about brioche French toast? Overall it was a splendid version of a breakfast classic.

I ordered the Morning After ($6.00), a really great sandwich made up of hardwood-smoked bacon, scrambled egg, sharp cheddar, Hass avocados and topped with a spicy Sriracha mayo. This normally comes on the pretzel roll, but I asked to have it made on a house-made brioche roll instead (all sandwiches come on your choice of bagel, country white bread, wheat berry bread, rye bread, brioche roll or pretzel roll). It was pretty much the perfect breakfast sandwich, with all of my favorite ingredients. The roll was buttery, soft, fresh, and filling. Great stuff!

Finally, because we all secretly wanted to order and devour the Cinnamuncher ($6.50) ourselves, we decided to order one for the three of us to split and sample. The menu lists this unique sandwich as a thick-cut tavern ham steak with imported Gruyere cheese & a runny egg served inside a house-made, buttermilk cinnamon roll. Our server said that this is one of their most popular menu items, and it’s easy to see (and taste) why.

This was really, really good. It wasn’t as sweet as I thought it might be, which was probably a good thing. The dough, like all of the other bread we had already sampled that morning, was super fresh. It was a heavier, thicker-type cinnamon roll which held all of the other ingredients well. Definitely a knife and fork-type sandwich. We all really enjoyed it. The only bit of constructive criticism I might have is for the wording of the menu. It’s actually a pretty far stretch to call it a “thick-cut ham steak”…at least ours wasn’t. I’d say more like a “hefty slice” is more appropriate.

Avenue Eatz gave my boy a really great birthday breakfast. He was very happy, and full when we left, as were we. The whole experience was really nice, from the fresh and creative food to the friendliness of the staff and owners who welcomed us and made us feel like they genuinely appreciated us being there. This is definitely the kind of local place that local people love to support. I know we’ll be back for sure.

Avenue Eatz is located at 128 W. Lancaster Ave, Wayne, PA 19087 (MAP). They’re open Tuesday – Sunday, 7:00am – 3:00pm. For more info, check out their website or visit them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!!

Giveaway: Coffee at Bluestone Lane!!!

Congrats to Sally Shin!! You win the 4 free coffee tickets at Bluestone Lane Coffee House! Please email your address to me at thebreakfastgrubguy@gmail.com and I will get the tickets out to you ASAP!! 

Welcome to Spring time, boys and girls!! It’s time for festivals, brunch on patios, food trucks, and getting out and about to explore all of those new shops that have opened up in the last 6 months that it’s been just too cold to get out of your pajama pants for!

In case you haven’t had the chance to check out Bluestone Lane’s first venture outside of their NYC coffee shops, their Rittenhouse Square store, housed within the historic Radisson Blu Warwick Hotel, is about as clean, stylish, and charming a shop as you’ll find anywhere in Philly. They’re serving up their signature blend coffee (courtesy of Melbourne, Australia roaster Niccolo Coffee), tons of specialty coffee drinks, premium pastries, and a killer breakfast and brunch menu. And they’re giving you a chance to sample their drank on the house!!

Yup, we’re giving away 4 FREE coffee tickets to one lucky winner!! So, you do the math – take 3 friends for a morning of delish…treat 1 friend twice…or heck, save them all for yourself to use over 4 visits. Whatever!

To enter, simply check out Bluestone Lane’s brunch, snacks, or coffee menu by clicking HERE, and leave a comment on this post telling me what you’ll order while you’re there. It’s simple!! I’ll randomly select a winner Wednesday night (4/20) and post the winner here the following morning.

Be sure to tell your friends to enter….maybe they’ll even take you if they win!!