Although
I love a good meal there are snacks that take the act of eating to a whole new
level. Sure you might be hungry but you don’t have to be to have a snack.
That’s what I like best about it, especially one that you have been dreaming
about. Vacation snacking combines two things I love to do. Throw in a picture
or two during and that just about describes my ideal day.
Here
are some amazing snacks I have had in Philadelphia. I wonder which will grab
your taste buds attention.
Max
Brenner
Max
Brenner’s restaurant is also known as "The Chocolate Restaurant".
This place is a great location to have a snack, share a meal, and especially to
have dessert. The first time I ever had been to one was in Philadelphia. The
location is great and creates an atmosphere of fun. The signature desserts they
serve have created a word of mouth so that whenever you hear the name Max
Brenner, you automatically crave sweet treats. All of the chocolate they
serve and sell (yes there is a gift shop!) is made on the premises. So have
some there and get some for the road. I especially liked their shakes, which is
really just dessert without the fork. There are now locations in New York as
well as other U.S. cities. I expect to make a return trip sometime soon just so
that I can partake in their Ice Cream Sundae fondues. Doesn’t that sound
delicious?
Reflecting
on my visits to Max Brenner reminds me of the infamous Jacques Torres (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2011/08/for-day-spent-under-brooklyn-bridge.html)
and the magic he creates in his chocolate products. He is best known for his
Wicked Hot Chocolate that has a little kick to it. It will for sure warm you up
in the winter and it’s served on ice during the summer months.
Franklin
Fountain
Adam
Richman of “Man vs. Food” fame brought this magnificent place to my attention.
Of course it was a hit on Food Network’s “Best Thing I Ever Ate” (under “Best
Thing I Ever Drank”) series. They were talking about the Egytienne Egg Shake.
The more I learned the more I loved. This is a MUST every time I am somewhat
near Philadelphia. The line is long even in the winter and there aren’t many
seats but I would gladly give my right arm to have their homemade ice cream any
day of the week. In fact it’s my favorite ice cream place of all time. I have
tried many others but they always fall short.
Every
ingredient you put on your sundaes has been freshly made there: brownies,
pralines, and toppings. You walk in and it is paradise. Even if you get
something as simple as coconut ice cream in a cone you will cherish every bite.
That is what I ordered the last time I was there and if I close my eyes I can
almost taste it.
Besides
the sweets (like anything matters after that) Franklin Fountain proudly
displays all things Benjamin Franklin as well as candies and drinks from years
gone by. It is the most retro/modern ice cream parlor you will find. I beg of
you if you go to Philadelphia for only one reason it most definitely should be
this.
The
Bourse
This
complex came as a surprise to me while I was out exploring the Liberty Bell and
Independence Hall. It seemed too good to be true and I was sort of right. This
beautiful building dates back to the 1890s and houses retail shops for
souvenirs and a huge food court that stays open twenty-four hours a day to
boot. To top that all off it is now listed on the National Register of Historic
Places, which is always a signal to me of a good time.
I
seem to stop in every time I am in the area. I love the stores “Destination
Philadelphia” as well as “Making History”. I always manage to find a little
something for myself. It is always nice to have a place to gather yourself as
you prepare for the next portion of your itinerary, especially if the weather
is particularly brutal outside.
La
Colombe
When
I heard that the best coffee in the United States was right there in
Philadelphia not too far from the Rittenhouse neighborhood I like to stay in, I
was beyond thrilled. I was eager to get out and start my morning there. I knew
I would be tasting special coffee along with some amazing pastries that in one
bite transformed you to Paris. Those croissants rendered me speechless.
Although I love my Starbucks, there croissants are sad. They just create the
illusion of a food I love but without the flavor. Here you could spend time
eating your way through the glass cabinet on display in the front. It is a very
low-key place, although constantly packed. But despite the crowds most people
are on their way out so you can find a seat to savor every morsel of food and
coffee you put in your mouth.
Every
time I visited I bought coffee home so I could recreate at least half of this
experience. Since my discovery there in 2009, La Colombe is now available just
about everywhere as they opened several locations in every populated American
city.
Mugshot
Coffeehouse
When
you are near Eastern State Penitentiary (and you should be there at least once
in your life, I have been there two or three times) you will find the area now
is mostly residential. To see this big castle like structure with all the doom
and gloom aging has brought, it seems like a movie set. When you leave hungry
you only have to cross the street. Mugshot Coffeehouse is a place to retreat
for refreshments, lunch, snacks, and smoothies. The coffee is of course a must
as well. It’s no La Colombe but that’s not a fair comparison. I was quite
grateful to stumble upon this place after the two-hour tour just to catch my
breath and revive myself for the rest of the day. It was a lifesaver. There is
something about eating a turkey sandwich while you look out the window staring
at Eastern State. It is a feeling I know well just not well enough to describe
in length. It is a surreal feeling for sure.
To
conclude I would like to share a bit of trivia. Of all of the famous foods
Philadelphia is known for (cream cheese is the most obvious) Peeps is not
likely one you will come up with. Those marshmallow delights were created in
1953 in the City of Brotherly Love and now are available year round in just
about every color and flavor.
Up
next: For the City of Brotherly Love, Benjamin Franklin, and Betsy Ross's
House: Attractions.
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