Foodie Friday: Delaware Chews at the Frenchtown Cafe

Early morning rides on the BMW K16 GTL out for breakfast are one of my favorite activities when the temps rise above 55 degrees.  The ride out is cool and crisp.  The light makes everything look so gorgeously green, this time of year.  The river shimmers and sometimes you can even smell it.  I love it. Then you arrive at your destination and often for us that is the Frenchtown Café.  Just shy of an hour if we go directly up river, we are pretty hungry upon arrival.  We are never disappointed there.  I cant help but order the very same thing each time I go.  French toast with ham and brie.  It is just so yummy.  Even though I look at the menu and try to encourage myself to try something new, I find myself at the last minute reverting to what I know will be absolutely delicious.  On our last visit, I  thought I saw a cappuccino go by.  I searched the menu and didn't see it so I asked the waitress if indeed that was what I saw.   "Yes"! Rather than my typical cup of coffee I went for it.  HAHAHAH a real break out of habit.

Foodie Friday and the Wooden Bowl

I was chopping up some spinach the old fashioned way with an oval wooden bowl and a rocking blade.  That would not be very interesting if it wasn't for the fact that both belonged to my maternal grandmother.   While I was prepping the spinach, I wondered what my grandmother made with these  tools.  I felt comfort in knowing I was the third generation in my family using them.  Somehow it connected me to the women who came before me and prepared meals for their families.  We are entering into another Holiday season and I will be glad to prepare a holiday meal for my family.  It will be a very different celebration from that of my grandmother as far as the food and traditions go.  It matters not, the food will be prepared with love and the family will gather to share it.  That part will be the same.

Delaware Chews at Chambers 19

 

I guess it was a few weeks ago I mentioned Chambers 19 and going to see a movie at the County Theater in Doylestown.  I was not that hungry so I ordered the French Onion Soup.  My companion ordered a Turkey Club.  The soup was unlike any I have ever had before...not to say it was the best...just different.  I am usually pretty good at distinguishing herbs, spices and different flavorings but there was something that made this different that I could not identify.  It was pretty tasty but towards the end was leaning toward the rich side and I had a hard time finishing it.  As I recall there was a mix of cheeses on top and I think that is where the unusual flavor came from...I just couldn't figure it out.   The Turkey Club was standard and devoured.  The place is quite large with a dining room on one side and a bar room on the other.  So many eating establishments in Doylestown to try and since I like to explore, I would love to try them all.  Never the less, this is a good fall back and go again and again kind of place.  In regards to food photography, I like showing the two meals, the first sharp and in focus and the one in the rear soft.  I always ask to sit by a window if there is one so I can take advantage of the natural light.

 

Delaware Views Hues of Red

Soon the Strawberries will be growing here in PA/NJ and they will be delicious, sweet and juicy.  For now they are just RED and a symbol of what is to come.  There are two red things that come from the east in the summer that I have never tasted anywhere else that are quite as good.  The Strawberry and the Tomato.  COME ON SPRING.  What are you waiting for?  Winter, what are you thinking bringing us more snow today? 

 

Delaware Chew at Tony's Place Bar and Grille

 

It was great seeing my nephew in his new digs in Warminster, Pa.  Hungry and willing to explore the area we went off to Tony's Place  for lunch.  The three of us started by sharing the scallop appetizer and it was small but yummy.  Aaron had a filet dinner, which he managed to devour.  Furm had a cheesesteak sandwich and I went for the filet sliders.  I ordered my meat medium rare and it was served to me tender and cooked just right.  I don't know how the boys had room for more but they did and out came caramel apple pie for Aaron and a chocolate brownie topped with chocolate ice cream for Furm.  OK!  I did make a little room for a Kahlua and coffee and a few spoonfulls of the chocolaty goo. Noticing the outdoor bar currently closed for winter we think this is a place to return to when the weather finally warms.

 

Delaware Chews on Foodie Friday

I really enjoy my regular visits to the Washington Crossing Inn.  It is close to home and most lovely when the weather is fine and we can enjoy the outside bar.  This winter has been a killer with lots and lots of snow and one power outage so far making it just as nice to go down the street and hang out for a bit at the inside bar.  To celebrate a birthday, HAPPY BIRTHDAY AARON, we had dinner there this past week.   For $15.00 hubby and I shared a filet sandwich, one of my favorites on the Tavern Menu.   Birthday Boy ordered a 10oz steak for $44.00 (4.40 an oz). Pennington Market sells Angus Filets for $29 per pound (1.81 an oz).   Now granted it doesn't come with the ambiance, but truth is I could not eat that much meat. 

 

 

 

Proved no problem for the Birthday Boy.

 

Foodie Friday Bring on the Turkey OOPS I mean Brining the Turkey

Did I already tell you this?  I need to keep better track of things now that I'm going in some sort of order.  Almost a whole month and I pretty much stuck to a plan.  That's a big WOW!

 

Monday Delaware Hues of Red

Tuesday Delaware Clues or just Common Cents

Wednesday Delaware Views Anew

Thursday Delaware News

Friday Delaware Chews or Foodie Friday

Everyone needs a rest

Sunday Funday

 

Turkey Tendernan Roast

 

1-2 pound Boneless Turkey Breast

 

 

4 cups water divided

1/3 cup salt

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 c apple Cider Vinegar

1tsp each dried, sage, rosemary, thyme, & parsley

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1 cup ice

 

Dissolve sugar and salt in 1 1/2 cups water.

Add remaining ingredients cooling with the ice.

Place Turkey in deep container or ziplock bag.

I do all this in the morning.

An hour before dinner rinse the turkey.

 

Remove Turkey from brine and rinse. Slather with oil and the same proportions of herbs as above.

Bake at 350 20 minutes per pound.  Test for doneness.

 

I like to mix my herbs up a batch at a time in a mortar and pestle and store in glass jars.  This way I can just spill out a tablespoon or so in the brine or in my palm with oil to rub my meat before roasting.

 

 



 

 

 

 



Delaware Chews: Foodie Friday brings Mace's Crossing in Philadelphia

Already showed you a little from our visit to the Franklin Institute.  Here is a little more from that day.

Before leaving the museum we asked a volunteer at the front desk for lunch recommendations and he recommended the short walk to Mace's Crossing.
Upon arrival we were quickly seated at the late lunch hour of about 1:30, downstairs in the bar area.  We had a window view of the Ben Franklin Blvd.  Our waitress happily greeted us and brought us our drinks and took our orders.  Hubby quickly gobbled down the burger she brought him and I struggled with the size of my sandwich.  It was steak just the way I like it, thinly sliced as opposed to the more frequent chopped on the grill style.  It had onions and mushrooms and melted cheese and looked so good but when I picked it up it fell apart.  A gift!  I put half the roll and a pile of meat to the side and ate the cheesy, meaty, vegie mix on the bottom half of the roll with a fork and knife.
Our waitress Michele gave us excellent attention when needed, which means on this  very cold and windy day she brought me a Kahlua and Coffee.  We were warmed up just right for the walk back to the car.

Delaware Chews at the Vintage Grille in Doylestown

I have had the pleasure of eating lunch and breakfast at the Vintage Grille in Doylestown.

I had lunch there with a friend after visiting Font Hill and the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works Museum.  I had breakfast with my husband as a destination ride on the BMW GTL.  Yummy french toast, brie and raspberry jam.  Good eats, nice people, great service and the ambience is quite nice.  Next time will be dinner.