Rome and the Trevi Fountain

I guest posted on my friend Nicole's blog recently about Italy.  Be sure to go check out her blog- Nicole's Favorites

In case you missed it here is my post about Rome and the Trevi Fountain!


My dream trip had always been to go to Italy and I finally made it there to celebrate my birthday a couple years ago.  Our first stop was Rome and the city was everything I hoped it would be and more.  I was enthralled with the city the first moment I set my eyes on it, so much in fact that my friend kept remarking that I did not listen to half the things she said during our time there.  How could I listen when there was so much beauty to take in all around us? 

On the top of my not to be missed list was Rome's (if not the world's) most famous fountain, the Trevi Fountain.  We made our way through the streets passing bustling cafes, shops, fruit and vegetable stands and little old men roasting chestnuts.  I knew we were close when we saw a crowd of people and suddenly the Trevi Fountain was right in front of us.  Until then I only knew it from the movies La Dolce Vita and Roman Holiday.  It was incredible and I could have stayed there all day taking it all in and people watching.

According to the legend, if you throw a coin into the fountain you ensure your return to Rome.  Not taking any chances I made sure to throw a coin in to make sure I would be back in Rome someday.  We even returned that evening to see it in the dark.  There was still a crowd and we stayed awhile to rest our feet after a long day exploring Rome.  The calming sound of the rushing water was just what we needed to recharge.

The Trevi Fountain was a highlight of the trip and perhaps my return to Rome will be soon since I am beginning to plan another trip to Italy.

                                         Ciao!
                                         Chrissy

Valentine's Day at Bredenbeck's Bakery

Happy Valentine's Day!  Today I wanted to share with you my favorite bakery in Philadelphia.  Bredenbeck's Bakery is located in Chestnut Hill and has been a Philadelphia tradition since 1889.  They sell many delicious and mouthwatering treats in their bakery and ice cream shop, but today I want to focus on their Valentine's Day goodies.

It is impossible to walk into Bredenbeck's and not be captivated by the sweet scent of sugar and all the cakes, pastries, cookies and pies.  At Valentine's Day this is especially true.  How could you resist the adorable ladybug cake?

Do not forget the intricately decorated heart cut-out cookies and the heart shaped butter cookies encrusted with red and pink sugar crystals.  The butter cookies are some of the best I ever had anywhere.  Pastel petit fours are another yummy addition to the line-up.

The cupcakes are quite delicious as well and they are decked out for Valentine's Day with white, pink and read sprinkles accentuated with candy hearts.  This is just a sampling of the Valentine's Day treats at Bredenbeck's Bakery in Chestnut Hill.  Get there soon to try it for yourself and share with your loved ones.    You will thank me!

♥Chrissy

Paula Deen's Coconut Cake

For my Grandmother's 84th birthday, I made her favorite cake, Paula Deen's Coconut Cake.  I never made this recipe before and I was worried it might be complicated, but it turned out it was actually pretty easy.  There are a few steps involved and it was a little time consuming, but worth all the effort.

 
First, you make her Basic 1-2-3-4 Cake recipe, but substitute coconut milk for regular milk.  It took me a little while to figure out the coconut milk was located in the Latin food section of the grocery store.  I whipped up the cake quickly and into the oven all three layers went.

  While the cake was baking I prepared the filling, which consisted of sugar, sour cream, milk and sweetened coconut.  After the three layers of cake were finished I poked holes in the cakes and spread the filling on top of each layer as I stacked the three layers together.

The next step was to make the 7 minute icing.  It requires using a double boiler and beating the icing with an electric mixture for 7 minutes.  This was the first time I attempted to make icing this way and it turned out just right and it smelled delicious.

 Finally, I frosted the entire cake and I did not spend too much time trying to be neat since I knew it was all going to be covered in coconut shortly.  A bag of sweetened coconut later and some birthday candles for decoration and it was finished.  It looked so pretty and I hoped it tasted just as good.  It is always a little nerve-wracking to serve something you never made before.

The cake was a success!  Everyone loved it and it was an instant classic that I will definitely be making again.  The cake was very moist and the icing had a perfectly sweet taste and consistency.  Thanks to Paula Deen for the fabulous recipe!

Wordless Wednesday

Watch the Tram Car, Please

Each summer my family made our annual summer trip down the shore.  We always stayed in quiet, Victorian Cape May but I could not wait for our night of boardwalk adventures and the other daytrip we would take to the Morey's Piers Water Park in Wildwood, NJ.  Neil Young tapes were the soundtrack of the drive over the bridge into Wildwood and past the neon lights and du-wop motels while I was bursting with anticipation of all the fun ahead of my brother and me that night.

 First, we always had the most delicious dinner at Groff's, our favorite family restaurant on the Boardwalk.  Then we would finally venture onto the boards with all the familiar smells, sounds and sights of summertime.  Nothing could beat the sight of the tram car and its familiar refrain of “Watch the tram car, please.”  It was even better if we took a ride on it.

 But the main attraction was still to come- all the loud rides and games to play would lure us deeper into crowds.  The night was not complete without a ride in the haunted house, the funhouse and the mini-rollercoaster which looked so big and imposing to me as a child.  After our patient parents dragged us off the rides we would try our luck with the carnival games.  Once in awhile we would hit the jackpot tossing coins on plates or winning the water gun race and bring home a stuffed animal or a framed picture of Michael Jackson. 

Then we had to make our final decision- which one of the delicious treats wafting through the air would we pick- cotton candy, waffles and ice cream, funnel cake, caramel corn, french fries and so many other delectable options.   We never wanted this night in bright, neon lit Wildwood to come to an end.  Luckily, we still had a little more fun in Wildwood on another day when we would visit the water parks on Morey’s and Mariner’s Piers.  

Every other day of our vacation was spent on the beach, but one special day was reserved for the water parks.  Thrilling water slides and a relaxing lazy river awaited us and it was more fun if we were joined by our cousins staying in Wildwood Crest for the day.  Climbing up all the steps to each water slide over and over, swinging on rope swings into pools and trying to walk on giant lily pads never tired us out, but when the time was up at  the water parks and we got back to Cape May we always slept well that night. 

Each memory I have of my time spent in Wildwood is cherished.  As child it was a magical and lively place overflowing with amusements.  Today all those wonderful memories come flooding back to me each time I go back and I feel like a kid again.

Rome and the Trevi Fountain!

You can find me today guest blogging about my time in Rome and visiting the Trevi Fountain at my friend Nicole's blog, Nicole's Favorites.  Enjoy!

You can go directly to the post here: http://niki218.blogspot.com/2011/02/rome-and-trevi-fountain.html

I'll be back tomorrow posting here!

Carmen's Pizza-Ridley Park

Today one of my favorite bloggers and great friend, Nicole from Nicole's Favorites, is guest blogging with an entry about Carmen's Pizza, a vegan pizza and sandwich place in Ridley Park.  Yes, Delightfully Philly is heading out into the suburbs!  Thank you, Nicole!

I found a vegan pizza and sandwich place in the burbs!  They have "chicken" and "beef" sandwiches with vegan cheese as well as vegan pizza with vegan whole wheat crust.  And it's just a typical pizza place.  I'm so excited, it makes being vegan more normal :)  I've had a chicken cheese steak there as well their white spinach pizza on whole wheat crust-so yummy!  Behold :

 

They use whole wheat crust with no eggs or milk and daiya vegan cheese.  I had the above for lunch today and I have more leftovers :)  If anyone is vegan, vegetarian, allergic to milk or eggs, Carmen's is the place for you.  It's on the corner of Milmont Ave and MacDade Blvd in Ridley Park.  Enjoy!

Estia for Restaurant Week

I already posted about my Center City Restaurant Week dinner at Buddakan, but the week before I went to Estia for a Restaurant Week lunch.  For lunch you get the same three courses, but for only $20.  Estia is a Greek restaurant across from the Academy of Music.  Each year I see it listed as a Restaurant Week choice, but only got around to going there this year.

When I walked into Estia I instantly felt like I was back in Europe.  The atmosphere is authentic and the live Greek music added a nice touch and made it even more lively.  Unfortunately, I did not take pictures of our food.  I am still trying to remember to take pictures all the time for the blog.

Each table gets a plate of delicious hummus and bread.  For the appetizers we had calamari and chicken soup.  The calamari looked tasty and the freshly made soup was perfect on a freezing cold day.  We even tried the spanakopita (Greek spinach pie) and found it to be just the right amount of cheese and spinach.  Then for the main course we each got the Sea Bass.  Apparently I can't get enough of sea bass these days.  It was cooked nicely and served over vegetables.  When it came time for dessert we ordered the bread pudding, but they gave us karidopita which is a traditional walnut honey cake and we weren't too upset since we enjoyed it.

Overall, we had a good experience at Estia and I would definitely like to go back, especially when I want to feel like I am back in Europe without the expensive plane ticket.

Restaurant Week at Buddakan

Center City Restaurant Week is one of my favorite events in Philadelphia and it is the perfect way to try out a new restaurant or re-visit an old favorite.  A three course dinner for $35 or lunch for $20, plus discount parking makes for a not to be missed bargain.  It happens twice a year in winter and the fall.

Each year my friends and I make a point to get to a couple restaurants.  This year for dinner we went to Buddakan where I have been before, but was dying to go to again.  Stephen Starr created a very cool vibe in the restaurant with the waterfall wall when you first walk in and you can not miss the ten foot Buddha in the center of the restaurant which perfects the scene.

We arrived a bit early so we snagged seats at the bar while we waited for out table and each enjoyed a Ven-Gria which is white peach, junmai sake, pinot grigio and ginger brandy.  It was light, refreshing and served with a pretty flower in it- the perfect way to start the night.

We got seated fairly quickly upstairs and the only drawback was that we could not see the Buddha from where we were sitting.  Next time I will make sure to request a table with a view.  For my appetizer I ordered the chicken dumplings with a sesame dipping sauce.  It was a generous serving of five dumplings and they were quite good.  The dipping sauce complemented them just right.  My friend had the house salad with a ginger dressing which she loved.  I tried it and I especially liked the ginger dressing.  Unfortunately, I did not get pictures of the appetizers.  

For the main course I had the Sea Bass with haricots verts, butternut squash, maitake mushrooms and truffle jus which was cooked perfectly with a delicious combination of vegetables.  The Asian flavored sauce on it was incredible and not overpowering.

 My friend is vegan and ordered the Cashew Chicken with a plum wine sauce, but substituted tofu for the chicken and asked for the sauce on the side.  The server was helpful and happy to accommodate her requests.  Everything came out just as ordered and tasted great.

 Finally, for the third course I picked the Crying Chocolate which is a warm chocolate cake with a soft center and Vietnamese coffee ice cream.  I appreciated the pretty and simple presentation of the Crying Chocolate.  It was rich, decadent chocolate and it paired up pleasantly with the coffee ice cream.

Once again it was no problem getting a vegan substitute for dessert which was not listed as a choice on the Restaurant Week menu.  My friend had a trio of sorbets with fresh berries.  I believe the flavors were orange, chocolate and raspberry.  The bright colors were eye-catching and according to my friend they tasted even better then they looked.

Center City Restaurant Week at Buddakan for dinner was wonderful.  This was my second time at Buddakan and each time I found the portion sizes to be very generous unlike some other restaurants who seem to scale back the portions during Restaurant Week.  Check out Buddakan as soon as you can for the fun experience, hip atmosphere and superb modern Asian cuisine.  You won't be sorry.

Look for another post soon about my Restaurant Week lunch.

Welcome to Delightfully Philly

Hello, my name is Chrissy and welcome to Delightfully Philly.  Delightfully Philly is a blog about the food, culture and other topics regarding life in the Philadelphia area and beyond.  Expect a variety of posts focusing on Philadelphia and the surrounding areas.  Delightfully Philly also is full of wanderlust so expect posts about my adventures traveling around the world.

Enjoy your time exploring my blog and please leave comments.  Delightfully Philly is a work in progress and you never know what surprises are in store.  What would you like to hear about?

♥ Chrissy