Philadelphia and the Countryside - Press Room

Spring in Philadelphia means more than baseball and cherry blossoms: It also means brand-new BYOBs, gastropubs, a biergarten, a raw bar, a noodle bar and the list goes on. Among the crowd of culinary creators are a number of second, third and beyond acts by some of the region’s hottest restaurateurs. And, as is appropriate in the warm weather, there’s news on the ice cream front too. Here’s what’s cooking in Philly this spring:

Recent Openings:

• Northern European cuisine, including smoked fish, smørrebrød, bitterballen and lots of beets, get their day in the sun thanks to Chef Joncarl Lachman’s

Over the past decade, the number of vegetarians in the U.S. has increased from about one in 100 to nearly one in 30, according to polls from the Vegetarian Resource Group and the Vegetarian Times. Veg-loving visitors to Philly have plenty of options from which to choose—upscale white tablecloth restaurants dishing out inventive vegetable creations to casual spots serving up raw foods and gluten-free dishes. Here are some spots worth checking out:

Destination Dining:

• Vegetable lovers head to Bucks County, where Mike Jackson’s Blue Sage Vegetarian Grille turns out creative, big-portioned vegetarian food (no meat substitutes) in a cozy,

Situated amidst richly fertile farmland and home to innovative urban growing projects, Philadelphia is a market-goer’s dream. The open-air stalls dotting the city and countryside—from the bustling energy of the indoor Reading Terminal Market to the gingham-clothed tables of the Phoenixville Market—collectively connect consumers to freshly grown and produced food every day of the week. With many now accepting electronic payments, Philly’s growing roster of markets has made eating fresh, local food a way of life for its residents. Here are just a few places to find seasonal goodies and support area farms:

Year-Round Markets:

• The only farmers’

Philadelphia’s restaurants are poised to cook up a whole new menu of deliciousness in the coming year. With increased attention from national press and an influx of talent from other cities swooping in to join the scene, local eateries are becoming ever more cosmopolitan, seeking inspiration from influences as varied as Southern and Japanese cuisines while still maintaining the region’s rootsy culinary identity. Meanwhile, chefs are going deeper into DIY to make their own charcuterie and spirits and working to elevate vegan eating to the next level of sophistication. In all, these trends should make for a very tasty twelve

Philadelphia is full of edible treasures, and national food shows are recognizing the region’s arrival as a delicious dining town by filming segments and entire programs that show off top restaurants, stellar dishes and expert chefs. Whether it’s the Throwdown with Bobby Flay episode showcasing Tony Luke’s classic cheesesteak, the Man v. Food segment featuring the enormous Mt. Vesuvius sundae at The Franklin Fountain or any number of The Best Thing I Ever Ate highlights, there’s real flavor behind the hype. Here’s a look at a few of the great local eats that have been given the television treatment:

Chef

Philly’s restaurants can fuel any power breakfast with high style and great flavor. In the mood for an organic smoothie? How about chipped beef? Maybe it’s a quiche Lorraine kind of morning? Here’s a look at some of the best bets around town for early meeting and eating:

Cosmopolitan Conferences:

• A mod restaurant at the base of the AKA Rittenhouse, a.kitchen serves a well-heeled morning workforce toasted bagels with smoked salmon, thick cut onion and tomato; homemade English muffins with country sausage and fried egg; Counter Culture Coffee; and pastries from local artisanal bake shop Au Fournil. Monday through

A Philly summertime favorite, water ice is just the tip of the frozen dessert scene in a city where artisan purveyors, trendy restaurateurs and brilliant pastry chefs are reimagining the possibilities for ice cream, popsicles, shakes and sundaes. From the just-opened Shake Shack (replete with locally themed shakes) to the artisan vegan ice cream sold from Little Baby’s tricycle to a dip-your-own popsicle in chocolate fondue, there are all sorts of ways to get and stay cool in Philly this summer.

For a full look at Philly’s best summer events, treats and must-dos, check out uwishunu.com’s Summer Guide, available

With spring about to spring, diners are eager to enjoy their meals alfresco, and fortunately, Philadelphia and The Countryside® is flourishing with plenty of green-minded eateries. Whether it’s dinner in an urban courtyard, brunch in an antique greenhouse or beer and pizza on a green roof, there’s an abundance of options for taking in the local flora. Here’s a look at just a few of the region’s restaurants that boast flower power:

• The enclosed veranda at The Brick Hotel’s Restaurant overlooks lush, well-tended flower gardens, which are a visual complement to the New American cuisine like line-caught salmon over saffron

Hot dogs are especially hot right now, and Philly’s chefs offer literally hundreds of options for hot dog eating—from old-school franks with mustard to the house-smoked delicacy at MidAtlantic to the mac and cheese-topped wiener at the Dapper Dog truck. We double dog dare you try any—or all—of the following:

Traditional Hot Dogs:

• The steamed links at the Reading Terminal’s Franks A-Lot! have garnered plenty of awards for their plump and snappy texture. The toppings are basic: sauerkraut, chili, cheese and the like—proving that less can be more. 1136 Arch Street, (215) 625-9991
• A West Chester institution since 1940,

In Philadelphia and The Countryside®, the sheer variety of mouthwatering burgers on offer is a worthy reason to visit, and these days new burger joints are popping up all over town. From the foie gras-butter stuffed prime patties at hallowed French restaurant Le Bec-Fin to the classically simple burgers at Franklin Square’s SquareBurger to the crunchified delights at the instantly popular Bobby’s Burger Palace in University City, Philadelphia’s corner pubs and upscale restaurants are satisfying red meat lovers with burgers that satisfy all cravings and budgets. Here are a few of the most memorable stops in burger town:

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