Lest I forget the BEST coffee in Philadelphia

I was despondent about a week ago when I thought the source of my re-occurring stomach cramps (is this TMI?) was too much coffee!! I laid off it for about a week and experienced no change...WHOO HOOO! I can still get my coffee fix at Ultimo (15th and Mifflin Sts.). I stopped in Saturday after a way too long hiatus.Carefully selected and finely roasted coffee is brewed fresh (no electric brews here) the amazing scent wafting up and exciting my nose hairs! The house brew is always great and if you, like myself, really don't know anything about coffee - just what is good and what is crap, the barista's are more than happy to share the more delicate qualities of the coffee options. I love going here, everyone is friendly and the music is stellar! It makes me very proud to have the highest quality cafe right around the corner.

TONIGHT! I hosted our Newbold Neighbors Association Board Meeting at my house and we feasted on treats from Friendly 1515 (Morris and Hicks). The big winner, I think more out of circus freak type curiosity: Japanese mochi (see enjoyment below) - a chewy mystery filled sweet treat (15 in a box for $3.50). The mochi reminds me of taking sugar cookie or pie crust dough and rolling it around sugar a pastime of childhood and well let's face it annual cookie making well into my 30's now. We also feasted on wafer thin lemon sugar crackers ($1.50 box) and Lychee hard candy (my personal favorite of the night, $2 a bag).




What's next, you ask?? This weekend I am making Larb with bean thread glass noodles and shrimp and then rolling it up in rice paper and calling it a spring roll! (recipe from http://importfood.com/nove3001.html)

This weekend will find my revisiting Duy's and embarking on a brand new venture into the fish market on 16th and Tasker.