Crepes and Small Plates Rock My World

My friend Jen came to visit this weekend so we hit up La Creperie on Sansom St. on Friday night and then Alfa on Walnut St. on Saturday night.

La Creperie was cute but I had hyped it up a lot in my head while passing it for three straight years before going in. Crepes were fine. Not out of this world but not bad. Good times reminiscing because Jen and I met while studying abroad in Paris, so the whole crepe theme brought back lots of memories of grabbing them from the crepe stands on the street. No joke. We do hot dogs, they do crepes.

It was a Friday in Lent so I didn't get anything with meat in it, although I wish I had cause there were a LOT of options on the menu that looked good. We got there abotu 45 mins before the kitchen closed so it was awkwardly quiet but whatever. It's a BYOB too so that's handy and keeps price down. All told a good spot to grab a bite. Maybe better for a cute little lunch on a weekend than dinner, but convenient in Center City. La Creperie Beau Monde is still the best crepe spot in town, but you have to hop a cab all the way to Queen Village for that. If you have time, its well worth the trip.

It was too late for dessert when we finished, though, so we headed half a block to Tria for one last glass of wine and their unbelievably delicious Nutella pannini which made my night.

I probably hadn't been to Alfa in about a year so I was a little thrown off by the changed menu but it was still really good. Best part was that we got the little table for two just insight the front door, so that we could people watch out the window all night. Plus, Alfa does get pretty loud, so it was easier to hear each other there. I've sat at the tables in the back before and you kind of have to shout.

Food was great - we just wanted something small and Alfa has a good selection of apps and "small plates." Would highly recommend the BBQ Shrimp Mac n' Cheese. I have been obsessed with mac n' cheese lately and this one definitely hit the spot, plus it had a couple tasty shrimp on top with a good level of BBQ - not overkill which I don't like. We also got little burger sliders which were good, especially cause the mini rolls were cooked to a perfect crisp around the edge.

Good times! Next up: brunch somewhere, once Bradd gets home from his second weekend away!

Linda goes to Continental Midtown

Bradd was away this weekend so my mom, Linda, came to visit for a girls' weekend. We had a great time visiting our new house (which, conveniently will remain appropriate for the name of our blog, phew), doing some shopping, and then of course having a yummy dinner at Continental Midtown.

I knew that was the perfect spot as soon as we made plans for her to visit because a) she loves the concept of Stephen Starr and the fact that I eat at his restaurants a lot... and b) my dad would hate it so having just mom in town was the perfect opportunity to show her such a funky, popular spot.

And it was our lucky night... cause we got SWINGING BASKET CHAIRS!!!! I was really really hoping for that cause I knew she'd love it. Couldn't get her to try any of their famous drinks, like the Buzz Aldrin, but she did enjoy the Redwood cabernet sauvingnon so whatever. I had a couple yummy Champagne-O-Ramas which hit the spot.

For dinner we HAD to get the french onion soup dumplings cause I love them and knew she would too... you get six little ball shaped things that are cheese on the top and bread on the outside holding it together, but inside are piping hot onions and broth, so combined they literally tasted exactly like french onion soup. And then of course we HAD to get the shoestring fries cause they are so fun and everyone always has to gasp when then arrive at the table. To that we just added something new (to me at least) on the menu - a shrimp scampi flatbread. Ended up being totally not what we expected - I was visualizing a flatbread pizza looking thing with shrimp on it but instead it was shrimp on the plate drowned in scampi sauce and a mini loaf of garlic bread in the middle. She loved it - I like it but thought the sauce was a little potent. And yes, I do LOVE garlic and I can handle a lot but this scampi sauce wasn't my favorite.

I have been to Continental Midtown a bunch of times before but this go-around there were a handful of new small and large plates on the menu, so I would like to go back again soon and try some more new things. In the past I would often get the same items over and over cause I really liked them, but definitely worth trying something new. One of my regular favs is the crispy calamari salad - for lunch or dinner. It's huge but once you start, you can't stop eating it.

For dessert we got the carrot cake which was great. I would have loved to eat the nutella something or other, but my mom always gives up chocolate for Lent so that was off the table. What's nice about dessert there is its tiny little portions, so you get just enough small bites to not go overboard and feel like a cow afterwards.

Fun times had by all... and of course we took a pic for posterity!