Take a Tastykake Tour Thru Philadelphia

In case you haven't noticed, Tastykakes are everywhere in Philadelphia. They sponsor Flyers goals, they get flung over the Eastern State Penitentiary walls on Bastille Day, and they make appearances at Philly-themed corporate lunches all over the region. Tastykakes have also made their way onto the menus at several Philadelphia restaurants in one way or another. Here's where to find them.

Square Burger

Foodspotting and the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) hosted a Foodspotting "Eat Up" recently so those among us who regularly broadcast photos of our food across the Internet could try some of these treats. It was essentially a three-course dessert for dinner, but hey that's what all the Broad Street training was for anyway, right?

We made three stops on the tour. First up, Square Burger in Franklin Square, the park sort of behind the Constitution Center that was refurbished a few years ago with a carousel, Philly-themed mini golf course, and lots of green space. Stephen Starr opened the walk-up burger n' shake spot there a few years ago. One of its signature items is the Cake Shake, made with a Tastykake Butterscotch Krimpet, vanilla ice cream, and caramel sauce drizzled on the sides. It was quite a light and delicious treat, not overly sweet or butterscotchy. It also comes with a wide, squatty straw/spoon for easy consumption by kids or adults. Regularly $4.50.

Philly Lately: Square Peg Makes Food More Fun

Update: Square Peg closed in June 2013. Too bad, it was kinda fun. 

Square Peg is a casual, new American bar/restaurant that took over Marathon Grill's spot at the corner of 10th and Walnut. Under the direction of chef Matt Levin, formerly of Lacroix and then Adsum, and whom we thoroughly enjoy bantering with on Twitter, Square Peg has a different kind of menu that makes you go, hmmmm... this looks like fun!

Cheesesteak pot pie

The Fried Chicken Tacos and Cheesesteak Pot Pie were both a hit with Bradd. The latter was more like a bowl of creamy, hearty meat and cheese soup, with the "pie" part represented by a flaky crust sitting lightly on top. Deconstructing two common dishes into this presentation made it fun and easy to pick off the non-mushy crust; scoop up the cheese, steak and veggies; and eat it in small bites. Why not, right?

Mac n' cheese grilled cheese

I loved the Mac n' Cheese Grilled Cheese. Combining three of the greatest comfort foods on earth, it's literally mac n' cheese inside a grilled cheese sandwich, served with tomato soup for dipping. It was enough for me for a light dinner. Highly recommended!