Philly: A wonderful foodie break from the GMATs

I have been a bad food blogger in 2011. I mistakenly thought I would have to rededicate to this blog time after my crazy work project ended, but did not account for how much studying for the GMATs would start to dominate my life. Instead of baking or trying new restaurants in the past few months, I've been trying new equations and GMAT tutoring. I have another month left, but desperately needed a break from the food desert and studying, so last weekend I went to Philadelphia with my sister and cousin. We had a wonderful time and discovered some great restaurants along the way!

We started out our Philly adventure at my favorite bar, the Continental Mid-Town. I discovered this lounge with my friend Liz on my first trip to the city and have gone back every time I visit. It serves delicious classic cocktails and has fun, mod decor. I love it.

Our next stop was the Dandelion Pub, a delightful and delicious restaurant. The menu has a range of intriguing and inventive dishes. We ordered gemelli pasta with spring squash, pattypans, and zuchhini blossoms - it was one of the best pasta dishes I've had this year. The pickled beetroot jar with olive tapenade, goats cheese, and sourdough toast was also a hit, and the devilled eggs were amazing. The decour was inviting and whimsical.

For dessert, we went across the street to Serafina, a New York import with an impressive menu. We shared a rich chocolate hazelnut cake and a light berry tart.  It was the perfect way to end our meal.

The next day, I took over fork: etc. at breakfast to study for the GMATs while my sister and cousin went to the Liberty Bell and Constitution Hall. While there, I had a flaky cinnamon roll, a blue cheese pear scone, and fresh fruit (and yes, it was difficult to chose only those three). As well as their tempting pastry selection, fork: etc, had friendly service and a laid-back atmosphere perfect for a local cafe.

I met my sister and cousin at Franklin Fountain, where they were having ice cream. An old fashioned soda shop to its core, Franklin Fountain is great fun, but backs up its decor with great ice cream. This may be a regular stop on my future Philly trips.

We stopped by Pat's King of Steaks and Geno's Steaks on our way out of town. We agreed that Pat's had better bread, but overall we liked Geno's more. Before starting the long drive back, we stopped the Italian Market to pick up some provisions from DiBruno Brothers. Walking in was like heaven. The whole store smelled like cheese, olive oil, and cured meats. The staff is friendly and let us try lots of samples. We walked away with half a pound of prosciutto and two amazing cheeses. Unfortunately the prosciutto didn't survive the car ride home...thanks to me.