Franklin Fountain

So... one of the things on my Philadelphia to-do list was to visit Franklin Fountain ice cream shop and I did!! Yesterday... yes I know it was cold and I wasn't even sure they'd be open but they were!!!

Front entrance and menu.

Although I was like the only other person in there besides this couple. Anyway, it was a little hole in the wall and I admit I went down a couple wrong streets having forgottene the address, but quickly found it on the corner of like 2nd and ???

The shop itself is so adorable and transports you back to a soda-shop-esque type establishment.  Their menu is kind of intimidating for the first time, but I decided due to my not overly large appetite to avoid one of their signature sundaes. They are however, most famous for them as they were featured on Man vs. Food for their Mt. Vesuvius sundae that Adam Richman devoured.
Yeah, wasn't gonna happen.

Ben Franklin all decked out for V-Day.

So instead I asked the guys behind the counter what they recommended and the lovely young gentleman told me the the pistachio and cherry vanilla were his favorites.  I sampled the pistachio (with a small silver spoon, not that plastic crap you get at 31 flavors) and it was very yummy, but I wanted a topping too. So I decided to go with 1 scoop (aka like 2 baseballs) of the mint chip with their hot fudge topping. My kind server told me to take a seat anywhere and he would bring it over to me after he was done making it.

1 "scoop" of mint chip with hot fudge topping.

The sundae was fantastic and I almost finished it all, but instead took the leftovers to-go in this awesome little cardboard container.  Cool huh?

To-go container is so cute!!

After my sugar overload, I talked to the guy working there some more and he told me some interesting facts about the shop. It has only been open for like 6 or 7 years, however the building itself is original including the molding on the ceiling (not the fungus lol) as well as the tiles on the floor.

They also have the oldest working soda fountain in America! Pretty cool. Overall, I would definitely come back. If you're with a couple friends, opt for one of their bigger sundaes which go from like $9 - $15 I think.  You can also order by the scoop and add on toppings. For one scoop, one topping mine came out to $6 something. Pretty reasonable for fantastic service and good ice cream.

The oldest working soda fountain!

Since they're a soda shop, they also have shakes, banana splits, sodas, and these things called phosphates which I'll have to try sometime. They also have plenty of flavors, including one called hydrox cookie, which uses the original hydrox cookies which were an early version of an oreo. They also have sugar free and soy ice creams too.

Go check them out! They are open from 12 pm - 12 am (nice!) and their service is fantastic.  You won't be disappointed. 

Stephanie, WWT

Kara's Take II

I have been back to Kara's Cupcakes in Walnut Creek now a couple of times as well as the one located in Ghiradelli Square, San Francisco.  I thought I should do an updated review too! So here are my new cupcake discoveries.

SF trip cupcakes:

Fleur de Sel (top left), PB&J (top right), and Key Lime Pie (bottom)

My Favorite = The Key Lime Pie one by a longshot!!

The cake was so moist and had a key lime filling which was sweet and tangy. The bottom was a graham cracker crust and it was topped with a cream cheese like frosting and little sprinkles and of course a fondant flower cut-out. It was seasonal, so if you see it in the summertime, GET IT!!

Doesn't that just look like heaven?



Worst Cupcake = PB&J

I like cupcakes, but this one was not a star. I had such high hopes for it too! Like the Key Lime, this flavor was limited-time only (thank god!). It was supposed to have a peanut butter frosting on top and a strawberry (jelly) filling. Unfortunately it was super dry and not very flavorful :(

Boo :(

The one cool thing was the Kara's Cupcake-mobile thing outside of the shop. They had a father's day display in the window :)

Even though I was graced with a dry, unastonishing cupcake, it will not deter me from going back to Kara's. I find their seasonal flavors to be very good, and I still have my filled favorites.  They remain the Banana Caramel and the Key Lime. I also tried the mini versions of the Java Chip and the Raspberry Dazzle. Java Chip = eh. Raspberry = pretty good.

Go find a Kara's if you live in California and pick out your favorites!

Stephanie, WWT

Tiramisu Recipe

I thought I'd finally post this recipe for Tiramisu that I absolutely love! I've made it twice now and it has turned our fantastic both times. It is very easy to make, in fact a lot easier than you might think.

Here's the recipe:

Tiramisu
From Inland Empire magazine, January 2010
makes 8 to 10 servings

4 egg yolks

3/4 cup sugar

1 C mascarpone cheese

1 1/2 C whipping cream

2 C strong coffee, cooled

1/2 cup Kahlua (I almost never have Kahlua on hand so I substituted rum flavoring and mixed it with some brewed coffee. I find that it makes the resulting dessert tasty and slightly rum-flavored)

30 - 36 ladyfingers (Usually 2 and 1/2 packages. They can be found in the bakery section of most supermarkets. In Safeway, they're usually in the baskets near the packaged muffins and cookies)

1 bar of chocolate, or chocolate shavings

STEPS:
1. In a double boiler, combine the egg yolks and sugar and beat until mixture is light yellow and has reached 140 degrees F. (I use a bowl over a pot of water. Use a candy thermometer to measure the temperature)

2. Remove mixture from heat and pour into a large bowl.  Whisk in the mascarpone until smooth and let cool for 8 to 10 minutes.

3. In a separate bowl, whip the cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold whipped cream into egg mixture; set aside.

4. Combine the coffee and Kahlua into a small bowl and dip the ladyfingers. Don't oversoak to the point of sogginess. (I usually only ladle enough in a small bowl to dip the surface of the ladyfingers in. Sometimes it can be difficult to grip them if they become too soggy!)

5. In a 12 to 14 inch round or oval dish (I use a rectangular pan), spread a thin layer of cream mixture.  Arrange ladyfingers on a layer of cream, breaking pieces to make a uniform fit. Add another layer of cream, then another layer of ladyfingers. Top with the remaining cream and smooth evenly.

6. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 4 to 8 hours. Before serving dust generously with cocoa powder and top with shaved chocolate curls. (I use a vegetable peeler, on one of those long, thin bars of chocolate. It works great!)

I used the leftover chocolate bar squares to garnish the tiramisu! It's a great way to use it up.

Enjoy it while it lasts! :)

Stephanie, WWT

No-Bake Jello Pumpkin Pie

Ok, so I cheated. I used a boxed mix to make this pumpkin pie, but I was craving it so much and it was only like $1.50 so I had to get it.  One of my favorite desserts is pumpkin pie, but it isn't common year round. For anyone else like me who enjoys the spicy flavor not only at Thanksgiving, then this is a quick fix.

Option 1 = traditional pumpkin pie

Option 2 = slightly prettier layered whipped cream pie (oh yeah!)

Jello makes a no-bake boxed pumpkin pie mix which includes pretty much everything you need.
Extras to have on hand would be one 8oz tub of cool whip, milk, butter, and sugar. That's all you'll need to make your easy dessert in just 15 minutes! Sounds great right?

Finished crust! (my favorite part of pie)

The cool whip isn't a necessary addition, but it is used to make a layered pie. With the graham cracker crust and the filling layers, this pie was heavenly.  I'll admit, it has been my breakfast option for the past couple days. I know, healthy right? The pie actually isn't too unhealthy compared to other desserts, especially if you use sugar free cool whip and fat free milk!

Do you have any favorite seasonal treats/foods that you love to eat any time of the year? Another one of mine would be eggnog. I'm still working on a recipe for that.

Stephanie, WWT

Summer Sweets

So lately I have been craving sweets! But not just any sweets, something out of the ordinary. So far, this summer has brought many opportunities to try different things for me. I'll share with you just some of the cool things I've discovered.

Salt Water Taffy from Monterey
I'm never really someone who craves taffy, it just isn't my candy of choice, but somehow, whenever you're on the pier, or wharf, or coast, salt water taffy just sounds amazing, right?? Anyway, I decided to pick some up because the flavors were so cool! Little did I know my candy stash (of about maybe 20 - 30 pieces) would cost $7.00! It was well worth it though and I was able to share with friends and family.

From left to right: Eggnog, Cupcake, Pumpkin Pie, and Peanut Butter and Jelly (with real peanut butter and jelly in the middle!!)

The rest of my candy stash! Other flavors included Banana Split, Neopolitain, Blueberry Lemonade, Caramel Apple, Pina Colada, Huckleberry, Apple Cinnamon, Lemon Lime, and many others.

Verdict: My favorites were the Maple and Rum flavors. They were truly delicious!

Chocolate Liqueur Bottles by Anthon Berg

I just had to try these! I found an old box of them in my aunt and uncle's cabinet from like Christmas and we all decided to sample them. They each contain a small amount of liqueur in a milk chocolate bottle casing. It was fun to snack and try each flavor, but we all ended up biting off the top of the bottle and sucking out the inside flavoring!

8 different Liqueurs and 64 per box

Jack Daniels, Cointreau, Grand Marnier

The Danzka CranberryRaz Vodka

Verdict: My favorite was the Danzka CranberryRaz Vodka. It was sweet, but not overpoweringly so. I'd say the strongest were the tequila gold and the Galliano. Not a big fan of whisky so I didn't really love those.

Chocolate Frog from Harry Potter

I went to the Harry Potter Exhibition at the Discovery Museum in NY this past April and was fortunate enough to pick up a couple of chocolate frogs! I was all over these as an avid Harry Potter fan, and would have bought more had they not been $5 a piece. Yeah... I spent $10 on two chocolate frogs, but it was worth it right? Plus, I got the potter family on a famous witch or wizard card!

Chocolate Frog, fits about in the palm of your hand

Verdict: It was okay I guess? Just really a milk chocolate piece with crunchies in it, like a crunch bar...only in the shape of a frog. 

Manju from Shuei-Do in San Jose
Ok, so being half-Japanese I grew up with an American family who had some knowledge of Japanese customs, food, and culture, but wasn't traditional in practicing it. One of the treats we all enjoy however is Manju, a mochi-like gummy sweet blob filled with smashed or whole Azuki (red bean) or lima (white bean). Shuei-Do is really the only Manju shop that I know of around my area, located in San Jose's Japantown. There is nothing better than fresh manju in my opinion, and it brings back a bit of nostalgia whenever I get to have it :)

Outside the manju shop, some tourists are looking at the shaved ice menu

What's left of our manju selection!

The wafer cookie with red beans (Azuki). I think this one is called Monaka.

Pink manju with smashed lima bean paste, called Tsubu I think.

Verdict: I've pretty much tried all of the different kinds of manju and my favorites have to be the wafer one (Monaka) the pink smashed lima bean, and the green red bean manju.

That's it for now, but I'll have more sweet treats posts coming! And a spotlight on a bday cake I just made :)

Stephanie, WWT

Wafels and Dinges, huh??

Don't let the name confuse you! Wafels and Dinges is a delicious Belgian Waffle Food Truck located in various places throughout each week in New York!

I scouted it's location out beforehand and headed over to the Times Square area to find it. Hoping my directions were right, i was delighted to spot the big, bold, yellow truck with surprisingly, no line!! I just walked straight up, had a chat with the super friendly guys making fresh waffles and ordered.

The menu is a little intimidating at first and they have two main types of waffles, the Liege, and the Brussels.  From there, you can decide upon different variations, create your own with multiple toppings, or try "de Throwdown Wafel" made famous by Bobby Flay's Throwdown competition. 

I was feeling more on the savory side because I hadn't eaten any breakfast, so I opted for "de Bacon Wafel," a nice, crunchy Brussels waffle with bacon pieces baked inside of the waffle, topped with butter, powdered sugar, and my favorite topping of all...maple syrup!!

My bacon waffle!

Overall, the waffle was AMAZING!!! The waffle itself was crispy and crunchy on the outside, but unbelievably soft, moist, and warm on the inside. It wasn't soggy or too hard, just... perfect.  The butter and maple syrup toppings weren't dangerously flooding the cardboard box it came in and were very lightly added so as not to completely soak the waffle.  It was like, breakfast perfection!  I would highly recommend trying one if you happen to see the truck on the streets of NYC. Or look up the location beforehand, I think they have multiple trucks/smaller carts that rotate around the city. 

Fresh waffles, yum!

One of their specialties is their 'spekuloos' spread, which I did not have on my waffle (I'll have to go back again and try it!).  I have had a similar spread and the best way I can describe it is a smooth buttery, gingerbread like, graham cracker, spread.  If you've ever had Biscoff/Lotus cookies, it is similar to the spread that you can get with them. Wafels and Dinges has their own authentic spekuloos which you can purchase in your own jar to put on you waffles at home!

Enjoy! And I'll have more posts coming soon. I've been super busy lately!

-Stephanie, WWT

Magnolias, Pistachios, and Bananas, Oh My!

Starting off my reviews of New York is the fabulous Magnolia Bakery!

As you can see, the one I ran into was near Radio City Music Hall.

I had originally hoped to go here as I had heard about their fantastic cupcakes and banana pudding. Fortunately, I just happened upon the Rockefeller location by chance and stopped in when it was nearly empty around 10:30 am. Although they only had about 5 different selections of cupcakes at the time, that didn't bother me because I knew they were being made fresh. Quality over quantity right?

I had to order a pistachio because I am obsessed with anything green and nutty tasting! Ok, well maybe I just really like pistachio flavored things. Anyway, after asking the wonderfully polite lady manning the cupcakes about some of the other flavors, she graciously gave me a pistachio cupcake and a small container of banana pudding. Let me just start by saying the small was not small at all, however that did not deter me from finishing off the container later that night.

Almost gone! = saddest moment of my life! :(

It was fantastic! Best banana pudding I have ever tasted, hands down. No artificial, boxy-jello-pudding container-like taste. The bananas and cookie pieces were just heaven. Where do I start with the cupcake? The frosting wasn't grainy at all, but more like a pillowy, fluffy, airy, blob of goodness atop of a pistachio flavored cupcake. Yes... pistachio flavored cake. That's why I chose this one so I could taste the actual cake. BEST CUPCAKE EVER!! Like, seriously. The nuts on top + the airy frosting + the moist, nutty cupcake = Perfection.

Insider tip: Get a container of pudding to-go and throughout the day while you're exploring the city you have a snack you can whip out and eat on a park bench or something. My pudding lasted a whole day of walking and when I got it home to put it in the fridge it was still fine, like, it hadn't melted or anything like that.

The bakery itself was very fast moving and efficient for so little space and so many people. Although it was nearly deserted when I first walked in, when I had ordered and paid there was barely enough room to walk around. Don't get discouraged! The cupcakes and pudding are definitely worth waiting!

I ate my cupcake at a little counter with barely enough space for my plate, but I didn't care. It was amazing! The atmosphere is really inviting too.

After a long day of walking, it was nice to sit down with my leftover container of banana pudding and write some postcards. Honestly, I was surprised I made it through an entire day without finishing the container. Can you say... ultimate self-control?

Anyway, the moral of this posting is if you are ever in New York, GO TO MAGNOLIA BAKERY!! I also found the location in Grand Central Station underground in the dining concourse. There are various other locations to check out as well.

What is your favorite cupcake?

Stephanie, WWT

Capogiro Gelato Artisans

Another stop on my Philly food day was Capogiro Gelato Artisans where you can get fantastic gelato, sandwiches, and many other wonderful snacks.  Although it was chilly out and my nose was running when I stepped inside, I couldn't resist and had to get some. After much indicisiveness and 6 or 7 samples later I finally made my decision. For about $4.50 I was able to get a small cup and try two flavors.  Here is a picture of my selection:

1/2 Banana Chocolate gelato + 1/2 Dulce de Leche gelato = heaven

The gelato was simply amazing. I wanted to try all of the flavors, many of which are exotic.  I think they change their menu daily however, so certain flavors may not be available.  The people there are super nice and the guy let me sample about 6 flavors. From what I remember:

Cioccolato Banana = perfect mixture of bananas and chocolate
Bananas Foster = a little bit more banana-ey, I preferred the chocolate
Dulce De Leche = very sweet with a caramel swirl
Mint something?? = can't remember the name but it was very minty, almost like toothpaste
Coffee something?? = also don't remember, but it was okay

I looked on the website to search the names of the types of gelato that I tried, and they already changed the menu! I would suggest looking at their online menu the day you visit so you know ahead of time if they'll have the flavors you're looking for. They only have a couple that seemt to be consistent every day.

I went to the Capogiro in Rittenhouse at 117 South 20th St althought there are 3 more locations I think the others are on 13th and the other is on Walnut somewhere. The atmosphere is one where you could bring a laptop and hang out for the day, or just come with some friends. It's still pretty small, about 10 tables maybe? Overall, it was a nice snack, that I honestly didn't need, but wanted to indulge in anyway. I would definitely go back and hope to catch some more interesting flavors like their basil or avocado flavors, yum!

Have any favorite gelato spots or flavors?
Hopefully warm weather is on the way!!

-Stephanie, WWT

Termini Bros. Pasticceria

So my day in Philly ended with a stop at Termini Bros in Reading Terminal. I had to try a cannoli here, although Hershel's had filled me up. What do I do? Naturally take it to go! I asked the lady piping my cannoli shell with ricotta if it would last until later that night and she assured me it would. She also assured me I would love it! Boy did I enjoy that cannoli, I wish I had another one right now...

Honestly, this cannoli was amazing!! The shell was so crispy and crunchy while the ricotta was filled with chocolate chips, and these little jello chunks flavored with lemon. They certainly don't skimp on the filling either!

I had to add another pic of this beautiful dessert!

I hope someday to return and try some cookies, or perhaps a pecan bar at Termini Bros. They also have a wide variety of cakes and other goodies to buy. Last year at Easter, they had these cakes displayed:

Aren't they adorable? I think they have these every Easter, so they should be coming in soon!
Go enjoy a cannoli at Termini's for an amazing dessert!

-Stephanie, WWT