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

Herschel's East Side Deli

Here is my review, as promised, of Herschel's located in Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia, PA.
It was my first time going to Herschel's and let me tell you, it can be a little overwhelming at first.  Fortunately, i read some reviews about what to get on Yelp before going so I pretty much knew what I was going to get.

There are several clear cut favorites to order. Choosing between the pastrami, reuben, and corned beef was definitely hard as all three look equally mouthwatering. In the end, I went with the corned beef special, piled with meat topped with coleslaw and russian dressing. It also comes with a pickle spear!

My corned beef!

If you're someone who prefers to not have your stomach stuffed to the max then GET THE 1/2 SANDWICH!! As you can see in the pic below, this was plenty for me. I'll admit I finished the whole thing but it was difficult.  The carvers there are just as proud and happy to serve you a half sandwich as a whole and it is a couple bucks cheaper too.  They are so nice and will be happy to answer any questions as well.

So I order my sandwich and move down the line where I proceed to ask them to make my a NY egg cream, something which I also have never had in my life.  Egg creams are common in New York (hence the name NY egg cream) and other parts of the East Coast.  Growing up in California, I had never heard of one until I came here. I had originally planned on trying one in New York, but the one at Herschel's was only $1.95, about half the amount you would pay for one in New York. An egg cream basically consists of chocolate syrup, milk, and selzer and it has neither eggs nor cream in it. Funny huh? I think they were originally made with eggs, but restaurants had to stop making them that way because they couldn't serve people raw eggs. This makes me wonder about egg nog. Isn't that made with raw eggs?

1/2 Corned Beef Special

Anyway, my egg cream was alright I guess. Not something I'm going to be craving any time soon. It was just different. My corned beef special on the other hand was, hands down, THE BEST SANDWICH I HAVE EVER EATEN!!! No I'm not exaggerating. The corned beef melted in your mouth and literally had no fat on it whatsoever. That little piece you can see in the picture is the most fat I found on the meat. I can't speak for the pastrami, which to me, looked a bit more fattier.  My sandwich was so good, but messy too! I ended up eating the rest with a fork and knife it was that bad :)

I could have used more coleslaw, but overall, this sandwich definitely makes my top 5. Phenomenal. I think my 1/2 sanwich came out to around $5 or something. The full size was around $8 I think.
I also ordered a knish to go. This was another thing I had never ever heard of in my life, so I had to try it. I got a broccoli one and heated it up later that night. It was a nice, ball of potatoes and broccoli in a pastry dough outside. Not the best thing I've ever eaten, but I would try another kind in the future possibly.
That was around $2.75 I believe. So my sandwich, egg cream, and knish only cost me $10.75

Broccoli Knish

If you're ever in Philly, I totally recommend stopping by the market and getting a sandwich at Herschel's. They are out of this world, seriously!

Where have you eaten the best sandwich of your life?

-Stephanie, WWT

Gastronomic Delights in Philly

This past Sunday was my big day out in Philly, a city that I've come to know and love these past three years.  I have to confess that my main motivation was not to go to the art museum, like my fellow dorm members, rather, I was seeking out the tastiest treats in Philly, that I hadn't already tried of course.

This whole trip was spurned by my dorm offering a free trip to Philadelphia and back, something which is the best deal for a college student short on cash. To take the R5 train to 30th Street and back costs $10, which won't break the bank, but it does add up.  While the rest of my floormates went straight to the museum, I walked the 30 minutes down Benjamin Franklin Parkway, past the iconic statue of LOVE, and down around City Hall to make my way to Reading Terminal Market, a foodie's paradise.  Located right across from the convention center, it may be hard to spot for someone who has never been there before.  Just look for a) the huge sign that says Reading Terminal Market, b) little hanging whales, cows, and fruits, or c) a huge tunnel. Any of these signs will let you know you're in the right place.

Now I have been to this market many times, but never have I had the pleasure of eating at Herschel's East Side Deli. Let me just say, the experience was heavenly! A review is forthcoming by the way.
From there I went to Macy's, right next to City Hall.  I really wanted to see the flower show there, something that is only in its second year. It lived up to the hype as Macy's was decked out in floral arrangements that made it seem more like a tropical paradise than a huge department store.

After that I decided to take a walk to Rittenhouse Square because of the awesome weather. I was also seeking out a gelateria in the area which I did find. Called Capogiro, this is a chain that has several locations around the city. Even though it was windy and a little chilly out, I couldn't pass up on this delectable Italian treat. (Again, I will post a review and pics soon!)

On my walk back to the market I stopped in an Anthropologie 4 floors high! I didn't buy anything though, in favor of saving my money for my upcoming New York trip! I decided to head into Chinatown, somewhere I had never been before. It is relatively close to the market, off of Arch street.  Anyway, it was fun to pop in and out of some souvenir shops and bakeries, but again, I didn't buy anything, for I knew what treat I wanted to take with me.

So my journey concluded back at Reading Terminal at Termini Bros. This Italian bakery served my the best cannoli I have had to this day, which, I guess isn't really saying much cause I've had very few cannolis in my lifetime. I got a regular ricotta filled shell to go, which surprisingly lasted until later that night without getting soggy at all.

Overall, I have to say my day was filled with walking, eating, and just enjoying the city.  Now, it's back to crunch time, and the crazy mess of the last month of my junior year of college.

Do you have any favorite food spots in Philly? If so, please share!
Also, check out my post from a year ago on Reading Terminal for more reviews!

-Stephanie, WWT

Reading Terminal Market, Philly, PA

A visit to Philadelphia wouldn't be complete without heading over to Reading Terminal Market (pronounced like 'red-ing'). This hodgepodge of eclectic foods will definitely not disappoint. Whether you like sweets, looking for a cheap meal, or just want to shop around for some produce, it is a spot to check out.

I was fortunate enough to get to the market early when it wasn't so hectic. My goal was to try something that terrified me since I first heard about it: scrapple.

This fried slab of unidentifiable pork scraps is a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch meal that is usually served for breakfast. I was lucky enough to try my first scrapple from an authentic Pennsylvania Dutch stand in the market. I have to admit, I liked it! The crunchy outside was a great contrast to the mushy sausage tasting inside and went great with some scrambled eggs.

My best advice is to try things you wouldn't normally try at the market! It can be really overwhelming so try to plan out what you really want to try beforehand. You can check out all of the vendors and get a map of the market at its website:

http://www.readingterminalmarket.org/

When I went to visit I tried:

• Scrapple, eggs, and toast breakfast at the Pennsylvania Dutch stand (try it, seriously)
• Cherry Vanilla and Raspberry Truffle ice cream at Bassett's Ice Cream (so good on a hot day)
• Baklava from Kamal's Middle Eastern Specialties (nothing to write home about)
• Chocolate Chip Walnut cookie from the Famous 4th Street Cookie Company (very good)
• And, I had to buy some fresh produce at Iovine Brothers Produce (great prices)

I suggest you go early for breakfast when its not too crowded, then hit the town and explore Philly, and come back to experience the mad rush at lunchtime. Be sure to wash your clothes afterwards though. You will notice a variety of strange smells from your visit to the market.

Still sick, but still bloggin,'

-Stephanie, WWT