Sabrina's Café

HAYO. Still on my brunching spree, but who could expect anything less when brunching is just so fun? So this was my second time at Sabrina's Café and it really is true love. The first time I went I visited the original downtown but this time decided to explore the newly opened storefront located on the Drexel Campus on 34th street. After a bitterly biting winter walk my brunching crew and I were more then happy to welcome the warmth of Sabrina's atmosphere. Airy, light, yet inviting and comfy, we knew before we were even seated that we were in for a treat. The menu is overwhelmingly delicious and it was tearing me to pieces that I had to choose one thing. The only thing that consoled me was the idea that I was with a large group and could try everyone else's dish so this put me at ease...but only slightly. The breakfast menu ranged from eggs, omelets, fritatas, challah and stuffed french toasts, and loads of pancakes. The lunch side consisted of salads, soups, and hearty plates and sandwiches. Finally a page of specials was displayed in the center of the menu and today featured enticing delicacies like pumpkin pancakes, apple granola crusted french toast, and the veggie benedict. My biggest dilemma in life is choosing what to eat when I'm inundated with so many options...its like having to pick one puppy when you want to take all of them home. My first time I had the fritata with egg whites, turkey bacon, spinach, mushrooms, onions, and provolone. It was uncannily good and enormously big. But I finished it, duh. It was a flying saucer of a fritata and warmed me to the very bone with every bite. This time I went for the veggie benedict special, two poached eggs on an english muffin with spinach, hollandaise sauce, and turkey bacon and a side of hash browns. Yum? The muffin was toasted. The eggs were plump and perfectly stiff with that amber stream of yolk running all over the plate once poked with a fork. Combined with the steamed spinach and crisp and chewy salty crunchy turkey bacon, it was a dream of a bite. The potatoes were also delectable. Extra crispy, just how I like them, and seasoned to perfection, dipped in a little ketchup they were easily some of the best I've ever had.

Lauren ordered the traditional challah french toast. Classically we all challa'd at her to try a bite and were glad she so generously shared. Huge chunks of fluffy challah were crisped on the edges and once swamped with a heaping amount of syrup made for a dish that tasted like Christmas.
 Jess got chicken noodle soup and a tunafish sandwich. Now, I don't know if I've ever shared this, but I'm not a tunafish fan. I don't mean to yuck anybody's yum but it's cat food, sorry! Anyways she said it was decent so I trust her because this girl is literally a tuna fanatic, a chicken of the sea herself. I snagged a bite of the soup and it was simple and tasty but not the best I've ever tried.

Nicole ordered the turkey sandwich with tomato, avocado, and lettuce and it was gone before I had the chance to taste.

 Danny got scrambled eggs with cheese and lapped them up as well, and her raves about them told me they were great. Now, the two stars of the meal. Number one, the fries. Oh my gosh, the fries. Long like fingers and crispy in all the right places these fries were just beyond. I credit this beyond-ess with their fantastic seasoning and crisp texture. There was not a fry left to be found. So after everyone has eaten everything on their plate we decide to get the check...But then, we decide on something better. Whats the best way to end a meal? A story? Dessert? A nice coffee? A good laugh? Usually I'd agree with any of the above (mainly the dessert) but now I have a new theory and it's name is chocolate chip pancakes. So we ordered a tall stack and while I was skeptical at first because I already was tremendously full, boy am I glad I didn't protest. These were the best pancake sin the world. Huge. Fluffy. Chocolatey. Soft. Dreamy. They were pillow pancakes, and they were divine. My advice, go to Sabrina's immediately and order breakfast. Our lunch dishes were good but not great and the breakfast is just too good to pass up.

hungree 2.4.7.

xoxo

hungree girl.

THE BRUNCH CREW!

Green Eggs

Okay so honestly its a little embarrassing how little I've written since I've been at school but I'm going to get you all caught up and things are going to change #earlynewyearsresolution. I have been eating my way through Philly and am now more obsessed with this city then before.
Another new obsession? Brunch. At home, brunch wasn't a casual thing. At college here, it is. Everyone loves to brunch. Its that meal of the day thats sooner then lunch but lets you sleep in a little bit and can swing either way breakfast or lunch foods. Basically it's perfect. So I've been brunching a bunch and have found delicious little spots that I highly recommend.

Green Eggs Café
Forks: 9
Price: $$
1306 Dickinson Street, Philadelphia, PA



When my cousin and I decided to have brunch today I was excited. Obviously I was excited to be spending time with her because she's great and amazing and is a big foodie also, but I was also extremely excited just to brunch in general. As I stated, I love a good brunch. Her and her boyfriend picked me up and we ventured into the depths of downtown Philly to a little placed called Green Eggs. None of us had been but we'd heard good things and decided to give it a shot. WELL, am I glad we did or what because it was un-brunch-aleiavable and now I'm utterly and completely hooked.
Green Eggs sits on a quiet block and has open airy glass window walls that look outside. Its clean and simple and cozy all at the same time and just invites you in and begs you to to enjoy a meal. Rustic wooden tables and chairs follow the "green" vibe that the restaurant gives off which is something I love. The breakfast menu was perfect. It offered a few egg dishes, including a stacked make your own omelet and three versions of eggs benedict, a sweet section offering stuffed challah french toasts an belgium waffles and red velvet pancakes (OKAY YUM???!!), and something a little more savory like breakfast burritos, steak and eggs, and what they called the kitchen sink, along with a hearty list of sides. So basically, I wanted to order everything on the menu but I had to contain myself and stick with three things instead. I went for the breakfast burrito. Blanketed in a tomato tortilla, scrambled eggs, potatoes, roasted peppers, sausage, and hot sauce were tucked in perfectly and topped with fresh avocado, sour cream, salsa, and a black bean sauce. Loaded much? I think yes. The burrito was amazing. Tender and fluffy eggs mixed with the softly roasted vegetables and rustic warmth of the potatoes was just the best bite ever. Soaked in salsa and sprinkled with black bean puree I was having a food-gasm.

 My cousin Whitney got the same thing but no tortilla, she's a celiac, and shared my elatedness about the dish. Her boyfriend Alex ordered the classic steak and eggs and while we aren't yet on the level for me to try I was dying to because it looked delicious. Three perfectly plump poached eggs lied lovingly on a plate nestled next to a medium rare filet that looked rich and flavorful and chunky rosemary potatoes that were wafting across the table and practically pulling me towards his plate. He said it was delectable, evident from his empty plate.

We also ordered a steaming bowl of stone grits and scrapple. Stone grits were ridiculous. It was like eating a grainy creamy bowl of blankets and snow and warmth and fire. That made no sense whatsoever but think of eating something that warms your soul and then you'll know what I mean. Covered in cheese and doused in heavy cream each bite was electrifying to the core.

 Then there was the scrapple. I was skeptical at first because of what it is, pork pieces mashed with cornmeal and flour and things then fried, but I'm always willing to try anything once. It looked like a overcooked hash brown, brown and dry. But it was anything but dry. It tasted like spiced mashed potatoes, creamy on the inside with a crispy coating in each bite. Spread with strawberry jam the sweetness and savory combination was almost too much to handle...I say almost because obviously we finished it within minutes. So, I'm in love with the Green Eggs Café and will be back here to savor every meal they offer and will not rest until I've tried every dish.

being hungree is a way of life.

xoxo

hungree girl.

PHILLY HERE I AM !

Good bye food world of Connecticut/New York/Tri-state Area, and HELLO PHILADELPHIA! That's right Philly, I'm here and I'm going to make my mark...actually more like make my bite. I'm now officially a student at the University of Pennsylvania but just because I'm a student doesn't always mean I'm eating like one...Obviously leave it to me to indulge in nice places once in a while, but besides these indulgences I've already found some awesome spots that aren't breaking my bank and are quick, easy, and totally hungree-girl worthy. So starting now, you're going to be getting a lot of Philly. Whether this means a review of my good bye fancy dinner at Osteria, beyond beyond amazing, or my new late night sandwich combination at Wawa's, you'll take what you can get and bring it to your own plate.

LOTS OF LOVE.

from my NEW philly tummy to yours,

xoxo

hungree girl.

Pae-yumma

    Paella. Even the word alone makes me swoon. Heaps of steaming seafood and vegetables gently tucked into mounds of golden saffron rice...mmm. As I wrote earlier about my new obsession with shellfish, I thought I'd try my hand at creating my own version of the Valencian classic dish. I knew what I had to do, the basic idea of the dish, but I went in organic and raw, using my inspiration and pallete as guides. I wanted to create something with bold flavors, rice that had texture, but also had a rich creaminess, like an upscale spaghetti-os. I wanted the shellfish to be absorbed in the rice, but not overwhelmed or consumed. Big bites of saffron spiced rice infused with a tomatoey broth complemented tender and salty mussels like they were meant to be, like PB& J, or Bonnie and Clyde.  I like to think I accomplished my goals when my paella meant for six, left four people longing for more.
    It was easy to prepare, quick to make, serves many, and looks impressive. Basically, its a perfect 10.


Note: I find cooking the shellfish and vegetables separatley at first gives the rice a better flavor.

Ingredients
4 cloves garlic
1/2 lb button mushrooms
1 vidalia onion
2 green peppers
1 can whole tomatoes, peeled, keep liquid!!!
2 cups chicken broth
1 packet yellow saffron rice

Mix ins
8 shrimp
8 scallops
3 dozen manilla clams
3 dozen mussels
1 cup white wine
1/2 stick of butter
3 gloves garlic

3 chicken sausage (cooked)

   In a large skillet pan heat up enough olive oil to coat the bottom. Dice the 4 cloves of garlic and once the oil is hot, drop in the cloves. Turn on high heat. Thinly slice the mushrooms, onions, and bell peppers. First add the mushrooms to the oil. Do NOT crowd them and don't touch them so they get a nice sear. Flip them over then add the onions. Let brown and sear for about 3 minutes per side. Add bell peppers and let sear for 2 minutes or until slightly tender. Lower heat. Open the can of tomatoes and empty the excess liquid into the pan. Roughly chop the tomatoes then add as well. Add in the chicken broth and bring to a boil. *If you need more room, at this point you can transfer this into a soup pot. Once the mixture has come to a boil add rice, stir, and cover.
   In a separate pan melt the butter. Once melted, add garlic, shrimp, and scallops. Cover and cook. Once cooked almost all the way through, add clams, mussels, and wine. Cover until clams and mussels open, then turn off the heat.
   After about 20 minutes open the rice pot, and stir. The rice should almost be finished cooking. Pour the shellfish, liquid included, into the rice pot. Stir, and cover for about 5-10 more minutes depending on how done the rice is.
  Once you feel that the rice is done, rice takes about 25 minuts in total, remove the pot from heat. Slice sausage and add to pot. Transfer into a beautiful bowl and serve with big crusty bread.

What you have: Saffron rice that soaks up the tomatoey oniony flavor of the vegetables and complements the shellfish beautifully.

WARNING: Wear loose clothing when eating this dish, because it will fill you up, but you won't put down your fork.