How's That CSA Treating You?

Week 1

Not too bad. Although, while the weekly pickups of the Lancaster Farm Fresh CSA at Grindcore House (I'm writing this post from the all-vegan coffee shop!) are the highlight of my week (I'm utterly boring), the bundle of fresh produce is at times a little overwhelming.

This is my first year as part of a CSA, because previously I lived alone and there was no way I could eat even a half share's worth of produce. Now I live with another person, and a half share is just about right. There always seems to be a little something leftover at the end of the week that we didn't get to, though.

Week 2

I'm well aware of the seasons and what times of the year produce comes into season, so it wasn't really news to me that the beginning of the CSA season would be chock full of greens. In the past three weeks we've gone through 1 bag of baby mizuna, 1 bunch of mature mizuna, 1 bag of mixed greens, 1 bunch of dandelion greens, 1 container of micro greens, 1 head of green leaf lettuce, 1 head of red leaf lettuce, 2 heads of of romaine lettuce, 2 baby bok choy, and 2 bunches of collards.

Oh, and I also planted 10 lettuce plants in the raised bed of my rowhouse patio, full well knowing that the beginning of our CSA would be heavy on the greens. I wouldn't be lying if I said I was ready to move straight into August's bounty of tomatoes and squashes.

Little Baby's Ice Cream

I'm screaming! Are you screaming?

Caught up with Little Baby's Ice Cream, one of Philly's newest mobile food purveyors — tricycle is how they roll — on their first day of business this past weekend at the Trenton Avenue Arts Festival. It was a busy weekend, as they then triked it on over to the Punk Rock Flea Market the next day.Little Baby's Ice Cream hand makes some tasty and eclectic ice cream flavors that make my frozen custard lovin' heart go pitter-pat. Flavors like cardamom caramel, balsamic banana, earl grey sriracha, bourbon bourbon vanilla, birch beer vanilla bean. They even make a vegan ice cream so all the kids can scream!!

Frankford Hall

According to the social media that I follow, everyone in Philadelphia has already stopped by Stephen Starr's Frankford Hall, the barely week-old German beer garden in Fishtown.

And why not! With spring in the air, and people itching to dine al fresco, Frankford Hall certainly has the space to pack in the hoards — 240 seats outside and 160 seats under cover of the open air industrial dining hall.Starr is undoubtedly a master of creating a themed atmosphere to accompany his restaurants, and he's done an excellent job of transporting diners to a huge, outdoor German beer garden complete with long communal tables and benches, four trees for shade, two ping pong tables, and even an oompah band in lederhosen and dirndl playing traditional Bavarian songs!

A Full Plate's 1st Annual Chili Cook-Off

After four years of hosting a rib cook-off, Shannon Dougherty and Liz Petersen of A Full Plate Café have decided to host a chili cook-off (don't worry, the rib cook-off will go down this year at a later date) Saturday, June 11 from noon to 3pm at Liberty Lands Park.

First, second, and "peoples' choice" prizes for both amateur and professional teams will be awarded in three categories of chili: red, white, and vegan.

If you think you've got a killer chili recipe and want to prove it, you'll need to pony up $25 to compete, and get an application in by Friday, June 3 at 4pm. To view the official rules and application form, visit A Full Plate's Chili Cook-off Facebook event page, or email info@afullplate.net.

Just want to eat chili? Come ready to rumble at high noon! Admission is $10 for adults and kids over 12, $6 for kids (5 and under are free), and allows all-you-can-eat samples of chili, and, of course, the always awesome A Full Plate buffet of veggie sides.

I will be one of the judges in the vegan chili category, so bring it!

La Copine

We dropped by the grand opening day of La Copine, a new food cart serving up brunch foods on the weekend in the corner patio lot of 2nd and Poplar Streets. La Copine is run by Nikki Hill (former sous chef at Barbuzzo) and Claire Wadsworth.

This corner lot and former spot of the shuttered Arbol Cafe is now home to Garden Variety, an open air market featuring food carts (weekend brunch by La Copine, dinner by a yet to be named chef, and late night snacks by Dapper Dog), a monthly supper club by La Copine, artists' flea markets, concerts, and commissioned public art projects. Sounds exciting!
La Copine was running out of Dapper Dog's cart on opening day, but they hope to shortly be in their own cart, which was parked in the back corner of the tree-shaded patio. Tables, chairs and tents were brought out to give the lot a feel of a pop-up cafe, and lend a little comfort to cart dining.

Save the Date! Food Blogger Bake Sale 5/14

Philadelphia's Share Our Strength Great American Bake Sale is being held on May 14th from 10am till 1pm outside A Full Plate Cafe on Liberties Walk (1009 N. Bodine St., Philadelphia, PA 19123) in Northern Liberties.

On Saturday, May 14, bloggers across the nation are coming together for the Great American Bake Sale to support Share Our Strength, an organization whose mission is to end childhood hunger in America.

Local bloggers you know and love will be contributing baked goods that you've probably drooled over while reading their posts. This will be my second year contributing baked goods. Gonna keep it simple with classic brownies.

All proceeds from the bake sale benefit Share Our Strength. If you can't make it to the bake sale, but would like to donate to the cause, please visit this link to make a safe and secure donation.

Memphis Taproom Beer Garden

Stopped by Memphis Taproom's new beer garden this past weekend, which serves up hot dogs from a permanently placed, non-mobile food truck. I do love me a good hot dog, but veggie hot dogs are sort of hard to come by at carts or restaurants. The ever veggie-friendly Memphis Taproom has not forgotten about me and you, though. Beef, vegetarian, and vegan dogs can be had!The narrow, outdoor dining space with large picnic tables has a picnicky beer garden feel, perfect for the warmer months we have coming our way. Stenciled in red paint on the tables are friendly reminders to mind your manners, keep it down, and generally don't do any thing that would piss off those living in the surrounding residential neighborhood.Back in the corner is a red and blue truck from whence the hot dog creations and cans of beer flow. And, sorry, colorblind males, the truck is blue — as in turquoise blue — not green. I will give you sea foam green, if you insist on green.