Gorgeous table linens provided by our good friend Cindy Bene of Select Event Rentals. Beautiful floral arrangements courtesy of Paoli’s Flowers by Priscilla.

AroundMainLine.com welcomed over 300 Main Liners and local foodies at Susanna Foo’s Gourmet Kitchen in Radnor on Thursday evening July 22nd for the official launch party of Main Line Restaurant Week. Dozens of local restaurant owners and local chefs attended the magical evening—including many of our participating restaurants.

Special AML VIP guests included Michael Klein of the Philadelphia Inquirer and philly.com, Mickael Decoker, manager of Blackfish BYO in Conshohocken, Ronna Bonds of Chesterbrook’s popular EBar at the Embassy Suites, Prudential Fox Roach realtor Joan Hindin, CEO of Wayne’s popular women’s boutique Fresh Ayer Liz Ayerle, Brian Pieri of Conshohocken’s The Stone Rose, Dr. Catherine Foote of Foote Orthodontics, and AML photographers Heather Berkenstock and Courtney Apple.

The party included delicious free appetizers, great drink specials and a fantastic opportunity for local businesses and restaurants to network. Most importantly, the party allowed AML to connect with hundreds of new fans who will be dining out and participating in the inaugural Main Line Restaurant Week.

Incredible complimentary appetizers all night long really wowed the crowd!

The first ever Main Line Restaurant Week is launching this fall and promises to be the Philadelphia suburbs largest dining event ever! With dozens of the region’s finest restaurants participating in this weeklong event, Main Line Restaurant Week offers diners an exciting opportunity to dine all around the Main Line and surrounding suburbs for a great value. Main Line Restaurant Week begins Monday, September 27th through Sunday, October 3rd. Restaurants will be offering a special three-course, prix-fixe dinner at one of the four price points: $15, $20, $30 or $40. In addition, many of our participating restaurants will include cocktail specials and other exciting discounts. Lastly, all restaurants in the Philadelphia western suburbs are invited to participate in Main Line Restaurant Week.

What they are saying about the Main Line Restaurant Week Launch Party!

“Thank you to everyone who came to the MainLine Restaurant Week Launch Party last night. I hope everyone had a good time. We certainly enjoyed taking care of everyone! We are looking forward to the Mainline Restaurant Week!” —Susanna Foo, Susanna Foo Gourmet Kitchen

“What a fun party this was! Our meal there late night was superb…!” —Mary Katherine Schenkel

Be sure to visit us at mainlinerestaurantweek.com!

Nectar’s beautiful outdoor deck overlooks an Asian garden.
Photo courtesy of Courtney Apple Photography

Ardmore

Plate
www.platerestaurant.com
Ever since Reese (Witherspoon) decided to dine frequently at Plate last summer while filming her movie with Paul Rudd, Plate has enjoyed a very sweet flurry of activity. For those wishing a meal outdoors, Plate offers a full-service outdoor dining area that seats 75. Their chic cedar pergola and café tables and chairs allow diners to savor a good meal while basking in the beautiful weather. Afterwards, take in all the great shopping Suburban Square (Lilly Pulitzer, Blue Mercury, and Ann Taylor) has to offer.

Berwyn

Nectar
www.tastenectar.com
Chef Patrick Feury’s fantastic menu is enough reason to experience one of the Main Line’s most popular restaurants. Add to that a back patio-that is in high demand-with a serene Asian garden and you are good to go.

Tango’s outdoor deck is located just off the train tracks in Bryn Mawr.
Photo courtesy of Courtney Apple Photography

Bryn Mawr

Tango
www.tastetango.com
Tango’s menu offers contemporary American cuisine in a comfortable setting, located just off the train tracks in Bryn Mawr. A large wrap-around patio comfortably seats guests under a shaded canopy or along a fun and fabulous Cantina Bar. Visit Tango’s happening deck bar for happy hours, for a bite to eat or dine out under the stars. Main Liners can watch the trains roll by as others are wading their way home from their hectic day.

Chesapeake City, Maryland

The Bayard House
www.bayardhouse.com
If you are looking for a bit of a getaway from the hustle and bustle of the Main Line, hop in your car and head to Cecil County, Maryland. A little over an hour from Wayne, Chesapeake City’s Bayard House Restaurant offers romantic dining along the C&D Canal. Enjoy lunch or dinner on their front lawn with spectacular views of a serene waterfront. The Tournedos Baltimore will not disappoint.

Chesapeake City’s charm includes outdoor dining on the C&D canal at The Bayard House.
Photo courtesy of Jubilee Photography

Downingtown

Firecreek Restaurant
www.firecreek-restaurant.com
Firecreek Restaurant and Bar is located on the bank of the Brandywine River in the center of Downingtown, PA. Firecreek offers an expansive outdoor dining area, all with panoramic views of the Brandywine. The Historic Paper Mill structure is a paradigm of vernacular architecture. Firecreek Restaurant preserves the building’s historical integrity and pairs it with modern decor, to create an exciting and eclectic dining destination.

Gulph Mills

Bar Savona
www.barsavona.com
Last summer, Savona Restaurant reinvented its upscale, popular dining experience into Bar Savona ($30 and under) in what has turned out to be a terrific business decision in an unknown economy. Part of the introduction of the more casual menu was the sexy outdoor patio-which is hopping seven nights a week with some of the Main Line’s most beautiful people-and biggest movers and shakers. If you want to dine outside to be ‘seen’, Bar Savona is your place.

Malvern

McKenzie’s Brew Pub
www.mckenziebrewhouse.com
With locales in Malvern and Chadds Ford, McKenzie’s offers fantastic beer and two outdoor patios. The Chadds Ford locale, on Route 202 and just five minutes north of the Delaware state line, just opened their new outdoor deck this summer.

Media

Dining Under the Stars
www.visitmediapa.com
Media boasts a warm weather outdoor dining event well known and loved called Dining Under the Stars: ‘Stroll, Shop, Dine!” Every Wednesday night now through mid-September from 5pm to 10pm, State Street in Media, PA is closed to traffic to provide ample space for outdoor dining at Margaret Kuo’s, Azie on Main, Sligo’s on State and more. Don’t forget to grab your honey’s hand once dinner is wrapped up and shop Media’s fantastic retail scene. Live entertainment rounds off the experience!

Plymouth Meeting

Redstone Grill
www.redstonegrill.com
Right off 476, Redstone American Grill is one of the burbs’ hottest up and coming al fresco dining destinations. Main Liners are flocking to their outdoor patio year round thanks to a fire pit that will make you think you are closer to a Rocky Mountain High than a major suburban roadway.

Radnor

Susanna Foo’s Gourmet Kitchen
www.susannafoos.com
Foo’s two outdoor patios are serene and simple-and are ideal for a business party or rehearsal dinner. Chic torches offer the perfect touch when the sun goes down and the party heats up. Foo’s main patio seats about 60. An adjacent patio which connects with a private room (good for about 75) seats another 40.

Gullifty’s Gaarden
Photo courtesy of Courtney Apple Photography

333 Belrose
www.333Belrose.com
Available for private parties, Belrose’s elegant outdoor patio is ideal for baby and wedding showers, intimate family functions, rehearsal dinners and more. Chef Carlo DeMarco is considered one of the Main Line’s top chefs-and his seasonal cuisine never disappoints. Plus, it’s a hop, skip and jump from the Blue Route.

Rosemont

Gullifty’s
www.gulliftys.com
Gullifty’s Gaarden is one of the Main Line’s premier outside dining experiences. The Gaarden opened in July of 2004 and is truly a unique experience-with a fully functioning, self contained outside kitchen and bar. The menu is exclusive to outside customers and everything is prepared in an open kitchen behind the bar. The Gaarden seats 90 people and prices range from $8 to $22. This season Gullifty’s Gaarden, in cooperation with Lancaster fresh farms has introduced grass fed, pasture raised and grazed, and 100% organic beef burgers.

Wayne

Christopher’s
www.christophersaneighborhoodplace.com
Molly Todd and chef Chris Todd have a good thing going with Christopher’s right on restaurant row in the heart of downtown Wayne. Come spring and through the first week of October, Wayne restaurants open their sidewalks to their patrons-and Christopher’s is one of the great places to grab a bite al fresco. With six rotating draft beers and a friendly staff, almost any night there’s a good reason to choose Chris’s.

Great American Pub
www.greatamericanpub.com
Rare is a sunny afternoon or evening along the Main Line’s top dining scene (Wayne) that GAP’s outdoor seating area is not completely packed. Main Line singles, moms, shop owners and more make this the place to network and ‘be seen’ seven days a week. Thanks to a new fountain and growing greenery, diners experience a fun, more private ambience with just North Wayne Avenue traffic only a few feet away.

"Thank you for organizing such a wonderful event. We are excited to be part of the inaugural Main Line Restaurant Week." Susanna Foo, Susanna Foo's Gourmet Kitchen

AroundMainLine.com is throwing a fantastic launch party for the first ever Main Line Restaurant Week at Susanna Foo’s Gourmet Kitchen in Radnor July 22nd! In what promises to be one of the Main Line’s hottest summer events, guests will be treated to complimentary hors d’oeuvres, amazing drink specials and a festive atmosphere—with the suburbs top chefs and restaurant owners in attendance.

For more than 25 years, Susanna Foo has changed the paradigm of Chinese food melding traditional Chinese foods with classical French techniques. With two cookbooks and two internationally known restaurants, Chef Foo is a two-time James Beard Award winner and is widely recognized as one of America’s top Chinese chefs. Many Asian cuisine aficionados credit Foo with having brought Chinese food into the modern realm. In November 2006, she opened Susanna Foo Gourmet Kitchen in Radnor—now one of the Main Line’s most successful and respected restaurants.

Susanna Foo’s is one of dozens of local restaurants across the Main Line and suburban region who will be participating in the Philadelphia suburb’s largest dining event ever this fall. The inaugural Main Line Restaurant Week will run from Monday September 27th through Sunday October 3rd. MLRW is created and organized by AroundMainLine.com.

Susanna Foo is widely recognized as one of America’s top Chinese chefs.

Participating restaurants will offer special, prix-fixe menus showcasing their chefs’ greatest dishes. Menus will feature discounted, three-course dinners (e.g. appetizer, entrée and dessert) priced at $15, $20, $30 or $40 per person. The week also includes a special calendar of food-themed events, including AroundMainLine.com’s 2nd Anniversary Birthday Bash at Gullifty’s in Rosemont, a special Wednesday Night Whinos at Dettera Restaurant and Wine Bar in Ambler, and a fun Monday Night Meetup in Malvern—hosted by The Desmond—and more. To stay informed of developing party details, be sure to join us on Facebook and Twitter to get the latest.

Our fun summer MLRW kickoff party at Susanna Foo’s will offer AML friends and fans and participating restaurants a chance to meet and mingle in anticipation of the fall dining event. The event is free and open to everyone 21 and over. It promises to be a night to remember—and the perfect celebration to set the tone for a very successful Main Line Restaurant Week fall 2010!

Main Line Restaurant Week Launch Party Details

When: July 22nd, 6pm-9pm

Where: Susanna Foo’s Gourmet Kitchen (Event will be held in the private dining room and outdoor patio in the rear of the restaurant)

Why: To celebrate the fantastic restaurants and chefs participating in Main Line Restaurant Week this fall!

RSVP: Please RSVP here on our Facebook evite or kindly email us your name and party number to: rsvp@aroundmainline.com

AML’s amazing Main Line Restaurant Week Launch party offers locals a chance to meet and mingle with the top chefs of the Main Line and surrounding burbs!

‘Entrance Fee’: Supply your email address at the door via a business card or one of our registration slips to enter. The event is free.

Food: Complimentary appetizers will be served to all attendees!

Radio Sponsor: 95.7 BEN-FM is our official radio sponsor for Main Line Restaurant Week fall 2010 and is supporting our exciting launch party as well!

Décor: Gorgeous table linens provided by Select Event Rentals (weparty.com)

Floral: Malvern’s Flowers by Priscilla (flowersbypriscilla.net) will provide the beautiful arrangements for the event.

Party Raffle: Bring business cards for networking but also for our party raffle. Drop a biz card at our registration table (or fill out a slip) for a chance to win dinner for two at Susanna Foo’s!

Website: Check out our prelaunch site: MainLineRestaurantWeek.com. The full site will be up in a few weeks with our growing list of awesome participating restaurants!

Facebook: Join our Main Line Restaurant Week Facebook fan page for updates and info all summer long!

Guidelines: This event is for attendees 21 and over. Children are not permitted. No cameras are allowed at AML events outside of working local media or approved food bloggers.

With Conshohocken’s only open air dining setting, The Stone Rose Restaurant has become a popular neighborhood destination.

AML’s Monday Night Meetup, our fun, regular social get-together, returns this Monday evening, June 21st, at Conshohocken’s popular Stone Rose Restaurant. Stone Rose opened last October with owner Brian Pieri, a former executive in the financial industry, and executive chef Jason Mase spearheading one of the Philly’s burbs hottest new dining spots.

Stone Rose is tucked away off the main stream of restaurants in Conshohocken near the corner of 9th and Fayette—across from the Conshy Fire Department. The welcoming exterior with outdoor seating gives way to a cozy and sexy upscale neighborhood restaurant inside. The front room boasts a beautiful fifteen seat bar. The ‘Rose’ also has an intimate back room, rustic Italian accents and Conshy’s only open air dining setting.

Mase is a North Central, PA native who has been a chef for nineteen years. He joined The Stone Rose shortly after their opening last fall and boasts experience as the executive chef at The Guard House in Gladwyne and at The Four Seasons downtown. The cuisine is largely American continental with international influences. “We are fine dining with a comfort food spin. We try to use local, organic produce resourced from Southeastern PA,” explained Mase. His braised short ribs over homemade mac and cheese, a signature dish influenced by Jason’s mother’s recipe, is offered as an appetizer or entrée, a Rose customer favorite. In addition, pan seared diver scallops with prosciutto and pea risotto with roasted mushrooms in a mushroom cream sauce are a menu highlight. For a steady lunch crowd, Mase’s diners often order the seared burger, cooked in a cast iron pan on a bed of kosher salt—with Spanish onions, homemade French fries, and remoulade on a challah roll. And, beer geeks will be glad to know that Stone Rose only serves local beers on tap.

Crab and Avocado Salad

As for Pieri, a Conshohocken native, dashing entrepreneur and Penn State grad, the restaurant world is a new venture as he spent his first ten years out of college building a very successful career as a stock broker. Pieri met Mase through a friend and brought on lifelong friend Jim Maglio as general manager. Thanks to Pieri’s savvy marketing skills on their popular Twitter account (StoneRoseConshy), the restaurant has become the buzz of the burbs. “I was very aware of marketing strategies and client relations in my previous career. I kind of laugh when I see restaurants tweeting in all caps, or only using Twitter to talk about themselves and their daily menu ad naseum. It is a great connector and really a shared network—we have had dozens of customers walk through the door (from Twitter) and ask for me personally. That has been a large part of our early success,” said Pieri.

Stone Rose owner Brian Pieri will be our gracious host for AML’s next Monday Night Meetup.

As for the name, the restaurant is Pieri’s way of honoring his mother Rose, who he lost to cancer five years ago. “Everything here is personal—has personal meaning and is connected to my life. The pictures on the wall are my family and their vineyards from Italy. Jim came from a family of stone masons—so that’s how Stone Rose came about. This is my neighborhood, my customers are like family to me and it’s been a dream of mine,” explained Pieri.

AML Monday Night Meetup at Stone Rose Conshohocken

When: Monday June 21st 6-8pm

Where: Stone Rose Restaurant, 822 Fayette Street, Conshohocken

RSVP: Respond on our Facebook fan page.

Details: Monday Night Meetups are free and all are welcome to attend, 21 and over. No children permitted.

Phone: 484-532-7300

Website: www.thestoneroserestaurant.com

Facebook: StoneRose Conshohocken

Twitter: StoneRoseConshy

Nectar executive chef and partner Patrick Feury is hosting a beer dinner with his brother, chef Terence Feury, and Bill Covalescki of Victory Brewery.

The bad news? Philly Beer Week is coming to an end. The good news? If you have not had time to partake in the hundreds of events across the city and suburbs this week, a fantastic finale is planned this Sunday at Bryn Mawr’s popular pan-Asian restaurant, Nectar.

Executive chef and partner Patrick Feury has teamed up with Downingtown’s Victory Brewery and his brother, Fork executive chef Terence Feury, to launch Fists of Feury. Fists is an English pale ale created via the Victory collaboration. It is only available at Nectar, Old City’s Fork and Victory while the batches last. Sunday both Feury brothers and Victory’s Bill Covaleski will host a special four course beer dinner at Nectar, with one seating, starting at 5 p.m.

AroundMainLine.com: Chef Feury, I love that, as one of the Main Line’s most prestigious and respected chefs, you are vested in beer and food pairings. How did this event and relationship between Nectar and Victory come about?

Patrick Feury: I’ve known Bill (Covaleski) for many years and I’ve been home brewing since I was very young. So we decided to do a beer that was ‘chef driven’ and paired well with food. It’s the perfect marriage and it’s been a great learning experience for Terry and me.

AML: What inspired you to brew an English pale ale specifically?

PF: My mom was born in England and my dad is first generation Irish. We really wanted a brew that was similar to our heritage and so Terry and I took English hops and American hops and came up with Fists.

AML: I guess we can let everyone in on the ‘secret weapon’ in Fists of Feury-rosemary.

PF: I use rosemary a lot in my food at Nectar as a background accent that people may not realize is in their food. Even my citrus vinaigrette that I use for my salads has rosemary. I thought rosemary would be fun in the beer!

AML: Count me in for Sunday night! What can the diners expect with this event?

PF: We designed the dinner to be a loose, fun party atmosphere, with stellar food, for everyone on Sunday. Its not so structured as you would think for a four course dinner. We will also be serving Victory’s Summer Love ale-and Bill has never launched two ales at once which I think beer lovers will appreciate. Its really going to be fun.

Fists of Feury Beer Dinner at Nectar

When: Sunday June 13th 5 p.m. Please arrive by 5 p.m. as there is one seating.

Where: Nectar Restaurant, Bryn Mawr

What: A special four course dinner celebrating the release of Fists of Feury, a limited release English pale ale

Cost: $55 per person, beer included, gratuity is additional

Reservations: Call Nectar for reservations, seating is limited: 610-725-9000

Address: 1091 East Lancaster Avenue, Berwyn

Website: www.tastenectar.com

Facebook Fan Page: Nectar Restaurant and Lounge

Hats by Katie's most famous hat is the Mini-Topper (tm). This style has been worn by Lisa Singer, Suzy Stafford, Sharon Chesson and Lana Wright in all the many combined driving World Championships they competed in, both here and overseas.

Twenty years ago, having a difficult time finding hats that were attractive and that fit well, Katie Whelan started making hats as a sideline. As her carriage driving career developed, so did the variety of hats she made for family and friends. Eventually the Long Island native, who grew up in Sugarloaf, New York, evolved the interest into a full-time occupation. Hats by Katie launched in 1990 with Whelan utilizing her arts minor from Boston’s Regis College as the basis for beginning a millinery business that is now world-renowned. That success has evolved, most recently, into an appointment-only shop in nearby Paris, Kentucky. “The main reason I started making the hats is because I have a big head and a lot of hair. I could not find any hats that fit me or that I particularly liked,” explained Whelan. A recent highlight of her career was winning the “Best Booth” award at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, Windsor, England.

Katie has been driving for 30 years. She has been pinned Grand Champion at Devon and at Walnut Hill, she represented the US at the 2003 and 2005 Pony World Championships, and she has been both national four-in-hand champion and national single horse champion-so she is well aware of what hats work for the driving community, for both pleasure drivers and combined drivers. As for Devon, Whelan has been a beloved boutique and popular shopping destination for Main Line ladies for over a decade. Her works of art have been worn at the world’s most prestigious equestrian events including the Horse Show, Kentucky Derby, Royal Ascot (one of the world’s most famous race meetings dating back to 1711 and attended by the Queen of England), the Walnut Hill Farm driving show in Pittsford, New York-among others. Hats by Katie has been featured in Southern Living Magazine and O Magazine—in which, in 2006, she outfiitted Oprah and a group of Winfrey’s dearest girlfriends with hats for a garden party shoot, including Oprah’s lifelong friend Maria Shriver.

Hats by Katie’s Katie Whelan at her Devon Horse Show booth beautifully modeling a one-of-a-kind creation.

AroundMainLine.com: How do you make your hats?

Katie Whelan: A hat starts very much like a dress pattern.
We have ‘blocks’ as they are called and there is a special block for the brim, a special block for the crown. And, then you sew them together. A well made hat, if you turn it upside down and look underneath the sweatband, will be sewn in two pieces. A cheaper hat is sewn in one piece.

There is a whole process to it. You take the straw or the felt or Sinamay and start working with the design. (Sinamay is a very popular material in hat making and is a natural fiber produced from the banana plant.) Sinamay comes in bolts, very much like fabric, and you mold it over the block, you pin it down, and you place it in an oven with sizing on it so it molds itself around the form.

AML: Like an actual oven?

KW: Yep, an ‘oven’ oven. You repeat the process with the brim, you sew them together and then you start doing your trim work.

AML: Ok, interesting. How long does it take to create one of our gorgeous hats?

KW: One of my dressier ones can take six hours to a couple of days—it’s really an assembly line process.

AML: Each of your designs is so unique. Where does your inspiration come from?

KW: Usually Europeans are a bit ahead of us as far as colors and trends, especially England. So, I will get the color patterns from England. A lot of time I will take a blank hat and decide what I want to do with it—I’ll see a flower in my trim bin or a grouping of feathers. Other times I have an idea in my head where I am headed and begin the creative process from there.

AML: Are there trends in hat as there are trends in fashion?

KW: Sure! And, depending on what event I am designing for designates the style too. (Kentucky) Derby ladies are always big hats, no matter what is in style. If its carriage driving, a medium brim is appropriate. The coaching people like the big brims. Steeplechase people like feathers, felt and more fall-inspired hats. It’s very much a time and place kind of thing.

“The whole trick of the hat is that the hat does not wear you, you wear the hat. If you live by that phrase, you will be fine,” explained Whelan.

AML: Your hats are worn around the world at all the major equestrian events. That is amazing!

KW: I do a lot to Ascot. Now that I have started showing in Europe with my ponies, I sold one of my feather hats right off my head. When I traveled back and forth recently to Europe, I delivered two more.

AML: So, how does it work with an event such as Ascot? Or, for that matter a customer who wants a hat designed by you but is on the other side of the country or world? Since, obviously, everyone cannot meet with you one-on-one for a fitting.

KW: The Americans will come to me with an outfit and they will just take the hat over. Or some of the English people will email me, because I used to do the Royal Windsor show with my hats, and they let me know what they are thinking. They email me a picture of their outfit, head size and what they look like is important. If a customer is petite, I don’t want to do a hat so enormous in proportion to their body, it does not look right.

AML: Can any woman wear a hat?

KW: Yes, you just have to find the right one. That’s kind of a misnomer-they come in here during the Horse Show and say ‘Oh, I look terrible in hats.’ Well, first of all they are not wearing them correctly. The brim should be parallel to the ground. And the hat should be in proportion to your body. The whole trick of the hat is that the hat does not wear you, you wear the hat. If you live by that phrase, you will be fine.

Hats by Katie will be at the Horse Show through Sunday June 6th. Ms. Whelan has an appointment only shop in Paris, Kentucky. Kindly visit her website hatsbykatie.com, call 859-707-0818 or email: hatsbykatie@pinehurst.net

The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair is one of the largest and most prestigious outdoor equestrian events in the country. The Country Fair offers boutique shopping, great food and fun for the whole family. Proceeds of the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair benefit Bryn Mawr Hospital. For information please call 610-688-2554 or visit www.devonhorseshow.org. Join the Devon Horse Show Facebook page for daily updates.

Best friends and business owners Heather Esposito and Allison Lubert opened Sweet Freedom this past January.

Let freedom ring for local celiacs and vegans as Philadelphia now has a successful bakery that caters to a myriad of food allergies, intolerances and dietary restrictions. This past January, friends Allison Lubert and Heather Esposito opened Sweet Freedom (1424 South Street, 215-545-1899), one of the country’s only vegan and gluten-, soy-, egg-, dairy- and refined sugar-free bakery, the first of its kind in Philadelphia.

Sweet Freedom was conceived as a destination for those struggling with dietary restrictions that typically prevent them from enjoying baked goods, but the bakery’s commitment to top-quality, all-natural ingredients makes it a hit among even those without allergies and intolerances. “Both Heather and I have struggled with our eating habits and with troubling food allergies,” said Lubert, “and we both found ourselves striving to prepare our favorite treats in ways that were both delicious and appropriate for our diets. It’s a challenge to omit animal products, soy, gluten and corn and still create flavorful, crave-able baked goods, but we love to rise to that challenge every day.”

Lubert is the owner of a private nutritional counseling practice, where she combines her deep understanding of nutrition with her several masters’ degrees in counseling and psychology. She is an avid cook and baker who was always looking to find new ways to satisfy her cravings while being mindful of her allergies to dairy and wheat. Esposito, a masters level counselor and chef, worked as a private chef, cooking instructor and nutritional counselor. In culinary school, she decided she wanted to open a gluten-free bakery.

Let Freedom Ring!

In May 2009, the two connected via family friends and decided to move forward with the concept of opening Sweet Freedom. Nine months later, they launched the bakery. “Within ten days of opening this winter, we received an email from (actress) Alicia Silverstone’s assistant who was interested in trying our product line. She is a vegan and was working on a play on Broadway. That was really exciting for us-so I jumped in the car and drove up to New York to drop off samples. The business has been great and really taken off,” said Esposito.

According to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness and their website, celiaccentral.org, Celiac disease is an autoimmune digestive disease that damages the villi of the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. What does this mean? Essentially the body is attacking itself every time a person with celiac consumes gluten. Celiac disease is triggered by consumption of the protein called gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye.

Birthday cakes and wedding cakes are part of a growing area of the dual’s booming bakery business-customer favorites include a chocolate chip cookie sandwich and a banana chocolate chip loaf. A local bride recently enthused on Sweet Freedom’s Facebook fan page—that boasts over 2,000 followers-about her gluten-free wedding cake: “Thanks for the awesome wedding cake!! It was a huge success! Not only were our vegan friends and our super allergic nephew extremely happy, but all the “normal” people loved it too.”

Sweet Freedom relies heavily on coconut milk, in lieu of dairy, and coconut sugar, in addition to agave nectar and pure maple syrup, for sweetening.

Sweet Freedom offers a host of tasty sweet treats, personally tested, prepared and baked by both Lubert and Esposito. The menu includes an assortment of cupcakes, muffins, cookies, brownies, loafs, cakes and pies. And, besides serving the Philadelphia region, they can ship their baked goods nationwide.

Sweet Freedom relies heavily on coconut milk, in lieu of dairy, and coconut sugar, in addition to agave nectar and pure maple syrup, for sweetening. Flours vary from brown and white rice flour to those manufactured from sorghum, garbanzo beans and even fava beans. All products are peanut-free, as well, and no corn products are used. “We really want Sweet Freedom Bakery to be a safe haven for people who suffer from celiac disease, people who suffer from food allergies or intolerances, or people who follow a vegan lifestyle. We are excited to be catering to a bunch of different populations and we believe in the nutritional quality of what we are offering,” enthused Lubert.

According to celiaccentral.org, the gluten-free marketplace is expected to reach $1.7 billion in 2010 thanks to new vendors manufacturing better tasting and more affordable products.

CELIAC DISEASE FACTS AND FIGURES COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR CELIAC AWARENESS (NFCA)

• One in 133 Americans has celiac disease.
• Three million Americans across all races, ages and genders suffer from celiac
• 95% of celiacs are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed with other conditions.
• 10 years is the average time a person waits to be correctly diagnosed.
• A 100% gluten-free diet is the only existing treatment for celiac today.
• 500,000 new celiac diagnoses are expected to occur in the next 5 years thanks to efforts to raise public awareness of celiac disease.
• The gluten-free marketplace is expected to reach $1.7 billion in 2010 thanks to new vendors manufacturing better tasting and more affordable products.

Sweet Freedom is open from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and on Sundays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. For more information about Sweet Freedom, or to place an order, please visit www.sweetfreedombakery.com, email: sweetfreedombakery@gmail.com or call (215) 545-1899.
Join Sweet Freedom on Facebook and on Twitter: sfbakery

A fresh face on Manayunk’s Main Street, Molly Cygan’s The Little Apple

A little piece of the O.C. has landed on Manayunk’s Main Street! Entrepreneur and Southern California native Molly Cygan opened The Little Apple boutique in February with an Etsy meets Anthropologie feel to the charming, and now popular, shop. Cygan, a 2006 Berkeley grad who boasts an art history degree, was inspired years ago by her boarding school days at Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. “The seeds were definitely planted when I was at boarding school at Exeter. Here we were-lots of young kids in a small town with disposable cash—but nowhere to spend it. I was determined when I went back for my five year reunion (at Exeter) to start looking into opening a little boutique. And, of course, when I returned the downtown was packed with great shops-so clearly a few other people had the same idea! So, I kind of gave it up at that time but still wanted to pursue opening my own shop when the time was just right,” explained Cygan.

That time came last fall. After Berkeley, Cygan lived in New York City briefly before moving to Philadelphia this past October with her fiancé, who is in medical school at Drexel. (They will be tying the knot at her parent’s house in Cal July 3rd.) It was then that she started to rethink the idea of her own storefront. “I started to check out some spaces around the city and nothing seemed to be a fit. Then, some of my fiancé’s friends suggested that I look into Manayunk and that’s when I found this space on Craig’s List. It needed some serious TLC but I could see the potential,” said Cygan.

The long, bright 900 square foot boutique is directly across from La Colombe coffee and down the corner from the new Saxby’s. It has old world charm accented by Cygan’s terrific sense of style that includes kitschy pick me ups—a fish stapler—to serious home décor accents—a preppy footstool by Main Line designer Chairloom (chairloom.net). The Little Apple boasts a vintage tin ceiling that Cygan had painted white, stain glass accents and gorgeous, original hard wood floors.

The Little Apple is a marvelous retail start-up in Manayunk where you'll find new, vintage and repurposed home goods, unique gifts and cards.

Cygan’s research found the building was built around the civil war and was once a cigar shop with the owner’s home above. Among the shops eclectic and fun mix of items are Lucia Candles, Louella Press stationery, jewelry from local Etsy artist Tree and Kimble, and vintage seltzer bottles. “I feel like the store has something for everyone and I try to find something new to bring in weekly—accessories, kitchen and entertaining accents, hostess gifts. And, my products are affordable, which I think is really important to shoppers these days,” said Cygan.

Once Cygan secured the Manayunk store front, she purchased, and admittedly devoured, Retail for Dummies and sought out advice from key business advisors—who encouraged her to jump start her brand on Twitter and Facebook immediately. “That same night I opened my Twitter account it was instantaneous feedback and interest. And the Facebook page has been active and growing—I am meeting a lot of people through it and they are walking through the door here. Social media is my main source of marketing—and it’s been amazing,” said Cygan.

Shop online with The Little Apple’s online store.

With her pending nuptials about a month away, Molly was inspired to begin a collection of bridal gifts and accents at Little Apple, including the line of flower pins and hairpieces (very SJP!) part of the Etsy store, Cultivar. A recent AML Etsy Phavorite, Cultivar’s line is made from reclaimed fabric and recycled beads. A customer came across the selection of artist Katie’s Reims pins and commissioned her one-of-a-kind bridal hairpiece from Reim. Cygan is considering expanding to a bridal registry for her customers.

For those who can’t make it to Manayunk but want to browse and shop online, Cygan recently launched an online store with her product line (thelittleapple.bigcartel.com) and is developing her website. “There seems to be so much going on in Manayunk right now. Saxby’s just moved in a few stores down and there’s a lot of new retail surrounding me, so I think this is a great space. And, I’m staying open late to accommodate the people who come to Manayunk to dine out after work and need to grab a gift, or who are looking to shop while they are here. It’s a great feeling and I am having a lot of fun with my store,” enthused Cygan.

More Info on The Little Apple

Online Store: thelittleapple.bigcartel.com

Publisher’s Product Pick: Adorable Rose Petal Cake Servers!

Address: 4353 Main Street, Manayunk

Phone: 267-335-4968

Store Hours: Wed through Sat 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday Noon to 5 p.m.

Facebook: The Little Apple

Twitter: TheLilAppleStor

Website: www.thelittleapplestore.com

Silverspoon Café in Wayne is hosting their first Mother’s Day at their new locale in the Eagle Village Shops. Photo courtesy of Belle Vie Photography

Silverspoon Café
Eagle Village Shops
Wayne, PA
www.silverspoonwayne.com
Twitter: silvrspoonwayne
610-688-7646

Wayne’s popular Silverspoon Café will be hosting their first Mother’s Day brunch at their new spacious location in Eagle Village Shops-complete with a cozy outdoor patio. The casual country bistro, headed by husband and wife team Ron and Ruth Silverberg, offers contemporary American favorites. In addition to a lovely brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Silverspoon will be treating all Moms to chocolate dipped strawberries, a fresh cut flower and a $10 return gift card.

Menu highlights include: huevos rancheros; crispy braised pork belly with potato hash, poached eggs, hollandaise, and spinach; pancetta benedict, homemade english muffins, caramelized onions, aged cheddar, hollandaise; and a Cape May panini sandwich complete with sliced turkey breast, fennel cabbage slaw, strawberry mustard and cheddar. Silverspoon also prides itself on a number of gluten-free menu options.

Valley Forge Radisson
1160 First Avenue
King of Prussia, PA
www.radissonbrunch.com
610-354-8000

This Mother’s Day, show your love and affection for your mom by treating her to one of the most delectable Mother’s Day brunch in town at the Radisson Hotel Valley Forge, from 11:00am until 3:00pm. The menu includes extravagant spreads of the finest breakfast foods, sides, entrees and desserts served in the Radisson Valley Forge’s elegant Grand Ballroom. Guests will be enticed by delicious brunch selections including omelets cooked-to-order with a variety of toppings to choose from. The Radisson’s Chefs will also be making waffles to order.

Everyone’s favorite classic breakfast foods will be available: eggs Benedict, chocolate bread pudding, apple stuffed pancakes and more. Chefs will be carving slow roasted prime rib au jus and an apple roasted steamship round of pork right in the Grand Ballroom. Additional entrees include Jail Island salmon with a maple-mustard glaze, wild mushroom risotto stuffed chicken breast and a delectable broccoli rabe ravioli!

The showcase is the chocolate fountain that you’ll be able to smell the minute you walk into the hotel. The Radisson also features a Kids Station, just two feet high, so the little ones can be part of the action too. They will be delighted to find their favorites: macaroni and cheese, peanut butter and jelly pinwheels, grilled cheese and pancakes.

Children Under 5 are FREE, Children under 12 years old $9.95, and Adults $29.95, Seniors $27.95. Taxes and gratuity are not included. Call 610-354-8000 for details or visit www.RadissonBrunch.com

Bar Savona in Gulph Mills is a popular posh dining spot for Main Liners on Mother's Day. The restaurant will be open, serving their dinner menu, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Photo courtesy of Jason Varney.

Bar Savona
100 Old Gulph Road
Gulph Mills, PA
savonarestaurant.com
Twitter: BarSavona
610-520-1200

This will be Bar Savona’s first Mother’s Day since the restaurant’s extensive renovation last summer—which included adding on the now popular outdoor patio. Executive Chef Andrew Masciangelo’s world class cooking is backed by the largest wine cellar in the state of Pennsylvania offering guests over 1,000 selections. The restaurant currently offers two menus to their clientele—a casual bar menu (with entrees hovering around $20) and a more formal selection which includes their popular Sautéed Dover Sole with Lemon-Pine Nut Butter Sauce for $55.

Convenient to the Blue Route and 76 in Gulph Mills, the posh Main Line staple is sure to be a popular pick for Mother’s Day for both city slickers and suburbanites. Chef Masciangelo continues to employ his “farm to table” approach with a soulful regional Italian menu inspired by his Abruzesse heritage. The bar menu features hand cut pasta, perfectly blistered Pizza Margherita, natural creamy risotto and “farrotto”, and wood grilled meats, fish and poultry. All selections are prepared with the same simplicity, consistency and attention to detail Savona has provided for over a decade. The restaurant will be open, serving their dinner menu, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

Meridith’s American Bistro
575 Lancaster Avenue
Berwyn, PA
www.meridiths.com
610-251-9600

Meridith’s in Berwyn, a much beloved BYO for years, now offers diners the option of a corkage charge ($7) or their full service bar at their still relatively new locale on Route 30 in Berwyn. The casual dining room, home of the former Murray’s bistro M, is cozy with its distressed brick walls and low lighting—which makes for great ambience for dinner.

Meridith’s will be serving a brunch buffet from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday-$24.99 for adults and $12.50 for children. The restaurant will be serving their regular dinner menus from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Brunch highlights include: California Omelet with Gulf shrimp, avocado, vine-ripened tomato and cheddar-jack; Quesadilla consisting of scrambled eggs, smoked applewood bacon, guacamole and cheddar-jack in a flour tortilla served with sour cream and salsa; poached Atlantic salmon and lavender dusted breast of chicken.

Tournedos Baltimore at Chesapeake City’s Bayard House restaurant is a star of the menu. Photo courtesy of Jubilee Photography

Bayard House
11 Bohemia Avenue
Chesapeake City, MD
www.bayardhouse.com
410-885-5040

With over 300 guests expected to delight in this Cecil County treasure, many hailing from the Philly burbs, Chesapeake City’s Bayard House is a fantastic choice for mom. The restaurant is open Sunday, May 9th from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The elegant Bayard House restaurant is located along the waterfront on the banks of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal in historic South Chesapeake City, MD. Dating back to the 1780’s, the historic Bayard House Restaurant is considered to be the oldest building in South Chesapeake City. The Bayard House offers dining on two levels in addition to the outdoor patio. The patio is adjacent to the C&D canal and offers an unparalleled view of commercial shipping and pleasure boating in this recreational Canal town. Waterfront dining is available on the patio, weather permitting, in the two enclosed porches or in one of several interior rooms.

One of the restaurants most requested entrees is the Tournedos Baltimore. The Twin petite filets are grilled medium rare-paired with a crab cake finished with a Madeira cream sauce and a lobster cake finished with a seafood champagne sauce for $29. Other gems on the Mother’s Day Menu include: Oysters Chesapeake appetizer with lump crabmeat and finished with Hollandaise sauce-$14; their award-winning Maryland Crab Soup; Maryland Crab Cake drizzled with lemon buerre blanc-$29 and Scottish Salmon $24.

Derek’s
4411 Main Street
Manayunk
www.dereksrestaurant.com
215-483-9400

Derek’s in Manayunk will be serving a delicious Mother’s Day buffet from 10:30 to 3:30 on Sunday. The cost is $26.95 for adults and children under 10 are $9.95. This includes fresh juices, all soft drinks, and a fresh fruit and bakery basket on the table upon arrival. Menu highlights include: Seafood Salad (crabs, mussels, salmon, scallops, lemon evoo and herbs); Whole Wheat Pancakes with Fresh Strawberry Sauce; Scrambled Organic Eggs with Organic Asparagus, Cheddar and Roasted Peppers; Honey Lavender Roasted Salmon and Chicken Wings with 3 Olives Vodka Barbecue Sauce.

Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes at Bridget Foy’s. Photo courtesy of Courtney Apple Photography

Bridget Foy’s
200 South Street
Philadelphia
www.bridgetfoys.com
Twitter: bridgetfoys
215-922-1813

If you are in the South Street neighborhood of Philly on Mom’s Day and need a no-brainer for brunch—head on over to Bridget Foy’s. A Philly staple since 1978, the restaurant will begin serving brunch at 10am and continue until 3 p.m. Bridget Foy’s will be offering their regular brunch menu plus the following additions: blueberry ricotta pancakes and asparagus & lobster strata. Their three course dinner menu is $30—with seating starting at 3pm. Some of those delectable dinner options which will be served in addition to Bridget’s regular dinner menu include: mushroom flatbread, Chimmicurri Hanger Steak with mashed yams and jicama slaw, and a seven layer carrot cake. Visit their website for full menu details.

Chesapeake City, Maryland oozes with old world charm, quaint shops, gorgeous gardens and great dining. It’s a great daycation spot with mom and less than a 90 minute drive from the heart of the Main Line. Photo courtesy of Jubilee Photography

1) Chesapeake City, Maryland
www.chesapeakecity.com
Read our full story on Chesapeake City

Quaint, historic and charming Chesapeake City, Maryland-located in Cecil County-is a short and beautiful drive from Philly’s western suburbs. It is one wonderful daycation for a very deserving mom in your life! Chesapeake City’s historic area is on the National Historic Registry, as well as Maryland’s Historic Registry. The town has many restored historic homes, shops and galleries, featuring hand-painted originals and prints, antiques, collectibles, clothing, gifts and crafts.

Boasting a bevy of B&Bs, it’s a perfect getaway for mom and daughters or sisters for the holiday weekend. The town’s holiday dining spot for Mom’s Day is, without doubt, the Bayard House.The restaurant serves award-winning crab soup, tournedos Baltimore, and a breathtaking tableside view of the famous Chesapeake and Delaware Canal (C&D Canal), one of only two vital sea-level canals in the United States.

Additional sites include the Canal Museum, art galleries, summer concerts, boat tours, and tours of the nearby horse country. Convenient to several large cities on the east coast, this historic village on the banks of the C&D Canal is a favorite spot for those seeking a weekend getaway or a vacation retreat.

The Michener Museum’s exhibit ‘Icons of Costume: Hollywood’s Golden Era and Beyond’ is sure to delight mom. In the spirit of the exhibition, the museum is holding a fashion and accessories trunk show spotlighting regional artisans and their work on Saturday, May 8. Photo courtesy of Belle Vie Photography

2) The Michener Museum
Fashion and Accessories Trunk Show
Saturday, May 8th 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission: Free
Doylestown, PA
michenerartmuseum.org

Mother’s Day in Doylestown will not disappoint! In addition to the dozens of fantastic shops and dining spots downtown, the Michener Museum boasts an exciting new exhibit that opened on April 17th—Icons of Costume: Hollywood’s Golden Era and Beyond. Icons presents over 50 items selected from one of the most extensive collections of movie memorabilia ranging from Marlene Dietrich’s black velvet evening gown from Shanghai Express (1932) to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s black leather jacket from Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991).

In the spirit of the exhibition, which runs through September 5th, the James A. Michener Art Museum’s Denoon Shop presents a Fashion and Accessories Trunk Show spotlighting regional artisans and their work on Saturday, May 8 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Locally made jewelry, scarves, coats, hats and more are available for purchase with proceeds supporting the Museum and its community programs.

3) Longwood Gardens
Kennett Square, PA
Saturday May 8th, Sunday May 9th
9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
www.longwoodgardens.org
Twitter: longwoodgardens

Give Mom the gift of a gorgeous tour of Longwood Gardens and a special fragrance to mark the day. Always in Bloom is the first signature fragrance for Longwood, debuting in conjunction with their exhibit Making Scents: The Art and Passion of Fragrance. The exhibit, which opened on April 10th and runs through November 21st, is the first major exhibition for one of the world’s leading horticultural centers.

More than 260 different Genera of aromatic plants and flowers have been added specifically for the exhibition, joining more than 5,500 types of plants from around the world already housed in the historic conservatory. The exhibition will trace key moments in the history of perfume, beginning with the earliest recorded Egyptian scent around 1800 B.C.E. and culminating with Coco Chanel’s release of No. 5 in 1921, the first perfume for the modern woman.

Longwood Gardens is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mother’s Day weekend offering special events throughout. In addition to acres of fragrant and colorful spring blossoms, Longwood offers mom a host of delights including music, fine dining and unique gifts in The Gardens Shop. Visit longwoodgardens.org for full details.

4) The Junior League of Philadelphia’s Main Line Shopping Event
Suburban Square, Ardmore
Wednesday, May 5th 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
www.suburbansquare.com
www.jlphiladelphia.org

Come celebrate Cinco de Mayo and shop for mom with The Junior League of Philadelphia! The JLP will be hosting a shopping benefit at Suburban Square in Ardmore on May 5 from 5-9 p.m. Proceeds from the event will benefit the nonprofit Junior League of Philadelphia and its Project GREEN: Using Nature to Nurture community programs. Tickets are $20 each and entitle the holder to a discount pass valid at participating Suburban Square stores. Tickets may be purchased on the JLP website or at the registration desk on the night of the event.

Pick up Mother’s Day gifts or shop for a fabulous new summer wardrobe. To view a complete list of participating stores or to learn more about membership in the Junior League, please visit jlphiladelphia.org.

Nannygoat Antiques is part of the stores participating in the sidewalk sale in downtown Narberth. Photo courtesy of Belle Vie Photography

5) Narberth Sidewalk Sale and Circus
May 6th, 7th and 8th
narberthonline.com

Narberth has a full weekend of fun activities planned this Mother’s Day weekend, with three days of Spring Sidewalk Sale, and three Saturday circus performances! The action kicks off with music and street food, 6pm Thursday, May 6, at Forrest and Haverford Ave. Right around the corner, the Narberth Avenue shops “On the Hill” are giving away free dessert.

The shops of Narberth take to the sidewalks all day Friday and Saturday, and many have crafts, specials, and fun, family activities planned for Saturday afternoon. There will be music all day Saturday, and an 11:30 AM performance by the DanceXpress dancers at the train station circle. From Noon to 4pm Saturday, you can catch a ride on the “Narberth Local”, two trackless trains running between Downtown Narberth and the Circus at Narberth Park. Circus performances are Saturday, May 8, at 1pm, 4:30pm and 7:30pm. Tickets are available for $8 at the tent or in advance at the Library and the Borough Office. Call 610-664-2840.

Take mom to Manayunk for dining and shopping!Be sure to stop in Molly Cygan’s popular The Little Apple store on Main Street, across from La Colombe coffee, for free champagne and adorable gift ideas. Photo courtesy of Courtney Apple

6) Manayunk Loves Mom!
May 8th and May 9th
www.manayunk.com

‘Manayunk loves Mom!’ is the special weekend of activities, discounts and complimentary gifts retail owners will be offering shoppers and diners May 8th and May 9th. Among the cool kudos in store for moms dining over the weekend in Manayunk: Kildare’s will offer mom a complimentary pint and Mango Moon will serve mom complimentary champagne and a chef’s specialty appetizer. Over a dozen retailers will offer discounts and gifts with purchase. Speaking of gifts, Manayunk’s hot new retail space The Little Apple is the must-stop in the Yunk to grab a great, affordable gift for mom. For a full list of the specials and participating stores, visit Manayunk.com.

7) Please Touch Museum’s Spring Strings
May 7th to 10th
Mother’s Day Hours: 11.am. to 5 p.m.
Moms get free general admission for Mother’s Day Weekend
www.pleasetouch.org

The Please Touch Museum will be tuning its strings in anticipation for the Spring String celebration! Come and enjoy the musical styles of Ann Goering and Brian Rafter while they play a number of different stringed instruments around the museum, including upright bass, bowed psaltery, autoharp, guitar, violin, and viola. Little maestros can also try their hands at a ukulele, hammerete, melody harp, and child-sized upright harp and guitar in our Program Room. Mom will get free general admission for Mother’s Day Weekend.

Adventure Aquarium has a fantastic week of activities planned. On Saturday, meet your favorite NBC10 personalities up close and in person at Adventure Aquarium! Photo courtesy of Off the Leash Portraits

8) Adventure Aquarium and NBC10 Day
Saturday May 8th 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
adventureaquarium.com
Twitter: AdventureAqua

In celebration of Mother’s Day, Adventure Aquarium and NBC 10 invite you to celebrate the women in your lives by giving the gift of adventure. On Saturday, May 8, meet your favorite NBC 10 personalities up close and in person at Adventure Aquarium! All moms will receive a complimentary flower (while supplies last) and, from 10 am to 2pm, guests can meet renowned members of the NBC 10 team, who will be on-hand to greet guests, sign autographs, and perform in Adventure Aquariums live shows.