...Ella, Ella, Hey, Hey

Two words immediately come to mind when I think about the brunch I recently had at Kanella; f'ing fantastic.  And, yes, the "f'ing" is necessary because it puts that much more emphasis on how fabulous the food and experience was.  We only had to wait a few minutes to scoop up a table for two on a Saturday afternoon without a reservation.  The Greek/Cypriot kitchen is BYOB, with a friendly waitstaff, and a simple/well chosen/mouth watering menu.  Everything we tried hit the spot.  From the greek yogurt presented with honey/spices/nuts to the Cyprus Breakfast complete with fried eggs/halloumi/lounza....should I stop teasing you?  I couldn't be happier with this gem, and I am eager to head back ASAP to check-out their dinner menu.  If you're considering trying Kanella, (I strongly encourage it) and, if you're up for a little Opa! (always), snag a bottle (or two) of champagne on your way over, and they will gladly bring you flutes and OJ to accompany the bubbly. 

Sunday Morning Tunes

Listen to some live tunes while eating brunch and sipping on your favorite caffeinated beverage at the new One Shot.  Now starting every Sunday at noon, One Shot will be offering live performances from their new singer/song-writer/guitarist/Rainn Wilson look-alike on the second floor lounge.  Where else can you get free live music on a Sunday morning?  And, this guy is good!  His voice and music are soothing and very fitting for the environment.  Check him out!

One Shot, New Spot

 I am thrilled that one of my favorite coffee shops in Philadelphia has finally relocated to their long-awaited, new spot.  Just a block away from their previous location, One Shot is now serving their tasty drinks and treats on the corner of American and George in a renovated three-story building.  One Shot may have an awesome new look to it, but the same great feel of it is still there.  I was happy to see the same familiar faces that have served me my favorite piping hot, large, non-fat, chai latte in the past, as well as hear the same great tunes blaring throughout the space. 

Unlike the previous location, the absolute best part about the new shop is the wonderful amount of space there is to work with, making it no longer necessary to cram with others onto what once were my fav worn sofas.  Two full floors are available for customers to sprawl out in a cozy, living room setting, a quaint cafe-like environment with tables for two and plenty of benches, or at the long banquette that takes up most of the length of the first floor.  Reclaimed, wall-mounted, wooden boards offer the second floor appealing texture along with, numerous bookshelves, and comfy leathers sofas and chairs.  Pendant fixtures, artwork, and beautiful textiles make up most of the space on the first floor, transforming the look and brand of One Shot entirely.   And although the style/decor/fabrics/furniture have changed a great deal, the menu still offers the great array of sandwiches and drinks it always has and then some.  New food items like poached eggs with mushroom gravy, parmesan cheese and truffle oil or veggie omelettes are now available due to the new, adequately sized, open kitchen, making One Shot more than just a place to grab a sandwich with your coffee.  Two floors with plenty of seating, a tasty menu spruced up with a few new goodies, and great company and tunes; Sunday brunch anyone?

Going Green in NoLibs

I recently checked out Green Eggs Cafe, on 2nd street in NoLibs, for brunch, and I couldn't be more pleased with the neighborhood's new addition to the list of brunch-spot goodies.  The restaurant was packed, but we only had to wait about 10 minutes or so for a table (no, prob!  I'll just pop-over to Arcadia and do some browsing.)  The space inside isn't much to brag about.  The white walls could use a splash of color, and the rectangular box with high ceilings would definitely do well with a few pendant fixtures.  Nevertheless, as soon as I saw the menu I could tell the food was much more inspired than the aesthetics of the space.  Items like Crabcake Benedict, The Kitchen Sink, and the Philly Style Eggs Benedict were all hard to choose from.  Most of all my mouth was watering over the French Toast; Peanut Butter Crunchy and Creme Brulee were just a few options.  The menu had a healthy offering of vegetarian dishes as well and best of all, when I ordered a pitcher of freshly made OJ ($30), it came along  with a sparkling treat!!

Another new addition to the neighborhood is Green Olives Mediterranean & Vegetarian Food, also on 2nd street.  As soon as I entered the store a wave of delicious smells and spices consumed me.  They offer a wide range of take-out items for lunch, a catering menu, and treats to stock the kitchen with like freshly baked pita, cheeses, home-made baba ganoush, olive oils and more.  After just eating a brunch to hold me over for the rest of the year, I did not leave with any purchases, but I most definitely left with the scent of an Arab souq trailing me for several blocks.

 And lastly, to wrap it up, I checked out Tendenza, Cescaphe's new reception hall on 2nd street.  And, Wow!  The amount of green spent on this place definitely shows.  It is bling, blingin'!  Too many chandeliers to count, superb finishes on the columns, a nicely sized bar with back-lighting, and zebra print carpet?!  And, since they've begun taking bookings, their schedule and availability is completely wiped-out.  Note to self....must get on guest-list.