Mt. Airy Street Fare: SIP, SAVOR, STROLL 2015

Tinsel & Tine’s Philly Calendar Highlights @gomtairy #stfaremtairy 2015

CNN Money’s “Best Big-City Neighborhood” is a diverse and welcoming community that melds sophisticated sensibilities with a laid-back lifestyle. From an emerging restaurant scene to beautiful historic homes, from a bustling business district to the scenic trails of the great Wissahickon, Mt. Airy is the neighborhood that has it all – Go Mt. Airy!

Thursday, September 17, 2015 (6:00pm – 10:30pm) is time to once again Sip, Savor and Stroll down Germantown Ave. in Mount Airy, 25 minutes outside Center City Philadelphia. This Street Fare showcases Mt. Airy’s growing and vibrant restaurant scene, features award-winning and new favorite Food Trucks, craft beers, craft tables, shopping, music and more!  Fun for date night or family night.

I was once again invited by Aversa PR to the press preview party to highlight the event. This year we started at Earth Bread + Brewery (7136 Germantown Ave) where we sampled some craft beer selections. fav: The Ego-Centric Giraffe which was more complex than I expected from a pale ale.

Caterer Desmond Mullen’s of StreetSide BBQ was also at this location with his savory pulled pork, wings and sweet cornbread.  I really wanted to stay here a little longer.  StreetSide BBQ is also a food truck, but with a super cool looking trailer – state-of-the-art grilling & slow cooking capabilities (see pic above) and for any of you looking to get into the food truck biz, Desmond says this option is much less expensive to buy than a traditional food truck.

I moved away from Mount Airy spring of 2014, and I see some new places have arrived, like Anne & Jake’s Bee Burger (7133 Germantown Ave). This seems like it could become a good underage hangout, it’s got a semi-vintage, no frills burger joint vibe. Cheeseburgers are only $4.50, which seems great, until you think fries are $2.25 and a milk shake is $3.25, so it’s really same prices as Shake Shack.

 Jyoti Indian Bistro once again served us up authentically delish Indian fare – Saag (made with broccoli rabe, sans the bitterness) Makkai Ke Roti, Pakoras and creamy, refreshing Mango Lasse, I never knew before Lasse are made with rosewater.

 

Next and final stop, Alma Mater (7165 Germantown Ave) which will be a restaurant and bar designed for fun, sports viewing and the celebration of Philadelphia as a haven for prep schools, colleges and universities. It’s located where North By Northwest used to be, which later became 7165 Lounge, a partial night club, community space, sometime restaurant, never understood that concept, but it was a great place to take Zumba classes. I remember we would take breaks in the alley way which was kinda junky and a little scary. Well, Alma Mater has changed all that! That alley has been transformed into a beer garden with long wooden tables. It will also be an all the time restaurant with full bar. The chefs are three brothers – Kevin, Stephen and Roland Neal and will serve an American comfort food menu (ex): Lobster Mac’n cheese, Fried Fish Sandwich, Crab Corn Chowder; a Breakfast All Day menu (ex): Challah French Toast, Waffle Bowl, Bagel & Lox Platter; Light Fare Menu (ex): Seafood Chop Chop, Roasted Vegetable Salad, Classic Wedge; Appetizer and Sharing Plates (ex): Grilled Veggie Skewers, Spinach Dip, Wings Around the City, Fried Calamari… And more.  Alma Mater Where Friends Meet, officially opens at Mt. Airy Street Fare on 9/17.

Parked out behind Alma Mater were two Philly Food Trucks – Matt’s Food Truck run by Matt & Tom. The truck is only a year old, but they’ve been serving up a variety sliders and such at University Penn’s Penalty Box during the hockey season for years. I had their crab cake slider and fries and had absolutely no complaints.

Dump n Roll Truck puts a new spin on Chinese Dumplings and Vietnamese Spring Rolls. The cheeseburger dumplings are something I wished I’d eaten much earlier on the tour before I got so full, cause I coulda torn them up! And you’ll find Dump n Roll owner Peter Tong to be quite a character.

Homemade Donuts from Trolley CarDiner

This is just a mere over view of those involved. I just don’t have space to mention them all, but head over on Thursday and discover them for yourself!

While You’re Here

Wasn’t able to attend last year, but here’s

Street Fare: Sip, Savor, Stroll – Mt. Airy, Philadelphia Restaurant Tour 2013

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