Photography Around Philly

I spend most week days driving all over Philadelphia.  Quite often I find myself discovering little visual snapshots that, for me, are partial stories of this city.  Here are just a few from the last two weeks.

[caption id="attachment_1079" align="aligncenter" width="560"] The Ben Franklin Bridge[/caption]

 

 

[caption id="attachment_1064" align="aligncenter" width="560"] A Tree In South Philly[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1082" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Another Tree Grows In South Philly[/caption]

 

 

[caption id="attachment_1065" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Secret Alley Behind Bohdi Coffee[/caption]

 

 

[caption id="attachment_1066" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Restaurant Le Cheri[/caption]

 

 

[caption id="attachment_1071" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Accordion, Rittenhouse Square[/caption]

 

 

[caption id="attachment_1068" align="aligncenter" width="560"] 1958 Ferrari Testa Rossa, Simeone Museum[/caption]

 

 

CoffeeGuru features over 7,000 independent coffeehouses in the US, Canada, UK and Ireland. Download the app here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/coffeeguru-indie-coffeehouses/id547969523?mt=8

 

 

Good'n Plenty

For decades Passyunk Avenue has been the main artery in the heart of South Philadelphia.  The demographic has historically been White and old school Italian with Geno's and Pat's Steaks at the epicenter.  Not very welcoming to outsiders, it's a tight-knit, conservative populace and Passyunk is their shopping mecca ('Speak English' signs allowed at Philly shop)...but for the past ten years the times have been changing.

Cheap real estate and close proximity to Center City (and the creation of Citizens Alliance for Better Neighborhoods) has attracted a new class of citizens around the neighborhood.  Young and mostly single, it's a much more diverse and liberal crowd who prefer working or hanging out in coffee shops and hip clothing stores to shopping for First Communion dresses. (Changing City: Passyunk Ave.)

Barista Edward prepares a shot of Rival Brothers Whistle & Cuss

In 2011, Plenty opened along the Avenue.  Initially it was a boutique deli and prepared food shop.  The concept didn't thrive and brothers Damon and Anthony Mascieri took over ownership about a year later.  After extensive remodeling, Plenty became a coffeehouse / cafe and a popular destination.  Locally roasted coffee and sourced food is the theme.  House brew is Rival Brothers and they also feature ReAnimator and La Colombe.  Anthony plans on offering other local roasters as guests on his brew bar.  I love the idea of a cafe that works exclusively with local roasters.  The food reflects Anthony's global travel experiences, featuring selections such as a beef-chorizo meatball sandwich, an homage to Spain and the "Seoul" short-rib, a Korean offering.

Plenty Cafe, Rittenhouse

In the beginning of December, the Mascieris opened their second cafe near Rittenhouse Square in what was a former jewlery store.  The building is listed on the Register of Historic Places and careful attention was paid to make sure the building's integrity was kept intact.  There's reclaimed wood throughout.  It's a warm space thats beautifully designed with limited bi-level seating.  The coffee and food selections are the same at both cafes.

View from above, Plenty Cafe, Rittenhouse

 

In addition to the classic coffee offerings, Anthony also put together a small specialty drink section that is international in scope.  I tried the San Telmo made with espresso, steamed milk, dulce de leche and a sprinkling of salt on top.  It was really lovely, a nice contrast of flavors, something more akin to a dessert drink.

My hope is that the coffee roaster selections rotate often.  I was told that they were going to offer some roasts from Square One in Lancaster, PA in a few weeks, a roaster I've heard about but haven't tried and a reason why Plenty will be my constant coffee destination.

CoffeeGuru features over 7,000 independent coffeehouses in the US, Canada, UK and Ireland. Download the app here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/coffeeguru-indie-coffeehouses/id547969523?mt=8

Plenty Coffee

Rival Brothers Coffee Roasters

La Colombe Coffee Roasters

ReAnimator Coffee Roasters

A Tale Of Two Yirgacheffe

Back in the day you went to South Philly for two reasons.... Down 9th Street to grab a hoagie from Sarcone's or a cheesesteak from either Pat's or Geno's. Want a coffee? Thirty years ago your best option was to grab one from a local deli.

[caption id="attachment_212" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Joey Joe's, Philadelphia[/caption]

Historically, South Philly has been dominated by old-school Italian Americans. For the last decade, cheap real estate has also attracted an influx of Vietnamese immigrants and hipster art students. A sure sign the neighborhood is well on its way to becoming über cool, Ultimo Coffee has become ground zero for these new inhabitants.... the perfect third wave destination and meeting place.

Back in April The Daily Meal anointed Ultimo as the number 1 coffee shop in America. Does it live up to its title? Personally I think these rankings are akin to reading in People Magazine who's the sexiest man alive, at the end of the day it's meaningless. Ignoring they hype, I went into the heart of South Philly to check Ultimo out.

[caption id="attachment_214" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Pour Over Bar, Ultimo Coffee[/caption]

Down the block from Scotty's Bar and just around the corner from Joey Joe's, Aaron and Elizabeth Ultimo opened their first location in 2009 and their second in 2012. In the South Philly location they share their space with a craft beer shop. The vibe is quite different from the surrounding 'hood. Ultimo takes their coffees seriously, using filtered water and a Marzocco GB5 carefully dialed in to the selections of the day, all from their roaster, Counter Culture. I selected the Banko Gotiti, Yirgacheffe as a pour over on their Beehouse drip bar. It was perfectly prepared and had really interesting citrus and tart apple notes. As I sat and enjoyed my cup a steady stream of customers kept things hopping.

[caption id="attachment_210" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Entrance, Greenstreet Coffee[/caption]

Once finished I decided to drive up to another coffee shop, the recently opened Greenstreet Coffee Co. This shop represents another trend in the Philly coffee scene, serious in-house roasting. Brothers Tom and Chris Molieri started their roastery in 2011 and soon gained a reputation for producing well crafted beans. So in February when they were presented a chance to take over a former coffee shop, they dived in with both feet.

I really like their space. Small and architecturally quirky, it has a cool vibe, a welcome feel that's quite popular with the locals. It's a bit more laid back than Ultimo and the enthusiastic staff is very welcoming. This is the kind of place I could spend a lazy afternoon. And the coffee? The Molieri brothers know how to roast and do it well. In their shop I was offered a choice of four selections, two from Ethiopia and one from El Salvador and Mexico. I was interested in comparing my experiences so I ordered the pour over Kochere Yirgacheffe, and was impressed by what I was served. The Greenstreet selection was a bit brighter than the Counter Culture version and the citrus flavors really shined in the cup.

All in all Philadelphia's Third Wave coffee scene has something for everyone. Whether you are looking for a craft cup of coffee roasting by some of the most well-known in the US or you seek some great local roasts, you can find it in this vibrant city.

A word about the next blog post: I'll be on vacation for a few weeks so things will be a bit quiet. But never fear, there's more to come once I return.

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Greenstreet Coffee Roasters: http://greenstreetcoffee.com

Ultimo Coffee: http://ultimocoffee.com

The Daily Meal: www.thedailymeal.com

Counter Culture: http://counterculturecoffee.com