PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Alicia Vitarelli and TaRhonda Thomas look at Philadelphia’s spots for shopping, dining and giving.
Flambo brings the flavors of Trinidad & Tobago in Philadelphia
Anthony Logan and his son, Kevin Ramlochan, recently moved their popular restaurant Flambo Caribbean from North Broad Street to Midtown Village.
The new space features the cuisine Anthony grew up with on the island of Trinidad & Tobago.
He describes the island nation as a melting pot of Indian, African and Asian food, and these influences are seen throughout Flambo’s menu.
Flambo Caribbean Restaurant | Facebook | Instagram
205 South 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Lucky Well brings together BBQ and Pizza in University City
Chad Rosenthal opened his third location for Lucky Well, a popular BBQ destination started in Ambler 10 years ago.
A second location opened in Spring Arts and now there is a third location in University City.
This will be the first lucky well with a pizza oven.
Popular BBQ recipes with smoked ribs, brisket and pulled pork are all on the menu, but now they’re also pizza toppings.
Steven Seibel is at the helm of the kitchen bringing his acclaimed pizza skills to Lucky Well.
The menu matches well with the popular happy hour destination on University City’s restaurant row.
Lucky Well University City | Facebook | Instagram
3432 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Celebrating National Vegan Month in Pietramala & Restaurants Algorithm
At Pietramala in the Northern Liberties, chef/owner Ian Graye is on a mission to put plants on a pedestal with a menu so seasonal it changes almost daily, depending on what arrives in the local farmer’s box.
Pietramala is Ian’s grandmother’s maiden name and also the town in Italy where his family is from. While his recipes bring together flavors from around the world, they are heavily influenced by his grandmother’s favorites growing up.
Rigatoni was inspired by spicy rigatoni vodka. It is made with homemade pasta from locally milled flour. The sauce is based on a spicy chili paste popular in Korean cooking and a smoky carrot puree meant to evoke a sausage flavor. The dish is topped with house-baked tofu until it can be shredded like cheese.
Chef Ian moved to Philadelphia from New York attracted by the slower pace and cheaper rents.
But when he arrived in the summer of 2020, he couldn’t find any work because of the pandemic.
So he started doing popup dinners and his cooking caught the attention of the owner of the vegan pizzeria Blackbird. This is the restaurant that used to be where Pietramala is now.
Chef Ian took over the lease and created a concept that still has the wood-fired oven playing a starring role, with products like the humble sweet potato somehow elevated into fine dining.
Pietramala | Instagram
614 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 1912
215-970-9541
On any given week, you’ll find Algorithm Restaurants’ food truck popping up across the region, serving up fast-casual vegan comfort food from a 128-square-foot mobile kitchen.
Now, owner Matthew Rafferty is set to set up permanent shop in a 2,000-square-foot cafe in Queen Village, where he plans to do a lot more of what the vegan grill has become known for since opening in the fall of the year 2020.
There’s the seitan version of a Philly steak topped with spicy Chilean Calabrese cheese, which you can also slather on fries. It’s Algorithm’s signature sauce, delivering what Rafferty describes as “wonderful vibrant heat.”
Crispy tofu tacos with a slaw sauce are the number one taco, but the best seller overall, Rafferty says, is The Nashville Hot, Algorithm’s take on a Nashville hot chicken. It’s a seasoned, fried seitan patty dipped in Nashville hot sauce and served on a Merzbacher potato bun, and Rafferty promises, “it’ll light you up.”
You can cool down with Vietnamese iced coffee, a blend of Caphe Roasters espresso and sweet, condensed coconut milk made in-house.
You can follow them on social media to see where the truck is popping up and look for the mortar soon. The algorithm has set November 20 as the soft opening for friends and family. The new cafe will open to the public the week of November 26.
Algorithm Restaurants | Facebook | Instagram
705 S. 5th Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19147
267-783-4267
Fat Lady Brewing brings the circus to Manayunk
You can’t miss the entrance along Manayunk’s Main Street.
The circus atmosphere spills out onto the street, but the real fun happens when you enter Fat Lady Brewing.
Inside, Jane Lipton has created a carnival atmosphere with a large overhead-inspired tent area and beers named in honor of the circus theme.
The brewery is named after a character Jane created named Janie Jones, who joined the circus in 1902.
The fictional character is found around the brewery and her fictional life stories are written on the back of the beer cans.
From there Jane created beers such as Shot Out Of A Cannon, Top Hat and Ring Master.
The goal was to create a community brewery where, like the circus, everyone is welcome.
Fat Lady Brewing | Facebook | Instagram
4323 Main St, Philadelphia, PA 19127
JWH Boutique brings the best of Beverly Hills to Philly’s Main Line
Hillary White Jean is a former celebrity designer who is bringing the best of Rodeo Drive and Fifth Avenue to the Main Line.
At JWH Boutique (the store’s name is made up of her initials, backwards) in Wayne, the lifelong fashionista recently fulfilled her dream of opening her own unique selection of clothing, jewelry and art.
She personally curates her collection from shows around the world and has access to designers who give her ‘exclusive’ status to carry their lines – like Australia’s Camilla and Project Runway’s Caycee Black.
JWH Store | Facebook | instagram
209 E. Lancaster Avenue, Wayne, PA 19087
610-321-3434
Gift shop ‘Occasionette’ opens a new location in Chestnut Hill
The owner of the occasion, Sara Villari, believes that every day is an occasion worth celebrating.
Villari opened the store’s fourth location in Chestnut Hill in September, and it’s a one-stop shop for everyone on your list.
Known for its large selection of greeting cards, you’re sure to find one that fits exactly what you’re looking for.
Sara opened the first Occasionette location on East Passyunk Avenue in South Philadelphia in 2013.
Since then, she’s opened two more locations in Collingswood, including Occasionette Joy Shop, a children’s boutique.
Many items are back by popular demand this holiday season, along with many new additions.
An illustrator by trade, Villari actually designs some of the store’s merchandise, including her popular kitchen towels that feature Philly-themed illustrations.
Cases | Facebook | Instagram
Soltane Café serves coffee while helping adults with disabilities
Across the country, there are local initiatives of a global non-profit organization called Camphill Soltane, where adults with disabilities can learn life skills and work with their hands.
Located outside of Philadelphia, one of their local enterprises is a coffee shop where these adults can be fully employed and engaged in a work environment in the larger community.
of Cafe Soltane sits on the main bar in the middle of Phoenixville, serving up serious coffee drinks, pastries and lunch items most days of the week.
Employees say they’re like family, and customers also feel good about supporting a worthy cause.
Cafe Soltane | Facebook | Instagram
138 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, PA 19460
484-924-8042
closed on Mondays; Tuesday-Friday 7:30am-2:00pm; Saturday/Sunday until 3:00 p.m
The Preservation Hall Jazz Band will make a stop in Philly on its 60th anniversary tour
The Preservation Hall Jazz Band will make a stop in Philadelphia during the band’s 60th anniversary tour across the country.
Preservation Hall is a jazz institution located in the historic French Quarter of New Orleans and has a Philly connection.
Sandra Jaffe, co-founder8 of Preservation Hall, grew up in Philadelphia.
In 1961, she and her husband, Allan Jaffe, opened the Preservation Hall to preserve New Orleans’ musical heritage.
It was the first fully integrated music venue in the South.
The group is now run by Sandra and Allan’s son, Ben.
“He’s still working to keep the family legacy and the past and the future of jazz alive,” says Leslie Patterson-Tyler, vice president of communications at the Kimmel Cultural Campus.
The Kimmel Cultural Campus has a whole series of jazz performances lined up this season, celebrating the history, artistry and diversity of the genre.
The Preservation Hall Jazz Band will perform at the Miller Theater on November 11th.
Kimmel Cultural Campus | Facebook | Instagram | I tweet
Copyright © 2022 WPVI-TV. All rights reserved.
