Phoenixville Favorite Steel City Coffeehouse & Brewery Debuts Pantry with Local Goodies

In these uncertain times, the restaurant industry has had to do a pivot unlike any other. Enter Steel City Coffeehouse and Brewery- which can now add store to its credentialed lineup. 

Steel City is now offering a pantry of locally sourced goods that cater to the local community and keep the love local. This boutique pantry is offering jams, granola, gluten-free bakery items, and so much more! You can try various items while you shop, too. 

"We sample one item on Saturday and Sundays to help drive sales and to allow our customers to try before they buy. All of the items are available for in-store shopping or curbside via our website," says co-owner Laura Vernola-Simpson.

 

"We really needed to adapt to the pandemic and when we initially closed indoor dining we were selling off our products, which our customers were really excited about. We sold out all of our inventory pretty quickly. About a month later customers started asking us if they could buy eggs, bread, and other items so that gave us the idea to add in the pantry offering not just items we already had but specialty items from small batch makers around the country," says Laura. "We use Faire, an online wholesale company for small batch makers, as well as our local friends like Stoudt's Wonderful Good Market Bread, Door Step Dairy, and Conebella Farm Cheese in Elverson, PA, plus Small Batch Granola (Vermont), Crisp & Co Pickles (Pennsylvania) and our honey spreads from Bumbleberry Farms (Somerset, PA)

 

Laura says so far the Feedback has been great! " We are hoping to add more requested items. Hot sellers are the essentials like milks, eggs, butter, cheese, pickles, and the Big Spoon Roaster Bars from Durham, NC.

 

The Steel City Pantry is now open 7 days a week through the end of winter 2021, 7am Monday through Friday, 8am on Saturday & Sunday, currently with limited indoor and outdoor seating, and has complimentary wifi. Steel City offers curbside takeout and delivery though UberEats.

 

Steel City Coffeehouse opened in 1997 and is Phoenixville's oldest coffeehouse and only listening room & live music venue. Since its inception, Steel City has gone through many changes (and owners). In 2016, it experienced a rebirth and has maintained its status as the artistic hub within the community under the ownership of Laura Vernola-Simpson and Ed Simpson. 

In early 2019, Steel City Coffeehouse became Steel City Coffeehouse and Brewery. Head Brewer, Jeremy Burke (formerly of Tuned Up Brewing) has been focused on creating their signature Steel Mill Stout, as well as two other seasonal brews. Steel City sources locally and supports fellow small businesses.

Check out their new pantry today!

Thinking About Ice Cream? Re:THINK Ice Cream Does Superfoods

Last month, Re:THINK Ice Cream, the first-ever real, superfood-rich ice cream that fits into your healthy lifestyle, announced that it had launched Strawberry Chia Seed and Black Cherry Vanilla… now, the brand is announcing its newest flavor: velvety, rich Chocolate Orange with Almond Butter reminiscent of the holiday season.

Made with all-natural ingredients, Re:THINK has 2/3 less sugar and carbs of regular ice cream and 1/2 of the calories than your regular ice cream. And unlike “nice” creams, it’s made from real milk and cream and only sweetened with a touch of organic agave (no cane sugar, sugar alcohol or other artificial sugars).

You don't want to miss out on this amazing snack- creamy, delicious, and full of good things- Re:THINK will make you wonder what other ice cream you've been eating. 

 Full benefits include:

o   All-natural ingredients

o   2/3 less sugar and carbs*

o   1/2 of the calories and fat*

o   No artificial sugar; no sugar alcohol

o   Sweetened with organic agave

o   Twice the protein*

o   Certified low glycemic

o   Prebiotic fiber

o   Promotes a healthy gut

o   Green tea extract

o   A source of antioxidants

* As compared to regular ice cream

Celebrate National Coffee Day with Corner Bakery Today

It's National Coffee Day! 
Drink up and power through your day at the Corner Bakery!

Current seasonal flavor - a robust, autumnal Hazelnut

To commemorate National Coffee Day on Sept. 29^th, you can get your fuel for the day at Corner Bakery Cafe with a FREE coffee*

Get any FREE brewed hand-roasted coffee or cold brew in your favorite variety – with any purchase. 

Only at participating locations: https://www.cornerbakerycafe.com/offers 

It’s No Secret Where to Go For a Great Breakfast in RoFo

About 20 years ago, Annamarie Hewitt Chestnut came home from cooking school for summer break. It had always been her dream to cook professionally, and she was studying to become a pastry chef. But on this break, she spied the space that is now her small but bustling breakfast-and-lunch establishment on the main drag of Royersford.

And to her surprise, acquiring that space made more financial sense than returning to school.

Now, so many years later, she’s confident she made the right choice in Annamarie's Place. “I just love cooking for people,” she says enthusiastically, and it shows. There’s a level of care and panache in her dishes that you just don’t find in many eateries—no matter the price tag.

Go for one of her signature stuffed French toast dishes: Blueberry, cherry, or another rotating flavor, and you’ll be the one who’s stuffed (and grinning from ear to ear). Don’t miss her benedicts—the hollandaise is always fresh and homemade, and the eggs are always perfectly poached. 

And you must try the breakfast nachos—an imaginative and delicious dish with homemade tortilla chips piled high with moist scrambled eggs, meat, chives, and drizzled with balsamic vinegar. Traditionalists won’t be disappointed either; her omelets are fluffy and delightful, filled to capacity with your favorite ingredients.

Annamarie’s is no secret to the Rofo locals—there’s usually a line out the door at peak times. But hang in there and your patience will be rewarded with a breakfast you’ll be talking about for weeks.

347 Main St 
Royersford, Pennsylvania 19468

Written and photographed by Stephen Trimble

TazzaVac Takes Your Tea on the Go

Have you tried Timolino’s line of contemporary lifestyle drinkware, including the Tazza Vacuum Mug ($35.00). The Tazza Vacuum Mug conveniently makes brewing fresh, hot beverages possible wherever you are. Lightweight, leakproof, and easy to carry, it makes the perfect companion on your morning commute or a special treat to warm you up while partaking in outdoor winter activities.

Tazza is available in four festive color ways: candy pink, red, wasabi, and stainless steel. Each color way is made of stainless steel, inside and out, ensuring your mug never absorbs any colors or flavors. Designed with a vacuum insulation, Tazza keeps your drink hot (or cold) for hours, allowing you to enjoy your beverage at your leisure.

Should you choose to brew on the go, a removable food-grade silicone strainer basket filters your drink, ensuring a smooth sip every time. Simply drop your tea leaves or fresh coffee grounds inside the basket and pour hot water overtop to begin steeping.

Within seconds you’ll have a delicious, hot beverage waiting to be enjoyed. Once you’re finished, the cap disassembles and the strainer basket can be removed for quick and easy clean up. What's your fave beverage to Tazza- and what color- I have the wasabi and I love it. 

Chocolate Granita, Perfect for the Holidays, by American Heritage Chocolate

With AMERICAN HERITAGE® Chocolate, individuals have a culinary partner for making new stories of their own - from creating to entertaining to educating. Try this for the holidays. 

Chocolate Granita

Give this icy refresher a try: Chocolate Granita, a chocolate treat served in Italy. 

Grazie Così Buono

Active Time: 20 minutes

Time to Freeze: additional 3 to 4 hours

Serves: 6

Ingredients

1 C brewed coffee (regular or decaffeinated)

1 C water

½ C sugar

1 ⅔ blocks (5 oz) American Heritage Chocolate blocks, finely chopped (or ¾ C AHC drink mix)

Directions

1.     In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the coffee, water, and sugar. 

Bring to a simmer. Once simmering, whisk in the chocolate, and continue to whisk until melted, about one minute.

2.     Transfer mixture to a square glass or metal baking dish. Place on a level surface in freezer. After about 45 minutes, use a fork to begin to scrape the granita. Leave granita in freezer, scraping with a fork every 30 minutes until a fluffy, snow-like texture has formed, about 3 to 4 hours.  Once the entire granita has reached this consistency, it is ready to serve. 

Celebrate National Irish Coffee Day

Today is National Irish Coffee Day! Celebrate with KRUPS and make your own Irish coffees at home, easily!

(Slightly) Improved Irish Coffee

By KRUPS Barista Sam Lewontin

Ingredients

- 6oz. hot filter coffee*

- 1 1/2oz. Irish whiskey

- 1/2oz. Demerara syrup**

- 3 dashes Dale DeGroff Pimento bitters

- 2oz half and half

 Directions:

1. Combine coffee, whiskey, Demerara syrup, and bitters in your favorite coffee mug. 
2. Stir to combine. 
3. Steam half and half, pour over the top of the coffee-whiskey mixture, and garnish with freshly-grated nutmeg. 
4. If you prefer, add whipped cream.

**If you can't locate bottled Demerara syrup in a store near you, you can make your own by dissolving two parts Demerara sugar in one part boiling water, and stirring until fully integrated.

ENJOY!

Hello September: Reflect, Recoup, Relax.

Hi everyone! whoa what a month august was!! It was such a whirlwind- but I know it was good! 

I got a new job, I'm working smarter not harder - well, still working but making things work for me- and welcoming the fall with open arms- but fall isn't here yet.

September is full of fun- more trips to the shore (thanks Hermine for Labor day, so I spent it at home and had a glorious weekend) 

I had this ocean-front view for a glorious week.

After a nice cool weekend, this week is heating up, and it's NOT time for pumpkin spice- instead, cool off with these hometown treats in Phoenixville.

I celebrated my 40th birthday back in June, but my best friend treated me to a full spa day at Hotel Hershey- and it was amazing! 

Best Bestie Spa Day Ever!

A wrap, scrub, soak, and massage, plus lunch and relaxation- it was wonderful!! 

Her 40th birthday is coming up, and we have a trip thought out- where to go for her 40th?!?! We have a few ideas!

My goals for September are simple:

Yoga: Reflect and meditate

Kayak: Breathe in the crisp air and recoup energy

Beach: Walk, breathe in the salt air, eat one last lobster roll, and relax. Toast my favorite bartenders and friends.
PS- end of season sales...!

Saving Money is Easier than Expected with These 5 Tips

Behold July! 

I feel like I should start saving for the holidays now. I'm in full-paying off mode, and S and I have finally done a household budget. It wasn’t as painful as we imagined. 

I have models of my budget set in folders on Learnvest, where I can follow how much I am spending and saving each month.

Here’s a few things to try..

·         Buy a gift card each month to keep for Christmas gifts (I read this somewhere, going to start trying it 5 months before the holidays, this month) If I buy a visa gift card, it’s on my CC statement, plus if I don’t spend them all, I can use them for groceries. I am going to pick one up this week. I like this better than putting money in a Christmas account, in my opinion.

·         Make and take my lunch every day. Lunch out only once a week. This is a huge investment to get lunch at work each day- sometimes around $9. That’s about $80 a month if I get the café even just twice a week, and that could be a nice dinner out with my honeypie.

·         Make my own coffee daily- this is a biggie for several reasons. I work in Philly, miles from my home, I leave very early so stopping to get a leisurely cup of joe isn’t on the schedule. 
I wake up, I go to the kitchen, turn on the Keurig, get dressed, and make coffee- boom, one cup for me.

·         Barter for services. Got a skill- USE IT! Teach yoga for electrical work, make meals for gardening. Local time banks are helpful too.  
Obv, use common sense and be aware of your surroundings and people that you are bartering with.

·         Shopping in house. I want to change up some things, so rearranging the furniture, finding new uses for items and repurposing is a fabulous way to shop without spending any money.

what are your favorite ways to save?

The Perfect Starbucks Coffee Lover Present

Looking for a great present or a thank you! Look no further than the Starbucks Gift Basket!

Full of goodies, this is sure to bring a smile to the coffee lover in your life!

Coffeehouses of Stone Harbor, NJ

If you're like me, getting your caffeine fix each day is essential, even if you're relaxing on vacation!

One of my favorite places ever is to stay at The Reeds in Stone Harbor on 96th street in the heart of this fun beach town. After awaking in this gorgeous room, I head out in search of the perfect breakfast..and that includes coffee!

After getting my fave ham & cheese rolls at the Bread and Cheese Cupboard (on 96th), I stroll to any one of my favorite places to happily get charged up for a day working hard on the beach, reading my book and splashing in the waves! 

Cafe Noir 

Scones, croissants, and coffee! 

Plus salads and sandwiches for lunch, Cafe Noir (on 97th) is a little respite from a hectic day. 

French ambiance and delicious cups of coffee, tea, hot chocolate and more make this a local favorite.

Coffee Talk

Coffee Talk om 97th street offers a huge selection of coffees and lattes, smoothies and hot chocolates, plus bagels, scones and other delicious pastries. Relax in a comfy chair and people watch, the vibe here is very cool- and don't forget the oatmeal bar!

Take a day, take a week, head to the shore, and visit Stone Harbor and relax. And indulge in some wonderful coffees to start or end your visit!

Gift Round Up for Our Favorite Lady: MOM!!

This Sunday, we celebrate Mom. Mom is your birth mom, friend, family member, anyone that you consider someone to look up to, value her opinion, and love.  

My mom Kathy is stupendous. We just put the last year into planning my wedding and it was amazing, thanks to my mom (and dad, and a host of other people!)

Flowers and candy are pretty great, but this year, get mom a fabulous gift!!
Pamper mom! 

Hand in Hand is an eco-friendly bath & lifestyle social business. All products are made in the USA and materials are sourced using the most environmentally and ethically responsible methods. For every product purchased, Hand in Hand donates a bar of soap and a month of clean water to a child in need in Haiti. In celebration of their favorite holiday, Mother's Day, they are offering a special Mother's Day Gift Basket for only $49.95 (plus free shipping). Baskets are available in three pretty and feminine scents: Lavender, Rose Water and White Tea. 

Each gift basket is valued at $75 and comes with:

• A white tin bucket
• Moisturizing Lotion
• Sugar Scrub
• Bar Soap
• Lip Balm
• Customized watercolored gift tag
• Free shipping

These products are made with the highest quality natural ingredients and for every basket purchased, Hand in Hand will donate 4 bars of soap and 4 months of clean water to a child in the developing world. 

Mom into wellness? Juicing or smoothies is the way to go! Mom would love a Hurom juicer or a Cuisinart blender and smoothie maker. These products are sleek, chic, and so much fun to use! These products make kitchen time fun and lend their expertise to following a healthier diet. 

Coffee or tea? Which does Mom prefer? For the expert tea drinker, an electric kettle is key.  Cuisinart makes a great lineup of kettles for home or office. For coffee, does Mom prefer a drip-coffee maker or an automatic single serve? Home brewing is at it's best when served with love, family, pastries, and good coffee!

And what mom doesn't love to be comfortable and fashionable? Check out Macy's, Kohl's, and Sak's for great spring accessories and clothes for mom! This Kate Spade scarf features the island of Manhattan- wear the world's greatest city around your neck!

Finally, jewelry always makes the cut: Alex and Ani, Pandora, Cartier, so many others to get mom something gorgeous and great. How did you pamper your mom?