Play with your food
Finally- a spot where kids, parents and a great meal out can happily coexist. And parents can thank mother and former BBC executive, Rachel Williams, for her sophisticated restaurant/play space hybrid, The Little Treehouse Play Cafe. Housed in a former post office in the heart of Chestnut Hill, the Café brings together sophisticated dining for adults, a kids menu that even the pickiest eaters will enjoy and an imaginative play space for the little ones. Chef Rob Gary, formerly of the Capital Grill has created a tempting menu with everything from salads and paninis to prepared sandwiches and gourmet pizza. Gary is hoping to expand into pastas and other hot entrees as the kitchen develops. For the kids, the chef cooks up pesto pasta, grilled cheese, healthy snacks, and organic baby food. While parents are dining, children can have fun in the supervised play space filled with playful wooden structures and toys that encourage imaginative play. 10 West Graver’s Lane, Chesnut Hill, 215-247-3637; treehouseplaycafe.com.

Mixx it up
Win Signature Restaurants’ first project of the New Year will be the completion of the former Maia space in Villanova. Figuring out what to do with the large bi-level building was no small task. Win artfully filled in the upstairs with Azie on Main, a contemporary Asian restaurant complete with a sushi bar, outdoor dining, and a modern communal table. In the next few weeks, Win plans on opening MIXX restaurant in the lower level of the space which will focus on casual comfort food with a convivial bar atmosphere and a creative cocktail menu. MIXX will join Win’s other restaurants on the Main Line: Azie, Parker’s Prime, Thai Pepper, Mikado, Teikoku, and Flavor. 789 E. Lancaster Ave., Villanova, 610-527-5700; winsignaturerestaurants.com.

Have your cupcake and eat it, two
The luscious cupcakes baked with love by Heather Carter and Maki Garcia Evans of Cupcakes Gourmet, are now available in not one, but two locations on the Main Line. Fans of the sweet treats can pick up mini or regular-sized cupcakes at the new shop in Wayne as well as their original shop in Malvern. The ladies chose to open the second bakery because of the high demand for their cupcakes. “We are so excited to open this second Cupcakes Gourmet location. We’ve had such great response to our cupcakes that we are thrilled to bring them to the Wayne community to serve more of our loyal fans,” says Carter and Evans. The menu at Cupcakes changes daily and seasonally, but classic cupcakes along with fun flavors like peanut butter, cinnamon spice, chocolate chip and raspberry are favorites on the menu. The best part? All of the cupcakes are handmade using all-natural ingredients. Gateway Shopping Center, 279 E. Swedesford Rd., Wayne, 610-688-3144; cupcakesgourmet.com.

On a roll
Located in the former Loie space on Rittenhouse Square, Zama is a delicious addition to this sushi-loving city. Chef and owner Hiroyuki “Zama” Tanaka is best known for his work in the kitchens at POD, Morimoto and Genji at the Ritz Carlton and he’s ready to bring his fresh and creative menu to the city. The restaurant offers more than 30 a la carte sashimi selections, maki rolls and Zama’s special rolls like seared Kobe beef on sesame rice and lobster tempura with teriyaki truffle. The menu also includes soups, salads and entrees like yuzu pepper chicken, miso black cod and Zama’s house tofu prepared tableside. A full bar serves a wide variety of Japanese and domestic beers, sakes, wines and a creative cocktail list with drinks like the Toko-hattan with bourbon, ginger brandy, St. Germain liqueur (elderflower) and grenadine. The serene 80-seat space gives off a soft glow from its backlit, wooden walls and includes an eight-seat sushi bar set under a dramatic fish-shaped rice paper lantern, a striking concrete bar, and a dining area with booths and butcher block tables. A private dining room offers intimate seating for up to 14 guests. 128 South 19th St., 215-568-1027.

Vini, Vidi, Vetri
Philadelphia is getting a little slice of Roman life this month when Marc Vetri opens Amis, his casual Italian trattoria. The straightforward menu at Amis will include simple, but flavorful dishes like fried artichokes, homemade lamb sausage, hearty steaks, and deep bowls of pasta. The wine list will be small, but selective, and the fully-stocked bar will serve craft beers and cocktails. The décor is rustic, warm and immediately welcoming with an open kitchen, church-pew banquette seating, exposed brick, and wood-topped tables. Inspired by the food and feel of trattorias in Rome, Vetri wanted to create a neighborhood spot where diners can enjoy good food and great wine in the company of others. The restaurant’s name means “friends” in the Bergamascan dialect of Lombardy, Italy where Vetri honed his cooking skills. Amis will be dinner-only for the first few weeks, and then may expand into lunch. 13th and Waverly Streets, Philadelphia.

Sweet Treats
Christopher Curtin, the Master Chocolatier behind Éclat Chocolate, came to West Chester by way of Wisconsin, but not before spending a few years in Europe and Japan perfecting his craft. Curtin’s chocolates are artistic creations that start with chocolate from first-rate single origin cocoa beans from estates around the world. His signature line of truffles and caramels are infused with ingredients like Champagne, Szechuan pepper, Moroccan mint, and Australian Shiraz. This February, look for their chocolate hearts, wine and chocolate parties, as well as Éclat’s unique Muse line inspired by the artwork of local artist Jeffrey Schaller. Muse chocolates will be printed with Schaller’s colorful paintings and come in flavors of saffron, ginger, rosemary, Champagne and coconut. Éclat chocolates are available at the West Chester shop, online, and at Fork, etc., Di Bruno Brothers, Talulah’s Table, Nieman Marcus, and the Longwood Garden’s shop. 24 South High St., West Chester, 610-692-5206; eclatchocolate.com.

Flower lovers and foodies!
This year’s Philadelphia Flower Show, “Passport to the World,” is offering visitors more than just flower gazing. Live culinary demonstrations will take place each day of the show and are free to guests with Flower Show tickets. One demonstration not to miss is March 3rd’s demonstration by Main Line Chef Carlo DeMarco, a Villanova native and Esquire magazine “chef to watch.”  DeMarco is currently the chef and owner of Radnor restaurant, 333 Belrose and is the executive chef of Firecreek Restaurant and Doghouse Gourmet Burgers in Downingtown. For a full culinary demonstration calendar, visit theflowershow.com.

Philadelphia Chocolate Tour
This Valentne’s Day, join the Philadelphia Chocolate Tour for a guided jaunt through some of Philadelphia’s best sweet shops. Enjoy cookies, cakes, truffles and gelato on a route that includes stops at Teuscher, Miel, Famous 4th Street Cookie Company, Brown Betty, and Capogiro. Tour members snack and sample while founder and guide, Valerie Beck, teaches about the history and health benefits of chocolate and of the city. The tours book up fast around Valentine’s Day, so book early to make a date for the sweetest tour in town. 215-833-0044; philadelphiachocolatetours.com.

1. MIXX is open for business. the website is http://www.mixxrestaurant.com MIXX is a modern version of the neighborhood hot spot. Its 40 seat bar, stylish lounge, eleven flat screen TV’s and distinctive cocktail list make it perfect for socializing with friends and colleagues. With the average entrée around $10 and nothing over $18, the comfort food menu is designed to nurture the wallet as well as the soul and to fulfill any craving. MIXX, conveniently located near I-476, Villanova University and the R-5 Line, is open seven days a week; serving lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. The dining room’s whimsical, rustic, yet refined elegance is echoed in the use Parisian influences, open space and industrial materials. The accents of French inspired chandeliers that dangle over head, antique whitewashed brick walls, floor to ceiling windows, glass-encased wine barrels, damask print and butter-colored seating along with mosaic tiled floors create an inviting, casual environment. Whether in cocktail attire or a pair of jeans, MIXX is your “home away from home” with an urban vibe for any occasion.

   Posted by christine olmsted | February 5, 2010, 5:14 pm