Sorry, meant the freezer. :)

Hm...it did give me ideas as far as making my own version, which I may try this weekend when I have some leftover cooked rice handy. I may give it another run from TJ's, too, due to the convenience. Thanks for letting me know it's been good for you - it gives me hope!

Yay: Aloo Chaat Kati Pouches - like a flat, baked samosa; great flavor and none of that heavy feeling you get after a regular fried samosa.

Nay: Kimchee Fried Rice - I've had it in the refrigerator for about a month and had high hopes for it as I love the Chimichurri Fried Rice so much. The Kimchee Fried Rice just doesn't have much flavor. I hit it with some chaat masala I have on hand to punch it up and finish it, but I won't buy it again.

I went in tonight and found one box! The cashier mentioned how good they were to me, as well. Can't wait for lunch tomorrow - thanks!

These sound fantastic! I haven't seen them here (outside Philadelphia), but maybe I didn't look hard enough. Are they with the other frozen Indian foods?

Ah, good point! I forgot that they had it - I haven't tried it there. Most of what I've had there has been decent, though. Do they still own Terakawa Ramen? I thought that was a separate company now after Ramen Boy didn't make it.

An added note, though - if you have had okonomiyaki in Japan, Maido! does not allow you to cook your own. They prepare it on their teppan behind the lunch counter and then serve it to you. Otherwise, though, it is quite authentic - right down to the Kewpie Mayonnaise! ;)

It's not in town, but Maido! Market in Narberth (not too far out of the city) has okonomiyaki. It's a little Japanese market with a lunch counter, where they have a variety of authentic offerings. The lady who owns it is from Osaka, and since okonomiyaki is a traditional Kansai-area dish, she does a very good version. I actually don't know of any other place around Philadelphia that offers it, as it's rather specialized.
You can have lunch and pick up a few hard-to-find Japanese groceries, too, including fresh vegetables. Across the street is a very nice French bakery for an afternoon snack and coffee afterwards. Maido's website is http://www.maidookini.com/e/index.htm

Of the restaurants mentioned, I have only been to Bistrot la Minette, but it was also for an anniversary a few years ago and it was lovely. Food and service were excellent, and atmosphere was romantic without being cloying. I particularly remember the lemon butter sauce on the trout meuniere - I wanted to lick the plate!

Wherever you go, congratulations on your anniversary and enjoy!

I had tried these once before on the stovetop and wasn't impressed, but I had another bag and decided to give them a try in the crockpot. What a difference! I cooked them all day on low in tomato sauce, and made meatball sandwiches out of them. They tasted just as good as "real" meatball sandwiches, without the stomach-bomb feeling afterward. Tasty, simple weeknight supper.

I don't know anything specific about it, but I have had Corropolese tomato pie in the past and I remember being very pleased.

I'd love to hear about Samarkand. I've eaten lunch at Uzbekistan, and it was delicious and quite low-key. I can see how the atmosphere might change at dinner, though.

Thank you so much for posting this! We could throw a paper airplane from our door and hit King's Corner, so I was planning to try it soon anyway. Your review encourages me to go sooner rather than later, and to support another local business. Any comments on the beer list?

Sandwiches are great, but somewhat expensive. Service can be very slow, depending on how much flirting/joking the young staff are doing that day. ;)

Oh, and Kings Garden Chinese, right by the post office in the same block as the Chestnut Hill Hotel, is very good. Not as fancy as Cin Cin, but solid Chinese food. Try the black bean tofu!

Osaka's at the top of the hill.

Speaking of that, Top of the Hill Deli is right behind the bank (I think it's a Wells Fargo?) on Evergreen. Very good sandwiches and prepared foods - you can eat there for lunch (inside or out on the patio), or take food out to Pastorius Park, Valley Green, or a number of other green spaces near the Avenue.

If you do have a car, or want to cab it, there's Earth Bread & Brewery in Mt. Airy. Flatbreads, salads, and their own house-made sodas as well as beer. I think their prices are very reasonable for dinner, especially if you split a flatbread or two.

I went to the Mt. Airy Night Market last year with friends, and after swearing up and down all year that we wouldn't go back...we're going back. The best advice I can give is to have a snack beforehand so you're not desperate and ravenous, wandering up and down the avenue. That was our chief mistake last year, and it made everyone cranky. They say they're having twice as many food trucks this year, and that may help, but Mt. Airy LOVES its street festivals, and it's very easy for a ton of people to walk to this event, so I would expect it to be packed. I'm planning to go with the attitude that I'm hanging out with friends, we'll definitely get some beers, and maybe I'll even get lucky enough to snag some food. Otherwise, I'll count it as reconnaissance for which food trucks I want to try in the next year. Oh, and you can always go into the restaurants that are open: Avenida, Earth Bread & Brewery, Wine Thief, etc. if the crowds get to be too much. Have fun!

There's no smoking inside the Blue Comet. They have a lovely little enclosed patio/garden out back with a fountain.

We ordered a pitcher of Plov, which was a refreshing fruit punch, heavy on the cherries. Since it was lunchtime, we didn't bring alcohol, but we all agreed that the Plov would have been even better spiked with vodka. Next time! They also made a terrific cappuccino for the end of the meal. We probably could have skipped the Cherry Vareniki as we were pretty full, but I wanted to see how their dumplings were. Next time I'll get one of the savory varieties. Lots of exciting possibilities on the menu - enjoy!

Big +1 for Cafette. Friendly folks, very good brunch. People in bike togs will not feel out of place.

I was just there with friends for the first time last week, and we were delighted. We had (on the recommendation of a Russian friend who is a regular): Greek salad, Homemade Potatoes, Pilav (first one on the menu, with mixed meat), Samsa, Chicken soup, Veal Kebab, and the Cherry Vareniki for dessert. Everything was terrific, but the Greek Salad, PIlav, and Samsa were favorites. I want to try the Green Borscht next time, as that was also very highly recommended. The Homemade Potatoes were thin-sliced potatoes, deep-fried and served with a sprinkle of garlic and chives. Our party of three adults and one child ordered two plates, but would have been okay with two. Great place!

Ate there once. Service was quite slow, even though there weren't many customers. Fried tofu appetizer was very tasty, pho just average. I'm planning to go again at some point to try out their other Thai offerings, but for Vietnamese I'll stick with Pho and Beyond. Hope this helps!

Thanks, Dzane! Seven Stars has undergone so many changes since it was Lum Fong. I think it was the last iteration before SS when I tried their Thai food which was painfully bland. We'll give them another try. And it's funny, we eat in at Hunan Village every couple of months or so, but I hadn't thought of them for takeout! Thanks again for the recommendations!

Viet Kitchen is closed. :(

I don't know if they have it in stock right now, but Morris Arboretum sells its own honey (from the hives on the Arboretum grounds) in their gift shop.

For over 10 years we have gotten our Chinese takeout from Szechuan Mandarin in Elkins Park (about a 5-minute drive from our house), but in the last six months or so I've noticed a definite decline in the quality and flavor of the food. Dishes ordered "extra spicy" are anything but, and many of the sauces seem to taste the same anymore: decidedly bland. Does anyone have a recommendation for flavorful Chinese takeout in the Jenkintown/Glenside/Elkins Park area? For comparison, I've had several delicious eat-in meals at King's Garden in Chestnut Hill, but don't really want to drive that far for takeout if I can avoid it. Thanks!

My sister had her wedding dinner (about 20 people) in a private room at Ruth's Chris Steak House on Broad Street when my daughter was 3 and my brother-in-law's nieces were 1 and 3. It was a wonderful experience - the food was good, the staff were very attentive, and being able to shut the door and let the toddlers roam a bit when they got antsy was just the ticket to ensuring that everyone was able to relax and enjoy themselves. Our daughter has been going to restaurants since she was an infant and often gets complimented on her behavior, but the challenge with toddlers in restaurants is their NEEDING to move around at a certain point and your needing to be respectful of other diners. A private room will help you contain them while still allowing them some freedom.

I'm sure other people can give more recommendations for special-occasion restaurants with private rooms, either in town or out on the Main Line. Good luck!

I did them in the oven, since I don't have a microwave anyway. Turned out pretty tasty for a quick snack - I agree that they can't hold a candle to the real thing, but not bad in a pinch.

Someone said on Yelp that they had shown up for Father's Day and found the door locked and windows papered over. Yikes.

The Drake is convenient (we live around the corner), but the food is often WAY too salty. If we're driving, I prefer Vintage which is a little further down Old York Road in Abington (on the left, just past the YMCA). West Avenue Grill is consistent, if a bit ho-hum.