Dolce Carini Review [2]

Dolce Carini is one of my favorite spots to order pizza. Well-seasoned crust and an abundance of homemade sauce and fresh cheese - what's not to love? So on a lazy weekend, I decided to order in and check out their Sicilian pies. 

Sicilian Pizza with Pepperoni [$18.40]

Dolce Carini's take on the Sicilian was better than most in Philly. While the crust could have been more buttery and the dough a bit more pillowy, the cheese and toppings more than made up for it. 

And that sauce is unreal - subtly sweet and clearly homemade. 

California Burger [$6.55]
Cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, mayo, crispy onion rings
 

The GF was more in the mood for a burger, so left me with the entire pie to gorge on (I kid, there were a few slices leftover). Her burger was "healthy," replete with a fresh and juicy turkey burger, an abundance of mayo, lettuce, tomato, and a crispy onion ring. Not bad! 

Boneless Buffalo Wings [$13.95]
Mild, 25 pieces
  

Their boneless wings aren't on par with Lazos as they were a bit limp, but the chicken was juicy. We went with mild buffalo sauce, which ate slightly sweet. 

Fried Zucchini [$6.90] 

Do try the fried zucchini, which were fresh, well-breaded, and nicely seasoned. These were not at all greasy and came with a pat of their housemade marinara for dipping. 

Garlic Bread [$2.50]

I was also in the mood for garlic bread. Sadly, what Dolce Carini serves is more akin to garlic breadsteaks. These had too much crunch and emanated garlic seasoning more than actual garlic. 

Overall, Dolce Carini is still one of my favorites for pizza. If you're looking to branch out though, their turkey burger is decent and their fried zucchini are event better! 

Bittersweet Kitchen Review

Before heading to Linvilla Orchards to go pumpkin and apple picking earlier in the Fall, I decided to fuel up at Bittersweet kitchen, a quaint brunch spot right in picturesque Media, PA. 

Apparently this was the right spot for brunch - by the time we were seated, plenty of neighborhood regulars filled the restaurant. Just how quaint and cute is Bittersweet Kitchen? After ordering up at the counter, they give you a recipe book as your order number so your server can bring your meal! 

Candied Pecan Banana Pancakes [$9]
Bourbon maple syrup

In addition to their regular brunch menu, there are plenty of specials up on the board. On this particular day, candied pecan banana pancakes were on offer. Light and fluffy, with candied pecans studded throughout the pancake, there was a light dusting of powdered sugar to bring each bite into sweet bliss. 

Asparagus, Mushroom, & Goat Cheese Omelet [$11]
Breakfast potatoes, scone

The GF's omelet special was hearty and flavorful - earthy mushrooms and asparagus were paired with tangy goat cheese within a light and perfectly cooked omelet. The subtly sweet scone rounded out the dish, along with breakfast potatoes, which were crisped and well-seasoned. 

French Toast BLT [$12]
Brown-sugar bacon, breakfast potatoes

I had to go for the french toast BLT, which featured plenty of sweet and crisp candied bacon, crisp lettuce, juicy tomato, and mayo - all housed within fluffy, yet lightly textured french toast. An extra drizzle or dunk of the maple syrup brought each bite over the top. 

Fried Pickles [$6]
Remoulade

Bittersweet Kitchen was already out of the fried mac n cheese by 11AM, but fear not - the fried pickles hit the spot! Crisp and salty - I loved that these were thin sliced pickles vs. the spears I typically find in Philly.

So if you're ever in Media, PA, I'd definitely recommend hitting up Bittersweet Kitchen. Down home and surprisingly picturesque, this is the neighborhood spot where I could see myself being a regular.

MealPal Review

The folks behind fitness innovation, ClassPass, have come up with the latest way to get your food fix during weekday lunch hours. For less than $6 a day, MealPal is your gateway to a variety of options to satiate any foodie palate. Not only are we talking about MeltKraft to Ai Ramen and pretty much everything in between, it's at a price point that's likely less than what you'd be dropping for lunch anyway. 

How's it work? You log on to the site anytime after 5PM the day before until 9:30AM the day of your lunch and choose from the partnered restaurants. Select a 15-minute pickup window - that's actually quite flexible - and you're on your way to skipping the line, with no need to tip. Grab your lunch, get back to your office, and you're good to get your grub on! 

Day One 

Hai Street Kitchen | Spicy Tataki Salmon Sushirito

Regular readers know I'm a fan of Hai Street Kitchen's concept - fresh, fast, and light. So for my first day, I opted for Hai Street's Spicy Tataki Salmon Sushirito, which was expectedly delicious. Fresh salmon, spicy gochujang, and crisp veggies made for a light way to begin the week, especially after coming off a particularly heavy Thanksgiving.

Day Two

Dos Tacos | Crispy Pork Belly Tacos

When I saw pork belly on offer, I knew MealPal wasn't messing around. It didn't hurt that the chef behind Dos Tacos was none other than current Top Chef contestant, Sylva Senat! With a sweet soy glaze and pico de gallo, the thick-cut slabs of pork belly were nicely crisped and housed within corn tortillas. Two tacos might not seem like much, but when we're talking about the heft of pork belly, I finished these bad boys stuffed, but ready to get back to work. 

Day Three

Ai Ramen | Miso Butter Ramen

Anticipating a chilly Wednesday, I was looking forward to picking up some top notch ramen from Ai Ramen. The fact that the ramen featured was the miso butter iteration didn't hurt matters! Tender slices of chasu pork belly and a soft-boiled egg paired beautifully with the sweetness of the corn and the miso butter broth. Definitely warmed me up!

Day Four
MeltKraft | Classic Grilled Cheese

Day Four featured a decadent grilled cheese from MeltKraft. Buttery, rich, and gooey, I'm glad that I went to the gym before picking this bad boy up. Because there was no way I was going there after downing this! With kettle chips on the side, this was a filling Thursday lunch.

Day Five

Kayu | Broccoli Nut Salad

For my final day, I opted for some lighter fare. Kayu's custom salads and soups come from the folks behind Italian sandwich shop, Matt and Marie's. The broccoli nut salad was hearty, with fresh avocado, long grain brown rice, and a restrained spicy lemon chili broccoli mix with kale. Texture came the cashews and I enjoyed the carrot-mint flax seed dressing. Flavorful for being a vegan option!

MealPal currently offers two monthly options. Twelve meals per month nets out at $6.39 a meal, while upping your lunch game to 20 meals brings it down to $5.99! I liken MealPal to your lunchtime negotiator, obtaining sizable discounts that save you a bundle. Keep in mind that as with any subscription-based service, it renews automatically unless you cancel.

They allow you to filter for lighter options, which is helpful for those with dietary restrictions. And the daily reminder to choose your meal for the next day is helpful. For planners like me, it's the perfect way to schedule out my day. For those that prefer to make game-time decisions (aka slackers), maybe not so much! 

How can MealPal improve? For starters, I'd love to see the mobile app expanded to to Android users as it's annoying having to turn on your laptop at 5PM. Customization would be helpful whether it's added snacks or drinks at the point of choosing your meal. Even a comment section to add requests like "no mayo" or "less spicy" would expand the customer base. Delivery would be amazing, but understandably comes with its own issue and costs. 

Full disclosure, I typically don't eat out for lunch as I try to keep it light by bringing lunch from home. It's in an effort to counteract all the eating I do when I'm off the work clock! If that weren't the case, MealPal would be my way to go. It allows you to try places you normally might not go to for lunch, all while saving a buck or two! 

FTC Disclaimer: MealPal allowed me to try the Plan for a week to get the inside scoop. Regardless, my opinions are mine alone and, therefore, unbiased.