Good-for-You Food: Philly's White Dog Cafe
It took moving to New York to get me to eat at Philadelphia’s renowned White Dog Cafe. I had worked in Philly for five years but had never visited this landmark restaurant. Two weeks after moving to Manhattan I returned to Philly to have lunch there. Talk about strange timing!
Eight years later I still love dining at this temple to local, sustainable and organic fare. Sure, I could find more experimental cuisine elsewhere. Yet, sometimes I just crave something wholesome such as a rainbow trout salad with local, organic microgreens and a chilled, locally brewed beer. The selection of draft beer varies but I’m always able to sample the offerings and find the perfect accompaniment to my meal. From Victory to Flying Fish, Yards to Troegs, White Dog offers a little sip of the Schuykill (or Susquehanna) with every pint.
For me, nothing beats Sunday brunch. Order a basket of muffins — strawberry, zucchini, and cinnamon crunch among the favorites — or a tofu-black bean-carrot burrito and a cup of coffee, sit back, and relax in one of the restaurant’s many dog-themed, antique-filled rooms. Prefer a mimosa, mojito or bloody Mary at 10:30 on a sultry Sunday morning? No problem. The bar serves them, too.
Eight years translates into quite a few brunch entrees. At present the favorite is Eggs St. Bernard. Two poached eggs sitting atop smoked salmon and toasted English muffins, all topped with a brandied hollandaise sauce and served alongside steamed green beans. Just delicious!
Along with its good food, I appreciate that White Dog supports good causes. Founder and owner Judy Wicks and her staff uphold sustainable agriculture by buying locally from organic and humane farmers and opposing genetically modified foods. A James Beard Foundation Humanitarian of the Year (2005), Wicks sponsors talks on social and environmental issues, hosts themed events such as the Local Corn or Sustainable Wild Salmon dinner, and runs trolley and bike tours highlighting the city’s Mural Arts Program. Next door at the Black Cat gift shop, Wicks showcases arts, crafts and jewelry from local artisans.
So many good things, all in one central location. No doubt I’ll keep returning for many more years.
