New Harmony - Kosher Vegetarian Dim Sum

Have you ever wanted to try dim sum, but you were afraid of what types of meats you may find inside the folded dumpling dough? Or maybe you were just scared of eating in Chinatown? Have no fear, the kosher vegetarians are here. New Harmony's food is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also extremely delicious.

My friend and I headed to Chinatown on a Sunday afternoon with the goal of eating as much dim sum as possible. I was a little bit skeptical when we walked into the restaurant and there were only a few customers seated at the tables. We took a seat in a secluded area. The waiter approached the table and could automatically tell that we were dim sum newbies. He smiled as he handed us the menus and asked us what type of soup we would like. Considering the fact that kosher-style wontons are hard to come by in every-day restaurants, both of us immediately jumped to the wonton soup. The soup had just enough salt and flavor and the wonton was the perfect kind of squishy consistency.

The waiter returned a few minutes later with multiple plates of food. My jaw dropped at the sight of so many plates filled with crispy egg rolls, soft dumplings, and noodle dishes. He said, "I figured since it was your first time and its technically all you can eat, you might want to try everything." My friend and I both just nodded and smiled, still in awe.

I did not know what to eat first, there were so many choices! I tried one of each type of dumpling - a carrot based dough, a spinach based dough, and a regular dough. Each soft, yet slightly sticky, dumpling was filled with freshly diced, juicy, grilled vegetables. We also tasted the "pork" dumplings, that were filled with an eerily meat-like, but scrumptous, meat-substitute. The tender textures were then contrasted with bites of crispy fried egg rolls and scallion pancakes. Then there were the very sticky, slimy, white raddish cakes. Although they were not my favorite due to the mucous-like texture, they had great flavors and may be a favorite of another restaurant-goer. The tofu dish alone made up for my dislike of the raddish cake. New Harmony knows how to cook their tofu, that is for sure. The tofu was lightly fried with what tasted like five-spice, mixed into a very light sauce, and surrounded by largely cut, crunchy, fresh vegetables, including flavorful broccoli, carrots, and zucchini. If you have never had dim sum before or would like to go on a veggie adventure to Chinatown, I would definitely give this place a try. Needless to say, you will definitely leave very full and satisfied.

A Delightful Vegetarian Pesach Meal

Passover can be delightful or dreadful. It is all about cooking delicious dishes to get you through the eight days. Here are some quick ideas that my dinner guests loved (ShopRite Kosher Experience has almost all of the ingredients):


Matzah Lasagna (vegetarian)

Ingredients: onion, garlic, one bag of fresh spinach, mushrooms, 16 oz. container of ricotta cheese, one bag of shredded mozzarella, marinara, matzah (wheat or regular) (rosemary, oregano, and basil can be added to ricotta-veggie mixture to taste), mixing bowl, lasagna pan

Prep:
1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Chop and saute: onion, mushrooms, garlic (and any additional veggies)
3. Soak the matzah in warm water for a minute (soft but holding shape)
4. Chop the spinach and mix with a 16 oz tub of ricotta (can substitute with skim/low-fat ricotta)
5. Mix the sauteed veggies into the ricotta-spinach mixture (add spices)
6. Place a layer of soaked matzah on the bottom of a greased lasagna pan
7. Spread a layer of the ricotta-veggie mix on top of the matzah
8. Spread a layer of marinara sauce on the mixture
9. Place a thin layer of mozzarella on top of the sauce
10. Repeat steps 6-9
11. Place a layer of soaked matzah on top. Cover with marinara and a layer of mozzarella cheese.
12. Place in the oven for 40-45 minutes.
13. Let cool and serve.


Strawberry Meringue Pie (pareve)
A great substitute for ice-cream and regular pies!

Ingredients: one container of chocolate macaroons, one bag of frozen strawberries, 1/2 cup of sugar, 2 egg whites, potato masher, electric or hand-crank egg-beater, pie tin, mixing bowl

Prep:
1. Using hands, mash macaroons onto the bottom of the pie tin, forming a pie crust
2. Beat 2 egg whites in a mixing bowl until the whites become firm and form points when you pull the beater out of the mix (should look almost like thick cream).
3. Beat the 1/2 cup of sugar into the beaten egg whites.
4. Mash the frozen strawberries with potato masher until they are small chunks.
5. Beat the mashed strawberries into the sugar-egg mixture.
6. Pour the mixture over the macaroon pie crust.
7. Place in freezer for 2 hours or until hardened.
8. Serve. Store in freezer.

My friends raved that this was one the best pesach meals they have eaten in years! The recipes are easy to make and vegetarian-friendly. Enjoy!

Glatt Delight - Kosher Middle Eastern

Soft, home-made, pita, big falafel balls, fresh veggies, juicy shawarma, great prices, and an extremely friendly staff - what else can you ask for in a restaurant? The first time I visited the restaurant, it was on Sunday afternoon, just before the start of a minor holiday, Tu B'Av. A couple of my friends and I had a craving for some falafel so we headed to Glatt Delight (formerly Maccabeam) on 12th between Sansom and Walnut (note: this restaurant is not Vegetarian, but there are Vegetarian options such as falafel).

When we walked in, a young Israeli man greeted us. We approached the counter to order. We decided to test our Hebrew skills (my Hebrew speaking skills are limited), ordering in Hebrew. The young man, impressed and humored, called his father, I am assuming the owner, out from the back to assist with preparing our order. One of my friends, fluent in Hebrew, conversed with the owner as we waited for our food. A few minutes later, he handed us large pitas filled with falafel, "chips," veggies, and hummus. My other friend received the same, but rather than falafel, he had turkey shawarma. He said his shawarma was juicy and delicious. The pita was very fluffy, the falafel was crispy, the hummus creamy, and the vegetables crunchy. Every bite was delightful! Of course, we all picked out our favorite flavors of prigat to drink with our Israeli lunch.

As we walked out of the restaurant, the owner handed my friends and I a large pack of freshly baked pita for the holiday. Generous, helpful, and friendly staff always receive two thumbs up from me. Not to mention the fact that the food was great! I cannot wait to go back to try Glatt Delight's burger, shnitzel, lamb chops, or Moroccan cigars... then again I do not think I will be able to resist the amazing falafel/shawarma and pita!

Homemade Goodies by Roz - Kosher Pareve Bakery

My friend was visiting from D.C. one week, so we ventured into Old City. We found ourselves in need of a coffee and cookie break, but there was nothing around. After checking out a couple of synagogues near Society Hill, we stumbled upon a Kosher bakery with a cheerful pink exterior near 5th and Lombard. (The bakery is supervised by the Community Kashrut of Greater Philadelphia). My friend and I decided we had to go in. The window was filled with little toys and cute chachkas. The inside decor was warm and inviting, presenting a retro look that indicated the bakery's long-standing presence in Philadelphia. Immediately after entering, the owner (Roz Bratt), standing behind the glass counter filled with cupcakes and cookies galore, greeted us with a warm smile and a hearty hello. We introduced ourselves and started chatting.

After about fifteen minutes of finding common ground, my friend and I ordered a cup of coffee each, which is brewed fresh by Roz and her assistant. The coffee was tasty. Our mission was then to find the right dessert to match the great cup of joe. We ordered a couple of chocolate-chip cookies to try. They were better than your average pareve (non-dairy) cookies, but did not quite satisfy our need for sweets. The cupcakes were the pot of gold under the rainbow - just what we were looking for. There must have been a handful of different flavors on display. My friend got a banana cupcake and I chose the chocolate. Both were amazing. I am a choco-holic so the chocolate was perfect for me - and I could not even tell it was pareve. The frosting was sweet, but not overly sugary and the cake portion was moist. Roz said she changes out the cupcake flavors often, but always has the classics available. If not just to visit the friendly owner, I must go back to try out another one of Roz's amazing cupcakes and her highly recommended apple cake and carrot cake!

Note: Homemade Goodies also takes orders for birthdays and other simchas.

Su Xing - Vegan/Kosher Asian Cuisine

A visit to Su Xing will change your mind about tofu in an instant. The restaurant is conveniently located at 15th and Sansom - right in the middle of the city. The atmosphere is quiet, but family-friendly. The staff is cordial and the service is moderate. The food is delicious! The portions are large and all for a great price. Though it is open seven days a week, the restaurant is International Kosher Council approved.

I have been to Su Xing a handful of times and I am always amazed by the variety of dishes.
Appetizers: The spring roles are normal, crispy and well done. The steamed dumplings are scrumptious! They are soft, not too sticky, and are filled with well-cooked veggies.
Soup: The hot and sour soup is wonderful! On a rainy or cold winter day, this is one of my favorites. It has the right level of spice and a great flavor.
Noodles and Rice: The Pan Fried Noodles with Mixed Vegetable was good; the noodles were a little overcooked, but the veggies and sauce were just right. It also had large chunks of seitan - the wheat-based protein - which are well-cooked, but is definitely an acquired taste. The veggie fried rice was typical, but had little chunks of seitan, which added protein and flavor to the dish.
Tofu and Vegetables: Spicy Szechuan Style Tofu and Kung Pao Dried Tofu (the latter has roasted peanuts) both have slightly spicy sauces with great flavor and fresh cut veggies. The Moo Shoo Vegetable and Tofu is one of my personal favorites. It comes with thin, crepe or thin tortilla-like, wraps, shredded tofu and veggies (well-prepared cabbage, bamboo, etc.), and hoisin sauce. Another delightful dish is the Triple Shredded in Garlic Sauce, which contains a light garlic sauce with fried, shredded, tofu and soy bean protein with shredded mushrooms.
The orange slices and fortune cookies are a perfect end to the meal.

No matter what type of sauce, veggies, or vegetarian protein option you prefer, Su Xing has it. Overall - highly recommended!

Su Xing House website: http://www.suxinghouse.com/default.html
International Kosher Council restaurants: http://www.ikckosher.com/clients.html