It took a hungry village, but peckish patrons made the 12th Annual A Taste of Phoenixville the most successful year yet to benefit the Good Samaritan Shelter.
The Good Samaritan Shelter is a Christian ministry that provides transitional housing and supportive services to the homeless. It is a private, non-profit and non-denominational organization and welcomes all those in need. Men are served in the Phoenixville location, while women, and women with children, are assisted in Ephrata.
A record-breaking crowd of 500+ relaxed in the gorgeous Phoenixville Foundry, and sipped and nibbled through an impressive array of delights from the area’s top purveyors. First, props to the restaurants that participated: check them out here, and visit them often. Really. It’s a labor of love to schlep out your very best and make it look and taste like a million bucks.
Next, a big hat’s off to the event sponsors whose generosity made the event affordable, amazing and a winner. Phoenixville Dish is proud to have played a role. And kudos to you, rock star attendee, who bid on the bounty that was the Silent Auction to provide even mo’ money for Good Samaritan Shelter.
Right then: to the main course—the eats. Two floors of eats. Hubs was my carnivore in crime this eve, and we took to those tasting stations with abandon. And while I could slow the World Wide Web by filling it with details on every sumptuous bite, in the interest of those who need that bandwidth to watch cute kittens and puppies on the ‘net, here are our top picks in a few key categories:
• Nina’s Best of the Taste: Majolica served fresh, bright and delicious fishes. Well, all its dishes. It takes a lot to wow me with scallops, but the perfectly portioned, ceviche-style spoonful was slightly tart; the acid was perfect with the buttery fish. There was also salmony goodness atop endive in a delightful light sauce, but what really piqued our palates was the egg custard with white truffle served in an egg shell in a quaint egg holder. An explosion of savory and earthy in that winning combo.
• Hub’s Best of the Taste: A heapin’ helpin’ of chicken cutlet and broccoli rabe plus secret sauce on a slider roll with a small pasta shooter from Foresta’s Market. The cutlet had just a wee bit o’breading that enhanced, but didn’t overpower. And the dressing on the pasta salad complemented the slight bite from the broccoli rabe. Delish.
• The Kid from Delco: Hubs insisted I also mention the authentic hoagies—Italian, turkey, veggie and more—proffered by Montesano Bros. Mangia!
• Most Unusual: Mompops everything-free gourmet ice pops, particularly Pineapple Chipotle. Just sweet enough with a healthy burn at the end. No dairy, no gluten, no added sugar, no nuts, just vegan, under 100 calories and 100 percent tasty.
• Most Sophisticated: A tea sandwich, dahlink? I don’t mind if I do … or two or three. My pinky was held aloft as I sampled cucumber, then egg salad then cream cheese and watercress from Cooking Spotlight. I had to get my dainty on to avoid gobbling down an entire display of ‘em.
• Carb Bomb: If you’re on the Atkins diet, then slowly step away from Bistro on Bridge’s famous risotto balls. Did they intend the melty cheesy nib in the center of this ever-so-lightly fried piece of heaven? Oh, I think so. A bit of crunch, rich arborio rice and cheese. I should have had a second ….
• Home for the Holidays: You can enjoy this November redux anytime: Aquilantes Catering’s stuffed roasted chicken and gravy. Hubs loved the moist, moist, moist chix flavored with Thanksgiving-style spices in the stuffing. Winner, winner, chicken dinner!
• Cupcake Wars: It was our first sampling of Cupcakes Gourmet, which had every flavor under the sun in its mouth-watering display towers. But we also have to give a nod to Dia Doce’s vegan and gluten-free cupcake that, amazingly, had the same moist consistency as its other offerings as well as a sweet and satisfying flavor. Hmmm, maybe we’d better try another sample from both bakers ….
Uncle! Uncle! We couldn’t eat another bite, though we did, yet there’s no way to cover it all in one article. Like duck and ‘shroom confit from Sips Bistro and Bar. Pick anything from Robert Ryan Catering and Design. How about meatballs from Pepperoncini? I know, good-for-you dark chocolate from Bridge Street Chocolates. Or unique, homemade flavors from FreshAPeel Hummus? All washed down with a beer from the Sly Fox Brewery. So many tastes, so little time.
Do check out the list of restaurants and start working your way through them. Then let us know what you like best during your personal taste of Phoenixville.
Photographs credited to Nina Lea Photography.
