Street Fare Food Festival in Mt. Airy

This week Philly PR Girl got a preview of what’s in store for you on September 18th when Mt. Airy unveils their 2014 Street Fare on Germantown Avenue. It will be an evening dedicated to showing off this neighborhood that doesn’t get nearly enough of the attention it deserves.

No night which starts with corned beef hash and a glass of Lancaster Milk Stout has the potential of ending badly. We kicked off the evening at quizzo hot spot, the Trolley Car Diner, with its adorable trolley car-turned-ice cream shop out front, homemade doughnuts and phenomenal beer selection with over 400 choices!

What’s behind the name Pbon’s Fresh Phood food truck? Pronounced PEE-bahn, Pbon is the name of owner Andrea’s baby brother AND their signature menu item-a Maglio spicy sausage sandwich with egg and cheese on a pretzel roll. Insider tip: Don’t miss the jumbo lump crab sliders served with Utz’s Crab Chips.

Earth, Bread + Brewery is a corner bar just beckoning you to come in and try one of their delicious craft beers… or if you’re in a non-alcoholic kind of mood, they have homemade kombucha and sodas, too. (Currently, they have sarsaparilla, ginger ale, ‘nojito’ (lime and mint) and creamsicle.) Named for their two specialties, bread and beer, you won’t be disappointed in either yeasty category. Owner and brewer, Tom served up one of his current favorites, Forgotten Druid Ale, which we enjoyed with their artisan flatbreads. Be sure to try the Seed version that’s topped with freshly made garlic sauce, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, and pine nuts. In addition, the establishment is incredibly dedicated to our planet and emphasize supporting small business and local farmers.

If you’re looking for features Latin street fare and tapas, Cantina Avenida does not disappoint. You’ll find crab nachos, made-to-order tacos and even a Sonora bacon wrapped hotdog topped with salsa and queso. The showstopper here is their perfect margarita. Bartender Gabrielle attributes it to the fresh squeezed lime juice and lots of it. “It’s like three hours of squeezing,” says Gabrielle.

For more than 30 years, owners Jyoti and Vijai Gupta have been helping to bring Indian cuisine to the masses. What started as a food line sold in Natural Food stores such as Whole Foods and Weaver’s Way Co-Op has evolved into Jyoti Indian Bistro. Now they’re serving up fresh, new dishes while never losing the authenticity of traditional Indian cuisine. We tried the Chole Bhature, a curried chickpea dish served with bhatura, a freshly fried bread straight from the sizzling oil. There are plenty of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options here. Insider tip: they serve a traditional Indian brunch each Saturday morning.

A place to eat, read, and play, people of all ages come to enjoy this quirky cafe that feels like a library landed right inside your favorite coffee shop. Read & Eat boasts an impressive hand-scooped ice cream selection, housemade items such as chocolate croissants and pound cakes, along with a more savory menu of paninis and snacks. With a twenty-five seat movie theatre, live bands and a great nook just for the little ones, Read + Eat truly has something for everyone.

A good meal always finishes with something sweet, and Wonderland Cakes owners Klaudia and Nicole and their kitschy dessert truck fit the bill perfectly. These two adorable ladies, who look like they just stepped out of a pinup shoot, serve up artisan chocolates, pastries, ice cream and cakes. Chocolate lovers beware, their Peanut Butter Bombshell is a gloriously rich chocolate cake shot with peanut butter mousse… and just may make you come undone.

For a full list of participating restaurants at this year’s festival, click here! Follow along on social media by using hashtag #StFareMtAiry or following Go Mt. Airy on Facebook and Twitter.