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Arugula: Leave Room for Tiramisu at This Italian Restaurant

Arugula is an Italian restaurant specializing in traditional dishes that are artfully prepared, yet at the same time rustic and straightforward. The restaurant's loyal Plymouth Meeting customers say the food at Arugula is fresh, well prepared, and authentic. It's also beautifully plated so that it's a colorful feast for your eyes as well as your mouth.

Try the popular bone-in, breaded veal Milanese with chopped arugula and tomato salad on the side, or indulge in a decadent plate of penne pasta with shrimp, scallops, and sun-dried tomatoes cooked in a delicate brandy tomato cream sauce. Yelp reviewers remind you to leave room for dessert, which is elevated to a work of art at Arugula. The tiramisu, which is light and moist with just a touch of rum, is an ideal end to any meal.

Arugula
2350 Butler Pike
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
(610) 941-1177
arugulacoldpoint.com
www.yelp.com/biz/arugula-ristorante-plymouth-meeting

Wegmans: Get Lost in This Truly Super Supermarket

It’s no wonder why the locals in the King of Prussia area are so devoted to Wegmans. This upscale grocery store is a foodie’s paradise, with a selection of both prepared foods and groceries so expansive that you’ll want to stay for hours. Inside, the store is bright and airy and so large that you can’t help but feel impressed.

The Market Café serves a wide variety of foods ranging from classic American dinner dishes to authentic Indian cuisine, and it even has a full bar where diners can grab a drink with their meals. The cheese section is more expansive than those at many gourmet food shops, the produce is mainly organic and locally sourced, and beauty is in bloom in the floral department.

Wegmans carries mainly fresh, organic produce and other higher quality options. Stop by the store to see it for yourself!

Wegmans
1 Village Drive
King of Prussia, PA 19406
(484) 690-3500
www.yelp.com/biz/wegmans-king-of-prussia
www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10052&catalogId=10002&langId=-1&partNumber=STORE_48

3 Recipes for Pumpkin Seeds

Even if you make roasted pumpkin seeds every fall, there are so many different recipes for this autumn snack that you probably haven’t tried them all. Here are three unique pumpkin seed recipes that will give a new taste to one of your favorite fall foods.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds [AllRecipes]
Two hefty teaspoons of butter help to bring out the natural flavor of the pumpkin seeds in this simple, basic recipe. Whether you buy a bag of seeds from the grocery store or extract them from the pumpkin yourself, you just can’t go wrong with this fall snack.

Pumpkin Seed Pesto [Whole Foods]
Fans of pesto will adore this unique recipe, which combines the fall flavors of pumpkin seeds with the unexpected taste of cilantro pesto. Store the finished product in your refrigerator to spread on sandwiches, drizzle over pasta, or use as a topping for baked chicken.

Asparagus, Potato and Spinach Galette [Woman's Day]
Galettes are very popular because of their versatility and their beautifully rustic appearance, and this one incorporates pumpkin seeds in a way that you’ve likely never tried before. Fill the rolled pie crust with Gruyere cheese, asparagus, and Yukon gold potatoes to create a truly filling meal that’s pretty enough to serve at parties or holiday gatherings.

Burgers and Shakes Are Served With a Side of All-American Charm at Shake Shack

For diners who've already bitten into one of Shake Shack's juicy cheeseburgers, the fast-casual franchise needs no introduction. But for the uninitiated, here's a primer: Founded in 2004, Shake Shack was born from a single hot dog cart in Manhattan's Madison Square Park. Nowadays, the "modern-day roadside burger stand," as the restaurant puts it, boasts more than 35 Shake Shack locations worldwide.

Here in KOP, there's a Shake Shack just on the fringe of the King of Prussia Mall Plaza parking lot. Opened in 2013, the location earns the unique distinction of being one of two solar-powered Shake Shacks, but the menu offerings here are identical to what you'll find at Shake Shack locations worldwide: wax paper-wrapped burgers, griddled hot dogs, and crinkle cut fries, all of which bolster the franchise's all-American, old-school vibe by being made to-order. Dessert isn't overlooked here, either: Straws stand upright in Shake Shack's hand-spun milkshakes, while Concretes tempt a sweet tooth with spoonfuls of creamy custard blended with the diner's choice of candies, cookies, and sauces.

Shake Shack's King of Prussia location is open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. The promise of draught beer and wine by the glass up the franchise's popularity; expect a wait.

Shake Shack
160 N. Gulph Road
King of Prussia, PA 19046
(267) 428-7560
www.shakeshack.com/location/king-of-prussia
www.yelp.com/biz/shake-shack-king-of-prussia

Bluefin2: Enjoy Fresh Fish, Modern Flavors at This Local BYOB

Bluefin2 takes traditional Japanese sushi techniques and updates them with a modern twist to produce fresh takes on Japanese food. For a fun appetizer at this Plymouth Meeting restaurant, some Yelp reviewers suggest ordering the tuna munchkins, which are balls of spicy tuna coated in panko and served on a slice of avocado. For an impressive sushi roll experience, try ordering the "kiss of fire" roll, which comes out to your table on a large flaming platter that is extinguished just before you bite into it.

No matter what you order, though, the restaurant will prepare it with high quality ingredients and will arrive at your table carefully and beautifully prepared. One final note: Bluefin2 is a BYOB, so you can bring along your favorite wine or beer to enjoy along with your meal.

Visit Bluefin2's website to find out more about this Plymouth Meeting eatery.

Bluefin2
1017 Germantown Pike
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
(610) 272-2962
bluefintwo.com
www.yelp.com/biz/bluefin2-plymouth-meeting

Conshohocken Italian Bakery: A Local Standard

Is there any smell more satisfying than that of freshly-baked bread? You can experience it for yourself at the Conshohocken Italian Bakery. The flavor is said to be just as good with locals raving that this place turns out delightful loaves of bread and other treats.

They’ve been in business for over 40 years, so they obviously know the score. Conshohocken Italian Bakery also has a pizza oven, producing a regional style of tomato pie baked in a rectangular pan, brushed with a tangy, salty sauce. The white pizza is quite well-regarded – foregoing the tomatoes lets them use unusual toppings like broccoli and anchovies to excellent effect. Their sweet treats also earn praise, with traditional anisette cookies drawing raves. Try a cannoli as well. On the weekends, you can find great deals on day-old bread and rolls.

Conshohocken Italian Bakery
79 Jones Street
Conshohocken, PA 19428
(610) 825-9334
http://www.yelp.com/biz/conshohocken-italian-bakery-inc-conshohocken

Expecting Company? Here’s How to Prepare Your Home for Overnight Guests!

You just found out that a few friends or family members are coming to visit for a few days, and they’re going to stay at your place instead of a hotel. Before you get stressed, check out these simple tips for making guests feel comfortable in your home.

  1. Create a private area. Although a separate guest bedroom is the ideal area for out-of-town guests, not all homes have this space. Give your guests a bit of added privacy by placing an air mattress in a little-used office instead of offering them the living room couch, or even put up a temporary partition at night if the couch is your only option.
  2. Provide linens. One of the most important things you can do to make guests feel at home is to provide them with clean sheets, towels, and other linens. Place a stack of towels on the bed, and be sure to turn down the bed sheets before they arrive.
  3. Offer storage. Your guests will feel like a nuisance if their suitcases are strewn all over the floor, so offer them a spare closet or even a corner of a low-traffic room where they can store their belongings.
  4. Invest in a few snacks. Oftentimes guests’ eating schedules are different from your own, and they might feel uncomfortable mentioning their hunger. Purchase a few tasty snacks before they arrive, and be sure to accommodate dietary restrictions like veganism or lactose intolerance.

Plan Your Peaceful Christmas: Guest-ify Your Home [The Art of Simple]
Getting Ready for Overnight Guests [Real Simple]
How to Welcome Overnight Guests Without Spending Money [Not Spending Money]
Hosting Overnight Guests [Life Your Way]
Make Your Overnight Guests Feel at Home [Southern Living]

Maple Acres Farm: Eat Fresh, Local Produce

Whether you want to shop at the farm-fresh market or decide to drive out to the farm itself for a day of pick-your-own fun, Maple Acres Farm in Plymouth Meeting is a good choice. Everything at this market is picked daily, and you'll find whatever is in season and at the peak of ripeness. During the spring months, the market is full of fresh, crisp lettuce and other greens, while in mid-summer the crops lean more toward juicy heirloom tomatoes and corn on the cob. As cool weather returns, so do acorn squash and root vegetables.

The farm's unique pick-your-own flower fields are especially popular during the summer. Walk through a meadow of colorful zinnias, picking out an armful to display as a centerpiece for your dining room table, or let one of the farm's staff florists arrange your fresh-cut flowers into a professionally crafted bouquet. Return in the fall to bring home some pumpkins!

Check the website to see what's in season and available on any given week.

Maple Acres Farm
2656 Narcissa Road
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
(610) 828-7395
www.mapleacresfarmmarket.com
www.yelp.com/biz/maple-acre-farms-plymouth-meeting-2

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