Traveling To Jim Thorpe? Dine at Through The Looking Glass!

You'll find this quaint charming corner restaurant up the street from the courthouse. Loved the ability to sit outside on the wide porch and watch tourists and locals stroll by. Though I didn't sit inside, I did a small walk though and it was very homey and comfortable, more as if you're a very welcome guest in the home of really good friends.
I had the fully loaded cheddar cheese biscuit. OMG.
HELLO.
It's rare to find homemade cheddar cheese biscuits anywhere in the north east so of course I had to try it and it was fantastic.

It was a marinated grilled chicken breast that was moist and plump on the most delicate tasty biscuit that had just a hint of cheddar cheese. Sweet onions and peppers complimented the chicken and a chipotle dressing brought it all together.
Service was friendly and attentive without being intrusive.
I spent most of my summers growing up in Nesquehoning so I'm very familiar with Jim Thorpe. Though it was my first visit to the Looking Glass, it certainly won't be my last!
 Through The Looking Glass (Link)

111 Broadway
Jim Thorpe, PA 18229
(570) 325-8770

Coach's Steak and Hoagie House in Doylestown - Something To Cheer About!

Coach's "The Trainer" wrap

Clean, bright, huge TV's to watch sports in between tweeting, four squaring, facebooking, and talking to the person you're with while eating. Hehe.
We had the Irish Fries - scallions, bacon, Irish Cheddar and served with seasoned sour cream. Of course, they were fabulous. Fries remained hot and crispy even with all the toppings. They have an awesome selection of "dressed up" fries - including Italian fries, king crab fries, and Freedom fries (with pork roll and ranch!).
John had the "Trainer" - a roast beef wrap with swiss, cole slaw, and garlic aioli. It was the spicy garlic aioli that really made this wrap a winner.
Since it is bikini season, I asked if I could have a chicken salad wrap - but instead of a wrap, could they put it on a salad? (I'd already overindulged with the fantastic fries!). They were happy to oblige.

Coach's Irish Fries

Unlike most hoagie shops - Coach's has a few desserts. We didn't try, unfortunately, and I guess we'll just have to make sure to return! But they sound awesome: Maryanne pound cake,  a butter cake (secret family recipe) and cookies from the Maryanne bakery.
The one itme Coach's is lacking in is salads. But the simple solution to that - is do what I did - just request any hoagie/wrap item be turned into a salad.
Prices are extremely reasonable and counter staff are friendly.
Coach's gives Doylestown something to cheer about!

44 East State St

Doylestown, PA 18901

(215) 348-7066

Bryn and Danes Horsham - Healthy Fast Food - And Mason Jar Lamps!

We just happened to walk into Bryn and Danes in Horsham on the day they opened. What makes this place unique to the area is it's "fast food done healthy" AND offers a drive thru.
However, I would highly advise eating in at least one time - if only to sit under the "trees" that have mason jar lights hanging from them! The place has such a fresh vibe - not overly artsy fartsy - just clean and welcoming with Jack Johnson playing over the speakers.
I had the Cabo Taco wrap - one of the most popular wraps I'm told. While it was good, I guess I thought it might have a little more kick. KT had the chicken fingers and said they were the best she's ever had. And she eats a ton of chicken fingers. So - for a teenage girl to say "these are the best..."

 We tried the popcorn and sweet potato fries. Nothing spectacular in taste - however - the popcorn is served in a paper bag and there are a variety of spices you can shake into the bag - ranch, BBQ, crab, sharp cheddar...I'm probably missing one or two...but we tried the ranch and cheddar - both very good!
One of the things I love best is the natural soda. Bryn and Dane's uses the same company the Melt Down uses New Hope Premium Fountain which has no crap you can't spell in it - and comes in awesome flavors - watermelon is my favorite - followed by the skinny root beer which has this awesome spicy zing to it!
I can't wait to try ALL the wraps and salads and breakfast items.
One bone of contention...sorry...and this will hopefully change...I checked the www.Brynanddane.com  site looking for store hours - couldn't find any info. I tried to call the number listed - it was disconnected (215-554-2796). We decided to stop by anyway at 10:30 - walked in and was told (politely) they don't open until 11:00.
In a world of mobile media/social media - it seems a big mistake not to make sure your website and FB page have all the details needed (correct phone and store hours). This is often the first impression a customer will have and I can't count the number of times I go to a stores website and have to search around to locate the hours and or phone number. It should be on the landing page - easy to find!
That said, I have no doubt Bryn and Dane's will be a hit in the Horsham area!

Ristorante Il Melograno - Best Italian in Bucks County!

 Ristorante Il Melograno is really difficult for me to prounce so I just refer to it as the 'best Italian restaurant in Bucks County). An "authentic" Italian restaurant in a SHOPPING CENTER?? - hell yeah bitches! We've been here twice, once for lunch and for dinner (I chose this for my birthday celebration - that's how much I love it).
Small, but inviting and cozy.
Staff - excellent, attentive, but with heavy Italian accent - just nod and smile if you can't figure out what they are saying.
Owner is also the Chef.
Food is SO DAMN GOOD.
I mean, seriously.
LOML(love of my life - gag, right?? - but it's true...) had lobster bisque both times. He was astounded by the actual LOBSTER in the bisque. He loved it and said he could eat it everyday for the rest of his life and not get sick of it.
I had the Mozzarella all Caprese salad - who knew mozzarella, tomatoes and roasted peppers could taste so fresh and explode with flavor at the same time?
The second visit, I had a special of the night salad, which was beets with blue cheese - HELLO, this was FABULOUS.
The first visit, I had Pollo all cacciatora which was just perfect. LOML had Scampi e Faggioli and gave it a hefty thumbs up.
We both had dessert - he had Creme Brulee (of course) and loved it so much, he had it the second visit and proclaimed it the best he's ever had. And seriously, it's about all he ever orders for dessert, so he has many different Creme Brulee to compare it to.
I had Italian Rum cake the first time (soooo good and moist) and the second time I had a special of the night dessert, which I can't remember what it was called, but it was fabulous (see the picture).
The second visit, we split the gnocci al pomodoro - little pillows of potato goodness. I wished I'd ordered a whole dish to myself so I could take some home...
LOML had the Scampi al Aglio for his main dish (he loved) and I had the beef medallions sauteed in a peppercorn sauce (divine).
No "quirky" food here (I love quirky food) - just authentic, fantastically flavorful food, brought to you by friendly attentive staff.
OH! And my cappuccino came with a snowman rendering in the foam!
Hands down, my favorite Italian restaurant in Bucks/Montgomery county!!! And so far, even beats out the Philly places I've tried!!
Make it a New Years Resolution to try it!!!
Located at: 
73 Old Dublin Pike, Doylestown, PA 18901 · Get Directions
Phone
2153487707

Jacks Dog Farm - Tops The Happy List

We "stopped" by Jack's Dog Farm not planning to purchase a puppy, however, when we laid our eyes on 3 little chocolate labs, I was smitten.

And you can see from my photo of Jack Henry, he is totally adorable!

The kennels that the dogs were kept in were very clean, all had fresh paper and fresh water. There were German Shepherds (adorable!!) and many other breeds (they are known for their Jack Russell terriers I later found out).

Jeremy came out to help us almost immediately. Do not be afriad of Jeremy. He was very kind and helpful and didn't pressure us in anyway. (Like we needed any extra help - we knew we were doomed as soon as we held the first puppy!).

I did notice a bit of a cough and Jeremy sent us home with meds just in case. Jack Henry came with papers and had already received the vaccinations that were due.

Once we got home, I became concerned about the cough. We'd just lost our dog Diablo unexpectedly, and I had "new mom" syndrome and panicked because of the recent loss of Diablo so I took him to our vet, Ark Animal, which happens to be the same vet Jeremy uses. They put Jack on a round of antibiotics and when I called Jeremy to let him know, he paid for the whole vet bill and was very very professional and kind. We later heard from many friends that new puppies and or rescues they'd gotten from either other breeders or shelters often had the same thing. I met other people who'd bought their dogs there and 2 had dogs that were fabulously healthy, awesome dogs, and one person said her puppy had been sick but that they also took care of the vet bills and now her Boxer is happy healthy and wonderful.

When I talked to Jeremy after Jack went to the vet, he gave me the name and number of a person who had bought a puppy from the same litter a few days before, in case I wanted reassurance. I think, it's not unreasonable to expect that a new puppy from any breeder might not be in tip top health - crap happens! What SHOULD be expected is for the business to work with the customer to remedy the situation - which Jeremy at Jacks Dog Farm absolutely did. Keep in mind too, if you call someone to complain and start off the conversation with a bad attitude, it doesn't help the situation. You should expect to be treated the same way you are treating the other person.

After I got home, I did some research on Jacks Dog Farm and read some horribly written reviews - I know animal people are passionate and sometimes over the top - and I think that Jacks might have been targeted by these crazy over the top people - and from the way they can barely piece a sentence together, I find it hard to believe they can afford to pay for a pure bred dog.

If you are thinking about going to Jack's Dog Farm, please, just stop by and see for yourself!

Also, Jack Henry's temperament is AWESOME! Every time we take him out (to kids soccer games/field hockey/the park) - everyone compliments how laid back and easy going he is!

We're so happy with him and I give Jack's Dog Farm 5 Stars for such a wonderful dog and 5 Stars for the way they handled our situation.

Ark Animal Hospital - Best Vet in Bucks County!

Diablo

My Australian Cattle Dog Diablo HATED going to the vet, so we went once to Ark Animal Hospital and went to outdoor clinics for his rabies updates (he tolerated these slightly better). Then Diablo decided to lunge at the tires of a dump truck while we were waiting to cross the street and I rushed him to Ark Animal. I can't even begin to tell you how caring and compassionate the staff was. From the receptionist to the techs to the doctors. Diablo is no longer with us and we miss him terribly but  we have a chocolate lab puppy now- who had a case of kennel cough and pneumonia and so we've REALLY got to know the staff at Ark Animal and they are all truly wonderful. From calling to make an appointment, to the clean and spacious office, and as an added bonus, I love the Ark Animal pets that wander around - esp. Zander the Cattle Dog.

Jack Henry

If you are looking for caring, kind, gregarious, and thorough animal hospital, this is the place for you and those with fur in your family.
***also of note- my daughter (8 years old at the time) - spotted a bunny on the road that had been horribly injured and was barely breathing. She insisted we take it to the vet so we took it to Ark Animal where they graciously stopped it's suffering. Hearing that my daughter wanted to be a vet one day, they offered to give her a tour of the hospital which she loved and appreciated.
Ark Animal truly goes above and beyond the call of animal duty!

Sundae School - Where Ice Cream is a Religious Experience

Sundae School - this place is a GEM and so far, hands down, the best place I've found for ice cream in Bucks AND Montgomery County.
A) - they have CMP's. If you're from coal country, you know what that is. If not, then get yourself to the Sundae School and try it!
The ice cream is thick and rich and comes in the standard flavors as well as a slew of creative flavors - red velvet cake (ohmygosh-had it-sooooo good!), birthday cake, cotton candy, almond joy, Playdough (looks like mulit colored Playdough!) Kids will love all the fun, different flavors to choose from.
Then of course, there are the standards - with many different variations - like butter pecan; there are at least 3 different versions of butter pecan.
They also have soft serve ice cream that blows away Dairy Queen soft serve!
Ice cream cakes, ice cream sandwiches, frozen bananas, OH! And they even have fudge people!
It might be a bit of a drive for some people but let me tell you why it's worth it: All the standard flavors PLUS really creative flavors - so much to choose from! Great sundae combinations. Super nice staff. Family owned. Great parking. Picnic area outside to eat.
There is also a feeling of nostalgia and comfort as soon as you walk in the door. And I promise you - once you've been there - it will become a tradition.

Sundae School

401 W Schoolhouse Rd
Perkasie, PA 18944
(215) 723-4123