coffee diaries | bodhi

If there is a cafe I could repeatedly go to, and call my own, I think it would be Bodhi. I have been coffee scouting for a while now - at least three years - and while I haven't been to Bodhi excessively, I find that every time I go, it is pleasant. Slow paced, not rushed; quiet, not crowded; bright and white and happy; and of course, simple good coffee. It's almost like it's undiscovered.

I ordered a $4.50 cappuccino along with a girlfriend I was showing around town (she flew in and was on a short layover!). She loved the minimalist ambience, the straightforward menu and big wooden tables for sitting and sharing stories over. This is one of the rare cafes in the city that actually has sitting room, with plenty of tables yet there are still a good amount of people humming through their work on their MacBooks or visiting friends, like I was.

Perhaps my favorite part of Bodhi is the little "nook" enclave. It is a split level space, but you'd never know it from the outside. In this little nook you're away from the counter and the entrance/door, so it provides a really cozy and intimate atmosphere.  Lost in stories and catching up, I quickly enjoyed that cappuccino and wanted another. But that's for another day, another coffee diaries!

ciao! xo

Bodhi Coffee
263 W. 10th Street
Washington Square West
Philadelphia
@bodhicoffee

pope in philly

Okay, this title is misleading. I will not be among the millions of people who congregate to the Ben Franklin parkway to see Pope Francis, because I think that they are crazy! I am glad the Pope is coming, but as a local I just can't bring myself to go be in that sweaty mob of people. So - I will show you a few photos from a delightful morning a few weeks ago when my friend from out of town came to visit.

My friend, a beautiful flight attendant (who is living the dream!) came to visit and had enough time on her layover to sightsee around Philly with me! I will play a tourist in my own city anytime (except Pope weekend). The morning is the best time to bop around; it's my favorite time of day anywhere - coffee breaks a plenty, there is a subtle cool breeze in the air, and the whole day stands before you.
 We went to two cafes, Bodhi and Talulah's Daily - instant winners! Bodhi is one of my favorites in the city, probably in my top 5. I chronicle coffee visits in the city and beyond in my coffee diaries posts - reviewing cafe ambience and flavors. Bodhi's style and menu is very simplistic and minimal, while Talulah's is a bit more earthy, eclectic and colorful. They are both fantastic choices and have very high reviews!

I love the older section of Philly and Society Hill, so we went there before venturing up towards the Art Museum. We did so much in one day, thanks to Uber rides and late trains :)

See more posts from Philly:

1. The Italian Market
2. Chinatown style post
3. Best pizza (and a special place in general)
4. Gelato pitstops
5. A glitzy night on the town

ciao! xo

coffee diaries | ultimo

Ultimo is a cool little coffee shop tucked away in the streets of south Philly. It's out of the way from my usual route, so we drove in early on a Sunday morning to find that there were no crowds, even though the windows and doors were open and a warm April breeze was sweeping through. It was on my radar because it won Philadelphia Magazine's 2012 'Best Coffee Shop,' and it has taken me this long to get down to the area to experience it for myself.

You could easily drive by Ultimo if you're, say, scouting a good parking spot or looking for a friends' house. It is right at the corner of 15th and Mifflin, hidden among rows of narrow southwest philly homes. It is a nice little corner, tree-lined, with an entrance that had wide-open doors and no line. Two Philly cops were being served before me, and I thought to myself, 'that is cool, they have a coffee hangout! They probably come here all the time!' All of this was going on as I took in the exposed brick walls and the industrial (but not over-the-top-minimalist, if that's a thing) atmosphere. Of course,

The order: an Americano and a latte. I was in and out, so I had to sacrifice my sit down experience for a couple of to-go cups. I wish I could have stayed and eyed up the well-stocked and diverse collections of beers over at the next counter!

Notes from the Coffee Diary
smooth, nutty flavor.
light and creamy.
light foam, soft texture
for once: not felt rushed or crowded! easy ambience.

ciao, xo

first time at the italian market

Sunday's trip to the Italian Market on 9th Street in Philly was my first time ever. It was a lot different than I thought it'd be, but I loved it nonetheless. Now, before I forget...here's what was on our produce shopping list (aka the shopping list that was 100% spur of the moment and completely unplanned).

• fresh asparagus
• grapes
• blueberries
• romaine lettuce
• baby spinach

Now, while the Italian market is very non-Italian in its look (and produce selection - pineapples?), the general feel was very bold,  tough-yet-loveable, especially once you're in line at Claudio's. We almost cut out a guy in front of us with his bag of De Cecco pasta, and we at once rectified our faux pas with a "sorry! you were in front of us!" He grunted back, "I know," and turned his shoulder to us.

Philadelphia is so lovely.

So while the produce market was the most photogenic, the stores selling the fresh-made pastas and aged cheeses were the ones that spoke to my soul. Claudio's and Talluto's (pictured) were the two that we poked into. At Claudio's, we surrendered to the most sumptuously sharp pecorino cheeses that were so crumbly and salty and flaky that my eyes rolled to the back of my head and took me instantly back to that tasting in Montepulciano. That was the day I became a cheese person.

We purchased a piccante pecorino, and another from Sardinia - both were fantastic. We also bought reeeeallly long spaghetti, pesto alla genovese, oh and more cheese smoked mozzarella (be still my beating heart), and marinated baby mozzarella. Claudio's was fun but tough. The guys behind the deli counter liked our passion for cheeses. I think by the time we left we were kind of buddies.

Then we rounded back to Talluto's for some arrabiata sauce, pesto agnolini (!!!), and a few more things that I can't remember.

All in all, a very successful first day ever of the Italian market. Mom and I gotta make it a monthly thing. When am I going back to Italy again??

ciao!! xo

gelato date

Over the weekend (and for the first time in too long) my Siena friends reunited for some brunch and gelato!! It was perfect. I snapped a few pictures of our gelato date at Capogiro (I wrote about this place in an old coffee diaries post here) before our concoctions melted away. 

It's so casual and even probable to stop for a simple gelato in Italy - we were reminiscing about that - but here in the USA it's obviously not as easy to find a cute little corner gelateria that sells your favorite flavor. (sigh: i'm still searching for the frutti di bosco). We're lucky that Capogiro is here in Philly and whips up thirtysomething fresh batches of gelato daily! It'll hold me over until next time I'm in Italy. The wait for the frutti di bosco is worth it.

ps. Irish potato flavored gelato is AMAZING. sounds odd, but I promise it is good.

ciao! xo

can't go wrong with...

Love, friends and coffee! Seems to be the theme of the last couple of days...and it is something I want to continue - especially the first two parts! 

Summer is kind of over, which breaks my heart a little. I have been practicing balance (and little ways to hang on to the happy things of summer).  Through friends, through running, and I even signed up for a month of yoga. I am not feeling that doomsday "I CANNOT BELIEVE SUMMER IS OVER" feeling. Actually, I am feeling pretty content and happy with myself. Going to chase that feeling. Summer will inevitably slip away, but it will inevitably blossom back.

The weekend was beautiful. I spent it all with people near and dear to my heart! Lots of laughs, walking around the city, a sushi date, rainy day drives, photo raids at Ray-Ban, mimosas at brunch, an impulse buy here, and of course coffees to end it all. I am brimming with excitement still over it all. I'm realizing how lucky I am because whenever I spend  a day like that, I feel inspired and refreshed and yet, comforted. It's allll good. Just what I needed to kick start the school year.

ciao! xo

chinatown

tank AE | sandals LOFT | shorts Forever21 | bag Pratesi (Florence, IT) | sunnies anthropologie | watch kate spade | bracelet Summer beads

Hellllllo there! This is me, but not really me, since I am currently sitting on a beach somewhere without.a.care.in.the.world!

But I felt bad neglecting you, so I left some posts for the week, including this gem from CHINA....town!

A really unexpected walk through chinatown in philadelphia proved to provide the perfect backdrop for a few outfit shots!

some notes on the look: I love this tank top...it is really flattering and long in the back.

long enough to tuck in - and it is such a bright neon pop of color!

I bought it from AE on sale, for about $7..what a steal! but can't find it anymore. I wish I could

because I would probably buy it in every color!

As for the shorts, I get so many compliments on these! I am so happy that these are in -

the flowy, floral/print shorts that kind of look like a skirt - 

because they are the most comfortable thing to wear, hands down. 

This was a really nice, but hot day out - this was the perfect breezy outfit to stay cool and light.

being hot in the city is particularly uncomfortable, and I was a-ok all day!

city girls, what do you wear in the summer to beat the heat? oh, and check back tomorrow for a cute vid!

ciao, xo

scenes from my weekend

check out my sister's illustrations || twitter

Why can't it just get warm, and stay warm!? 

This weekend was such a tease in that regard. 

One day was perfect for smoothie stops and a light coat, 

and the next was a chilly, blustery day where going without gloves was unthinkable.

The weekend was packed with food (as you can see), poking around some awesome shops and

good old quality family time. 

My little sister was featured in a gallery art show and we got to see her work

and meet her colleagues - how awesome is she?!

It's pretty fantastic to see the stuff she comes up with. I am beyond envious of her talent!

{check out her other illustrations}

So our artsy-fartsy afternoon brought us into the city which was quite fun for me - 

I am always up for a little time in the city of brotherly love...

because it means I get to grab a latte from here! (my fave in the city).

Cookies from insomnia were a delicious, indulgent addition...mmm.

Clearly we went overboard. No complaints here :)

ciao, xo

ps. check out my post featuring a dress from eShakti! use the code ANTCPNBLOG to save 10% off your order. :)