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Shrimp and Crab over Papperdelle / Ron Knerr
The William Penn Inn
Located just down Route 202 from Blue Bell, the venerable William Penn Inn is the perfect place for a special dinner celebration, serving fine dining American cuisine in a elegant environment with exceptional service. During the holiday season the building is alive with festive lighting on trees, landscaping, and building surfaces and is certain to catch your eye as you pass. The enchantment of the outdoor decorations is mirrored in the attractive presentation of the food courses when dining.
Originally created as a Quaker worship house in 1714 to support William Penn and others who traveled from Philadelphia to the suburban surroundings, ownership eventually passed to the Evans family who started operation of a tavern in 1827 as the William Penn Hotel in honor of the famed Pennsylvania land grantor. Over the years, the thousand-plus acre property was renovated with additions of a third floor and a two-story porch in the front of the building. Nicholas DeWilde bought the property in 1920 and operated it for many years, with the Inn coming under ownership of the Kubach family in 1977, with the subsequent sale to the current owner Peter Freidrich in 1981. Friedrich further developed the fine dining establishment that we know today.
Read the rest of Ron's column below ...
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1st Avenue Tap & Grille to replace The Lucky Dog
A few weeks back we reported on The Lucky Dog in Conshohocken closing down, and being replaced with a restaurant by a new husband and wife team of owners... Well we now know the new joint located at 16 East 1st Ave will be called "1st Avenue Tap & Grille", and we also know the owners of this restaurant will be Dan and Debbie Brodeur.
Not much else to go on as far as a grand opening date (other than it will be in 2022 based on the signage on the front door), but as we hear more we'll be sure to let you know!
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1st Avenue Tap & Grille / Stan Huskey
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Philadelphia and its four collar counties amongst the highest in PA for liquor sales
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board recently released its annual report for fiscal year 2020-2021. A significant portion of its sales came from the Greater Philadelphia region. Five of the six top-selling counties were Philadelphia and its four collar counties. All together, some $702 million was spent on liquor and wine in the Philadelphia region, with Montgomery, Bucks, Chester and Delaware counties, in that order, following Philadelphia at #2 for highest sales. Only to be outdone by Allegheny County which is home to Pittsburgh.
Three of the top five sellers again this year belonged to Tito's Handmade Vodka products, with 50 milliliter Fireball Cinnamon Whisky retaining the top spot.
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Your Guide to Great Food & Great Fun is proud to present out newest feature, an ongoing calendar of fun events in our area. If you have an event you would like to have included just send an email to the A Moveable Feast Guy and he'll take care of the rest!
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SoulJoel's Comedy Shows at Westover Golf Club
SoulJoel's Comedy Club & Lounge is now operating out of Westover Golf Club at 401 S. Schuylkill Ave., Jeffersonville PA! They have some great shows coming up during the month of January... Check out their website for more information, a calendar of upcoming events and acts, and to purchase tickets in advance!
Greenberg Train & Toy Show
The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks will host the Greenberg Train & Toy Show on Saturday & Sunday, January 8th & 9th from 10:00am to 4:00pm both days. The event features 300+ tables of trains for sale, 70+ exhibitors from across the country, huge operating model train displays, free workshops and demonstrations, a free test track to run your trains while at the show, free door prize giveaways, and MUCH MORE! Link here for more information, and to purchase tickets in advance.
The Taste of Phoenixville
Once a year over 300 individuals attend The Taste of Phoenixville, a premier social event to show their support for Good Samaritan Services. Good Samaritan Services provides support to those who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness. This years event will take place on Thursday, January 20th from 6L00-10:00pm at the Franklin Commons, located at 400 Franklin Ave in Phoenixville. Learn more about the event, and order your tickets here!
The Motorsports Race Car & Trade Show
Another event in the coming weeks at the Expo Center is Oaks! This will take place on January 21st 2:00pm – 9:00pm, and January 22nd 11:00am – 9:00pm. The Motorsports Race Car & Trade Show combines industry, media, and consumer audiences exploring the newest equipment and most innovative technology in the motorsports industry. All forms of motorsports are represented, including circle track, drag racing, road racing, dirt and asphalt. Join us for two action-packed days! Visit this website for more information and advanced ticketing options.
Lititz Fire & Ice Festival
The 2022 Lititz Fire & Ice Festival will take place February 18th - 27th. Instead of one weekend, the event will be spread out over a week and a half, with rotating sculptures placed throughout the town! Stop by the event and order at one of the local restaurants, peruse the quaint shops and boutiques and enjoy the masterfully crafted ice sculptures! Find out more cool winter events at discoverlancaster.com.
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Start your New Year off on the right foot with these healthy eating tips and tricks
Here is a list of the best food resolutions you can make for 2022, according to an article from eatthis.com. The article consists of 10 approachable resolutions you can try in order to be a healthier version of YOU in the new year! (Our favorite tip on the list is attempting to follow the "80/20 Rule"...)
Whether something you found interesting in the article, or something you already do, share your favorite healthy eating tips with us at amoveablefeastmontco@gmail.com.
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Gift certificate for La Michoacana!
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La Michoacana Mixed Fajitas
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Sign up to be a member of the A Moveable Feast Members Club, post a foodie photo on Instagram with #amfeastagram, or just send an email to the A Moveable Feast Guy and you'll be entered to win a $25 gift certificate to
La Michoacana!
Join our Members Club below and you're automatically entered to win every month. Remember, 10 percent of your 99 cent membership each month goes to the Montco Anti-Hunger Network!
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New swag offer!
Enjoy your morning coffee with A Moveable Feast! Send a link to this newsletter to just 5 of your friends, and if they sign on to receive our free newsletter, or even if they don't, you'll receive this A Moveable Feast mug! All you have to do is email us at amoveablefeastmontco to let us know you did indeed send the link to five friends and we'll send you a mug! Oh, and just to make it as easy as possible, here's the link!
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... the rest of Ron's column
The interior is well appointed with period appropriate fixtures and decorated with photos from DeWilde’s collections. Multiple dining rooms offer the flexibility for large and small private parties as well as smaller dining groups. The venue is fully upscale, and you won’t find a burger or handheld on the Dinner Entrée menu. The kitchen has been headed by Philadelphia Restaurant School graduate Executive Chef Jeffrey Bell since 2004.
We recently gathered at the Inn with a group of friends for dinner. Our group was seated in one of the private dining areas and as a large party ordered over a variety of menu choices from the standard and Chef’s Additions menus. Appetizer courses included a Caesar Salad, Lobster Bisque, Oysters on the Half Shell and the scarcely found and previously discussed Snapper Soup. You may remember some months ago when I mentioned my search for Snapper Soup and several readers recommended several spots including the William Penn Inn. The Inn’s version was a classic preparation served with Sherry at the table with small bits of snapper in the thick broth.
Sidebar: I was surprised on an earlier William Penn Inn visit a few years ago by a pre-dinner service of a “Relish Plate”, which is probably only memorable to our older readers. It was missing on this visit, but it may have been a victim of Covid. Commonly seen in my earlier years, I now rarely come across this old school starter. For younger readers, a relish tray is a plate served with the bread and butter with an assortment of pickles, olives, carrot sticks, celery sticks, radishes, and scallions. Has anyone else seen a vintage relish plate in their dining adventures?
Entrée courses included Lobster Thermidor Filet Mignon, Veal Oscar, Shrimp and Crab Pappardelle, Sea Scallops, Cape May Flounder, Rack of Lamb, and Prime Rib. Each dish was well prepared and plated with an appealing appearance. Three sizes of Prime Rib are available, but I chose the smaller 12-14oz. cut (largest available is the 22oz President’s Cut). The portion was sliced thick and trimmed of excess fat and topped with onion crisps. It was served with au jus and accompanied by green beans and a baked potato, The Prime Rib was tender and among the best I’ve had in the area.
Sea Scallops were perfectly browned, the Lobster Thermidor atop the twin Filet’s elevated the dish to the next level, and the almond enhanced Cape May Flounder was lightly egg-washed and gently sautéed in a light lemon butter sauce topped with Jumbo Lump Crabmeat. All diners thoroughly enjoyed their entrees, and I would consider ordering any on a future visit.
The Inn also offers baked goods for takeout to enjoy at home from the resident Mrs. Penn’s bakery, including. Strawberry Shortcake, Chocolate Heaven Cake, Pastries, and cookie choices of Holiday, Russian Tea, Chocolate Cherry Toffee, Orange Creamsicle, Cashew Chocolate Chunk, as well as Cheese Cakes and Pies (Bourbon Pecan Pie, Pumpkin Pie, Peanut Butter Pie, Key Lime Pie, Apple Crumb Pie).
Dinner prices are reasonable considering the overall experience and an early bird pre-fixe dinner option on a shorter menu is available seven days a week (Starter, Entrée, Dessert) for a reasonable price (examples: Regular Menu Crab cake entrée $55, pre-Fixe $50.; 12-14oz. Prime Rib entrée $50, PF $46.). The William Penn Inn should be considered for a celebratory fine dining experience given outstanding food preparation, attentive service, and a refined atmosphere.
The Thursday Seafood Buffet served in the Tavern has been suspended due to Covid, but the Sunday Brunch has returned (10 AM- 2 PM). Reservations on Resy. Social function hosting for parties up to 250 diners. Overnight accommodations available.
Rating 4.5/5
The William Penn Inn
1017 Dekalb Pike
Gwynedd, PA 19436
(GPS Point to Ambler, PA 19002)
215-699-9272
https://www.williampenninn.com/
https://www.facebook.com/williampenninn
HOURS:
Monday CLOSED
Lunch
Tuesday – Saturday 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Dinner
Tuesday – Thursday 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Friday: 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Saturday: 4:30 PM - 11:00 PM
Sunday: 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Brunch
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Ron Knerr is a 30+ year cooking hobbyist who has been a “foodie” before the term was popular. His home arsenal includes a smoker, a sous vide immersion heater, a sausage stuffer, and several crockpots.
Send comments and suggestions to: RonKnerrFeast@gmail.com
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