Springtime obviously brings out a lot of flavors and scents in many capacities, but there’s one ingredient that might not make it to the top of your list… until now. The season for springtime peas is short but glorious and the power ingredient may not look it, but it boasts flavors that compliment this time of year.
Peas are essential in a few new dishes and even drinks around the City of Brotherly Love, and Metro has the scoop on where to go if you want to take your tastebuds on a ride.
Art in the Age
Art in the Age is known around the city for bringing out interesting flavors and overall taking things up a notch. Philly’s own tasting room, home bar supply and bottle shop is taking the quintessential springtime ingredient and mixing it up in a new cocktail for libation lovers to sip on. Their newest drink from Lee Noble is titled ‘Give Peas a Chance’ and is made with 1 ½ oz Tamworth Garden Gin, ½ oz AITA Chicory Vodka, 1 oz of cold-pressed sweet pea juice, ½ oz lemon juice and topped with a hazy IPA. The fun cocktail is then garnished with pea shoots and blossoms. Philadelphians can also take the ingredients and what they need to make the drink home after purchasing supplies from Art in the Age. To make: combine all ingredients except the beer in a shaker with ice and shake for ten seconds. Fine strain into a Collins glass filled with ice and then top the glass with beer (about 2 ounces depending on the size of the glass). Stir gently to incorporate beer, and then garnish with pea shoots and blossoms.
116 N 3rd St., artintheage.com
Forsythia
If you’re looking for a more classic dish to appease your pea craving, Old City’s contemporary French bar and restaurant helmed by Chef Christopher Kearse has just what you need. Kearse is serving up his own take on the traditional English Pea Soup for $12. The dish is crafted with sunflower granola, mint crème, and lemon ash. According to the release, additionally, Chef Kearse is incorporating the popular seasonal ingredient in his Crispy Pork Cheek and Belly as well with spring pea ragout, black pepper jus, and hot honey. Both dishes are available for limited indoor dining, expanded sidewalk seating, takeaway, and most recently – bar seating.
233 Chestnut St., forsythiaphilly.com
Stella of New Hope
New Hope itself is already picturesque and a destination worth viewing, but now there is another tasty reason to head to Stella, Bucks County’s modern American restaurant overlooking the Delaware River. There, Philadelphians can sample a smattering of dishes highlighting the seasonal ingredient including their Berkshire Pork Chop ($34, made with black-eyed pea stew, collard greens kimchi, sugar snap peas relish, and ‘nduja butter) and the seasonal Pea and Mint Spread currently being served with their house-made bread basket. Diners can pair all of that with craft cocktails, local beer, and wine by the glass or bottle are available for takeaway, indoor dining, and al fresco seating on their patio.
50 S. Main Street, New Hope, stellanewhope.com
Urban Farmer
The popular farm to table restaurant located in Logan Circle is known for their cuts of meat and indulgent sides, but now they have added the springtime staple into their offerings. Philadelphians can head to the eatery to try out their seasonally-appropriate Spring Pea Soup ($11), which is composed of citrus crème fraiche and pistachio gremolata on their dinner menu. This particular dish is available for limited indoor dining, takeaway, and expansive outdoor patio seating overlooking the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
1850 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, urbanfarmersteakhouse.com
