CITY DRINKS OUTDOORS Garden Pours: Wigle Whiskey, Pittsburgh Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream, Pittsburgh Foodie Favorites HARP & CROWN Outfitted in warm tones, rich leathers, and old-time touches including exposed brick, vintage wallpaper, and sepia-toned photographs, Michael Schulson opened this welcoming hotspot in Philadelphia just last fall, but it feels like a relic from the past. Sip on expertly crafted cocktails while enjoying gourmet small plates of Spanish octopus or lamb meatballs — or indulge in an oversized dish designed for two, such as a juicy Niman Ranch Ribeye served alongside truffle cheese grits. LA PORTA RISTORANTE & WINE BAR A favorite among Media locals and visitors alike, Chef Peter McAndrews’ Italian eatery harnesses Old World charm with its rustic dining room and wood-fired dishes. Bite into the flavorful Sporco white pizza topped with applewood smoked bacon, spinach, and provolone, or savor the house-made ricotta gnocchi, tossed with lump crab and a light lemon and basil cream sauce. MILLIE’S HOMEMADE ICE CREAM Chad Townsend opened this Pittsburgh ice cream parlor with his grandmother Millie in mind. Baking pies and pairing them with a scoop of ice cream was her modus operandi. Keeping her memory alive, he opened his Shadyside shop, using products from local farms and serving seasonal By Laura J. Downey flavors such as cranberry apple sorbet and toasted oat maple. NATHAN MILLER CHOCOLATE When pastry chef Nathan Miller decided to delve into the chocolate manufacturing business in 2010, he made a lot of people happy. And today, he continues to do just that by creating top-notch, bean-to-bar confections at his Chambersburg factory and coffeehouse. Satisfy your craving with Strawberry Rye Whiskey Buttermilk Chocolate or the Ghana Single Origin 70 percent dark chocolate bars. ALTOMONTE’S ITALIAN MARKET & DELI Consider this your one-stop-shop for all things Italian. This family-owned business opened in 1971 by Mike and Frances Grispino continues to be a Doylestown favorite. Head here for an Italian cheesesteak or for Nonna’s Heart pizza, which comes with homemade sauce, pancetta, and Locatelli cheese. Afterward, grab a cannoli from the bakery. MA(I)SON | AN URBAN COOKERY Taylor and Leeann Mason’s Lancaster eatery prides itself on sourcing products from local farmers to provide guests with the best dinners downtown has to offer. Its seasonal French/Italian/new American menu offers handmade burrata, wood-roasted lamb and more. Warm weather and cool drinks make for the perfect combination. See what we mean when you sip a craft cocktail at Wigle Whiskey’s Barrelhouse & Whiskey Garden in Pittsburgh, which features an outdoor garden sporting rye grass, lavender, buckwheat and corn (hint: they’re plants used in the cocktail-making process). Don’t miss the free Mash Bill Summer Music Series, held every Saturday from May through September. If a cold pint of craft beer is calling your name instead, Millworks in Harrisburg is a spot sure to satisfy your craving. Bask in the sun on the rooftop patio or in the open-air courtyard, and take your pick from specialty suds, from a lemony radler to a hoppy IPA. PHS Pop Up Garden, Philadelphia Or, discover a secret garden that also happens to serve drinks when you post up at a PHS Pop Up Garden in Philadelphia. These seasonal outdoor gardens by the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society transform urban spaces into community gathering places. 22 visitPA.com PHOTOS: (clockwise from top left) courtesy of Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream; courtesy of Visit Pittsburgh/Anna Lee Fields; Photo by M. Fischetti for Visit Philadelphia™
Pennsylvania PA 2017 Happy Traveler: Page 22
