Category: Dining

A few thoughts about pie…

You never know what you’re going to find in the incredible galaxy known as the World Wide Web. When I was looking for more info. on Company Cakes for the prior post, I came across this Mercury article from January about National Pie Day. I had never heard of National Pie Day or the American Pie Council, but I am completely on board. I occasionally daydream about how Pottstown might take advantage of its rich pie heritage, namely as the place where Mrs. Amanda Smith started her empire.

When I went away to college, and people asked ask where I was from, I’d say, “Pottstown, PA,” and they’d kind of give me a blank look. Then I’d add, “It’s where Mrs. Smith’s pies come from.” And they’d immediately perk up and get all excited and say, “Really? Cool!”

Pie is happiness. Pie is magic.

Apparently, the Great American Pie Festival is being held for the 9th year in a row in Celebration, Florida this coming weekend. They’ve got a lot of nerve — it should be held in Pottstown!

I gather there’s an Apple Pie Bake-Off at the Schuylkill River Festival. Are there contests for other kinds of pies, too – shoo-fly, funny cakes, and everything in between? In the Mercury article, Mark Neiman, an owner of Company Cakes says, “This was the pie capital of the world.” Can Pottstown rise to such prominence again? Could Pottstown be the epicenter of next year’s National Pie Day?

Just some pie-in-the-sky thoughts from a proud P-town girl…

Comfort Food

Still the very best!
I rolled into town last Friday night, battling allergies or a spring cold, and needed some quick and simple sustenance to get me through a meeting that would start in less than an hour. First off, for anyone from out of town, do you realize that on-street parking in downtown Pottstown is free? And even if you can’t find a spot on the street, parking in the lots around town is incredibly cheap? So I parked in the Shop & Park lot at High and Charlotte, slid a quarter in and headed for The Very Best, Pottstown’s oldest restaurant, open since 1921, where they’re still kickin’ it old school. As soon as I sat at the counter, I was greeted with, “How ya’ doin’, sweetheart?” And I knew I was home.

I ordered a grilled cheese and cup of hot tea. The bill, including tax, was $3.87. Seriously. Where I live in NJ, parking’s always a hassle, no one calls me “sweetheart” and dinner never costs $3.87. I felt like I really ought to get something else.

The cakes along the counter looked tempting – banana, chocolate with cream cheese frosting – and I asked if they were baked on-premises. No, they came from Company Cakes, a bakery on Charlotte Street that I’d passed a couple times and have on my list of places to visit. A hand-written sign touted a slice of chocolate cream pie for only $1.85, and I couldn’t resist. The creamy, dark chocolate mousse filling was complemented by a layer of lighter chocolate mousse on top and then bits of dark chocolate sprinkled on top of that. The crust was thin and, more importantly, didn’t detract from the chocolate, which is as it should be. For just a few moments, all was right in the world.

By time I’d finished, it had gotten cloudy and cooler, and rain was threatening. Now fortified, I zipped up my coat and was on my way.

The Very Best
252 East High Street
Pottstown, PA 19464
(610) 323-5224

Company Cakes
26 N Charlotte St
Pottstown, PA 19464
(610) 705-9450

Authentic Mexican cuisine now available at Juan Carlos

The last time I was in Boyer’s Shoe Store at the corner of High and Penn, I think I bought a pair of Earth shoes. Who’d have thought the former shoe store would make an ideal location for a restaurant? Ron Garza, chef/owner of Juan Carlos Fine Mexican Cuisine knew it as soon as he saw the interior’s stone walls, the brick-arched windows and the cobblestone road running up Penn Street.

“I wanted a place with a real urban feel, not a shopping center,” he said.

On a recent spring day, when Juan Carlos had only been open about a week, I stopped by and did a double-take inside. The decor is chic, yet the stone and brick, the walls painted terracotta, and the Spanish guitar music coming through the speakers made for a warm, inviting atmosphere. Now let’s talk about the food…

I’d had a late breakfast and only had room to sample a couple appetizers. Red & blue tortilla chips dipped in creamy guacamole (with just a hint of cilantro) were out of this world. It’s made fresh for each order and it shows. Then I tried a mini-chimichanga – chicken and cheese wrapped in a flour tortilla, lightly fried and served with ranchero sauce. The chicken and cheese just melts in the mouth.

Chef Garza describes the menu as authentic Mexican, with a South American flair, that includes elements of modern Mexican cuisine. Mexico is a melting pot of numerous Latin American cultures, and Garza incorporates dishes and flavors from Brazil, Argentina and Cuba. And there’s something for every price range.

“We’re a casual, elegant restaurant. There are menu items for a casual night out or for a very special occasion.”

Juan Carlos is BYO, but offers one complimentary glass of sangria for guests who order any steak or fish entree for dinner on Tuesday through Saturday. They also provide margarita mixers for your favorite tequila.

By July, Garza plans to remove the display windows out front to make space for fair-weather outdoor dining, which will be a first for High Street. They’ve got a private party & meeting room downstairs, which is accessed by an original, Amish pegged wood staircase. The room has WiFi and a 12-foot ceiling and can seat 25-30 people. Check it out.

Juan Carlos Fine Mexican Cuisine, 235 E. High Street, Pottstown, PA 19464; 484-624-4931; www.jcmexicanfood.com. Lunch:Tues-Sat 11:30am to 2:30pm; Dinner: Tues-Thur 5:00pm to 9:00pm; Fri and Sat. 5:00pm to 10:00pm; Closed Sundays and Mondays, except for private parties.

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