Philly’s Finest

on August 21, 2011
in All Posts

The last 24 hours of the Healthy Living Summit was all about Philly’s Finest.

 

Philadelphia Finest Fun:

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And Philadelphia’s Finest FOOD!

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After wrapping up the conference, a group of us headed out for a night on the town.  We started off at a swanky cocktail bar for drinks and appetizers:

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A Pink Tickle  – tequila, raspberry puree, coconut water, and agave.  As amazing as it sounds!

 

And pistachio-encrusted goat cheese platter.

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After the first restaurant, we asked two of Philadelphia’s real finest (cops) for directions to the best gay bar, and they pointed us to a place called Woody’s, which was AWESOME.  We danced until 2:00 AM, singing Lady Gaga and Katy Perry at the top of our lungs.   Afterwards, we grabbed dinner and face-planted in our beds. 

 

In the morning, we made our way down to the Quaker breakfast bar to say farewell to everyone:

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I had oats, fruit, and a boiled egg. 

 

Here’s the magically delicious gluten-free cereal I mentioned yesterday – I need to find this at the grocery store!  It would be a great base for a granola bar.

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All of the Charlotte bloggers gathered together for a picture:

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And then we headed out for some sightseeing:

 

The famous Katy Widrick (social media guru – check out her blog) was our guide.  Well, she had the map!

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Our goal:

The Liberty Bell!

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It was smaller than I imagined it would be…

 

And last, but not least, it was time for some of Philly’s finest food – the cheese steak!  But a vegetarian cheese steak, of course.

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I wasn’t expecting much from this veggie sandwich, but it absolutely blew my mind. Instead of beef, they used seitan.  Amazing. Truly. 

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If you’re ever in Philly, head over to the Reading Terminal Market…

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… Find the Basic Vegetarian Snack Bar, and ask for the veggie cheese steak.  You won’t regret it!

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I’m sad HLS is over, but as usual, I leave feeling inspired and energized by all the positivity and fun.  Regular blogging shall now resume!   See you in Charlotte! 

{ 54 comments }

 

  • Penny August 21, 2011, 3:41 pm

    When I saw the first picture of that sandwich, I thoght you had eaten meat!! It looks so much like the real thing!
    Looks like everybody had a great time. 🙂

  • Army Amy* August 21, 2011, 3:44 pm

    Pistachio-encrusted goat cheese platter?! Just thinking about it is blowing my mind! It sounds so yummy!*

  • Baking N Books August 21, 2011, 3:45 pm

    I’m glad it left you inspired versus spent – I’d be tired 😉

    Seitan? I’ve never tried that. It’s soy with wheat right?

    • CaitlinHTP August 21, 2011, 9:46 pm

      I think it’s a wheat protein.

  • Liz August 21, 2011, 3:45 pm

    I know you are trying to eat minimal amounts of gluten and wanted to let you know that the fake philly cheesesteak is basically all gluten. I am a gluten free vegetarian and my stomach would revolt against me if I tried to eat that (although it looks amazing!). This actually may be a good test for you: are you in massive amounts of pain later? Does your stomach feel off? Being aware of how you feel later today and tomorrow will give you a good idea if you have a true gluten sensitivity.

    • CaitlinHTP August 21, 2011, 9:45 pm

      You know, I was thinking this after I ate it (that seiten is a wheat gluten). My stomach is NOT happy. And you know what the weirdest thing is? I have always experienced this kind of reaction to really wheaty meals (basically, a feeling of intense fullness) but I always thought it was normal digestion. Guess it is NOT!!!

      • hillary August 23, 2011, 1:11 am

        AHH! i have just been through this whole rigamaroll….went vegan 2+ years ago and after about a year i started having all kinds of crazy health problems. never knew i was gluten-intolerant but i think i was consuming so much in all of the fake meat products i was eating that my reaction just kept getting worse and worse. i always thought of bread when i thought of gluten but when i went to cut gluten out (which has changed my life btw!), realized it was the first or second ingredient in most of the fake meat i was eating. so sad, because that seitan “cheesesteak” looks amazing!

  • Anna August 21, 2011, 3:57 pm

    I’ve been to that gay bar before! It was a blast.

  • Anna August 21, 2011, 3:57 pm

    I’ve been to that gay bar before! It was a blast.

  • Mary @ Bites and Bliss August 21, 2011, 3:58 pm

    Philly is a really cool city. My high school band went there for a summer field trip on year..so it’s definitely safe to say it’s much more enjoyed with a group of your friends! 🙂

  • Katie @ Peace Love and Oats August 21, 2011, 4:00 pm

    I’ve always wanted to visit Philadelphia! I hope you had a great time exploring the city, and at HLS! Maybe I’ll get to go next year! ahhh! I wish!

  • Fran@ Broken Cookies Don't Count August 21, 2011, 4:02 pm

    I haven’t been to Reading Terminal Market in a long time. I didn’t know about the Vegetarian Snack Bar. I need to give it a try…Thanks for the info, Caitlin!!

  • Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife August 21, 2011, 4:13 pm

    WHOA! What great ideas for vegetarian meals. Looks delicious! 🙂

  • Cat August 21, 2011, 4:25 pm

    You can find the Ewerhon cereal at Earthfare! I just finished a box of the Rice Twice. Yum!

    • CaitlinHTP August 21, 2011, 9:44 pm

      Oh I will search for it next time I’m there!

  • Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga August 21, 2011, 4:30 pm

    wow, it’s over…so fast! For some reason I thought it was all day Sunday too. Glad you all had SUCH A great time.

    Love the shot of Katy reading the map. Cute 🙂

  • J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) August 21, 2011, 4:42 pm

    That seitan cheesesteak looks SOOOOOOOOOO GOOD! I’ve seen thin-sliced seitan used like that before and it makes me want to try it. Too bad we have nothing nearby that serves anything like that. Yum!

  • Jen August 21, 2011, 4:55 pm

    That is not seitan. That is meat. I don’t believe you. It looks so real! I haven’t been able to eat seitan ever since going GF, but that looks incred! And that cocktail without the tequila would be an awesome idea for a simple daytime beverage. I love the look of girly drinks!

  • Amanda- The Nutritionist Reviews August 21, 2011, 5:13 pm

    Looks like a great time and I need to try that drink!

  • Lisa (bakebikeblog) August 21, 2011, 5:21 pm

    it all looks so wonderful!

  • Nicole (Mrs. Muffins) August 21, 2011, 5:25 pm

    It totally looks like meat! Sometimes when I order faux versions of meat stuff at restaurants, I’m afraid to eat it because it can look so real! I will definitely follow your advice on this one though, it looks so yummy!

    xx

    • CaitlinHTP August 21, 2011, 9:43 pm

      Yea I feel like way about the faux grilled chicken strips. They look too much like the real thing.

  • Sana August 21, 2011, 5:41 pm

    I am bummed I missed HLS but now I know where to visit in philly!!!

  • Hillary August 21, 2011, 5:41 pm

    It makes me so happy that you asked cops directions to the nearest gay bar. Everything about that is awesome. Well done!

  • Shari August 21, 2011, 5:56 pm

    I’m so glad you enjoyed your time here in Philadelphia!

  • CJ @ http://healthy-happy-whole.com/ August 21, 2011, 6:08 pm

    Gay bar sounds so fun! how can you not love a good party with Gaga? I swear, even if you are having the worst day ever, Born this Way can totally lift your spirits 🙂

  • Amy@ahealthyandhappyheart August 21, 2011, 6:58 pm

    Yum.. a veggie cheese steak.. looks amazing!

  • Ash @ Good Taste Healthy Me August 21, 2011, 6:58 pm

    Looks like you had an awesome time! That cheese “steak” looks awesome!

  • Sweet and Savvy August 21, 2011, 7:05 pm

    Looks great! I want that sandwich!

  • Sweet and Savvy August 21, 2011, 7:05 pm

    Looks great! I want that sandwich!

  • Jessica @ Jess Go Bananas August 21, 2011, 7:25 pm

    That Philly Cheese-steak err Cheese-seitan (lol) looks like the real deal! Everytime I see HLS I always think people are talking about you because of HTP. I guess the H throws me off! haha 🙂

  • Caitlin August 21, 2011, 7:34 pm

    Wow, sounds like you all had a great time! I ended up in Philly on a whim this weekend to visit my friend who is in her first year of med school and it sounds as if we were in the same neighborhood for the past twenty four hours (passed by Woody’s last night and went to the Market East subway station, right by the Reading Terminal Market)- Wish I could have caught all of you in action and tagged along for the veggie cheesesteaks! Glad my surrogate home state treated you well, though! 🙂

    • CaitlinHTP August 21, 2011, 9:39 pm

      Aw I would’ve loved to run into you at Woody’s 🙂 That would be awesome!

  • Kate August 21, 2011, 8:04 pm

    Wow, I had NO idea Woody’s was a real place – I used to love Queer as Folk and they would go there on the show sometimes but I always thought it was made up! Sounds like you had a blast in Philly.

    • CaitlinHTP August 21, 2011, 9:39 pm

      Queer As Folk was the best show ever…

  • Brittney August 21, 2011, 8:24 pm

    Such a fun weekend hanging out with you and everyone! Seriously made memories that I’ll cherish forever 🙂 I agree, that veggie Philly cheesesteak was AWESOME!

  • Amy @ SGTC August 21, 2011, 8:45 pm

    Love, love, love!! I had so much fun getting to know you this weekend–and Saturday night was definitely a blast! <3

    Hope you had a good trip back! 🙂 Talk soon.

    • CaitlinHTP August 21, 2011, 9:38 pm

      It was really fun to hang out with you too Amy!

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin August 21, 2011, 8:57 pm

    Saturday night sounds like it was so much fun! HLSers certainly know how to party. 😉 I hope I’ll get to join in on the fun next year!

  • Lyn August 21, 2011, 9:12 pm

    Love all the chatting about Philly! I live right down the street from Woody’s… glad you enjoyed! Where did you go for the drinks and appetizers??

    • CaitlinHTP August 21, 2011, 9:37 pm

      The Lowe’s bar – I think it was called Sole Food?

  • Sara August 21, 2011, 9:32 pm

    my sister and i had plans to go dancing at tavern (short for tavern on camac, our #1 FAVORITE gay bar in philly because we’ve been going there for over 7 years and michael is the best bartender in philly) and woody’s (our #2), but we decided to just go out for dinner and then watch a movie at my place. SO BUMMED – it would have been awesome to run into you guys on the dance floor!

    • CaitlinHTP August 21, 2011, 9:34 pm

      Hahah aww that would’ve been awesome.

  • AmandaonMaui August 21, 2011, 9:40 pm

    What a fantastic looking trip, and night out with the girls! I haven’t had a night out with the girls in forever.

    That veggie cheesesteak looks amazing. If I weren’t gluten free, I’d so be all over that. 🙂

    Oh, and the Erewhon cereal is easily found at Whole Foods Market and other health food stores. Even the organic food aisle of my regular grocery store here carries it. I think it’s delicious, but I’m trying to stay away from cold cereals due to the processed nature of them.

    Much Aloha,

    Amanda

  • Katy (The Singing Runner) August 21, 2011, 10:05 pm

    Ah, I had so much FUN last night hanging with you and all the other bloggers! Gay bars are so much more fun than regular bars! 😉

    I know that I already told you today but thanks for everything last night! 😉

    Hope to see you again the next time I come to Charlotte!

  • Allison @ Happy Tales August 21, 2011, 10:29 pm

    pretty sure last night was one of the most epic dance parties ever. let’s make that a clt-blogger tradition. i’ll bring the glowsticks.

  • Khushboo August 21, 2011, 11:54 pm

    Belting your lungs out to Katy Perry & Lady Gaga…now that is something I would have been all over 🙂

  • Amber K August 22, 2011, 1:10 pm

    What a fun time! That seitan really does look like meat. I have actually never tried seitan before because I hadn’t even heard of it until after I went gluten-free.

  • Kelly (meatlesswithaman.blogspot.com) August 22, 2011, 1:50 pm

    I second the recommendation for dancing at Woody’s AND eating at RTM. I missed the veggie cheese steak the last time I was there, though – can’t wait to try that someday!

  • Jessica @ Healthy Dairyland August 22, 2011, 4:01 pm

    Love the group shot from Saturday night. That was a fun night! It was great meeting you!

  • The Healthy Engineer August 22, 2011, 4:22 pm

    Hahaha gay bars always tend to be more fun. Plus I imagine that they would play better music!

    Sounds like such a fun time

  • Dani Eats Veggies August 22, 2011, 10:01 pm

    So much fun 🙂 I missed out on the veggie cheesesteaks but it’s on my list the next time I’m in Philly!

  • Krista (kristastes) August 23, 2011, 11:57 am

    Hahahah, I love that you went to Woody’s!! Goodtimes!

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