LOCAL 4-BELL STARS THE BIRCHRUNVILLE STORE CAFE 1403 Hollow Rd., Birchrunville 610-827-9002 / BirchrunvilleStoreCafe.com learly, Chef Francis Pascal’s new life is going well. Though tucked away off-the-beaten-path, the Birchrunville Store Cafe offered for many years the best, most inspired, 4-LaBanbell, French-Italian cuisine in Chester County. A few years ago, U.S. citizenship, a name change (Trzeciak to Pascal) and marriage (to Nui Kullana of Thai L’Elephant) made life for the owner-chef even better. Asian influences appeared—rice vinegar, fish sauce, rice paper rolls—though the menu remains solidly Continental. Another change: Butterscotch, a pastry shop, opened across the street, with creations by cafe’s pastry chef Jane Urban. An intersection in culinary heaven!
C Birchrunville Store Cafe
TALULA’S TABLE 102 W. State St., Kennett Square 610-444-8255 / TalulasTable.com ver 10 years ago, Aimee Olexy opened a cozy gourmet grocery and cafe in Kennett Square, serving a sumptuous farmhouse table after hours. Soon after Inquirer food critic Craig LaBan’s 4-bell review (the only other area eatery so honored), business boomed and Olexy’s fame begat the famous one-year waiting list for reservations. And it held. That’s right: it still takes a year to sit down at the BYOB farmtable (there’s a smaller kitchen table with a shorter wait). The menu, about 10 courses, is seasonal, local, constantly changing yet without repeats of menus. Rest assured it will be special and superb. Call now! It will truly be a meal to remember … and well worth the anticipation!
O Talula’s Table
PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT DANDAN 214 Sugartown Rd., Wayne 484-580-8558 / DanDanRestaurant.com anDan is yum yum, wrote a wag on a food blog, and the consensus supports that review. Replacing Ella’s Bistro, this branch of the Center City Sichuan and Taiwanese eatery is larger but still hip/zen, if you get our oxymoron. Kevin and Catherine Huang (she of the Han Dynasty family) serve up authentic, spicy variety—watch the number of circles on the menu. Crisp spicy cucumbers, scallion pancakes and soup dumplings get thumbs up as starters. Then try a hot pot dish (choice of protein) served in a sizzling mini-wok, or the crowdpleasing cumin lamb or cumin tofu. Add flavorful green beans and, of course, signature Dan Dan noodles. Three yums.
D DanDan Founding Farmers
FOUNDING FARMERS 255 Main St., King of Prussia 484-808-4008 / WeAreFoundingFarmers.com ans of the DC-area chain rejoiced when Founding Farmers put down stakes in KOP. The restaurant cap-
F