Out and About

Step into the Light Lightbox Café, 704 S. 4th Street

Lightbox Café is the calm-meetswellness-meets-community vision of co-owners Gabriel (Gaby) Vazquez and Jen Hombach. Jen smiles with amusement as we explore the meaning of “lightbox”—Gaby’s inspiration based on dioramas. However, this curated world will not be miniature and unreachable. You are invited to step inside and become part of its unique and restful atmosphere.

Reflecting on what is, for him, a complete career change, Gaby says, “I wanted to live and work in a much healthier environment. And I wanted to surround myself with foods that are actually good for me.” He is the mastermind and purveyor of the made-to-order and grab-and-go cold-pressed juices. Mind you, these are not sugary fruit combinations. They are filled with herbs and vegetables and spices to create a powerful nutritional and healthful experience.

Jen (and her yogi spirit) is the master brewer of kava kava tea, made from a root that grows on islands such as Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa in the South Pacific. Jen explains how kava, with its euphoric, stress-reducing properties, was traditionally used as a ceremonial drink on the islands. We are ready to dive in.

For our first foray, we try it pure with pineapple slices (think of the lime wedge after a shot of tequila). The astringent, somewhat bitter character asserted itself right away, but we were surprised by its mineral complexity. The pineapple’s sweetness indeed balanced the overall experience. The kava numbs your mouth

The Golden Jungle Juice, a ginger-carrot-pineapplemint blend is among the café’s many healthful— and delicious—offerings. Lightbox Café on the outside; inside, the café has a

Lighting Up QV’s Dining Scene

Promoting calm and wellness, a new café serves vegetarian and vegan fair, while a new sushi spot dishes up culinary creations with a Burmese touch.

By Michael and Cait Allen

relaxing vibe. Photos: Michael Allen

and radiates a gentle calm through your body, evoking cascading waters, lush plants, and volcanic rock on a faraway paradise.

Moving on to the flavored kava, Jen’s Golden Chai chimed like prayer bells. Softened with almond milk, the brew perfectly wove together cardamom, clove, turmeric, and other Indian spices. We could have sipped and melted away for hours. Lastly, the Cacao Kava vibrated the chocolate with cayenne, compelling you to draw in more and more of its curious, delicious warmth.

As our conversation continued, we felt a deep communal spirit that will most certainly be the vibe for the future evenings Gaby and Jen are planning—with tasty vegan food, restaurant pop-ups, poetry readings, and nutritional talks. Although a simple plumbing issue invoked every line of Murphy’s Law and delayed opening by 10 weeks, the daily buzz of passersby trying to peer inside proves how eager the community is for the chance to enter.

Lightbox is sure to become a neighborhood gathering place, where the traumas of the workday are washed away!

Become a Citizen of the World Midori Sushi, 516 S. 5th Street

Philadelphia is fortunate to host one of the Burmese communities that has sought refuge from the long-standing turmoil and bloodshed of Myanmar (formerly Burma). That community is the reason we have Midori Sushi at 610 S. 5th St. (as well as Golden Triangle, down the block).

To understand the passion and generosity that co-owners Saw Oo and Ah Young Yang (also of Golden Triangle) bring to their restaurants, you must understand their origins in Burma: 40 percent of the population belong to one of more than 14 distinct cultural, linguistic, and geographic minority groups. The tension between these peoples and the majority Bamar group extends back to Burmese independence following World War II. A military junta ruled the country from 1962 until 2011, when the first democratically elected government took office.

Sadly, that wonderful growth of democracy came to an end on February 1, 2021, when the military once again deposed the elected government, one day before new members of parliament were due to be sworn in. Persecution and human rights violations have escalated against the ethnic minorities since the coup, and hundreds of protestors have died in military crackdowns.

Saw belongs to the Karen group, which began leaving the country during the 2000s. Ah Young belongs to the Chin group, located in the mountainous region along the border with China. Each made the journey to Philadelphia to find safety and a chance to prosper.

When the time came for Saw and Ah Young to share their culinary creations, with us, they started with fried dumplings. We loved their light texture and delicate browning. We scoured our brains for memories of a better dumpling but could not top these. Next, we had to contemplate the artistic beauty of the tuna tartar before daring to disturb it with chopsticks. The secret ingredient is a zing of pepper that energizes each bite perfectly.

We are suckers for bean sprouts, so when the Yellow Fried Noodles arrived, we leapt into this first example of Burmese spices. The nostalgic, rich flavors felt deep and authentic, readying us for the stunning Crunchy Dragon Roll’s arrival at the table. Saw explained that its shrimp tempura was perfect for those who want to try sushi but are afraid of raw fish.

After visiting Midori, we felt fortunate to learn more of Myanmar’s struggles and to honor a journey through so many terrible challenges. Visit Saw, Ah Young, and their families. Listen and share. Our world community will be made stronger by it. ■

The tuna tartare, a thing of beauty—and delicious flavor. Photo: Michael Allen

A look inside Midori Sushi. Photo: Michael Allen

Midori’s unbeatable fried dumplings. Photo: Michael Allen