Blackbird Pizzeria in Philadelphia, PA

As I was looking at the map for how to get to my hotel in Baltimore for Natural Products Expo East, I realized how close I would pass to Philadelphia on my trip.

Although I’ve lived in the Northeast my entire life, I’ve actually never been to Pennsylvania (well, the airport once, but that doesn’t count). I didn’t travel much as a child (it took me until I was 30 to visit all 6 New England states, despite growing up in MA), and then as an adult a lack of money and time and a pretty significant like of the familiar have been obstacles. Money has gotten a bit better, time a bit worse, but I’ve definitely gotten more curious and willing to travel.

I’d been trying to figure out a couple of days that I can got to PA. I work Monday-Saturday, so that makes it a little tough, but I have the luxury of being able to take some time off work, so it’s just figuring when. Bonus points if I can combine it with some kind of educational/trade event!

While there is so much vegan goodness in PA to see and I definitely need to make an actual trip, I saw no reason I shouldn’t take a little time out of my current trip and stop and get some very late lunch at Blackbird Pizzeria.

I got a later start on my trip than I had planned, so it was nearly 4PM by the time I got there. All I had “eaten” earlier was a green smoothie, so I was starving by the time I got there. Given the time, I figured I would also take something to go for dinner when I got to my hotel.

OMG hot!

These are the best vegan wings I have ever had.  I am not kidding.  They were chewy and crispy and delicious and hot.  Did I mention hot?  A little too hot for my taste, but that dipping sauce helped a lot.

Why don’t non-vegan places make this?

This was delicious, but seems so simple.  With no cheese, there’s no reason why regular pizza places can’t make this.  So why don’t they?  I have no idea.

There was rosemary, caramelized onions and potatoes.  There’s nothing not to like on this slice.

Fried capers are the bomb!

I rounded out my meal to stay with this salad, which was amazing!  I don’t know why I don’t eat fried capers more often, but they are so, so good.  Crispy and briny!  I’m not a huge fan of artichokes, but they were a nice addition.

I was very happy to have this.

I got to eat this later, after arriving at the hotel.  I’m staying a bit further away from the Expo because I booked my hotel room too late, but on the plus side, this room has a kitchen.  No oven, unfortunately, but if you don’t put the slices in the microwave for too long, (about a minute each) they don’t get soggy.  Well, the thinner slice was, but what are you going to do?

The thin slice is pepperoni, and the other had roasted tomatoes.  I love roasted tomatoes.

Yes, that is a potato chip in there.

They call this the “Kitchen Sink” cookie.  There’s potato chips, pretzels, pumpkin seeds and other things in there.  It was really, really good.

So that’s it for today. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow’s adventures bring!