Flying Monkey and Reading Terminal

Bananas Foster Whoopie Pie by Flying Monkey Patisserie

When I talk about my blog with people, I invariably get asked by the more results-driven folks out there, "what are you going to do with that?"  I mumble something about not wanting a second job and that it's just a fun hobby, but I often conclude with the story of Elizabeth, a woman I met at a Philly blogger potluck several years ago. 

At the time, she worked part-time as a baker but otherwise maintained a desk job and wrote a food blog on the side.  Today, she owns Flying Monkey Patisserie at the Reading Terminal Market and has invented such creative items like the Pumpple Cake, a thanksgiving cake combining apple and pumpkin pies and cake.  Together with her baked creations, she has appeared on the Today and Rachel Ray shows.  Now that's doing something with your blog.

At her recommendation, I tried the peanut-butter-and-jelly bar, which I highly recommend for its taking one of my favorite combinations and making it a bit more refined and cookie-sweet, but retaining its comfort food nature.  I also tried the whoopie pie above and the creme brulee whoopie pie, below.

The caramel sweetness was unmistakable and the sugar crystals made for a nice nod to a traditional brulee topping.  The Bananas Foster whoopie pie, though, hit the mark for me -- a subtle blend of a banana bread with a mildly sweet creamy filling.

But it's Reading Terminal, and I can never visit just one store.  I had to pick up curry in the Spice Terminal and swing by Iovine Brothers' Produce, the massive produce market in the "back" corner of the market.  Fresh herbs, pounds of squash, shiitake and portobello mushrooms, onions, and other ingredients to comprise the lunch for 8 I'm doing on Monday came to about $20.  I love this place.  It's normally chaos, but sneaking in on a sleepy Saturday morning is perfect.

Last but not least, I stopped in Chocolate by Mueller to pick up a chocolate brain for my neurosurgery peeps at work.  They also have chocolate hearts, ears, liberty bells, and pretty much anything else you're interested in getting, in chocolate. Including the chocolate onion pictured below on top of the brains.  I have no idea of the appeal of that one.





The Reading Terminal Market is located at 12th and Arch in Philadelphia.  Check out Flying Monkey at www.flyingmonkeyphilly.com.