Mt. Airy Brunch Sessions are Back With the First Ever Holiday Edition

Mt. Airy Brunch Sessions: Four Seasons of Prix Fixe returns with three courses of winter and holiday-inspired fare for only $16.00 at seven local restaurants on Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7, 2014. Additional holiday activities this weekend will also include a tree lighting at Lutheran Seminary at 4:45pm on Friday, December 5, 2014, plus a visit with Santa and other activities along Germantown Avenue. On Saturday, December 6, 2014, pair brunch with shopping with pop-up crafters vendors inside Mt. Airy businesses, a holiday market by Mt. Airy Art Garage, storytelling, holiday card making, holiday movie screenings and family portraits. For a full list of activities, schedules and menus, visit www.gomtairy.com

TREE LIGHTING

Mt. Airy rings in the Holiday Season with events all weekend, kicked off by a tree lighting at the Lutheran Seminary at 4:45pm on Friday, December 5, 2014, with music from the Salvation Army Brass Band, followed by a community run Caroling session down the Avenue. That same evening, take pictures with Santa at Rothe Florists from 6-8pm.  The event is free and includes warm cider, cookies and candy canes for all.  There will be a store-wide sale on all holiday trimmings.

MT AIRY BRUNCH SESSIONS

Seven Mt. Airy restaurants will present three courses for $16.00 during Mt. Airy Brunch Sessions on Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7, 2014. Enjoy off-menu dishes and signature favorites such as tea- infused pork and potato hash to sweet potato bread pudding French toast with maple crème anglaise. Participating restaurants include Earth Bread + Brewery, Geechee Girl Rice Cafe, Goat Hollow, Jyoti Indian Bistro, Little Jimmie’s Bakery Cafe, Trolley Car Diner, and newcomer to the Avenue- Malelani Cafe.  Each prix-fixe meal includes a starter, entrée, side, and choice of coffee or tea.  Specific hours for each restaurant and menus are available at www.gomtairy.com.

Three course menus will feature new seasonal dishes along with existing customer favorites. Chefs will use the flavors of the season for their inspiration. Menus and restaurant information is as follows:

** GEECHEE GIRL RICE CAFE

6825 Germantown Avenue
Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7, 2014, 11:00am to 3:00pm
For reservations, call (215) 843-8113.  BYO.

Starters
Grapefruit brûlé w molasses glaze, Yogurt Parfait w Housemade Granola and Caramelized Pears, Sweet potato bisque garnished with crème fraiche

Entrees
Sweet Potato Bread Pudding French Toast.  Maple Crème Anglaise
Dirty Grits: Pork Sausage in Spicy Gravy; Cheese Grits; 2 fried eggs
Hot Turkey Sandwich Biscuit: Roast Turkey; Housemade Gravy; Cranberry Relish. Sautéed Greens

Extras
Hot Cocoa, Cranberry Shrub: a refreshing beverage of Fresh Cranberries and Sparkling Water, Warm Mulled Cider, South African Ginger Beer

** TROLLEY CAR DINER
7619 Germantown Avenue
Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7, 2014, 11:00am to 3:00pm
No reservations, walk-in only. Over 200 beers available.

Menu to be announced.

** MALELANI
6734 Germantown Avenue
Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7, 2014, 11:00am to 3:00pm

Starters
Crispy French Toast with Fruit or Small Greek Salad

Entrees
Lapsang Souchong infused Pork, Potato n Pepper Hash over Scrambled Egg
Gyro
Malelani Bagel Sandwich
Turkey Chili with Warm Pita

Sides
Potato Salad
Coleslaw

Drinks
Coffee or Tea

** EARTH BREAD + BREWERY
7136 Germantown Avenue
Saturday, December 6th and Sunday, December 7th, 11:30am to 4:00pm
Call (215) 242-6666 for reservations for parties of six or more.  Full bar available.

Starters
Bowl of Butternut Squash Soup or Small house salad
Entrees
Small Frittata flatbread – Made with sweet potatoes, collard greens, pulled chicken, mushrooms, shredded mozzarella – with a scrambled egg on to (or choose any other small flatbread on regular menu that is $9 or less)

Sides
Mimosa (champagne and orange juice) or poinsettia (champagne and cranberry juice) or 13oz. house draft beer

Drinks
Coffee (locally roasted by High Point Café) or Tea included

Extras
Special cocktail that will be available: “The Toronto” Kentucky Rye, Fernet-Branca liqueur, orange bitters, simple syrup

Live music both days from 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Saturday – Quarter til Four Trio
Sunday – Cabriole (French dance music)

** JYOTI INDIAN BISTRO
7220 Germantown Avenue
Saturday, December 6th, and Sunday, December 7th 11:00am to 3:00pm
Reservations Required. BYO.

Starters
Appetizer sampler – Samosas (puff pastry shells stuffed with peas & potatoes) and pakoras (vegetables fried in a chickpea flour batter)

Entrees
Idli & Sambar (steamed rice flour cakes accompanied by a spicy lentil & vegetable soup) AND
Indian style omelets – with ginger, garlic, cilantro and indian spices

Drinks
Hot Chai

** LITTLE JIMMIE’S BAKERY CAFE
6669 Germantown Avenue
Sunday, December 7th, 11:00am to 4:00pm
For reservations, call (267) 336-7139. BYO.

Belgium Waffle with Smoked Bacon
Braked French toast with Bacon
Breakfast Burrito
With Mixed Greens Side Salad

Mt. Airy Scrambler
Fresh Vegetables, Scrambled Eggs, Breakfast Potatoes, Choice of Meats, with Toast

St. Michael’s Scrambler
Scrambled Eggs, Breakfast Potatoes, Choice of Meat, with Toast

Country Breakfast Bowl
Roasted Potatoes, Scrambled Eggs, Choice of Meat, topped with Peppers,  and Cheddar Cheese, with a Cheddar Biscuit

All brunches comes with a fresh fruit or berry salad for starters, a choice of coffee or tea.

** GOAT HOLLOW
300 West Mount Pleasant Avenue
Saturday, December 6th and Sunday, December 7th, 10:30am to 3:00pm
For reservations, visit goathollow.com, use Open Table OR call (267) 428-5672.  Full bar available. Menu to be announced.

Mt. Airy Brunch Sessions will return every quarter. Watch for dates in spring, summer, and fall.  Restaurants will be adding on special events and promotions with the series that may include art, pop-up shops, music, prizes, family activities and more.  For future dates, visit www.gomtairy.com or call 215-844-6021.

SHOPPING AND FESTIVITIES

On Saturday, December 6, 2014, Mt. Airy invites city dwellers to shop local with our Mt. Airy Holiday Stroll.  Craft Vendor tables will be hosted inside local businesses along the avenue. For your fine art needs, a market will be held at the Mt. Airy Art Garage all weekend.  Bring your young children for Holiday Story time inside Read and Eat at 10:00am and for Holiday card making with the Community Art Collective inside The Juice Room.  Drop your kids off at the Read and Eat theatre for Holiday movies, being screened all day. A local photographer will be taking family portraits.

COME FOR BRUNCH, STAY FOR THE DAY!

Enjoy Philadelphia’s village in the city. CNN Money’s “Best Big-City Neighborhood” is a diverse and welcoming community that melds sophisticated sensibilities with a laid-back lifestyle. From an emerging restaurant scene to beautiful historic homes, from a bustling business district to the scenic trails of the great Wissahickon, Mt. Airy is the neighborhood that has it all.

Before or after your Brunch Sessions, enjoy the Northwest’s historic treasures, outdoor adventures and fun for all ages. From Forbidden Drive to a network of trails, there’s always a new path to discover on a trip to the Wissahickon. Enjoy rock climbing, horseback riding, biking, fishing, bird watching, feeding the ducks, picnicking and much more. Journey to the past and discover living history. Discover a Quaker safe house for runaway slaves on the Underground Railroad. Wander throughout the residential streets and admire more than 250 years of architectural history. Venture into historic houses that are open to the public. Sip on sangria inside an 18th century estate or enjoy a Dickens production in a restored Victorian mansion. Let your night at Street Fare be the first of many visits for all these treasures. For specially designed itineraries, visit www.gomtairy.com/visiting

ABOUT MT. AIRY USA

Mt. Airy USA is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to preserve, empower, and advance a vibrant and diverse community by stimulating development responsive to Mt. Airy. Go Mt. Airy — an initiative of Mt. Airy USA — seeks to promote area businesses and the greater community. For more information about the organization and its initiatives, please call 215-844-6021 or visit www.gomtairy.com.