Philadelphia Restaurant News - Valentines Day Edition

Philadelphians have a long tradition of indulging in the sweeter side of life. Local ice cream legend Lewis Dubois Bassett, a Quaker schoolteacher and farmer, began selling his creamy confection in 1861. Bassett’s Ice Cream and Shane’s candy store, both historic Philadelphia establishments, are still housed in their original locations, complete with antique decor. And Tastykake products continue to be hot sellers nationwide. Below is a sampling of fun and casual spots that invite those with a serious sweet tooth to stop and taste the ice cream - or whatever other sugary concoction tempts them - on Valentine’s Day and everyday:

• Bassett’s Ice Cream - An original tenant of the Reading Terminal Market, Bassett’s Ice Cream has long claimed supremacy for its rich, smooth flavors. Plus, they make a terrific milkshake. House favorites: French vanilla, dark chocolate chip and butterscotch vanilla. 12th & Arch Streets, (215) 925-4315
• Café Sud - Deborah Kaplan was known for her award-winning wedding cakes and desserts before she opened this Moroccan bistro with her husband Mostafa Mouhib. Popular entrees include filo stuffed with chicken, almonds, eggs, cilantro and cinnamon and grilled kefta kabobs, but the real draw here is the desserts, including ginger pear tarts, chocolate hazelnut tortes and an extensive assortment of pastries. House favorite: tiramisu. 801 E. Passyunk Avenue, (215) 592-0499
• Capogiro Gelato Artisans - Owners John and Stephanie Reitano tempt their customers with more than 25 flavors of gelato and sorbet each day. Fresh local ingredients are used to create their unusual flavors. Panini sandwiches, homemade soups and great coffee are also on the menu. House favorites: Bitter chocolate, rosemary-honey goat milk and blood orange sorbet. 119 S. 13th Street, (215) 351-0900
• Dessert - This intimate dessert-only cafe lives up to its name by offering a wide selection of pastries and pies, as well as homemade ice creams and sorbets and a chocolate peanut butter bombe that’s, well, the bomb. House favorite: Chocolate brioche bread pudding. 806 S. 6th Street, (215) 923-9733.
• The Franklin Fountain - This Old City newcomer is an authentic early 20th-century soda shop with tin walls and a tin ceiling, original marble counters and mosaic floors. Servers dressed as old-fashioned soda jerks dish out ice cream and sundaes, as well as old-time favorites such as egg creams, a concoction that includes milk and flavored syrup with soda water and phosphates. House favorite: Banana split in a turn-of-the-century pressed glass banana boat. Closed from January 3-March 4, 2005. 116 Market Street, (215) 627-1899.
• More Than Just Ice Cream - This casual Washington Square West restaurant serves up American lunch favorites and great desserts, including a wide selection of pies, cakes and brownies. House favorite: Sky-high apple pie piled with slabs of vanilla ice cream. 1119 Locust Street, (215) 574-0586
• Petit 4 Pastry Studio - From a simple butter cookie to a sophisticated hazelnut torte layered with raspberry marmalade and chocolate butter cream, Petit 4 Pastry Studio’s selections run the gamut from delicious to delicious. House favorite: Banana milk chocolate chip cookies. 160 N. 3rd Street, (215) 627-8440
• Pink Rose Pastry Shop - Diners feel like they’ve stepped into their grandmother’s house when they enter this tiny lace-and-doily-filled dessert shop. Patrons can indulge in raspberry tarts, carrot cake and more at one of the 14 tables stuffed into this award-winning bakery. House favorites: Signature éclairs or Fiesta Chocolate Cake. 630 S. 4th Street, (215) 592-0565.
• RoseLena’s - RoseLena’s feels like a turn-of-the-century drawing room in the heart of South Philly. Customers can feast on homemade desserts such as chocolate cake, strawberry napoleon and s’mores while sipping a freshly brewed pot of coffee or tea. House favorites:. Antica Dulce Torte. 1623-25 E. Passyunk Avenue, (215) 755-9697
• Yann Patisserie & Café - This popular sandwich shop and French bakery is located in Philadelphia’s French Quarter. The stuffed dessert case is filled with chocolate mousse, apple tarts, éclairs and tempting daily specials. House favorites: The "Opera," three layers of almond sponge cake saturated with espresso and filled with ganache and coffee buttercream; and the "Prestige," a bitter chocolate mousse with a crunchy lower crust. 122 S. 18th Street, (215) 568-5250

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) builds the region’s economy and image through destination marketing to increase the number of visitors, the number of nights they stay and the number of things they do in the five-county region. For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit www.gophila.com or call the Independence Visitor Center, located in Independence National Historical Park, at (800) 537-7676.