In PA Eats’s first installment of “Staff Picks,” we line up our ever-dedicated staff of food writers and ask them to reveal what foods they turn to for comfort in Chester County. Do they opt for classic stick-to-your-ribs dishes to get them through these cold-weathered months, like juicy, all-beef burgers and cheesy mac and cheese? Or, are their choices cutting-edge, a riff on age-old, culinary mainstays that reinvent the way we define comfort food?
Find below our staffers’ favorites – many of which they would openly fight through any hungry crowd for just one bite.
I’ve never met a baked pasta dish I didn’t like, but there is something really special when hints of cinnamon and allspice shine through a meaty tomato sauce within three layers of cozy goodness. The place for my #1 comfort food? Hank’s Place (1625 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford), a laid-back, wholesome spot where anything you order will feel like a big old delicious hug. My preferred comfort dish is their Moussaka. This Greek dish ditches the pasta and layers sliced eggplant, sauteed ground beef (seasoned with a savory blend of onion, garlic, tomatoes cinnamon and allspice) and sliced potatoes, and is topped with a pillow of creamy Bechamel sauce. It always lifts my mood, but doesn’t weigh me down because it’s served with a fresh Greek Salad – and, of course, a smile. –Mary Bigham
Being raised a full-blown PA Dutch gal who clocked hours as a teenager at an apple butter factory, I go gaga over any old-fashioned apple treat. But, it’s baker Maryellen Bowers of Cakes and Candies by Maryellen (1332B West Chester Pike, West Chester) who always gets it right. Her apple dumplings are a beautiful thing. The fresh-out-of-the-oven stuffed pastry is like your own personal apple pie, and her ratio of apples to dough is pitch-perfect, ensuring that within each beautiful bite, you’ll receive the crisp and the crunch, the chewy and the doughy. And, I can’t skip the best part: the generous swirls of house-made, gooey caramel. (If the dumplings are sold-out, opt for her Bailey’s Bread Pudding – equally as impressive and crush-worthy.) –Amy Strauss
My comfort food is one that I only have when my family is out for the night. When dining alone at home, I typically get takeout from Don Gabriel’s (611 West Strasburg Road, West Chester). I always get the chicken tinga burrito and chips. –Jim Breslin
When I think about comfort food, I’ve got to go with my weekend staple – the “Hangover Sammy” from Teresa’s Next Door (124 North Wayne Ave., Wayne). Hangover Sammy piles up ham, bacon, egg, avocado, queso fresco, fried potato pancake, hot sauce and steak sauce, all piled on a round roll. –Chris Grimmig
A comfort food is as much about the people with whom I dine as it is about the munchie. With that in mind, I recommend grabbing your sweetie (or best friend or whomever) and heading down to Victory Brewing Company (420 Acorn Lane, Downingtown) for the Hand Tossed Pretzel, something Hubs and I do often this time of year. At just $5, it’s a piping hot, freshly made giant twisted pretzel served with Dusseldorf mustard and cheese sauce. And while the menu says it goes well with a Victory Lager, I prefer the more wintry (and hopefully smoky) mix, such as seasonal offerings Smokin’ Oats, Baltic Thunder or (hint, hint to Victory) Scarlet Fire. –Nina Malone
This one’s easy. Homemade spaghetti from Rino’s (327 East Lancaster Avenue, Exton) is my favorite Chester County comfort food. My family has been getting takeout from Rino’s for years, so their food tastes like home and is always a hit. –Chelsea Sproul
Peanut Butter Banana French Toast with star anise-infused honey – more PB than one should eat in the day, and the fluffiest french toast around town. With a side of well-done slab bacon, it is Classic Diner’s (352 Lancaster Ave., Malvern) portrayal of the real meaning of breakfast! That’s Chester County comfort food to me. Oh, and I never miss out on at least one bite of their grilled potatoes. –Aly Debbas
Bone-sucking bliss can be had at The Station Bistro (1300 Hares Hill Road, Kimberton) thanks to co-owner Craig Miller’s unbounded talents with his on-site smoker, along with those generous slathers of house-made BBQ sauce. Forget sub par baby back-boasting chains and instead, visit the Bistro for the best pork ribs west of the Schuylkill, especially during its all-you-can-eat Monday night pig-out. –Ken Alan
My favorite comfort food in CC has to be the sweet potato fries from Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant. I have daydreams about them and simply can’t pass them up. They are sweet and savory with the best dipping sauce I’ve ever had – the vanilla bourbon sauce! A simply divine dish that’s built for sharing… if I’m feeling particularly generous. –LeeAnne Mullins-Hudak
The dish that signals comfort food for me in the winter is a hearty split-pea soup. This soup is so easy I was surprised when our kids asked me for the recipe, after watching me make it dozens of times. A bag of split peas, chopped onion and carrot, a smoked ham hock, bay leaf and five whole cloves, with water to cover. Put it in the trusty slow-cooker in the morning and you’ll have dinner when you get home. –Sandy Essinger-Hileman
Is there anything better than a tasty, filling meal after a long day of work? Certainly not. So naturally I associate comfort food with the staff meal I used to eat at Nudy’s Cafe (450 Bridge St., Phoenixville) after a shift hostessing. Splitting a massive Breakfast Burrito (ham, eggs, beans, peppers, guac and more) alongside a stack of pancakes (often gingerbread) with a coworker always hit the spot. –Melissa Woodley
At Italian restaurants, without fail, I order sautéed calamari in spicy red sauce. A huge plate of squid, salad and crusty bread = the perfect meal. I’ve had Chef Vito’s calamari saltati al pomodoro at Trattoria San Nicola (4 Manor Road, Paoli) dozens of times, as well as Frankie’s version at Fellini Café (678 Lancaster Ave., Berwyn). And for dessert, it’s got to be chocolate-covered pretzels from Nancy’s Candy Corner at Wayne’s Lancaster County Farmer’s Market (389 West Lancaster Ave.). You’ll need to hide them from yourself! –Laura Koster
Almost every day after school, my grandmother would have a warm bowl of homemade chicken soup waiting for me. Whenever I crave her warmth, I head over to Penn’s Table (100 W. Gay St., West Chester; 268 Eagleview Blvd., Exton), where everyone is treated like family. –Leslie Weinberg
Can I say any…Bourbon? If not, my favorite dish is the chipped beef at Market Street Grill (6 West Market St., West Chester). I also always order the Royal Sampler at Green Papaya (290 East Lincoln Highway, Exton)–there is enough for the whole family. Best dessert? Iron Hill’s Double Chocolate Hill, an impressive confection of moist chocolate cake with a warm peanut butter center. –Jeff Schaller
As winter’s cold creeps in, I find no better comfort than in sitting down to a large serving of mac and four cheeses. This is my childhood favorite updated for my adult gastronomic tastes. Most often a riff on Lynne Rosetto Kasper’s recipe, the cheese-laced bechamel sauce warms my body while the toothsome pasta promises my body continued fuel for another winter’s day’s work. Without hesitation, it is my opinion that the best place to find this mac and four cheeses in Chester County is at my house, cooked side by side with my wife. –Doug Essinger-Hileman
What’s your go-to comfort food dish in Chester County?
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