(Fall) Features
If you’re new here, welcome! I’m a proud resident of Conshohocken, PA—and an unabashed lover of great restaurants. In my latest book, After the Fall, I highlight a few of my favorite local spots—places that hold some of my most cherished memories since moving to Conshy. I gave readers a brief glimpse into why these places matter so much to me in the book, but here’s the longer version—the full story, with all the flavor and entertainment you might’ve been looking for.
I’m the youngest of three siblings, with a 12-year age gap between me and my oldest. By the time I came along, my parents—especially my mom—were just about over the whole cooking thing. So, dining out became a staple of my childhood. Eating at restaurants wasn’t just a treat—it was a way of life. And as I got older, I didn’t just enjoy eating out—I started working in the industry, too.
Like many teachers, I’ve had to wear multiple hats to make ends meet. My first restaurant job was at Hymie’s, a beloved Jewish deli in Merion, PA. It was there I learned how to stand up for myself—and developed the kick-ass waitressing skills I still carry today. Turns out, I’m just as good at managing the needs of hungry adults as I am at wrangling a classroom full of kids.
Because let’s be honest: teaching doesn’t come with a luxury paycheck. If it did, I wouldn’t have worked five to six nights a week while pursuing my dream of educating young minds—and still trying to keep up with some kind of social life.
From Hymie’s, I worked my way through a who’s who of the local restaurant scene: Teca in Newtown Square, Limoncello in West Chester, Stone Harbor Burger Bar, Northend in North Wildwood, Hawthornes in Philly, and a slew of places in Manayunk (which is a memoir all on its own). Eventually, I found myself at Daisy Tavern in Conshohocken—my current home base and a true neighborhood gem.
Every restaurant I’ve worked in has left its mark—on my work ethic, my worldview, and my heart. In After the Fall, I wanted to pay tribute to the spaces and faces that shaped my story—both inside and outside the classroom.
This post is a special thank you to the restaurants that have not only fed me but have embraced my writing as warmly as I’ve embraced their food, drinks, and energy. These are places with that wow factor. That unmistakable something. That elusive it.
I highly suggest you go find their it for yourself.