"We’re a meat-and-red-sauce town, and that even goes for our salads. Sure, this meatball salad in the Northeast has all the elements of a classic: romaine, a few tomatoes, red onions, red wine vinegar, and EVOO. Cafe Carmela just takes it over the top with saucy meatballs and ricotta cheese. It’s a happy clash of temperatures and toes the line between a light lunch and a comforting Sunday dinner. And in Philly, that makes complete sense." - candis mclean, alison kessler