Food and Crafts: Clover Market

What happens when three food-obsessed girls show up to a craft show? We start and end at the food, of course.

Last Sunday, a few Penn-Appetit-ers decided to check out the winter Clover Market at the 23rd Street Armory. Usually, it is an open-air spring and fall market held in Ardmore, PA, but this winter market was a special treat. There were DIY workshops and about 55 talented vendors selling beautiful works of art, cool antiques, handmade items, and vintage finds….

And there were food trucks. Six, to be exact.

Pitruco’s, Lucky Old Souls, Yumtown USA, Sweet Box Cupcakes, and Rival Brothers were all lined up outside along Ranstead Street. First thing we did? Rival Brothers coffee. A necessity after our cold walk, right? The French Press in-a-cup was our choice and it was delicious. The coolest part was that you got to make it yourself, in a disposable cup.

After perusing the various goods of the crafters inside, it was time for lunch. Decisions had to be made. Did we want classic, but amazing Pitruco’s pizza? Or something a little different, like the gourmet, local organic food from Yumtown?

Two of us went for burgers from Lucky Old Souls. I got a grass-fed beef burger from Rineer Family Farms. Interestingly, it was cooked medium well, but it was still cooked to perfection. Caramelized onions and their special-of-the-day sweet potatoes added a touch of sweetness to the deal, while the sharp cheddar provided just the extra punch it needed. My friend chose the vegan veggie burger that was made from scratch. It had a really soft texture but was delicious, especially with the caramelized onions on top.

Our other friend chose to get the “The Joy” – a beer-braised pulled pork sandwich from Yumtown. The pork was tender and flavorful, especially with the added punch of house pickled jalapenos, aioli, red vinegar slaw, and a splash of BBQ sauce on top.

All in all, it was quite a successful trip, with cool crafts and even cooler food.

--Marisa Denker