Excellent Thai-inspired soup

The Cafe in Bethlehem (221 W. Broad St.) has been serving up Thai-inspired food (and outstanding desserts) for years. Though there are many excellent curry, rice and noodle dishes on the menu in addition to a wide range of creative salads, my favorite selection is the big bowl of soup for about $9. It features simmering homemade chicken broth loaded with rice noodles, fresh basil leaves, julienned carrots, broccoli, chilis, mushrooms, scallions and your choice of shrimp, chicken or pork. (Shrimp is pictured at the right.) It is consistently a flavorful, clean-tasting, light yet satisfying concoction that touches on Thai food's trademark sweet, hot, sour and salty flavors. It's a great way to warm up on a chilly day without the heft of a stewed dish or cream-based soup. Enjoy.

Side dishes

1. The new Jamaican restaurant on 7th St in Allentown has opened. It's called Nixx's Jamaican & Soul Food Restaurant. The new Seventh Street Now blog has a nice write-up.
2. Kim from Kim's Kitchen in Center Valley reports that she's been cooking up more Korean food -- including seaweed salad, a kim chee-style tofu dish (with light, delicate tofu), a bean sprout salad and fish dishes (like tilapia) -- at the request of customers who have found her via this blog. She said to call in advance if you have a crowd (610-282-5857) and she'll tell you what she has or can make. Keep cooking, Kim!

Spice India information

Spice India
(610) 432-0980

Thanks to all for scouting Spice India, which indeed is in Whitehall. If you're heading north on MacArthur, turn right onto Schadt Ave. (before you get to Staples), go about 500 feet, then turn left into 2407 Mickley Ave. (Not Mickley Road.) I had a brief conversation with the owner. Evidently, the restaurant opened December 18. He relocated to this area from Parsippany, N.J., where he also operated an Indian restaurant. He and his staff appeared gracious, friendly and helpful.

Spice India has a lunch buffet. Weekdays, $7.95; weekends, $10.95. The full menu appears slightly more extensive than Raj Palace or Nawab, with more vegetarian options and several goat entrees. Here it is:

New blog domain name

You can now find this blog at www.beyondscrapple.com in addition to its original address, lveats.blogspot.com. No other changes -- same blogger, same mission, same sporadic posts.

Quick update

Now that the holidays are over, I will start exploring and posting again. In the next two weeks, I have visits planned to Tokyo Do in Bethlehem, the new Louie's in Allentown and Rincón Salvadoreño in Allentown. Please check back and look for my reports.

Also, thank you all for the wealth of comments and suggestions on this blog in 2007. Comments about your experiences at the restaurants I review are not only welcome, they're cherished. It's tough to get a true picture of a restaurant with only one meal. I provide glimpses in my blog; you help to broaden the perspective with your comments. Again, many thanks.

And now for some notes, or "side dishes:"

1. I noticed a new Caribbean/Soul Food restaurant slated to open on 7th St. in Allentown between Linden and Turner -- close to the new bus terminal. I run by the location every Thursday morning, so I'll notify readers when it's open.
2. Johnny Manana's is open in Allentown, 9th and Hamilton (in the new PPL building). Damien Brown's West End Neighborhood blog has a nice write up.
3. Long overdue stop: Amigo Mio in Allentown. I haven't been there in 9-10 years. I was reminded about it when I was perusing New York Times readers' nominations of best restaurants. One of the commenters from Brooklyn nominated Amigo Mio in Allentown alongside all of NYC's world-class establishments. Sometimes we forget the treasures we have in our own backyard.
4. I've been told about a new Indian restaurant on MacArthur Road close to the Wal-Mart/Dick's/Burlington Coat Factory shopping center. Has anyone been there or seen it?
5. Don Pablo's on MacArthur Road has closed. Big loss.