Top Suburban Craving Busters

I once drove 60 miles for a Nathan's hot dog . I had a craving. And anyone who is bedeviled by cravings for favorite nibbles knows, nothing is too extreme to have it satisfied. But how about closer to home in the Philly suburbs? Here are just a few of my top go-to spots for very specific palate pleasers. – Jay Lloyd

Put your fingers into a bowl of Chickie's and Pete's mussels (red for me) and then lick. You're hooked. The craving will strike again and again. The bowl is packed. The garlic is visible and you need nothing more for ultimate satisfaction than a robust brew. If you manage to finish the bowl, there's bread at hand for dipping in leftover sauce. Mary and I couldn't finish. Took home the sauce and 8 mussels, added a few shrimp, tossed in some live and chopped clams for an incredible bonus meal.

As a kid in New York with neon "Chop Suey" signs blazing in every neighborhood, I had frequent cravings for egg rolls. The closest I've come to those flavor fantasies is at the Lemon Tree, a small but elegant Chinese eatery in Chester Springs. The skins are golden crisp, the ingredients fresh and the flavor brings 1940's New York to the Philly suburbs. But save room for dishes, to tantalize both traditional American tastes and introduce unique regional dishes of China.

Ever get a craving for a pizza with a rich red sauce and some homemade mozzarella? But it's late and you don't want a whole pizza or a heat lamp slice. That's when I head to DaVinci's Pub for a flatbread that's a letter perfect imitation of a classic pie. Fine for one, or to share with a brew or two. Craving satisfied, no bulky box to schlep home. And often a bit of live music on the bandstand or a game on the telly.

One of the most frequent cravings is the absolute need for a pickle - sour, garlic dill, half sour - you name it. Peter Piper's, occupying a prominent stall at the bustling Zern's Market has some of suburbia's best. They compare favorably to the fabled barrels of Brooklyn. Pickle purveyor Philip Dolgan told KYW listeners that the largest number of cravings revolve around his garlic dills. You'll find him at Zern's on Fridays and Saturdays. There's a quart of the pickled cukes in my fridge now, to last till the next Gilbertsville getaway.

Spending time, perched in the pubs of Scotland can do funny things to your craving priorities. That's how I discovered Scotch eggs, a simple melding of hard boiled egg and sausage meat, breaded, seasoned and fried. At the Whip Tavern, a cozy British pub in the heart of Chester County horse country, they are addictive. Plenty of Scot, Irish and English beers to wash them down at a friendly bar that could have been lifted straight out of St. Andrews.

Decades ago, on my way to cover a fire at St. Monica's in South Philly, I couldn't get past the aroma of an Italian bakery. I stopped for a loaf. It was the best I've ever had. Until recently when I discovered the Collegeville Italian Bakery. It's also a restaurant. But we're not here to talk about bread. The craving producing delicacy that shows up here on the 3rd Thursday of every month is a whole roast pig that is so tender and moist, you don't want to leave. Steve Carcarey will build you a sandwich with natural juices that leaves you salivating for more and more and.... You get the idea. By the way, as long as you're here, grab a loaf and start another craving.

Enjoy!