Welcome to that weird time of year when the weather can’t make up its mind. Spring into action with a brisk hike (SO many good ones nearby!), intriguing new eats and more! Enjoy XOXO

• Top Trails

Spring has nearly sprung, which means it’s time to hit the trails! According to AllTrails, the most popular Main Line area hike is (drumroll please)…the Wissahickon Gorge North Loop in Wissahickon Valley Park. The moderately challenging, 5.2-mile scenic loop near Lafayette Hill takes about two hours to complete. Next on the list is the Mount Joy Trail to Mount Misery Trail Loop in Valley Forge National Park. Ignore the ominous name; this 3.8-mile trail with its moderate elevation changes gets high marks for being well marked and maintained. Most hikers complete the loop in just under two hours. View the full list here .

• So long to Margaret Kuo and a Nod to Nectar

Margaret Kuo revolutionized the Main Line dining scene over two decades ago with her high-end Asian cuisine. However, it is with sadness that we announce the closure of her Wayne location this month. Fear not, for the iconic Peking Granite Run restaurant will continue to serve up its legendary dishes.

Margaret first dazzled taste buds at the Granite Run Mall in the 1970s before expanding to Malvern and Media. While we bid farewell to the Wayne establishment, we can still savor the flavors that made Margaret Kuo a culinary sensation in Granite Run. Let’s raise our chopsticks to Margaret and her family as they embark on new adventures. Their presence will be sorely missed, but their legacy will live on in every delectable bite.

Nectar executive chef Kenny Huang was recently honored for his culinary talents by the local chapter of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, a prestigious international gastronomic society founded in Paris in 1950. The Philadelphia “Chaine”—one of the oldest and most historic chapters in North America—is comprised of over 100 local food and wine enthusiasts.

Born and raised in Heshan, China, Huang worked alongside with beloved Nectar chef Patrick Feury for years until Feury’s tragic death two years ago.

• Prime Time

West Chester’s newest steakhouse 9 Prime knows how to run with a theme. Housed in the former First National Bank building in downtown West Chester, the 400-seat Art-Deco-inspired establishment includes private dining rooms inside old bank vaults with safety deposit boxes adorning the walls. There’s also a drink called The Bank Run made with Espolon Reposado tequila, Cointreau, lime, agave nectar and Fresno pepper.

9 Prime’s head chef is none other than fan-favorite Fabio Viviani of Top Chef. Aiming to be the state’s “grandest steakhouse,” the restaurant’s lavish menu includes wet and dry-aged steaks, Japanese wagyu, eye-popping seafood towers, burrata (smoked tableside) and decadent desserts like baked Alaska. There’s also a section titled “Opulent Additions,” which includes bone marrow, colossal shrimp, lobster tail and more. All this excess doesn’t come cheap, but an evening here with its ultra-attentive, white-glove service and strict dress code (collared shirts, sweaters and slacks for men; cocktail attire for women), is an experience. Pro tip: Head to the adjacent speakeasy Johnny O’s for some seriously cool cocktails.

9 Prime is located at 9 North High Street in West Chester. Dinner is served Sunday through Thursday 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM and Friday and Saturday 5:00 – 11:00 PM.

• Osushi Opens in Wayne

Popular sushi spot Osushi rolled into Wayne last month, taking over the old Corner Bakery that came and went in a flash. This is Osushi’s third location; others are in Ardmore and Marlton, New Jersey. Menu highlights include signature rolls like the Incredible Hulk (green soybean wrap with salmon, yellowtail, white tuna, avocado and honey wasabi mayo) and Black Pearl (spicy yellowtail and cucumber rolled and topped with avocado, black tobiko and scallion), nigiri, sashimi, dumplings and more. Early reviews are in and they’re gooooood.

Osushi is located at 613 West Lancaster Avenue in Wayne. Hours are Monday through Thursday 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM, Friday and Saturday 11:00 AM – 10:30 PM and Sunday 12:00 PM – 9:30 PM.

• Gladwyne Teen Publishes Cancer Book for Kids

Four and a half years ago Ethan Niu’s world imploded. He was splashing around at summer camp when his parents paid him a surprise visit. His mother had just been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and they wanted to tell him together, in person. Though just 13 at the time, he scoured his local library for information on cancer treatment.

Fortunately his mother’s cancer went into remission; however, it returned with a vengeance in 2021, attacking her central nervous system. As news of this latest setback sunk in, Niu continued to meet more children of cancer patients. Most were confused, overwhelmed and terrified.

Neu decided to write a book to help them. Last year, he self-published “Brave Little Fighters” on Amazon, which uses child-friendly language and colorful illustrations to explain common cancer treatments and therapies. The 26-page book also reminds children that cancer is not their fault. Above all, it offers hope and support during an incredibly challenging time.

Now a senior at Harrington High School, Niu sought help from his mother’s oncologist at the University of Pennsylvania while writing the book. Experts from the University of Michigan weighed in too.

The book is also available at the Gladwyne Free Library. (Even better? His mom is cancer free.)

• Books & Beans

What happens when a chef and English major meet and fall in love? They open a bakery-bookstore! West Chester’s new Bookstore Bakery gives patrons the chance to peruse stacks of new releases while sipping coffee or tea and snacking on sweet treats. Customers are raving about the cold brew and iced chai, along with the savory peanut butter cookies.

Follow the café on Instagram for all the latest.

The Bookstore Bakery is located at 145 West Gay Street in West Chester. Hours are Tuesday through Sunday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

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