Montgomery County is home to some excellent cuisine. Ben Silver and Samantha Geiger highlight these talented womenwho are a part of Montco’s culinary scene for Main Line Today.
Kim Ettinger, founder of Cool As a Cuc in Wynnewood, has been delighting her “soupies” with hot and cold soups for two years. Inspired by her work in culinary PR and a friend’s suggestion, she named her venture after a comforting phrase from her mom.
Ettinger emphasizes local ingredients, sourcing from places like Small World Seafood and Havertown’s Colonial Village Meat Market. Her popular soups include balsamic beet, chicken tortilla, and butternut squash, with customers praising her creations as a centerpiece for holiday meals.
In Plymouth Meeting, Katie Tlush runs Tlush Family Farm, a unique grow-to-order operation in Montco’s culinary scene. Inside her home, Tlush uses advanced systems to cultivate a wide array of produce, including microgreens, radishes, and edible flowers. Her mushrooms—king trumpet, maitake, and oyster—are a hit with local chefs.
Tlush’s farm supplies top establishments like Merion Cricket Club and Jean-Georges Philadelphia. To meet demand, she plans to expand her growing space and eventually move to a commercial facility.
Meanwhile, in Conshohocken, Daniela De Souza has brought a taste of Brazil to the area with Merenda Box, a takeout operation featuring Brazilian-inspired snacks. Signature items include the Queijo Wafflewich and coxinha, alongside sweet treats like mini churros and docinhos.
De Souza’s biggest challenge has been sourcing authentic Brazilian ingredients, but she finds joy in sharing her heritage with the community, which has warmly embraced her unique offerings.
Read more about these women of Montco’s culinary scene in Main Line Today.
