Tonight's Special Feature

Enchilada de Langosta

Flour tortillas dipped in our tomatillo sauce, filled with a delicious mixture of lobster and white fish held together by our house made green chile lime mayo and topped with a flavorful Pepper Jack Chipotle Cheese Sauce also made from scratch for you. Garnished with pico de gallo and served with our rice and snow peas with cilantro butter.  14.95. Enjoy!

Introducing Bodini and Besitos Wines at the Inn

We are excited to debut two outstanding new wines at the Franklin Inn. Both are available by the bottle or by the glass.  I'm in love with the Moscato and John prefers the Malbec. Come and give them a try and then let us know what you think.

Bodini Malbec (Argentina)
From the vineyard's website: "Bodini: Built On Dreams of Individuals Not Institutions. We're proud to be a sustainably focused wine brand, based in Argentina." Their logo stands for Sustainability, Social Responsibility, and Scholarship. Very cool. Serious Red Wine Drinkers will want to check out Vine Connections for a review with tasting notes. It even won a Gold Medal from the Beverage Testing Institute.  John likes that it has a smooth finish with no bite and he says that it is very drinkable.

Besitos Moscato (Spain)
An inquiry was posted via my facebook fan page as to whether or not Besitos is a sparkling wine.  I wasn't sure how to answer because it "kinda" is to me but not exactly and I'm honestly not a wine expert. The question was put to my wine rep. He described it to me perfectly, "The Italians call this style Frizzante. Slightly sparkling but not a full sparkling Spumante. I just like to tell people it is lively." Perfect! I hope you enjoy this one as much as I do.

Dan's Beer Blog: Märzen

Love Oktoberfest beer and can't wait for October? 
Try a Penn Märzen!  

By Dan Cummins

The Penn Brewery is right downtown but you won't have to cross a bridge to try their Penn Märzen because its imported to the North Hills by us here at the Franklin Inn Mexican Restaurant.
 

Named after the German word for March (März) this style of beer was brewed in the spring and kept in cool cellars over the summer to be tapped at the beginning of fall to celebrate Oktoberfest as far back as the marriage of Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese in 1810.  Astute readers may know this as the yearly celebration that has become known as Oktoberfest.  The spring version of the beer is equally as good, and is likewise a delicious beer without a lot of alcohol perfect for a celebration or a drinking session with friends.

Märzen has a sweet aroma of roasted malt with caramel overtones, and the taste of the beer matches.  The complex malt can give a biscuity bready taste and remain sweet and flavorful.

Märzen will pair well with most foods, but the taster should try a chorizo dish (like our chorizo appetizer pictured left or our chorizo burrito) to let the hearty sweetness of the beer cut through the spiciness of the sausage, or the pork colorado to let the rich roasted flavors meld together.

Try the  Penn Märzen at the Inn today and let us know what you think?

Pennsylvania Brewing Company Märzen
Style: Märzen/Oktoberfest
ABV: 5.6%
Beer Advocate Score: 86
Hops:  Perle
Malt:  Two-row, Caramel, Dextrin, Munich, Black malt

About Dan: Shortly after turning 21, Dan famously quipped to friends that he "just didn't like beer very much."  Nearly ten years later Dan has parlayed that general dislike into a passion for the juice of the barley.  He admits that he is no expert, but is more than willing to share with our visitors the knowledge he has gained from sampling hundreds of beers from around the world, visiting breweries, and even making home brews.  Dan has a degree in technical theater from Slippery Rock University and is a relative new comer to the Franklin Inn but we hope he sticks around for awhile. Stop by the Inn and let Dan know your thoughts on his beer choices. He'll be happy to chat with you.

Now Available at the Inn: Dulce Vida Organic Tequila

Dulce Vida Organic Tequila is now available at the Franklin Inn.  This company produces the only 100° proof, 100% organic tequila in the world and has received numerous awards.

Today we are featuring Dulce Vida's  Reposado Tequila. It is the winner of the highest honor, the Best of Category/Gold Medal, at the 2012 Los Angeles International Spirits Competition.

Reposado, or “rested” tequila, is aged anywhere from two months to one year. Dulce Vida’s Reposado spends 11 months in American Bourbon Whiskey barrels to create a light yellow-gold, medium to full bodied tequila. When you taste it, you’ll notice delicate agave, barrel wood and citrus with strong fruit flavor notes and a mild, sweet finish. Check out Dulce Vida's website for more cool details about their completely vertically integrated methods.

Try it alone or sample as part of today's Featured Tequila Flight ($8). Let us know which you like the best:

Patron (Blanco)

Dulce Vida Organic (Reposado)

Tre Generations (Anejo)

It's Our Birthday!

The Franklin Inn is 34!
Stop in Today for Birthday Cake.

Thank you to all of our patrons, staff, and vendors through these years that have made 34 years possible. We love you!

We're so blessed for the opportunity to be your neighborhood restaurant all these years. We've made wonderful memories together. I "married" the restaurant over a decade ago, but many of you, and some of our staff, have been with the Inn even longer. You may have grown up with the Inn. A lot of our area's teens landed their first job with us. One of my favorite testimonials is from a child who wrote me, "I have loved the Franklin Inn all my life."We've had a lot of celebrations together: Birthdays, Marriage Proposals, Anniversaries, New Jobs, Retirement Parties, and more. A few years ago we ran a "Thank you for the Memories" Contest in honor of our 30th birthday.  You can read some of the stories on our website. Thank you for sharing life's special moments with us and for your continued patronage to our little restaurant.

I was going to order a cake for our celebration but Chris wants to bake it in-house for you. Join us today for lunch or dinner. No need for a certificate today. Your server will offer you a piece of cake while supplies last. Feel free to invite a friend and introduce him or her to the Inn as well. We love to make new friends.

Besides a free piece of birthday cake there are a few other things going on at the Inn Today:

It's $2 Tuesday: 
Dos Equis Amber Drafts are just $2 all day today.

Happy Hour Today (4pm to 6pm)
(available in both the bar and dining room)

$2 Draft Beers

Discounted Margaritas

Most appetizers are half off. 

Try my favorite: Black Bean Dip with Chipotle Pepper Sauce, Feta Cheese and Lemon Sour Cream. Yum.

Reasons to Spend Black Friday at the Inn....

NOT located in the shopping traffic craziness. We're tucked away in Franklin Park just minutes from 279 (Camp Horne Road Exit) and 79 (Mt. Nebo Exit). And about 15 or 20 minutes from Ross Park Mall!

We open at 11am today. We'll cook you a delicious homemade lunch using the best ingredients. Fresh produce, homemade chorizo, the best meats from our butcher, Tom Friday, and more. If you've already been out there searching for deals, take a break and relax with us. 

Special Feature today is the oh so popular Steak Burrito: Char-grilled Steak and a creamy pimiento cheese sauce made with Monterey Jack in a flour tortilla and served with stir fry green beans.  One year we switched it up and tried something different. We heard "loud and clear" that the Franklin Inn Steak Burrito is an annual tradition for you.  Karen made you Tortilla Soup and John made you Butter Pecan and Banana Chocolate Chip Ice Cream today too. 

Mason Jar Margaritas! Need I say more? Felix is doing the "Happy Dance" because the Sam Adams Winter Lager is now available at the Inn. We've also got two new beers on tap: St. Nikolaus Bock and  a Little Sumpin' Sumpin Ale.

 






Happy Hour Today  - 4pm to 6pm. 
All draft beers are $2

Margaritas are discounted 
Half Price on most Appetizers



Enjoy all of the above while checking folks off your gift list.  No lines. No wrong sizes. No Returns. No Hassles.  Franklin Inn Gift Cards are a practical gift available in any amount. A great present for your loved ones, teachers and more. You may not be able to send them on a Mexican Vacation but you can treat them to a two-hour respite of relaxation with delicious food.


Don't forget that we can cater your Holiday Party too.  From one pan of something yummy for the potluck to large group catering....we've got you covered. Perfect for work luncheons, holiday parties, birthdays, Pharmaceutical reps, church functions & more. Enjoy your favorite Mexican food at YOUR location. 

Start your holiday season with us. We look forward to seeing you today. 

  

 

New Happy Hour!

We have a treat not a trick for you this Fall!

 

We are "happy" to announce that the
Franklin Inn Mexican Restaurant now has a 

Fall Happy Hour!  

Our New Happy Hour is available Monday thru Friday from 4pm to 6pm in both the bar and the dining room.  Featured are the famous mason jar margaritas: $4 off a full mason jar and $2 off a half mason jar.  All draft beers will be just $2.  Half off of the Inn's delicious homemade appetizers too (except hot wings...we feature them Monday nights from 7-9 in the bar for 40 cents).

We have not had a happy hour in years (more than a decade).  John recalls his mom having one years ago. We are very excited about this and can't wait for you to visit us and check it out.  Enjoy and let us know your thoughts as we roll out this new opportunity for you to meet friends and enjoy our treats at the Inn.

It's National Taco Day!

Share a taco with someone you love today
or someone you need to make peace with.

Chocolate-Zucchini Muffins (Vegan and Wheat free)

I'm getting lots of zukes in my CSA box so I'm looking for ways to use them up and wanted to find a dessert that Julia could eat.  I chose this recipe with a few minor tweaks and my non-allergy children loved them too.  I had to make them stop eating them so poor Julia could enjoy them.  I wish I would've doubled the recipe (while everything was still out and a mess!  I cleaned the kitchen up while they were baking.) but I wasn't sure how they'd turn out with the gluten free flour. These muffins are super-moist, a bit springy and tasty.

Chocolate-Zucchini Muffins (Fat Free, Gluten Free, Vegan)
by Speakin' Vegan on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 8:29pm ·
Servings: 12
Ingredients:

• 1¼ cups gluten free baking mix ( I used Tom Sawyer that I bought at Naturally Soergel)
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa (We also added Enjoy Life Chocolate Chunks and Julia was heavy-handed!)
• 1¼ tsp baking powder
• ¾ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 whole banana, mashed
• ½ cup raw sugar
• ½ cup unsweetened applesauce (I didn't have applesauce so I used olive oil here)
• ¼ cup non-dairy milk (I used coconut milk)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup shredded zucchini

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350F. Grease muffin pan and set aside. If using paper liners, lightly spray inside of liners with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Whisk flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon together. In another bowl, cream mashed banana with applesauce and sugar (use extra 1/2 cup for a very sweet, dessert-like muffin). Add in milk, vanilla, zucchini and any other optional add-ins you might like such as vegan chocolate chips. Stir until evenly combined. Add flour mix to wet mix in 3-4 batches and stir until just combined. Spoon batter into greased muffin pan and bake 18-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
 
Adapted for gluten free diet from http://happyherbivore.com/2009/01/chocolate-zucchini-muffins/

First top on the Ride for Ryan 2012...

The First Stop before the 2012 Ride for Ryan begins is Wednesday, July 18, at the Franklin Inn Mexican Restaurant. Bring this coupon to the Inn for lunch or dinner and 20% of your bill will be donated to the Ryan Diviney Special Needs Trust.  You can enjoy a nice meal and help a family in need.

Please refer to our blog post about this event from last year for more information about Ryan, his story and his needs:  http://franklininnmexicanrestaurant.blogspot.com/2011/07/first-stop-on-ride-for-ryanthe-franklin.html

Here is a message from John Maletta regarding this year's charity ride:

"Scot Reed, George Gardner, Joe Maletta and I have upped the ante for this year’s Ride For Ryan bicycle trip fundraiser. We are planning a 480-mile, 6-day bike ride across New York state and southern Ontario to raise funds for Ryan Diviney’s Special Needs Trust. We are spearheading this very special effort for the son of my old college roommate and I am asking you to consider helping us. More about Ryan's story can be found by visiting www.ryansrally.org.

This is a targeted fundraiser to purchase a new piece of therapy equipment. The machine is called the RT300 from Restorative Therapy. The final price tag is $17,500. This is a vital piece of therapy equipment and Ryan’s Special Needs Trust does not have enough money in it at this time to cover the full cost of the equipment. The International Brain Research Foundation (IBRF) is advocating this for Ryan. Ryan has experienced a couple of broken bones during routine physical therapy because his bone density has diminished over the past couple years. This device provides electrical impulses to stimulate Ryan’s muscles to actually do the work. This therapy actually builds muscles, increases bone density, gives a cardio-vascular workout, and provides electrical stimulation that has the possibility to train the brain to work with muscles and to re-learn movements."

Maybe Felix will join the Ride for Ryan again this year. Biking 480 miles is not for the faint of heart! Our admiration, thoughts and prayers go with these men. Please join us next Wednesday to help give them encouragement, moral support and a fundraising kick start! You'll enjoy a great meal and help in the effort to raise funds for a family in desperate need. If Wednesday isn't possible, you can still make a donation. Visit www.ryansrally.org. to make a direct donation. Thank you for your consideration. Hope to see you on Wednesday!

This was where the 2011 journey started.

 

After 320 miles they were still smiling!