By G.E. Lawrence
glawrence@PhoenixvilleNews.com

PHOENIXVILLE — It was the food that was at the center of Franklin Commons festivities Saturday afternoon. A "Cooking Expo."

That food was presented at stations around the now-open Bistro at Franklin Commons. A wide variety of food prepared and served from mobile vending units by the chefs of Cornucopia Catering, the Bistro's operator.

There was the Filet of Fish Station, a Tempura Station, a Sushi Bar, an Italian Dinner Station and, last but not least, a Build Your Own Pizza station.

All to introduce the Bistro, and to introduce Cornucopia's food.

The restaurant holds the central place in the central hall of Franklin Commons, central to the multiple educational institutions, independent programs and industrial ventures now joined at the adaptive re-use of the old Budd/Polychem complex on Phoenixville's North Side.

A central facility, that is, for students and staff of Neumann College, Lansdale School of Business, Stepping Stone Education Center, Phoenixville Children's Early Learning Center, Facetime Performing Arts Center, Time for Fun, and Rock and Roll After School. For the staff and clients of Seraph, Inc. For staff and clients of 21st Century Products, from whose mobile vending units food was served. A central facility for the construction and renovation crews and artists who continue to work throughout the complex.

And looking to be also, according to Cornucopia Catering's President Robert Baldassare and facility developers Marian and David Moskowitz, a central facility for the North Side neighborhood.

The Bistro is now open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:15 p.m., and has scheduled featured soups and daily specials. Thursday nights have also been identified as special Family Nights at the Bistro.

Cornucopia Catering's Sharon Rouse was leading tours through Franklin Hall, a space off the Bistro's main area that is now available for private catered affairs.

"This has been fun," she said of the event. Involved in food service with Cornucopia "ever since it was just a small deli," Rouse reflected a bit on her experience.

"You know what I like best?" she asked. "You see people at their best at an occasion like this, enjoying themselves over good food."

The food got good reviews.

Ed Jefferies lives "just two blocks away," he said, and remembered times when Franklin Commons was a rug factory — with a two-story materials slide that after hours could be used, uh, for purposes only children could dream up. Jeffries found the food "very good," but was especially pleased with the pizza.

A contingent of Reservoir Dogs! Park regulars encamped at another table. "The food is great, all of it," said Dorene Pasekoff. "We figure that the Park is so close that we can be here a lot." She broke off a conversation with a reporter to talk with her colleagues about Park visit and Bistro visit schedules