Table Talk | New ethnic flavor in Graduate Hospital area

0 Comments | Philadelphia Inquirer, The, May, 2006 | by Michael Klein

Spanish? Turkish? The Graduate Hospital area has two ethnic newcomers.

Apamate (1620 South St., 215-790-1620) is a cute Spanish cafe run by two young Philly restaurant veterans, Rebecca McGhee and Ane Ormaechea.

McGhee put herself through the University of Pennsylvania by hostessing at Buddakan, followed by managerial work at La Colombe and Miel Patisserie.

The Venezuelan-raised Ormaechea, whose family is Spanish, worked at the former Cibucan and then at Bonte. At Apamate (say it "ah-pah-MAH-tay," as in the tree), Ormaechea cooks Spanish breakfasts and sandwiches, plus churros and hot chocolate. It's open at 7 a.m. every day but Sunday; closing times vary from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

It's sofa, so good at the new, homey-looking...