Larry Cohen has a love affair with bacon. It’s not a food trend to him—it’s a lifestyle.
“Bacon has always been hot for me,” revealed Cohen, the owner of Frazer’s new breakfast and lunch cafe, The Bacon Press. “I’d eat bacon forever—no one is stopping me.”
The 32-year-old Bryn Mawr resident opened up his all-things-bacon cafe in late January 2014, within the Lincoln Court Shopping Center. More than just an addict of the thinly sliced pork belly, Cohen’s a bacon connoisseur. He’s taking eating high-quality strips of crispy pork to the next level by stocking his kitchen with an ever-changing mix of varieties sourced from across the nation.
From Black Forest dry-rubbed bacon, to varieties like sugar-kissed maple, and punchy pepper, to classics like hickory- and applewood-smoked (and so much more), you’ll score an ever-changing pork education at this enticing cafe. But, it gets better.
The Bacon Press isn’t just about taste-testing varieties of bacon—although, you can do that, too. Cohen wanted to bring an approachable cafe to the Main Line where he could elevate comfort cuisine with fun, enticing touches, and of course, serve copious amounts of his favorite food. That’s bacon, if you already forgot.
Intrigued by what the breakfast enthusiast was serving up in his cozy lime green-accented cafe that’s dressed with whimsical bacon prints, chalkboard walls and retro-inspired pendant lamps, we paid Cohen a visit to taste-test his inventive dishes. Our full report of exploring his creative uses of incorporating bacon into breakfast and lunch dishes and what you must try below.
Top 5 Bacon-Infused Dishes of Bacon Press:
Crazy Pancake Sandwich
You typically eat pancakes, eggs and bacon with breakfast, so why not throw them together into a fun-loving sandwich? It was Cohen’s genius idea to craft this handheld option where the terrifically fluffy pancakes acted as the bun, and layers of gooey American cheese, sunny-side-up eggs and bacon were sandwiched in between. Better yet, a side of maple syrup arrives with this option, which is perfect for dipping.
Bananas Foster Crepes
“You don’t find good crepes around here,” shared Cohen. “I wanted to offer our customers sweet and savory crepes options.” He’s imported a heavy-duty crepe maker just for his exclusive crepes roster, which ranges from decadent combos like strawberries and fresh whipped cream, Nutella and bananas, and a Southern-inspired variety with chorizo, jalapenos, eggs and bacon.
Our favorite is the Bananas Foster, which features an impeccably crafted crepe stuffed and topped with caramelized bananas and fresh whipped cream. Trust us—you won’t be able to have just one bite; it’s pure bliss.
The Flying Saucer
Cohen is all about making breakfast and lunch entertaining, so this whimsical creation starts with the base of a house-made hash brown cake. He adds cheddar cheese to the pan and caramelizes it, and even layers on some bacon. The crucial finishing touch? A fried egg on top! The yolk fuels this dish’s fire and keeps you (and your fork) coming back for more.
Cinnamon Rolls
Larry’s baking-savvy wife, Devon, creates from-scratch batches of fluffy cinnamon rolls daily. Served warm, the doughy spirals are finished with rich cream cheese frosting. But, what makes them even better? Bacon—and lots of it! You’re given the option to order the available-all-day treat as sprinkled with copious chunks of maple bacon. Take the cinnamon roll to the next level by ordering it as French toast.
Jalapeno & Bacon Mac and Cheese
A crumb-topped bowl of mac and cheese can solve anything—ever. But, this isn’t just a standard mac and cheese. Cohen mixes a variety of cheeses with generous bacon and jalapeno and then, sprinkles the cheesy noodles with a Cheez-It-topped crust just before serving. This comfort food has never been as good as this!
Top 5 Honorable Mentions:
We couldn’t name just five favorites. Here’s more you must try:
- specialties like the pancake-battered bacon and bacon on a stick
- a pair of from-scratch biscuits smeared with country gravy
- the Big Bacon Burger crafted with house-ground and hand-formed, half-beef/half-bacon patties that’s layered with caramelized onions, blue cheese and more bacon, as served on a toasty brioche bun
- a moment of soul-warming gluttony with the Big Henry: an open-faced Italian roll-served sandwich layered with mac and cheese, fresh-cut french fries and bacon
- Potato Jaxon, a play on potato hash with jalapeno, cheddar, chorizo—all topped with sunny side-up egg
Lighter breakfast options are also available like spinach and feta omelettes, yogurt parfaits and salads (classic Cobb, Waldorf and more). Bacon Press encourages you to enhance your experience by supporting the all-things-bacon theme full force and welcomes diners to add even more bacon to your order if you so desire. For the bacon naysayers, Cohen welcomes you too!
Find The Bacon Press at 215 Lancaster Ave. in Frazer; phone: (484) 328-3118. Hours of operation are as follows: Mon.–Fri., 7 a.m.–3 p.m.; Sat.–Sun., 7 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Photo credit: Amy Strauss
