Philadelphia and the Countryside - Press Room

Releases: Expanded View

Jan 20 2012

10 Tasty Dining Stories In Philadelphia In 2012

Food Trucks, Cooking Classes, Beer Boutiques & More

Reading Terminal Market Expansion
A favorite of residents and tourists alike, Philly’s preeminent indoor market and local food hub has been around since 1892, but in 2012 the Reading Terminal Market is getting bigger and better. With increased sales, a growing city population and the recently enlarged Pennsylvania Convention Center stretching its capacity, the market—housing all of Philly’s classic foods (cheesesteaks, hoagies, soft pretzels and more) under one roof—is in the midst of a $3.5 million revamp. Storage has been moved to the basement, opening up stalls for five new retailers, and bathrooms are getting a needed update, in addition to other infrastructure improvements. Several tenants, including the Spice Terminal, Flying Monkey Bakery and DiNic’s have moved to larger spaces, and the facility is adding a new demonstration kitchen for its La Cucina at the Market cooking school, plus a multipurpose Rick Nichols Room, named in honor of the former Inquirer food writer, that will feature an exhibition of the landmark’s history.

Travel & Learn…To Cook
There’s no better time to be an ambitious home cook than right now, with a spate of new class offerings taught by seasoned chefs. At COOK, Rittenhouse Square’s multipurpose school, event space and store, the lineup includes sessions on David Katz’s famous fried chicken from Mémé, classic French fare with Peter Woolsey of Bistrot La Minette and a tour of the whiskeys of Scotland with local bar chef Stephen Seibert. La Cucina at the Market (see above) has a full schedule of culinary workshops and demonstrations, including Fish Without Fear and Handmade Pasta for Two. Elsewhere, Chef Joseph Poon provides a hands-on education in Chinese cookery at his Chinatown classes.

Nothing Tops Philly’s Top Chefs
Philadelphia’s Jennifer Carroll made a splash nationally when she competed on Bravo’s Top Chef, and her local fan base is eagerly awaiting her next move. The former 10 Arts chef left her post last fall and is rumored to be opening her own mid-size, affordable eatery in the city. Meanwhile, another born and bred area native, Top Chef Season 7 winner Kevin Sbraga opened his Sbraga restaurant in fall 2011, and buzz remains strong.

Food Trucks Unite!
Since the Food Trust launched the first nocturnal meeting of the lunch trucks in 2010, Night Market Philadelphia has been a runaway hit. Held throughout the farmer’s market season in a chosen neighborhood (past locations have included East Passyunk, University City, Mount Airy and Chinatown), the Night Markets have attracted the hottest vendors, chefs and mobile operations in town, from Capogiro’s award-winning gelato to Hardena’s Indonesian food, with plenty of top-notch pizza, tacos and pho in between. In addition to the diverse food offerings, attendees enjoy a beer garden, live performances, free giveaways and more. 2012’s calendar will bring a whole new set of flavors to explore by dark.

With one of the best food truck scenes in the country, it’s only natural that Philadelphia would celebrate its bounty with a battle royale. 2011 marked Philly’s first annual Vendy Awards, also taking place in New York and L.A., where eight competitors took over the Piazza at Schmidts to show off their culinary skills. In summer 2012, the winner, jerk chicken purveyor Gigi and Big R, will have to defend its title against a whole new set of contestants.

Meanwhile, in Northern Liberties, the recently opened Garden Variety is making a buffet of food trucks available all year round. Current occupants of this open-air market include La Copine (brunch), The Dapper Dog (hot dogs), Always Sunny Grilled Cheese Company and Foo Truck (Asian street food).

Trucks Go Bricks & Mortar
Even as restaurant chefs (think Jose Garces) jump into the food truck game, some food truck owners are moving in the reverse direction, taking up residence in stationary kitchens. Perhaps it all started in late 2011 when Honest Tom’s Taco Truck expanded into a shop in West Philadelphia. Now others are following suit. Nomad Pizza, a stationary pizzeria and roaming vintage REO Speedwagon equipped with brick oven i in Hopewell, New Jersey, will plant more roots this year when it opens as a true pizza parlor in Bella Vista. Lucky Old Souls won acclaim for its burger-fries-and-shake truck. In 2012, it will become a jazz club, bar and restaurant in South Philadelphia with a focus on locally grown ingredients.

New Concepts For Fast Food
The gourmet burger and hot dog trends live on, but Philadelphia’s seeing a rise in innovative ideas for fast food. Slated to open in 2012 are: Rice & Mix, a quick-service Korean eatery serving build-your-own rice dishes, plus Korean tacos and bibimbop; Honeygrow, specializing in made-to-order stir-fry bowls, salads and healthy shakes; and Ramen Boy, a spinoff of Yakitori Boy, dishing up steaming bowls of Japanese noodles.

Fresh & Healthy Fare
In tandem with the new concepts for fast food is an increasing focus on convenient local dining options for the health conscious. The local low-cal mini chain Fuel already has locations in Center City and Passyunk, but it’s expanding with a grab-and-go store on Arch Street. Rittenhouse Square will get a brand new vegan fast foodery called HipCityVeg. In Bella Vista, Toté bakes up gluten-free bread and pastry alternatives for the wheat-intolerant eater. These, of course, are all coming on the heels of the recently opened 500-calorie-or-less fast-casual restaurant Pure Fare.

Beer Boutiques
Philadelphia’s reputation as the ultimate beer city is evident in its vast array of bars with discerning draft lists and its wildly popular Philly Beer Week, the largest beer celebration of its kind in the U.S. The new horizon is bottle boutiques, where customers are encouraged to bring their selections home. At one time, this concept was a rarity, but some of the most successful existing shops are branching out with new locations, bringing new fizzy possibilities to other neighborhoods. Long a stalwart for discerning drinkers in Center City and Northern Liberties, The Foodery is opening another shop this year in Roxborough, and Bella Vista’s Hawthornes is debuting a second “brewtique” location in Manayunk. Meanwhile, in West Philadelphia, the owners of the Local 44 bar are opening up the Local 44 Bottle Shop, and The Bottle Shop on Passyunk Avenue boasts more than 700 varieties

Brewpubs Brewing
Proving that Philly’s beer scene knows no bounds, 2012 will mark the beginning of a new wave of brewpubs. In Ardmore, Tired Hands Brewing Company is taking up residence in a two-story building—the microbrewery will be turning out French and Belgium-style ales and serving its own fresh-baked bread and seasonally inspired light fare. Coming soon to Ambler, Forest & Main is a craft brewer and pub with English leanings, set in a 19th-century house. One of the biggest players in the local game, Iron Hill Brewery has opened a long-awaited ninth location in Chestnut Hill. Meanwhile, Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company is Bucks County’s first production brewery and its 18,000-square-foot facility, replete with tasting room and gift shop, should be open within the next few months.

Next Great Dining Destination: North Broad Street
North of City Hall and South of Temple University, Broad Street is home to some incredible landmark buildings, and it’s finally getting a dining scene worthy of its architecture. Marc Vetri started the trend several years back with the opening of Osteria, his lauded upscale pizzeria. He’s following up with Alla Spina, an Italian gastropub in a former car showroom that’s been renovated into a mixed-use development. Across the courtyard in the same complex, Stephen Starr’s Route 6 is a seafood restaurant that brings Cape Cod-esque cuisine to North Philly. It opened in late 2011 and serves mostly casual eats like lobster rolls, buttermilk fried oysters and striped bass. Also part of the development: the 600-seat catering facility and event space Vie.

As another sign that North Broad Street is having its moment, Avenue of the Arts Inc. will be building a “Promenade of Lights,” along a 2.5-mile stretch of the street, part of a $50 million initiative to reinvigorate the area.

ADDRESS BOOK

Reading Terminal Market Expansion:

Cooking Classes Galore:

Nothing Tops Philly’s Top Chefs:

  • Sbraga, 440 S. Broad Street, (215) 735-1913, sbraga.com

Food Trucks Unite:

Trucks Go Bricks & Mortar:

New Concepts For Fast Food:

Beer Boutiques:

Brewpubs Brewing:

Featured Neighborhood: North Broad Street:

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) makes Philadelphia and The Countryside® a premier destination through marketing and image building that increases business and promotes the region’s vitality.

For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit visitphilly.com or uwishunu.com, where you can build itineraries; search event calendars; see photos and videos; view interactive maps; sign up for newsletters; listen to HearPhilly, an online radio station about what to see and do in the region; book hotel reservations and more. Or, call the Independence Visitor Center, located in Historic Philadelphia, at (800) 537-7676.

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Tagged: Dining & Restaurants, Food Trends

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Traditional Hot Dogs:

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