Marla Cimini on October 4, 2016 0 Comments A historical destination that’s home to the Liberty Bell, Declaration of Independence, and an array of sights and attractions dating back to the colonial era, Philadelphia is also a dynamic dining adventure for food lovers. Today, it’s a city that’s bursting with imaginative restaurants, blending a variety of culinary classics — with inventive dishes served up in creative spaces surrounded by cool design. Considered one of the world’s top foodie destinations, this east coast city features a multitude of innovative chefs with global experience and restaurateurs who are willing to take food-focused risks. It goes without saying that fresh ingredients play a key role in the success of restaurants as well. Chefs love Philadelphia’s geographic location because the city is surrounded by farm country in Pennsylvania as well as Southern New Jersey — providing an abundance of fruits, vegetables, cheeses, meats and other local produce that often shows up in kitchens around the city. Philadelphia’s Vast Food Scene Kristina Jenkins, the digital content director at Visit Philadelphia, explains, “Philadelphia surprises first-timers with the depth and breadth of its dining scene. We’re so fortunate in Philly to have a wonderfully complex array of restaurants and bars, spurred on by both innovation and tradition, as well as local and global influences. I think visitors who aren’t versed in the Philly of today are amazed by the creativity and collaborative spirit of this city’s dining scene.” She added, “Philly’s seriously diverse and delicious global eats fly under the radar. The growing population from Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia has made an imprint on the dining scene, and it’s definitely worth exploring. I love the mom-and-pop storefronts and restaurants in South Philly — especially the cluster of taco shops on 9th Street — like Blue Corn and El Jarocho.” Top Chef: Michael Schulson of Sampan, Double Knot and Independence Beer Garden With several notable restaurants situated throughout the city, award-winning chef and restaurateur Michael Schulson is elevating Philadelphia’s culinary scene with several popular eateries with inventive offerings in stylish settings. Located in one the hippest neighborhoods in town, his Sampan is a bustling hotspot with a menu of Asian fusion items, including: chicken bao bun; wagyu beef; albacore tuna and kale and calamari salad. Schulson’s latest offering, called Double Knot, opened earlier this year and is adjacent to Sampan. Critically acclaimed, it boasts the most coveted tables in town. The restaurant features a cool, downstairs dining room that is accented with repurposed and reinvented items that chef Schulson found personally. The Japanese-inspired menu features several standouts, such as: specialty sashimi, Japanese fried chicken, tempura shrimp taco and duck scrapple bao bun. For those seeking a more casual setting, Schulson’s Independence Beer Garden is a sprawling, park-like destination that’s made for relaxing and enjoying a few brews. This indoor/outdoor space offers a multitude of seating areas where guests can hang out, play an array of fun bar games, and snack on a multitude of snacks as well as heartier items, such as: cheese curds, pretzel bites and mahi mahi tacos. Philly’s Italian Scene The city of Philadelphia has strong Italian roots, with a multitude of restaurants – from casual eateries to fine dining – that showcase culinary delights from both Northern and Southern Italy. Francis Cratil Cretarola, owner of Le Virtu’ restaurant in Center City is committed to providing the city’s food lovers with an authentic taste of Italy. He explains, “I don’t think that there’s a better Italian scene in the country. Or a city with a stronger identity and sense of place.” He continued, “I believe that our devotion to Abruzzese tradition and culture is kind of singular (for any regional Italian restaurant) and runs profoundly deep. We do pastas, such as maccheroni alla mugnaia, frascarill’ and spizzichi — that can’t be found anywhere else. We are using products from Abruzzo, including saffron from a farm in Navelli that we visit twice a year; rare lentils from Santo Stefano di Sessanio and cheeses from two bioorganic farms in the Abruzzo. I don’t think any restaurant in the U.S. is more devoted to and serious about their mission. And the cuisine of Abruzzo presents a singular bridge between central and southern cuisines. For example, we offer truffle, porcini, salumi (we make nearly 30 varieties in house) associated with Toscana and Umbria, but also the tomatoes, mozzarella, spice, chili from southern Italy.” In the warm weather, Le Virtu’ guests love dining on the covered patio that features a large outdoor garden space…they even show Italian movies on a large screen. Cretarola added that the city features a wide variety of diverse food offerings at all types of restaurants around town. He says, “The high quality, which comes without fanfare and hype, just rises naturally from the city. The competition here is intense, but so is the sense of community. And of course – each of the distinct neighborhoods each have their own food scene as well.” Classic Philly Cheesesteaks Locals and tourists know all too well that a visit to Philadelphia is not complete without taking a bite of the city’s most famous steak sandwich. Made with thinly-sliced grilled beef piled high on a “hoagie roll,” this local favorite usually includes a generous dollop of melted cheese and fried onions. For an authentic experience, it’s best to stick with tradition and visit the city’s two favorite steak shops, Jim’s and Pat’s, which are conveniently located across the street from each other in South Philly. Embrace the true cheesesteak culture, and stand in line to order a cheesesteak “wit” or “wit-out” onions (it’s wise to know your order before your turn) and eat outside at one of the nearby tables or high-tops. Summer or winter, it’s a popular spot any time of day or night. Some sandwich enthusiasts love to taste sandwiches from each of the shops — and select their own personal favorite. The Vegan Scene Vegans and Vegetarians can rest easy, too. Even if you are not a cheesesteak fan, you can still eat extremely well in the City of Brotherly Love. Vegetarians and vegans flock to the city’s highly-regarded vegan offerings, including Bar Bombon, a tiny bar and restaurant owned by Nicole Marquis who created a delectable locally-sourced menu based on her Puerto Rican heritage. (Guests can see a collection of her family photos inside the dining room). Bar Bombon’s wholesome plant-based menu features flavorful, Latin-influenced dishes with organic and non-GMO ingredients. A few favorites include empanadas, guacamole fresco, chipotle chick’n burrito and cubano club. Cocktails here are vegan, too, such as the La Dee Da (Tito’s vodka, watermelon shrub and rosemary); No Love Lost (Brokers gin, lavender, cucumber, thyme and lime). Celebrity Chef: Richard Sandoval of the Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia’s Aqimero In the recently-renovated Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia, renowned chef Richard Sandoval opened his first restaurant in the city, Aqimero. Situated in the hotel’s spacious and soaring main lobby, which is reflective of Rome’s Pantheon, the restaurant features Latin cuisine and seafood specialties, with an open kitchen that showcases a wood-burning grill as its centerpiece. Several popular dishes include whole roasted snapper, wild black bass and Atlantic halibut. The restaurant also features a sushi and ceviche bar, along with a mezcal bar that includes number of specialty, hand-crafted cocktails. Rooftops and Patios For those who wish to bask in the mild, early autumn weather, Philadelphia still offers plenty of outdoor restaurants and bars that remain open. Stratus rooftop lounge, one of the city’s only indoor/outdoor rooftop lounges is situated on the 11th floor of Hotel Monaco Philadelphia, and serves up handcrafted cocktails, delectable bites and features live entertainment. The hotel also features an indoor restaurant on the first floor, called the Red Owl Tavern, with a locally-inspired menu that attracts a foodie crowd. Erik Travers is the Director of Operations at Stratus. He says, “Philly has put itself on the map as a major travel destination recently, especially with global events like the Papal visit and DNC. The already culturally rich and buzzing atmosphere comes alive even more in the summer with a long list of pop up beer gardens, street festivals and rooftop bars. The warmer weather also makes it easier to travel between Philadelphia’s many diverse neighborhoods, each with its own uniquely amazing food scene.” He added, “The hotel Monaco’s Red Owl Tavern and Stratus Lounge may be connected to hotel, but they are anything but a hotel restaurant and hotel bar. Our experienced, award-winning chefs at the helm turn out inventive dishes and cocktails with ever-changing seasonal menus. The atmospheres are stunning, the service is on-point, and because of all this, they’re both regarded as among the best in the city.” Regarding the numerous outdoor options in Philly, Kristina Jenkins adds, “Philadelphia really has an amazing outdoor restaurant scene with countless options for excellent dining and drinking on sidewalks, in beer gardens, tucked in secret courtyards and on rooftops. So many greats! With its boardwalk-style setup, chef-driven dining options (from stars like Michael Solomonov, Kevin Sbraga and Jose Garces) and flowing supply of craft brews, there’s a lot to love at Spruce Street Harbor Park, now in its third year of transforming a section of the Delaware River Waterfront into a seasonal eating, drinking and hammock-lounging oasis. Elsewhere in the city, too, Philly has really embraced adaptive reuse to create cool outdoor spaces and places with impressive dining options, to boot.”