Delicious City Philly

Happy Eating to everyone (except Dallas fans)! It's the final Delicious City episode of 2024, so of course we're going to look back on the last 12 months of mouth-watering food pics in our collective camera roll and decide what our favorite bites of the year were. We also reveal another round of nominees for The Tasties but this time, it's the People's Choice, which means YOU will decide who takes home the Golden Pig on February 2nd. Vote now at DeliciousCityPodcast.com!

• (01:47) Dave has a surprise for us: a big bag of his favorite treats!
• (07:16) Announcing the People's Choice Tasties nominees. You spoke, we listened, and now you can vote for the finalists. Get your tickets and come party with us on 2/2
• (21:23) 2024 Recap: our best meals and moments of the year
• (33:21) Food trends that should die in 2025: Eli has one that he's totally sick of, but Dave disagrees...
• (38:09) The Sauce: Restaurant and chef news from all over Philadelphia. UPDATE: Since this recording, Sang Kee Duck House has reopened! Dave takes us there on Instagram: @deliciouscitypodcast

And of course, we could not do this without our amazing partners who are as passionate about food and drink as we are:

• For the most tasty, healthy, and satisfying salads and noodle dishes in Philly, click here to order Honeygrow
• If your restaurant or company wants to be in the headlines for all the right reasons, click here to discover how Peter Breslow Consulting and PR can take your business to the next level
• Social media and digital content are two of the most important things you can create for your brand. Check out Breakdown Media, a one stop shop for all of your marketing needs.

At Delicious City, we love our pastries. We also love our wine. Bloomsday Cafe offers the best of these worlds without the fuss: just great tasting treats and great company. Kelsey Bush and Sara May stop in (with goodies!) to tell us how their female-led restaurant on 2nd Street has blossomed. Plus: lots of New Years Eve dinners and parties to choose from, so start making your plans now!

• (00:00) Million dollar bananas and other weird performance art
• (05:51) Kelsey and Sara tell Eli and Dave how nostalgia informed the aesthetic of Bloomday and also their new bakery Loretta's, from the name to the pastry offerings
• (17:23) Here's why you should never sacrifice the quality of your ingredients
• (24:28) Eli learns about a sweet snack that's a regional staple (how did he not know about this?). Plus, Dave goes on a ketchup tangent
• (32:13) In It To Win It: We've got your chance to win a tour with Founding Footsteps. It's a great way to explore the city!
• (37:25) Best Bites: we dive into desserts from Loretta's, Kelsey and Sara share their favorite spots, Eli completes his peking duck quest, and the porchetta that Dave is obsessed with right now
• (59:08) The Tasties are shaping up to be a spectacular party on February 2nd. Get your tickets now!
• (01:02:48) Events and Pop-Ups: where will you be ringing in the new year?

And of course, we could not do this without our amazing partners who are as passionate about food and drink as we are:

• For the most tasty, healthy, and satisfying salads and noodle dishes in Philly, click here to order Honeygrow
• If your restaurant or company wants to be in the headlines for all the right reasons, click here to discover how Peter Breslow Consulting and PR can take your business to the next level
• Social media and digital content are two of the most important things you can create for your brand. Check out Breakdown Media, a one stop shop for all of your marketing needs.

Connect with us on Instagram and, of course, share your eating adventures with us, as well as tag us in your posts so we can talk about them on air!

We all know that Philadelphia is the birthplace of America, but our city is steeped in so much history that there's stories even longtime locals may not know. That's where Founding Footsteps comes in. Founder and tour guide Tim McAleer drops in to Delicious City with Philly facts and his favorite food spots.

• (00:00) Are we ready for the holidays yet?
• (05:08) Tim tells us why Founding Footsteps is known for guiding "Philadelphia Tours With Good Storytelling And Bad Jokes"
• (14:18) The importance of small businesses and what makes them special
• (27:55) Tim runs down the different tours they offer: BYOB, comedy-infused, dark and spooky, and of course, holiday tours
• (36:35) Whatcha Been Eatin: Dave has multiple cheesesteak spots for us to try, Eli's review to Jaffa Bar, and Tim's favorite pizza
• (47:16) The Sauce: the gang gives us the latest chef and restaurant news

Tickets to The Tasties are available now! Head to DeliciousCityPodcast.com for VIP packages, holiday gift add-ons, and to see the nominees and People's Choice categories

And of course, we couldn't do this without some incredible partners:

• For the most tasty, healthy, and satisfying salads and noodle dishes in Philly, click here to order Honeygrow
• If your restaurant or company wants to be in the headlines for all the right reasons, click here to discover how Peter Breslow Consulting and PR can take your business to the next level
• Social media and digital content are two of the most important things you can create for your brand. Check out Breakdown Media, a one stop shop for all of your marketing needs.

Ever heard of Crabsgiving? Now you have, and after you hear Dave describe some of the best crab he's ever had, you're going to make it an annual tradition. Plus: Best Bites, a cheesy prize, and we're turning the Tasties over to YOU to vote for your favorite dishes in the city.

(00:00) A mouth-numbing snack to start the podcast

(04:55) The Tasties: People's Choice Categories! We announce 5 categories now open for nominations. Head to deliciouscitypodcast.com to submit your picks and get your tickets for the party on February 2nd

(17:36) In It To Win It: Perrystead Dairy is giving us a box stuffed full of award winning cheeses. If you want in, get the secret word and DM it to us on Instagram: @deliciouscitypodcast

(21:43) Best Bites: Eli's decadent Thanksgiving, Dave's crab feast (same crustacean, 3 different ways!) and Sara, who's in for Marisa, gives us a first look at Philly's new heavy metal bar. Plus: Eli is perplexed by walnut shrimp. Where did that dish come from??

(34:07) Events and Pop-Ups: There's a lot of variations of Feast of the Seven Fishes happening across the city: moles, pickles, pasta and more

And of course, we could not do this without our amazing partners who are as passionate about food and drink as we are:

• For the most tasty, healthy, and satisfying salads and noodle dishes in Philly, click here to order Honeygrow
• If your restaurant or company wants to be in the headlines for all the right reasons, click here to discover how Peter Breslow Consulting and PR can take your business to the next level
• Social media and digital content are two of the most important things you can create for your brand. Check out Breakdown Media, a one stop shop for all of your marketing needs.

Connect with us on Instagram and, of course, share your eating adventures with us, as well as tag us in your posts so we can talk about them on air!

In this episode of Delicious City, the crew scrolls through their camera rolls for Whatcha Been Eatin' and come up with a ton of recommendations for you. They cover Eli's favorite lettuce, Marisa's saga of losing her card at the Eagles game, and Dave's new favorite steak shop that just opened in Reading Terminal Market. Plus, an unveiling of nominees for the Tasties!

• (00:00) Marisa makes the case for NOT participating in dry January
• (03:30) Whatcha Been Eatin': from pizza to scallops to baklava, there's lots to eat in the city right now, plus a few spots in the suburbs
• (23:12) The Tasties! These nominees are all incredible. Hear the newest categories and join us February 2nd to see who takes home the Golden Pig. Follow @deliciouscitypodcast to keep up with the rollout and get your tickets at DeliciousCityPodcast.com
• (36:10) The Sauce: restaurant openings and chef news, including a chocolate shop on South Street and a no-photos ramen preview in Haddonfield

And of course, we could not do this without our amazing partners who are as passionate about food and drink as we are:

• For the most tasty, healthy, and satisfying salads and noodle dishes in Philly, click here to order Honeygrow
• If your restaurant or company wants to be in the headlines for all the right reasons, click here to discover how Peter Breslow Consulting and PR can take your business to the next level
• Social media and digital content are two of the most important things you can create for your brand. Check out Breakdown Media, a one stop shop for all of your marketing needs.

Happy Thanksgiving! We're thankful for you, our Delicious City fam. Today we're recapping the list of nominees (so far!) for The Tasties, which are happening on February 2nd at Live! Casino and Hotel in Philadelphia. Plus, a friend of the show stops by with some fragrant, creamy treats.

(00:00) Marisa asks: Is Rittenhouse now the Mecca of caviar?

(06:12) The Tasties! We run down the categories that have been announced so far by our Philly friends on Instagram (follow @deliciouscitypodcast to keep up with the rollout), plus why each of these nominees is deserving of a Golden Pig. Even more will be announced next week...

(33:03) In It To Win It: Win 2 tickets to Cantina La Martina's third annual 7 Moles dinner featuring mole interpretations from 7 amazing local chefs. Get the secret word and DM it to us on Instagram!

(38:09) Best Bites: Eli's quest for the best peking duck, Marisa's Little Owl experience that made Dave jealous, and Dave tries a new spot in Fishtown that he's already planning to return to

(49:01) Yoav Perry from Perrystead Dairy stops by to talk about cheese for the holidays, and brings by some of his own award-winning morsels, plus a bonus treat from Provenance

(01:10:16) Events and Pop-Ups: Look for Marisa in the Thanksgiving Parade! WMMR's annual Camp Out For Hunger begins next week, and there's a bunch of different dining options for pre- and post-Thanksgiving when you need to get out of the house

We could not do this without our amazing Delicious City partners who are as passionate about food and drink as we are:

• For the most tasty, healthy, and satisfying salads and noodle dishes in Philly, click here to order Honeygrow
• If your restaurant or company wants to be in the headlines for all the right reasons, click here to discover how Peter Breslow Consulting and PR can take your business to the next level
• Social media and digital content are two of the most important things you can create for your brand. Check out Breakdown Media, a one stop shop for all of your marketing needs.

While we roll out the nominees for The Tasties on Instagram this week (follow @deliciouscitypodcast to be the first to know), we're in the studio getting ready for one of the biggest foodie holidays of the year: Thanksgiving. Plus, we run down all the great spots we've been eating and drinking as Philly embraces autumn.

(00:00) Marisa's out, but the boys have leftover whiskey from last week's episode, so what could go wrong? And, in another life, what would Eli's rapper name be?

(02:37) Whatcha Been Eatin': Dave's Wagyu fat-washed dirty martini, Eli's Indian restaurant revelation, and the pros and cons of seafood towers (spoiler: there are no cons)

(32:38) Delicious City producer Sara hosts Would You Rather: Thanksgiving Edition! Eli and Dave debate a few tough choices, and Chef Eli offers his turkey tips (rest your bird, people!)

(50:18) The Sauce: restaurant news on bakery openings, a highly anticipated cookbook, Venezuen cuisine, and a beloved West Philly spot that's evolving… And get your tickets for The Tasties on February 2nd at Live Casino before they're gone!

And of course, we could not do this without our amazing partners who are as passionate about food and drink as we are:

• For the most tasty, healthy, and satisfying salads and noodle dishes in Philly, click here to order Honeygrow
• If your restaurant or company wants to be in the headlines for all the right reasons, click here to discover how Peter Breslow Consulting and PR can take your business to the next level
• Social media and digital content are two of the most important things you can create for your brand. Check out Breakdown Media, a one stop shop for all of your marketing needs.

This episode of Delicious City is fueled by whiskey with notes of crabs, canine and corpses… sounds wild, we know, and the stories behind each of those whiskeys are just as intoxicating as the spirits themselves. Steven Grasse is today's guest, and his agency Quaker City Mercantile has created brands like Hendrick's Gin and Sailor Jerry. Now, there's a few new beverages in the works, which we get to taste in the studio - and he brought some extra for you, DC fam, to potentially win!

• (00:00) A cucumber a day keeps the doctor away!
• (05:07) Steven Grasse of Art in the Age is here, and he tells us about his past projects, one of which was so impressive that the Gallagher Brothers of Oasis called him up
• (07:10) The genesis of Sailor Jerry Rum and Hendrick's Gin and the subsequent success of those brands
• (12:12) Steven shows the gang his latest creations, including Smoked Trout Brandy and Green Crab Whiskey - plus, how the latter helped to control and invasive green crab population
• (23:52) The stories behind a trio of spirits: Siege of Wolves, Graverobber, and Dunce
• (37:33) In It to Win It: Art in the Age is giving us these wicked cool bottles of whiskey to give to YOU! Steve gives us a very cheeky keyword - DM it to @deliciouscitypodcast on Instagram for a chance to win
• (41:57) Best Bites: The Philly chef who can make durian (notorious for its awful smell) taste absolutely phenomenal. Plus: Eli's suburban find, and a late night dessert special
• (54:12) Events and Pop-Ups: We're announcing the nominees for The Tasties this week; get your VIP tickets before they're gone! And Friendsgiving dinners to take cooking off your plate later this month

And of course, we could not do this without our amazing partners who are as passionate about food and drink as we are:

• For the most tasty, healthy, and satisfying salads and noodle dishes in Philly, click here to order Honeygrow
• If your restaurant or company wants to be in the headlines for all the right reasons, click here to discover how Peter Breslow Consulting and PR can take your business to the next level
• Social media and digital content are two of the most important things you can create for your brand. Check out Breakdown Media, a one stop shop for all of your marketing needs.

Hungry for a getaway? This episode of Delicious City may inspire wanderlust… We cover local getaways, regional hot spots and must-visit restaurants across the country with our guest, Ernest Owens. He tells us which new places he's curious about, and the classics that he goes back to again and again (and why!). Plus: Ernest breaks down the new Eater app, a must for any foodie's phone.

• (00:00) The Tasties are happening on February 2nd, 2025, and tickets are on sale now!
• (04:10) Eater Philly editor Ernest Owens explains how, as one of the longest running online foodie resources, they create and rank their lists of restaurants, and tells us what sets them apart from other publications
• (16:19) Eater's official app now maps out all Eater-approved recommendations, leading you right to your next dining destination. Maybe we can get a Delicious City Best Bites map on the app soon…!
• (21:42) Whatcha Been Eatin': Ernest dishes out a ton of recs for us, and the gang discusses how different Philly neighborhoods have evolved over the years
• (26:17) Eli praises an upscale classic in the heart of the city, Dave tastes another Chinese restaurant that's BYO and gives his menu picks, and Marisa has a new favorite vegan meatball
• (43:05) Restaurant News: Dave goes to New York to eat Taco Bell (yes, you read that right), WMMR's Camp Out For Hunger is setting up in South Philly in a few weeks, and a few restaurant openings to keep you satiated til our next episode!

And of course, we could not do this without our amazing partners who are as passionate about food and drink as we are:

• For the most tasty, healthy, and satisfying salads and noodle dishes in Philly, click here to order Honeygrow
• If your restaurant or company wants to be in the headlines for all the right reasons, click here to discover how Peter Breslow Consulting and PR can take your business to the next level
• Social media and digital content are two of the most important things you can create for your brand. Check out Breakdown Media, a one stop shop for all of your marketing needs.

Happy Halloween! In this fully masked episode, the Delicious City team talks to Craig LaBan himself—a man truly dedicated to his craft. For over 25 years, this acclaimed restaurant critic and writer has eaten his way across town and back in relative anonymity, which is quite a feat in the digital age. His reviews in The Philadelphia Inquirer have shaped the city's food scene for decades, and he reflects on all this and more in a special interview with Delicious City that peels back the curtain…

• (00:00) We're all wearing masks today, but not only because we're in the Halloween spirit… Check our Instagram this week to see how bizarre we all look (@deliciouscitypodcast)
• (06:45) A conversation with Craig LaBan: we dive into his most impactful pieces, memorable meals, and why he's chosen to keep his face off of the internet. He breaks down "The 76," a comprehensive guide from the Inquirer on where Philadelphians are eating and drinking.
• (30:17) Does a critic like this get threatened for doing his job? Craig spills the tea
• (38:23) Craig divulges what his last meal would be… It's probably not what you think
• (42:00) A tasting of Bird Gang bourbon… What's Craig's take?
• (48:37) In It to Win It: Get the secret word you'll need to DM to us on Insta, and you could win a gift card to Royal Tavern, serving up some of the best burgers and desserts around
• (54:19) Bookmark this episode for a ton of Best Bites! Craig tells us what's resonated with his palate recently, Dave has an adventurous dinner, Eli revisits a Chinese seafood classic and Marisa has her first-ever Milanese experience
• (01:09:52) Event and Pop-Up teaser: a quick rundown of what's happening this week. Follow us online for all the details, posted weekly!

And of course, we could not do this without our amazing partners who are as passionate about food and drink as we are:

• For the most tasty, healthy, and satisfying salads and noodle dishes in Philly, click here to order Honeygrow
• If your restaurant or company wants to be in the headlines for all the right reasons, click here to discover how Peter Breslow Consulting and PR can take your business to the next level
• Social media and digital content are two of the most important things you can create for your brand. Check out Breakdown Media, a one stop shop for all of your marketing needs.

Connect with us on Instagram and, of course, share your eating adventures with us, as well as tag us in your posts so we can talk about them on air!