Delicious City Philly

The first episode of 2024 is here! Delicious City's first guest of the year is a man who is known by one name, like Madonna, Bono, and Slash… Shola runs one of the most exclusive dining experiences in Philly at his Studio Kitchen in the BOK building, wowing everyone who sits at his table with his unique take on modernist cuisine. Plus: a 2023 Restaurant Retrospective, and what we're most looking forward to in the new year!

• Some of the DC cast are embarking on *Dry January* and discuss non-alcoholic options that still taste good without booze
• Shola talks about his journey to Philadelphia, the stops he made between here and his home country of Nigeria, and how he made a name for himself as an underground master of modernist cooking.
• Remember all that fuss over the Piazza 12 years ago? Shola tells his side of the story of the restaurant that never was and why it doesn't bother him nowadays
• Shola also talks about his appearance on 'Somebody Feed Phil' with Phil Rosenthal and the philosophy behind his favorite kitchen "toys"
• Best Bites include several breakfast sandwiches that are worth setting your alarm for! Eli and Dave have a couple of culinary highlights from the North NJ/NYC area, and Eli shares his leftover dumpling hack
• We look back on 2023 restaurant wins (and fails) in our city, and everybody names their most anticipated opening of 2024
• Food News includes an ice cream comeback, a retro gamer's paradise, and a few moves happening over in University City. We also find out who topped Craig LaBan's favorite dishes of the past 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

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're feeling a little ~crispy~ after an epic bash mere hours before recording, but it was 100% worth it to power through and recap the awesomeness, and of course we had to thank everyone who joined us at the 2nd annual Delicious City holiday party!

Also on the show:

• Dave plays Santa and gives out gifts to everyone on his "nice" list. Marisa's gift is very Philly and Eli's looks prehistoric
• Dave recounts his experience as our official party Santa, which was far better than his days as Santa at K-Mart when he was a teen
• Memories of our favorite holiday gifts as kids, and the tradition of putting oranges in stockings
• THE TASTIES! We run down the list of nominees of our first-ever Delicious City awards (all of them worthy of your patronage!) and reveal the 2023 winners. We also recap whose trophy acceptance that stole the show… Thank you to all who voted!
• Best Bites: Most are from the rockstar vendors at the holiday party, but Marisa has a few veggie-based honorable mentions too
• Wit Wez: Why do people leave low ratings on Yelp and Google reviews because of something stupid (that usually isn't even the restaurant's fault?!)
• Food News: Bradley Cooper's foray into the cheesesteak business, a new listening room, and a supper club residency
• What we're looking forward to in 2024… THANK YOU DELICIOUS CITY FAM for a great year!

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more: @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

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!

It's a busy day here at Delicious City with multiple special guests, lots of Best Bites AND an awards announcement! Let's jump right in:

• Fresh off an excellent podcast lunch at High Street, the group brings Randal Mrazik into the studio to talk about The Tavern Group, which includes Tavern on Camac, Tavern Inn, U Bar, and the newest addition, Otto's in Brewerytown
• Randal runs down the history of Camac Street in Philadelphia, and Marisa shares one of her favorite weekend parties: Broadway Sundays, plus a magical Christmas moment at U Bar
• Dave's getting married! He tells the engagement story, which, in typical Dave fashion, includes a rundown of the dinner menu from that night
• Drumroll, please… The Tasties will open for voting on Wednesday, December 13th, for 24 hours only, starting at noon! Eli runs down the categories for 2023. Trust us, these aren't your mama's foodie awards. Go to @deliciouscitypodcast on Instagram to pick the best in dining and drinking.
• Eli has his first Stock's pound cake experience thanks to Dave, and they figure out ways to use up the yummy leftovers
• Best Bites! Marisa and Dave pick the same spot, but for completely different reasons. Eli recounts a fun and scrumptious dim sum brunch, and we find out what a "bang bang" is
• Food News! Seven moles, seven pickles, a twenty-three-course omakase, and too many muffins to count
• More guests arrive! We learn about AAJI's Tomato Lonsa and the family recipe that makes it so special. Dave and Randal taste it (and love it), and Eli explains how the rich heat and flavor are different from the "Americanized" version of spicy

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

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!

It's the greatest foodie holiday of them all, Thanksgiving! Delicious City sets the table with their turkey techniques, trivia with a special guest host, veggie options and more.

Also on the show:

• This episode kicks off with an unexpectedly wild story about a maniac chef and a missing Kunz spoon
• Thanksgiving chat: electric carving knives, how to find the "turkey oyster", and Eli's mission to fry a turkey for the very first time this year
• We've also got all the trimmings: we cover the best time of day to have holiday dinner, why crab cakes are popular this time of year, different types of stuffing and potato sides, how long you should let a turkey rest before carving, and what our resident vegetarian Marisa eats on a holiday that's centered around a giant bird
• Best Bites include an array of food trucks, a secret dinner party, and a very messy sandwich
• Dave returns after a week off with a new Wit Wez, and this time he's got a bone to pick with the marathon runners interrupting his brunch plans
• Thanksgiving Trivia, hosted by Dylan Kulp, who turns out to be such a great emcee that he might put his dad Eli out of a job soon! Dylan keeps the chaos under control as the Delicious City crew tests their knowledge of the holiday

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

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!

Delicious City is buzzing over Rival Bros Coffee, and we've got co-founder Jon Adams on this episode to explain their approach to java and how it reflects the bold and authentic spirit of Philadelphia. We also talk about one of the hottest new dining experiences in the city, Enswell, and Jon and Eli get swept up in culinary history - the convo was so absorbing that we lost track of time and had to be kicked out of our studio.

Also on this episode:

• Dave Wez is out this week, but a bromance blossoms between Eli and Jon, or maybe Eli is just jealous of Jon's hair… who can say?
• Marisa explains why she doesn't have a coffee machine in her house, despite being a caffeine fiend
• Jon explains the Rival Bros origin story, and takes us back to his early days as a chef, including his wild experience making "edible rocks" at a Michelin star restaurant in Spain
• The gang discuss why chefs having FOH experience is key, as well as the benefits of cooking in a small space and the importance of gender diversity in the kitchen
• Shorthand for food orders: is it a lost art?
• Hot take: can you call yourself a chef if you've never run a restaurant?
• Jon talks about his time at Snackbar, and the crew trade stories about a living legend in Philly, Pierre Robert. The WMMR ladies in the room guess what his favorite restaurants in the city are, and at the very end of this episode you'll hear whose guess was right!
• Best Bites: everybody loves Enswell, and not just because Jon is in the room - it's legit. Other picks include a spot to elevate your lunch routine, pizza with perfect pepperoni cups, espresso soda and delicious dim sum
• Weird stuff happens in restaurants, and Eli's got a particularly saucy story from his time in NYC. Plus: proper etiquette for when you run into celebs while dining out
• Food News: a doggie bar, a Bladerunner inspired ramen joint, and the country's largest single-sponsor food drive is happening this week, Camp Out For Hunger!

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

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're taking it slow with special guest Danny Childs on this episode of Delicious City. Danny is the founder of Slow Drinks, specializing in foraging ingredients for world-class cocktails. You'll wonder what you can pluck from your own backyard to use in the kitchen after hearing this episode.

Here's what else was discussed:

• Eli opens the show up by telling us about the time he cooked for Robin Williams in NYC amongst many other High profile peeps
• Danny explains how his new book will help you discover the deliciousness growing all around us, and how to forage and ferment so that herbs and produce don't go to waste
• We hear Danny's origin story, moving up the ranks from a server at Chickie's and Pete's to an in-demand botanical bartender. He also talks about his travels to South America and working with indigenous populations on their farms
• The gang discusses their favorite brands of mayo and dream soda flavors
• Best Bites include a few of mind-blowing vegan and veggie dishes and a next-level omakase experience
• Dave denounces counterfeit ketchups in this edition of Wit Wez
• Creative potato chip flavors. What would be your dream potato chip flavor?
• A chef conference coming up in the springtime
• A new cheesesteak spot in the burbs
• Plus a few other notable openings restaurant

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

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!

Red October has washed over Philadelphia again, and Marisa's got a game to get to, so we jump right into all things food and drink, including ballpark eats and birthday cake!

In this episode:

• It's Delicious City's 2nd birthday! Thank you for spending two delectable years with us. We talk favorite cake flavors, annoying cake trends, and birthday cake trivia
• Dave's Best Bites include two sandwiches and a dessert, one of which delivers "an upper cut of flavor to your face"
• Eli's Best Bites are a sourdough cheese boat found in Reading Terminal Market and an outstanding chicken dish at the newly-reopened High Street
• Marisa's Best Bites are from two different baseball stadiums - one, of course, being our home turf of Citizens Bank Park. She also describes her mind-blowing dinner at My Loup
• Food News:
• If you are coming to either of the maiden Voi•áge Dinners at Kalaya this week, make sure you say hi to the Delicious City crew. This dinner series is a collab with top-tier chefs, and Eli was featured in Philly Mag to discuss the epic new venture
• The craft beer industry is taking a hit. What can be done locally?
• Lots happening for Halloween! There's a Stranger Things beer garden, a few murder mystery parties across the city, and a witchy bar crawl in East Passyunk
• Mike Solomonov and Steve Cook donated a day's worth of restaurant sales to a volunteer-run emergency medical service in Israel. They raised over $100K to provide aid to those caught in the conflict overseas
• The Philadelphia Eagles are now offering their own vodka and whiskey under the name Bird Gang Spirits. Bottoms up!
• A Mexican spot in Northern Liberties is offering all-you-can-eat tacos to raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Eli and Dave guess how many tacos each of them can put down in one sitting
• …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

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!

Curd nerds, you're in for a lot of cheese chat on this episode of Delicious City. Yoav Perry tells the gang about Perrystead Creamery and the uniquely flavored cheeses he's creating in Kensington.

They also talk about:

• The arrival of Red October (go Phils!) and Dave and Marisa's plan to pull a Brandon Marsh on the bull at Xitnity Live
• Dave's trip to Orcas Island and Port Townshend
• Perrystead Creamery, summed up by Dave as "the Willy Wonka Factory, but with cheese instead of chocolate"
• Yoav's backstory and how he ended up with a creamery in the middle of Kensington, plus his partnerships with Pennsylvania farms, regenerative agriculture, and the impressive cheese community in our region
• The REAL Philadelphia Schmear and why Yoav can't escape the Beastie Boys
• The secret to making your own yogurt - yogurt machines are a scam, along with skim milk!
• Yoav's plans for a cheese vending machine, complete with accoutrement, crackers and cheese knives. It's Marisa's dream come true
• Best Bites that include a seaweed cheese, rabbit pot pie, and a retro drive-in
• Wit Wez: rowdy kids in restaurants, and Marisa's solution to the problem
• Food News: Chef Radio's next collab dinner with Visit Philly, and lots of national props for area chefs

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
• Interested in seeing which bars or restaurants are part of Center City SIPS?

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! Really semi nude full year at

Eli's back in studio with Marisa and Dave to talk food news, best bites and debut a brand new feature on Delicious City that makes us wonder why you would ever disassemble a beignet. Plus, Chef Reuben Asaram, aka Reuby, brings a pop of pink to the show (move over, Barbie!).

They also discuss:

• Lots of Best Bite contenders from Eli's travels, Marisa's birthday and Dave's experience with StudioKitchen
• Shola and other mononyms (think Bono, Prince)
• Our favorite bagel spots
• Eli presents the gang with tasty treats from Portuguese superstar Gilda
• Reuby, the Willy Wonka of tacos, explains his concept of bridging Asian and Mexican food, with influence from his Indian roots
• The secret ingredient in Reuby's hot pink crema
• Reuby also talks about a brutal injury and how he works around it to build his menus
• Fashion chat: collectible shoes, signature colors, and what Reuby was wearing at the moment he and Dave first met
• Dressing made from… Cool Ranch Doritos? Yep, and it's delicious
• The premiere of WIT WEZ: Dave asks the crew about an agitating restaurant trend
• Food News: a gorgeous spot by Rival Bros, a self-serve taproom, different types of sriracha 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

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!

When "dad" is away, the kids will play! With Eli on a little summer vacation, Marisa and Dave take the reins of this episode of Delicious City. They welcome Chef Chad Rosenthal, who's launching an incubator project via The Lucky Well that's four mouthwatering concepts under one roof. It's a unique project that gives food entrepreneurs a chance to show Philly what they're made of.

The gang also covers:

• How Chad's Lucky Well Incubator sounds like a crazy reality show
• The FOMO you feel when you miss a food pop-up - and how the Lucky Well gives those pop-ups a space to really hone their craft
• The Incu-Burger: smoked to perfection. Order it pink or no-pink, that's it
• Chad names the brave astronauts who are taking part in the incubator, and what their culinary specialties are
• Dave's sultry menu-reading voice
• Looking like the narc at a rock show
• The logistical challenges of eating BBQ: do you lick or not lick? (yes, it's what it sounds like)
• Dave's Best Bite of the week may also be the best bite of his life
• Try this tongue twister: "crispy Jersey swordfish schnitzel"
• We learn what a** juice is (no, it's NOT what it sounds like)
• Food news: Pod, Pumpkin, Poi Dog and more
• Philly chefs and pop-ups who are helping those in need in Maui

In our next episode, Eli will recap his trip, Dave test drives the Lucky Well and Marisa tells us about the Manna Main Course event that she's hosting in September.

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
• Interested in seeing which bars or restaurants are part of Center City SIPS?

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!