Billowy white tents housed 76 of Philly’s best chefs; which I dubbed The Garden of Eatin’. But it wasn’t limited to just food; the City’s finest mixologists were present as well as Audi and their magnificent machines…vroom vroom! The entertainment is always fun and one thing is for sure about Feastival, it is going to be an adventure for all the senses.
My mission was to visit as many chefs and mixologists as possible. With no time to spare I started with dessert first! Capogiro served up 4 types of gelato. I chose Champagne/mango; it could be considered an aperitif.
Chef Joe Cicala of Le Virtu never lets us down; his offering was braised lamb neck and mini lentil soup. The dish was flavorful and hearty, a great way to start the eating frenzy that was about to happen.
Next on the flavor train, was Chef Joncarl Lachman, Owner of Noord. What a personality! He made one of my favorite dishes—braised pork bitterballen, which is crispy on the outside and slow cooked tender pork on the inside served on top of a grainy mustard sauce.
Zahav served up lamb pistachio grape leaves. It was crispy on the outside and melt in your mouth goodness on the inside. My favorite “bite of the night” was Vernick’s little morsel of fried sweet potato croquette on top of Taramasalata sauce. Chef Vernick shared with me that these little bites remind him of his Mom, that’s what she cooked when he was growing up.
And now, back to dessert, I felt like a little kid at the circus, they had cotton candy…peanut butter, and jelly cotton candy! I shared some with Nick Stuccio, President of Fringe Arts and Chef Nick Elmi, the 2014 winner of Top Chef and owner of Laurel Restaurant BYOB on East Passyunk Avenue.
My favorite dessert of the evening was Chef Nick Elmi’s white chocolate pudding with rice crumb, topped with marinated and freeze-dried strawberries!
On the way out, I had to stop at my favorite haunt “Federal Donuts”—1 kiss on the cheek in return for 3 donuts. That was a deal!
Congratulations to everyone involved this year another fantastic event!
Proceeds from the event will benefit Fringe Arts.
