Philadelphia Feastival 2014

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It was made incredibly apparent at this year’s Feastival event that Philadelphia’s innovative arts and food scene has pushed our fine city into a new realm of acclaim and distinction.  Sponsored by luxury automobile manufacturer, Audi, the event showcased all of our favorite things: finely crafted cocktails, haute cuisine,  fast cars, and, of course, the arts.

At the fifth annual event at Penn’s Landing, guests enjoyed an al fresco evening under the stars. Inside of the tent, live performers were spotted throughout in addition to a main stage set up just in front of the Delaware River overlooking the gorgeous skyline. The VIP lounge included a special chef demonstration from Top Chef-winner Nick Elmi of Laurel and exclusive bar service by Twenty Manning Grill.

In talking to Farm & Fisherman’s chef and owner, Joshua Lawler, a 2012 James Beard semifinalist for “Best New Restaurant” in America, he said, “The crazy thing is that we have so many new restaurants opening up every year, and none of them are going out of business. We have so many great choices!” Clearly, Philadelphia residents have demanded this ever-increasing presence of exceptional food, and Philly restaurateurs have stepped up to give them just what they want.

Each of the eighty-seven restaurants in attendance put out their signature dish while diners roamed from table to table sampling the many tasty choices. With only one shot to wow the diners, no corners were cut and no expense was spared. From truffles to wagyu beef, and even cocktails made with liquid nitrogen, these restaurateurs brought their “A” game to the table. Notably, Danny Chadwick, general manager of Ella’s American Bistro in Wayne, PA, put out a whopping 15 lbs of foie gras for the hungry crowd!

One thing that separates the Philly food scene from other cities’ like New York is the affordability of most of Philly’s restaurants. With the exception of a few (Volver, Vetri, Fountain Restaurant), you can enjoy finely prepared dishes made with exceptional ingredients at reasonable price points. The great majority of these restaurants are even taking advantage of the local Tri-state farmland that surrounds our city. With all of this local produce, an influx of new restaurants in the area, and a dazzling arts scene, we have created a perfect storm to push Philly into the national spotlight as a true cultural front runner.

Debuting their new building, FringeArts hosted this year’s festival in their new permanent space. Their new spot on the waterfront presents the world’s most cutting-edge, high-quality artists in a fun, social atmosphere, complete with onsite restaurant, bar and beer garden. Also coming soon to the Philadelphia arts scene is the revolutionary museum, Philadelphia Interactive Museum of Contemporary Art. Young entrepreneur and local artist, Caryn Kunkle, is leading the takeover at the Divine Lorraine building on North Broad Street. Stay tuned for updates on this new and exciting monument coming to our city.

Philadelphia has a way of seamlessly pairing the arts and food scene in a perfect symphony of sensory bliss as evidenced at Feastival. A town once known only for its cheesesteaks, Philly has certainly stepped it up over the years. With a constantly evolving and rapidly expanding food, music and arts scene, Philadelphia promises to give other cities a run for their money. Be sure to follow Philly Feastival on Twitter, Facebook, and to support the FringeArts, donate here.