Sao

Here's what South Philly's cooking for The Inquirer Food Festival.

Fresh off rechristening UArts' iconic Hamilton Hall as a new makerspace, Scannapieco's ideal weekend includes the Southeast Asian Market and a Bok Bar sunset.

Restaurants in North and South Philadelphia got a nod from the national food magazine, which grades on flavor, technique, hospitality, ambiance, and cultural significance, among other criteria.

Bananas are trending everywhere, but especially at cocktail bars and cafes, which use fresh bananas, banana liqueur, banana extract, and even banana peel. Some are calling it "the next pumpkin spice."

Restaurant kitchens can run 10 or 20 degrees higher than whatever the temperature is outside, abetted by ever-hot fryers and stoves, plus wood-fired grills and ovens that hover around 500 degrees.

Now in its second year, The Inquirer Food Fest will take over The Fillmore in Philadelphia on Nov. 14, 2026. Here's what to know about the lineup and how to get tickets.

The married restauranteurs behind Mawn and Sao don't get a lot of time off. When they do, they pack in a day of eating across Rittenhouse Square, South Philly, and Kensington.