Tour guide Jacqueline Peccina-Kelly with cannoli
Satisfy both your aesthetic appetites and your cravings for some of the best neighborhood food on the East Coast during this one-of-a-kind day in Philadelphia, led by arts journalist Richard Selden.
Begin with a special guided tour at the Philadelphia Museum of Art that showcases rooms, paintings, and objects throughout the collections that have links to history of food in art or the development of dining culture. The menu ranges from depictions of Renaissance feasts to mouth-watering 16th-century Dutch still lives to paintings that offer glimpses into European cafes and taverns at the turn of the 20th century.
Afterward, another food-lover’s icon awaits: the historic South 9th Street Italian Market. With its roots in the Italian immigrant community of the 1880s, the market today is still alive with the vibrant mix of sights, sounds, aromas, and tastes that has made it a mecca for locals and visitors for generations.
Chef Jacqueline Peccina-Kelly, a South Philly native, is the perfect guide for an afternoon that digs into the market’s traditions and temptations. Step into the kitchen with the chef at the famed Villa Di Roma restaurant for a behind-the-scenes chat and a taste of his legendary meatballs. Learn how to choose the best in extra-virgin olive oils at a tasting session at Cardenas Oil & Vinegar Taproom.
The chef and owner of Monsu Sicilian restaurant offers some favorite bites including arrancini, mussels, and Sicilian fries. As you make your way through the market, sample cheeses, pasta, olives, charcuterie, cannoli, and coffees. And make sure you bring a shopping bag: You’ll want to take home some treats to savor and specialty ingredients to inspire your own culinary adventures.
Fringe stop at about 7:25 a.m.
