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Critic's Notebook: Philly Food Fame
Esquire magazine isn’t shy about lavishing the love on Philadelphia food. In the past, we’ve won mentions for our roast pork sandwiches (John’s Roast Pork) and corner dive bars (Friend Lounge), but this year, the mag’s list of the 50 Best New Restaurants (on newsstands now) lavishes even more love on our fair city than usual.
We’ve managed to score not one, but two, places of honor on the list. Zahav, our pick for Best New Restaurant, is no surprise. But I am impressed that Distrito also snagged a place, not because it doesn’t deserve it, but because the restaurant registered on Esquire’s radar so quickly after opening. Congratulations to chefs Michael Solomonov and Jose Garces (of Zahav and Distrito, respectively)! It just goes to show that our city’s reputation as a culinary destination grows every year.
We’ve managed to score not one, but two, places of honor on the list. Zahav, our pick for Best New Restaurant, is no surprise. But I am impressed that Distrito also snagged a place, not because it doesn’t deserve it, but because the restaurant registered on Esquire’s radar so quickly after opening. Congratulations to chefs Michael Solomonov and Jose Garces (of Zahav and Distrito, respectively)! It just goes to show that our city’s reputation as a culinary destination grows every year.
Originally published on phillymag.com on October 10, 2008.
