The Best Philly Food Events Happening in April
Philly’s food collaborations, specials, and pop-ups worth putting on your calendar.
Bok Bar at sunset / Photograph by Stephen Recchia
April brings a wave of food events to Philly. This is partially because of the upcoming Chef Conference, a series of educational sessions, panel discussions, and cooking demonstrations for folks in the hospitality industry. It’s a big deal! Notable chefs from around the world are coming to Philadelphia for this thing. As a result, Philly’s restaurant scene will be buzzing with plenty of things culinary professionals and avid diners won’t want to miss. Here’s what to look forward to in April.
PHS Pop-up Gardens, all of April
One way to tell that spring has come to Philadelphia is by tracking the openings of the PHS Pop-Up Gardens on South Street and in Manayunk. Good news: they’re opening on March 29th, and will be serving wine, beer cocktails, and snacks in sunny, plant-filled surroundings through late fall.
Ramen Month at Neighborhood Ramen, all of April
As we approach the end of their tenure, Neighborhood Ramen is once again bringing back their popular Ramen Month, a series of specials throughout April that show off the restaurant’s creativity and technique. Track their Instagram for a new special every couple of days, and see last year’s specials here.
Urban Farmer with Pasta by Bruno, April 4th
Janine Bruno of Homemade by Bruno is partnering with the team at Urban Farmer for a chef dinner featuring a crossover of steakhouse dishes and Sicilian cuisine. Urban Farmer chef Sonny Ingui and Bruno have been friends since high school, and they’ll be showcasing their culinary skill in a seven-course meal with table side demonstrations of Sicilian cooking techniques. Tickets run $140 and include dinner and beverage pairings.
Rhone Valley Vigneron Dinner at Vernick, April 11th
Vernick Wine (the wine shop just next door to Vernick Food & Drink) has one of the city’s best-curated wine selections, so it’s not surprising that those relationships sometimes translate to special events like this one, a wine dinner featuring the wines of Eric Texier, an award-winning winemaker from the Rhône Valley. Tickets are $230, and include a five-course menu paired with wine selected by Eric and Vernick wine director Felix Hughes.
Bok Bar Reopens, April 11th
Rejoice! The season for rooftop bars is upon us! This year, Bok Bar will have a rotating roster of chefs serving up a variety of bites to pair with beer, wine, cocktails, and those magnificent skyline views. They’ll have seven different chefs throughout the season, with a new chef taking over each month. They’ll kick things off with Darnel’s followed by Jezabel’s Cafe in May. Bok Bar will reopen April 11th at 5 p.m.
Poorva Korde of Aaji’s and Jezabel Careaga of Jezabel’s Cafe. / Photograph by Mike Prince
Aaji’s + Jezabel’s ‘Fuego’ Lunch, April 13th
Jezabel Careaga, owner of Jezabel’s in West Philly, is partnering with Poorva Korde of Aaji’s, for a lunchtime feast of dishes cooked over Careaga’s Argentine charcoal grill. Tickets will be released via Instagram on April 1, but the menu will include empanadas with Aaji’s lonsa, grilled shrimp, garlic rice with Masoora curry and more.
Alain Ducasse at the Chef Conference, April 13th
If you’re interested in high-end, Michelin-starred restaurants, snag tickets for Alain Ducasse’s book talk on Saturday, April 13th. Born in France, Ducasse is among the most acclaimed chefs in the world, and his book, “Good Taste: A Life of Food and Passion” shares stories from throughout his career. Ducasse will be speaking with food writer Jeff Gordinier, and the $75 ticket includes a copy of the book and breakfast catered by Federal Donuts, Lavazza, and Spread Bagelry.
Sisterly Love Collective Does Brunch, April 14th
The Sisterly Love Collective is Philly’s industry organization for women chefs, and this brunch will highlight some of the city’s best. Your $40 ticket gets you admission to the Independence Beer Garden, where more than a dozen chefs from Philly and beyond will be offering bites and drinks while you soak in the sunshine.
Science & Cooking at the Franklin Institute with Chef Nok of Kalaya, April 16th
Kalaya chef Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon will be hosting a live cooking demonstration at the Franklin Institute on April 16th, alongside scientist Dr. David Weitz. Inspired by Weitz’s Harvard course, Suntaranon will cook while Weitz describes the scientific principles at play. Tickets are $10, $5 for members of the Franklin Institute.
Chef Radio Live! with MANNA, April 17th
MANNA is a Philadelphia-based food justice organization that works to bring medically tailored meals to people in need. The Chef Radio Podcast is throwing a big fundraiser in April, with all proceeds going to support MANNA’s work. The events includes bites from more than a dozen local chefs, a live performance by Snacktime, and a live podcast recording. Tickets start at $175.
Riverwards Anniversary Sale, April 22nd
If your favorite pastimes include spending $76 on impulse purchases at Riverwards Produce (same), we’ve got great news for you: On April 22nd, in celebration of their anniversary, every single item at both Riverwards locations will be 20 percent off. We’re heading to the snack aisle.
Flavors on the Avenue, April 28th
Every year, Flavors on the Avenue shuts down East Passyunk for a day of sunshine, eating, and revelry. The event is free, with the Avenue turning into something between a music festival and a street fair. Restaurants local businesses along the avenue will be selling food, drinks, and merchandise.
