A big man with a big smile, a big heart and a larger-than-life personality, James Beard—the “Dean of American Cookery”—was one of the most recognizable celebrities in the culinary world, and he remains an influence on generations of young chefs. One could say that he put American food on the map. Now, nearly 30 years after his death, The James Beard Foundation’s Taste America event is literally doing the same thing, taking the man’s legacy to 10 cities across the United States. Taste America comes to our area with “The Philadelphia Food Evolution” on Friday, October 4, at Pêche, located at 3502 Scotts Lane in the East Falls neighborhood.
The star-studded event will be hosted by Carla Hall, star of ABC’s The Chew, and Chef Patrick Feury of Nectar. It will feature a multi-generational cast of local food pros, ranging from world-renowned winners of the coveted James Beard Award to an impressive group of our region’s rising-star chefs. There are two ways to enjoy the festivities: a taste-around, with small plates by tomorrow’s top chefs; and a VIP party, featuring a four-course dinner in honor of legendary Philadelphia chefs and a few of those whom they inspired. The evening will end with a fabulous dessert and an auction of the area’s most coveted goodies.
If it’s cocktails you’re looking for, the event will have those too. Scott Zoccolillo, beverage manager at Nectar, is taking guests on a journey through time with a carefully crafted cocktail menu features the best spirits that Philadelphia has to offer. Philadelphia Distillery has generously donated its signature Blue Coat Gin, Penn 1681 Vodka and XXX Corn Shine Whisky. Zoccolillo will be using these spirits “to continue with the theme of the Philadelphia food evolution, by looking at the evolution of cocktails.” To do this, he is making three distinct styles of cocktails, starting with the prohibition era, moving into the 1960s and rounding out the menu with a modern, molecular gastronomy inspired cocktail. A fourth cocktail is also planned in honor of legacy chef Steve Posses. Capital Wine and Spirits is donating the spirits for this special concoction.
Zoccolillo has offered a sneak peak into the cocktails available. The first stop historically is the prohibition style cocktail. This white whiskey-based cocktail includes a sassafras root simple syrup made by Scott and the flavors of orange peel with a touch of vermouth, served on the rocks. His 1960s cocktail takes you back to the time when cocktails first became widely consumed and will unleash your inner Roger Sterling or James Bond. It’s a Vesper, utilizing both vodka and gin with a splash of Lillet. Zoccolillo is offering desert as he returns you to the present day. His deconstructed Apple Pie Martini starts with vodka and evokes the flavors of gala and Fiji apples. Suspended in the vodka is caramel and cinnamon caviar. It’s topped with vanilla ice cream foam. His last concoction in honor of Steve Posses is an homage to the Frog Commissary’s famous carrot cake. Zoccolillo is alternating Tito’s vodka and Bacardi Oakheart infused with pecans, carrots, cinnamon, sugar and raisins with layers of infused pecan, vanilla bean and cream Tito’s Vodka.
Tickets for the taste-around are $200. Seats at the $500 per plate VIP dinner are almost sold out.
It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be delicious. It’s going to be filled with stories you’ll want to share. Get tickets here!
- Cocktail photo: Nectar
- Other photography: The James Beard Foundation
