Brian Freedman
Philadelphia is the new capitol of food, eclipsing New York City, LA, and San Francisco as the destination for foodies. It's dining scene is the most diverse, with examples of authentic cuisines from around the world. We are talking the real deal, not the Americanized versions. Plus, a world-class array of restaurants that feature the more classical cuisines of France and Italy, and even a handful of places that celebrate American cuisines.
Smaller and less known than the other three cities, Philly has developed a culinary scene more by accident than by any grand plan. The city's relatively low cost of living, ample housing, and culturally segregated neighborhoods has made it very attractive to immigrants from dozens of countries. The growing populations of Korean, Vietnamese, Mexican, Russian, Ukrainian, and many other nationalities bring many things to Philly, including their regional food cultures. This means a great deal of restaurants that are in business to serve a small ethnic group, which means the food remains amazingly authentic.
Another element of Philly's accidental foodie scene is the lack of liquor licenses. Since the state of Pennsylvania controls all aspects of wine and spirits, liquor licenses are tightly curtailed and also extremely expensive. the right to offer beer, wine, and spirits in a restaurant can cost up to a half million dollars on the open market. This lack has proven to be a boon for the restaurant trade. Since most restaurants cannot sell booze, a culture of BYO (bring your own bottle) has grown in Philly to a point that even restaurants with liquor licenses often allow their guests to BYO, just to remain competitive. The BYO scene also means that the cost of opening a restaurant is much less, meaning that a single chef can open a small restaurant without having to spend a fortune. This has allowed hundreds of restaurants to open that otherwise would not have, and a great many chefs have proved their skills and talent in such places.
Of course, the other great issue at hand is the restaurant reviews. In Philadelphia, there are a handful of players that everyone reads. The first and foremost is Craig Leban of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Other notables include Joy Manning, Collin Flatt, Brian Freedman, and David Snyder. Magazines such as Eater, Grubstreet, Foobooz, and Epikur keep the hungry population in the know about food, wine, and beer. It's a dynamic city and one worth checking out for anyone interested in a foodie tour of America.