This is a reminder that Clark Park Thursday Market (43rd and Baltimore) is taking a break until June 2017, and the last mid-week market will be held this Wednesday (Nov. 23) due to Thanksgiving. The market will have special hours this Wednesday – from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Clark Park Saturday Farmers Market is open throughout the year, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. For more information on other city markets run by The Food Trust, visit: http://thefoodtrust.org/farmers-markets

From left to right: Noah’s Pizza owner Mekonen Hailu, executive chef Sal Traina, and co-owner Chris (Photo by Rana Fayez)

Pizza lovers of the west rejoice, we now have more options. Noah’s Pizza just opened next to Lil’ Pop Shop at 4602 Woodland Ave. Now we’re quite aware of the shortage of quality pizza on our side of the river, but this is exactly why owner Mekonen Hailu decided to transition his previous business, Noah’s Market, into what is now Noah’s Pizza.

The pizza shop opened about a couple of weeks ago, with the idea to provide quality pizza to the neighborhood. “There is more need for pizza than a mini market here,” said Hailu.

The pizza chef? Sal Traina, he’s the executive chef at Chestnut Hill Hospital. He’s really good friends with Hailu and well, he loves making pizza, so he decided to add a side gig to his work week. “I wanted to help out a friend,” said Traina.  Continue Reading

This Monday (Nov. 14), the Neighborhood Advisory Committee at the People’s Emergency Center is organizing a community discussion on whether Lancaster Avenue would benefit from a Food Co-op. This will be a focused group discussion facilitated by NAC, and residents who are interested in participating in it, are asked to register by emailing NAC Program Manager Kevin Brown at: Kbrown@pec-cares.org

The discussion will take place from 5:30 – 7 p.m. in the Families First Building at 3939 Warren St.

Here’s the flyer with more information:

Photo courtesy of Schmear It.

If you’re tired of following around the Schmear It truck for your daily bagel fix, here’s some good news. Philly’s only bagel truck has finally found a brick-and-mortar home in University City at 3601 Market St. in the uCity Square complex along with other businesses, such as Herban Quality Eats. As of last Wednesday, the store is officially open to the public.

Thanks for an amazing opening, everyone!! We are sold out but look forward to much more schmearing tomorrow!

— Schmear It (@Schmearit) November 2, 2016

Currently, their store hours are as follows: Monday through Friday – 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday – 8 a.m – 2 p.m.  Continue Reading

Here’s some great news for local wine lovers: Both The Bottle Shop at Local 44 and Clarkville bar & restaurant began selling affordable take-out wine this week. Here are more details for each establishment, which as you may know are owned by the same people.

The Bottle Shop (44th and Spruce) is featuring a small but well curated list of ten red, ten white and two sparkling wines by the bottle. Arguably the best beer sales force in the city are now also “aspiring wine geeks” and will help guide you through their wine assortment.

Clarkville (43rd and Baltimore) is making all of the wines that pour on draft available for take out in a branded 750ml growler. You can buy one in house, or bring your own jug in for a refill.

In addition, a special November “Wine School” featuring The Artisan Cellar’s Sean Faeth is happening in the Bottle Shop at Local 44 on Wednesday, Nov 16 at 5 p.m. This is a free opportunity to get to know some of the bottles they are so excited about. As always, a donation to No Kid Hungry is required to attend Beer/Wine School. RSVP to bottles@local44beerbar.com to secure your seat.

(Photos courtesy of The Bottle Shop at Local 44)

West Philly entrepreneurial sisters Kelly (right) and Jorrae Beard will appear on “Shark Tank” tonight.

Shark Tank keeps casting Philly entrepreneurs, and it’s especially nice to see West Philly-based teams presenting their products on the show. This Friday, Oct. 28, tune in to watch sisters Kelly and Jorrae Beard pitch “Lulu Bang” BBQ Sauce to the “sharks.” There will also be the show watch party tonight at the Enterprise Center (4548 Market St.), beginning at 7:30 p.m. (this event has been sold out).

Kelly and Jorrae are co-owners of Joyce’s Soulful Cuisine, a restaurant and catering business located at 59th and Chestnut that was named in memory of their mother, Joyce A. Beard. The sisters are also manufacturers of  “Lulu Bang” BBQ Sauce, which comes in four flavors – Asian Persuasion, BBQ Fusion, Bourbon Baby, and It’s Just HOT.  It’s now available in local shops throughout the Northeast region.

The name of the sauce is a tribute to Kelly and Jorrae’s brother, Michael “Lulu Bang” Beard, a National Guard veteran, who was murdered at the age of 32 in West Philadelphia, according to an article by Philly Mag.  Continue Reading