Delicious City Philly Podcast & OpenTable to Launch “The Tasties,” the First Awards Ceremony Celebrating Philly’s Restaurant Industry
There’s not doubt that Philly’s restaurant scene has been killing it and gaining recognition on both a national and global scale. With the food scene continuing to flourish, Chef Eli Kulp and the Delicious City Philly Podcast team, featuring radio producer Marisa Magnatta and food influencer Dave Wez (aka @FeedingTimeTV) are stepping up to celebrate the city’s talented and diverse restaurant and bar community with a first-of-its-kind awards ceremony in partnership with OpenTable. This is a moment to honor the culinary talent and hospitality that’s put Philly directly in the epicenter of the nation’s restaurant scene.
The awards are being billed as “The Tasties,” and the inaugural event will take place on Sunday, February 2, 2025 at Live! Casino, located at 900 Packer Avenue in South Philadelphia. The city’s best and brightest culinary stars and industry professionals will walk the Red Carpet beginning at 4 p.m., and the awards ceremony will take place from 5 to 7 p.m., followed by a celebratory party for all those in attendance.
The ceremony will seat 250 people, with tickets priced at $175 per person for those who want to attend both the awards and the party, or just $95 for those who would like to attend only the post-ceremony soirée. Proceeds from the festivities will benefit MANNA. Tickets will go on-sale on Wednesday, October 23rd, and can be purchased at deliciouscitypodcast.com/the-tasties. There will be an early-bird ticket discount available through Friday, November 1 for the first 50 tickets purchased. Guests are asked to dress to impress.
The award ceremony will have roughly 15 categories, including Chef of the Year, Restaurant of the Year, Breakout Chef, Best Cocktail Program, Best Neighborhood Spot, and more. Categories and nominees will be announced throughout October and November through the Delicious City Podcast, their social media, and via a selection of local, popular food and lifestyle content creators. The winners of these categories will be selected anonymously from a collection of the top food and drink reporters in the region and a third-party law firm will be responsible for tallying the votes and writing out and sealing the envelopes to ensure integrity. Throughout the month of December, there will be the “People’s Choice Award” categories voted on by the fans, such as Best Porter/Dishwasher, Best Late Night Joint, Best Popup, and others.
“We couldn’t be more excited to see The Tasties come to life,” said Kulp. “This event is truly a dream come true, and having the incredible support of OpenTable behind us makes it all the more thrilling. Their partnership is a game-changer, ensuring that The Tasties will be the party of the year for Philadelphia’s restaurant industry and its devoted fans. We’re ready to celebrate the city’s vibrant culinary scene in a way it deserves, and with OpenTable’s backing, this will be an unforgettable night for everyone involved.”
The post-ceremony party will include food and drink provided by a collection of esteemed Philadelphia chefs, restaurateurs, makers, brewers, and distillers. The party will feature different rooms, each of which will have a unique theme and features, along with DJs and surprise musical guests.
