Delicious City Philly

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 180: Luigi Primo Brings the Sauce for Hoagie Throwdown Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

Pro wrestler and pizza maker Luigi Primo, reigning champion of the Hoagie Throwdown, is coming back for more THIS SUNDAY at Other Half Brewing in Fishtown! We're taking a look at some of the amazing hoagies that you can sample at the event, and Luigi talks about his path through the Philadelphia wrestling scene, his unforgettable Sandman "kendo stick hoagie" story, and how he actually trains for matches by making pizza. Plus, Eli didn't know he was attending a Benson Boone show at Mario Carbone's star-studded wedding at The Grill in NYC.

(00:00) — Hoagie Throwdown hype & Eli's sweet getup
(06:55) — Luigi Primo enters the ring
(08:27) — Recapping Last Year's Event: The Sandman's kendo-hoagie-stick
(14:34) — Reading Gabbagool like a Gabba-fool
(21:57) — Weirdest things people put on a pizza
(28:20) — Luigi's pizza training method
(54:26) — Mario Carbone's wedding, Benson Boone's secret backflip & the "Sauce Boss"

And of course, we could not do this without our amazing partners who are as passionate about food and drink as we are:

If your restaurant or company wants to be in the headlines for all the right reasons, click here to discover how Peter Breslow Consulting and PR can take your business to the next level
Social media and digital content are two of the most important things you can create for your brand. Check out Breakdown Media, a one stop shop for all of your marketing needs.

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Connect with us on Instagram, and share your eating adventures by tagging us in your posts so we can talk about them on air.

Ep. 179: Mayo on Italian Hoagies: Delicious or Sacrilegious? Sep 14, 2026

Show notes

If you had a magic wand and could keep one Philly restaurant open for at least 50 more years, which would you pick? With the news of a handful of beloved institutions closing, we talked about the ones that we'd be lost without.

Hoagie Throwdown is less than 2 weeks away - get your tickets and chow down with us on Sunday 9/27! Eli, Marisa and Dave play a rapid-fire game to determine which hoagie is our ultimate favorite, plus match-ups of toppings and sides. When you can only pick one, these choices are freakin' hard! Just when we thought we knew everything about each other's tastes… (looking at Dave, who puts mayo on Italian hoagies…!)

Plus: Whatcha Been Eatin' has us longing for more shore days, and the Sauce is packed with the latest restaurant and food news you need to know.

(02:05) Restaurants we want around forever
(08:53) Hilarious "Throwdown of Hoagies" Game
(22:12) Whatcha Been Eatin': Oxtail ravioli, scallop risotto and more
(44:03) The Sauce: restaurant news in and around Philadelphia

We could not do this podcast without our amazing partners who are as passionate about food and drink as we are:

If your restaurant or company wants to be in the headlines for all the right reasons, click here to discover how Peter Breslow Consulting and PR can take your business to the next level
Social media and digital content are two of the most important things you can create for your brand. Check out Breakdown Media, a one stop shop for all of your marketing needs

Listen to us on Spotify

Listen to us on Apple

Watch us on YouTube

Connect with us on Instagram, and share your eating adventures by tagging us so we can shout you out on the podcast

Ep. 178: The Caviar King of Philly, Gary Shusman Sep 07, 2026

Show notes

Philly's having a big caviar moment, and it's thanks in part to Gary Shusman. The hottest restaurants in the city partner with Caviar XS to upgrade their dishes with the smoothest, freshest caviar there is, and Gary loves converting the uninitiated into caviar fanatics. We talk pairings, fish, and Gary's background in nightlife that led him to become the Caviar King of Philadelphia.

Plus: Incredible quiche, pierogis and pepper pot soup in Best Bites... Win tickets to Hoagie Throwdown on YouTube (entry deadline is 9/8) or get yours before they're gone right here... and the two Philly spots that got their flowers from Bon Appetit.

(00:58) Savor summer flavors before they're gone
(07:30) Gary Shusman of Caviar XS
(20:32) Oysters + caviar = winning combo
(27:09) Best Bites: the greatest quiche Eli has ever tasted
(37:47) Last chance to win Hoagie Throwdown tickets!
(41:20) Two Philly restaurants highlighted on the new Bon Appetit list
(44:36) The Dish: don't miss these pop-ups and dinners

We could not do this podcast without our amazing partners who are as passionate about food and drink as we are:

If your restaurant or company wants to be in the headlines for all the right reasons, click here to discover how Peter Breslow Consulting and PR can take your business to the next level
Social media and digital content are two of the most important things you can create for your brand. Check out Breakdown Media, a one stop shop for all of your marketing needs

Listen to us on Spotify

Listen to us on Apple

Watch us on YouTube

Connect with us on Instagram, and share your eating adventures by tagging us so we can shout you out on the podcast

Ep. 177: Cooking for the Philadephia Eagles with Tim Lopez, Live from PHL Airport Aug 31, 2026

Show notes

Fly, Eagles, Fly… right into PHL. Delicious City is live at the Philadelphia International Airport, and we're joined by former chef to the Birds, Tim Lopez. Tim's book Kickoff Kitchen has a recipe for every NFL city, and these are dishes that he'd cook for the Eagles as they were on the road to the Super Bowl a few years ago (and yes, we did try on Tim's ring). He tells us about the players habits and superstitions, why he didn't include a cheesesteak recipe in his book to rep Philly, and what the top tailgate cities in the country are.

Plus: Alex Pearlman (@pearlmania500) has a lot to say about cheesesteak egg rolls, and we dive into our late summer faves with Whatcha Been Eatin'.

Thanks to our partners PHL Food & Shops for supporting this episode. We'll be back at the airport on 9/8 and 10/22, so if you're flying out of PHL, look for us in the B/C terminal!

(01:00) Food recommendations when traveling
(05:07) Can you bring a cheesesteak onto a plane?
(09:07) Whatcha Been Eatin': Eli, Dave and Marisa dive in
(28:20) Comedian Alex Pearlman crashes the podcast
(29:57) Tim Lopez, chef and author of Kickoff Kitchen
(42:45) "Devouring the competition"
(44:37) Tailgate culture

HOAGIE THROWDOWN: We're less than a month away! Get tickets and we'll see you on 9/27.

And of course, we could not do this without our amazing partners who are as passionate about food and drink as we are:

If your restaurant or company wants to be in the headlines for all the right reasons, click here to discover how Peter Breslow Consulting and PR can take your business to the next level
Social media and digital content are two of the most important things you can create for your brand. Check out Breakdown Media, a one stop shop for all of your marketing needs.

Listen to us on Spotify

Listen to us on Apple

Watch us on YouTube

Connect with us on Instagram, and share your eating adventures by tagging us in your posts so we can talk about them on air.

Ep. 176: The Not-So-Secret Sushi Club in Northern Liberties Aug 24, 2026

Show notes

Chef Kevin Yanaga is back in the kitchen with Delicious City. The owner of Yanaga Kappo Izakaya in NoLibs talks about his journey from Japan to Philly (with a stop in Salt Lake City), his time at Morimoto, and how he's found a balance between Japanese tradition and his own unique style. We get into the story behind 637 Sushi Club, the secret-door vibes, the DIY anime wallpaper, and how Kevin creates an omakase experience that feels more like hanging out at his place than a traditional sushi counter. And - he gives us a taste on the chicken katsu and Japanese egg salad hoagie he's bringing to Hoagie Throwdown (it's a contender!) with a crash course in Kewpie mayo and his "Oma-cafe" coffee pairing.

(00:00) Ice cream samples: how many is too many?
(08:13) Hoagie Throwdown is 9/27! Watch on YouTube for a chance to win
(09:40) Chef Kevin Yanaga of Yanaga Kappo Izakaya
(29:41) Best Bites: drunken meatballs and crab rangoon dip
(43:53) The Dish: don't miss these dinners in August and September

GIVEAWAY: Win a pair of tickets to Hoagie Throwdown on Sunday September 27th at Other Half Brewing! Here's how:

Comment on this YouTube video with your favorite hoagie spot in Philly.
That's it! No purchase necessary. One entry per person.
Entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST on September 7th, 2026. The winner will be selected at random on September 8th and announced in the comments of this YouTube video. See YouTube video description for full details and official rules. GOOD LUCK!

We could not do this podcast without our amazing partners who are as passionate about food and drink as we are:

If your restaurant or company wants to be in the headlines for all the right reasons, click here to discover how Peter Breslow Consulting and PR can take your business to the next level
Social media and digital content are two of the most important things you can create for your brand. Check out Breakdown Media, a one stop shop for all of your marketing needs

Listen to us on Spotify

Listen to us on Apple

Watch us on YouTube

Connect with us on Instagram, and share your eating adventures by tagging us so we can shout you out on the podcast

Ep. 175: Huda Burger, Corn Soup, and Octopus Salad Aug 17, 2026

Show notes

Hope you're hungry - we've got a lot to cover this week. Yehuda Sichel loads us up burgers and nuggets with LOTS of sauces (dippy dippy time!) and reveals that Huda Burger will enter the ring at Hoagie Throwdown on 9/27. Eli's cooking up new merch for the podcast, which is available now at DeliciousCityPodcast.com. Everyone recaps Philly Mag's Best of Philly party in Whatcha Been Eatin', plus all the other snacks and bites that you need to try this summer.

Early bird tickets for Hoagie Throwdown are SOLD OUT, but you can still get GA tickets HERE

Rep Delicious City and look good doing it: new merch HERE

(00:00) Now you can WEAR Delicious City! Official merch reveal
(08:08) Yehuda Sichel of Huda Burger
(21:51) Hoagie Throwdown: the sammies you'll savor on 9/27
(29:11) Whatcha Been Eatin': corn soup, octopus salad, cheesecake and more
(47:55) The Sauce: what's opening and closing in Philly this summer

And of course, we could not do this without our amazing partners who are as passionate about food and drink as we are:

If your restaurant or company wants to be in the headlines for all the right reasons, click here to discover how Peter Breslow Consulting and PR can take your business to the next level
Social media and digital content are two of the most important things you can create for your brand. Check out Breakdown Media, a one stop shop for all of your marketing needs

Listen to us on Spotify

Listen to us on Apple

Watch us on YouTube

Connect with us on Instagram, and share your eating adventures by tagging us so we can shout you out on the podcast

Ep. 174: Recipe Philly, A Restaurant Highlighting Your Homemade Dishes Aug 11, 2026

Show notes

Recipe Philly is a new restaurant with a menu made up of dishes by home chefs across the Greater Philadelphia area. In today's episode, we talk to Ed Baumstein, founder of the dual restaurant/cooking competition concept which originated from a situation at his job's annual Christmas company. The new restaurant is set to open this week, and we can't wait to see the grand reveal of the homemade recipes.

We also unbox the championship belt for Hoagie Throwdown! On Sunday, September 27th at Other Half Brewing, sample 20+ of the city's tastiest and craziest hoagies while wrestlers battle it out in the ring. Get tickets at DeliciousCityPodcast.com to throw down with all the hoagies, pro wrestling, and craft beer you can handle.

(00:00) Grand Hoagie Belt Reveal
(05:09) Ed Baumstein of Recipe Philly
(25:16) Best Bites: Honeysuckle, Lark, Picnic
(40:42) The Dish: Don't miss these dinners and collabs in August

And of course, we could not do this without our amazing partners who are as passionate about food and drink as we are:

If your restaurant or company wants to be in the headlines for all the right reasons, click here to discover how Peter Breslow Consulting and PR can take your business to the next level
Social media and digital content are two of the most important things you can create for your brand. Check out Breakdown Media, a one stop shop for all of your marketing needs

Listen to us on Spotify

Listen to us on Apple

Watch us on YouTube

Connect with us on Instagram, and share your eating adventures by tagging us so we can shout you out on the podcast

Ep. 173: Hoagie Throwdown Is Back And It's Pure BREAD-lam! Aug 03, 2026

Show notes

Everyone thinks they know what makes a great hoagie… until they come to Hoagie Throwdown. Last year, we watched Philadelphia's most iconic, old-school hoagies go head-to-head with the city's most creative chefs, who completely reimagined what a hoagie could be.

This year, Hoagie Throwdown is back on Sunday September 27th at Other Half Brewing. One of last year's contenders, Chef Chad Durkin, already has his eyes on the championship! He tells what's new at Porco's Porchetteria, Small Oven Pastry Shop, and Breezy's Deli, regales us with stories of sailboats and Cake Boss, and calls out other Philly chefs to rise to the challenge of Hoagie Throwdown… Get tickets at DeliciousCityPodcast.com to throw down with all the hoagies, pro wrestling, and craft beer you can handle.

(00:00) Hoagie Throwdown is back! How will we top last year??
(07:37) Chef Chad Durkin is fired up for the competition
(14:24) Tips for Hoagie Throwdown: throw your roll into the ring
(34:33) Whatcha Been Eatin': from Atlantic City to Ardmore, everything we love
(45:30) The Sauce: what's opening and closing in Philly
And of course, we could not do this without our amazing partners who are as passionate about food and drink as we are:
- If your restaurant or company wants to be in the headlines for all the right reasons, click here to discover how Peter Breslow Consulting and PR can take your business to the next level
- Social media and digital content are two of the most important things you can create for your brand. Check out Breakdown Media, a one stop shop for all of your marketing needs.
Listen to us on Spotify

Listen to us on Apple

Watch us on YouTube

Connect with us on Instagram, and share your eating adventures by tagging us in your posts so we can talk about them on air.

Ep. 172: World Cup Reality Check for Restaurants Jul 27, 2026

Show notes

The World Cup took over Philly, and restaurants and bars across the city were bracing for an influx of tourists and FIFA fans. But was the hype worth it? Raquel Dang and Luis Ledesma of Baby's Kusina in Brewerytown (a Tasties nominee!) share what they experienced during the tournament. They also talk about what they're serving up in their Filipino kitchen (hint: best pancakes ever), and reflect on the resilience it takes to carve out a space in Philadelphia's food scene.

(00:00) Marisa ate a salad, Cyclospora be damned
(05:35) Raquel Dang and Luis Ledesma of Baby's Kusina
(14:27) They opened the weekend the Eagles won the Super Bowl
(15:39) The trip that defined their menu
(26:24) Best Bites: a Bang-Bang-Bang
(38:23) The Dish: Events and Pop-Ups for the rest of July

SAVE THE DATE: On Sunday Septmeber 27th, it's a Delicious City showdown for the ages... mark your calendar. More details soon!

We could not create Delicious City Podcast without our amazing partners who are as passionate about food and drink as we are:

If your restaurant or company wants to be in the headlines for all the right reasons, click here to discover how Peter Breslow Consulting and PR can take your business to the next level
Social media and digital content are two of the most important things you can create for your brand. Check out Breakdown Media, a one stop shop for all of your marketing needs.

Listen to us on Spotify

Listen to us on Apple

Watch us on YouTube

Connect with us on Instagram, and share your eating adventures by tagging us in your posts so we can talk about them on air.

Ep. 171: Cheesesteak In A Bottle? Yes, It Exists Jul 20, 2026

Show notes

We have three words for you: Philly. Cheesesteak. Olive Oil. (Ok, that's more than three - we're podcasters, not mathematicians.) It's one of the Philly-est things to ever be bottled, and it supports a great cause: Mama-Tee's Community Fridges. Dr. Michelle Nelson, who goes way back with Chef Eli, tells us how the fridges help feed 250,000+ of our neighbors in the city, and how you can help out by donating food, volunteering, or simply picking up a bottle of Mama-Tee's flavored olive oil.

Plus: Eli, Marisa and Dave talk donuts, dumplings and brunch in Whatcha Been Eatin', and run down the latest chef and restaurants news in The Sauce.

(05:10) The Bear: the final season is here
(07:25) Dr. Michelle Nelson for Mama-Tee Community Fridge
(17:53) Cheesesteak Flavored Olive Oils
(25:11) Whatcha Been Eatin': the bites we're still thinking about
(48:14) The Sauce: Coming soon to the Philadelphia food scene

SAVE THE DATE: On Sunday Septmeber 27th, it's a Delicious City showdown for the ages... mark your calendar. More details soon!

We could not create Delicious City Podcast without our amazing partners who are as passionate about food and drink as we are:

If your restaurant or company wants to be in the headlines for all the right reasons, click here to discover how Peter Breslow Consulting and PR can take your business to the next level
Social media and digital content are two of the most important things you can create for your brand. Check out Breakdown Media, a one stop shop for all of your marketing needs.

Listen to us on Spotify

Listen to us on Apple

Watch us on YouTube

Connect with us on Instagram, and share your eating adventures by tagging us in your posts so we can talk about them on air.

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