The Delicious City Philly team brought back The Tasties on Sunday, February 1, 2026, transforming Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia into the epicenter of Philly’s food and hospitality scene for one unforgettable night. Proceeds from the celebration benefited Philabundance, adding a powerful philanthropic layer to an already meaningful evening.
Chef Eli Kulp and the Delicious City Philly team — alongside Philly favorite radio producer WMMR’s Marisa Magnatta and food influencer Dave Wez (aka @FeedingTimeTV) — once again gathered the city’s culinary community to celebrate excellence across 14 award categories.
Guests kicked off the evening with a red carpet arrival at 4 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony from 5 to 7 p.m., and capped it all off with a high-energy after-party that perfectly captured the spirit, flavor, and camaraderie of Philadelphia’s ever-evolving dining scene.
The Burke family presented the Jim Burke Award For Culinary Excellence for Chef of the Year: Phila Lorn, Mawn Chef Burke was a promising chef on the scene when I first came onto the scene in 2007. He and his wife Kristina Burke, owned a popular Bella Vista restaurant named James from 2007 to 2011.
Chef of the Year: Phila Lorn (Mawn and Sao) and his restaurant won Restaurant of the Year: Mawn. Congrats to everyone involved in making Mawn so successful.
The award categories spanned a wide range of disciplines and perspectives, including Chef of the Year, Breakout Chef, Excellence in Hospitality, and Craft Cocktail Excellence. Winners in these categories were selected by a 15-member committee comprised of Philadelphia food writers, community leaders, past Tasties winners, and industry professionals, ensuring that honors reflected both critical acclaim and peer recognition.
The evening also featured a lively slate of People’s Choice awards, voted on by the public, adding an interactive and celebratory element to the program. Fan-favorite categories included Breakfast of Champions (best breakfast restaurant), Brain Freeze Bestie (best frozen treats), and Dish Wizard — a playful yet heartfelt honorary title recognizing the city’s best dishwasher and the often-unsung heroes of the hospitality world.
I loved the set up this year, with the after party being in various rooms with food from our favorite restaurants. It was definitely packed, about 1/3 more people than last year. Fun to catch up with old friends as well, the winter months really drag on with very few events so this is a welcomed social scene for so many.
A bump of caviar is the latest trend in food in 2026
The Gas & Main crew came out for the festivisites to support Chef/Owner Dane DeMarco, Breakout Chef (center). Last July I had my birthday dinner at the popular Haddonfield, NJ eatery.
And because it wouldn’t be a true Philadelphia event without a bevy of content creators in the room, a vibrant mix of photographers, influencers, and storytellers were on hand, capturing and sharing the experience in real time with their readers and followers, amplifying the energy of the night far beyond the ballroom. Congrats to the Delicious Podcast team and All About Events for a great production!!
Drum roll, please…
The Tasties — Philadelphia’s first chef and restaurant awards show — announced the 2026 winners at their ceremony on February 1, 2026. Congratulations to all of this year’s incredible honorees!
- Chef of the Year: Phila Lorn (Mawn and Sao)
- Breakout Chef: Evan Snyder (Emmett)
- Standout Baker or Pastry Chef: Emily Riddell (Machine Shop)
- Restaurant of the Year: Mawn
- Best New Restaurant: La Jefa
- Neighborhood Gem: Cafe Nhan
- Icon Award: Tequilas Casa Mexicana
- Excellence in Hospitality: Friday Saturday Sunday
- Craft Cocktail Excellence: La Jefa
A true snapshot of the talent, heart, and creativity driving Philadelphia’s dining scene forward.
On a personal note, my winter break has officially come to an end, and I’m excited to be back to posting regularly on PhillyChitChat for the 2026 season. The pause was refreshing, though I never truly left — I kept the Instagram updates coming daily.
And don’t worry, I’m not disappearing like so many bloggers have over the years… I’m still here, still passionate, and still telling Philly’s stories.
Thank you, as always, for reading, sharing, and supporting PCC. I’m incredibly grateful to see that we remain the #1 Lifestyle blog in Philadelphia in 2026. Below is a list of some truly fabulous local bloggers who continue to make this city shine. FEEDSPOT
Socially yours, xoxo HughE
