LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
SUMMER MAKEOVER
IT’S MORE THAN just the long hours of daylight charging me up with energy right now. I’m bursting with excitement to introduce you to the new look of Edible Philly, courtesy of our new art director, Samantha J. Bednarek. She’s helped define the look of major national magazines including Family Circle and Good Housekeeping, and I’m thrilled to see her vision come to life in our pages. I hope you’ll let me know what you think of our makeover.
Along with a refreshed design, we’re adding a few new elements to mix, including the new department, “Philly for Lunch”, dreamed up by our associate editor, Katherine Rapin. In it, she chats with an average Philadelphian during lunchtime about what they are eating and why. You can see the first installment as well as her own illustration accompanying it on page 40.
But wait, there’s more! On page 26, we have our first story from new contributor Reem Kassis. Can you believe she agreed to write her feature for us, “Stewed and Stuffed”, only days before her book, The Palestinian Table, was nominated for a James Beard award? I am extremely proud to highlight her work here.
This issue also marks the first time the multitalented writer, editor, recipe developer, and author Peggy Paul Casella joins our team as copy editor. I so appreciate her attention to detail and eagle eye. Copyediting is some of the most invisible work that goes into making a magazine, but it’s also some of the most important.
It’s a very thrilling time, but there is one little thing I’m less excited about. Longtime Edible Philly contributor Emily Teel has moved away from Philadelphia to pursue a new life in Oregon. I will really miss seeing her around South Philly, where up until recently she was my neighbor, but I know she’s beginning an equally delicious adventure out West. At least I got her to write a moving goodbye essay about leaving us, “Eating My Feelings”, page 16.
I hope as you page through this issue you’ll get as excited about the local food community in our city as I am. Please come out to our first Experience the Issue event on July 10 at Awbury Arboretum (more info on page 35) and help us celebrate.
Editor
joy@ediblephilly.com