Summer is the season when Philly food lives loudest—spilling from farmers market stalls, sizzling on backyard grills, and gathering neighbors around long tables in the open air. In this issue, we celebrate the season’s vibrancy through stories that center flavor, family, and the many ways food connects us.
This issue takes you inside the kitchen of chef Nana Araba Wilmot, who reflects, among other things, on the jollof rice she cooked with her mother and launched her dinner series, Love That I Knead.
Our Philly Made feature highlights local entrepreneurs who are redefining what it means to be a specialty food maker in this city. From Soom’s silky tahini to Poppa’s Custard’s luxe pastry creams, these makers are blending heritage, hustle, and heart. They’re not just feeding us—they’re building a food culture rooted in community.
Of course, we’ve got the ultimate guide to farmers markets across the region—because summer produce waits for no one. Get out there and meet your farmers, fill your basket, and taste the difference that local makes.
Thank you, as always, for reading Edible Philly. Whether you’re cooking, snacking, or road-tripping (hello, Stroudsburg), we hope these stories inspire your summer table.
Joy Manning
Editor, Edible Philly
Summer has always been my favorite season. I love being outdoors in the sunshine–whether at the beach, on a kayak, or on a blanket in the park reading. It’s also arguably the best time to visit your local farmers markets and stock up for the perfect picnic or meal al fresco. The markets, street festivals, and pop ups this time of year are full of some of my favorite flavors, big and bright produce, so many artisan products, thirst-quenching beverages and more. This issue is our annual love letter to the season and we hope you bookmark our farmers market guide to reference all year long. We’ll be keeping it updated online AND you can also access our guide via Apple Maps: Philly Farmers Market Guide.
And given the current turmoil across the country, it also feels appropriate that this issue is a celebration of not only Philly, but of global flavors and influences on our city’s food scene. From dinner series to shelf-ready products, the artisans featured here and so many others are a testament to the beauty that results when makers can impart their own cultures and backgrounds into their food, drinks and farms, as well as to the hard work and important contributions immigrants make to elevate our entire food system. We are so lucky that we get to experience this magic every day.
Jen Honovic Herczeg
Daughter of Immigrants and Publisher, Edible Philly
