More than 300 people packed into the Philadelphia Ballroom in Somerton last week for the third annual Flavors of the Northeast.
They had a chance to taste Dagwoods Pub’s seafood mac and cheese, Broncos Brazilian Steakhouse’s chicken empanadas, a barbecue brisket sandwich from the Ashburner Inn and much more.
“It’s truly a Northeast-centric event,” said Pam Henshall, president of the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. “Northeast Philadelphia has a lot of great cuisine, and it’s time for us to take notice.”
The Oct. 1 event, organized by the GNPCC in partnership with the Northeast Times, served as a kickoff to Northeast Philadelphia Restaurant Week, which concluded Tuesday.
Flavors of the Northeast featured a chef competition with contestants from Hugo’s Frog Bar & Chop House, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, Three Monkeys Cafe and Dagwoods.
Chef Tori Hawthorn, who has been at the FOP lounge for about three years, took home the trophy after making pumpkin pie chicken and waffles. All competitors had to include pumpkin in their recipes.
“I’m happy,” Hawthorn said. “I’ve never done a competition.”
The chefs were judged by a panel that included Northeast natives Vittoria Woodill and Pat Gallen from CBS3; Bill Conaway, director of community relations for the Philadelphia Protestant Home; Holy Family University student Dan Brown; and travel agent Annette Gordon, who was celebrating her 88th birthday.
RB’s Chocolate Revenge, utilizing an Eagles theme, took home a prize for best decorated table, which was voted on by the public.
In total, Flavors of the Northeast featured 22 restaurants and caterers. Eleven eateries offered specials for restaurant week.
“It’s really been a well-received event,” Henshall said. ••
