You may not realize this, but the dining scene in Philly was pretty bleak in the 1980s. Outside of the hoagie and cheesesteak and Bassets Ice Cream, there were only a few bright spots–the Commissary, Ribbit, the Rib Crib, a few joints in Chinatown, and of course the forever amazing Le Bec Fin, but basically your choices were dry beef with tan gravy and mash potatoes made from chopped up cardboard. Well, the Philadelphia History Museum at Atwater Kent (formerly Atwater Kent Museum–hello strategic planning!) presents Three Decades of Dining in Philadelphia: the 80s, 90s and 00s, at Reading Terminal Market, 6–7 p.m. on Thursday, May 20, 2010, so that you can learn just what happened to make this city such a foodie destination.

Philadelphia Inquirer food columnist Michael Klein moderates a panel of Philly’s top restaurateurs: Jack McDavid of Jack’s Firehouse, Ellen Yin of Fork Restaurant & Bar and Fork:etc, and Steven Cook of Xochitl, Zahav, Percy Street BBQ, and formerly Marigold Kitchen. Together they will reveal how this city’s culinary scene has been redefined these past 30 years from backwater to the frontlines of yum. (Ellen Yin and Steven Cook will also be participating in FEASTIVAL on September 15, the Live Arts and Philly Fringe fundraiser featuring food from some thirty of Philly’s top cooks.)

Three Decades of Dining in Philadelphia: the 80s, 90s and 00s
Reading Terminal Market, 6–7 p.m. on Thursday, May 20, 2010. Admission is free to Philadelphia History Museum members and just $5 for the public. Contact Jennifer Pratt at 215.685.4825 or jennifer.pratt@philadelphiahistory.org for more information and to reserve tickets in advance.

–Josh McIlvain

Photo of Ellen Yin of Fork.