You too can become an online food star

Have recipes and a good Internet connection? You can become an online star, with a good salary to match.

Also in this edition:

— Mike Klein

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“It’s pretty insane how the internet can be someone’s full-time job.” Let Erin McCarthy show you how some of our neighbors are making six-figure incomes running online food accounts.

If you think this month’s roster of new restaurants is rich — what with Stephen Starr’s multimillion-dollar Borromini in Rittenhouse Square leading the pack — wait till next month. Read on and I’ll tell you about a casual steakhouse in Fishtown, a Jewish deli (in Chestnut Hill!), a Euro cafe in South Jersey, and the early days of a luxe lounge in Center City, among other newcomers.

Critic Craig LaBan visits Baby’s Kusina + Market in Brewerytown, a Filipino destination that he’s been enjoying morning, noon, and night.

Craig says Philly’s most phenomenal veg burger is available at Pietramala in Northern Liberties. There’s a catch, however.

You can eat at a Phillies game for under $15, as Henry Savage and Hira Qureshi found. Read on for their tips.

Malooga, a Yemeni restaurant in Old City, has big plans for its new location in Narberth.

Kevin and Cat Huang of the DanDan restaurants in Center City, Wayne, and Ardmore are creating an Asian fast-casual concept to complement DanDan. There’s no name yet, but they have a location, 3748 Lancaster Ave. in Powelton Village, and a late 2025 opening in mind.

The Slider Co. has been on a tear lately. William Johnson and Anesha Garrett’s burger shop launched a three-month residency at the Luxe (1705 N. American St.) in South Kensington last month. On Aug. 15, they will start another three-month collaboration, this time with BOTLD at the New Kensington Community Development Corp.’s Meadow at 2211 Frankford Ave. This is all a prelude to their first Philadelphia location, which I’ve learned they’re opening later this year at 2043 Frankford Ave., the corner of Frankford and Susquehanna.

Pizza and beer are merging in Fishtown, as Mike Meyers at Meyers Brewing Co. in Fishtown is bringing in Pete Kada of Pete’s Famous Pizzas as the brewpub’s food operator. Kada will offer eight-inch-square pies, Bavarian-style pretzels with sauces, and salads starting today and running Wednesday-Sunday. This arrangement has grown out of their forthcoming partnership at Jackson St. Steaks, due to open next month at 110 S. Jackson St. in Media.

Restaurant report

The Saints. Kido Nwani arrived in the United States from Nigeria 20 years ago to attend college. As he became a software engineer, earned his MBA, and got married (he has a wife, a son, a daughter, and another on the way), he dreamed of opening a stylish restaurant in Center City serving West African dishes like suya and Jollof rice.

He’s in his early days with the Saints, in the space above the Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams shop at 19th and Chestnut Streets that formerly was Noche and Aldine. (It’s good cardio, 21 steps up from the street.)

The Saints is BYOB while an application for a liquor license is considered, which also means, for now, a truncated menu of two entrees: grilled lamb chops ($29 for four meaty ones, served with potatoes, or $49 for a rack) and fried whole snapper ($45). Sides include Jollof rice ($12), sauteed kale ($10), and plantains ($9). There’s suya beef or chicken ($16), plus grilled wings in a pineapple sauce ($16) and suya tacos ($22). Dessert is limited to a caramel-drizzled cheesecake ($8).

The Saints, 1901 Chestnut St., second floor. Hours: 5-11 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday, noon-2 a.m. Saturday, and noon-10 p.m. Sunday.

Briefly noted

The BYOB Cadence got great notices during its pandemic-hampered 3½-year run in Kensington before owners Jon Nodler and Samantha Kincaid decamped to their Midwest roots in 2021. They’re coming back next month for a two-night collab dinner at Emmett, the acclaimed restaurant that occupies its former space.

Tiny Table Tours will reprise its Women in Wine tour on Sept. 13, this time in Fishtown. Stops are planned at Pizzeria Beddia, Pray Tell Winery, Kalaya, and Mural City Cellars for sips, snacks, and chats with women wine pros. Tickets ($250pp) will go on sale at noon today via Tiny Table Tours’ newsletter. Remaining tickets will be released via Instagram at noon Friday. Details are here.

Arpeggio, the Mediterranean BYOB outside of Ambler, marked its 30th anniversary last month with a one-day price rollback to 1995, e.g. hummus ($3.95), pizza ($5.95 small and $9.95 large), and lentil soup ($2.50).

Bruno’s, the institution in Lafayette Hill, gets the Gordon Ramsay hidden-camera treatment on tonight’s episode of Gordon Ramsay’s Secret Service (9 p.m., Fox). North Philly’s Pretty Girls Cook was featured on last week’s show.

Mae’s in West Chester, Josh and Erin Taggart’s farm-to-table BYOB, will close after five years. Last day will be Aug. 17. Josh Taggart said they were unsure of their next moves.

Tin Can Bar in Port Richmond closed last weekend; the owners decided not to renew their lease. It began in 2016 as the seafood restaurant Bait & Switch, switching to Tin Can in 2019.

Chubby Chicks 1111, which opened last December in Center City with a brunch theme, has announced that it’s closing, with the date unknown. The restaurant’s owner says she has faced racial harassment from the beginning. The closing may not be voluntary, as legal problems include a potential eviction.

Want to buy rare whiskies? The PLCB is offering a lottery, but you have to act now.

❓Pop quiz

Collingswood Diner has announced that it’s closing, effective this coming Sunday, as owner Jimmy Papandreou packs it in after nearly 50 years. What will replace it?

A) a fitness center

B) a cannabis dispensary

C) a Chuck E. Cheese

D) a Wawa

Find out if you know the answer.

Ask Mike anything

What’s happening with the Pierogie Kitchen in Roxborough? They’ve closed? Moving? — Alan P.

Marie Thorpe, who opened the shop just off Henry Avenue in 2003, has closed in anticipation of a move to the new Ridge Hall, the food hall opening soon at 15 Ridge Ave. in downtown Ambler. All is not lost to those in Roxborough. Pierogie Kitchen products are sold at Roxborough retailers T&F Farmers Pride, the Umbria Gourmet, NouVaux Market, and Lucky’s Roadside Stand.

📮 Have a question about food in Philly? Email your questions to me at mklein@inquirer.com for a chance to be featured in my newsletter.

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