Renovations to Reading Terminal Market are complete, and this morning Mayor Michael Nutter and other dignitaries gathered there for a ribbon cutting ceremony that ushered in a new era for the historic market. It also served as a kickoff for a weeklong series of events celebrating the market, its upgrades and newly expanded space. The $3 million-plus project realigns the market’s Avenue D, opening it up, and creating an additional 2,500 square feet of leasable floor space to accommodate new vendors. It also included the creation of new public restrooms, moving the market’s La Cucina demonstration kitchen, and building out a new multipurpose rental space for daytime and evening events that’s been christened the Rick Nichols room, after the Inquirer‘s semi-retired food columnist.
The newly widened Avenue D will house new stalls, including those from Valley Shepard Creamery, The Tubby Olive and Downtown Cheese. Market standbys, like Dinic’s Roast Pork, Spataros and Flying Monkey Bakery were all moved in the process.
This week, the market will celebrate the beginning of its next chapter, and break in the new Rick Nichols room with a series of events that are open to the public. Among them, is a chance to learn a thing or two in the kitchen with Marc Vetri’s father, Sal. The program entitled “Cooking with Sal,” brings the elder Vetri and Amis chef Brad Spence to the market on Tuesday at noon. Expect to be enlightened. This is the same guy who raised one of the city’s greatest chefs. And expect laughter. He’s quite a character. Check below for the full lineup.
Monday, June 18th
10am: Ribbon cutting & unveiling of the Market history exhibit
12pm: Pennsylvania is for Chocolate Lovers - Michael Holahan, PA General Store
Philly Meets the Bayou - Bill Beck, Beck’s Cajun Cafe
5pm: At Home with Steve Poses
Tuesday, June 19th
12pm: Cooking with Sal - Sal Vetri & Brad Spence, Amis
5pm: How the Local Food Movement Got its Start - Ann Karlen, Bob Pierson, Nicky Uy & Judy Wicks
Wednesday, June 20th
12pm: Dipping into Philly’s Ice Cream Roots - Bassetts Ice Cream & The Berley Bros
5pm: Food Blogger Panel - Michael Klein aka philly.com/theinsider, Claire Batten aka phillyfoodlovers.com, Kaitlin Lunny aka icancookthat.org, & Bob Libkind akarobertsmarketreport.blogspot.com
Thursday, June 21st
12pm: What a Friend We Have in Cheeses - Eran Wajswol, Valley Shepherd Creamery
5pm: Making Serious Dough - Wendy Born & James Barrett, Metropolitan Bakery
Friday, June 22nd
12pm: Seafood Made Easy - Ellen Yin & Terence Feury, Fork
5pm: Made in Germany - Doug Hager & Jeremy Nolen, Wursthaus Schmitz
Saturday, June 23rd
12pm: From the Market Aisles to Your Plate - Aliza Green & Anna Florio, La Cucina at the Market
All events take place at the Rick Nichols Room and La Cucina at the Market and are free and open to the public.
Earlier: Valley Shepherd Creamery Puts Cheese Making on Display at Reading Terminal Market
