On Saturday, the Midtown Village Fall Festival is taking over Center City, inviting you to pinball between boutiques, restaurants, live music and the all-important dunk tank. Located at the corner of 13th and Sansom streets, wine bar and pizzeria Zavino will be in the heart of it — which is just fine by chef Carlos Aparicio.
What are the ingredients of a good street festival?
One: Nice weather. Two: A good balance of food, music and retail. Three: The people that come to the event.
What can you tell us about Zavino’s Fall Festival specials?
We’ll be setting up a beer garden alongside Sansom Street. We’ll serve butternut squash ravioli with sage butter sauce, braised lamb, parsnip puree, roasted sweet potatoes, lamb jus. We’re working on a pizza special, too.
What other Philly food events do you look forward to?
Philly has great charity events. I love working the PAWS charity event. My GM [Jason Brooke] and I were able to attend Marc Vetri’s Great Chef Event for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation — that was amazing.
Where do you go after work for a drink or a late-night snack?
I’m all over the place. I love to eat! Vernick Food & Drink, Cambridge, Blue Belly BBQ, Alla Spina, Vedge, Zahav. I’m a huge fan of Sampan — craving the chicken bao bun. And I love TIME for a late-night snack.
Fall fun
The Midtown Fest is great — but if you need to get out of the city, Aparicio has a recommendation: “Linvilla Orchards, I love that place! That’s where my wife and I pick out our pumpkins.”
If you go
The Midtown Village Fall Festival is Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. For more info, visit www.midtownvillage.org.
