Already known as a revered culinary establishment with a social mission and community outreach program, one South Philly hotspot is taking things up a notch on all fronts. Stina Pizzeria opened in 2019 and comes from husband/wife team Chef Bobby Saritsoglou and Christina Kallas- Saritsoglou, and the South Philly BYO is using its monthly dinner series as an excuse to throw a collaboration feast while benefiting a great cause.
This month, as part of the new series, Stina will be teaming up with Chef JonCarl Lachman of Noord Philly and Winkel, who will work with Stina’s owner Chef Bobby Saritsoglou on a unique multi-course, prix fixe menu of his heritage Dutch cuisine. To add to the already appetizing appeal, 20 percent of the evening’s sales are going to this month’s beneficiary, the William Way LGBTQ+ Community Center.
“I am thrilled to announce our new monthly Guest Chef Series to raise funds every month for causes in our community,” said Saritsoglou in a statement. “This is an exciting chance every month to mix things up in the kitchen and collaborate with chefs I have worked with and admired over the years, as well as an opportunity to help support up-and-coming chefs and those with new projects in the works. Joncarl has been an inspiration and a mentor since we first met, a great chef and one of the nicest people in my life, his commitment and integrity in cooking have been a beacon in Philadelphia. His passion for the community and social justice are as intense as his cooking.”
Lachman added, “I’m thrilled to be doing a collaboration for an organization that does so much good, with a chef I consider a friend, at a restaurant I absolutely love.”
For the collaboration, October’s menu will include four courses, with optional beer pairings from Brewery ARS.
Courses include: a mustard soup with crab salad and tarragon oil paired with Wayne’s Pale Ale Hazy Pale Ale – a “Citrusy sunshine on a cloudy day.” As the release states, this beer is named after a dear old man who has Parkinson’s Disease and a portion of the sales of every pint goes straight to Parkinson’s Disease research.
The second course will be fruitwood smoked salmon with house pickles, sour cream and dill paired with the South Philly Special Hazy IPA boasting mangoes, citronade, peaches and sweet, sweet victory. The third course comes out to be pide stuffed with your choice of vinegar braised rabbit, cabbage, sausage or bacon, paired with the Respect The Fest Octoberfest Lager boasting rich aromas of honey and fresh baked bread with a velvety mouthfeel. It’s described as a festival beer perfect for the autumn season. If that doesn’t tickle your tastebuds however, visitors can also order a root vegetable mash with apple gastritis paired with the Rhythm Melts tart ale with strawberries, described as a sour ale with a whole lot of strawberries. But there’s one more option: the braised beef with gouda and boozy raisins paired with the Ashland Porter with Blind Tiger Coffee added, hailed as a boasting Mario Moreno Honduran coffee, dark chocolate and rich caramel.
Lastly, there will be pear and cranberry bread pudding as the fourth and final course paired with the Penny Candy Hazy Double IPA chock full of sweet cherries, raspberry peach pie and orange runts
As the release states, dinner reservations (through Resy) for this special menu are $65 dollars plus the optional beer tasting from Brewery ARS goes for $15, or $5 a la carte. A portion of the evening’s sales are going to this month’s beneficiary, William Way LGBTQ+ Community Center.
“William Way is most grateful to Stina and Chefs Bobby Saritsoglou and Joncarl Lachman for their most generous support of our arts and culture, empowerment, and community connection programs,” said William Way Executive Director Chris Bartlett in a statement. “Especially during LGBTQ History Month, we appreciate when two stars of the culinary world join forces to raise funds for us. We’ll see you on Oct. 26.”
Philadelphians can stay tune for November’s dinner at Stina (1705 Snyder Ave.), which will feature Chef David Ansill. More information can be found at stinapizzeria.com
