Science is hitting Philadelphia this month in a huge way. The Philadelphia Science Festival will certainly keep science lovers busy from April 18 to 28, but foodies have not been forgotten. The schedule promises to bring together science and food in many delicious ways throughout the festival, not least of which is the Sweet and Savory: Hives and Honey event at from 6 to 8 p.m. on April 22 at Continental Old City.
Honey and Hives will feature five stations, each offering a different dish and perspective on local honey or beekeeping. The dishes for the event, created by Continental’s chef, each highlight different types of honey. All the honey in the Honey and Hive’s featured dishes is sourced locally from Philadelphia bees, some of which live on rooftop hives in the city. The menu, created with honey from five different Philadelphia zip codes, includes everything from savory pork and chicken dishes to baklava and butternut squash flan. The chicken cutlets with hot sauce honey on buttermilk biscuits were the highlight of the savory dishes for me, and I finished my butternut squash flan and looked for more. The menu is plentiful, but there’ll also be a wonderful cheeseboard with fruit and specific honeys to taste. Attendees can taste each of the honeys featured on the menu separately, as well as some others that didn’t make it into the event’s dishes, and pair them with fruit and cheeses.
Cocktails lovers will be thrilled by the three featured drinks at the event: the Honeysuckle, made with light rum, honey and fresh lemon; the Honey Bee, with Jamaican dark rum, honey and fresh lemon; and the Bees Knees, crafted with Blue Coat gin, honey, fresh orange juice and fresh lemon. I expected these drinks to taste more or less like a cold hot toddy (mainly because of the honey and lemon), but I was seriously impressed. Though they are made from similar ingredients, they each taste quite different. They’re sweet of course, but not too sweet, and perfectly refreshing.
In addition to the tastiness, the Honey and Hives will be educational, too. At each of the food stations, guests can learn from representatives from the Philadelphia Beekeepers Guild. Stephanie Wilson, a researcher at the Morris Arboretum, will give a group presentation on types of bees. She’ll also have her insect collection on hand and will discuss the status of bees in the United States. Edian Rodriguez and Donald Shump will each man observation hives and answer questions. Adam Schreiber, a medical acupuncturist, will discuss the medicinal effects of bee products. Norman Matlock will show off beekeeping equipment, and Abby Fretz will explain what informs the flavor of honey.
If you have ever wondered about bees, beekeeping, honey or hives—or if you just have a sweet tooth—do not miss this event. You’ll leave with questions answered and appetites delightfully satisfied. Register for Sweet and Savory Science: Hives and Honey here and explore the Science Festival’s plethora of other amazing foodie science events at the festival’s website.
Photos credited to Lisa Yoder.
