PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Ducis Rodgers and Alicia Vitarelli try some of the best pizzerias in the region. Plus summer treats and trips.

San Lucas Pizzeria was named one of the best pizzerias in the country
In a small mom-and-pop shop in the middle of South Philadelphia, Valentin Palillero and his wife Eva Mendez bake Italian cakes with traditional Mexican toppings.

It all started with Pizza Al Pastor when Valentin and Eva opened the Pizzeria San Lucas in 2005.

To convince customers, he began to include a sample piece with each order.

Nineteen years later, it is one of its best-sellers, along with the carnitas with pork, guajillo sauce and mozzarella cheese and the pizza Mexicana with avocado, beans and chorizo.

The Pizzeria San Lucas is named after the small town in Puebla, Mexico, where Valentin comes from.

At the age of 15, he moved to the United States to earn money to send to his family.

He first settled in Brooklyn and then came to Philadelphia 27 years ago.

Here he began working in the catering industry and became a very ambitious and eager-to-learn dishwasher.

His hard work paid off and the manager soon transferred him to the kitchen, where he spent nine years learning the basics of gastronomy and memorizing recipes.

In 2005 he decided to become a chef and opened the Pizzeria San Lucas.

He and his wife make almost everything themselves and offer many popular Mexican street food dishes such as tacos, burritos and tortas as well as almost 20 different types of pizza.

A teenager who came to this country with virtually no English, Valentin is now the proud owner of a pizzeria that the New York Times ranks among the 22 best in the country.

“I feel like a superstar now,” says Valentin.

San Lucas Pizzeria |Facebook |Instagram
2000 S. Bouvier Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19145
215-607-7870

Johnny’s Pizza offers big flavors in a small shop on the Main Line
When Ducis Rogers tried Johnny’s Pizza’s pepperoni pizza with spicy honey and fresh mozzarella, he said it was one of the best pizzas he had ever eaten.

Owner John Bisceglie bought the pizzeria a little over a year ago from the previous owners when they closed it after 37 years.

He developed his own methods and menus and has since won a Best of the Main Line award for his classic cheesesteak and his pizzas now have fans like Howie Roseman.

He says it all comes down to the highest quality ingredients and cooking techniques.

Almost every person who works in the store is related to Bisceglie and he continues to have repeat customers.

Johnny’s Pizza Bryn Mawr | Instagram
1025 W. Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
610-525-4811
Opening hours 11am-9pm, closed on Mondays

Mango Hut Sorbet was founded by a mother with a mission
When Reason Ali learned that her little boy, Kai, was born with sickle cell anemia, she started making all-natural treats for him at home.

After friends and family enjoyed the fresh fruit sorbets so much, she decided to start a summer side job called Mango Hut Sorbet.

The former hairdresser and solo entrepreneur hopes to raise awareness of the disease with her business.

She rents out her mobile cart for private events and recently expanded its sales to the steps of the Art Museum and the Philadelphia Zoo.

The sorbets are available in cups and floats and are made only from fruit.

Mango Hut Sorbet | Instagram

Weckerly’s, Fishtown’s popular ice cream parlor, gets new owner
Cristina Torres became the new owner of Weckerly’s on January 6 of this year, taking over the popular eatery from longtime owners Andy and Jenn Satinsky.

After the couple announced their impending business deal on Instagram, Torres became interested in running the business.

She says she simply contacted the couple and, with her experience in accounting and business consulting, was chosen to carry on the Weckerlys’ legacy.

You get scoops of all the most popular flavors and famous ice cream sandwiches.

Since Torres became the new owner, she has added six new flavors, handled catering for Jason Kelce’s charity event, and plans to create new flavors for the fall.

Weckerly’s now sells its ice cream nationwide and can also be purchased on the Weckerly’s website.

Torres is looking forward to remodeling the space soon and enjoying the new ownership of Fishtown’s favorite ice cream shop.

Website| Instagram| Facebook
9 W Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19123

Little Walter’s puts Polish food on a pedestal
Little Walter’s brings an upscale Polish dining experience to East Kensington.

Chef and owner Michael Brenfleck hand-rolls pierogi, makes kielbasa and prepares virtually everything on the restaurant’s menu himself.

The slogan is “Everything but mustard” because the team found a Polish mustard producer based in Pennsylvania that was a perfect fit.

Everything else is homemade in the special wood-fired oven, which has a smoker, a plancha, a rotisserie and a grill.

All dishes on the menu are listed with Polish names and English descriptions, giving guests the opportunity to immerse themselves in the Polish atmosphere.

The new White Dog Café serves farm-to-table food in a historic building
The new White Dog Café Chester Springs restaurant brings the brand’s renowned farm-to-table menu to a historic building in Exton.

This is the fifth White Dog Café in the area.

The newest addition is located in the historic home of John Vicker, whose origins date back to the early 19th century.

The interior features typical White Dog decor, including paintings of local dogs, but also highlights the background of the building.

There are seven indoor dining rooms, each with its own theme.

The original house can be seen in two of the dining rooms.

There you will find the room that led to the Underground Railroad.

The menu uses local ingredients for food and drinks and there is an outdoor terrace for dining amidst beautiful scenery.

White Dog Cafe Chester Springs | Facebook | Instagram
181 Gordon Drive, Exton, PA 19341

Swiftwater is the newest luxury resort in the Pocono Mountains
Nestled in the heart of the Pocono Mountains, The Swiftwater, a new luxury destination in the Pocono Mountains, has officially opened its doors.

The resort offers its guests an incomparable luxury experience.

Visitors are greeted by elegant art installations, an impressive 3-meter-high chandelier and an atmosphere that exudes luxury.

The hotel offers a variety of accommodations, from suites with private plunge pools to a concierge floor with upscale amenities and exclusive lounge access.

Every detail, from the custom-made mattresses to the high-quality furnishings, has been designed to ensure comfort and style.

Swiftwater is also committed to the local community, showcasing small business products and art from local artists.

Guests can enjoy gourmet dining at The Olivette or relax in the heated swim-in-swim-out pool, surrounded by the natural beauty of the Poconos.

Book your stay today and experience the Poconos at their best.

‘Matisse & Renoir: New Encounters’ on view until 8 September
‘Matisse & Renoir: New encounters at Barnes features iconic works from the galleries on the second floor.

The exhibition was co-curated by Cindy Kang and Corrinne Chong.

“See these paintings in a new light,” says Kang.

“The Music Lesson” by Matisse is one of the highlights of the exhibition.

“And this exhibition offers an incredible opportunity to see them in a completely new context and in new juxtapositions,” says Kang.

34 works are on display, all from the Barnes Collection.

“Dr. Barnes has voraciously collected the works of Matisse and Renoir for four decades,” says Kang.

She says the works on display span Renoir’s work from the 1880s to Matisse’s late work from the 1940s.

The exhibition explores the creative development of the artists and their connection to one another.

“This friendship between Matisse and Renoir,” says Kang.

Despite an age difference of almost 30 years, Renoir was Matisse’s mentor towards the end of his life.

“It was exactly that period from 1917 to 1919,” says Kang. “Matisse was an up-and-coming young artist in the early 20th century, he admired Renoir very much and collected his works.”

The exhibition takes visitors on a journey through European modernism.

According to Chong, the exhibition begins with “a cross-section of all the genres that Renoir worked with, such as portrait and landscape painting.”

Renoir, an impressionist, captured moments of modern everyday life.

Chong says Renoir’s iconic works on display include “Leaving the Conservatory,” “Mussel-Fishers” and “Promenade.”

“The physical, tangible connection between the two is ‘Promenade,’ a work that was hanging in Renoir’s house when Matisse came to visit,” says Kang. “So a work that Matisse actually visited and studied in Renoir’s company.”

Renoir paved the way for Matisse’s Fauve work in the early 20th century.

“This new style was characterized by incredibly strong, vibrant, non-naturalistic colors and it played with different spatial and perspective proportions,” says Kang.

Matisse’s works on display include “The Joy of Living” and “Red Madras Headdress.”

“We hope that visitors can see how much Matisse learned from Renoir,” says Kang. “How important Renoir was for modern European art.”

‘Matisse & Renoir: New Encounters at the Barnes’ is on view at the Barnes Foundation through September 8.

‘Matisse & Renoir: New Encounters” | Tickets
Barnes Foundation
2025 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19130