Who is Ben?
Ben McNamara was a chef who helped usher in Philadelphia’s gastropub movement two decades ago. He died on May 27, 2023, at the age of 59 due to complications from liver disease. He was known particularly for the signature Isabella salad, topped with a warm piece of nut-encrusted goat cheese, and his gnocchi Piemontaise. He trained at Westminster College in London, worked for a series of Philadelphia restaurants before owning Periwinkle, a bakery in West Philadelphia, with his now-former wife, Marisa. He is survived by his parents, children, brother, and sisters.