Feeding the masses: Papal food promotions

If there's a news event, trend, meme, special occasion, those restaurants and bars will figure out a way to glom on.

With Pope Francis coming to town, here's how they're getting involved.

Angel Wings: Scott Schroeder, owner of the soon-to-open Hungry Pigeon in Queen Village, will be at Sidecar Bar & Grill on Tuesday, Sept. 22, from 4 p.m. Each month, the Sidecar brings in a guest chef to riff on wings. As this month's "Wing Thing" collaborator, Schroeder has created Angel Wings in honor of Pope Francis' visit. It's an interpretation of Los Angeles street food: brined, floured and fried, tossed in avocado salsa verde, toasted sesame seeds and togarashi, and topped with queso fresco and pickled radishes. The wings will be offered all week.

Pope Pies: Poppi's Pizza, the Wynnewood pizza parlor, has changed its name to "Pope Pies Pizza" for the month. On Wednesday, Sept. 23, Pope Pies will host artist Amanda Farese, designer of the pope pizza box. She also happens to be the marketing director of Savona-Stavola Foodservice, which is distributing the pizza boxes. She will sign boxes from noon to 1 p.m., and Pope Pies will donate $1 from every pizza sold the day of the signing through CelloRoseGallery for Southwark Elementary School.

Prints of the city: The South Philly pizzeria Francoluigi's at 13th and Tasker Streets will give away a commemorative 8½x11-inch Pope Francis poster print to anyone who says the catch phrase "Papal People Pizza Eater" with a pizza order.

Pope-Up: The Pennsylvania Horticulture Society pop-up beer garden at NInth and Wharton Streets has extended hours this week: noon to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 2 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday. It's giving out Pope-sicles to children and apples to sinners.

The obligatory drinks named after the guest of honor: Gypsy Saloon in Conshohocken, which will show the papal Mass starting at 4 p.m. Sunday on its TVs, will run a "Pope-U-Lar" cocktail list that includes such drinks as The Pope-Sicle (orange juice, Vanilla Stoli over ice), The Papel-Tini (vanilla martini),  and The Pope-A-Cola (Vanilla Stoli or Cherry Stoli and cola).

Another approach is more subtle and entrepreneurial.

Quick eats: Village Whiskey and Tinto, the side-by-side Jose Garces restaurants at 20th and Sansom Streets, are adding to their sitdown-dining approach. During the papal weekend, they also will sell burgers, breakfast sandwiches and beverages out front.

And one other piece of information about the weekend:

The two main outdoor venues - Independence Mall and the Ben Franklin Parkway - are far different from a food standpoint. While Independence Mall has dozens of restaurants nearby, the Parkway simply does not. As the official food and beverage provider for the Parkway on Saturday and Sunday, Aramark plans to set up stands to sell muffins, fruit cups, sandwiches (turkey, ham, Italian, vegan), hot dogs and sausage, Caesar and garden salads, snacks such as soft pretzels, hummus and chips, trail mix, granola bars, desserts such as water ice, cookies, and ice cream, and beverages. Gluten-free options will be available. Aramark also is making up picnic packs of food for two and four people, including a World Meeting of Families collectible Tastykake tin.

For more dining options, check Philly.com's ever-growing list of  restaurants/bars/cafes in or near the secrutiy zone.