Yotam Ottolenghi

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (January 26, 2026) – Ensemble Arts Philly is thrilled to present acclaimed chef, restaurateur, and bestselling author Yotam Ottolenghi and his new live show, Crowd Pleaser, at the Miller Theater for one night only on Monday, March 2, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.  

In Crowd Pleaser, Yotam Ottolenghi blends live cooking, storytelling, and audience interaction in a warm, insightful stage event that explores the pleasures and pressures of feeding others. Seated between an armchair and a cooking station, Ottolenghi unpacks a "Mary Poppins" bag of ingredients while delving into the emotional and practical challenges home cooks face — from impressing in-laws to accommodating picky eaters.  

The evening moves between cooking demonstrations, humorous audience polls, and confessional slides drawn from real followers' dilemmas. Ottolenghi shares personal anecdotes about his children, kitchen failures, and shifting culinary ideals, offering reassurance and tactical advice in equal measure. He champions a modular, stress-free approach to meals built on a few dependable dishes like roasted chicken, potatoes, and vinaigrettes, all elevated by vibrant condiments. With warmth and wit, he encourages experimentation, celebrates imperfection, and emphasizes that cooking — at its best — is an act of love. The show ends with a finished meal, simple and celebratory, proving that pleasing everyone doesn't mean losing yourself.  

“Yotam Ottolenghi’s food has reshaped how many of us cook and gather, emphasizing celebration of flavor, hospitality, and the joy of coming together,” said Frances Egler, Vice President of Theatrical Programming and Presentations. “We’re excited to host Philadelphia foodies for this theatrical experience.” 

Yotam Ottolenghi is a celebrated chef and bestselling cookbook author. He is the restaurateur and chef-patron of six London-based Ottolenghi delis, as well as the NOPI and ROVI restaurants. He is the author of ten bestselling and multi-award-winning cookbooks. Ottolenghi has been a weekly columnist for the Guardian  (UK) for over sixteen years and is a regular contributor to The  New York Times. His commitment to the championing of vegetables, as well as ingredients once seen as ‘exotic’, has led to what some call ‘The Ottolenghi effect’. This is shorthand for the creation of a meal which is full of color, flavor, bounty, and surprise.  

Ottolenghi's latest cookbook is Comfort (published by Ebury in the UK and by Ten Speed Press in the US and Canada). The book is a celebration of food and home, exploring the connections we make and pass on as we cook, from place to place and from generation to generation.  

Guests hungry for more are encouraged to add the Kimmel Center to their dining lists, whether it’s Curtain Call, our casual café and lounge, or a more elaborate experience at Leo, the world-class restaurant helmed by Chef Chris Cryer. 

Other featured upcoming performances include Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (February 11–22, 2026, Academy of Music); Kurt Elling: Wildflowers (February 27, 2026, Perelman Theater inside the Kimmel Center); Emmet Cohen: Miles and Coltrane at 100 (March 20, 2026, Miller Theater); Sh!t-faced Shakespeare®: Hamlet (March 20-21, 2026, Perelman Theater inside the Kimmel Center); and Mae Martin (March 27, 2026, Miller Theater). 

Tickets    
Tickets can be purchased online at www.ensembleartsphilly.org, by calling 215-893-1999, or in person at the Academy of Music Box Office (240 S. Broad Street) daily from 10 a.m.–6 p.m. For more information, visit www.ensembleartsphilly.org. 

Crowd Pleaser: An Evening with Yotam Ottolenghi
Miller Theater
Monday, March 2, 2026, 7:30 p.m.     

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