Phila and Rachel Lorn are having a good year, and a spectacular week.

The husband and wife team behind Mawn are fresh off a James Beard Awards win in June — with Phila claiming the award for “Emerging Chef” — and this week, they’ve opened up their new restaurant, Sao , to much buzz.

That’s great, but Phila also grabbed another “Best New Chef” title from Food & Wine Magazine , earning a spot on their annual list. (By the way, if you don’t know how to pronounce his name by now, that’s on you.) And to top it off, the New York Times put Mawn on its list of best restaurants of 2025 . (Philly’s Meetinghouse also made the Times ’ list.)

Phila and Rachel Lorn (center) with staff outside Sao. (Photo by Neal Santos)

The mom-and-pop pair have found success homing in on cozy vibes and f

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