Ramadan starts today and while we are happy that our Muslim friends and neighbors get to observe this holy month of fasting and prayer, we’re sad that a few of our favorite food spots will be closed or have their hours drastically curtailed.

Saad’s Halal Restaurant, for example, is closed this month. The following is a short list (for now) of Ramadan hours for neighborhood food spots. We will keep adding to it. If you know of any to add, please drop a comment below.

• Saad’s Halal Restaurant (4500 Walnut St.)

Closed for the entire month.

• Manakeesh Cafe and Bakery (4420 Walnut St.)

Opens at sunset each night. Each night includes a signature dish. See the Ramadan menu here (Facebook page).

• Kabobeesh (4201 Chestnut St.)

Open regular hours. Free Iftar, the fast-breaking meal, for those fasting for the month.

• Wah Gi Wah (4447 Chestnut St.)

Open regular hours.

The temperatures are expected to top 100 today and many people, kids and adults alike, will rush to water ice vending trucks and carts in the hood to stay cool.

But, if the trucks are not in sight where do you get your fix?

A couple of places that we like are located on Spruce Street (between 48th and 49th). Quick Stop Deli (4832 Spruce St) and Great Taste Chinese Food restaurant (right next door at 4834 Spruce St) have several flavors of water ice on tap.

If you know of any other shops or restaurants selling water ice please share information about them below. And by “water ice” we mean the delicious soft serve kind, not the pre-packaged one.

Editor’s note: This post may look familiar. That is because we ran it last Friday by mistake. We are definitely right this time though.

The West Philly monthly food series “Sustainable Saturdays” continues Saturday, July 16, with a program chock full of local goodness. Full details are at the University City District website here.

Here’s a quick rundown of what’s in store:

• 10 a.m. – Foraging for Edible and Medicinal Plants • Woodlands Cemetery

An expedition with the Wild Phoodies of Philly.

• 11 a.m. Urban Beekeeping and West Philadelphia Honey Tasting • Woodlands Cemetery Community Apiary (near the mansion).

A great introduction to urban beekeeping and a chance to peek inside a working bee hive.

• Noon – Snacktime: Making Healthy Snacks with Local Ingredients • University of Pennsylvania’s 1920 Dining Commons(on Locust Walk on the west side of 38th St.)

Learn how to make fruit leather, granola bars and naturally fermented soda.

• 2 p.m. – Zip Code Honey, Local Cheese + PA Brews • Biba Wine Bar (3131 Walnut St.)

A seminar on West Philly honey and tastings with Annie Baum-Stein of Milk and Honey Market and Urban Apiaries. $20 admission.

• 4 p.m. – From Farm to Table: Tasting Local, Grass-fed Beef • Mid-Atlantic Restaurant and Tap Room (3711 Market St.) Free samples and $3 local beers.

Preparing local beef from Philly Cow Share.

Here’s a great chance to enjoy some fine locally prepared dishes for the next two weeks. Around 30 West Philly restaurants (see the full list on the flyer) are participating in the 6th annual University City Dining Days that will run from tomorrow, July 14, through July 28. You can try something new or visit your favorite location. There are options for many tastes and budgets.

Here’s how it works. Each of the participating restaurants will offer a  three-course dinner special for one of the following set prices: $15, $25 or $30. The purpose of this is to encourage folks to dine at as many locations as possible during these two weeks without the fear of going bankrupt.

Please note that the prices are for dinner only so if you want a glass of wine to go with it it will cost extra. Taxes and gratuity are not included either. Reservations should be made directly through the participating restaurant. See the menus and restaurant contact details on this page.

West Philly’s own GiGi and Big R’s Caribbean Soul Food truck came up big in Philly’s first ever Vendy Awards yesterday, taking home top honors.

A panel of five judges, including Mayor Michael Nutter, voted to award Gigi and Big R’s the Vendy Cup as top truck. The competition featured a cook-off among the eight finalists.

Thomas Bacon, aka Gigi, told the Philadelphia Inquirer:

“It’s been a long hard day, but it’s been a beautiful day. The Vendy Cup is a trophy that I can drink cool beer out of – after standing over a deep fryer, frying chicken, cooking cabbage and greens, and serving the customers.”

You can get a taste of their stuff, which includes pretty damn good soul food platters, at their usual spot at 38th and Spruce. West Philly truck Cucina Zapata, a fixture on the Drexel campus, won the People’s Choice Award after voting by about 500 attendees.

Here’s a video from CBS Philly:

West Philly residents Clare Hyre and Rania Campbell-Cobb want to build an organic rooftop farm on a warehouse in Southwest Philly. This would be a first in Philly and they need a little help.

The two accomplished farmers hope to use Cloud 9 Urban Rooftop Farm (Facebook link) to research urban farming best practices, educate folks on the benefits of rooftop farms and, of course, supply more fresh, locally grown food to West Philly. Read a lot more about the project here.

There are two ways you can help. Clare and Rania have started an online fundraising campaign to raise $5,000 to help cover the start-up costs. They are well over halfway there and need to raise the rest by month’s end. They also have some cool gifts for contributing. Go here to check it out.

Second, they are hosting a benefit BBQ tomorrow (Facebook link) at 4909 Warrington Ave. $7 gets you into the door and a plate of good food.

They hope to start building infrastructure this fall and start farming in the spring.