Who is Philadelphias Singing Chef?
Frank Borda, (know affectionately to his friends as Franco,) was born in south Philadelphia, and has been a driving force within the community ever since. He is currently the owner and executive chef of the HighNote Cafe /Restaurant (1994) & Next door Francoluigis Pizzeria (1985 ). Franco’s first musical performance was as a pretzel vendor in South Philly. He pushed the pretzel cart at age seven and sang his “Fresh Pretzel” aria at the top of his lungs. His daily salary was five dollars a day. In 1980 Franco graduated as a drama major from the Creative and Performing Arts High school on south Broad Street during their inaugural year. The walls of that school could probably tell you a few stories of Franco and his friends during that first year. From there his vocal studies took him to Settlement Music School, followed by Bryn Mawr Conservatory under the tutlelage of Catherine Barone. After Bryn Mawr, Franco began study with Marianne Casiello of the Curtis Institute of Music, and found
