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| Simply world class. DiBruno's for cheeses and more. |
Daytripping to Philly's Italian
Market
It doesn’t take long, just a couple
of hours up I-95 and you’re at a paradiso. Blocks of stands and stores overflowing with real good food from
real good people.
Okay, maybe you’ll have to ‘put your city on’ a little bit, especially
on Saturdays when there’s competition for the food and the attention. (Hey, I was just jostled!) For
some who love the excitement, it’s an added bonus. For others, it’s a small price to pay for the overwhelming rewards and the large cooler full of comestibles
that can keep you happy for weeks.
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| Simply world class. DiBruno's for cheeses and more. |
The Italian Market officially runs along 9th street, between Federal and Wharton, but the side streets
are fun, too. Head up Christian St. for more great stores, or follow 9th to Fitzwater. Or walk a couple of blocks west (where 9th crosses Wharton and Passyunk) and pick up a Philly Cheesesteak from the
disputing kings of same: Pat’s King of Steaks and Geno’s.
P.S. We like to park at a little $5 a day lot on Washington.
Here are stops we love. Photos below:
- Fante's: Legendary culinary mecca. Room after room of any kitchen supply you could want.
- Superior Pasta: Fresh-cut pastas. Sheets of fresh pasta, spinach, egg, sundried tomato and more cut to order. Or just buy the sheets and
make your own ravioli. Lovely sauces.
- D’Angelo Bros. Meat Market on 9th street. Game, sausages…If you have heard of a particular kind of meat, boar, goose, venison,
rabbit, they have it. Haven’t tried their pâtes yet. Next time!
- Sarcone's Bakery and Deli: Amazing bread and sandwiches. Up 9th a block or so beyond the "market."
The first Sarcone's storefront is the bakery. The second at 9th and Fitzwater is the deli.
- Ralph's. It's a tradition. Eat there if you like traditions. We watched three gentlemen in perfect white shirts and silk ties
eat meatball subs without incident. They were obviously practiced in the art.
- DiBruno's. World-class cheeses and charcuterie. 700 cheeses at any one time. Not just soppressata, but soppressata
made by Mario Batali’s dad (as they’re quick to point out). A dozen kinds of prosciutto.
- Claudio Specialty Foods. Not quite DiBruno’s, but the store’s easier to navigate and the emphasis is on a broader range of “Mediterranean
Delicacies” (Might be just a tad cheaper, too?). They also have a fresh mozzarella storefront up two doors. Nice.
Read the reviews.
- Fiorella's Sausage. That’s what they make. Italian sausage. You want the sweet?
You want the hot? How many pounds? But we hear they have seasoned pork roasts, too. Just south of 9th on Christian.
- Spice Corner. Very fun to poke around, and a great way to freshen and expand your spice collection without the high-priced little glass
bottles. An impressive collection of chile powders.
- Isgro Pastries. Head north on Christian Street off 9th and go up a couple of blocks. You’ll hit Isgro’s, reputed home of Philly’s
best cannolis, and that’s saying something.
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| Esposito's market and table after table of produce |
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| Head to Sarcone's early for your bread. |
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| The daily catch |
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| Everybody loves Superior Pasta |
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| Hunter displays the prosciutto at DiBruno's |
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| Fiorella's for sausage |
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| Hero of the Italian Community |
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| Anything and everything |
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| The antipasto and Italian Wedding soup at Ralph's. |
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Have we missed any? Sure! Esposito's Meats, Talluto's Pasta & Cheese, Cannuli's Meats,
Orlando's Meats, the fish and seafood markets. The rows after rows of produce. And the other restaurants and stores —
notably Latino — springing up around the market. All the more reason for you to go explore.
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