Philadelphia's Italian Market tomorrow!

17 years ago

I signed up for a guided, behind-the-scenes walking tour of Philly's Italian Market area for tomorrow morning! I'm very excited. While I'm a Philly-area native, I have only been shopping in the market once (when I was a kid). Has anyone here been there? I'm going to check out cheeses & salamis at DiBruno's for sure and spices at Spice Corner, or whatever it's called. Any other recommendations?

Of course, there's also the cheesesteaks, which while not healthy in the slightest are delish. I figured out I haven't had a real south philly cheesesteak in 17 years. So maybe I'll splurge just this once. ;-)

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Comments (16)

mandogirl
Original Author
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
sorry...my tour's Saturday, not tomorrow...there I go wishing time away again!
lisbet
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I live in New Jersey, but used to go over the bridge to shop at the Italian market with my Italian friend.

A wonderful place to visit if you are one who loves to cook. You can get authentic Italian in shops that you don't ever see in your home locality. Authentic foods and cooking supplies that you can't find anywhere else.

If you are a lover of kitchen equipment and gadgets, be sure to visit Fante's Kitchen Wares Shop on S. 9th Street. (You can also find them on the internet.)

Esposito's Meats is where I have bought some very fine cuts, expecially for a holiday table!

Guess Fridays and Saturdays is the most crowded. Hard to find a place to park your car!
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mandogirl
Original Author
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
...which is why I'm taking the train & subway! ;-) Thanks, lisbet. I've heard of Esposito's.
annie1992
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
No idea about what do see or where to go, but take lots of pictures, we'll visit vicariously!

Annie
hawk307
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Mandogirl:
If you are near " Fantes " stop in there !!!!!
You can Google it for a Map and all their items.

I'm going to AC on Sat. or I would meet you there.

That's where I used to buy my Pizzelle Bakers.
I still buy Anise Oil from them.

When my daughter visits the Market, she picks up Parmesan
for me, freshly grated.

Have a good time.
LOU
Lou
dedtired
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
It's been so long since I was down there I can;t recommend anything in particular. Have fun. I didn't know we had another Philadelphia-area member here. Thought I'd met them all by now!
eileenlaunonen
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Too cool...Id love to do that! Im doing Manhattan Columbus day weekend. Have reservations at Crispo...cant wait! Have a blast!
hawk307
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Eileen:
You can visit the Arthur Ave shops ???
Lou
eileenlaunonen
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Thats my next plan....Hubby wants to stay in Manhattan so the Bronx is out....Gonna hit Murrays Cheese shop and try to get to Jacque Torres chocolate shop. Doing the Gondola ride in Central Park and wine &cheese picnic....Cant wait!
hawk307
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Eileen:
Did I tell you, " I hate you "
Lou
eileenlaunonen
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!
mandogirl
Original Author
16 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
The trip to the Italian Market was very, very awesome. I truly loved it and can't believe I never spent time there before (I live so close, it's ridiculous)! I didn't bring my camera!!! Sorry! (I had stupidly hurt my back two days before so was trying not to carry too much stuff.) I did buy cheeses from DiBruno Brothers. I LOVED that little store! A young member of the DiBruno clan (maybe 11 years old?) was handing out samples, and he knows more about cheese than I thought possible to know. I bought Parmeggiano Regiano and Peccorino Romano, plus some of their house-made garlic & chive cheese spread. All delicious. Best cheese I've ever had.

Before DiBruno's, our first stop was Sarcone's Bakery, where they've been making bread the same way with the same recipes Luigi Sarcone brought from Italy in 1919. Around 8:30am we sampled the Italian bread with seeds (a long baguette-looking roll). It was hot out of the oven. To die for! They make only what they have time to make in the morning and it sells quick, usually by noon. Then they close for the day.

We did indeed visit Fante's, and the owner told us a brief history of the Italian Market, as well as the Fante's store. Very interesting stuff. Fante's originally sold furniture, lamps, and crystal that Mr. Fante imported from Europe. His wife was always badgering him to get cookware. She was the innovator! ;-) Now they have every possible cooking gadget imaginable. Coffee machines everywhere! Every variety of Kitchen Aid mixer (and other brands) you want. I could have spent 4 hours in that store alone. (No more furniture or lamps, though,...good thinking, Mrs. Fante!)

Esposito's meats was quite impressive. We got to go in the back and see where everything is butchered. We all wore ball caps because of FDA regulations. The inspector lives upstairs!!! I plan on going back in the future to buy their wonderful looking filet tips (half the price of the pretty filet rounds you buy in restaurants for the same meat).

The highlight of the tour, though, was by far Termini's Bakery. The original location, with the tin ceiling and tile floor and refridgerator cases from the 30's is stunning. The pastries are beautiful and taste wonderful! Samples of cookies were generously given out. Mr. Termini told us the history of the bakery. His father's wedding pic, as well as the bakery's gold medal, is up on the wall. We went in the back and saw the 80 year old wooden pastry counters and huge mixers (as big as me!). Women were cutting biscotti. There were large tubs that looked like huge trash cans that held 800 of their cannoli shells a-piece. At Christmas time they go through 40 of those barrels of cannoli shells! Truly mind boggling. We saw one of the Termini sons decorate a wedding cake. One of our party said her parents got married in 1959 in Philadelphia and got their cake from Termini Brothers. For their 50'th wedding anniversary Termini's reproduced their wedding cake, with the help of a photo provided by the family. It was the original Mr. Termini's own design. Such a touching story! In addition to the samples (wow!), I walked out of there with a half pound of chocolate bing cherry biscotti. Delicious!!!

My friend and I finished our day with lunch at La Lupe, one of the very favorably reviewed new Mexican restaurants in the market area. A fresh and delicious burrito containing chorizo, beans, cheese, rice, and topped with guacamole.

That night dinner with my husband was my DiBruno's cheese plate, chianti, with Termini's biscotti for dessert.

I can't wait to go back!!!
hawk307
16 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Mandogirl:
I should have went to the Italian Market on Saturday.
I lost at the Hilton Casino and I didn't play the Big Four,
in AC. Only played the 3 number.
My Big Four number came out Sat. nite.
My Daughter said " If it wasn't for Bad Luck "

I forgot about Termini's Bakery !!!!!
I'm surprised you didn't take home a Rum Cake, for your husband's birthday.

You could have told him you were practicing.

Had one last birthday, with the thick Icing and nuts on the side and
the Rum Pudding in between, Whoooee !!!

Glad you had a good time.
LOU
mandogirl
Original Author
16 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Thanks, Lou! That Rum cake sounds divine! I'll have to look out for that next time. Sorry you didn't do better at the casino!
I have to be very careful with nuts. My kids are allergic to peanuts and I'm allergic to cashews & pine nuts. Walnuts and hazlenuts and pecans are all fine, though, so I'll just ask Mr. Termini and his employees many annoying questions! ;-)
He was giving out some kind of hazlenut cookie that was fabulous!!! I loved that man. I felt like he could have been my grandfather, and I'm not even Italian! ;-)
annie1992
16 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Oh wow, that sounds like a perfectly wonderful way to spend a day, I'd love that. Especially all the samples!

Annie
hawk307
16 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Annie :
You and Elery take a ride here,to the Pocono's and I'll take you there.
I want some Rum Cake !!!!!
Lou

Philadelphia's Italian Market tomorrow!

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