Tuesday, August 16, 2011

A Quick Trip to the Philly Italian Market


A friend recently wanted to visit her brother in a suburban Philadelphia hospital and asked if I would come along for the ride to keep her company.  She told me we'd stop at the famous Philadelphia 9th Street Italian Market for a quick lunch before heading home, so I was excited for a chance to see what that market was all about. I love visiting ethnic markets and in the past I've blogged about many different ethnic markets in Brooklyn, NY and also the Bronx's Arthur Ave Italian Market, so I was curious to see if the Philly Market would measure up to my expectations.

(All photos will enlarge for easier view of details if clicked on once, and then again when they re-open. After viewing use you back function to return to the post)


It certainly did! I learned Philadelphia’s Italian market was the oldest and largest working outdoor market in the United States.  Located in the heart of this historic Pennsylvania city for over one hundred years, the Italian Market is located on 9th Street and runs from Wharton Street to Fitzwater Street.  The market features bright colorful metal awnings which cover the sidewalks where vendors of fruit, vegetables, fish, and housewares, both inside and outside on wooden tables, and conduct business year round. Ground floor shops in traditional Philadelphia row houses line the street. Many owners still live above their shops.  The broad awnings across the sidewalks shield outside market shoppers from sun, rain and snow.



There is definitely a wonderful old world patina appearance to the storefronts and streets. The area continues to attract new immigrants, as there are now a number of Asian and Mexican run businesses which have joined the traditional Italian shops in the market. The market hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday, 9 AM to 5 PM and Sunday 9AM to 2 PM.



We stopped at Paesano's, located at 1017 South 9th Street, for what they describe as a "Philly style sandwich with Italian inspiration." Click on the highlighted words to look at their unique sandwich menu!


Paesano's may be a small, casual counter service establishment, but they are famous for their home made lamb sausage and Sicilian style chick-pea pancakes. They have won numerous awards for being the Philly's best sandwich shop and for having the best "hoagie" in Philadelphia.  My friend and I both ordered their "Zawzeech" sandwich, which was made with a crusty Liscio bakery sesame seed bread, sweet Italian sausage, caramelized peppers and onions, sharp Provolone and pepperocinos.  It was a delicious and hearty meal!



We wanted to beat rush hour traffic back to New York, so we did not have too much time to shop in the market, but one place I had to see was the legendary Fante's Kitchen Wares Shop, located at 1006 South 9th Street.  It has been in the Italian Market since 1906, and is one of the United State's oldest and most distinguished resources for cook wares.  Julia Child, Emeril Lagasse, Jacques Pepin, Lydia Bastianich, and Guy Fieri are among the famous chefs who have shopped here.


It was jam packed with a full selection of cookware, cutlery and many thousands more quality products and kitchen utensils for both professional chefs and home cooks. I went into sensory overload just looking at every imaginable gadget, pasta maker, serving dish, bottle, baking pan, appliance, rolling pins, etc. I was so overwhelmed that I wanted to spend hours just looking around, and I couldn't decide on what to buy! I'm making a list so the next time I visit I will be prepared.  Fante's has an online catalog of just a small portion of their goods, but I think you will agree that if you can't find what you are looking for at Fante's, you can't find it anywhere else!

The Philadelphia Italian Market is definitely worth a visit as it is a fun shopping and dining experience!

I'm linking this post to "Outdoor Wednesday" on Susan's Blog A Southern Daydreamer
"Rednesday" on Sue's blog It's A Very Cherry World 
Foodie Friday on Michael's blog Designs by Gollum

Many thanks to all the hosts!


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66 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a delightful visit to the Philly Farmer's Market. Love the sign about the throw down, they beat Bobby Flay! Your sandwich sounds delicious. I haven't been to Philly in years, but I do remember the cheese steak sandwiches, the best on earth. We try to copy them in Virginia but they're never as good :) Thanks for sharing at Rednesday!

Hugs,
Mary @ Redo 101

My Farmhouse Kitchen said...

what a great place !!!! i LOVE markets like this too... LOVE that kitchen shop...your sandwich looked delicious...

yesterday was our beloved julia's birhday...

pat...thanks for the artichoke recipe idea...i am doing what you said...i loved it...thanks again my friend for taking the time to stop by..always a pleasure to see you

kary
xx

Old Kitty said...

I am mesmerised by the array of bottles pictured here from Fante's! Look at all these bottles!! I've gone to their online catalogue and my stars they have bottles and jars for everything!! I really love these bottles!! Yay!!!

I'm also intrigued by the "For best results most ingredients served on the side for delivery" on Paesano's menu! What does it mean!?

Thank you for a most wonderful trip to this most historic of markets in Philadelphia! Amazing place!

Take care
x

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

This looks like an exciting Traveling Tuesday trip... you know I could get lost in a market like that!

ellen b. said...

Oh man...the east coast really has some ethnic treasures. I love to go to places like this!

Catherine said...

Ah, the place of my birth! That Market is one of the absolute best. I enjoyed your pictures very much.

Magical Mystical Teacher said...

In all the years I lived in Pennsylvania (Lancaster County), I never knew about this market. When I visit the East Coast again, I must go!

ENAMORED OF RED

Enamored of red
I lie in my bed,
Dreaming of cherry-filled crèmes;

For red is the shade,
The prettiest made,
That gives me the sweetest of dreams.


© 2011 by Magical Mystical Teacher

Red and Yellow Rooftops

Debbiedoos said...

Pat you are talking our language here. We love markets and Philly's looked wonderful. Thanks for sharing.

Trotter said...

Wow!| it looks greaT... I was only once in Philly, but didn't see it...

PS: Waiting for you in Corsica (always...)! ;))

Barbara F. said...

Oh Pat, I have to keep this market on my "places to visit soon list!" Just got in from a wonderful day exploring Arthur Avenue! We pretty much shopped til we dropped (at least I was ready to drop!) and a marvelous meal at Emilia's and cappuccino at Morrone's. xo,

Yvette said...

Once upon a time when my daughter was little, we lived in Pa. for a couple of years. I have fond memories of Philly. Great city.

Looks like you had some. I love this sort of market. Hope you brought some of the delicious food home for hubby. :)

podso said...

Pat I had to enlarge the top photo to get the details, including the row houses (my dad grew up in Phila). The hoagie made me long for what we called "meatball wedges" when I went to college in New York. Probably the same thing as a hoagie. mmmm

Chatty Crone said...

I sure wish I was with you today!

LV said...

Thanks for this brief tour. However, I would rather have been there in person.

Michelle said...

What a fun side stop on the trip with your friend. Looks like something I would really enjoy, but then again so do most of your trips!

Linda said...

Thank you!!! THANK you!!! THANK you for this great visit! I love being able to tour places like this by the graces of you bloggers who let us tag along! I had a great time perusing this post and clicking on pics so I could see more detail. I enjoyed it so much!

Kathy Walker said...

That looks like an amazing trip. I will have to remember to find it on my next trip to Philly!

Indrani said...

This is so interesting! Very good glimpses of the place.

Sarah said...

Thanks for the visit to Philly Farmer's Market. You always share the best info.

Tanna said...

Pat, I am not sure my comment is going to show up. I sent one already, but I'm trying again! This looks like such a fun place! I could spend a couple of days just trying to see it all (maybe just in Fante's--with some food breaks, of course!). Love it! blessings ~ tanna

Ciao Chow Linda said...

Pat - This is where we used to shop for Italian goodies when I was a kid growing up in suburban Philly. We came here every year to buy our Christmas eve eels, squid and other seafood. I've always loved Fante's and Claudio's Cheese Shop is a treasure. The neighborhood is a shadow of its former self though - since the other ethnicities have moved in. Fortunately, a few of the old shops remain.

Ginny Hartzler said...

Oh, wish I could go to these places!

Pondside said...

In the mid-seventies we lived just outside of Philly and went into the city every weekend. You really took me back! What I wouldn't give for a real Philly Cheese Steak!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Pat, I've never been to Philly --but my hubby has. It must be a very interesting city.. Thanks for sharing the Italian Market... Looks so interesting...
Hugs,
Betsy

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

I've never been to the East Coast.. what a wonderful place to visit. Thanks for taking us along.
hugs ~lynne~

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Thanks for your comments, everyone!

Old Kitty I believe that when Paesano says "For best results most ingredients served on the side for delivery" on their menu, they mean that when they do "take away" food they keep the bread empty and all the fillings are in containers so that you put the sandwich together yourself when you get home. This prevents the bread from getting soggy.
Great idea, isn't it?

LifeRamblings said...

that looks like a wonderful market. thanks for sharing the fun. i enjoy tagging along with you.

Proud Italian Cook said...

Thank you for the visual at 10:40 PM, I'm starving now! I could spend all day at Fantes Pat!

Judy said...

Now that looks like a fun outing with a friend! And it's the closest I've ever been to Philly...so I quite enjoyed the tour. It looks like a wonderful outdoor market!

My name is Riet said...

you must have had a wonderful day Pat, favorite Itaian food and such a great kitchenwareshop. LIke you I always want to spend hours in such a shop and don't know what to choose to buy. We have one here in Rotterdam that fills a whole block so it is easy to spend hours and DH often neads to pull me out.LOL
Have a lovely day.

Ola said...

The choice of cookware looks amazing! Pity that my kitchen is too small to buy such stuff:)

Mary said...

What a fun visit! I got a kick out of their sandwich menu~ especially the Liveracce :-) I would have had a hard time tearing myself away from Fante's!

Tracy said...

Oh, I love Philly... This post had me a bit homesick! Some really good eats in Philly! That sandwich...nom-nom ;o) Happy Day ((HUGS)) P.S. Yes to the vitamin D in winter. :o)

betsy said...

I would sell my soul to visit a store like Fante's. We have nothing like it here- I feel about cookware stores and food markets the way other women do about Nordstroms.

diane b said...

What a delightful find. I wish our tour guide had directed us to this market for lunch.

Houseelf said...

What a fun place to visit. I bought a Mason and Cash spatula last week as it was so sturdy and well made.

Mister Meatball said...

Fante's is amazing. Haven't been in awhile.

You can even send them your chitarra for restringing!

Sea Witch said...

There is no such thing as a "quick trip" to any Italian market. My sister and I would camp out in one if we could. LOL.

Claudia said...

I want that sandwich! All those different tastes. And I recently bought some lamb sausage... so maybe I can figure it out. I would be overwhelmed by all the kitchen ware in the shop! But delighted enough to spend the day. I can make Paul crazy - looking at every item in a shop such as that. (He goes somewhere for coffee!)

Grace said...

Ahh the last time I was there there were a few chickens walking around...lol It was cute. I of course went for the famous Philly Cheese Steak! I think a road trip is in order. lol Grace xoox

nanny said...

What fun!!! I love the charm of the market.....
Bottles are another weakness of mine, I would have loved that store!!!

Jenny said...

Wow. What glorious stops! You always find such neat places to go! I haven't been to Philly in years, but it would sure be worth the trip. That kitchen store...drool, drool.

camp and cottage living said...

Pat
Aren't you so glad you rode along?
You certainly saw so many interesting places. And anyone that can beat Bobby Flay must make a mean sandwich!
This isn't the kind of place I'll ever experience myself. so I really enjoy seeing it through your eyes.

black eyed susans kitchen said...

I was showing this post to my husband and realized that I had gotten so excited to find an area of Philli that we haven't been to that I forgot to leave a comment. Clearly....I was very happy to read about this area and this shop. We will be making a pilgrimage in the near future...thanks so much Pat!

Unknown said...

Oh wow! What a lovely place to visit for my whole Sandwich Generation family! The bread sounds divine - the pasta would capture the hearts of all the guys - while we girls would head straight for the Mexican hotspots. Very yummy. Thanks for such an interesting tour! :)

Light and Voices said...

Jeepers I wish I could have gone along. Really enjoyed the cyber tour.
Joyce M

deb said...

what a fun place...my sicilian hubby would LOVE going there!!!!! that sandwich looked to die for!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Oh wow! Makes me want to visit there now. Very nice.

Gracie said...

Count on italians for good food, right? :)

Vee said...

Thanks for a fun visit to Philadephia. That sandwich sounds soooo good. Must leave now before I think about it too much longer. Perhaps I'd have better luck visiting the online catalog at Fante's.

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

Thanks for another wonderful guided tour, Pat! What fun it must have been to eat and shop in that historic district. That sandwich sounds wonderful!

Jill from Killeny Glen said...

OH! I want to visit!

Cindy said...

Oh my, what a wonderful place to visit!!! Your sandwich sounds delicious!!!
Hugs, Cindy

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

What a wonderful fieldtrip! I love to visit Philly and have been to this historic market many times. You did a great job taking pictures and capturing the organic and city feel of the Market. I have never been to Fante's or even heard of it. Thanks for letting us know about it.
I'm going to plan a fieldtrip there in the fall!
Wonderful post... the Philly cheese steak made me so hungry!YUMMY!
Next time you are in Philly, please take a trip to visit me in Lancaster, Pa.
What a fun, fun post!
Yvonne

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Hi sweetie, thank you for stopping in to see the get away to Nell Hill's love her books and her products. I'm fortunate to be able to carry some of them in my little shop.. hugs ~lynne~

Patricia @ ButterYum said...

What a delicious post - I love your tours!

:)
ButterYum

Jane said...

I will never forget my first visit to the Philly Italian Market...the streets were filled with vendors selling everything from fresh veggies to pigs, lambs and more. The meats were on ice, but flies were in abundance. I was pushing a stroller through the crowds, when a woman stopped me to tell me how to navigate...she told me to holler "Hot stuff coming through". It worked! The crowds parted like the Red Sea! Best of all, I found fresh Chorizo at the market...something I missed terribly from my home.
Jane (artfully graced)

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

I love it.

Cathy said...

It looks like you enjoyed a wonderful day trip, Pat. I love markets like that and could easily spend the day in Fante's.

Sheila said...

I sure enjoyed your trip to the Italian Market in Philly. I would love to go to Fante's Kitchen Wares shop. Since coming home from Italy I have found all my golden yellow things and my kitchen is looking more Tuscan. Have a great weekend Pat

From the Kitchen said...

I was there about twenty years ago. Thanks for the memories. We didn't eat lunch there but at the White Dog Cafe (or was it a black dog)--the memory dims. I've also been to Philadelphia for "The Book and the Cook". Famous cookbook authors came (James Beard and Julia Childs to name two) and prepared recipes from their books in restaurants. I was fortunate to dine with James Beard.

Best,
Bonnie

Sharon Lovejoy said...

Wow, I WISH I HAD KNOWN ABOUT THIS!!! I had to do media in the Philly area and would've loved a visit and poking around here. And, my husband is half Italian and just resonates with this.

Thanks for this dear,

Sharon

ALISON said...

Buongiorno ....here I am living in Italy visiting you with great interest.I am so glad I have met you and I look forward to reading all about N.Y. It is a dream of mine to one day visit....but for now I'll get familiar by reading your blog...ciao Alison

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

What a fabulous place Pat. I feel as if I've stepped back in time. This is my kind of place and I could stay all day and into the night just looking around. It's a shame, because we always seem to be in a hurry.

Love the blackboard about the throw down with Bobby Flay. Talk about braggable moments. In the back of my mind Fante's sounded very familiar. I would not have been able to leave without one of those painted olive oil bottles/crocks. As always, thanks for taking us along.
Sam

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

You were in my neck of the woods. Loved this post! I have never been to Fante's Kitchen Wares Shop but now it is one my must visit list.

Thoughts on Life and Millinery. said...

Cool outing! I love that you take us along to little treasures like this!