These are a Few of My Favorite Things!

A Pretty Picture of Great Finds at

 the Opening of Headhouse Market

                        May, 2014

Lately, I find myself recommending various products, people, and places related to fair food and eating local and well.  I started a bit of a list for myself - this is also useful when folks are coming into town and ask for recommendations.  

I thought I would share some of my favorites.  I would love to hear yours as well.

For Local - and relatively local - Shopping:

The Reading Terminal Market (RTM) - This place is truly a cathedral to me.  I send every visitor I can to the Market, and I get annoyed with them if they don't follow my directive!  The history of the RTM is fascinating.  My history with it goes back to following my grandmother around on the sawdust covered floors, chickens and meats hanging, shopping, and ending up sitting at the Bassett's Ice Cream counter. Same as it ever was. Yes, it gets incredibly crowded when there are conventions and exhibitions in town.  But those of us who go weekly learn to plan our "best times' when the crowd factor goes way up.  It has been our supermarket for nearly 30 years.

Fair Foods Farmstand - The best addition to the Reading Terminal Market in a long, long time.  Where would we be without them?  Even during the cold winter months, we are always able to find some local, natural, delicious treats. Maybe most importantly, it's a fun place, with great and knowledgeable staff persons.

Green Aisle Grocery - Now at two locations!  These local brothers got it right.  Their motto:  "Know where your food comes from" pretty much says it all.  An independent family business.  Shopping there is always a treat.

Ippolitos Seafood - For the past couple of years this local seafood institution (Samuels and Sons is the restaurant/wholesale supplier) has made continuously positive additions and changes.  Leaning towards offering mostly line caught, sustainable seafood - much of it local - the staff also make some delicious take out dishes and have even added a few tables for inside dining.  And their crudo and sushi is wonderful. There are reasons that the place is always packed.

Greensgrow Farm - Our Kensington in - city Farm.  Greensgrow was one of the early standard bearers of urban farming. Along with those of us who drive in to see what's new and buy gorgeous plantings and food, Mary and the staff at Greensgrow are providing a source of good, healthy local food to a neighborhood that needed it.  Greensgrow is a Philly treasure.

Headhouse Farmers Market (Sundays 10 - 2 in season) - what a joy to go to Headhouse on Sundays!  All stands sell only their own products from produce to poultry to coffee.  You can "do dinner" from this market pretty easily.  Appetizers, vegetables, meats, cheeses, and now fresh seafood, even dessert - all are now available.  It is a happy, beautiful although very crowded place.  Get to Headhouse early!

Mancuso & Son's on Passyunk Avenue:  Lucio Mancuso makes the best homemade Ricotta and Mozzarella (daily) that you will find anywhere outside of a Tuscan hill town.  And he's been doing it for as long as anyone can remember. There are tons of other authentic italian goodies in the store as well - and the prices are very reasonable.  And now that they have installed an espresso machine, I am offered a pick me up when I stop by.  This place is an original. Another Philly treasure.

Booth's Corner Farmers Market (aka "The Sale") - Worth the trip if only for Cajun Kate's - the best New Orleans staples outside of New Orleans.  And then there's the amazing cream of crab chowder and crab cakes at Christopher's Crabcakes.  The home made pierogies & smoked kielbasi and other homemade Polish treats at Krystyna's are authentic and delicious.  You can't leave without some of the delicious and fresh PA Dutch "junk food" at the Nut Shop.  If you need a snack you will find very good pizza by the slice at Massimo's Pizza.  All of this and more combined with an inexplicable combination of non-food items make for a delicious and colorful marketplace.  A bit of a drive from Philly but always a big treat to rush home with such treasures.

Moore Brothers Wines - the originial wine shop in Delaware is a two and three times a year pilgrimage for us.  There is also a shop in Pennsauken, New Jersey, but if we are driving down to Booth's Corner we make sure a stop at Moore Brothers is part of the trip.  The knowledgeable, without being snooty, staff persons are the best; questions are, in fact, encouraged.  They represent only small, privately owned wineries and have actual relationships with the wine makers.  And their twice a year sales are fantastic.

Chic Petique/Street Tails Animal Rescue - no doggie or kitty junk food here!  High end, well sourced and worth the price if you want to feed your furries the healthiest food - like you feed yourself!  We were adopted by a number of the rescues of the wonderful Street Tails.  Lindsey and her staff persons are some of the best people I've met.

Online - we don't do much online anymore; we have even taken to ordering books through our local, individually owned bookstore.  But there are couple of online purveyors that we always keep on the llst. 

Anson Mills:  This is THE source for real Carolina Gold Rice!  The bagged rice in the supermarkets that says, "Carolina Gold" does not even come close.  If you have never had it, do yourself a favor and order a small amount from this family owned business.  This rice is an actual Heirloom, and the Anson folks brought it and the procedure for milling it back.  When it's cooking the whole house smells like butter; the flavor will make you a fan forever. 

Zingermans:  A long time favorite of mine back in the day when exotic foods products and oils weren't as easily available as they are for us now.  I still treat myself to a can of Alizari French Olive Oil occasionally.  And the gift baskets and food "subscriptions" offered by Zingermans' are a wonderful way to send gifts to your foodie friends.

And finally just some miscellanous things:

Labneh:  I really love Fage' full fat yogurt and making Labneh with it means I always have a middle eastern treat in the 'fridge to spread on a warm pita or sandwich.  So easy and so delicious.

Ian Knauer:  A "local boy makes good story here".  Formerly with Gourmet Magazine and the PBS show, "Diary of a Foodie", Ian now runs the Bucks County farm that has been in his family for generations.  His cookbook, "The Farm" is one of my favorites as is his new PBS show with the same title.  But I really love his bread recipes - basically one recipe with a few interesting techniques. He is my make your own bread guru - hands down.

Espresso in the afternoon:  It really does offer a nice pick me up and I have learned to drink it the Italian way - no lemon peels, a cube of sugar instead. 

Smoking food and experimenting with smoking food:  I am learning so much about the world of smoking with my new Bradley Smoker.  I will be writing more about my experiences for this blog very soon.

"Urban Homesteading" not being a bizarre term anymore:  I am so happy that I can be a small part of a big movement!  There's always so much to learn.

All of the great sustainablity and local food related events held in Philly each year - Farm and Food Festivals, Brewer's Plate, "How to" classes, etc.  When you see these things taking place, you really should consider attending.  

And lastly, I am always saying "Thank You" to all of the wonderful folks that I get to meet and in some cases get to know who's lives are devoted to growing, producing, and making wonderful healthy food and other products available to us.  Those folks are probably my most "favorite things".