The Italian Market Festival

[zoe b]

I just learned my cousin's band is going to be playing at the Festival--a perfect excuse to attend--so what should I eat there? We'll be there on Sunday.

I'm actually already trying to figure out how to eat two cheesesteaks and a sub along with everything else....

[mrbigjas]

italian market festival, you gotta eat a porchetta sandwich. and don't forget to grab a few hunks of the skin.

have a limoncello at villa di roma.

slurp a few oysters at anastasi and wash them down with an ice cold budweiser.

get onea them mangos that the mexican vendors cut up, with the chili powder and lime.

schweet. see you there. keep an eye out for this guy. he wasn't there last year but you never know!

[Rich Pawlak]

Nice to see that you're still working, James.

[Bluehensfan]

I'd get a soft shell crab sandwich and oysters at Anastazi, pig from any number of places (I think that we had a few last year, and I think Cannulli's, Esposito's and Hollywood had them?), and a napoleon from Isgros.

[LurkerMcLurkey]

Is the Festival this weekend?

[Andrew Fenton]

According to its website, the festival is on May 19 and 20th.

And yeah, the porchetta is key. Gotta get some of that!

James, is the boy trying his first limoncello this year? You know, the kids love the sweet liqueurs; it's a good starter liquor.

[mrbigjas]

hey that's a good thought! he makes faces when i give him beer and wine.

he had his first taste of goat at puebla last week (he seemed ambivalent about it); i'd say porchetta is in his future. that chewy crackly skin would be a great teething chew toy....

Edited May 4, 2007 by mrbigjas (log)

[zoe b]

thanks for the recs--will try them all.....and i just noticed that i said sub instead of hoagie--I've been living in NJ too long I guess.

Zoe

[mod*betty]

I may have convinced my sister (who will be visiting us that weekend with her husband and 2 kids) that this might be something we could do on Sunday.

Anyone have any recommendations as far as parking or public transport? I am pretty sure they will have the stroller with them (kids are 4.5 and 1)

Thanks!

[Andrew Fenton]

Unfortunately, it's not quite far enough south in South Philly that you can just park in the middle of the street... You might be able to find on-street parking; otherwise, there's the Whole Foods lot at 9th and South.

[mrbigjas]

totes. and superfresh right across the way. you could search for onstreet parking, but why bother?

if you wanna take public transportation, the broad street line stops at south and at ellsworth/federal. but broad street is five blocks from 9th, so it'll be a little walk.

[mattohara]

just north of washington between 7th and 8th is a municipal lot that's free for 3 hours but i'm sure it will fill up quickly

[MarketStEl]

I may have convinced my sister (who will be visiting us that weekend with her husband and 2 kids) that this might be something we could do on Sunday.

Anyone have any recommendations as far as parking or public transport? I am pretty sure they will have the stroller with them (kids are 4.5 and 1)

Thanks!

←

Nearest SEPTA service: Route 47m (South Philadelphia to 7th and Spring Garden) operates northbound through the Italian Market, and Route 47 (Olney to South Philadelphia) operates southbound on 8th Street, one block east. The main Route 47 service operates northbound on 7th, two blocks east; as 9th Street is likely to be closed off for the festival, you will probably want to take the 47 if you are coming from points south; from points north, it's the 47 down 8th.

Route 64 (Parkside to Pier 70) operates via Washington Avenue, which crosses 9th at about the midpoint of the Italian Market. You can transfer to Route 64 from the Broad Street Line at Ellsworth-Federal station; walk one block north from the Ellsworth Street exits -- I think that SEPTA no longer diverts the bus off Washington to connect directly over the subway entrances.

Edited to add: Your sister will be traveling with a stroller? Be aware that SEPTA asks that you fold strollers and carts when riding and take them to the rear of the vehicle. All the buses that work Routes 47/47m and 64 are low-floor buses with flip-out ramps at the front door, so boarding and alighting will be no real hassle.

* * * * *

DiBruno's had a dress rehearsal going on today, with a live band in their parking lot and a stand set up offering samples of their own label salsas with "Dirty" Potato Chips for dipping, a selection of their grocery products (no cheese ) and roast pork sandwiches (the pork came from Cannulli's, which roasted it for them), with sharp provolone, broccoli rabe and roasted red peppers as add-ons.

I had a roast pork with everything they had. The roasted peppers were a form of gilding the lily: nothing beats the interplay of savory pork, bittersweet broccoli rabe and sharp Provolone, with nothing else added. They had good Kaiser rolls for the sandwiches, too.

Best $6 I've spent all week.

Edited May 12, 2007 by MarketStEl (log)

[Capaneus]

O-tay. Just got back from a couple of hours at the Festival with a couple of friends. Mixed bag, overall. Starting with the good stuff:

- Porchetta at Canulli's, $6. If you catch them in a good mood, you go around the back and ask for extra skin. If you're not up to that, be sure to get some juice from one of the pans on the side. Can be a bit dry without.

- Soft shell crab at Anastasi, $5. I was afraid it would be a bit soggy from sitting around, but no: crisp batter, and then a briny, squirt of crabbiness hits your tongue. Deelish.

- Sorrento's ricotta cream in a cone, free. Yummier than any of the canolli fillings I tried, except

- The mascarpone canolli at Isgro's, $3.50. A bit steep, but hey, extra chocolate dipping for the shell.

- The fudge on a small table just North of Christian, $12/lb, buy 1lb get 1/2lb free. But free samples: I was tempted to just walk back and forth in front of that booth all morning. My better angels won out, bought a 1/lb. Who knew I had better angels?

And then the not so good stuff:

- Not one single Vietnamese vendor. In fact, no Asian vendor of any kind. Technically, you can go into O's and get a bahn mi. But you don't need a festival for that, and they don't have a street presence.

- For that matter, many fewer Mexican vendors than I expected. Taquitos de Puebla did set up on the sidewalk, but they don't seem to have quite figured out the whole portability thing, which is weird, since tacos are such street food at heart. In fact, I couldn't even get someone's attention. No-one seemed to register unless they were seated at the two small counter/table spaces. The only other (presumably) Mexican booth was selling some sort of corn-and-mozarella ickiness. For $6 . As *if*. And, speaking of Mexican issues,

- Not one of the other Festival patrons I saw eating mangoes-on-a-stick had gotten the lime and pepper tratment. In fact, most of the vendors I saw didn't even have pepper on their tables. I got one that had, but even then I had to ask for it. In mime, yet. Oughta be a law, I tell ya.

- Generally, most of the stuff I saw, you could get ambling around peacefully on a Tuesday morning. Only pricier.

Still, much to like. The porchetta with extra skin could carry me through a solid week of Purgatory all on its lonesome. Enjoy!

[Andrew Fenton]

 

- For that matter, many fewer Mexican vendors than I expected. Taquitos de Puebla did set up on the sidewalk, but they don't seem to have quite figured out the whole portability thing, which is weird, since tacos are such street food at heart. In fact, I couldn't even get someone's attention. No-one seemed to register unless they were seated at the two small counter/table spaces. The only other (presumably) Mexican booth was selling some sort of corn-and-mozarella ickiness. For $6 . As *if*.

Ah, you missed out on the... whatchamacallit-- Elote, I think? Corn cob with mayonnaise + cheese + chili and lime, onna stick. That was awfully good. Puebla's tacos were as good as ever, but yeah, they didn't quite have the portability thing down. Still, I had to get them; my folks are in town, and they needed to try one.

The "mozzarepas" were strange; sort of the inverse of the spaghetti at Acapulco, if you know what I mean. My momma bought one; sort of bland, and I'd recommend skipping it. (But $4, not $6).

As for the rest, I was surprised that the only porchetta was Cannuli's; in past years, I remember seeing lots of roast pigs out there. I shoulda asked for the extra skin: you did well to do so, sir!

Anastasi's mussels won't make the best-of thread anytime soon. Get the soft-shell crab (which I didn't try), or the oysters.

The cannoli inna cone was fine, and hey, free!

I didn't have enough room left to get the sausage and greens from DiBruno's, but it looked good.

---

Agreed that most of the stuff wasn't too different from what you could get on a typical Saturday. But most Saturdays you don't get to groove to the Soul Survivors, or Elvis... Plus it's a people-watching bonanza. Philadelphia in all its glory.

[Capaneus]

Ah, you missed out on the... whatchamacallit-- Elote, I think?  Corn cob with mayonnaise + cheese + chili and lime, onna stick.  That was awfully good.  Puebla's tacos were as good as ever, but yeah, they didn't quite have the portability thing down.  Still, I had to get them; my folks are in town, and they needed to try one.

....

I didn't have enough room left to get the sausage and greens from DiBruno's, but it looked good.

←

I might have another go-round tomorrow and do them two. Who had the turbo-corn?

[Andrew Fenton]

A lady in the same general neighborhood as La Puebla (maybe 40' south, but I don't remember for sure). She was also selling mangoes, but had a garbage can filled with water and corn cobs. Easy to miss, but keep your eyes open, 'cause they're really good.

[Holly Moore]

If you miss elotes tomorrow at the festival, the elote lady in front of the grocery store across the parking lot from Taqueria La Veracruzana (same "last name" I believe) whips them up most evenings.

[mrbigjas]

- Not one single Vietnamese vendor. In fact, no Asian vendor of any kind. Technically, you can go into O's and get a bahn mi. But you don't need a festival for that, and they don't have a street presence.

they're never out there. i mean, not that that changes much, but i've been going for a few years now and they're never out there.

The only other (presumably) Mexican booth was selling some sort of corn-and-mozarella ickiness. For $6 . As *if*.

mozzarepas! for a better version hit up sazon at 10th & spring garden, assuming it's still open. i haven't been there for a while. that's much more a venezuelan than mexican thing.

- Generally, most of the stuff I saw, you could get ambling around peacefully on a Tuesday morning. Only pricier. 

but it's a FESTIVAL, ya grump.

As for the rest, I was surprised that the only porchetta was Cannuli's; in past years, I remember seeing lots of roast pigs out there.

bummer. i hope there are more tomorrow.

[Bluehensfan]

The porchetta was delicious from Cannulli's (had two of em...both dripping with juice) but I was surprised by no other pigs being roasted at the festival. I wonder if it was related to the fact that the health department was walking around with thermometers last year and sticking 'em up the pigs...well...ya know and saying that they weren't warm enough.

Also had decent oysters and (gulp) two soft shells at Anastazi. Both were very good.

Ended the food (there) with a Napoleon from Isgro's which was good but the wife said the filling tasted a bit fake.

We also got a signed book from Vito (from the Soprano's) who was hawking his book at the festival and a good picture of him.

Finally, will one of Philadelphia's finest please escort the "Would you like to register for a free Hummer?" salespeople? If I had a buck for each time we were accosted, we could've eaten for free.

[Diann]

I promise I am not making this up -- Esposito's had porchetta sandwiches, $4. With some of the gravy, best pork sandwich I've had in a long time, even without broccoli rabe and sharp provolone.

I saw a lot of people declining chili and lime powder on their mangos, so maybe that's why the vendors stopped asking?

[KatieLoeb]

I saw a lot of people declining chili and lime powder on their mangos, so maybe that's why the vendors stopped asking?

Philistines! D'oh!

I'll wander through there Sunday and find me some Mango-on-a-stick that's properly seasoned if it kills me. It's just not interesting without the "stuff" on it.

[Capaneus]

I promise I am not making this up -- Esposito's had porchetta sandwiches, $4. With some of the gravy, best pork sandwich I've had in a long time, even without broccoli rabe and sharp provolone.

I saw a lot of people declining chili and lime powder on their mangos, so maybe that's why the vendors stopped asking?

←

Glad to hear about Esposito's. Makes three reasons to head back.

The thing about the mangos is that I didn't even see the stuff on tables except at the one vendor. And they were definitely not asking if people wanted lime juice and chili powder: I had to gesticulate wildly to convince them to juice mine up.

[KatieLoeb]

Made it down to the festival earlier today. I did indeed have my Mango-on-a-stick and would have traded a kidney for some dental floss afterward. Very yummy, if predictably a bit fibrous. Found I_Call-the_Duck and Mr. Duck briefly and then walked around with Mrbigjas, Mrsbigjas and MrLittlejas for a brief respite. It was mightily crowded down 9th Street today, much like the Rittenhouse Row fest a couple of weeks ago. Have a nice day, good food and entertainment and it becomes a clusterf*&k of people in no time flat. Caught a couple of minutes of the Blue Notes singing on the main stage at 9th & Washington. No Harold Melvin apparently, just the Blue Notes. Anyone know where Harold is these days?

I had to have a roast pork sandwich today, and all the reports about Esposito's got me to stop at their booth. Sadly, they had no sharp provolone or greens of any sort. I had to make do with the "gravy" (pork jus) and hot peppers they were offering. The meat was moist and tender and deliciously seasoned with garlic and rosemary. So even without the cheese and greens it was pretty good. Here's a pic of my glorious feast.

The real prize is up there in front. Big beautiful lacquered piece of skin. Glistening in the sunshine with pork fat and so crispy it literally shattered in your mouth when you bit down on it. Oh yeah. I know it's bad for me. But I only eat it once or twice per year. So tomorrow morning I'll take TWO Novastatin, OK?

[mrbigjas]

Made it down to the festival earlier today.  I did indeed have my Mango-on-a-stick and would have traded a kidney for some dental floss afterward.  Very yummy, if predictably a bit fibrous.  Found I_Call-the_Duck and Mr. Duck briefly and then walked around with Mrbigjas, Mrsbigjas and MrLittlejas for a brief respite.  It was mightily crowded down 9th Street today, much like the Rittenhouse Row fest a couple of weeks ago.  Have a nice day, good food and entertainment and it becomes a clusterf*&k of people in no time flat.  Caught a couple of minutes of the Blue Notes singing on the main stage at 9th & Washington.  No Harold Melvin apparently, just the Blue Notes.  Anyone know where Harold is these days?

he dead. he was the leader of the group, but it wasn't till the 70s when teddy pendergrass was the lead singer (but the group was still called harold melvin & the blue notes) that they really took off. then teddy was like, dude i'm the lead singer why isn't my name on the group? and he bailed. anyway, harold melvin died about 10 years ago from a stroke.

and yesterday they were a lot of fun. baby buddy slept through the entire thing. don't know how he did that.

The real prize is up there in front.  Big beautiful lacquered piece of skin.  Glistening in the sunshine with pork fat and so crispy it literally shattered in your mouth when you bit down on it.  Oh yeah.  I know it's bad for me.  But I only eat it once or twice per year.  So tomorrow morning I'll take TWO Novastatin, OK? 

that's the attitude! why even take drugs if you're going to try to make yourself not need them? better living through chemistry and all that...

we had a nice time sitting with some members of the esposito family for a while, getting fed chunks of nice camembert and a young manchego and a really aged parmigiano from claudio's.

then i had an elote. the mrs wasn't too enamored of the giant tub of mayonnaise sitting out in the sun, so she didn't partake, the grump. a nice espresso and a bottle of chinotto (and a leaden piece of baclava) at rim cafe.

good times. that's a real party, lemme tell ya. what festival is next? isn't there a puerto rican festival down at penn's landing sometime soon?

oh and capaneus: all the mango vendors i saw had chili and lime available. maybe they were reading the board... ok maybe not.