Jun 4th, 2007
Italian Bakeries in South Philly
I’ve been promising this post for a long time. It was pretty damn annoying to write the whole thing and have wordpress somehow lose it in the ether between here and there. So this post, while written with love and tenderness, is going to be a bit shorter than originally planned. What follows are some personal experiences and photos about four amazing bakeries right here in South Philly…
(that’s my mom outside of Termini, HI MOM!)
The Philadelphia Italian Market Cookbook: The Tastes of South Ninth Street
Termini (official)
Termini (gmaps)
Termini has a lot going for it. It’s got a classy old-time feel and tons of style. The pastries are mostly in a case in the middle that looks like a a very well-made salad bar (complete with sneeze-guard). You’re not allowed to touch so you have to ask the ladies to get your pastries for you. If you buy pastry you get a coupon for a free coffee at the Termini coffeeshop across the street. It has a nice video about the history of Termini playing on a huge TV. To top it off (pun intended) Karen and I agreed that they had the best cannoli at the Italian market festival. Negative points for refusing to sell me an empty cookie tin though. You can only get a tin if it’s filled with an expensive assortment of their cookies. -1 point.
Cosmi (official)
Cosmi (gmaps)
Cosmi is my roommate Nick’s favorite. He grew up in south philly with his grandparents and Cosmi. He maintains that their cannolis are the best. Unlike Termini they were willing to part with a cookie tin. +1! Cosmi is a little tiny shop all the way down south on Oregon Avenue. Excellent amaretti (my favorite).
Isgro (official)
Isgro (gmaps>
Isgro is the first of the bakeries I experienced and probably the most well-known due to their location just north of the Italian Market on Christian Street. They have neat things like chocolate cappucino cups filled with whipped cream and meringue swans.
Varallo (insiderpages)
Varallo (gmaps)
Varallo was the last bakery I found and it’s a cool little spot on 10th Street. They have the advantage of having tables to sit at and drink their excellent espresso drinks while you munch on a cookie. Very pleasant staff as well. I asked about some of the pastries and cakes and had a nice conversation about the business.
I’m not going to pass judgement on these shops. All of them have something different and excellent. It’s enough to say that each is a treasury of sweet sugary knowledge and each has its strengths. I have fewer photos than I thought I did, but I will be adding more to the flickr set next time I step inside one of them.
My Italian Bakeries Set Slideshow on Flickr
and finally here are some linkage:
Amaretti recipe
Cannoli (wikipedia)
Pizzelle (wikipedia)
Zeppole (wikipedia)
Buon Appetito
Thanks for the bakery crawl. You’re slideshow got me hungry.
haha nice bill. that was the intent.
Matt, great post – I totally agree with your comment about each bakery having its own merits.
One of the best things about these bakeries is how they are so ingrained in the neighborhood. Some time ago I met the daughter of the original owner of Isgros. We were talking about the holidays and she mentioned how their neighbors would come in and volunteer to help the staff at Isgros get through the madness of Christmas. I can’t think of any other business where the community would chip in like that!
Also, on another occasion, I met the godson of the current owner of Isgros – he said that during Christmas, he counted 47 people waiting inside of the store. Can you imagine 47 people in that tiny shop?!? Amazing what we will go through for some tasty cannolis!
Very informative. Thanks!
Great comparison. I have wonderful memories of those delicious cannollis from Isgros.
I’m now in the upper suburbs and am thinking about taking a cannolli run!
I was born and raised in the NE. My parents never went further than Stocks or Rillings for cakes and cookies. I took my gf who was born and raised in Brooklyn for a tour of South Philly. I bought her a couple cannolis from Isgros. She ate one in front of the church next door. She said it was the BEST cannoli she had ever had. I took that as a compliment!