The markets around town offer a huge variety of food and drink and are a lot of fun to boot. Fitler Square has a small one on Saturdays. Karen and I have gotten fresh fruits, veggies, bread, and once a beautiful Thai basil plant that’s now taking over her garden. Reading Terminal is huge and touristy with tons of variety and that whole amazing Amish/Mennonite section. There’s another small one at Passyunk and South Street. My favourite by far is the market at Headhouse Square. Read on to find out why and see some of our finds!
The market is in the open air mall just north of Lombard on 2nd Street (go to the end of South Street and take a left) and only open Saturdays. They’ve extended their season until December 23rd, so you still have time to go pick up some of these wonderful finds.
First is Betty’s Tasty Buttons (official site). Fudge is very near and dear to my heart because my mother makes the very best peanut butter fudge on the planet, and most likely the universe. She doesn’t make lavender-honey flavor though, or any of the other little button-shaped bits of flavor that you can find at Betty’s Buttons. It’s a locally made product and deserves support for that alone; good thing it’s also delicious and in a cute little package. (Fudge sauces also available for Sunday Sundaes) ((Disclosure: my friend Angie works there))
Next up is S&C Pickles (AKA PhillyFresh Pickles) (official site). I love pickles as much as the next guy but damn, there’s something different about these jawhnz (yeah that’s right, I spell it with a Z, to keep it fresh). They have a spicy version that I’m afraid to try because of the warnings I’ve gotten from friends. Everybody that I turn on to these pickles is just blown away by whatever the super-secret secret is in this secret recipe. And you can also get them in Whole Foods so there’s no excuse not to try these bad mofos. I always have a jar in the house. (Picture to follow when I can find a jar that actually has some pickles left in it)
Los Taquitos de Puebla’s main place is on 9th Street just south of Washington. I found this site online. It’s all in Spanish. Phillyfoodguys.com has a review of some of the taquerias in South Philly. The have an outpost during the Italian Market Festival, where I first tasted their tacos al pastor, and they also have one open at Headhouse Square. I eat three a week. It’s pork roasting on an open spit below some fresh pineapple. The outside bits get nice and crisp while the inside pieces are moist and tender. There’s a lady making fresh tortillas to order (using hand tortilla-press no less) and calling out “tacos! quesedillas!” I order three to go, with both red and green salsas. Don’t forget to grab some Mexican coca-cola before you ring up!
Finally, my find of the year. It’s actually my buddy Scott’s. He told me it’s amazing stuff, and I trusted him. I’m so glad I did. Wanna know what it is? It’s Griggstown Quail Farm’s chicken pot pie. I want to always have one in my freezer. I want to share them with everybody. I want to know I can always get my hands on one. Good thing they’re right over the border in New Jersey. I’m so serious right now. In fact, I think I’m going to eat one tonight.
7 responses so far ↓
1 Scott // Oct 17, 2007 at 1:31 pm
Hey, thanks for the pie props! You should also note that Hendricks Farms sells their cheese (and other dairy products) at Headhouse now. When they first started making cheese, I wasn’t a huge fan - but they’ve tweaked things (including adding a robotic milker!) and now their cheeses are pretty dope!
2 mattohara // Oct 17, 2007 at 1:35 pm
killer! will do. i think they had the Tomme and the yogurty drink right?
3 David // Oct 24, 2007 at 1:07 pm
Yo! Big Ups to Griggstown; they rock! In fact, they’re right around the corner from my place (I’ve been known to pedal my bike home with a plucked pheasant strapped to the front bars). They have wonderful CPP’s, plus some great fruit pies in season. For the kosher folks, they have turkey bacon which is wonderful to wrap around a pheasant. You can also make a great pheasant stuffing with the duck sausages available at Griggstown…the possibilities are endless. It’s also where Inga and I got our turkey when we cooked our first Thanksgiving dinner last year…it was super!
4 gaetano // Nov 13, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Agree Griggstown is a bright spot at headhouse market. I’ve had the boneless duck breasts, nice deal and tasty however you can get all the same stuff at d’angelos and no need to order or wait till sunday.
Coolers of frozen stuff wouldn’t constitute ‘rocking’ in my estimation.
5 mattohara // Nov 14, 2007 at 10:21 am
gaetano, David has never been to Headhouse Market, so when he is talking about how they “rock” he means the actual farm, in Northern New Jersey near where he lives, not the ‘coolers of frozen stuff’ that they bring down here to sell.
and d’angelo’s, which does have a ton of great stuff, and which i do frequent, is owned by the most crotchety guy on the planet and does not have the pot pies, my only reason for mentioning griggstown.
6 David // Apr 11, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Just so everyone knows, the market is opening back up on May 4th, 2008. We expect to have another great season, and Hoots and Hellmouth will be there playing for the opening.
7 Moriah // Apr 11, 2008 at 3:16 pm
I came across this post, and it got me really excited about Headhouse! I know the grand opening is going to be Sunday May 4, 10am-2pm… hope to see you there!
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