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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.

Maxx’s Produce (google maps)

Maxx’s is a venerable (I think) produce shop just a block west of Rittenhouse on 20th. I only lived over there for a summer but every time I walked in the door I felt like a whole bunch of (richer than me) neighbors were hanging out in there getting their veggie on. But it was an unwitting discovery by Karen (who forgot to look at the price label) that made this place a regular destination for us and led to the creation of this weblog.

Maxx’s squeezes their own OJ fresh every morning. This might not seem like a big deal – and 6$ for a quart might seem like a lot – but this is the only place in the city I’ve found to get fresh squeezed OJ. It is local (and was close) and we rationalized the price by guesstimating that the cost of the individual oranges that it takes to make a quart of OJ is a bit under 6$.

I know we’ve all had freshly-squeezed OJ before but there’s something about walking into a great local produce shop that you love and grabbing the last quart of amazingly delicious fresh OJ that makes the day start off right. Maxx’s has a lot of other great stuff besides, like ethnic and organic and local stuff.

Sue’s Produce (google maps)

Sue’s Produce is just a few blocks away on 18th street. It’s smaller and more of a straight produce shop than Maxx’s, but to find it among all those shops on that block of 18th street is almost enough by itself! What makes it better is that I think the produce is all local. The topper is that the middle eastern restaurant next door, Byblos, makes fresh hummous for Sue’s every morning. If they run out early sometimes they’ll even make a fresh batch in the afternoon!

This stuff is not just the best I’ve had in the city, it’s the best hummous I’ve ever had. It’s unbelievably creamy and smooth with perfectly balanced flavors and the ultimate freshness. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

What we found:

Best OJ in the city: 6$/quart at Maxx’s Produce

Best hummous in the city: $3.25 at Sue’s Produce