“Let’s go shopping …” Memories from Al

LETS GO SHOPPING

STELLA   ​Albee, can you take me for a few things?

Al  ​​Sure Mom, be right over

Lets go over to Frank’s place first. We go to Guintas, the butcher at 9th and Christian.

I just want to pick up a few things, Me, double-parked or riding around the block and Stell in her glory giving the butcher orders Don’t pd the scaloppini too much; I like mine thicker. Half hour later, She ambles out and Frank puts two bags in the trunk.

Thanks, can we go over to Passayunk, I want some ricotta from Phil.  We go to Phil Mancoso’s for a quick stop, just 3 pds of ricotta, (he makes the best, in his cellar) Phil comes up through the stair, you know.  Ricotta and plat cheese.

OK go down 13th to Ipolito, I want to look at the fish.  Good, now a little further down to Dickinson to Faragellis-not many people know this baker, big crusty hard loaves. She is right, as usual.

How about some pie, go over to Ritner, west of Broad.  Ok I love that bakery, Potittos. Get a custard cream pie for me.  Over we go and she gets a few things.  

We head out, but bingo. Canulli’s pork store is just down the block near the Church, (Jan knows the name), and Canulli’s is irresistible, he makes links.  20 minutes later, he sold her on a rolled pork roast, some chops and 3 pounds of sausage, hot and sweet with seeds.

OK that’s enough, no wait, there is a great deli on Jackson,it’s just around the block.  I can get some good lunchmeat.  Over to I can’t remember the name but it was an Italian married couple who used to import the best stuff, OK Chilionies.  I get to go in. Nice load here, and home we go, but. Quick stop, Lance’s for a hard round loaf

At 220 we carry the bags onto the kitchen table.  We are not through yet. I sit while Stella displays her bounty, opening all the packages for viewing.  I’m the praiser and occasional taster.  Look at this veal, nice and pink.  Taste the ricotta; Phil makes the best.  Cut a little end off the plat cheese while its fresh. She’s an Awful rewrapper.

Oh, I got this supresata from Claudio, that Claude had me laughing, what a great personality.  I love that kid.  (Sad aside, young Claude committed suicide in the ware-houseover a girl, so the story goes and Stella was heart-broken to hear the news as she knew him as a kid growing up in his father Claudio’s store.)

OK you can go.  Take some stuff home, get some sausage and that Taleggio cheese is your favorite.  You can’t get that anywhere, so creamy now on a piece of that Faragelli bread.

Ok mom thanks; I’ll call you later. (Nan’s Albee on steroids) April 9th 2020 @ 1:43 AM