These peppers deserve their own postcard!
On an unexpected early morning, I spot them in the crowded aisle of a little Italian grocery shop called Claudio.
"Claudio's" (as the locals say) is at the northern end of South Philly's Italian Market. It's across from Gleaner's Café, a longtime favorite coffee stop.
After coffee, Ellen wants to pop inside for "one thing."
(It's been years since I've been in Claudio's. So... why not?)
What starts out as a quick errand turns into a full-fledged field trip.
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| Don't you just love when that happens?? |
See, peppers aren't really the point of this postcard -- MARKETS are!
In the years of the pandemic and not traveling, I forgot the way a local market can be a travel adventure in itself.
When we step inside, all those memories come rushing back.
Take Copenhagen -- my last trip before the world shut down.
Natalie and I arrived in Copenhagen in the evening dusk. Granted, sunset was at 3:45 PM, but after an overnight flight, a connection in London, a train from the airport, and dragging our luggage along the drizzly sidewalk, we were too exhausted to search for a restaurant.
Instead, we were lured by the fluorescent lights of our neighborhood Lidl...
Dark rye!
Local yogurt!
Bars of chocolate!
Our eyes widened.
Seeing Danish shoppers was exciting!
Counting our kroner at check-out was exciting!
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| "The Lidl" became our regular stop on the way home each night! |
If you have mobility or health issues like I do, local markets SCORE BIG. They're a relief -- and a necessity -- when traveling.
climate control (sometimes),
and a welcome reprieve from heavy restaurant food.
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| One can't subsist on pastries alone -- or at least I can't! |
In Austria, where "Gluten" Morgen was a daily greeting, Marla and I (and my tender digestive system) took refuge in local shops where we could pick up fresh fruit, salads...
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| ...and my personal fave, homemade Austrian muesli! |
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| A perfect place for early morning walks! |
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| Shopping à la francaise (aka "French style") was even better than eating out! |
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| By the end of the week, we even asked a fromagière to wrap cheese for our airline trip home! |
Today's stop at Claudio's reminds me how a market is a glimpse into local life -- wherever you are.
and a super-sized container of marinated octopus, complete with suckers.
As they reach the check-out counter, his daughter points to a four-pack of fancy Italian lemon spritzers. She looks hopefully at her dad.
He nods. And she adds it to their purchase.
"I'd like to go to his house for dinner," Ellen whispers.
By the time we step outside, it's like we just returned from Italy...
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| via South Philly! |
No plane fare, packing, or planning. Just minutes from home.
My souvenir -- a $6.99 jar of Sicilian-style roasted peppers with pine nuts and golden raisins. :)
Pretty good bang for the buck.
Shop on!
Rebecca
That is one thing I like about Philly and their great variety of different food. Sometimes it feels like you are traveling in Europe.
ReplyDeleteThanks for writing, Kofla! I totally agree - and sometimes I forget how much variety there is in our own hometown!
Deletetraveling in Europe is fantastic;)
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more! And I love your screen name - what does it mean?? :)
DeleteThere were two open air produce shops next door to one another in Astoria, Queens where one was 24/7 and had the BEST produce at great prices. Your post brought me back there! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad. Those little shops are the best - and New York seems to be full of them. I can't even imagine having produce 24/7. What a treat. Great for those carrot cravings at 2 AM!! :)
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