On our first full day in Philadelphia, we headed out in the morning to explore the city. After a hearty breakfast at Sam’s Morning Glory Diner, we walked to the nearby Italian Market, which is a stretch of blocks along 9th Street featuring shops selling, you guessed it, primarily Italian goods. The area got its name from the Italian community that took up residence in the surrounding neighborhood in the late 1800s and eventually became the predominant group of sellers. As the name suggests, there are shops selling Italian meats and cheeses, baked goods, and specialty items alongside produce stands, gelato spots, and restaurants advertising Italian fare. There was also a butcher or two, but luckily my pal warned me not to look at certain spots to avoid being grossed out slash sad. Even though it was a relatively non-vegan type of destination, I loved the authenticity of it, from the unique signage of the storefronts and Italian-themed murals, all the way to the gigantic, bright, kitschy signs advertising Philly cheesesteaks at Geno’s and Pat’s (apparently there are two types of people in the world: Geno’s people and Pat’s people). And of course, what Italian market is complete without a fire burning in a garbage can?
