Every once in a blue moon, the Mistress likes to venture into downtown to the Reading Terminal Market . The thing is, I go into Philly often, but if I go to the market, I have to be coming right back to the Casa to put the finds away. I'm here to tell you, I can go nuts in there too. When it comes to food I sometimes have no restraint. To see me, one may be shocked I eat like a horse. Luckily from my father's side, I was blessed with a high metabolism. Which is good, otherwise my pants would all need to be let out. And the Lad would make a crack about me getting heavier when we are getting frisky.
The history of Reading Terminal Market dates all the way back to 1860 when the Butcher’s and Farmer’s Market opened for business on the 1100 block of Market Street. The market stayed at the location for 30 years, but by 1890 it looked like the market’s days were numbered. The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company purchased the land occupied by the market and planned to demolish it to make way for a new railroad terminal. The market was saved however when the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company agreed to build a new market underneath the railroad station. In 1892, the new market opened for business and became known as the Reading Terminal Market and thrived in its new building , and has been ever since, and is considered America’s oldest continuously operating farmer’s market. They have everything too....fresh seafood, meats, cheeses, pastries, flowers, produce, French linens, Polish cooking ware, homemade Amish pies or the best sandwiches in America. The Reading Terminal Market has you covered. What took me in though was the cheeses at Salumeria.
They have the cheeses. And I love my cheeses. Almost more than I love my men.
I came home with several. Cheeses, not men. A French Brillat-Savarin with crushed papaya. Zighera, a smoked cheese. Pecorino siciliano from Sicily. And a lovely Spanish Manchego.
It's long corridors of food. Row after row. Produce.....
Pastries at Termini Brothers Bakery. Don't get me started.
I didn't get porked today, but this place has the best pork B-B -Q!
Seafood......but wasn't in the mood for crabs.
I love lobster, but feel terrible eating the poor things....till they are on the plate.
Blooms.........
In addition to my cheeses, and produce and my meat and sausages, I couldn't resist this sandwich .... a Corned Beef Special at the Hatville Deli,a long-standing deli stall, where the Esh family has been using products from their native Lancaster County for over 30 years, the most famous offering is this cold sandwich, which plies corned beef with coleslaw and Russian dressing .
And I couldn't resist two cannoli's from Termini Borthers......
Thank goodness the Lad or Daddy Warbucks aren't here this weekend. Otherwise they may mistake me for Philbert, the 3-foot bronze piggy bank that resides in the market.
Hey, I may be a tad heavier, but I'm happy!
I used to take luncheon there three or four times a week when I was there in Philly. That place is phenomenal...especially for cooks. And the cheeses there.......
ReplyDeleteOmg....this sandwich looks amazing. Reading Terminal looks like a fun food filled destination and I love to eat too! Love the pig.
ReplyDeleteI hate you for your high metabolism. Life is so unfair.
ReplyDeleteMy mother is surprised I'm still like this, But then also adds, "Enjoy it now, one day....it will catch up." Evilly I may add.
DeleteYummy!!! :-) Another great tour.
ReplyDeletebobdamn, I LOVE those termini cannolis! if I lived in the city, RTM would be my grocery store; fuck whole foods!
ReplyDeleteHad I known, I could have hand delivered some!!!
Deletevanilla flavor only; chocolate and lemon do nothing for me.
DeleteGreat post! Wonderful to read and enjoying the illustrations!.now I am hungry! Will need to add it to my list of places to go if I'm in Philadelphia.
ReplyDeleteHey Luke! Yes... even if not to eat, even thought it is hard to resist, is worth the look see, if not to say you were there, and take in the sight of the commerce and smells and all the foods.
DeleteThat's a hell of a sandwich, Mistress! Will you ever post a picture of yourself with your mouth full?
ReplyDeleteGorilla, I don't know it would be appropriate of me to post my walrus impression on here.
Delete@gorilla - mouth full of what? ;-)
DeleteIf anyone is ever in Philadelphia make sure you visit this place to see what the different cultures have to offer...Everything I buy in Reading Terminal is something I would return and make the same purchase again. I don't know what I'd do without this place. And having seen you, trust me, you look nothing like Philbert!!!!
ReplyDeleteAladdin's Cave of Yummy Food.... the variety and range of food on offer is fantastic! A great place to have at your finger tips. I love cheeses too and you picked several goodies. How fun is that pig! The bronze pig, not you Mistress.
ReplyDelete"In addition to my cheeses, and produce and my meat and sausages" I'm surprised you had any room with your meats and sausage.
ReplyDeleteI lovelovelove those kinds of markets because they sell the things you cannot find just anywhere.
ReplyDeleteAND you get a Corned beef Sammie? Lord, I like to died and gone to heaven!
That is a fantastic market, I need to figure out a trip to Philly for this summer. The West Side Market in Cleveland is also excellent (we just booked Cleveland in July for a family event.)
ReplyDeleteJust so you know, the last couple posts I have been making notations on the last several post, so when I come for a visit I can have a personal tour!!! The market looks incredible. Here in Ptown we have nice seafood stands and fresh produce.....but nothing like that! Will will fit your square cut?
ReplyDeleteThat food looks soooo good! I would have a blast shopping there.
ReplyDeleteAs for the stuff in Bangalore in the prior comment? No so much.
Ms. Moorecock must have left the back door open again!!!!! I told her the odd will get in!
DeleteHoly crap! I can see why you love the place! I'd be broke in one trip!
ReplyDeleteFood, glorious food! So much choice of food and drink. It's my go to for lunch. And don't get me started on Salumeria's for cheese.
ReplyDeleteIt really is such a great thing for tose of us who live in the city. We have Whole Foods and not much else but small corner markets. My ex boyfriend was a chef, and would always go there daily to get his ingredients. It turned into a daily meeting place for chefs to see each other and gossip.
ReplyDeleteWhat a eclectic bazaar you can spend hours in I bet. I so need one of those around here. Loving the piggy bank Philbert.
ReplyDeleteI remember the place well when you took me there.....I didn't know what to eat first. You or the food!!!!
ReplyDeleteI would go crazy mad in there and leave penniless.
ReplyDeleteBeing on the Main Line, I go into the city quite often to Reading Terminal, especially for hard to find items and chesses. Although we do have some fine small farm stands here on the Line.
ReplyDeleteI love markets like this. And Reading Market is especially impressive. You look adorable in bronze.
ReplyDelete