Everyone has been praising Bebe’s for their barbecue and this weekend the Italian Market storefront is upping the ante with dessert.

Dry-Rubbed, Roasted Pecan Crusted, Cayenne, Dark Chocolate Truffles, made right here at Bebe’s!!!

Wo.

Bebe’s [Facebook]
Bebe’s [Official Site]

Paesano’s is looking to open a second location at the corner of 9th and Christian where Butcher’s Cafe once stood.

This makes us very, very, very happy!

This Just In: Paesano’s Opening Another Location In South Philly [Phoodie.info]
Paesano’s poised to take over old Butcher Café location [Meal Ticket]

Trey Popp is a Southerner and doesn’t bestow BBQ praise lightly but Bebe’s Barbecue has him singing.

The pork is moist yet deeply smoky, dressed with a zippy tomato-based vinegar sauce, and piled on a toasted hamburger bun in such a heap that a single pre-airport sandwich kept me going for 16 hours of sleepless and snackless travel. The fresh collards, flavored sublimely with liquid smoke rather than ham hocks, are tender but not at all mushy.

With meat this expertly smoked and hospitality this genuine, Bebe’s is set to become my biggest temptation on a street teeming with them

Right on ‘Cue [City Paper]
Bebe’s Barbecue [Official Site]

Rick Nichols profiles Basil DeLuca of Villa di Roma and what goes into making those handmade meatballs.

The meatball-making is the province of one man and only one, Basil DeLuca, 56, the middle of the three sons of Domenic (”Kaiser”) and Carmela, Villa di Roma’s founders. Basil does not merely oversee the meatballs; he hand-forms each one – up to 400 a week – singularly and painstakingly and possessively at that counter.

They have become beloved meatballs. And while cooking may not have been the life Basil would have chosen if his father had not mandated it, he is proud of these meatballs – made to the precise standards of his tutor, Uncle Sammy – and of the following they now have.

And in late August or early September, you’ll be able to purchase these meatballs from a new storefront down the block.

Meet the ultimate handmade meatball [Philadelphia Inquirer]

The New York Times packs a lot of action in its 36 Hours in Philadelphia and they sure don’t skimp on the culinary.

Among the spots mentioned:

• No lemon meringue pie - Silk City.
• Odd Couple – Chinese-Peruvian fusion at Chifa.
• Bowling and Munching – North Bowl.
• Slice of Local Color – The Italian Market and Lorenzo’s Pizza (9th and Christian version) in particular.
• What, No Chicken Soup? – Modern Israeli at Zahav.
• Take a Trip – Upstairs at Time for absinthe.
• No Snooze Button – Waiting for a table at Sabrina’s Cafe.

36 Hours in Philadelphia [New York Times]

“We have joy, we have sun, we have seasons in the sun.” In The Bite today we have all of that plus some outdoor festivals for good eats and drinks.

After the showers come the parties [Metro Philadelphia]

Bebe’s Barbecue is now open in the Italian Market across from Fante’s Kitchen Wares. The simple takeout spot has generated good word of mouth already, unfortunately they seem to close before 9pm so we haven’t checked it out firsthand. 

Take a look at the affordable menu after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

It’s been a while since we professed our undying love for the masterful work of Rick Nichols, but after reading his lyrical analysis of the Italian Market situation in today’s Inquirer, we wanted to make our deep and abiding love for him public once again.

Seriously, people who call yourselves food writers, pay your respects to Rick! He is the direction in which all worthy pendulums swing, blog or otherwise.

And now, on to a discussion of the Italian Market! First of all, it looks like Signore Emilio Mignucci has been reading Foobooz, since he’s planning for the wine and cheese shop we suggested for Butcher’s Café and the super-awesome craft beer store of our dreams. So, you’re welcome, Brothers Di Bruno! No charge.

Second of all, can the Italian Market be saved? Does it need to be?

Read the rest of this entry »

*Photo by B. Krist for GPTMC

It’s a new week and that means a new version of Restaurant Yenta! Since you were all so eager to share your thoughts last week on the Not-So-Jolly Latham Situation, we’ve got another corner conundrum we’re considering. This time we’re heading deep into the heart of the Italian Market to consider the mysterious case of the former Butcher’s Cafe at the corner of 9th and Christian Streets. 

Here’s a little history on the spot, courtesy of Rick Nichols. It’s from 1999, so it doesn’t mention the most recent chef-owner Todd Bergman. For commentary on that, you’ll have to delve into the blatherings of the phillyblog crew. Butcher’s closed back in late 2007 and has remained vacant ever since. Which is hard to fathom considering the crowds at Sabrina’s across the street and it’s primo location in the heart of Bella Vista. The people are hungry… what would they want to eat there? Our suggestions, after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

What IS it with our historic markets? Is there not one in Philadelphia that doesn’t have its dirty laundry hanging out for everyone to marvel at?

Philly Mag has the wrap-up on the Reading Terminal Market ridiculousness and traces its origins back to the usual Philly political suspects. The Inquirer has a piece on a weird controversy over a cookbook and what amounts to a turf war in the Italian Market… and ends up mentioning some of the same political suspects.

Food and politics are inevitably tied up – in the global sense – but could we be any more parochial in this town? Sheesh.

*photo credit: J. Smith for GPTMC

Icons: A Volatile Market (Philly Mag)
In Cookbook, a Recipe for Italian Market Feud (Inquirer)