Ode to an Italian Market

Oh market of ancestral pleasures,
A carnival of old-school treasures,
Your homemade fare, it lifts, amazes,
I think it’s time I sing your praises.

Behold those days my tired body’s
so grateful for your manicottis.
The workday hard, the lunchroom cruel,
No prob when we have your fa-jool* 

On nights I’m out and can’t cook dinner,
I always have a pinch-hit winner,
I’m late, not dressed, oh holy moly!
The sitter boils ravioli.

“From scratch” can be so overrated.
When those meatballs can be plated
From the freezer, quick and thrifty,
Just flip the oven to three-fifty.

So here’s to every gift Italian,
To ziti baked and veal medallion,
Sending thanks that’s good and loud,
Grandma Catrino would be proud.

Seven bucks for fifty fresh, authentic, restaurant-quality, cheese-filled ravioli. What rhymes with “bargain of the century?”

*Note actual spelling of Fa-jool on third shelf from bottom right in top picture. Photo taken via my instagram (dinneralovestory) at Mercurio’s Italian Market on Mamaroneck Avenue, Mamaroneck, NY.

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13 Comments

andrea

This is a riot. We fall back on the artichoke ravioli all the time from Trader “Giottos”. Not quite the same, but it’s our “pinch hit winner.” Thanks for the laugh.

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Karen

OMG … I looked at the picture and knew it was Mercurio’s. I think my Mom picked something up there once a week for my entire childhood!! Thanks for the wonderful memories and I will be making a stop there soon!

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cg

You’re killing me with this picture and this ode. I have been missing NY something bad these last few days, and I used to live just one town over so I know, well, all about the delightful places just outside of NYC. Oh how I wish I could be there to pick out a few items from their refrigerators.

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cg

BTW, do you happen to know if that bread place (I can’t recall the name of the bakery, I don’t think I ever checked, just knew where it was) in Port Chester is still there? They had (have?) this incredible killer cinnamon bread that oozed (OOZED, I say) goopy, sticky, cinnamon in between lovely, yeasty layers of dough. Made THE BEST French toast evah!
(insert dreamy sigh here)

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richard

“Behold those days my tired body’s, so grateful for your manicottis.” Nice work.

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jenny

cg: Sorry, I do not know the name of it, but I am in Port Chester all the time, so if anyone else knows what cg is talking about, do enlighten! Sounds like something my kids would drive across the county for.

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Matilda

Oh, I love my Italian market in town that’s on my way back from the office. But the ravioli is $9 a box at my place!

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cg

Jenny, it might be The Kneaded Bread, but I’m not sure, it was 10 years ago. But I checked Yelp and it looks like the loaf (in a plastic bag) could be the same one. 🙂

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