shopping on arthur ave, the bronx, easter morning

shopping on arthur ave, the bronx, easter morning, originally uploaded by isabelle gr.

Food shopping in New York is a marvelous thing. One of my favorite places to go is the famous old stretch of Italian bakeries, butchershops, cheeseshops, and cafes in the Bronx known simply by its street name, Arthur Avenue. And I only go there guided by one of my favorite cooks, my Uncle Jorge, preferably early in the morning on Easter. This year, Mom, Delia, Nick, and I followed him on an dawn excursion in search of fresh mozzarella (or mozz -- pronounced mottz -- as we call it when time is of the essence), tender lamb, pungent olives, chocolate easter eggs, and a cappuccino or two.

Here is Uncle Jorge, bundled up in a warm coat, waiting as the George Clooney of butchers weighs the lamb.

Delia looks over the towers of olive oil, canned tomatoes, and flour sacks. The line was already out the door and down the block at this small corner store, where the shelves are packed up to the ceiling with tins and cans and vats and jars and trussed up salted goods. So we moved on after a quick survey of the window and sidewalk displays.