DePasquale's Homemade Pasta Shoppe

Panino

We try to cook dinner as much as possible, but I have to say when you live in the North End, it's tough.  Walk outside our apartment and there are Italian restaurants galore. One place we've come to visit on a weekly basis is DePasquale's. This shop is known for it's homemade pasta, ravioli, and gnocchi. It also offers a variety of Italian specialty foods: cheese, meats, spreads, etc.

Italian

However, we have come to love DePasquale's sandwich offerings. The French loaf is from Bricco Panetteria (also part of DePasquale's Ventures), which is probably the best bread around. Each slice of meat, cheese, lettuce, and tomato is freshly cut for each sandwich. Our favorites are the Panino (fresh mozzarella, proscuitto, tomato, and basil) and the Italian (a selection of Italian meats, lettuce, tomato, pepperoncini, onion). We've come to realize one sandwich is enough for two people (assuming you have a side of chips), so for a little less than $8 you really can't beat this tasty deal.

DiNic's Roast Pork at Reading Terminal Market

Long lines on the weekend

TWSF bussed it up to Philadelphia, my hometown, to catch a regular season Phillies game (may they rest in peace). We did not have anything on the agenda the afternoon before the game, so we decided to seek out a unique Philly lunch. On a previous visit, I had taken the other blogger on the mandatory cliché tourist lunch to Pat’s and Geno’s and got cheeses steaks. Those weak excuses for a cheese steak are only good if you are from out of town or drunk after an Eagles game (they only received 2 and 2.5 'clogged arteries' by Philly Mag). I was brainstorming for a quality lunch destination when my old friend Eric suggested we head over to DiNic's in Reading Terminal Market for a hot roast pork sandwich. Eric lives and works in the area and assured us that this place was legit. Following his advice, we took a quick walk to the historic indoor market and boy was he right, DiNic’s is pretty amazing.