I have a confession to make. I’ve alluded to this in the past, but I’ve never come out and said it. I think it’s only fair that you know.
I’m a huge foodie.
And I don’t mean the type that appreciates a nice meal because the food is expensive. I mean the kind who’s constantly driven to seek out local restaurants to savor their delectable, authentic cuisine.
An Italian grocery store I stumbled upon 2 weekends ago changed my life. But I’m torn. As much as I want to spread the word about this unique local business, a tiny (elitist?) part of me believes only hardcore, dedicated foodies deserve to experience it. So let’s make a deal. If you fall into that category, keep reading. If not, here’s a funny video featuring Matt of Where the Hell is Matt? dancing his way across the world.
the spoils of my trip
I was greeted by $3 bottles of wine and, when I ventured further, hundreds of bottles of olive oil from around the world. Then I found the homemade pasta and pasta sauces, the fresh cheeses and olives, and – even though I’m a vegetarian – the assortment of deli meats. I was in heaven.
I started grabbing everything that looked good (so just about everything in the store) – pesto, fresh-baked cookies, organic pasta, bottles of wine. By the end of our 20 minute trip, Elizabeth was forcing me to pick my favorites, then sending me to restock the shelves with my rejected spoils.
Ah, well. I guess she had a point about the canned stuffed grape leaves; they probably wouldn’t have been the best investment. But I did manage to get away with some real winners: homemade vodka sauce, couscous, white clam sauce, pesto, two bottles of wine, and two cheeses. All for under $45.
So far, the vodka sauce is far and away my favorite; its creamy, cheesy, tomato-y goodness was amazing on our homemade pasta. I think it might have meat in it, but I find it hard to care. The parrano cheese was also delicious. A gouda-parmesan combination, it makes a rich cream sauce or simple sandwich.
But if you’re uncomfortable walking down sketchy-feeling alleys, you might want to skip this trip, because that’s exactly what the storefront faces. It’s a hidden gem among loading docks, rotting food odors, and reckless drivers. Inside, though, is the closest I’ve come to a New York-style deli in DC. It’s a bit crowded, but the people are friendly and there’s a real sense of community, which is hard to come by in this wonky, career-obsessed city.
So where is this haven, this heaven of Italian goodness? It’s A. Litteri, Inc. in Northeast DC.
And remember, just don’t spread the word too far. Too much recognition might ruin it.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Hmmm…aren’t all these goods imported? How do you offset your carbon footprint, as such a hardcore foodie?
@Louise – Thanks for your comment. You have a very good point, and it’s something I’m conflicted about. Ideally, everything I buy would be organic and locally produced, and purchased from the producer himself – or at least from a local business. But sometimes food that meets those criteria can be hard to find; plus, I really like to experience different cultures through food. I don’t think I’ll make it to Italy any time soon, but I can go to an Italian market. So I have to choose among my priorities and, in this case, I chose to buy from a local business.
Interestingly, many of the goods I got weren’t imported. The homemade pasta sauce was fresh, as were the deli meats and homemade pasta (which I passed up on my visit). Some of the other foods came from companies based on the East Coast. One of the bottles of wine might have been imported (can’t recall for sure), but I honestly got those for the price ($3/bottle) more than the quality or authenticity. I admit, sometimes my cheap side wins out over my green side.
Again, excellent point and something we should all think about when shopping and dining out – how to prioritize locally produced versus organic versus locally owned.
i love Italian Food specially those juicy pastas. They are really delicious.-”,