46 Thoughts You Have When You Visit Arthur Avenue

The real Little Italy. I'm eating truffle pasta while writing this.

1.

Alright, we're in the Bronx. No worries though, Arthur Avenue is pretty safe.

2.

I mean, I think it's safe. Eh, I'll be fine.

3.

What is that smell?! Is that the zoo animals? Oh wait, it's just the cheese.

4.

I really love cheese, even though it smells, I'm going to go into this store, and buy every type of cheese.

5.

Gouda, parmigiano-reggiano, pecorino romano, fontina, mozzarella….I think cheese should be a mandatory food group in the food pyramid.

6.

Oh, hello free sample, don't mind if I do! Wait, I don't know man, truffle cheese, are you sure?

7.

OH MY GOSH! This is the greatest cheese I have ever had in my entire life. I will live the rest of my days eating this cheese solely.

8.

Ok, I've spent a solid 30 minutes in this cheese shop, I have to move on, or else I'll end up buying all of the cheese.

9.

Oh cool, a food market.

10.

What do we have here? Wow, you were on Throwdown with Bobby Flay, and you won? This is probably quality food then.

11.

My taste buds are going out of control. This is most definitely high quality food.

12.

I wish I was Italian, maybe it's a good thing I'm not. I would gain so much weight, especially since I would eat pasta for every meal.

13.

I should go to Italy though, I hear it's lovely.

14.

So many types of olives and mushrooms! Woah, $99 for a 1/4 lb of this mushroom? That's expensive. Oh they're truffles? That makes more sense.

15.

I've never seen someone making cigars right in front of me, let alone five people. I am absolutely mesmerized right now.

16.

Ok, I'm moving on now, out of the market. Just strolling down the street. Hey what have we got here, a bakery. I mean I have to stop, who knows what kind of good food they have here.

17.

This entire place is just cookies and biscotti's. I have died and gone to heaven.

18.

"Hi, um, I would like a dozen biscottis, 6 chocolate chip, and six almond dipped in chocolate. Also, can I have 4 tri-colored cookies, two walnut cookies, and 3 lemon glazed cookies."

19.

I'm just going to take a bite of this chocolate chip biscotti. This is seriously the greatest biscotti in the world. It's so perfect.

20.

While I'm at it, I'll steal a bite of the tricolor cookie. It's so vibrant; red, white, and green, with raspberry and apricot jam, covered in chocolate. This cookie is so soft, and delicious!!! It feels like a sweet hug.

21.

I have eaten so much food already, but I must continue on!

22.

House of mozzarella? Well, the name itself is simply beckoning me…it'd be a shame if I didn't go in.

23.

Oh hi fellow mozzarella shopper! You recommend I buy "bocconcini"? You know what, I trust your good judgement.

24.

"Hi, can I have the bocconcini?" Oh jeez, I totally just butchered the pronunciation of that.

25.

Oh how cute! It's like mini balls of mozzarella. Since this was highly recommended, I have to try it!

26.

I will never go back to regular mozzarella. This is still warm, they just finished making it, and it has the perfect amount of salt!

27.

I'm so tired, good thing Italians specialize in espresso!

28.

This cafe is packed, so it must be pretty good, right?

29.

Perfect, an espresso and a cannoli.

30.

This cannoli is so tasty! The cream is sweet and delicious and the shell is so crunchy. If I was Italian, I would eat cannolis everyday.

31.

My perfect world would consist of cannolis, biscotti's, and bocconcini.

32.

Hmm, I've seemed to get away from the main street, I probably shouldn't wander. Wait, what is this I see? A bakery specializing in bread?

33.

CHOCOLATE BREAD?!

34.

"Hi, can I have half a dozen of chocolate rolls, and a prosciutto bread ring."

35.

Wow, this bread legit is chocolate flavored, and has chunks of chocolate enveloped into the batter. This tastes good, but I bet it'd taste even better toasted, and with a little butter on top.

36.

I'll also just try the prosciutto bread, obviously to ensure its deliciousness. This bread is soft, and it has so many layers. This heavenly combo of dough and prosciutto is incredible.

37.

This store looks pretty cool. There's appliances, plates, food, and glass figurines!

38.

ELEVEN POUNDS OF NUTELLA!!!!!

39.

This store is amazing! Pistachio version of Nutella?! Awesome!

40.

Hey, what is this? A can of truffles mixed with other mushrooms. I'll buy it! It's $10 for a little can, but imagine the possibilities!

41.

Truffle pasta, truffle sandwich, truffle pizza, truffle french fries, truffle bread, and I just learned about truffle cheese! SO MANY OPTIONS!

42.

Oooh fresh pasta!!! I'll buy a few packs of that, you can never have too much pasta.

43.

I have to pull myself away from this store; so much delicious food, and cool appliances!

44.

I have eaten so many samples, and some of the stuff I bought, I think I'll have to come back to eat at one of these restaurants.

45.

I love food, especially Italian food.

46.

After spending a day here, I feel like a real Italian.

Visit Arthur Avenue in the Bronx, NY!

I'd like to thank every single Italian store and restaurant for making incredible food, and continuing to keep the Italian culture alive in the Bronx. Visit Arthur Ave so the awesome owners can continue to provide fantastic food and other items!

Check out the list of merchants here

This is the map of restaurants I visited, in order, I went to Teitel Brothers, the Arthur Ave Market, Madonia Brothers Bakery (for some reason the name wouldn't show on the map), Casa Della Mozzarella, De Lillo's Pastry Shop, Addeo & Sons Bakery, and then Cerini Coffee & Gifts!