Anyone who lives in the Philadelphia area knows that the Ninth Street Italian Market is an incredible place to shop. Packed into a six-block stretch are stands piled with fresh fruit and vegetables, fish markets, the city"s best cheese stores, butcher shops, fresh pastas and imported oils, delicious baked goods, and sandwiches. But the Italian Market is also a wonderful place just to visit. In operation for more than a hundred years, it still retains its original charm and flavor and is one of Philadelphia"s top tourist attractions. The Philadelphia Italian Market Cookbook captures the sights and smells of this very popular destination and offers more than 130 authentic recipes from local families and businesses, including homestyle Italian favorites and restaurant specialties. The book also tells the story of the Market"s colorful past and portrays its unique culture with anecdotes about such characters as the butcher who made chicken taste like pheasant, the cops who always got freebies, and the woman who threw her husband out of a window! Vintage and contemporary photos of the Market and a detailed walking tour map showing the location of each vendor make this the perfect souvenir of a one-of-a-kind ethnic enclave. A sampling of recipes: Kippee Palumbo"s Chicken Rosemary Marie"s Stuffed Artichokes with Shrimp Cardullo"s Christmas Eve Fish Salad Felix the Cop"s Great-Grandmather"s Bifstecca al Pomodoro Aunt Antoinette Gargano"s Apple Cake Dolores Alvini"s Neapolitan Bean Salad Asparagus Tips a la Mary Foti Frankie"s Gnocchi with Rose Crab Sauce Pesto Rotini Salad with Prosciutto The DiCicco"s Pizza Soup Charlie Cannuli"s Stuffed Pork Loin Wrapped in Bacon Aunt Connie"s Mussels in White Sauce DeMaria"s Italian Cream Puffs Termini"s Pizza Rustica