Wandering: Reading Terminal Market

When I was in Philadelphia last week for a conference, I skipped out on an afternoon session and wandered around Reading Terminal Market for over an hour just marveling at the life of it all. It was a rainy few days in Philadelphia, so slipping away to the warm busy place was a treat.

There is a bookshop entirely filled with cookbooks. Some devoted to single pleasures like Marshmallow Fluff and lemonade.

Lots of sweets.

Cheese. Lots and lots of cheese.

Fresh and local eggs, produce, and meats.

Sandwiches. This muffuletta caught my eye and made me wish my New Orleans lovin' foodie friend was with me.

So much great food prepared by the Amish in Lancaster County.

The food prepared by the Pennsylvania Dutch was so tempting that I came back the next morning and had an egg and cheese pretzel roll, which was the best breakfast I've had in as long as I can remember. After I got home, I woke up from a nap thinking about pretzels.

And I can't forget the pudding. Oh my! I counted 28 varieties of pudding. This must be the only place on earth with such a spread.

There was healthy food too. Vrapple - the vegan answer to the local Pennsylvania speciality Scrapple.

The coolest aspect of the Reading Terminal Market is the clash of cultures and people. There is something for everyone here. Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Italian, Thai, Cajun, Soul Food, Jewish, Pennsylvania Dutch, Middle Eastern, Vegatarian and Vegan, the list goes on and on.

If you're in Philadelphia, you really must go.