Grocery stores that sell hard-to-find ethnic food are one of my joys in life. Though they often look very ordinary, there’s a sense of adventure in the unknown. If you can’t even read the text on a package to tell what an item is, you are in for a surprise when you try it. Maybe you’ll find a new favorite food, maybe not, but either way you’ll have escaped the drab confines of daily routine for a moment.
Bell’s Market in Northeast Philadelphia is exactly that sort of place. Established in 1995 to cater to the area’s Soviet Jewish population, Bell’s has a fantastic array of Russian and Eastern European food to sample. There are juices you’ve never heard of, a bewildering array of cheeses and meats, and an enormous section dedicated to honey. That’s not to mention the unfamiliar candies, loads of fish, perogies, and a vast array of breads and pickled goods.
You’ll also want to make sure that you stop by their multiple deli counters. There you’ll find regional favorites like plov (a traditional rice dish from Uzbekistan that’s typically made with meat, vegetables, and spices), khachapuri (pastry dough stuffed with meat, mushrooms, and egg), and many, many others. The deli counters are a great place to start if you’re overwhelmed, as the premade food is relatively inexpensive and an easy way to try something new without having to figure out how to prepare it. Though not everything may be to your taste, many of the items are quite good and if you’re willing to try a few, you’ll find something that suits you. The dessert case is another place you won’t want to miss. There are over 40 varieties of fresh cakes: strawberry smetanik, truffle cake, rafaello cake, Russian four-layer cake, and the ever-popular tiramisu are among them.
Bell’s is not a visually impressive store, it’s a functional and affordable one. My wife and her family, who are among the area’s Soviet Jewish immigrant population that frequent the store for familiar delicacies, introduced me to Bell’s and now I stop by every time I’m in the area. It’s the sort of place that even lifelong Philly residents might have no idea about, but also one that is exactly what makes living in an urban area special. There are unique places and experiences that you can’t find elsewhere, and a visit to Bell’s is just that. I highly recommend stopping by there for a snack next time you’re passing by on your Route 1 adventures.
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