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Vol. LXV, No. 11
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Wednesday, March 16, 2011
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Vol. LXV, No. 11
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Wednesday, March 16, 2011
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 GREAT TASTES: Shown are Danielle (left) and Anna D’Angelo, owners of D’Angelo Italian Market. They are the proud winners of Princeton “Pi” Day’s Best Professional Pie, baked by the market’s pastry chef Giuseppe. |
The wait was worth it, everyone agrees! After months of anticipation by Princeton residents, the D’Angelo Italian Market at 35 Spring Street, has opened to great reviews. It is often “standing room only,” filled with throngs of happy customers, who also stop to have lunch or a snack at the market’s pizzeria and cafe, with seating for 25.
And it is a boon to downtown residents and workers who can easily walk to the market — a real bonus considering today’s gas prices. “You don’t have to take the car out of the garage to go to Whole Foods. You can walk right over to see us,” says Anna D’Angelo, owner with son Frank and daughter Danielle, of the new market.
This is the second market for the D’Angelo family. They also own Tuscany of Jackson, which opened in Jackson, N.J. 11 years ago.
“Our food distributor told us about the new Princeton location,” recalls Ms. D’Angelo. “We met with Jack Morrison, the owner of the building, and we all thought it would be a good match. We have found that Princeton people really know their food. They have traveled and experienced different cuisines, and many customers like to try new things.”
Warm Welcome
It is a different clientele from that in Jackson, and there is more interest in vegetarian items, and also vegan dishes, she reports. “One of the most popular is Pane e Panelle — chick pea fritter, which is a favorite snack in Sicily.
“There are a lot of European people in Princeton,” continues Ms. D’Angelo, who is originally from Sicily. “We also have customers of Italian descent, as well as Princeton University students from Italy. It’s a real mix of people, and we have been warmly welcomed.”
There is certainly something for everyone at this intriguing new store, and indeed, it is multi-faceted: market, full-service butcher, Salumeria and Panineria, artisan brick pizza oven, imported Italian gourmet items, espresso and cappuccino bar, catering, and gift baskets.
The setting is very attractive with wood paneling and chandeliers, a sort of Old World ambiance. There is plenty of room to walk around, and products are conveniently arranged and invitingly displayed. Looking at the great variety — from meats and cheeses to produce and prepared food to the assorted Italian items and delicious desserts — is a visual pleasure.
“We have such a mix of products — grocery items and gourmet Italian imports, including olive oil, pasta, and beverages,” points out Ms. D’Angelo. “We also have selected Alessi products designed by Michael Graves.”
Customers like everything, she adds. As always, pizza’s a big favorite. Pizza Fantasia, with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and smoked prosciutto is very popular, as is Patatosa, with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and French fries. There are many, many other choices, including the popular chocolate pizza with nutella. Customers enjoy eating the pizza at the tables or cafe bar, as well as take-out, she adds.
Italian Bread
Other very popular items are the sandwiches, salads, and paninis. Grilled chicken with arugula and fresh mozzarella; and Sicilian eggplant with fresh mozzarella and roasted peppers are popular paninis, as is the Italian panini, featuring ham, Genoa salami, and provolone.
Stuffed roll sandwiches include chicken parmiagiana; stromboli; sausage and peppers; spinach and mozzarella; and pepperoni and mozzarella, among many others. The Italian bread is fresh every day, brought in from a Brooklyn bakery.
There are also pasta, chicken, beef, and fish entrees. “We marinate and cure our own salmon,” says Ms. D’Angelo, and our meat is all custom-cut for the client. For example, you can ask for sirloin to be ground very fine — however you want it. We have lamb sausage and specialty sausage with sun-dried tomatoes and rapini (broccoli). Our Salumeria products (cold cuts) are from Salumeria Biellese.
“We make our ravioli with fresh pasta from Pastosa in Brooklyn, and another very popular item is Arancini, or Sicilian rice balls with ground sirloin and peas. We try to get items from local farmers, and carry selected organic, grass-fed beef from Simply Grazin’ Farm. We also have chicken from Griggs Farm and their chicken pot pies.”
D’Angelo’s offers specialty items such as the popular mozzarella “Burrata”. “Our mozzarella is made fresh with no preservatives and served several times a day,” reports Ms. D’Angelo.
Among the items imported from Italy are Mutti tomato puree, Primo Fiore olive oil (which can be refilled in the store, if you bring in the container), the line of Alce Nero cookies and biscuits, and various Italian beverages, such as Grodino, Sanbitter, San Pellegrino, Fiuggi, and Rochetta.
Pastry Chef
Italian cheeses, including Buffalo milk Parmigiana Reggiano, are very popular, as is the Genoa salami and pancetta (Italian bacon).
There is also a line of Italian cereals and household cleaners, as well as American grocery products.
Desserts are another specialty, and all the baking is done daily on the premises. “We have an Italian pastry chef,” says Ms. D’Angelo. “We have fresh cannolis, zeppole, and Italian cheesecake, as well as homemade tiramisu, panna cotta, and a variety of Italian cookies.”
Gelato is a favorite of Italians and non-Italians alike, and is offered in varied flavors at the store. “Affogato”, a scoop of gelato “drowned” in hot espresso, is always in demand.
Catering for all sizes and types of events is another service offered, and there is an extensive party menu, featuring everything from soup to nuts!
Customers at D’Angelo’s have responded not only to the outstanding quality and variety of products, but also to the friendly, knowledgeable employees who go out of their way to be helpful.
Ms. D’Angelo, whose standards are high, is very much a hands-on owner. She is in the store every day, overseeing its smooth operation. “The first person to be satisfied is me,” she explains. “It is very important that everything is just right. We also look forward to the time when the store is 100 percent set up, and we will be doubling the seating space, including having tables outside. We enjoy pleasing our customers and satisfying their special requests. We develop relationships with our customers.”
The D’Angelo market offers gift cards, and is open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday 9 to 6. The pizzeria is open 11 to 9 Monday through Thursday, 10 to 10 on Friday, Saturday, 10 to 8 on Sunday. (609) 921-0404. Website: www.dangelomarket.com.