Nearly 700,000 people who live in the five boroughs of New York City can trace their ancestry to Italy, that’s about 8.3% of the NYC population, surpassed only by Puerto Ricans at 9.5%. In any borough, you are never too far from a great slice of pizza, loaf of bread, chicken parm, or a half dozen fresh filled cannoli. Italian-American culture is part of everyday life in New York, and for food, the bar is high. The Belmont section of The Bronx was at one time, the center of Italian culture in NYC, and although the Italian population has dwindled considerably over the past two decades, the area surrounding E187th Ave & Arthur Ave remains an Italian food paradise.
Just off the corner of Arthur Ave, on E187th Street, Casa Della Mozzarella is a jam packed Italian Deli, making some of the best fresh mozzarella in the city. This is the real deal…it’s not floating in water, or wrapped in industrial plastic with an expiration date, it’s not even refrigerated! The store is small, and gets crowded with just a handful of people there. Don’t hesitate to ask for help, the folks that work here are very accommodating. In the past 3 years, I’ve made a point to buy fresh mozzarella from a lot of the known, and not-so-known shops and delis in the city. From 1999 to 2009 I lived on the border of Greenpoint and Williamsburg in Brooklyn, which was walking distance to the absolute best “fresh mutz” in the city and probably the country. Georgiana DePalma Tedone ran a tiny, unassuming market “Tedone Latticini” on Metropolitan Ave in the Italian section of Williamsburg. There were no signs, just a statue of the Virgin Mary “Madonna” in the window. She retired about 3 years ago at the age of 90! With her departure, Casa Della Mozzarella takes the prize at this point. I’m considering doing a “shootout” of fresh mozzarella, comparing 8 – 10 different places. I know, I know, it’s a big job, but I’m feeling qualified!
Casa Della Mozzarella, 604 E. 187th St, Bronx NY, 10458. Open all day Mon – Sat, and in the morning (until 1PM) on Sunday. (718) 364-3867
