Porterhouse, located on Eagle Road just south of the intersection with State Street (not far from Bella Aquila), follows a retail model that hearkens back to the days of the neighborhood butcher shop – with one singularly modern difference: besides offering carefully selected cuts of meat and seafood, Porterhouse offers an array of complimentary food products – from regional wines to condiments and desserts – designed to heighten the experience of a great meat or seafood dish.

The most immediate way to connect with the culinary possibilities that line the shelves of La Cantina Sociale is to simply come in with a dinner dilemma. In my case, it was to put on a meal that would resemble something Mama Veneziano might have set in front of me in Motta San Anastasia – in under 20 minutes! Under Giuseppe’s guidance, my shopping basket was full in a matter of minutes, and I had my marching orders.

The Chocolat Bar’s mission can best be described has bringing the true experience of chocolate to its grateful customers. “Chocolate makes people happy, and when you have a high quality chocolate, you enjoy the experience even more. We use 100 percent chocolate with high cocoa content and all the cocoa butter that should be there to create a quality experience,” says owner Chris Preston.