There really is no BAD bakery in that neighborhood. But I don't care what anyone says, Egidio's has the best sfogliatelle in the world. And the best Italian ice, too. DeLillo's makes those custard cups with the fruit on top that are to die for, though.

But for cheese (except for the Argentinian from Mike's), I go to Calandra's. He's got the great fresh ricotta and mozzarella, ricotta salatta, and what my mother endearingly calls, "The cheese with the pepper, but without the pepper"!

And God forbid I go to Teitel Brothers and don't get a case of pear nectar for the girls. They drank that for breakfast every morning in Italy. When we were in Sicily, my aunt bought the girls these cookie things called Gioccole (not even sure I'm spelling that correctly). They used to put them in a bowl with milk and eat them for breakfast. I've searched high and low for them here, but no such luck. I told the girls that if they don't have them in the Arthur Avenue Market, then they aren't in the US.